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On March 14, I lost Queen Bess--my feline companion of seven years. On the day she was euthanized, Marci Shimoff's book, Happy For No Reason, arrived in the mail. I'd eagerly ordered it a few weeks ago, but in my grief, shoved the book aside. Who could be happy at such a time? Then on March 20 the Sun moved into optimistic Aries, and the clouds in my heart began to clear. It's hard to be sad when birds are madly chirping and the hibiscus plant outside the window is bursting with extravagant red blossoms. Despite my loss, I wanted happiness. I thought about the exuberant Aries people I know and love, born at the beginning of spring--they share an innate love for life, a willingness to start afresh, even after tragedy and failure. And so I retrieved Shimoff's book, and was reminded that happiness is our birthright--not something to "pursue." Our misunderstanding about happiness, Shimoff says, dates back to the Declaration of Independence. When Thomas Jefferson wrote that everyone is entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," she notes, he didn't mean we should chase after that elusive state. In 1776, to "pursue" something meant to practice, or make a habit of it. "We've been conditioned to believe that happiness is something for us to pursue," she explains. "So, like a dog going after a stick, we chase after happiness, grabbing at all the things we think it will bring to us." Instead, Marci suggests cultivating habits that bring lasting happiness--such as practicing gratitude and forgiveness, listening to our intuitive voice, nourishing our bodies and seeing the world as our family. Maybe, like me, with my Cancer Sun square melancholy Neptune, you weren't born with a sunny disposition (it helps to have Aries planets in your chart!). Shimoff notes that researchers have discovered that no matter what happens to you in life, you tend to return to a fixed range, or "set-point" of happiness. And, they have determined that 50 percent of our happiness set-point is genetic, and 50 percent is learned--and can therefore be changed. "In the same way you'd crank up the thermostat to get comfortable on a chilly day," she says, "you actually have the power to reprogram your happiness set-point to a higher level of peace and well-being." The New Moon in Aries on March 26 (9:06 am Pacific time) is a splendid time to commit to boosting your happiness quotient--no matter your circumstances. Transformational Pluto, extra potent as it approaches its station retrograde on April 4, squares this New Moon. This can feel like intense pressure to make a change, or pushing against a river. Before you leap in impulsively, though, stop to ask what your inner self wants--what will lead your soul in the direction of happiness. Many clients have called me lately with the same refrain: "I used to get what I wanted with hard work and persistence. But now I'm totally lost. It's like the old rules no longer apply." We're all scrambling to keep up, as consciousness evolves at breakneck speed. And, the extremely rare conjunction of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius that will pervade the period from May thru July (more on that next month) is accelerating the collective pace for the purpose of healing our biggest wounds and setting us free. Hang tight. At this New Moon, light a red candle to spark your flame of happiness. Feel the inner glow. Give thanks for the warm, furry friends who bless your life. And, send a prayer to Queen Bess and all our animal companions who watch over us from the other side. If
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THEME: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS