We are so excited to ‘baby different’ and it starts here, with the dance this little cherry-sized mango likes. I can’t wait to tell the stort aboit how the little one got this name too!

Check out these opportunities all month long

“frankly my dear… [a life lived unhappy sucks].”

-j. Daniels [adaptation of “Gone with the Wind”]

The New Year was an ancient lunar celebration in March. Julius Caesar changed it to honor “Janus, the Roman god of beginnings,” who looks back and forward.

“The practice of making resolutions for the new year is … among the ancient Babylonians, who made promises in order to earn the favor of the gods … (They would … vow to pay off debts and return borrowed farm equipment.)”

US celebrations vary by region, but resolutions seem most important. In

The car formally known as ‘Cuz’

this spirit, are a few revelations and reflections that could help look back into the past and forward into the future. Check out conversations on car accidents, as the accident that damaged this car, brought on the year’s reflection. Here’s the ‘kick in the butt’ to remember and begin:

1. This life is a creation for me. Everything around me is mine [and of course I am for it all too.] Resolve: Be proud of all.

2. I am alive for my purpose. Resolve: Be proud of purpose found.

3. I am divine. Resolve: Be alive!

Related

Soul Food for New Years?

Traveling and Eating Healthy on a Budget?

The Traveler’s Workout Plan

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years December 20, 2015

Drivers – ‘Rubber Necking’

Although the habit is hard to break, it really needs to ‘go away’. Maybe we need to address our perversion for violence and nosiness. In my accident, I saw at least a dozen people run over debris and an equal amount sit inches from an accident because they couldn’t manage the scene; as I stood in the middle of the street with live wires.

Police – Hospitality

I must have had the ‘luck of balance’ to work with equally opposing officers. One officer abrupt and accusatory was consistently abated by the other. Can you think of a time when this would ever be helpful? I can’t think of enough words to describe how out of sorts this interaction made me. If you are a police officer or first responder, there’s a chance you haven’t heard the following words before: be gentle.

Friends & Family

Perhaps this is the most important. Unless you have a reason for asking what happened, don’t ask. In 20 minutes, I told the other party, 2 witnesses, 5 passers-by, 2 officers, my boss, city workers,… you get the idea. Perhaps we can all use coaching on crisis testimonies.

In your rampant thoughts of the events, release the thoughts of “what went wrong”. By its nature, an “accident” is an accident. I felt lower than I ever have, and each finger pointed to the holes in my existence. Don’t reflect on how great or crappy your friend’s car is and how impossible or inevitable an accident was.

Don’t address the politics of insurance, police incompetency, or drivers’ stupidity.

We are confident that we know every protocol for car accidents…I didn’t. Ok, maybe I did, but it sure flew right out for a while! And thanks to police and friends, I knew all my mistakes before the night’s end. So coach us toward the appropriate steps.

While I was not at fault for my accident, I warn us of the manifestations of our minds. My brother has always warned me, “sis, once you have your first accident, you’ll be less nervous and know it’s not as bad as you think.” Needless to say, I’m always nervous about a crash collision. I’m always thinking about them. Taking pride in all the work on my little cash car, I’m always focusing on the mistakes and dangers. What does that mean to you? I relished in beating myself up for using my ‘feminine powers’ to will that accident last night. Perhaps we have some life lessons to learn from car accidents about how to live with ourselves and others. For now, I’m going to try foolishly simply being still.

The Car called Cuz

Happy New Year kick in the butt!

Find out what happened to the car called ‘Cuz’. Learn a bit about the history of the US New Year tradition. And watch for 3 reflections and revelations on life and purpose.

This Thanksgiving, document a historic story and submit it for a chance to be featured on our site.

The ThankShop is a place to give thanks by listening. And in the CoAzHo world, listening is rewarded. Gather a great historic story. Stories can be recorded anyway you chose (writing, voice, or video) and they should be good history, for example tales of triumph over prejudice, origins of recipes, and the like!

Be rewarded for your efforts triple fold! First, nature will reward you with comprehension and discernment to face this world. And next, you can enter to get a chance to be a feature in future programs. Finally, as a more immediate reward, receive a monetary discount in our wellness store, just for submitting your work to us.

Submit your project to cazulh@gmail.com and receive $5 off in our marketplace mkt.com/coazho.

We are all learning more about science and how astrology fits into our daily human activity. Now is a good time to note Venus Retrograde, which starts tomorrow, July 25, 2015. We have an opportunity to practice alignment with those systems much larger than us, while we learn to understand them better.

The title, “Venus Retrograde”, sounds like Venus somehow moves backward and messes us all up inside — making us cooky and such. Surprisingly, retrograde is a fallacy of perception. On Earth, we get illusions of backwards moving planets closer to the sun because the Earth is orbiting at a different speed. Yet, astute folks all over the world attest to the importance of this shift in the speeds and alignment of the planets. The Venus Retrograde cycle is lesser known, and it occurs less frequently than the now popular Mercury Retrograde, but it is a significant time nevertheless.

Venus is considered the planet of love and values (like money), beauty and aesthetics, and even health. Think of the retrograde as one of few times people like to move backward in love and values. We re-assess what—and who—we value. In the spirit of Sankofa, go back to your past and ‘fetch it’ (Read about “Sankofa” here).

Venus Globe

Reassessing can happen intentionally or accidentally. Anyone we meet may bring a new discovery or lesson. Heartstrings have the tendency to be pulled and lots of questions about the love we have can come to us. Sometimes we may feel like we’re burning through some karma; others intertwined with people we’re connected to. New love, old love, repairable love, love that’s really lust, love between friends, lost love, the absence of love and everything in between can come to mind intensely now, especially if you’re already questioning things. Be aware of the people you’re encountering. Take notes however you can, however frequently you can, to see if your feeling and perception change after the retrograde.

