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September 6 2018

Change Management Astrology for This Week

Dr. Toni Dr. Toni's Five Minute Tips career transition, change management, dream interpretation, fear of change, life purpose, life transition, meditation, stress management 0

Four Astrological Tips For Managing Change This Week

What an in between time this week is! We all should be roaring to go now that Labor Day is behind us and yet … the ambition, drive, and even vision is still blurry…

Here’s why:

Several planets are moving out of retro. I offer you here some direction on the highest mastery in this transitional time through these four tips:

1) The moon is waning, time for completion of projects. Wait until after next Sunday to initiate new ones.

2) Although Mars and Mercury are now direct, they are still moving very slowly. Mars ordinarily moves a degree in a day and a half. It will take a week for it to move one degree.

Mercury usually moves about 14 degrees in a week and it moved ten this week so it is slowly gaining momentum.

3) Saturn, the taskmaster (sometimes inner slave driver in us) which has been retrograde for five months, stations direct on Thursday. Saturn will move a half of one degree by Sep 30. Saturn rules the father, authority figures, responsibility, being an adult, and the career domain. It also rules what we have brought in as karmic restriction from previous lives that has us compelled to work hard at something or where we are inhibited or insecure. For example, people who have Saturn in their money house usually have money because they work very hard at attaining it, but never feel that they have enough. I have seen Saturn in the house of writing and communication in the charts of famous authors who never thought that what they had written was good enough or that they had done enough drafts.

Although Saturn will take a little while to gain its oomph, “the planet that rules where we need to be disciplined” will at least no longer be retrograde. What that means is you will feel a little more drive I predict after September 10 when it can get some help from Mars ( the assertive part of us) that will finally leave Capricorn next week and moves into the air sign of Aquarius. Saturn is in its own sign of Capricorn for another two years and three months. This is the time to career redirect or refine your life purpose if you are going to thrive in the next economic correction. When Saturn moves into the next sign of Aquarius, the universe and Saturn will not let you lie to yourself about your purpose here without paying a big price so I advise getting started now so you don’t incur a LifeQuake later. Two years goes by fast.

4) Use the new moon on Sunday after 11:00 AM PDT to set your intention for the month. With the new moon in Virgo, I would suggest looking at a place in your life that needs more critical analysis. Where can you reassign that noisy nag the egoic mind, (also called your inner critic), a job that doesn’t hurt your self esteem? Clean out a few closets and get ready for a change of seasons or edit something you’ve written to completion and then send it out or begin incorporating more warming foods with the seasonal change.

Another way to use the part of you that is both Virgo and Capricorn is to note where you are fearful or inhibited. Everyone has Virgo ruling somewhere in their horoscope. Further, this is the house placement for the new moon this month in your personal chart. It could be in the area of how you parent, how you take care of your home, how you show up as a partner or friend, and how to spiritually parent yourself so that the inner critic doesn’t have to do the job so severely.

Verbalizing intentions give them much more power and verbalizing them in a group consciousness even more power. When you go deep into either a guided or individual meditation, access where the energy in your body is blocked, bring light into that area for healing, go to the Higher Self for direction and THEN take action, this is Saturn at its best, the very nature of Spiritual Adulthood. I will sharing tools for this in the program launching Sunday eve.

We have a few slots left in our Activating Miracles on the Monthly New Moon Series still open for anyone ready to melt those old Saturn patterns into monthly breakthroughs that will build on one another into the new year of 2019 and our next Solar Eclipse on Jan 6. Contact me to register: 310-890-6832.

We will be clearing Saturn blockages in this program through the healings that Daniela and I will be activating in each person during these programs. In esoteric astrology, it has been said that the rings around Saturn reflect the inner barriers we come into this life with, based on past life actions.

Traditionally, one had to work hard to clear the karmic debt brought in by Saturn. Case in point, I have a client who is a very big star in the acting world and has the planet of luck, Jupiter in his career house, but he has Saturn in the house of family and he has had to support his family since he was a teenage actor, including both his parents. I have been working with him on his beliefs mentally, emotionally, and physically through reprogramming his ancestral DNA. If you clear the beliefs, you clear the karma. I am very excited to share this spiritual technology with the group that is gathering for the New Moon.

I invite you to join us if you feel at all pulled. There will be recordings to replay after for those who can’t make it in real time. Call now – 310-890-6832 to register.

So, in summary, formulate new goals after Sunday’s new moon but allow your Higher Self to guide the visioning process in the dream time now. For those registered or drawn to register for this new program on Sunday evening, pay attention to your dreams as we build the energy toward Sunday’s new moon.

Beginning five days before each new moon, is a period called the dark of the moon. If you can, refrain from having any surgical procedures during this time or as I mentioned above, launching any new projects.

Completion is the operative word, mindful completion. You will feel more energy next week but with 6 planets in earth signs, the call is to move forward with grounded mindfulness and patience with all the people around you who aren’t moving very fast, either.

It is all about intention, baby. Set your intention before sleep for the acceleration you want to see happen and then find like minded people to share them with, out loud. Pay attention to how it feels in your body when you declare out loud what you want to achieve this month.

I am also offering a career/life purpose coaching package for new clients who prefer personal attention that is 20% off and amounts to 3 sessions at no cost, only until September 30.

Happy Virgo New Moon!

With great love and affection,

Dr. Toni

March 9 2018

Spiritual Anorexia or An Eating Disorder?

Dr. Toni Ask the LifeQuake Doctor addiction, eating disorders, meditation, mystical experience, recovering alcoholic, recovery 0

Ask the LifeQuake Doctor – Counselor Magazine

Dear Dr. Galardi,

I have been a recovering alcoholic for ten years, although food has never been one of my drugs of choice. I eat healthy foods. I began meditating about a year ago. In the past few months I have lost my appetite and am finding myself eating the bare minimum at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am definitely losing weight but I am not depressed or anxious. Some of my friends in the program think I’ve become anorexic because I am not concerned about this weight loss.

Their concern though is making me wonder if I am anorexic. I have gotten very deep in this meditation practice and have been experiencing huge energy rushes moving through my body. It feels quite joyous, ecstatic really. A part of me wonders if I’m losing my mind that I don’t feel worried about the loss of appetite. I am writing you because I have a friend who gets this magazine and I was reading your column and thought I would reach out as I cannot afford therapy right now.

So, what do you think, doc? Am I anorexic and in denial?

One of your fans

Dear Reader,

I would not in all good conscience clinically diagnose you without more information. Having said that, here is what I can say. You indicate that you haven’t had an eating disorder before so there is no predisposition toward anorexia. There is a long history in Christianity of saints denying themselves food as a way of getting closer to God.

It is unclear when eating disorders first originated. Literature on this subject seems to mainly speak of ‘holy anorexics’, religious ascetics who starved themselves.

The denial of food was in response to the Catholic categorization of gluttony as one of the seven deadly sins – the sins that were to be avoided, as they led ultimately to eternity in Hell. Women entering religious orders were known to starve themselves, punishing themselves for their bodily desires or previous sins that they felt should be atoned for to allow purification of the spirit. This religious belief meant that they sometimes starved themselves to death as part of excessive bodily denial.

I don’t know how much food you are consuming from your letter if at all but I will tell you that fasting can produce euphoria. I would urge you to see a physician and get a blood chemistry panel to make sure you are not undernourished. Having said all that, I will also say that there is a distinct process that can occur in some people when they become deeply immersed in certain meditation practices that produces a loss in appetite.

I gave a workshop in 1987 at the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Conference on this subject entitled “From the Shadow into the Light: A New Category of Eating Disorder”. Thirty therapists participated. What I presenced there and MAY be happening to you is that if you are not purposefully starving yourself or denying food as some offering to God, then what may be happening is that you are in a spiritual transition and your body is physicalizing this focus away from the traditional desires such as food toward a oneness with your Spirit. These energy rushes you speak of could be the activation of the Kundalini – a life force in the etheric body that is dormant in most people at the base of the spine. Meditation and breath work can activate it.

Making sure you eat enough protein, complex carbohydrates and vegetables is critical. There is data in the anti-aging literature that suggests that being slightly underweight prolongs life. You didn’t indicate here how much weight you have lost. Again, I am covering several possibilities here. In summary I would say to get doctor supervision for your current diet and run a blood chemistry panel to make sure you are healthy. If all checks out, pay attention to your dreams. Ask before sleeping to be shown a dream to help you understand the process you are in. It could be mystical and given you are in recovery, it could also be another form of addiction to the high of not eating much. Also, ask once you are deep in meditation every day what foods you should be eating that day and be guided by that.

If you are genuinely feeling more connected to your inner self, it is that voice, not the ego that will guide your food choices.

Dr. Toni Galardi is a licensed psychotherapist and coach.

