WHO WILL WIN THE U.S. ELECTION?

So, just who is going to clinch the race for the United States Presidency? This is the question astrologers across the globe are repeatedly being asked at the moment! So, what I thought I would do in this article is offer my own findings and also let those of you, who may have some astrological skills, know about an ancient technique to help you answer the question for yourself.

When it comes to asking direct questions, especially those involving a short or yes/no type answer, one very common astrological technique is to cast a horary chart. Horary astrology - literally meaning 'of the hour' astrology - works on the premise that each moment in time contains the symbolism of past, present and future events. A chart is erected for the precise time a question is posed ( or viewed by the astrologer if answering on someone elses behalf) in the location where the chart is to be read. The symbolism is then delineated according to specific rules of judgement passed down through the ages.

Horary is not my speciality at all and the true masters of this art deserve great respect for their understanding of all the intricate rules that apply. On my site you will be directed to the brilliant horary astrologer Pamela Robertson, a favoured protege of John Frawley.

Over the years however, I have discovered that 'all roads lead to Rome'. I see the horary chart as a divinatory tool when used in this way and the answer is always there, even though you may arrive at it in different way to the established norm. Whether you want to use rune stones, tarot cards, chuck yarrow stalks in the air to form hexagrams or dig holes in the sand, your tool of choice yields a symbolic answer. Each to their own as they say. So with this in mind, I use an amalgamation of methods drawn from ancient and modern astrologers findings.

If you wish to learn about the 'proper' traditional horary technique or see it being used on a daily basis I recommend you visit these sites:

Skyscript

Gryphon Astrology

Radu at Astrologyweekly

or a more DIY friendly site Celeste Teal


I am going to look at my own horary chart about the Election.

'Harrison or Cleveland for the Presidency' is a question that appears in the book Horary Astrology by Alan Leo published by L.N. Fowler in the early 1900's

In this book it is said that the first name in the question is taken to be represented by the ascendant and the second name by the descendant and the figure judged from there, turning the chart as one goes. (I have covered turning the chart in a previous newsletter that you can access from my website). That sounds good enough to me. So if we cast a chart for now and ask in earnest 'Obama or McCain for the presidency' let's see what we get - I'm literally doing this as I go along. So here's the chart erected for 12.53 on 22 Sep 2008 in Windsor, UK.

The rules which horary astrologers follow before reading a chart are known as Strictures against Judgment. One of which is that when the first or last 3 degrees of a sign is rising the question is not safe to judge as it hasn't developed sufficiently. Ah- ha. So this is interesting straight off the bat for 2 reasons - well actually 3 and here they are:-

1) Many astrologers think that Obama may be elected but not make it to inauguration* due to fair means or foul ( most likely the latter). The question posed is Obama or McCain for Presidency? Not who will get inaugurated - subtle differences mean a lot in horary.
2) Mercury is stationary in this chart at 22 degrees. this means it is about to turn on it's heels. Mercury in this chart represents the Job of President ( 10th ruled by Mercury) and it represents John McCain as ruler of the 7th. So Mercury is like someone who has got to a dead end and has no option but to turn around and go back. Some say it is like a sick man about to get sicker. Can we take this to literally mean it is McCain who won't make it to the the inauguration (or maybe even the ballot box)?
and 3) With a Saturn/Uranus opposition in the sky, exact on the day of the proposed election, Nov 4 2008, I have felt we can either expect a very close result OR a maybe even a postponed election day and I say this because the election itself would be represented by Saturn in Virgo (literally voting for a job or leader). Uranus in Pisces could be taken as unexpected chaos or an unprecedented situation. Uranus occupying the 3rd house of Obama and the 9th of McCain in this chart does suggest something of this nature i.e., an unexpected announcement or unprecedented legal move or a glitch in the electronic voting system. I can't say if it is this but it's a possibility.

Hmmm. So if we return to our chart and ignore the rules about judgement and look at it anyway (I'm a uranian rebel!) the situations above actually take on even more weight. Why? Well because with the Sun at the very top of the chart (being secondary natural significator of the presidency) and the MC/IC axis being less that one degree away from changing to the Cardinal axis 'World point' of Libra/Aries, this reinforces the rule that this chart is not fit to judge because something is about to change. Raphael says that in cases of charts with 3 or less degrees rising he often found that either the querant (or that quesited) relinquishes his object, alters his mind or nothing comes of the matter (p50 Horary astrology). Navarro, another horary supremo, says that the 29th degree shows misfortune connected with the matter. the person or the matter asked about is changing.

The Moon being fast in motion also suggests things are moving fast and it is out of bounds so America (Cancer) is in uncharted territory. When the Moon is quincunx the Ascendant - as it is here - Navarro says; the activity must take some form of reorganisation, so the theme persists. Unfortunately the Sun moves into the sign of its fall in Libra so the change to 9th and 3rd house matters will not be for the better.

Timing when any 'change' might occur would come from how many hours, days or weeks we equate to 29.16 Virgo. It would be 14 minutes until a change of sign, so as it is moveable sign (Virgo) on an angle we know from the rules to use days. So 14 days until 'the change' of the 10th ruling the Job or Leader and 9 days until the Sun ruling the 9th of foreign affairs, issues of morality, education, matters of the clergy or religion and religious difficulties, legalities, constitutional or otherwise etc. And as the Sun rules McCain's turned 3rd of brethren, communication, debate etc., general Mercury ruled matters could be about to go downhill or the debates will not do him much good.

Returning to the chart, if we look at the 2 Sag rising (Obama). This degree of the zodiac is associated with the fixed stars Dschubba (Isidris) which is said causes; sudden assaults, malevolence, immorality and shamelessness. (Robson). Yed Posterior said to give a passionate, blindly good-hearted, wasteful and easily seduced nature, together with little happiness, unseen dangers, enmity, strife and slander. Pliny said that it occasioned much mortality by poisoning. This constellation has also been called Aesculapius and held to rule medicines. By the Kabbalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Oin and the 16th Tarot Trump "The Lightning Struck Tower". (Robson). So there's Uranus again (the tower) and finally Acrab.....'Situated on the head of the Scorpion, not where its armament is, which is at the rear. It is a fighter of great skill and characterizes Mars-Saturn perfectly. Anyone with this star strong in their horoscope is likely to show a patient and wary approach to any situation, but this will belie the skilled determination which will then be brought to bear. Scorpio is famous for the surgeons born in it and this star shows up just the qualities which they need to have. The same applies to generals, policemen, private investigators and secret service agents, many of whom have this star well placed and aspected. In research of all other kinds too, it distinguishes the real adept'. (The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse).


The ascending sign of 2 Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter so if we are to go ahead and judge the chart, Obama is shown by Jupiter in the 2nd house in Capricorn the sign of leadership! Jupiter perfectly describes him as the lawyer too. Jupiter in Capricorn is disposited by Saturn in Virgo in the 9th and that is disposited by Mercury in the 10th. So Obama is caught up with McCain (Mercury); both are in the position of seeking the job (10th) but also both are caught up with Mars. What does Mars represent? Obviously fighting, strife and strong debate but also as ruler of the 5th and 12th, speculation and the stock market (5th), or even hidden (12th) love affairs or pregnancy (5th) and matters to do with children. More likely though that this relates to the financial turmoil as the Moon is in the 8th, the house of debts and taxes in the sign of Cancer (the mother, nurturing and America). Moon in Cancer in the 8th with this 5th/12th emphasis also strongly points to the right to life issue for unborn children being a big deciding factor, especially for swing voters. It also points to the sorrow of the country at this time

The original question is about the position which is ruled by the tenth house. For Obama this is Virgo ruled by Mercury so we look for an aspect between Mercury and Jupiter. There is no aspect but Mercury - the job is currently stationary and about to move back his way i.e. towards Jupiter by 6th October when they square off. Again, we can take this to be the debates First Obama has to tackle this Mars in Libra (this will involve diplomatic issues and maybe attacks on or from a woman or women, verbal or physical) but as Venus is just about to change signs that too is currently a moveable feast. All in all, so far it is looking like it's too early to call from this chart (which didn't wanted to be judged anyway!).

Let's look at McCain. The ruler of the 7th cusp rules McCain and this is Mercury. Neither Jupiter as Obama, nor Mercury as McCain, are malefic so they are both nice guys but Mercury is very close to Mars which heat from women. Also as I said Mercury is in a bad way as he's stationary RX. Mars rules his turned 6th in this chart so I wonder if his health is bothering him now or is this a health related policy issue ( like free healthcare) or his age is against him. Mars also rules his turned 11th so maybe McCain feels under attack from the party benefactors or TV station coverage. McCain is also so closely tied to the economic problems instigated by his party that it could be that which is weakening him. It looks like McCain could also have a lot of emotionally based or family issues with planets in his turned 4th. Pluto in his 7th points to problems with his wife or another parnership(business) but something is about to change. 4th also rules things like the homeland security.

Moving back to the 5th house, this is often seen as the 'theatre' of war as well as the stock market floor, so by polarity the 11th is connected. With Moon in the candidates turned 2nd/8th axis the American people are more concerned about taxes, debt and their homes and food on the table etc ( all lunar ruled things) than in any recent election. The Moon is strong in its own sign - a mark of American's love of their country - but it makes no significant aspect and remember it's out of bounds, so it's like the American people are adrift or everything is too up in the air at the moment. The Moon is also co-signifcator in any horary question but still makes no aspect except a wide applying opposiiton to Jupiter ( Obama).

The upshot then - the chart is not valid. It is too early to tell as things have yet to happen but if one were to have to say one way or another from it, then in my view, Obama is in a far stronger position than McCain. Asking the question who will win the Presidency doesn't however, as we saw in 2000, ensure that the person with the most votes will lead!

Having said that let's leave horary alone and get to what I know best, straightforward astrological interpretation. From looking at the general transits of the next 6 months I feel that Pluto into Capricorn speaks of the huge changes that lie ahead in removing abuse of power from the 'corridors of power'. Saturn opposite Uranus will bring nothing less than a revolution (paradigm shift) in the way things have been done in the past - although some things may literally revolt us for a while as the change becomes accepted. Venus is the natural 10th house ruler of Obama's sign, Leo, then Venus move into Sagittarius (ruled by Jupiter) for the election and the tr Moon conjoins his natal Jupiter on inauguration day - Jan 2009 just after his Jupiter return. Additionally Mercury dispositer of tr Saturn ( leadership) is in trine to his natal Venus (his 10th ruler) on election day, the Sun crosses his solar angle and Pluto opposes Venus (his solar 10th) ruler on inauguration day.

Furthermore - as if any 'more' is needed - Saturn in Virgo represents the 'black man' (black = Saturn) and Uranus in Pisces speaks of 'the two maverick's' (Uranus); John McCain and Sarah 'Barracuda' Palin ( a Barracuda being a fish and fish = Uranus in Pisces) Uranus is weaker than Saturn at the election due to it being Rx. So in conclusion then it is my firm and considered opinion that Barack Obama will be elected as the first Black President of the United States of America.


* Note I have a different view of Barack's natal Mars in the 8th, which many take to be malefic - namely that in esoteric astrology it marks one out as being on the path of discipleship and the ability to trasnform material resources into group and spiritual resources.

HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH FATE

Most of you reading will know that I maintain a blog entitled Collaborate With Fate. It is so called because I believe that a knowledge of metaphysics and in particular the language of symbolism (of which astrology is a part) can help to inform, and remind us, that there is no use fighting or blaming other people when difficult things happen to us in life, and no need to say we were 'just lucky' when good things happen. Rather we should see everything emanating from us i.e. see everything we encounter as signposts leading us back towards understanding our Self. Our Self being a differentiated part of wholeness or Unity or God (call it what you wish).

We can begin to 'collaborate with fate' on the personal and mundane levels by trusting in our involvement with something greater than our ego bound, derived persona. For example when Pluto gets to the end of a sign, as it has now, and we experience turmoil in the money markets our 'persona' likes to believe that this is an outside event that happens to be affecting us. A better way to look at it is that it is something we are all happening with.

The Esoteric Astrologer looks upon the whole expression of life as proceeding from one central and primal source, and therefore seeks to understand the subject from the point of view of the One flowing forth into the many - Alan Leo

Like the anecdote of the butterfly flapping its wings in China and causing a hurricane on the other side of the world - everything is interlinked. We must ask ourselves what turmoil is going on within us that is being expressed by this differentiated energy as a money crisis? Where are we all being invited to change or alter things? Is an outside force shaking us up, or are we shaking it up?

The amount of money in the world has not changed, the distribution and method of exchange is just all messed up - it is unbalanced. If we refused to react by selling shares, or moving money around, or withdrawing it etc., and the short sellers hadn't been gripped by greed, the crisis wouldn't have escalated. That said, it is a confluence of factors but, in that example we can see how cause and effect come into play on a grand scale and cause dramatic events,when any system needs correction. If one side of any see-saw balances the other has to automatically return to equilibrium. Current planetary activity in Libra indicates that everything is striving for balance and that includes the feminine and masculine polarities within us and our world.

How do we get into balance? By self reflection and moving away from extremes. Life is always mirroring back to us what we need to be working on. At the moment it may be about integration of some opposing ideas or bringing the feminine energy into your life. Metaphysical belief is that everything and everybody we meet is the same as us but reflecting a part we can't see, or don't wish to see and own. We may read, (as we did this week in the UK) about an axe wielding man randomly attacking a woman in a supermarket and not link it in anyway to the turmoil in another type of market (money markets). We believe that we could never act in such a way but it is the exact same energy, expressed at an entirely different level in a very extreme and violent way. This person was just more unbalanced than many of us and, in deference to her I won't pursue this but, there will be some energetic reason for his victim being in that space at that time.

In another example, we have seen the turmoil of three major hurricanes. Most people just think it is a coincidence that, in the same month that we hear that Australia has appointed its first ever woman Governor General; the same time period that an Alaskan Governor becomes the first ever woman Vice Presidential candidate; the same week that Israel appoints a woman Prime Minister, a film opened in the movie theatres and cinema's called The Women.

Was it just coincidence that British TV was showing Lipstick Girls and Lipstick Jungle this week (when they must have been scheduled before Governor Palin's speech at the GOP conference) and the ensuing debacle over her lipstick comment? No. Once again it is all different aspects of the same all pervasive energy that we are interacting with. We interact with it on many levels simultaneously - the emotional the physical, the mundane, the astral. We just have to open our inner eye to see the energies we are working with. Astrology is the only language that translates what these energies are and also shows how each of us, on an individual basis, reacts according to our own personal vibration to them. By this, for example, I mean that someone born into a period when Saturn was aspecting Uranus will have a naturally stronger identification with the current Saturn/Uranus opposition energies.

So to collaborate with fate simply notice the quality of events that surround us all and ask how you can best align yourself with them in a positive way. In an era of 'out with the old and in with the new' as we are in now, what do you need to let go of that is outdated, be it a belief, a physical thing or an emotion?

In the next article in this newsletter I will look at getting 'on purpose' i.e. aligning yourself with your soul mission in this incarnation.

GETTING 'ON PURPOSE'

If you just read the Collaborate with Fate article in this newsletter you'll know that this section is going to be about how to align with your purpose.

Metaphorically speaking we could look at life as being like a gargantuan jigsaw puzzle whose pieces were dispersed all over the floor at the big bang. From that one point of light - from unity - came duality, then fragmentation. Like a great cosmic in breath and out breath, it is back towards that unity that we are headed. Each of us has a specific role; a place and space where we fit and not only feel complete but are helping to complete the bigger picture before it disperses once more in perpetual motion. The force that organises us however, can be overcome if that is our desire and that is where free will and reason comes into play. We can attempt to fit in the wrong space and succeed with ease. However when we do place ourself incorrectly we always know it. It not only affects us and just doesn't feel right but it affects the rest of the jigsaw, leading to an overall disorder and lack of coherence. When we are in the right space we fit perfectly.

It is this collaboration with the force, and trusting that through self awareness we can create a life that fulfills everyone's needs, which we call being 'on purpose'. Much of what I have just written could easily be read as just more psycho-babble, the like of which appears in most self-help books for people who are on a search for meaning. As I travel through my fourth decade though I have come to know about this force and I have aligned with it in order to overcome all manner of setbacks and difficulties..

"Self- realization is the knowing - in body, mind and soul- that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much a part of Him now as we will ever be. All we have to do is improve our knowing."- Paramahansa Yogananda

I'm the child of an alcoholic, abusive parent. I have been through divorce, bankruptcy, infertility, depression. loneliness and other difficult trials. I wouldn't wish these experiences on anyone but they have shaped who I am today and each life hurdle made me seek deeper and deeper knowledge about our connection to invisible realms. It was only when, in my 30's, my knowing moved from the intellectual level to unswerving belief; as soon as I had no doubt about my inner power and took personal responsibility (if not for everything created then at least to my reactions) that I really felt I could deal with anything. I now see any problems that arise as a signpost that there is more work to do on myself. Today I can quickly get back into what is colloquially termed ' the flow' which helps move me through my 'Self' created obstacles.

Indeed, when we can bring presence, awareness and trust into the picture 'Life' starts to become almost magical. It did for me, so it can for you too. Being 'aware' draws towards us the people and the circumstances we require at that time. As the Joseph Campbell quote says at the top of my blog, .."miracles and coincidence bring the inevitable to pass".

The inevitable is one's place, purpose and mission. I have discovered my 'inevitability' is to share with others metaphysical knowledge and in order to do that with authenticity I now realise I had to experience all that I have.

I know I am 'on purpose' when I connect with people at the level of hidden meaning and truth and this is very Scorpionic. My Venus is in Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter which links up with my 3rd house of communication. Therefore just by my relaying this article to you, at some level I am expressing my natal energies in a positive fashion. I apologise for writing so much using the personal pronoun 'I' but it is the best example I know. There will be something that when you do it, or talk about it, makes you feel incredibly comfortable and causes you to lose all track of time too. Astrology reports or consultations can give you pointers* Look to sites that provide evolutionary or soul centered astrology.

If you prefer not to use astrology or reports, and you really don't know what it is that could be your soul purpose, then don't look for a specific lifestyle or job description, instead look for the feeling. What brings you a feeling of total ease and comfort? Keep your head out of it and look from the heart. What makes you happy? What just always flows. If you feel good whenever you are encouraging others, you may enjoy being a teacher or a motivational coach. Do you relate better to children or adults? If you don't know again don't opt for the answer that your head tells you, go for the feeling. If it's children then maybe a school teacher, but you could teach children in many different way, not just at a school.

If you feel in harmony with others when you are playing sports, ask yourself is it the winning, or the team spirit, or the expenditure of energy that you like the most. Perhaps you like the feeling of freedom outside sports bring, therefore it stands to reason that you should avoid working set hours or in a deskbound job. You have to be true to your inner needs in order to get on purpose because sharing what you love is your purpose.

This is where a huge paradigm shift is starting to occur. It had been inculcated in us throughout the generations that we must go out to work and we must do a job that brings in money - even if we don't like what we are doing. We have also been told that it should ideally serve others in some way if you want good 'karma'. In 2008 though we know that we don't have to go out to work, with the Internet we can work from home if we wish. It is also a truth that we can make the best contribution to society only by serving ourselves first. Why so? Because if we become happy and fulfilled THEN we can go and transmit that to others, not before. That's how we truly serve humanity. So be selfish and not a martyr. When you do what you love the money will follow and if you don't believe that, or think it's a fanciful notion, then you perhaps need to look at your belief system and how it may be holding you back from abundance.

