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“In author Elaine St. James’ remarkable book, Living the Simple Life, she suggests part of our collective problem is that we have allowed our lives to become too complicated for true enjoyment. We live our lives habitually. We are all experiencing extreme change right now and fighting it, but what we really need to do is look at where that change is forcing itself on us and make certain we aren’t holding onto anything old out of habit. We need do what my good friend Evan calls “woodshedding” – a musicians’ term meaning to cut out all distractions and focus on something specific for a short amount of time. This July, we need to really concentrate on only those things that are truly important to us."
Cancer(June 21 - July 22)
Happy Birthday Cancer! Playwright Jules Renard called the truly free person, “One who can turn down an invitation to dinner without giving an excuse.” This month you’re witty, charming and visible, and in demand, so the challenge becomes: Which invitations to accept without overloading your life and stressing you out. Make sure you accept because you truly want to, not because you feel too guilty to say “No.” Invitations for group speaking, long drives and exotic or educational experiences are good. But try to stay away from things requiring you to contribute something, including too much of your time.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 23)
A hectic schedule can be one of the best ways to prevent us from looking at our larger issues. The busier and more cluttered we get with our day-to-day world, the less time we have to unclutter our unconscious mind. Introspection and personal analysis is important for Leos in July, and that includes a deep analysis of your partnerships: Do you have too many partners? An amazing thing happens to us when we slow down, and divest: We start to get flashes of insight, intuition and inspiration that can change our entire lives for the better.
Virgo (Aug. 24 - Sept. 22)
Virgos love order and systems. While you pride yourselves on lists and schedules, you may not be aware that your way of doing things actually complicates your world. Your Filofax may contain two columns of lists, and you may insist on making out your bills and writing out checks yourself, but is more actually better? Try doing less busy work. Slash your to-do list in half, or add things like, “Take time for my soul this afternoon.” Pay your bills online, but don’t over-enter data – pare down unnecessary errands like you might clean out your garage.
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)
Your assignment for July: Be willing to change the way you play the game. Libras love to have a good time. You like to take educated risks, and you like to play games of chance, literally and figuratively. Naturally good with money, your intuition has gotten you out of more than a few scrapes at work. But, wouldn’t it be great if your life were simpler? Take the less complicated route: Don’t gamble during the month of July. Focus only on those things that are solidly career building and contribute to real social standing. Stay away from smoke and mirrors.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
Let’s look at some things that can complicate your life: Big houses. Big Mortgages. Property taxes. Home remodeling. Not having time to spend with your spouse. Not having time to spend with your children. Difficult spouses. Ex-spouses. Family obligations. Ailing parents. Stepparents. Stepchildren. Fifty-hour workweeks. Sixty-hour workweeks. Long commutes. Not having time to spend alone. Social commitments. Noisy neighbors. Repair people who never show up. Contractors we wish had never shown up. Television. Advertising. Having too much stuff. Exercise equipment we don’t use – which of these things can you change or eliminate radically (and creatively) this month?
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
It’s so much easier to reach our destination when we have an idea of where it is we want to go. And, how we want to get there. Driving long commutes in heavy traffic, traffic jams, traffic accidents – all are stress-inducing and complicate our lives. Car problems can be stressful, too. How can we simplify, slow down, travel less? How can we answer fewer phone calls, kill call waiting and phone solicitors? Maybe we can develop a new method for handling emails or rid your mailbox of junk mail for good. And be honest: Can’t too many relatives or neighbors cause stress?
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)
Things. We have become a society that values things, and most households have closets full of CD players, video cameras, VCRs, Walkmans, computers and computer games, and a television in every room. Isn’t it interesting that all these expensive, timesaving devices end up not getting used because we are too busy trying to make enough money to be able to afford them? Take a look at your possessions, and the things that you value. How can you simplify your life? What can you get rid of? What can you live happily without?
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19)
A great way of simplifying your life is finding your life’s work. It’s not easy. In fact it can be one of your biggest challenges. When you are in the middle of a hectic life, you think you can’t slow down enough to think. But you must slow down, to figure out what you need to change about yourself. Otherwise, you will keep doing things that aren’t satisfying or productive, out of habit or determination. Examine your personal habits carefully. See clearly what is working and keep those things. See what is not, and ruthlessly discard those things.
Pisces (Feb. 20 - March 20)
A new movie is coming out, created from the much-loved book by Maurice Sendak, Where The Wild Things Are. Monsters spring from the unconscious mind of the young protagonist, but they are friendly monsters, and ones that no one else can see. You are like that young protagonist this month: Traveling with huge, unseen monsters, but feeling like you need to keep them close for protection. The truth is, if you can vanquish your inner monsters, the secret enemies and focus, you will have a creative month of fun, art and good luck.
Aries (March 21 - Apr. 20)
You may have noticed that your social life is changing. By simplifying your life, you are changing it completely so that the friends, social groups, hopes and dreams you had a few years ago are not the ones you have this month. Un-cluttering your social calendar will be one of the most difficult, and ultimately, the most satisfying, things you can do. Exchange the party circuit for a quiet evening at home, value your personal space more than large, noisy group activities and find your personal treasure next to your own hearth.
Taurus (april 21 - may 21)
Working on automatic complicates our lives. Squeezing new chores and commitments into our days doesn’t make us more efficient and productive – it’s a habit. We become too busy with our jobs to think about anything else seriously. The question all Taurus folk should be asking themselves this month is, “What do I really want to do every day, and what am I doing every day?” If those two questions aren’t in sync, you need to do what my friend Evan calls “serious woodshedding” – a musicians’ term meaning to cut out all distractions and focus on something specific for a short amount of time.
Gemini (May 22 - June 20)
The lure of the exotic, the siren call of faraway lands, the flight to adventure seems to be the most irresistible energy running through you right now. That is why I entreat you to ignore the pull a little while. Please dismiss the plethora of exciting distractions as just that: Distractions. The simple pleasures in your month and your life come from the work that you do with your hands, and the things that you truly value. Continue to build what you have been building, crafting and creating. Continue to save and store, and expect a career-brightening surprise as well.