Features - Part 10

The Power of Your Subconscious

June 11, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By sanora bartels

We’ve all heard the phrase “the devil made me do it.” The idea being, of course, that some unknown, hidden part of self, caused us to misbehave.

There have been many recent scientific studies on the “subconscious” and whether or not it rules our actions while our “conscious” mind takes credit. This phenomenon was defined in an article by Dennis Overbye of The New York Times: “conscious mind is like a monkey riding a tiger of subconscious decisions and actions in progress, frantically making up stories about being in control.”

Many people feel this way and that feeling leads them to the conclusion that “free will” is an illusion. How can there be free will if my subconscious controls what I do and, even worse, I don’t know what it’s thinking at any given moment?

First of all, where did the term “subconscious” come from? Most think of Freud but “subconscious” was not a term Freud invented and as a matter of fact, he abhorred it. In Freud’s world there was “unconscious” – that which was once conscious but has been repressed and “preconscious” – that which is still unknown but will eventually bubble up to the surface of consciousness.

The term “subconscious” was coined in order to put both of those things in the same mishmash pot so that now when people talk about the subconscious, they are speaking both of repressed conscious awareness and untapped consciousness.

These days, I think “subconscious” is often used as an excuse for bad behavior or a reason one hasn’t reached their full potential. It’s not my fault – I just need to figure out what my “subconscious” blocks are and everything will flow to me. It’s a nice idea and a piece of blue sky that has been sold to many believers in many workshops. I don’t mean to poo-poo workshops that allow the participants to discover another layer of self and tap into hidden potential, but to tell someone that the subconscious is the factor deciding our fate seems a little simplistic to me.

The question is not whether we have free will (we do) – the question is whether or not we have awareness. And this is where meditation comes in. Meditation raises our perception. I have written about the ability to be so fully in the present moment that one is able to tap into the thoughts and intentions of another – this ability grows from the inside out. When we sit in meditation, we drop to the level of Pure Consciousness. This allows us access to both preconscious awareness and unconscious, suppressed knowledge. Meditation is the experience of consciousness at all levels. The practitioner gains knowledge and insight from the experience of meditation. (As opposed to knowledge gained from intellectual concept.)

If we think of the subconscious as the darkest shadows in the dim room of our mind, then the experience of Pure Consciousness is like walking into that dim room, full of shadows, and turning on the light switch. The shadows literally disappear and we can see each detail of our mind. Nothing is hidden. Where before we moved through the room, one hand out, hoping not to rap our knee on an end table, now we move freely, choosing our path with grace.

Is the subconscious a tiger running wild and your conscious mind merely a monkey holding tight and jabbering away? Is it the devil? Or is it all simply shadow and light? It doesn’t matter.

You, post-meditation, informed by unconscious and preconscious desires, are in control of the next step.

More on: Body/Mind/Spirit, Features, sanora bartels

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DreamCast

June 11, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Cortney Litwin

Sandra in Woodland Hills, California writes:

I’ve recently had two dreams where there’s a hole in the roof. The first dream was four to six months ago. In it, a movie actor friend to my husband and me, takes an axe and puts a hole in our roof. We eventually forgive him, but I was outraged at the time, going up to people in my dream and telling them what he did!

In the second dream, last night, I’m at a friend’s house. She is trying to repair her own roof by pulling a tarp with heavy rocks or shingles up the roof. I see it start to sink and tell her it might be too much weight, but the roof finally falls through. I’ve been trying to figure what this could mean or symbolize, but I have no idea. Thank you for any insight.

Hello Chanda,

Oftentimes, if we don’t get the point in one dream, another dream with a similar scenario will appear to give us a second change at understanding the message.

The roof is either a symbol of protection or a symbol of your thoughts and attitudes — or both. The hole is a weakness that lets in something from outside. Are you and your husband struggling with an outside influence that’s messing with your marriage? It might be a troublesome person or situation. The actor is a key symbol as well. He might indicate that you’re putting on an act to cover up something you’re feeling. Or perhaps he represents success and prosperity, in which case the expectation of success and prosperity is creating a weakness in your marriage.

Whatever method you and your husband are using to repair (the tarp) the issue is creating a heavy burden (rocks) in your relationship. You can strengthen the “roof” of your marriage by having a heart-to-heart talk with your husband about how to handle relationship issues when they arise. Best of luck!

Sweet dreams,
Cortney

More on: Cortney Litwin, Dreams, Features

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Psychic Workout

June 10, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Psychic Marin ext. 5113

Holly in Carmel Valley, California asks:

What can I do to help develop my mental mediumship?

The act of mediumship requires being able to “see” in a different way. This visionary experience can be second nature for some, and for others it may prove to be a difficult undertaking if you have been conditioned to dismiss or ignore atherial visions. To aid in developing your mediumship abilities, this rejuvenating chakra exercise will serve as an introduction to a different way of seeing and feeling.

Chakras are energy centers in the body, aligning along the spine. In addition to balancing the chakras, this exercise increases your overall psychic sensitivity and mental awareness. Each chakra has a different function and energy associated with the location. (See the following chart and familiarize yourself with the correspondence.) When opening your chakras through this exercise, one of the chakra sites you will open is your “third eye” or the 6th chakra, which awakens your ability to see non physical images, and the starting point for you to achieve the desired result of mental mediumship.

7th Chakra: Crown – Top of head, Color – Violet.
Qualities: Thought, Universal connection, wisdom, enlightenment, cosmic connection, consciousness, spiritual will, higher self.

6th Chakra: Third Eye- Center of forehead, Color – Indigo
Qualities: Intuition, insight, perception, clairvoyance, clarity.

5th Chakra: Throat, Color – Light Blue
Qualities: Speech, communication, creative expression, truth.

4th Chakra: Heart – Center of chest, Color – Green
Qualities: Energizes blood, unconditional love, forgiveness, harmony, acceptance, peace.

3rd Chakra: Solar Plexus – Between navel and chest, Color – Yellow
Qualities: Will, energy, radiance, awakening, humor.

2nd Chakra: Sacral – Below navel, Color – Orange
Qualities: Sexuality, emotions, pleasure, desire, creativity.

1st Chakra: Root – Base of spine, Color – Red
Qualities: Life-force, survival, instincts, grounding, stability, security.

How to open the chakras:

1) Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, maintaining a posture with a straight spine. Allow your breathing to become regular.

2) When you feel relaxed and that your breath is consistent, imagine a small red circle at the base of your spine, simulating a pulsating stop-light. Allow this light to slowly expand.

3) After this expansion has occurred and there is a large red ball of energy surrounding the base of your spine, shift the pulsating movement into a rotational spinning. Visualize the swirling ball of red light transform into a spinning pin-wheel. Gradually increase the speed and momentum until you feel a sensation of warmth, clarity, and pure radiance.

4) Your first chakra, your root, is now clear and open. At this point it is functioning at its full potential and will reflect the qualities of this chakra: Life-force, survival, instincts, grounding, stability, and security.

5) Continue this exercise by moving up the spine to the next chakra, the second chakra, and visualize the appropriate colored ball of light (according to the chart above). Transform the pulsating light into the spinning motion as previously suggested.

6) Continue working up the spine in the proper orderly sequence, opening the remaining chakras by using the correct color associations and visualizations.

7) Pay special attention to the process of opening the sixth chakra, your third eye, the energetic location where you awaken and invite enhancement of your mental mediumship abilities.

Enjoy the feeling of having your chakras open and buzzing. Take note of the feelings of vitality and clarity. Compare the different experiences and sensations as you opened the different chakra points. Did some open quicker that others? Were any stuck, or did you have a hard time achieving a radiant glow?

9) When you are ready to end the exercise, it’s important that you close your chakras.

10) Closing your chakras is a quicker process. Starting at the crown chakra, the seventh chakra, visualize a overflowing waterfall of white light pouring out of your crown and down the sides of your body. Let it flow over your third eye, down the throat, and continue the flow of water all the way down to the root chakra. During this process feel the cool, calming and closing of the chakras as you are extinguishing their light and shutting them off.

The continued practice of opening your chakras will increase your awareness and clarity. If you specifically want to heighten your mental mediumship, you may choose to perform a shortened version of this exercise to relegate your chakra opening to mediumship — the sixth chakra. You may find yourself in a situation where you do not have the ability or time to enjoy the full chakra opening exercise, however you can spare a few seconds to solely awaken the third eye.