So, being 'on purpose' is also to lose all worry and fear about your bank failing or redundancies looming, gas prices rising, partners leaving you etc., because you become aware that fear is just a reflection of a lack of inner security. Know you have an innate connection to a power that can help you handle any eventuality. There is a specific role in the world that you are here to fill and all you have to do is look within then ask, sincerely, for it to be shown to you. Being on purpose is doing what you love, rather than doing something to live up to the expectations of others, or a sense of duty.

Being on purpose is finding your fit in the puzzle of life.

In the next article I will reproduce an article that one of my fellow Law of Attraction coaches, Ann-Marie, posted in her blog because it will help you to get 'on purpose' by clearing blocks away

* Venus is the other planet next to the Sun in the birth chart that immediately tells us what your purpose might be. Venus show what brings us joy and although the whole chart had to be consulted for the best possible analysis of what may put you on purpose, Venus is a good place to start.

KNOW THYSELF! - LoA Questions

What follows is from Ann-Marie Caffrey's blog. Ann-Marie is 'on purpose' when she devises these quizzes and tests that really make us think. Her ability to do this was picked up on by Joe Vitale of 'The Secret' fame and he has reprinted his best seller 'The Attractor Factor' to include a new and expanded question and answer session and Ann-Marie's quiz. Her quiz even gets a huge mention on the new front cover of Joe's book. That is just one great success story but a prime example of how your energy invisibly connects with others, and all manner of people and events come to pass when you are 'on purpose'. Who would have thought that Joe would reprint his book - certainly not Ann Marie - she just flowed with her inner desire to communicate and ask questions!

See Ann Marie's original AFIQ quiz here

The Law of Attraction reminds us that ‘What you put out is what you get back.’ The purpose of the Clearing Questions is to enable you to identify and make critical changes internally such that what you ‘put out’ via your thoughts, is a clear and unobstructed positive vibration. By bringing subconscious blocks to the surface, you can finally clear away the mental clutter that was holding you apart from success.

You may feel that some of these questions cannot be related to the Law of Attraction but, in fact, what these questions are testing is just how much of your thought energy is being diverted to unproductive and even self-sabotaging thought patterns.

Are You..

Uncomfortable alone with your thoughts? Do you avoid being alone when, for example, you have a choice of spending an hour by yourself or meeting a friend?

This is an interesting question as it’s not checking how sociable you are – it’s really asking whether you have deeply buried ‘issues’ that you don’t want to think about. By keeping busy and distracted, you can always push away the uncomfortable thoughts. A healthy balance is to have times when you seek out company as well as times when you enjoy the solitude.


Feeling Envious?

Do you feel jealous or envious of others who may be financially better off than you? The root of envy is our ingrained fear that we are somehow not worthy or deserving of the same abundance that others enjoy. Therefore, seeing examples of success and abundance sparks feelings of jealousy within us. If instead, we can see others’ success as proof - if we needed it - that ‘success happens!’. It is simply a state of mind – shared by all who are truly wealthy and loving it – which is an ‘acceptance of wealth’. This means, simply, that the lifestyle and trappings of wealth are accepted as being deserved and normal. That person has made the mould in their mind, as Robert Collier put it, which corresponds with wealth. There’s no guilt, there’s no incredulity that life could be so good to you – and no beating oneself up as being undeserving. It also helps to remember that we are already wealthy - ( statistically, if you are sitting in front of a computer screen you are near the top of the wealth pile on the planet!) – don’t exaggerate the gap between what you perceive as abundance and where you already are. Instead, find ways to bridge the gap. You deserve it!

Intolerant of others? Do you find yourself frustratingly at loggerheads with those who have views very different to your own?

