Gratitude Guide: Six Simple Ways to Give Thanks

Allow yourself to be renewed by gratitude, both that you give and that you receive. Here's a handy Gratitude Guide for these tumultuous holiday moments. May it serve you well.

Is Your Life a Banquet?

Thanksgiving is about food the way Christmas is about presents. In modern life, neither expresses the true spirit of the holiday — although the potential is there. Because at core level, the real issue is always love.

Is there enough love to go around? The answer is yes, and — we must awaken to this truth on our own. We become "the Light of the world" first within our own beings; then we're able to shine this radiance outward. It's like any other learning process: we can only serve others from a well that runs full and deep. READ THE REST!

Enough

It's almost that time again in the U.S.: Thanksgiving. We celebrate the Pilgrims' gratitude for the kindness of their Native American neighbors, who taught them how to plant and harvest enough food to survive in a new world. It's an appropriate moment to reflect on what "enough" truly means. READ THE REST!

New Cycles, Sustainability, and Aiming High

Astrologer Dorene A. Carrel offers a wealth of cosmic wisdom for the latter part of November, which includes the major American holiday known as Thanksgiving:

"On November 26, Pluto enters Capricorn, beginning a new 16-year cycle of collective and personal transformation and rebirth, resulting in far-reaching changes in government, business, finances and communications. Capricorn rules our own authority, as well as all of the structures of government and society. The new term 'sustainability' is reflective of this cycle, as we collectively deal with growing climate change issues and limited natural resources.

"The New Moon occurs on November 27 at 6 degrees of Sagittarius, which is also the traditional American Thanksgiving holiday. Sagittarian themes include education, teaching, religion, philosophy, travel and expansion. This lunation aligns with both Mercury and Mars, bringing a fiery energy to our daily activities and communications. There will likely be livelier discussions (or perhaps disputes) at family gatherings. The symbol for Sagittarius is the archer, reminding us to aim higher in our lives, as well as to find and follow our own higher truths."

Adds Mary Jo Wevers, "In the coming years the energy of Pluto in Capricorn will penetrate old rigid and inflexible institutions, exposing arrogant and authoritarian leaders who are severe, aloof and insensitive to the needs of people. We can expect corruption to continue to be uncovered as we see institutions which are obsessed with holding onto power in order to consolidate wealth come under scrutiny.

"The public mood may seem pessimistic, overly cautious, even paranoid as it witnesses the decay and death of old structures that formerly provided some semblance of security. Yet, just as the power of Pluto is degenerative, it is also regenerative. As we eliminate the old structures that are no longer serving humankind, we are opening up new ground and opportunities for new, wiser, more responsible foundations to be laid for the future."