We all routinely experience situations that catalyze challenging states within us. These negative emotions are so common that we have a plethora of words to describe them: aggravation, anger, annoyance, anxiety, consternation, depression, displeasure, distress, exasperation, frustration, fury, hatred, impatience, indignation, irritation, outrage, peevishness, petulance, pique, rage, resentment, strain, stress, unhappiness, vexation and worry -- to name a few!

The good news is that each and every negative state offers you a golden opportunity for clearing and awakening!

Many people blame the catalyzing person or situation when they feel negative emotions -- i.e., "He made me feel this way!" But by projecting responsibility for our emotions outside ourselves, we also give away our power to transform them. Each of us is solely responsible for how we feel.

Rather than cast blame elsewhere, be thankful when a person or situation stimulates a negative emotion within you. You have been given a precious gift: the awareness of a wounded place where you still need healing. If you had been entirely whole and healthy in that area, the negative emotion would never have arisen.

Here's a client-tested "Ask and Receive" process to use negative emotions as opportunities for clearing and awakening: 

1. Be thankful to the person or situation that catalyzed your negative reaction for helping you feel where you need healing. This gratitude can be expressed mentally or verbally.

2. Notice where in your physical body you are feeling the negative emotion most strongly. If you're having trouble pinpointing the location, say, "Spirit, please help me feel where this negative emotion is focused." (Negative emotions are commonly felt in the heart chakra and stomach area.) 

3. As you hold your concentration in this area, say, "Spirit, please saturate this area with your healing, loving light. Please help me release all energy that does not serve me, to the greatest extent that will serve my highest need, right now. Thank you."

4. Relax and allow Spirit to do all the clearing work. Do not try to help in any way. Focus on your breath as it calmly and naturally breathes itself. If thoughts arise, smile and return your attention to your breath. Monitor what's happening energetically with your remaining awareness.  

As Spirit clears the negative energy, most people experience increased bliss and happiness. This is because nature abhors a vacuum: as the low-vibration negative energy is released, high-vibration spiritual energy automatically flows in to take its place. And the more we clear away the dark energies we've attracted, the more we naturally become aware of the already enlightened consciousness within us!   

If you're not already familiar with how to use my "Ask and Receive" technique, there are a few additional pointers that will help you use it with maximum effectiveness; you can read my original "Ask and Receive" article here. You can also download a 30-minute MP3 of me guiding you through a series of guided invocations for spiritual awakening and integration.

As always, I appreciate your feedback on how this "Ask and Receive" technique works for you!   

4/11, 8:06 am - 11:39 pm (Leo)

4/13, 3:59 pm - 4/14, 2:42 am (Virgo)

4/15, 4:49 pm - 4/16, 3:00 am (Libra)
4/17, 10:45 pm - 4/18, 2:20 am (Scorpio)

4/11 (Mon). The week either side of today can be explosively volatile, since a Mars-Pluto square can be a "powder keg" aspect. Proceed with extreme caution and diligent mindfulness, and tread carefully around potentially dangerous people or situations. Harness this energy positively with new beginnings, joyful sexual expression, high-energy workouts and assertive action for worthy causes.           There's also a Mercury-Jupiter conjunction in Aries today, powerfully boosting learning and information sharing. This aspect could make it easy to get lost in your enthusiasm about what you're sharing. Given today's other aspect, be sure to notice how it's being received!

4/12 (Tue). Divinely inspired creativity gets a boost from today's Venus-Pluto quintile. Also be open to intuitive hits about relationships and finances.

There are no major aspects April 13-16.

4/17 (Sun). You may become aware of areas in which you can benefit from mentoring and healing around this time as Jupiter semi-squares Chiron. If you're the one providing the mentoring or healing, your abilities may enjoy a subtle boost.
        April's Full Moon shines forth today at 10:44 PM (27°44' Libra). For starters, take stock of how you're doing with your relationships, creative expression, diplomatic skills and social life.
        This Full Moon's Sabian Symbol is, "A man becoming aware of spiritual forces surrounding and assisting him." Key aspects to the Moon make this possible for each of us, especially a trine from Neptune, soft angles from the lunar nodes and a loose opposition from Jupiter. If you like, phrase this symbol as a request -- "Spirit, please make me aware of the spiritual forces surrounding and assisting me, to the greatest extent will serve my highest need" - then relax and see what happens!

Click here for the April forecast.

Benjamin offers shamanic astrology consultations (experience your planets!) and shamanic healing to both local and long-distance clients.