I think 2019 can be summed up as the year of “challenging change!” I can’t count the number of students and friends who told me about upheaval in their relationships, career, health or finances. Of course, if you were aware of what was going on in the heavens, none of this came as a surprise.

The past year brought us multiple planets in retrograde simultaneously, a black moon, and solar and lunar eclipses which combined to create some powerful transformational energy! That kind of energy can catapult you right out of your comfort zone, revealing things you’d rather not face and pushing you to make difficult choices.

Time to recover.
As the year comes to a close, I’m looking forward to taking time to rest and reflect. I hope you can do the same. Give yourself a chance to heal, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, from any difficulties you experienced this year. Don’t forget to celebrate your successes and honor who you really are. Resist the temptation to rush your way through the end of the year so you can start making plans and resolutions for 2020, and instead, slow down, breathe, and be present in this moment. Treat yourself with gentle kindness, even if it means prioritizing self-care over that stack of holiday invitations.

Pat Yourself on the Back!
Remember that every step of your soul- journey matters. 2019 was a year of transformation, but positive change takes time, and you have to go through the process before the new you can emerge. Friends, teachers and mentors can cheer you on, but ultimately only you are responsible for your transformation.

We are constantly changing and growing during our lifetime, and it’s not always easy. I remember conversations I used to have with Violet, my neighbor in Laguna Beach. Whenever I was in town she would pop her head over the hedge that separated our houses and I’d invite her over. We loved to sit in my backyard with a cup of tea and discuss spiritual matters. We would speculate about what life was really like on the other side and wrestle with the meaning of life. When Violet passed away several years ago, I wasn’t surprised when she reached out to me from the other side. “

“Oh James! Let people know that they have to give themselves a pat on the back for getting through life. Life on earth is so hard, but the worse things are, the more opportunity there is for our souls to grow. Remind people not to get caught up in the struggle and to honor and acknowledge themselves for getting through it.”

I know from my work as a medium that Earth is one of the hardest soul schools that exists in the many universes, and Violet’s message resonated with me. She reminded me that with hardship comes the opportunity for spiritual growth, and urged me to tell people to be kind to themselves.

I hope this season and every day, you will take my advice. Pour a cup of tea, and let the emotions of the day settle, like sediment in a glass, and allow your mind to clear so you can truly absorb the soul- lessons you are learning in this schoolhouse called Earth.

And pat yourself on the back for getting through it!