Amelia Mapstone's Blog

Another one?YES.Shout-out to Emma, who's apparently into astrology almost as much as I am!Her debut album came out last Friday, and it's PHENOMENAL. So many great dynamics... I couldn't help myself.There's a huge sense of self-awareness and transformation in this album, which made it hard to split into different signs. Feel free to let me know what you think, and check out Villains on YouTube, iTunes, and Spotify!ARIES - Take Me OutWhile the song begins with a more solemn, nervous, and reserved undertone, the chorus erupts with you are the liar, I am the fire, a line that definitely displays the uncanny self-awareness of Aries.Additionally, the lyrics are so self-conscious, almost begging the enemy to attack, because war is expected. It's that confident kind of paranoia that makes the Arien dynamic both powerful and a bit self-destructive. Only the zodiacal warrior would confidently expect to be taken out by so-called "friends."TAURUS - What I Felt With YouIt may not seem like it, but Taurus is arguably the gentlest energy of the Earth Trine, and potentially the most insecure if emotions are not stable. She's also easily taken advantage of by toxic energies, due to the craving for affection and affirmation.The prequel song to this one is definitely "Fixation" from Emma's EP, "Magnetised."Here, Taurus is looking back at a sad relationship and break-up and reflecting on how damaging it was. This is where growth begins and the difference between free will and possession is established. Evolving Tauran energy realizes the illusion of possession and the truth of freedom.If you can't stand the color blue because that's what [you] felt with [them], it might be best to move on.GEMINI - DirtThe lyrics are dripping with Gemini vibes! This altitude ain't all I got over you? C'mon - that's epic!This sign is great at BS, but doesn't typically put up with it. This is all about straightforward communication, even if it hurts. It's the blunt child, the sassy teenager, the businessperson who doesn't f*ck around.There's also the classic stereotype that Gemini spills all the tea in a good gossip sesh. It's not quite blackmail, but it's definitely a truth-bomb.CANCER & LEO - IcarusSince there's eleven songs in the album, I was grateful that these two fit so well together with the same song. Of course the parent energies of the zodiac get the lament of Icarus.Here, you have the turbulent emotions of Cancer and the frustrated passion of Leo. Together, there's a need for constant attention and success, but simultaneously it's an inner battle between being on top and flying too close to the sun.Emma seems to have written the song to herself during a low point in her life, and this is a huge reason it works for the two signs. The lyrics are speaking to "you," which could be herself, the listener, or in this case - a dual discussion between caring Cancer and melodramatic Leo. The dynamic is extraordinary, reminding everyone to take a deep breath and remember that self-care and lightening the mood is more important than the spotlight.VIRGO - PettyThis is probably one of the more passive-aggressive songs on the album, which is perfect, especially for anyone whose Mars is in Virgo. All of the songs are somewhat about being the bigger person and transcending the BS, but this one plays with it a little more by directly calling someone out on their relational issues. Since Virgo, like Gemini, is ruled by Mercury, the communicative energy can be just as savage when it comes to laying out the truth. This creates an interesting dynamic between "Dirt" and "Petty."'Cause boy, I miss your mother's dinners more than I miss you.(That's Virgo for you.)LIBRA - Fake FriendsOnly Libra would make the agreement with someone to be friends in public, but enemies in private. He even agrees that he's "not innocent." There's a strange kind of social diplomacy that only works with this cardinal air energy. He accommodates all parties, even when intense emotional truth is at stake.Let's just coexist, no one needs to know we're on each other's list. I mean, it's as simple as that. It might as well be that cliche "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Sometimes, being a social butterfly means personal sacrifice, when evolving energies (*cough*Emma*cough*) try to correspond with the unevolved.SCORPIO - Villains Pt. 1Another obvious one, this song is all about feeling like a monster and projecting that self-image onto other people. This is perhaps the darkest song on the album, and also the most threatening. Scorpio is all about that scary gut-feeling, the deep instinct that can't be ignored.It isn't without reason, though. The second verse is particularly telling of this, because while it speaks of demons you aren't supposed to see (Scorpio is the best at keeping secrets), it also hints at the truth: the devil walks amongst ya. There's blurred lines between who to blame and who to save, which is such a Scorpion vibe. Similar to Aries, they set themselves on fire just to light the room. (Can we please all give Emma a round of applause for her flawless lyrics??)With the last line being welcome to the show, there's also a sense that the whole thing is a sick and twisted performance. It's super meta, because she's reflecting not only on herself but on the creation she's made (her album) to expose the "characters" (subjects of her songs) of her story. HIGH INTENSITY SCORP, MUCH?SAGITTARIUS - Burn the WitchSagittarius doesn't play games, but he will fight if conflict arises. He knows the difference between defensive and offensive fighting, and finds the time to use each when it's appropriate. The lyrics even directly reference the five of swords Tarot card, which represents conflict in relationships and in oneself.Sagittarian energy fluctuates freely and knows that all endings are also beginnings. It's the aftermath of Scorpio - death and rebirth - choosing new paths to walk on and warding off unwanted negative energy. He knows it's there, but he's ending it now, through cathartic ceremony.CAPRICORN - Villains Pt. 2Here, Capricorn faces a loss of control and realizes that it never existed in the first place. I'm confident that this song directly references a literal list of "good" and "bad" people that Emma made, but it also represents the metaphor of everyone's human tendency to categorize individuals and situations. On this earthly plane, it seems so simple to put everything and everyone in boxes. But once we establish a more metaphysical comprehension, we realize that all lines are blurred. Even morality, which seems so finite here, is skewed.From a more secular perspective, this song is simply about the many psychological layers of human individualism. People aren't always as they seem, but that goes both ways. To truly understand a person's motives and actions, you must walk in their shoes.This cliche diverges into the spiritual idea that all living beings come from the same Source, and are therefore connected. Even though this song ends with a daunting question, where do I turn when I've turned on myself? there is hope in its silent answer - forgiveness. Forgiving yourself will cause a chain reaction of compassion for others, because we're all reflections of each other - colorful fragments of the same Light.AQUARIUS - AgendaAs soon as I heard this one, I knew it was the perfect Aquarian anthem!This is when Aquarius realizes that he's not only different from the crowd, but he loves being that way, and refuses to put up with an outdated system that won't accept or "approve" his true colors. "The man," big corporations, government, you name it. Nothing can stand in the way of this unique energy. I'm not even going to put any lyrics here - the song is so catchy, you need to listen to it to really understand what being an Aquarius is like. It's that heartfelt rebel vibe, with a mad dash of big plans!PISCES - Third EyeIntuition! Truth-seeing! Pisces is the final sign in the zodiac, and appropriately the final stage of ascendance. She's used to being called a victim, "too emotional," "too much" of everything. But she sees everything now - looking at you with [her] third eye.It's not what everyone else sees, of course. This is the kind of self-awareness that brings us full circle, contrasting the self-damage of Aries with self-love. She knows people will try to hurt her, but she won't react to it. Instead, she rises above it and claims her own world, breaking old habits and cleansing toxic energies. However, there is still that empathic layer to it, especially when the lyrics repeat what do you want from me? at the end of the song. Empaths often feel drained or claimed by narcissists and people who take advantage of their sensitivity. Inadvertently, they blame themselves for their apparent lack of understanding, focus, or stamina. It comes as no surprise to me that Emma struggles with chronic fatigue.You can imagine how ecstatic I got when I saw that Emma had written this song, and as soon as I heard it, I knew it was Piscean in nature. Metaphysical knowing without physical seeing. I love a good empath-anthem.Three cheers to her for peeling back all her layers and sharing her recent personal transformation through music! It's an Experience of an album. xo