This is often the technique I use when I run into a friend or client who has a quick psychic question and seeks an answer. By simply opening my sixth chakra, I am able to gain immediate insight and then shut it off when complete. Not only does this maintain my psychic energy, it is a necessity to keep energetically shielded and avoid becoming drained – a common ailment which psychics are susceptible to if not properly protected. You too will be able to perfect this ability, and will learn how to open and close your third eye… in the blink of an eye!

Faithfully,
Marin

More on: Afterlife, Features, news, Psychic Marin ext. 5113

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7 Ways to Develop Detachment

June 7, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Alina Mikos

In a world focused of ‘keeping up with the Jones’ and romantic idealism such as ‘you complete me’, it’s no wonder we find ourselves attaching our emotions and happiness to outside sources rather than going with the flow that life has to offer. With some helpful everyday guidelines, though, we can keep ourselves on the proverbial healthy spiritual track.

1. Make peace with your past
When we hold on to negative feelings and resentments towards others, we are attaching ourselves to past situations and their painful emotions. If we allow ourselves some emotional detachment, we will realize that these events have already transpired, so what is the point in continually reliving them? By forgiving others, we not only refuse to surrender our power over the past but also allow ourselves to move forward with a feeling of lightness and freedom.

2. Hold on loosely
In personal relationships we can easily become attached to another, and while committing our love to someone is a beautiful life experience, all of us must retain our own identity and spiritual inner strength. We need to appreciate and respect our loved ones without leeching on to their lives and trying to control them.

3. Do not let outside influences define you
We live in a material world without a doubt, but recognizing that these physical objects do not define us is the key to releasing attachment. If we are constantly defining ourselves and our self-worth by the latest in fashion, cars, luxury trips, and so forth, we will forever be controlled by these things, and by the people who also bind themselves to these outside, insubstantial influences.

4. Be open minded
We all have our comfort zones concerning the people in our lives and the environments we feel safe and familiar with. These patterns of living persuade us to attach ourselves to what we are accustomed to, cheating us out of new experiences and relationships. Without change, there will be no spiritual growth and our life experiences will shrink down to only what we currently know and feel safe and comfortable with.

5. Live in the now
Past memories and future possibilities can distract us from living in the moment, thus missing out on whatever life experiences we could be learning from. If we are attached and focused on past events or future hopes, we cannot move freely in the moment, because each experience is tainted by either regret or expectation.

6. Be aware of your own thought processes
Regrettably, it can be all too easy to attach ourselves to people, objects or our environments because we all crave security, acceptance and love. The key is to realize we need to have these connections but not to rely on them to complete us. When we become overly attached to these outside sources, we all too often want to control and manipulate them, hindering us from fully living in the moment. This can place us in a state of panic, with our attempts to posses or control something outside of us ultimately resulting in the loss of that control we erroneously thought we had.

7. Release the need to know or control
If we place future expectations on every moment, we sacrifice our ability to appreciate that moment, whether it is harmful or helpful to our future. It is important to allow ourselves to go with the ‘flow’ of what life brings us, while keeping our eyes on our fundamental goals. If we are emotionally invested in each moment for some opportunity it may bring us in the future, we risk a lifetime of missed real and present experiences and the feeling of never quite reaching our desired destination.

More on: Alina Mikos, Body/Mind/Spirit, Features

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Other Planetary Returns

June 7, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Debbie Keil-Leavitt

We know about the “coming of age” that happens when we hit our Saturn return at the ages of 28-29 and 58-60. However, the other planets and the Sun also “come home” in your natal chart. All of their cycles mark exciting and important times in your life. Mars and Jupiter’s returns each offer a “birth” of a new you in their individual realms, as does Saturn’s. Even slow-moving Uranus can provide such a rebirth, as many of us are now living beyond 82-84. You can look forward to a new you on each of these returns:

Sun (Self-expression): The Solar (Sun) return always happens within a few days of your birthday. The planetary influences at that time set the tone for the upcoming year. It’s a great time to consult your locational astrologer to plan a fun vacation to where you can experience this annual rebirth of your self-expression and renewal of spirit and energy. No wonder we celebrate with our friends and family on this day!

