Giving Thanks in 2008

Aries: As the Ram, give thanks for the innate strength of your body, mind and spirit. There are days when it may not seem like much, but it is far greater than that of other signs, even on a bad day. Ask for guidance and support in using that strength to become more patient and compassionate, as those are some of your biggest life lessons.

Taurus: As the Bull, give thanks for the beauty that exists in the world. Especially for the beauty which surrounds you and for the inspiration it brings; as well as for the beauty that is within you, for it flows through you to others. Ask for guidance and support in understanding those who are different and differently minded, so you can work more harmoniously with them.

Gemini: As the Twins, give thanks for the mental acuity and agility that empowers you to walk between the worlds, for it enables you hear the voices of the Gods and to see the bigger pictures where others cannot. Ask for help and guidance in staying positively focused, and on serving the highest good of all involved, not just those who are the most fun.

Cancer:  As the Crab, give thanks for your families - both those you were born into and those you created - as they are yours, for better and for worse. Give thanks also for the levels of love, learning and support these folks provide you. Ask for help and guidance in understanding the nature of the karmic contracts you have with these souls, and in upholding your commitments to them.

Leo:  As the Lion, give thanks for the Sun that shines warm upon your face, for the muses that nourish and inspire your creative soul, and for those who truly love you. Ask for help and guidance in knowing when and how to ask for help and guidance, for you are not ever an island - completely autonomous or independent - and sometimes these things are unclear.

Virgo:  As the Virgin, give thanks for the purity, grace and faith there is in you and in the world you inhabit. And for the calm, clear, fastidious discipline with which you approach all things, seen and unseen. As it is your role to reflect those characteristics to those around you, ask for help and guidance in doing that, especially in ways that both serve and inspire.

Libra:  As the Scales, give thanks for what precarious balance there is in the world and in your life: at times it may not seem like enough, but it is there, and there is divinity in it. Be grateful also for the power that you have to create change - both in and around you. Ask for help and guidance in truly understanding and appreciating what is good, what is right, and what is working.

Scorpio:  As the Scorpion, give thanks for the power, passion and clarity you possess, also for the leadership qualities they give you and the ways in which they enable to you reach your goals more easily and directly. Ask for help and guidance in continuing to learn how to best share the grace you have been given, humbly using your gifts to serve.

Sagittarius:  As the Centaur, give thanks for the richness and diversity of your ever expanding universe. Yours is eternally a magnificent and brave new world, and always has such magical people, places and things in it. Ask for help and guidance in being nourished but not distracted by them; for the line between them is a very, very fine one, indeed.

Capricorn: As the Goat Fish, give thanks for the both material and emotional safety, prosperity and abundance you enjoy. Remember always the times when you were not as fortunate, and those who are less so now. Ask for help and guidance in releasing the ghosts that haunt you and the fears that dog your steps, so that you can move forward with grace and confidence.

Aquarius: As the Water Bearer, give thanks for your ability to be so visionary and forward thinking. Your innate understanding of exactly what is the highest good for all empowers you to consistently take the small steps that over time make a huge difference. Ask for help and guidance in listening, both to others and to the forces that direct and protect you, so you can continue to take only appropriate actions.

Pisces:  As the Fish, give thanks for those dark, murky depths of the pools and ponds you love to inhabit, and for the refuge, nourishment and inspiration they provide. Give thanks also for the lifeguards that stand by to rescue you when you get in over your head. Ask for guidance, help and strength in being on the terra firma, for it is not your native element and yet is necessary for survival.