Hello, lovely souls!Since Ariana Grande's new album came out today, I'm celebrating with some zodiacal highlights! There's 15 songs, and so some of the signs get more than one. Check it out and let me know what you think. xoARIES - borderline (feat. Missy Elliot) Obviously, Aries knows what he wants. He's a warrior, unafraid to scream his story to the whole world if he has to. If it means winning, and celebrating that victory. This song is the epitome of meeting your lover on the battlefield, and being victorious with them.TAURUS - sweetener What can I say? Taurus loves sensuality, including and especially when food's involved. It's all about what the body has to offer, and when she's hurting from the bitter pressures of the world, there's no better medicine than something sweet.GEMINI - goodnight n go This one might be kind of sad, but there's a deeper layer to all this fickle madness. Gemini constantly fights with himself about who and what to love, and throws mixed messages all over the place when communication is one-sided.By the end of the song, Ariana's going back and forth between a split harmony and a single voice. It ends with a lovely harmony to unite the conflicting thoughts and feelings, representing serious Gemini vibes.CANCER - raindrops (an angel cried) & breathin It can feel like the world's ending for her gentle heart. All that emotional overflow needs to go somewhere, and the best thing for an overwhelmed or sad Cancer is to breathe. Just keep breathin' and breathin' and breathin' and breathin'.LEO - blazed (feat. Pharrell Williams) This dazzling duet is full of flirtatious lyrics and sound, representing Leo's big heart and warm embrace. It depicts the kind of love that only Leo energy can call into being: fiery passion and gentle warmth. And it's the perfect song to relax and party to!VIRGO - God is a woman Sure, Virgo loves to serve, but she also enjoys being worshiped. She can prove to you she's worth it, too. She's the incarnate of the Divine Feminine, the holy harvest, the powerful essence of procreation, and the bridge between innocence and lust. Quiet and reserved on the outside, maybe. But if believing is seeing, then you see her truth before it's even realized, and believers get blessed!LIBRA - everytime & pete davidson Oh, Libra. He doesn't know when to stop flirting. Romance is a two-way street, and no energy knows this better than the hopeless romantic scale-bearer. Sometimes he leaves and then comes back even when it's not looking great. It's something out of Shakespeare.Additionally, Ariana's dedication to her fiancee displays the kind of harmonious affection that can come from mutual expression and commitment.SCORPIO - the light is coming (feat. Nicki Minaj)Most people assume Scorpio is stuck in the darkness, but they misunderstand - she likes it there. This is where she finds what was stolen from her and throws it into the light, uncovering the true depth of her spirit. She teaches us that our darkness is the perfect breeding ground for light.SAGITTARIUS - better off Despite being social, Sagittarius knows the importance of alone-time. He's better off being a wild one, because that's what makes his heart sing. His soul is a wanderer, and if someone doesn't want to wander with him, he'll happily leave. This energy is all about exploring your identity and not depending on someone else for validation.CAPRICORN - successful Well, she's a money-lover, isn't she? Unafraid of success because she knows she can have it. This song is a well-deserved celebration of success! As Ariana says, it feels so good to be so young and have this fun and be successful.AQUARIUS - get well soon At first glance, this may seem strange, but if you listen to the song, you'll understand. Aquarius is often stuck in his head, isolated, and this song encourages people to take care of their mental, emotional, and physical health. As much as we like to be aliens, we don't want to be alienated.PISCES - R.E.M. & no tears left to cryThese songs are the perfect transition between Pisces' love for dreamy romance and her transcendence into ultimate spiritual peace. As arguably the most empathic and spiritually sensitive sign in the zodiac, she's cried enough tears and is ascending to a new state of mind so that she can teach others to Love unconditionally.What a perfect finale. If you've listened to the album, you'll know I scrambled the order to fit the zodiac. Feel free to challenge my organization - I love a fun astrological/pop culture tea spill.

You may or may not have heard this from other energy workers, but your body is the best method of receiving direct Spiritual messages.To offer my perspective, let's cycle back to a little over a year ago. The eclipses were energetically similar to the ones we're currently transitioning through. Leo and Aquarius: my first and seventh houses. Identity crises, confusion, realizing and destroying old relationship habits, figuring out how to healthily coexist with other people.For the past year, this journey has revolved around my heart. It's been what I call a huge heart-cycle.I went through a really rough time last year because I was constantly criticizing and revising myself, thinking that mental illness and emotional turbulence were problems that had to be solved.A severe lack of honest and direct communication led to a fragmented reality, dissociated personality, and absolute heartbreak. I wasn't treating my body with respect. I wasn't taking care of myself.After a few days of nothing but guttural sobbing, I immediately came down with a nasty stomach bug that lasted a day and a half. It was a weird purge of all the negativity I had fed myself, and all the blockages I'd stowed in my solar plexus (the chakra of self-awareness and identity). Since then, I've learned to love myself gently and compassionately, without judgement or criticism. It's a practice, not a solution, so I'm constantly checking myself and making sure I still practice what I preach.This time around, I'm speaking my Truth so much, it's exhausting. Instead of using my energy to build walls (which fucking hurts, by the way), I'm using bursts of energy to be authentically me, even if that means expressing the "grossest" parts of myself - the stuff I'm not fond of. Looking at the beastly, more physical part of myself has given me a chance to Love myself fully, because I'm not as bad as I seemed to think.After about a month of intense throat chakra work, I've come down with a chest cold. It's gross, but this constant smackdown of sneezes is comical to me. All this phlegm symbolizes the communicative barriers I've spent far too long building. I'm speaking and singing so much, my throat hurts happily. I'm releasing so much bullshit, it's beautiful. I invite you to do the same.Listen to your body.Figure out where you stow your crap, and LET THAT SHIT GO. IT WILL FEEL SO GOOD WHEN YOU DO - I PROMISE. And remember: it's not just a one-time epiphany or meditation. It's a practice. You work on releasing shit for the rest of your life. It's part of taking care of yourself and giving yourself the best chance for happiness.And damn, who knows?? Maybe you'll uncover something stunning under all that fabricated grime.

Phases That MatterFor anyone who embraces the phases amid confusion.I have a habitof holding friends’ handslonger than I should—no matter gender or genitalia.I love to sit in their auras,thrive in the space betweenpalms, brushing shoulders—spheres of coiling chi.Like monks, stars, and trees,I desire entanglementthrough isolation.I anchor myselfin the intangible.Health class can’t diagram my naturewith demonstrations, innuendos, color-codedvisuals. You don’t need to know why I’m slowto grope and shed clothes, but quickto hold space.I’m a Phase inside phases—plasma beyond gas,water in ice—tucked under sleeves, drippingdown foreheads, lush laughter sharedbetween lovers or friends or whatever—orbiting, but never touching—perihelion.