Mars (Self-assertion, sexual drive and energy): Your first Mars return just after age two repeats through your life in slightly over two year cycles. The first return is often described as the “terrible twos.” This is when children first express independence and self-assertion through their often repeated, “no!”

As you grew and adapted to life, you learned to cooperate with others. Your regular Mars return reminds you of your ability to just say “no,” when necessary. These are highly energizing times, when you remember to focus on taking care of yourself and your goals. At the same time, the playfulness of a two-year-old can show up in fun and adult sexy ways. You may well find a revival of the excitement and enthusiasm you and your partner had for each other at your magical beginning.

Jupiter (Education, travel, expansion): This return happens approximately every twelve years. At the time of your twelfth birthday, the lessons of pre-adolescence were coming to an end and you were expanding your view of life. You were becoming aware of what you wanted to “grow up to be,” while becoming attracted to a wider group of people. When you reach age 23-24, you are finding financial independence. This is the phase when you begin seeking to fulfill your life’s calling.

By age 35-37, you are likely having the learning experiences of a career, responsible family life, or both, and may well be on your path. By age 47-49, you are further established in your life’s work. The next cycle brings you to 58-62. Children have likely left the home if your path has brought you a family, or you may seek a new direction in your career. This could bring the freedom to travel or study independently, for a new path in life. This stage, or any of the twelve-year stages beyond it, may finally bring you to your ultimate calling.

Saturn (Responsibility, the structures and form in our lives): At age 29, you’ve passed the second Jupiter learning cycle and are expected to put it into practice at this time. You are approaching the glaring age of 30 when there are expectations of being established in your career and possibly have started a family. While it has been described as difficult, it truly is a time of building an important structure for your middle life period. If your dreams haven’t come to fruition, keep an eye on that Jupiter return — it will arrive in five or six years.

By age 58-62, you have been producing on the job, through creativity, or at home — for some time. You are now also experiencing a Jupiter return within just a few years, so you may be considering whether you are truly fulfilled in your job, or are looking to build a new structure in life. Do you want to finally become a political activist, an artist, or find another creative venture? Now would be a great time to start.

At age 82-84, we experience a Uranus return. This offers the ultimate “freeing” experience. The joy we often see in the faces of people beyond this age appears to be a full acceptance of life, learned from a lifetime of these cycles.

Your planetary returns are wonderful reflections of the timetable to the ongoing rebirth of your life directions and dreams. Through them you can see your resilient spirit and the joy of fulfilling your life path. “Big wheel keep on turnin’!”

More on: Debbie Keil-Leavitt, Features, Practical Astrology

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Your Numerology Forecast

June 6, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Staff

Maintaining the wise and compassionate focus of this 9 Universal Month hasn’t been easy so far, and will be challenging through this week, thanks to the lightning-bolt presence of Uranus in the sign of Aries the Ram, intensified by both Jupiter and Mercury.

For anyone who experienced surprises and excitement (both pleasant and unpleasant) around May 27 and at the end of last week, you can expect another jolt by Tuesday when Jupiter (expansion and opportunity) and Uranus (freedom and invention) meet in go-getting Aries. Don’t expect to snooze through these encounters!

Monday: Intellectual 7 could help you focus and analyze today in spite of all the scattered, disorganized and antsy influences surrounding you. But no matter how much you want to bust through obstacles, you’ll accomplish more if you wait till tomorrow.

Tuesday: Big business and multinational concerns prosper today for several reasons, starting with the vibration of this organized, expansive Universal 8 Day. Add the charged-up influence of Jupiter and Uranus in Aries (see above), and the stabilizing, practical effect of Mercury (mind) with Saturn (structure), and you can accomplish miracles.

Wednesday: The influence of this 9 Universal Day in a 9 Month makes it an excellent time to gain perspective and some closure regarding the rapid-fire shifts brought about by Uranus in the past weeks. Mercury (mind, communications) works with Jupiter (expansion and opportunity) and Uranus (freedom and invention) to help you not only make sense of it all, but communicate your conclusions to others.

Thursday: This Universal 1 Day knows exactly what to do with the charged-up atmosphere of the week – blast through barriers and initiate new projects!

