Extended Sessions
There have been so many requests recently, especially due to the rollercoaster financial markets, crumbling housing crisis, and other life challenges, that we at the Sedona Intensive™ have begun to offer Extended Sessions. In weekly sessions we are able to see how you and your planets in angulation and aspect are compatible or incongruent to what’s going on in the world. We take the planetary movements for the week ahead and see how Void of Course Moons, retrogrades, New and Full Moons and Eclipses affect you personally. Having this information can mean the difference in being caught up in pandemonium and panic that is not applicable to you but you don’t know it.

Call the office at 800-647-0732 and inquire about the Extended Sessions.

Light Foundation Scholarship Fund Needs Your Help

There are a lot of people who need help; oftentimes it is getting sober or straight and in other instances it is coming to terms with lifelong issues that keep them from being authentic. The Light Foundation, a not-for-profit IRS-approved organization, would like for you to be a part of this effort to help others clear away the wreckage of their past through help in the Sedona Intensive. All donations are tax-deductible. 

Please send donations to:  

Light Foundation Scholarship Fund,

PO Box 50, Sedona, AZ 86339

A Book and A Woman I Highly Recommend

I met Jacqueline Winspear sitting on a sofa at the Loew’s Ventana after the Tucson Festival of Books on Sunday, March 15th. My intuition told me that she was an author so I engaged her in conversation. I am glad I did. I have a “thing” for the English and Jacqueline Winspear is a Brit living in California.

She gave me a postcard of her new book, Among the Mad, which I immediately ordered from Amazon.com upon my return home. Every so often fun fiction is how I like to spend my quiet time. If you are so inclined go to her website at www.jacquelinewinspear.com

What I love about life are all the signs and wonders that connect us to people, places and things that not only alter that course of our lives but can also add a dash of fun and intrigue.

Egypt and the Egyptologist

Scott and I just returned from one of the most exciting and challenging 10-day tours of Upper and Lower Egypt with Ahmed M. Abul_Ella Ali, who turned out to be the most knowledgeable and amusing and amazing Egyptologists I have ever traveled through Egypt with. The tour was put together by Frosch Travel’s expert getaway specialist Jean Campbell www.froschvacations.com. There were twelve of us from places as diverse as Texas, New York and Nevada, and to a person, there were no whiners, complainers or fussbudgets—only a fun-loving dozen men and women who were able to channel their inner child and have fun while absorbing the magic and mysticism that only Egypt can provide.

There have been a lot of changes from when I was there five years ago. The monuments and ruins are more easily accessible while maintaining the integrity of these ancient wonders. At Dendera, which is known as the Temple of Horus and Hathour, and most interesting to me because it is the ruin which features the Signs of the Zodiac, the French are doing major clean-up; the walls which hold the 2,000 year-old hieroglyphs are being restored to their original vivid colors of carnelian, turquoise, amethyst and gold. The panels that had been restored were breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring. Everywhere we could see the handiwork of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Anyone who knows me understands that I am a fatalist—when it is your time to die, you die. I do not see a terrorist behind every tree nor do I change how I live my life to align with fear. Our group was literally sitting on the park bench at the Khan el Khalili bizarre where four days later a terrorist bomb killed a Frenchwoman and seriously injured eleven others.

Why do I go so often to Egypt and why do I recommend it to you? It is the crossroads of the world—and a gateway to the world beyond this one. It is where you can be inspired to go home and live with greater resonance, interconnectedness and interrelatedness—attuned more critically to your life’s purpose—and also where you can leave all your troubles and woes. There is no place in the world I would rather be than in the mythological worlds of Isis and Osiris and all the Pharaohs and Nobles who ruled the Land of the Nile.

If you or a loved one is struggling with life challenges-a career change, divorce, grief, addictions or compulsions-give us a call and let the Sedona Intensive give you the help you need. Don't face these problems alone. Let our support team of professional therapists help you today.

(800) 647-0732 or www.sedonaintensive.com.

THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT

I have now been to Egypt three times and one aspect of the tour impresses me as much as the ancient ruins, pyramids, the sphinx and all the artifacts that are thousands of years old. The unforgettables of the journey to Egypt are the men, women and children that we see in their day-to-day lives.

Toward the end of our recent trip to this magical destination our group was on a tour bus going to Dendera and Abydos, two of the most memorable temples in all of Egypt. The three-hour trip to these rural locations was on a road parallel to the Nile. We observed the laborers in the fields, farmers hauling their sugar cane to the factory and young children on their way to and from school. While stopped during traffic congestion we gave bananas and apples to the young children who waved and innocently begged to make contact with us. Although many of them were dressed shabbily and were oftentimes unkempt, there was joy on their faces and they were excited to have this moment of contact with our busload of foreigners.