But you know what does?Unconditional Love.It's difficult for most people to believe because all they've known is limited love - feelings based on expectation, physical reciprocity, and social or familial bias. All of that is part of the third dimension, and so it's natural.But when you strip yourself of everything - ego and trauma included - the only energy left is something we seem to stifle and ignore: an infantile flicker of light in the pit of your solar plexus. The flame whispers, "You are everything and more. I Love You as You are."Not convinced?To be clear, I think romance is a great thing. It opens all kinds of doors in the physical realm, and it can strengthen a relationship like nobody's business.But for me, it's not a necessity, but a bonus - an extra part of our world that helps us reunite with the Love energy that permeates all of existence.The kind of "romance" we usually see is either an illusion of perfection - perpetuated by pop culture - or an array of personal expectations and unsettled desires.The problem with this is that society has morphed our desires into an obstruction, so that we constantly long and lust for something we can (apparently) never have.Think about it.Directly and indirectly, you're constantly being told you're not good enough when you're alone, and that you need a romantic partner to be "complete," which is (forgive the tongue) ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT.Romance is only genuine when it comes from a choice you made. You should be romantic with someone if you want to, not because society dictates it.Furthermore, you shouldn't have to crave the mere feeling of romance, because while companionship is necessary for human existence, personifying and deifying romance only perpetuates the "Prince Charming" illusion.True perfection only exists on a metaphysical level, and while we can definitely blur the lines to come close, physical intimacy will never be enough to satisfy Soul. Bodies like quick gratification. Souls are infinite and require Eternity. Nothing lasts longer than Love. (I use the capital "L" deliberately - pure, raw "Love" is the pervasive origin of smaller loves.)When you strip yourself of ego/tribal/cultural/societal expectations, what's left? Who are you at your black-blue-and-violet core? Do you desire companionship because you're lonely? Are you lonely because you've neglected to give yourself and your Soul full-on acceptance and Unconditional Love?LOVE YOURSELF, WITHOUT EXPECTATIONS OR DEMANDS. YOU ARE YOUR FIRST PRIORITY, especially if your child-self was abused or neglected (in this life or others...but that's a chat for later). The cruelest people in this world are those who hate and are afraid of themselves. They reject themselves, and so they reject everyone.Spiritually, we are all reflections of each other, and so to Love oneself is to Love humanity - without expectations, judgement, or doubt.Romance is a byproduct - an oil paint splatter on the human canvas - of Unconditional Love, our Origin, our Truth. We're here to remember and recollect each Other.To you, as always, lights of Love and pieces of Peace.Thank you for reading. xo

We hear it all the time, especially regarding sexuality/sexual orientation (and our moon).My response: Yes. It is a phase. How astute and insightful of you to realize that our identities are both fluid and rigid because they come from Divine Source, yet are limited by the third dimension (not to mention, a Capricornian society that demands you "CHOOSE ONE"). (#SassMaster)It's true! We're Divinely Fluid beings lodged in stubborn ego-bodies. This means we have an array of beautiful identities to associate with, but we don't have to pick just one, because we're constantly changing. The way our souls express themselves through bodies is wild and challenging. Sometimes we don't even know what to expect. But that's the Beauty of it.Initially, this post was titled "Sexual Orientations in the Western Zodiac," and I was going to put on my "teacher" hat and create a wheel of sexual orientations to educate/entertain readers. But I quickly realized that the labels themselves aren't the point. (If you'd like to learn more though, check out the links at the end of this post.)Real talk: the point of both astrological and sexual identity isn't to label, but to explore a whole spectrum of possibilities and revel in the simple fact that identity is fluid. Like states of matter, phases of water, we express ourselves differently depending on the conditions we come to flourish in. Feelings and personal traits are not choices, but how we consciously express ourselves is. (And anyone with a busted throat chakra knows: we were made to express ourselves.) No matter how you identify/relate/associate, you are part of a perpetually evolving stream of energy, expressed through many nuances of the physical plane.Even though I practice astrology, which is riddled with all kinds of labels, it doesn't confine me. My soul is so much more than a rising Leo and Aquarian sun (especially when you take heliocentric astro into account!)Every good astrologer knows that the zodiac is simply a guide or a map, which our souls have been traveling through since the creation of our solar system. In many ways, everyone is an embodiment of the whole zodiac. No labels. No restrictions. Just sacred cycles.We can use all the definitions and symbols we want, but in the end: everyone flows. Once you realize and experience Truth, fear falls away and everything simplifies. Sexuality/sexual orientation in particular can be confusing because the more we learn, the less we seem to know.Spirituality is the same. Everyone's searching for someone/something/someplace to be, but here's the thing: we're always who/what/where we need to be, because even when we're unaware, we're evolving. That means: right now, as you are, you are your most evolved "you." Keep it up, friend. xoSo, if you identify with a particular label, great! If not, that's still fantastic!Breathe. Trust your Higher Self. Find the Flux and Flow. It's in all of us, no matter how we express it.Arcana of Astrology by Claire Goodchild - Black and the MoonHelpful links regarding sexuality/sexual orientations and their colorful communities:Ash's GAY-B-C's of LGBTQ+Gay CenterAsexuality Visibility and Education Network(Also, google is pretty great.)