Acting on our feelings during this season could be ill advised. It is a period that many astrologers consider inopportune for major decisions that relate to Venus’ energy. ‘Go back and fetch’ clarity by creating budgets and financial plans and re-thinking personal relationships. That’s all you need to do to be productive during retrograde!

Overall, do not be dismayed by the influence of nature on us. Many of us are in touch with our deeper, less obvious and superficial needs and desires so this time can be very helpful. Historically, environment has allowed me to wait until October to move to a different state with my partner, uprooting my life. It was one of the best decisions I have made, guided by Venus’ wisdom. Take note of the period and previous cycles below. Notice how life unfolded in the past during those cycles, then continue reading to gather helpful hints for this cycle!

July 25 – September 6, 2015

Shadow period/complete zone = June 21st-October 9th

There is a solar eclipse shortly after Venus moves forward again.  (new cycles for many)

December 21, 2013-January 31, 2014

May 15th-June 27th, 2012

October 8, 2010-November 18, 2010

March 6, 2009-April 17th, 2009

July 27, 2007-September 8, 2007

December 24th, 2005-February 3rd, 2006

April-July 2004

September-December 2002

March-May 2001

My goal is to honor the wisdom we now know about this time. I’ve outlined some personal goals of mine. Maybe you can use some of these ideas in your own season, correcting for your own zodiac and/or personal intuition.

• Daily Personal Reading (let’s find something you can read or listen to and soak in while you’re processing.)
  • Psalms 3/day  (Psalms 119 is VERY long)
  • “One Day My Soul Just Opened Up: 40 Days and 40 Nights Towards Spiritual Strength and Personal Growth” by Ayanla Vanzant
• Continual assessments – ’checking in’ with self
  • Rethink relationships (Aries – partnership and income)
  • Engage with beauty – organize home, paint, observe nature
  • Bond with personal health – start exciting personal health activities
  • Create budgets and financial plans
• Abstinence – top tips of things to avoid
  • Ending relationships
  • Rekindling relationships
  • New hairdos
  • Enhancements and cosmetic surgery
  • Major financial undertakings – such as purchasing a new wardrobe
  • (Aries) Argue with mate

• Carry food that is as non-perishable as possible. This tip may seem obvious, but whether you’re driving or riding other transportation, it is very difficult to find packaging that keeps everything together. And in tight spaces, smells accumulate very easily. Carry produce with thick skin (avocado) and drinks with pop on or screw on tops as well.
  

• Use Loves and Pilot gas station to prepare food. Both gas stations are “Travel Centers” and there are many in the US. And each one has a regional map. Use the counter to prepare your foods, complimentary silverware, napkins, and even a microwave.  I carried my quick macaroni and fresh avocado and added some really nice salsa from a Loves in Idaho and New Mexico!

• Eat as healthy as possible. Here is one occasion where it really pays to eat your healthiest! Choosing a vegan diet while on the road is actually the easiest (try marinating leafy greens in a mix of lemon juice and honey).

• Know when food will be free. If you must travel late at night, there are many places who will be more than willing to give their leftover food to you. In many cases they just throw things away at the end of the day. On our trip to Alabama, we always bought a few “Dunkin Donuts” and got a box full. It was fun to share with everyone we met on the road!
  

• Use the defrost to warm everything. Don’t just defrost your toes in the car. If you have food you want to keep warm, put it on the dashboard and turn on the upper defrost. One warning, however, make sure your dashboard is level with nice grooves that will hold it in place if you’re driving.

• Use a high yielding credit card. Simply put, I use my credit card to make large purchases on the road. On one occasion, I ran over my gas cap and the nearest auto parts was miles away. Luckily I had just filled up! Use a card with high yielding rewards so that you can pay yourself back simply by using the card on your trip. Everyone wins!

• Print directions. Although it’s easy to use technology but I have found that not only is it difficult to tell when you will not have reception, but also these devices simply don’t allow you to take in the scenery very well. Printed maps make you focus on the road and memorize the directions a few steps at a time. Trust me it works!

• When driving, use the most cost-effective MPH. It seems that 50 miles per hour saves the most gas. You will feel like a turtle on a few highways in which case, go with the flow of traffic, but I found that it saves at least 6 gallons an hour.

• When driving, take 2-4 hour shifts. Initially, you might be tempted to run straight to your destination but be sure that if you do you will also want to rush to the end because your bum will be tired. These shifts times allow you to refill your tank about every quarter to half tank, keeping mileage running best and making sure you don’t find yourself stranded.
  

• Use Rewards programs. My favorite hotel rewards program is Choice Privileges they nearly tie Best Western in the most hotel chains, but the rewards are always in place. And the program it very easy to understand. After about 3 stays we had a reward night.

• Beware of American hostels. Unlike their international counterparts, hostels in America seem higher priced than average 3 star hotels with quality of 1 star hotels. I even got eaten overnight by something in a Flagstaff hostel!

• Loves and Pilot shower. Freshen up for around $12 at these two gas stations! For New Years 2014 my family and I were able to get very spiffy for our event. I have yet to visit one of these locations that was not very clean with a lot of amenities included. Don’t forget your shower shoes for safety!

• Visit unique tourist stops. There are quite a few normal stops you could take but websites like roadtrippers.com have some very unique sights to see everywhere in the U.S. The app also coordinates your whole trip for you in the process.

• Use a go spreadsheet template. If you are trying to figure out how to organize your overall plans, I have a template for that!

Overall, the best tip I can give when you take a trip is to minimize as much stress as possible. Have fun, open your eyes wide, be safe, and send pictures!