The phrase ‘unconditional love’ gets bandied about a lot these days. It can be taken to mean a few things, but if you distill it right down, here’s what it means: You love life and the universe unconditionally, such that you are happy just to be alive. You love yourself unconditionally, such that that a hurtful remark, or a ‘failure’ along the way doesn’t bother you. You love others unconditionally, such that that whatever they say or do, you can allow for it freely without feeling threatened. This is key when it comes to our interactions with others. In fact, there is a big difference between ‘tolerating’ and simply ‘freely allowing’. When you love life and all its diversity and when you feel happy and at peace in yourself, the need to impose your will upon others will disappear and you will not only tolerate but freely allow, and even enjoy, all the diversity of creation.

Stressed? Do you feel stressed or do you worry so much that it keeps you awake at night?

Stress is a normal part of life. In fact, if we didn’t have what’s known as a healthy level of stress, we’d be miserable and bored! However, too much stress and worry is a limiting factor in your life. In turn, you cannot truly be giving out a harmonious vibration. The root of stress is almost always a tendency to take on too much and getting weighed down by the responsibility. There is typically a feeling of being ‘not in control’ of your circumstances. Instead, make the mind shift to accepting that what you perceive as stressful circumstances ‘out there’ are actually all emanating from you, then you can get back in control.

In ho’oponopono teaching, we are reminded that we create our physical reality and accordingly, we are responsible for changing it. When you see something you perceive as negative and want to change, there is great power in ‘cleaning’ your thoughts by repeating: “I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank You, I Love You.” In cleaning your thoughts, you are cleaning your reality – it’s that simple! Just saying those words, directing the sentiment to the divine, creates an impact. In saying “I’m sorry.” You drop your need for pretence that everything you have created is perfect. It’s quite liberating. In saying “Please forgive me” You can sense the forgiveness being willingly granted and the burden of guilt lifted. In saying “Thank you” there’s a reminder of all that is good in your life. In saying “I love You” it creates a connection and a feeling of reciprocal love. Repeating over and over, it cleans away so much of our needless burdens of guilt, isolation and fear.

Controlled by Others’ Perception of You? Do you care about how others perceive you to a point where it may affect your words and actions?

One common factor that can hold us back, is a fear of others’ reactions. If we have a cherished ambition or goal, it is very likely to involve putting ourselves ‘out there’ in some way. This can be a little daunting, all the more so when we start to imagine the reaction of our friends. Maybe they will mock us, or maybe talk behind our backs perhaps saying that we are getting big ideas or thinking too big. Have you ever seen a really successful person who allowed others’ perceptions to dictate to them? This is a big one to get past. The irony is that, it is the very people who put themselves ‘out there’ and follow their own dreams and goals regardless, it is these people who are admired most.

Dependent upon external props? How dependent are you upon things such as drugs, alcohol, tv, sex, sports, cigarettes, work etc..?

What does this question have to do with the Law of Attraction? A lot, actually! If we need to turn to something outside of ourselves to get peace of mind, or just to feel ‘good’, then we are not in truly happy. It is ultimately our core happiness that is the ‘signal’ we put out to the universe. Too much reliance on any external crutch sends out a signal that this is the only thing that we want. It obscures us to what really brings us excitement. The world is full of people who take short cuts to immediate gratification. The rewards from following our true bliss are so much greater. Make the decision to crave your true excitement.

Controlled by your own rigidly held views? Do you hold strong unwavering views in areas such as morality, politics, religion etc?

We all know someone who has an opinion on everything. Whereas, others amongst us are happy to live and let live, without passing judgement. Where on that scale do you come? Holding extremely strong views – on anything in existence – has the effect simply of narrowing down our vista on the world. In addition, holding that rigid stance in our minds can cause us to literally discount opportunities that the universe puts our way. Perhaps, we refuse an offer of business partnership because we do not agree with the other person’s political views, or we won’t listen to an alternative way of dealing with some obstacle, because we don’t like the guy offering the advice etc… This category can even extend to phobias such as flying, or fear of open spaces, confinement etc… All of these are ultimately beliefs that we are controlled by. The more of these internal beliefs we hold, the more controlled we are. Open up to new alternatives and the opportunities will become a lot clearer.

Angry / Resentful? Do you ever have feelings of resentment, anger or even hatred toward another or others?