In honor of Pride Month - which I can't seem to stop thinking about - allow me to present a simple response to the ignorant statement: "Pride is a deadly sin."Yes, you're right. Traditionally, pride is a sin, when it's toxic. But when it's pure, it's a fuel for self-empowerment, which we as a community crave - no, need.Pride is only harmful when we use it as a replacement for kindness, when we become so self-absorbed that we forget our true compassionate nature.The multicolored heart of this month's celebrations is a crystal of pride in its rawest form. All honest fractures and inclusions, no polish. There's no denying that LGBTQ+ people have been discriminated against and marginalized for centuries, due to society's general distaste for "abnormalities" and the pressure of religion's stubborn, doctrinal thumb.After all this time, a collective voice is medicinal. Double, triple dose. That's why it seems so loud. So vibrant. That's why the pride this time of year generates is shocking for those who are used to a silent system. (Let's make some ears ring!) People are disturbed, not only by societal change, but by aspects of life that seem new - even when they've been around this whole time, hiding in plain sight.Furthermore, pride for one's work is harmless and beautiful - whether that's creative work, graduating, getting a job, hard labor, marriage, raising children, or social justice. To be proud of one's accomplishments is completely natural. Western society still has plenty bruises, cuts, and razor bumps to work through, but we've come so far in this realm. Let's keep it up.

From the moon's phases and sign location to the planets that make aspects with it, there are many factors involved in the moon's effect on our feelings.Typically, the system is: fuller moon, fuller heart. But that isn't always the case. It depends on a person's natal chart, their personal transits, and the nature of the sign the moon resides in. When eclipses come into play, this adds deeper significance.As an astrologer, I take extra care in knowing a person's moon sign, since it's such a personal and private part of a natal chart. It also helps me better understand how someone processes emotion. A water sign moon, for example, will likely be extra turbulent or empathic in nature - feeling the flow deeper and stronger than others. Fire and air moon signs are more driven by passion and intellect (respectively), and can be emotionally explosive or detached. Earthy moons are grounded in practicality, structure, and service, which can turn into emotional forgetfulness.Our Moon is most comfortable in water signs, especially her ruling sign Cancer, but there's something secretly beautiful in all locations. Since we feel the moon's flow as she moves through the signs, it's a more immediate and temperamental energy. The zodiac is a cycle, after all, and our lives mimic this cycle.Once you're aware of your moon sign and how it affects your emotional grappling, your sense of Flow is heightened. By "Flow," I mean that sense of pure contentment and relaxation that comes with being and doing what you Love. When we better understand ourselves--even the shadowy parts--we learn how to more fully Love ourselves and those around us. You can uncover and work with this Flow by knowing your moon sign, studying how this interacts with the rest of your natal chart, and analyze how it creates aspects with the people and events in your life. Increased Flow will increase flow--your ability to fully experience and process feelings.Additionally, you can create an altar or sacred space specifically dedicated to our Moon and her beautiful, recycled sunlight. Since she reflects the Sun, she's a symbolic embodiment of empathy and revelation--shedding light on secrets that have been hidden for ages and having compassion for the shadows of human existence. A Moon altar doesn't mean you have to "worship" the moon, but it does mean you're paying attention to and making space for more emotional flow in your life. It doesn't have to be mystical, but it is certainly experimental and therapeutic. Creating a physical space with the intention of emotional stability simultaneously fashions a space in your mind for healthier emotional coping and increased flow.Some physical tools to induce spiritual and emotional awareness while increasing Flow could be: bowls of water, fountains, plants, moonstone, clear quartz, aquamarine, selenite, sodalite, opalite, seashells, and sea glass. You're not limited by these suggestions, of course. Find tools that you love to work with and make you feel "in-the-Flow." If keeping it around makes you feel peaceful and at ease, then it's probably meant to be! Trust your intuition--which is guided by your purest emotions--and your Heart.To you, I send lights of Love and pieces of Peace.

As a Catholic, Holy Week is my favorite time of year. I feel like I'm able to breathe again after Easter is over, but until then, a heaviness spreads in my chest and leaks through my skin. Until He rises, I feel stifled. I hold my breath every time, waiting for His Passion to manifest, not only through the story, but through my life. It's a simultaneous point of mourning and celebration for me, when time and space shatter and all I sense is Truth.This week, astrological aspects are harmonic with my religious and spiritual experience. I love when this happens because energies seem to collide - an apparent paradox that people don't always understand.Holy Saturday brings a full moon in Libra, which means it's opposing a fierce sun in Aries. We've already been experiencing an Arian stellium (four or more planets clustered in the same sign or house), and this aspect will restore balance. A Libran moon is a breath of fresh air, stemming from a place of delicious harmony and artistic wisdom. While the moon moves through Virgo, it will feel like we're a suffocating flame, but when it enters Libra, we're renewed again - like Jesus when he resurrects.The Passion is a story of opposing forces, and it's a struggle, but it's not quite a battle. Aries wants war, but Libra wants justice. So who's the winner? Who do we blame? Perhaps it was the Jews, who cast Jesus into the arms of the Romans, screaming "crucify him!" But then, wasn't it the Roman soldiers who carried out the murderous deed, who gave him a crown of thorns and taunted him to his death? But Jesus rose again...so does that make him the winner?Here's the kicker: there is no winner.When the soldiers come to arrest Jesus, a disciple takes out his sword and cuts off a soldier's ear, which Jesus scolds. This is a symbol for Aries energy, and so is the phrase "Crucify Him!" Aries is fueled by ego-passion and aggression. Even when intentions are good, it's easily swayed by its own need for violent satisfaction. This isn't to say Jews were in the wrong - labels are just labels - that's not the point. This aggressive dialogue is a representation of volatile energy that runs within all of us.On the other hand, Libra presents itself through themes of justice, harmony, and community. The Last Supper - invocation of communion - is both a moment of social service and familial love. Displaying a questionable sense of justice, the Biblical representation of Pontius Pilate's conscience parallels the violent nature of Aries' screams for crucifixion. More subtly, there's the aesthetic balance of Christ on the cross, with one criminal on either side. In some ways, these energies are almost less easy to relate to, because they're more focused on group efforts rather than the individual.There are several examples, and a theologian could find and analyze them all. For simplicity's sake, I'll note one final aspect: Catholicism is laced with symbolism. In essence, energy is the most important part, and so even the most furious flame of Arian energy represents the Holy Spirit. "Passion" comes from the Latin word for "suffering", and Jesus' pain was a manifestation of God's love. But it isn't just the Passion; it's passion, in its rawest, and perhaps ugliest form that drives us.We are every character in the Passion story: the disciples, reaching for our swords, sharing a sacred meal, but also letting our flames be snuffed when we deny God; the soldiers, taunting and shedding the clothes of what we fear because we don't understand; the Jews, who were also afraid because of centuries of cruel prejudice; the criminals, who watched on as though distant even though they weren't; the women, especially Mary and Mary, who are our softest and most compassionate pieces. Finally, and most importantly: we are all Christs of different kinds.There are people who follow us, love us, and people who shun and hate us because they don't know our Truth. We bear crosses, face adversity, and make sacrifices for our loved ones. That's what we're supposed to remember this time of year, and what I recall with such clarity, it brings stinging tears to my eyes. We're both human and divine, and even our sharpest edges are blunted by Love.And so to you, I say AMEN! and wish you a deeply blessed and tranquil Holy Week. Happy Easter.