Friday: This could be an uncomfortable day, because dreamy, visionary Master Number 11/2 (1+1=2) rules, but its sensitivity may find the week’s intensity a bit overwhelming. Also, the argumentative meeting between Mercury (mind) and Mars (will and action) won’t help, so be good to yourself and delay confrontations till the weekend if you can.

Saturday: At last! This fun-loving Universal 3 Day encourages you to put on your fancy duds, beach wear or hiking boots and give yourself a break today. Just leave your credit cards at home, because the intensity of the week’s astrology could make it all too easy to be extravagant.

Sunday: What have you learned in the past two weeks, and what changes do you want to consider as a result? This Universal Karma Number 13/4 day is the perfect time to apply new insights to old structures and assumptions.

The numerology in these weekly forecasts is Universal rather than Personal. It describes trends and energies which affect everyone. To learn how to calculate your Personal year, month and day, check out the new “What’s Your Power Number?”

More on: Features, Practical Astrology, Staff

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How to Interpret Water Dreams

June 6, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Cortney Litwin

Whether you’re swimming in a peaceful lake or running from a flood, a dream about water can offer valuable insights about your inner life. If the water is calm and clear, you’re in a centered state of being (or getting there, anyway). If the water is dirty and/or tumultuous, you’re in need of some clarity during a challenging situation.

Sometimes a water dream will have a luminous quality that’s tremendously uplifting. Those dreams are rare and usually contain a message about your spiritual growth, like a spiritual progress report. More likely, though, if you dream about water, it’s a commentary on your feelings.

Rosenen in Downey, California, who happens to be a Cancer (a Water sign), frequently dreams of water during troubling times:

I notice that every time I am in a challenging situation, I always dream of water. In one dream, I have a bird’s-eye view of a deep blue sea. In other dreams, I’m looking at a flowing river from up above, or walking beside a riverbank with crystal clear water. Recently, I dreamed I was under a concrete structure of a wharf, looking at a tiger walking beneath the water.

This is a wonderful example of how dreams can offer emotional insights. Rosenen’s dreams of being above the water indicate she’s able to rise above troubling situations. This objectivity would be especially useful during conflicts with someone she’s close to. Another positive symbol is the flowing water, which is a sign of being adaptable, as in “going with the flow.”

Conversely, Rosenen’s dream of being under a wharf points to her being closer to an emotional situation, while the tiger may be a warning of some anger under the surface of her consciousness. Or the tiger could symbolize her inner power, which she can draw upon during stressful times.

Rechille in Sarasota, Florida has Moon is in Pisces, the sign ruled by Neptune, the god of the sea. Not surprising, she often dreams of water scenarios:

I always dream that I am in water. Sometimes I’m swimming, and sometimes I’m tying to go across and I need to swim. Once I dreamt that I was sleeping and and the whole house was full of clear, clean water. At other times the water is dirty. What do these water dreams mean?

The houseful of water is a powerful symbol for Rechille. Because the Moon rules one’s feelings and home life, and Rechille’s Moon is in a Water sign, she has an exceptional ability to connect with her emotions through water dreams, especially if those dreams focus on her family. What’s more, Moon in Pisces indicates great sensitivity and intuition. As shown in her dreams, Rechille “swims” through life on the flow of her feelings and inner guidance. The clarity of the water reveals the status of her family ties, and perhaps the influence of family patterns, too. Clear water indicates a healthy emotional connection with her family, while dirty water means she needs to clear up some emotional issues, some of which pertain to her home life.

Of course, you don’t have to be a Water sign to have a water dream. Katie is an Aries from Levittown, Pennsylvania. She received an A on her spiritual report card in this inspiring dream:

I am climbing this waterfall, but I keep falling. I have a lot of trouble getting to the top, but when I do, there is the most powerful energy there — I can feel it even in the dream. At the top of the waterfall are thousands of beautiful clear quartz crystals instead of rocks. There are some rose quartz and purple quartz as well. There is also a pond of water so clear you can see right down to the bottom. The water sparkles. It feels so inspiring to be at the top. What does this all mean?

