Hot take on “authenticity”
Morning boo!
How was your weekend? I hope you were able to squeeze in a lil extra care for yourself over the last couple of days, and if you weren’t able to you’ll definitely want to make that your priority over this next week!
We have SO much going on astrologically this week, so buckle up honey!
Weekly Vibe Report
Monday July 17 - Sunday July 23
Monday July 17
Lunar Nodes enter Aries & Libra for the next 18 months
The lunar nodes are important astrological points that are said to profoundly affect our lives and destiny.
The South Node on your birth chart represents your past, like what you feel comfortable with, your comfort zone, how you’re “used” to being. It sheds light on the gifts, talents, and relationships that come quickly to us but may no longer offer much room for growth.
The North Node is all about your potential and where you could stand to get outside of your comfort zone, where you can grow in self actualization. It shows us the path to our highest destiny and what we seek to achieve.
We have been moving through NN in Taurus and SN in Scorpio since January 18, 2022 - so some of the themes you may have been experiencing were: giving vs receiving. Focusing on our finances, security, stability (i.e. Taurus) and releasing old perspectives that no longer serve you (Scorpio). This time has been about embracing what you’re passionate about and allow yourself to be transformed.
With the nodes entering in Aries/Libra, we will begin to put more focus on ourselves as individuals (Aries) while balancing our relationship with the collective (libra). Balancing what drives us internally versus what motivates us externally. Here we learn there’s room for both courageous pioneering as well as deep consideration for others.
This transit calls us to use the next 1.5 years to embrace individuality, authenticity, assertiveness, and decisive action.
Wherever Aries and Libra are in your chart, those house themes will be your teachers for the next 18 months. The part of your chart that contains Aries will be a place of increase and hunger and the part of your chart that contains Libra will be a place of letting go and purifying.
New moon in Cancer
New moons represent new beginnings, new intentions and the moon loves being in the sign of Cancer. Cancer relates to our home, family, and things that we value that are close to our hearts. We will want to feel cared for and safe. You might be more emotional during this time, make time for yourself so that you can process the past and move towards the future.
This cozy new moon is perfect for understanding how you’d like to be cared for. Discover how you can create your own traditions and emotional foundation to sprinkle some love and care into your home life
Mercury in Leo square Jupiter in Taurus
Give it your all when it comes to your dreams, but don’t do something out of character or something you’ll regret just for the sake of “success”
Thursday July 20
Mars in Virgo opposition Saturn in Pisces
This aspect can leave us disappointed and frustrated when the dreams we worked so hard on don’t work out like we expected, Be patient, and have faith in the process.
Luckily, we’ll be easily supported with….
Sun in Cancer trine Neptune in Pisces
A harmonious aspect for understanding the world in a more compassionate and caring way.
Friday July 21
Sun in Cancer opposition Pluto in Capricorn
Watch your blind spots, and do your best to not project your issues onto others. Consider the other perspective.
It’s possible something could come to light during this transit that could be polarizing, hurtful…do what you need to do to protect yourself
Saturday July 22
Venus goes retrograde in Leo
Until September 3
Venus begins its retrograde in Leo, a sign associated with creativity, self-expression, and flair. We all know Leo is a lil extra, so it will feel pretty dramatic for the next few weeks tbh.
Retrogrades signal a turning-inward. These are periods where we’re invited to slow down to reflection and review.
This isn’t the time for “moving forward. Meaning isn’t a great time for starting new relationships or making any big financial moves as well, as Venus also rules money. Don’t be alarmed if your usual channels of inspiration and vitality feel clogged around this time.
So start reflecting on your relationships, with yourself and others. Embrace romance and letting yourself be SEEN.
In regards to the people in your life…stop correcting and start accepting who they are so you can move forward intentionally.
Think on how your integrated, authentic expression shift the consciousness of those you know.
On the other side of this journey, the people and projects that amplify your shine will be obvious. You’ll inch closer to what it means for you to love and create in a way that honors the deepest and most honest parts of you.
Sun enters Leo
Hello Leo season! We are ready to be seen, heard, and adored honey! The energies will be entertaining and vibrant, think of it as a cosmic confidence boost!
Sunday July 23
Chiron goes retrograde in Aries
The wounded healer will be nursing internal wounds as we focus on picking battles we need to fight. Allow yourself to walk away from a fight you just know you can’t win. Check out what house Aries is in in your birth chart to see what area of life you’ll be affected.
Mercury in Leo square Uranus in Taurus
If you’re feeling left out today or rubbed the wrong way by a comment someone makes, tap into how it’s activating your ego
Okayyyy and that’s our week! Lol since this is A LOT, just wanna say take the best care of yourself that you can, slow down when you can, and prioritize being REAL (whatever that means for you).
Bad Luck to Good Vibes
Let’s talk about AUTHENTICITY
Everybody and their brother wants to talk about “authenticity”, especially online… but tbh I have a REAL hard time finding this authenticity that everybody’s talking about.
Authenticity means you're true to your own personality, values, and soul, regardless of the pressure that you're under to act otherwise. You're honest with yourself and with others, and you take responsibility for your mistakes.
People use it as a buzzword and act like as long as they’re saying that word, it that means that they’re in that authenticity club. Well guess what - being authentic, or let’s just say being REAL, is a lot easier said than done. It requires a deep level of self-exploration and self-knowing, it requires communicating our needs/wants/desires and boundaries and taking action on a daily basis that supports all of the above.
