The Know Insider Weblog

Astrology is the study of the differing planetary energies and their effects on humans. It is not fortune telling it is an incredible calculable tool, which when studied, can help you find out the reason for this incarnation, what you have incarnated to learn this life time to help you through your evolvement.

Through the study of astrology and your birth chart, you will learn the qualities, gifts and talents which you have brought in with you from previous lives that when realized and harnessed can be shared with the world and humanity.
The planets have differing qualities of energy, some of these qualities I will now list for you, as examples. The Sun, a true star is a warm, generous ball of fire, with a never ending amount of energy which it lovingly gives to all life. The Sun represents our Father.

The Moon is quite different from the Sun, it allows us to feel our emotions, and it also influences the waters of the seas giving them higher or lower tides depending on the phases of the moon. It allows us to get in touch with our past and to be in tune with our feminine side and to nurture. The Moon represents our Mother.

The planet Venus has differing qualities again; its energies allow the opportunity to relate to others, to have self worth or lack of it. It is the planet of love, beauty, balance and peace. All these qualities of energy can be played out negatively or positively. It is our choice, so once we are aware of these energies and with some knowledge of Astrology we can choose to play our game of life positively. Then, our life will be more enjoyable, more peaceful within ourselves and the world and more content with our lot, because, what we give out we get back, it’s that simple.

Now, my belief is that on a soul level, we as humans chose the parents, the date, time and place we needed to be born at, so that the planets would be in such a configuration, and beaming their differing qualities of energy, that we need to have this life time to learn the lessons, required to help us climb a little further up the ladder of evolution…
We as human beings are here to learn, we do not do things wrong or make mistakes, we are just learning. Life is a journey of learning. Whilst we are here on earth we will continue to learn our lessons, whether we like it or not, whether we are aware of it or not.

The more we are open and aware of any reactions we may have when interacting with others, and the more flexible we are to change. The easier our life will flow.
By finding out just where all the planets were stationed in the heavens, when you were born will tell an astrologer just what lessons you have incarnated to learn.

An astrologer will cast a natal birth chart for you; with the information of the place and time you were born. With this information an astrologer can see in the chart just where the planets were, and if they have any aspects (connections) to each other. These aspects can be easy or a difficult, thereby indicating where your greatest challenges in life are.

Through the study of astrology and being willing to change my dysfunctional behaviour I have created a very happy, peaceful and fulfilled life. I have found creative abilities which I was not aware of before, and find myself at the great age of 62 building and maintaining websites http://www.soulstardesign.com, singing, boogie boarding, painting, and generally having a wonderful life.
I have created one of my websites http://www.cdordersonline.com to help promote local talent here on the Gold Coast Australia. My other website http://www.joanellerby.com has more information on astrology, with keywords for all 12 signs of the zodiac explained to help you.

Most people believe that you must have religious training or attend a church regularly in order to pray. The truth is anyone can pray. You can pray anywhere you like. No one needs to hear you pray except GOD or Jesus, if you believe in them.

Prayer is the best meditation there is. Simply chanting or breathing a certain way might calm you outwardly, but inner peace comes through prayer meditation.

So many people think all praying is like what they have heard. Children saying bless mother, grandmother, etc. Others who say lengthy prayers that seem to be formatted in some special way.

GOD doesn’t listen more to prayers that are said in some sort of format invented by holy men than he does to simple prayers issued by people who are sinners. As a matter of fact, He listens to the prayers of the sinner even more and the angels in heaven rejoice whenever a sinner asks Jesus into his heart.

Jesus didn’t come to earth to gather the righteous, he came to save the sinners. We all sin. None of us are perfect. You do not need to be perfect to use prayer and meditate with GOD. He listens to everyone.

There is always a lot of focus on things to pray for and whether or not GOD will answer your prayers. GOD knows what is in your heart and knows what you need more than you do. Praying for a Ferrari and not getting one does not mean GOD isn’t listening to you or answering your prayers.

Ask for things that will help you achieve the purpose that GOD has for you. Ask GOD to guide you and let you know what that purpose is. Ask GOD for wisdom. Ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit so that you will know the things to ask for.

You do not need to go to a special location to use prayer meditation. You simply need to make time for GOD in your life. Even those of you who go to church need to do this. Not only on Sunday morning, either. Who are you to say how much time you are willing to give GOD, who gave you the time you now have in the first place?

Going to church is a good thing, but setting time aside to pray and meditate alone with GOD is even more important. You can do it at home or anywhere you choose. You can choose a special place that helps you be calm and in a meditative mood.

I like to turn off all the lights and play worship music for awhile. As I listen to the music, I focus on ridding my mind of all things worldly. I attempt to not think about my work, things I need to do, things that bother me, people who irritate me, or anything else that might distract me during meditation.