Everywhere we went, from larger cities like Cairo, Luxor and Aswan to the smaller villages with mud-thatched roofs, joy and excitement poured from every doorway and the greetings from the native Egyptians were infectious. A lot of people who have never been to this third-world country opine about how dirty and lacking these people are in North Africa. I took away with me the lesson that I always learn: these are my people and these are our people. Each trip I am overwhelmed with the sheer expression of love for life and acceptance of who they are and how they live. Our Egyptologist, Ahmed Ali was born in one of these villages and he has become very successful in his chosen profession. You never know when a piece of fruit or a smile and a heartfelt wave to a child along a dusty road can alter the course of their life.

Not only do I predict it, but Mother Nature will deliver, this Aries cycle of the year will see the beginning of a turnaround of sorts with all that has plagued us for month, mainly all things dealing with the economy. Do I think the Dow Jones will storm upward?—not on your life! Do I think we have seen the bottom of the barrel with the Markets? Yes. But the President must be reading tea leaves or tracking the Stars because he has not changed his tune since the Acceptance Speech on November 5—“This country will rebuild stick by stick and stone by stone.” Amen, President Obama.

There will be a New Moon at 6 degrees of Aries on March 26th, which portends positive stuff for Fire Signs and Air Signs, particularly Aries. Perhaps whiners and complainers have seen the end of the gloom and doom chatter and we will begin to see pioneers (that would be Aries) lead the parade back toward prosperity.

Venus will be retrograde throughout the Arian cycle, starting at 15 degrees of Aries and going direct at 29 degrees of Pisces on April 17. We all might see somewhat of a stall with money matters, but when Venus goes direct Aries will have a run for what works until June 6th.

There will be a Full Moon at 20 degrees of Libra on April 9th—Passover—which will signal the end of certain affairs for Air and Fire Signs, particularly Libras. Pluto goes retrograde at 3 degrees of Capricorn on April 5th which should give us all a chance to catch our breath and see if we have reached rock bottom with what started last winter.

Aries (March 21 - April 20)

With the New Moon at 6 degrees of Aries on March 26th you Mars-ruled Rams will begin to feel a new happiness and a new freedom. With Jupiter moving through Capricorn throughout 2008 you probably thought you were being blockaded at every turn. None of us can escape the massive rebuilding of our nation’s infrastructure in order to make things better in our world, but you will begin to feel that you have been given a new lease on life. Rejoice and sign in to be a part of this interrelated project.

Taurus (April 21 - May 20)

Since you rule the house of money and self-worth, you may have been judging yourself by what moola you’ve got left after the massive Market meltdown. Esoteric astrology would teach you that you are not your car, you are not your house and you certainly are not the dough you have or don’t have. The Good Book says that ‘the love of money is the root of all evil’. Make sure you haven’t been guilty of this biblical caveat.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

All lunations during this solar cycle are going to bless your every deed and thought impression. If how you think becomes who you are, you have got the Stars to thank for inspiring you with the best celestial roadmap one is going to get this month. Living in your day is the only way; laying the groundwork for what might transpire in the near or distant future is tantamount to being able to fall asleep at night. Do the footwork and leave the results to the Divine.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Clicking those knitting needles or playing an extra 18 holes of golf might be the remedy for waiting for the heavens to deal you a better hand to play. Kick back and stay out of harm’s way this month. If you have noticed that the Holidays left you with more weight than you like to carry, get a food plan that will help you let go of the heft—and don’t forget to do three or four days of daily exercise. Keep a journal. What’s eating at you could be why you’re tipping the scales more than before.

Leo (July 22 - August 22)

The New Moon and Full Moon are benefiting you Lions this month big time. As a way to begin to restore what you think Bad Luck took away, you might want to weigh in and make amends with your priorities and how you view money. As you look back with open minded honesty, put the microscope on any greed that might have run through your hopes wishes and dreams like a foul river and change your perception of how to make and keep money. The economy did not melt down by itself; you played your part. Change it.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)

Saturn is still Retrograde in Virgo, so you can still revise and amend how you live and work and treat others and yourself. Uranus transiting through Pisces is still opposing Saturn in Virgo which means that you can not rely on the old way of living life. You can not think your way into right living. You must live your way into right thinking. Life is not about figuring things out; rather it is about letting things be revealed. Revelations, anyone?

Libra (September 23 - October 22)

With the Full Moon in Libra on April 9th it is time to either let go of a relationship or partnership, or take the duality into mediation. A Full Moon always urges us to let go of a lover or a marriage partner or business alliance that broke down a long time ago or seek professional help in seeing how changes can make the two or more of you better or how to end the chaos with love and/or mutual respect. Whatever you resist persists. S.O.S.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)

If you can keep just off stage left you might be able to make use of what help you have from the Stars to turn so-so situations into big winners later on. Saturn in Virgo is in perfect position to give a firmer foundation to your plans. Uranus in Pisces is giving you just enough of a wake-up call without upending your apple cart. Pluto in Capricorn will continue to aid and abet you secretive close-to-the-vest Scorpios for the next umpteen years. Shush, just keep doing what you’re doing. Make no noise.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 20)

If you can stop running hither and yon long enough, listen up: good news for you free range chickens this solar cycle. With both New Moon and Full Moon the Stars are giving you a GET-OUT-OF-JAIL CARD—a Pass—to try to make anything you can conjure up, work. I need to remind you that plants do not grow without first putting the seeds into the ground—watering and tilling the soil—don’t forget the sunshine and rain—in order to one day harvest a bumper crop. With every opportunity comes follow-up. Go for it, Archers. Prove you’re a Rainmaker.

Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)

While the rest of us pray for something new and more profitable than the hands we’ve been dealt, your Prophesy for the Month is to keep hammering, sawing, dry-walling and making adjustments to your game plans when needed. Your taskmaster has assigned a fifteen year project, and while most of us in the Zodiac want payday everyday, you are here for the long haul—take your time. In this Solar and Lunar Cycle, you may slow down and review where you are. Just keep diligent. The best is yet to be.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 17)

The gloating I hear just may be coming from you Water-Bearers, aka Aquarians. With Jupiter now ensconced in your Sun Sign, you will have more ideas and concepts than you can handle. This is where you get collaborative. Delegate and assign. Break up your big picture into parts. You are the idea men and women. Others are in your life to implement. And the biggest caveat of all: Be careful what you wish for—you are going to get it in Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades—a Royal Flush.

Pisces (February 18 - March 20)

You should have adjusted a long time ago to all the shake, rattle and roll of having Uranus in Pisces for two years—there’s always been something new, or blue, to contend with. The Full Moon at 20 degrees of Virgo on March 10th signaled the end of all those pressure cooker lessons you’ve been forced to learn over the last couple of years. Now that you are out of your Ivory Tower phase, insure your future a dollar at a time and by asking someone what you can do for them. Sometimes it is better to give than receive.

A Key to Happiness
by Sarah McLean

Practice Present Moment Awareness

"With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now," said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Deepak Chopra's advice is, "Live in the present for it is the only moment you have. Keep your attention on what is here and now. Accept what comes to you totally, learn from it, and then let it go.”

Sounds good. But how can we keep our wandering mind, our awareness, on the here and now? It is a habit of mind to dwell on the past or future.

As a meditation teacher, my advice to those who find it hard to be HERE NOW is to bring the attention back to the breath. The breath is always in the present moment. The body too is always in the present moment. This is where we live.

In almost any moment, you can anchor to breath awareness. You can do it now: Become aware of your breathing. Feel the air flowing in and out of your body.

All that you ever have to deal with, cope with, in real life - as opposed to your mind's projections - is this moment.  

If you say, “Well that sounds good but I have so many problems to deal with.” Ask yourself what "problem" you have right now, not next year, tomorrow, or five minutes from now. What is wrong in this moment, really?  You might come to find out some of the problems you face are not here, not now, but in the past or the future somewhere.

Becoming present in this moment is a practice. It is undoing some of the  habits of the mind. It isn’t a complacency or a ‘giving up’. Being in the moment is the way to access the intelligence that informs our lives. In this moment is when you make decisions for your future.  In this moment is when you access your intuition, take action, or set intentions.

We can’t and don’t take action in the past or in the future, so thoughts about a time other than now can begin to make us feel powerless, and out of touch. The present is almost  forgotten, ignored, or simply reduced to the time that passes so you can get to the future.

In Deepak Chopra’s book Power, Freedom, and Grace he too reminds us to practice life-centered present moment awareness. “Accept this moment. You can want the future to be different, but even the act of setting an intention is in this moment. Take action in the present, detach from worry in this moment. Let the intelligent universe handle the details”  

Another way to become present is to turn a routine activity that normally is only a means to an end, and give it your fullest attention. Here are three examples.

1. Let’s say you walk up and down a flight of stairs at home or at work. Try this: when you take the stairs, pay attention to every step, how the body moves, and how the air enters and leaves your body while you do it. Listen to the sounds your body makes inside and out. Be totally present. It will be a different exercise every time.

2. When you wash your hands, give your attention to all of the sensory perceptions: the sound and feel of the water, the movement of your hands, the way you stand or bend over, the scent of the soap, the temperate change as your hands dry.

3. When you get into your car, after you close the door and before you turn the car on, give yourself a minute and simply sit there. You can close your eyes, this tends to make the other senses more active. Feel your body, feel the flow of your breath. Feel the temperature of the seat, the air. Become aware of yourself, the one sitting there, your presence, the one who is having the experience.

Eckhart Tolle , author of the Power of Now and A New Earth,  suggests that we give up waiting as a state of mind.  This too is a good practice.

“Waiting creates a sense that the moment we are in isn't good enough. When you catch yourself simply waiting  -  waiting for another time, or something else to happen - snap out of it. Come into the present moment. You can use your breath. Just be, and enjoy being. If you are present, there is never any need for you to wait for anything.”

So, next time somebody says, "Sorry to have kept you waiting." You might reply: "That's all right, I wasn't waiting. I was just standing here enjoying myself."

Enjoy yourself, enjoy this moment. This is it your life. Right now.

Sarah McLean teaches stress management techniques to individuals and businesses in Sedona and Scottsdale Arizona. She can be reached at (928) 204-0067. For more stress reduction techniques, visit www.SedonaMeditation.com.