NOT TO MENTION - we are always learning, changing, growing into new experiences and that means that what might have been real for us at 16 is gonna be a lot different than at 26 and will be at 36 ya feel me?
Let me give you an example. Have you ever had a period of time your life when you were on your shit - your life was popping off in every aspect! You couldn’t be TOUCHED! That was a deeply authentic moment in time for you. Now think of another time (maybe even right now), where you feel like you’re in a rut and things just aren’t flowing smoothly…. that’s a good indicator that you’re not being real with yourself (or others), BUT the good news is that means you’re one step closer to finding your new representation of authenticity…
So I’m not gonna let these influencers, business coaches, social media managers whoever… make you feel like you aren’t authentic just bc you ain’t posting a video of yourself naked at a waterfall or cryin’ online ok?? We’re all just trying our best here, and luckily I have a few things we can ALL do to tap into that realness that’s within our soul right here and now.
What to do?
(Mindset): First we gotta get our mind right, and here we need to understand our relationship to the word authentic and also how genuine we currently feel on a scale of 1 to 10. If you’re like me and also struggle with people-pleasing tendencies, (esp women, and women from the south) it may feel unsafe to be yourself because maybe at a point it time it wasn’t safe to be yourself. Think about the spaces and people where you feel safe being yourself and expand from there (even if you have to start in your mind first and move on to showing up alone, then with your closest people - do what you need to do). Also realize that your “authentic” self doesn’t have to be the “old you” that everyone knows, to me it is more related to the version of us that we are inspired by, the one that takes courageous action.
(Action): Explore what cravings and curiosities have been coming up for you lately. Lean into that album, book, community that has piqued your interest. Visualize what your most Real self (aka the you that you’re inspired by!) looks like, and acts like and as much as you can … follow-through with it in support of your true self on a day to day basis.
(Self-love): Write an affirmation for yourself that relates to authenticity (it must highly resonate with you) and keep it somewhere you’ll see it daily (mirror, phone, desk). Take time in the morning to get in touch with your soul before you start the day and before bed check-in with yourself and think through what felt “real” to you that day. Lastly, you can Journal about all the things that are REAL for you and that you are proud to own! Keeping those at the top of you mind will only expand your authentic expression.
Journal Prompts
What does “being real” mean for you in this season of your life?
In this season, what do you want your top 5 priorities/values to be?
What is 1 thing you can do to exercise your authenticity daily? How can you put your own flare into it?
Tarot with Pep
The Tower
Revelation, Awakening, Sudden Change, Divine Intervention
The lightning represents a sudden surge of energy and insight that leads to a break-through or revelation. Breakdown that leads to a rebuilding of the foundation. Although it looks terrifying, this card encourages us to embrace change and make the most of it - creating a more stable foundation for our next era.
Baddie of the Week
Jo-Celine Rosas
I met Jo through my friend Hilary, and we easily became friends. She’s bold, hilarious, and has a huge heart and of course was excited when I learned she is also an Aries! I’m always blown away by Jo’s ability to be independent and push herself out of her comfort zone, but also be a caring and supportive. She’s originally from Venezuela, grew up in Florida, and has lived in Asheville I know for at least 7 years. She’s also a middle school teacher, and manages the Latinx Health Outreach Program at the YWCA.
Not only THAT but my dear friend Jo has just finished walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain (Meaning she’s walked over 551.5 miles in less than 37 days - that’s ~15 miles a day y’all!!). That is literally like walking from Asheville NC all the way to Chicago, IL!! Insane!
It’s been epic following her journey on instagram, and know she’s gotta be SO proud of herself for making it through to the end! Major congrats Jo!! Can’t wait to hear all about it once you’re back in town. You can go say Hi to Jo and check out her journey on instagram at @xplorewithjojo (I’ll also add to the show notes!)
Pep Talk
Ok boo, we’ve made it to the pep talk and honey you’ve earned this! Get comfy and take a few slow, deep breaths while I do my best to encourage you for the week ahead.
First off, I want to remind you that you know yourself better than anyone else. You know exactly what makes you feel loved and cared for, and the good news is, you don’t have to wait for someone else to give that to you - you have the power to pour all that love and care that you have in your heart back into yourself. Your top priority this week is not to be a great employee, a good daughter, or the most thoughtful friend… your priority is to love on yourself inside and out and the rest will fall into place.
Secondly, I want you to know that there are spaces and people that are safe for you to be your truest, most authentic self. I’m so sorry that you’ve experienced times when it didn’t feel safe to be you. I’m sorry that those situations have made you feel unworthy or confused about who you really are, you didn’t deserve that. You can’t take away those experiences, but what you can do is meet yourself where you are, follow what inspires you, and have the courage to show up for yourself in a new way - and if there are people or places that aren’t able to support you in that, you know what you need to do. What’s authentic for you may change, but the sincerity of your heart and soul will always stay constant.
And third of all, do not quit. Times may be trying and hard right now, maybe you feel disappointed, let down, or unsure if the work you’re putting in is worth it. I promise you it’s worth it. Please keep putting that work in, and I promise soon you’ll see that it is all worth it.
Go be you and do you boo!!! Like I’m serious, have fun with exploring what’s real for you this week and enjoy the process of self-expression!
Plugs
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Connect with me on Instagram @badluckburden
Find out more about me or how to work with me as your life coach on my website Badluckburden.com
I see you, I love you - have a loving, caring, and authentically inspired week! until next time - byeee