Of all the clutter in our minds, the one thing that can most easily trigger an auto-pilot reaction is anger or feeling resentment toward another. Typically we only have to hear the name, or see the person on the street, and we’re off! Emotion runs high and we waste our brain power thinking about that person. For the Law of Attraction to bring about our wishes – the two pre-requisites to manifesting are belief and highly-charged desire. Clearly, when we are caught up in emotive feelings of resentment toward another, our desire emotion morphs into a self-sabotaging anger type feeling. This gets us nowhere, and spoils our harmonious vibes that we want to send out. Remember what you get put is what you get back. Next time you get that trigger, ask yourself, ‘is this the feeling I want to keep re-manifesting?’ If not, then it is up to you to break the cycle.

Missing the ‘Now’ - Living in the past or in the future. Do you spend a large portion of your time thinking about your past or worrying about / wishing for the future?

One unfortunate side-effect of trying to utilize the Law of Attraction is the tendency to think ahead. We set an intention, and then, fall into the trap of wishing it would hurry up and happen! The real secret is to make an intention, then forget about it and get on with enjoying life. It is about demonstrating faith in the process. If we continually notice that what we asked for isn’t here yet, we effectively keep pushing it away. Likewise, a tendency to dwell in the past, perhaps regretting poor financial decisions or relationships that went badly, will only generate more of the same. As in the previous question, always remember that what you put out is what you get back. Wishful thinking for a better future will keep you wishful thinking for a better future, regretting the past will keep recreating more things to regret. It is up to you to break the cycle.

Feeling Separated from Divine consciousness?

Do you feel like you are somehow connected to a higher/divine consciousness? Finally, we come to ‘what lies beneath’! The Law of Attraction did not somehow accidentally come to exist in our universe. Like everything else that exists, it is part of a perfectly designed environment in which we live out our physical experiences. Therefore, all of this perfection must have been created by a God of some sort. It is worth pondering upon what you truly believe in a religious or even purely philosophical sense. Get in touch with the divine and feel your oneness. The Law of Attraction hinges on faith. That is the part most of us cannot quite get our heads around. The most worthwhile exercise for any of us is to build that faith. The more ‘connected’ we feel, the more easily our faith will come. A good test of your faith is in how you approach the process. Do you feel as though you are asking something or someone outside of yourself? Do you feel like you are practicing a ‘law’ that somehow exists in a vacuum? Or do you feel a part of everything and, accordingly, a part of the law of attraction. Remember the power is in you, never outside of you. But you must redefine ‘you’ to know your own divine power.

Go for it!

WORDS FROM PARAHAMANSA YOGANANDA

Do you know why some people are never seem to be able to acquire health or make money, no matter how hard they try? First of all most people do everything half-heartedly. They use only about one tenth of their attention. That is why they haven't the power to succeed. In addition it may be that their karma, the effects of their past wrong actions, that has created in them a chronic condition of failure. Never accept karmic limitations. Don't believe you are incapable of doing something. Often when you can't succeed at something it is because you have made up your mind you can't do it. But when you convince your mind of its accomplishing power, you can do anything. By communing with God ( i.e your inner self in contemplation) all bonds that limit you will be broken, This is a very great Law to remember. As soon as your attention is focused the Power of all powers will come and with that you can achieve mental and spiritual and material success.- Parahamansa Yogananda

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Spiritual magnetism is a drawing, uplifting, expanding power. It is a quality of the spirit. By soul magnetism, the spiritual magnetism in man, a person draws to himself friends and desired objects, and acquires profound knowledge. You should strive for that magnetic power which has limitless range and depth. You can develop spiritual magnetism by deep meditation upon AUM ( Amen - the Word). Through its divine power you can accomplish in your life the materialisation of all your constructive ambitions.= Paramahansa Yogananda

AUM - click here
The Sanskrit seed root word or seed-sound symbolizing that aspect of the Godhead which creates and sustains all things; Cosmic Vibration. The world's great religions state that all created things originate in the cosmic vibratory energy of AUM or Amen