Once I have achieved that calmness, (you will know), then I begin to pray. I ask GOD to fill me with the Holy Spirit, reaffirm my love and belief in GOD and Jesus Christ, and ask GOD to reveal to me the things I should pray for.

This works. Ask and ye shall receive does not mean you get the Ferrari. It means you can gain the wisdom to know your true purpose on this earth, something that most people, even Christians, do not know.

When you know what GOD wants you to do, then pray and meditate for the things you need to achieve those goals, you will see your prayers answered quickly. You cannot just believe in GOD, you have to believe GOD will provide those things you need.

Believe those prayers will be answered. Meditate and envision those things being given to you, those doors opening for you, that life you want being given to you.

Getting your prayers answered through prayer meditation is the easy part. It is what you do after you receive your gifts from GOD that is difficult. You must openly and proudly give GOD all the glory for the things He has helped you to accomplish.

Give credit where credit is due. We all like to proclaim how smart we are or how good we are and we like people to think that is why we prosper. We want them to think we are special. It is much better for you to let them know that all that you have and all that you achieve is because GOD gave it to you for believing in Him.

However you choose to meditate before GOD, I advise you to start soon. The sooner you start, the sooner you will learn how to talk with GOD and the sooner He can give you all the things He wants you to have.

Remember to do this alone. Remember to rid your mind of all things that are of this world and focus on GOD. Remember that he listens to everyone who will set this time aside in His Name. You will find also that the more glory you give to GOD for all He has done for you, the more He will continue to do for you.

This article is not intended to offend anyone’s chosen religious preferences. I wrote the truth as I know the truth to be. I hope you will come to know the same truth or at the very least some parts of this article reach you and teach you how to pray.

Robin Darch has a website at meditation-tips.com giving useful information and links about meditation and its benefits.

Trees play an important role in Taoist practice … They serve, for one, as a metaphor for the human body, awakening to its natural state:

~ feet open and alive, like the roots of a tree, descending and spreading and drawing life-force/nutrients upward;

~ torso strong and fluid/radiant at its core, like the trunk of a tree containing and drawing sap upward, to nourish branches & leaves;

~ limbs lengthening, like the branches of a tree;

~ crown of the head soft & receptive, sense organs purified & spirit quickened, like the beautiful flowers and luscious fruits of trees in the spring and summer seasons.

What also has been discovered ~ through the “research” of the Masters of the Taoist martial & healing arts, and many generations of qigong practitioners ~ is that trees are actually nourished by the “negative” energy of human beings. So when we practice qigong next to a tree, and in that practice release energies that are harmful or constricting to us, the tree (that is our practice partner) absorbs these energies as though they were, to it, a form of food! The relationship is, by design, a mutually beneficial one.

When you’re cultivating the capacity to see the energy-bodies/auras of beings, trees are a good place to start … Somehow their subtle bodies tend to be more visible, at certain times of the day especially (dawn & dusk) than the subtle bodies of other life-forms. If you’d like to try this, go out at dawn or dusk, when the sun has dropped below the horizon, or hasn’t quite risen, but still there’s plenty of light in the sky … choose a tree (pine trees are great for this), and then let your gaze rest very softly upon it. Let your focus be diffuse, as though you were making a relaxed effort not only to see the entire tree, but at the same time to expand your peripheral vision. Or imagine that somehow you’re able, and are going to look right “through” the physical form of the tree. What you’ll notice, eventually, is a golden-white “outline,” which is the subtle body of your new friend, revealing itself to you.

Taoism presents us, also, with a whole variety of tree-hugging practices. And for the same reason that trees’ subtle bodies are relatively easy to see (because they have ~ at least the healthy ones ~ a lot of energy!), they also are great hugging partners: they’ll give you energy, balance your energy, and happily receive energy from you. And if you don’t have an actual tree handy, simply imagining the practice is almost as good … Stand with your feet shoulder-width, and parallel. Bend your knees just slightly (feeling the backs of the knees as soft and hollow), allowing your weight to descend fully into your feet, legs and pelvis. Then float your hands and elbows up to the level of your heart, palms facing your torso, creating a circle with your arms, with four or five inches between the gently extended fingers of your right & left hands … just as though you were indeed hugging a tree. And then imagine that you are hugging that tree, and as you hug the tree you’re also becoming a tree: feel your roots descending, sap being drawn upward through the center of your torso, your arms & legs lengthening, your crown softening to receive sunlight and the energy of the blue sky from above you, your senses becoming more clear and bright … Feel yourself blossoming, bearing fruit, becoming the meeting-place of Heaven & Earth … How wonderful!

Elizabeth Reninger holds Masters degrees in Sociology & Chinese Medicine, is a published poet, and has been exploring Yoga ~ in its Taoist, Buddhist & Hindu varieties ~ for more than twenty years. Her teachers include Richard Freeman and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. For more essays on yoga-related topics, please visit her website at http://www.writingup.com/blog/elizabeth_reninger.