Have you ever thought of your body as a triangle (Body, Mind, Heart)? Astrologers call it a Grand Trine. Sacred geometry knows it as a pyramid. Some spiritual teachers call it a manifestation of the Holy Trinity. I think it's all of the above.You see, our Soul is currently inhabiting a body (or, as the case may be, numerous bodies at once). In this plane of existence, the Soul inhabits three main realms: body, mind, and heart - a perfect equilateral triangle.To elaborate: the body would be the basic foundation and structure of a house (the lower part of a pyramid). It's the bones, muscles, and skin. Then, there is the brain (the top of a pyramid) and the nervous system. This is electricity and heating that runs throughout a house and keeps it properly functioning to the owner's liking. Finally, there is the heart and other organs - running with fluid that stimulates life, sensation, and emotion. Without the water system, those living in the house would die of thirst or unsanitary situations. (Needless to say, these aspects blend together and affect us in many different ways.)Do you see what I'm getting at?Every aspect of the house you live in is important. But someone who has a leaking faucet isn't going to identify with it. A person who's fixing faulty wiring isn't blaming themselves. If anything, they blame someone else, but if you look at common spiritual belief: you chose this house when you were simply Soul. You knew what you signed up for. You knew you could handle some broken appliances now and again. Because guess what? The house isn't you. It's just a house. It's a space you live in, and over time it's going to break down. It's going to get more difficult to take care of. That's normal. That's living.Of course, it might be tempting to just say "screw it" and move to a different house. In some ways, we go "house hunting" every day, just by looking at other bodies and longing to be them. But that's the mistake we make - being. We're already being all we need to be, even if we think we're living in a (for lack of a better word) shithole. If you wish to be someone else, then I'm afraid you're missing the point. Their house might "look nicer" than yours, but no house is perfect. There's always something malfunctioning - something that needs to be rewired. Basically: You are You. And I. And Them. All. You can't switch, and why would you want to? You'd just be moving into unknown, just as messy territory.But then, what do you do when a house is haunted? How can you work on all those technical and infrastructural problems with ghosts and demons running through your hallways? How do you sleep with red eyes leering at you from behind broken light bulbs?Recently, my dear friend and fellow English major, Jon, finished a short story about an overwhelming haunted house situation. He compares deteriorating mental health and lifestyle to a creepy, dysfunctional house. For the protagonist, this situation becomes so toxic, there's no other choice but to leave, even if it means running into the arms of a darker (albeit familiar) home.Don't get me wrong - I am in love with this story. It emphasizes the struggles of life, relationships, and mental health I haven't been able to properly articulate (especially in a work of fiction). It's a mysterious, beautiful, and puzzling tale - I hope you'll be able to read its published version someday.But for me, there is a fatal flaw with this haunted house metaphor, a missing piece that needs to be addressed: you own the house; the house doesn't own you.Now that I think about it, that probably was what the protagonist was trying to face all along, and probably what the author had in mind. I'm not denying that. But, for the sake of philosophical discussion and spiritual well being, I'd like to emphasize: you are not the house. You live in the house, and you have the tools you need to work on it. And if you don't? Ask for help. There's plenty of plumbers, electricians, landscapers, housekeepers, painters, and builders to call. As for the ghosts, call an exorcist and let them clear that right up for you! Sure, it might cost your money and time, but something you live in (that you're stuck with, by the way) is worth it all and then some. Please don't be fooled by the idea that you're not in control, because you are.Sure, you can leave. But I beg you to stay. Think of all the fun house parties you can have once you clean up a little. Your friends and fellow Souls are waiting to share a living space with you. So keep your windows and doors open, but close them when you need to. Do maintenance checks, keep your technology updated, clean a lot, decorate, and make a collection of numbers to call.Please don't give up. Please don't give in. This is your house. This is your state of living. You can live with as much comfort as you'd like - it just takes some open learning and compassionate attention. Best of all - you're not alone. We all have houses to take care of, so let's do it together.