Katie deserves a round of applause for getting to the top! Or at least, that’s where she’ll be if she continues to focus on her spiritual life. To reach such a place of spiritual power, she’ll have to surmount the inner and outer obstacles that hinder her progress. Inner blocks might include issues involving self-esteem, emotional clarity, purpose or faith. Outer blocks will be the people and situations standing in the way of her true path (such obstacles often appear in our lives when we are doubtful of our direction). The rose quartz symbolizes the energy of love, while the purple quartz highlights the spiritual energy of the dream. Katie is definitely moving in the right direction.

If you have a water dream, notice the clarity and stability of the water. Then take note of your feelings in the dream. These clues will reveal the state of your emotional and/or spiritual life.

More on: Cortney Litwin, Dreams, Features

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Your Soul’s Quest

June 5, 2010 at 5:00 pm
By Staff

The 22 cards of the Tarot’s Major Arcana are a map of the ascending spiral dance of your Soul’s quest for evolution and enlightenment. Each card marks a step along the way and offers profound insights regarding where you are on your journey, why, and how to get the most out of each step.

You begin your journey as The Fool (0). In modern decks, The Fool is shown as naÔve and a bit unconscious of his surroundings. But older decks often reveal The Fool as a carnival huckster or thief, a person steeped in the material world, greedy and grasping.

The Magician (I) is the one who jars you out of your trance. These days they are often a speaker who excites you by demonstrating the powers of meditation, or the Law of Attraction, or perhaps a particular psychic ability. You battle your way through the crowd surrounding the speaker at the end of the lecture, and finally get to express your enthusiasm. The Magician smiles and hands you a map, which leads you to …

The Priestess (II), your first true spiritual teacher. She may instruct you in the mysteries of Tarot or meditation, psychic development or Reiki healing. When you have learned enough, she pulls back the curtain behind her and gestures you down the path to …

The Empress (III), who is Mother Earth, the Feminine Force, source of fertility, abundance, cycles and seasons, creation and destruction. Through her you learn how things unfold without intervention, that everything has its time, and that energy and possibility wax and wane, just as the Moon does. She then passes you on to her consort …

The Emperor (IV), who is the Masculine Force which expresses through will, action, order and form. He is the Grail King, the archetypal ruler whose health, for good or ill, determines the well being of his kingdom. At his best, the Emperor is a benevolent, compassionate and caring ruler; at worst, he brings famine, war and destruction.

The Pope or Hierophant (V) is the first teacher who challenges you, who forces you to measure your new-found beliefs and knowledge against others’ perceptions. Here you get to find out what your friends and family think of your new ideas. If, after seeing their reactions, you want to continue on this path, you are granted permission to move on to …

The Lovers (VI). Originally The Lovers showed a young man choosing between two women, or two paths, deciding whether to go for carnal satisfaction or a higher, more sacred experience. Although today’s decks often show a couple, The Lovers card still asks you to choose your path, sacred or profane, and then to follow it without hedging.

If you again choose the sacred path, you next learn how to use the Feminine and Masculine Forces, beginning with …

The Charioteer (VII), who demonstrates the power of focused will. He shows you how to control his team of horses or Sphinxes, not by using reins, but through the sheer impact of steady, powerful intent. You practice driving his chariot down the road to discover …

Strength (VIII), a woman leaning affectionately on a full grown lion. Her strength is a peaceful and loving heart, and she tames even the most ferocious creatures by approaching them with both kindness and kinship. Using the Feminine Force, the Law of Attraction, she creates by making a place where the possible can take form..

Now you move on to a path which begins at the foot of a mountain and leads to …

The Hermit (IX), an old, solitary man in tattered clothes. You almost move on without speaking, until you recognize the wisdom in his ancient eyes. He guides you into the cave of your own heart, and teaches you to be quiet and still, and in the silence discover who you really are.

You depart The Hermit’s sanctuary by the back door, and find yourself stepping off into space! You fall, turning and turning, whirled around and around by the action of …

The Wheel of Fortune (X). Finally, you stop spinning and land! Dizzy and tired, you look around to get your bearings, and are stunned to see that you’re back where you began, but somehow … not. As you puzzle over your disorientation, you see before you …

Find out where the Wheel of Fortune leads in Part II …

More on: Features, Practical Astrology, Staff

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