If you have a question for the LifeQuake Doctor, you can write to her through: drtoni@drtonigalardi.com or by calling 310-890-6832. She works by phone and SKYPE in private practice internationally. Her website is http://www.thelifequakedoctor.com

June 4 2009

Ask the LifeQuake Doctor June Column

Dr. Toni Ask the LifeQuake Doctor career transition, economic recession, job loss, meditation, stress 0

“Ask The LifeQuake Doctor” – Vision Magazine
June 2009 issue

Dear Dr. Toni:
I have an upper management job in a great company and am experiencing “survivor guilt”. So many of my friends have been laid off from their jobs. I get several calls a month or week asking for referrals for jobs or introductions to others — from friends, friends of friends, or former colleagues who may be desperately searching for work and are relying heavily on networking. But each person has only so much political capital to expend: When is ok to say no? How do you say no? When should you help? What kind of help is easy to provide, and what should you consider more carefully? How far should you go to help?
Peter J.
Dear Peter:
We are living in desperate times. According to the Bloomberg News last week, it is predicted that the third and fourth quarter of this year things could worsen. I believe that a positive function of a time like this is to bring us together. Americans reached out to help each other during the Great Depression and yet when we were in an economic boom during the 1950’s the black list became a guise for anti-semitism and prejudices of many kinds. People got scape-goated if they had an independent feeling about how the country was being run. I don’t think the focus at this juncture is to look at your political capital. The key is to use discernment as to whom to refer to whom.

Here are some tips:
1) Say no when you have history with the person asking for help as having put your reputation at risk in the past. ie., Poor work habits that led to them getting fired from a job you used your contacts for them to get.

2) Say no when they are asking you to refer them for something you know they are not qualified to apply for. Once again, using your resources judiciously.

3) Say no when, what they are asking for help on, will be in direct competition with a request you need to make of your contact in assisting you in your own career transition.
4) Say no if whom they want you to connect them with is not someone you have a close enough relationship with to justify making a recommendation and have it hold any weight. In other words, don’t pretend to know people intimately that you don’t really know and set up disappointment for someone desperate for work.

When it feels right to say no, do it directly, but with compassion.
If someone is calling you and are in desperate straights and have a family to support, and they are well qualified, do whatever you can to help them. Connecting people with each other always serves in the long run. If you put good karma out into the world, it will always come back to support you at a different time. In my book, The LifeQuake Phenomenon I write a whole chapter on the benefits psychologically, physically, and financially of acting altruistically as a matter of course. We are being called in these times to expand our resources to help one another, not to contract and hold on tightly to what we have. Generosity is its own reward. The key question is not what is strategically best but what does your gut wisdom tell you about whom to connect to whom.

Dear Dr. Toni:
I lost my job a few months ago and am going through what feels like a major transformation. Now that my old career identity is over, I notice that I don’t feel connected to my old friends. I also can’t afford the same social expenses they can. I am afraid to let go of these relationships because they are the only friends I have right now. How do I handle saying good-bye to people I don’t feel connected to anymore?
Dazed and Confused in Los Angeles

Dear D and C:
First of all, congratulations! I am not saying this cavalierly. It is important to mark this event with a celebration so you don’t spin out into fear. As your old identity is falling away, your old life is going to feel alien. There is new life forming, it’s just still underground in your psyche. That feeling of being in the desert is a powerful transition into fuller self expression and it takes courage to be naked and alone, so to speak. However, we are never left with a void for very long once we make authentic choices. Begin to explore going to social functions that are free of charge or have a nominal fee. Peruse the Los Angeles Times or Whole Life Times for events. Volunteer part time while you are job searching. People who volunteer their time may be the like-minded individuals you are seeking.

Be patient. I call this time in my book, “The Cosmic Barbecue”. Your ego may experience some discomfort when you are in between lives. It may be that you are being called to be in more internal exploration that you didn’t have time for while working in a career. I have lots of free articles on my blog that can also support a time a transition: http://www.LifeQuake.net/blog

Spend time in quiet every day and ask your inner wisdom to show you what your next step is. Once your career re-crystallizes, this time for befriending yourself you may never have the luxury for again.

Dr. Toni Galardi is a licensed psychotherapist, public speaker, and the author of her new book: The LifeQuake Phenomenon: How to Thrive (not just survive) in Times of Personal and Global Upheaval. Dr. Galardi is forming an eight week group this summer for those wanting to get unstuck from old habits. For those seeking private consultation, she can be reached at 310.712.2600. To submit questions for “Ask the LifeQuake™ Doctor”, contact Dr. Toni Galardi through DrToni@LifeQuake.net (no period after the Dr).

April 29 2009

Super Bug, MRSA, Swine Flu: Tips for Prevention

Dr. Toni News crisis, immune system, meditation, sleep, stress, swine flu, vitamins 0

We are living in amazing times. Crisis driven, economically challenged, and now epidemic threats are all around us. And yet, it is possible to be healthier, wealthier, and more psychologically agile than ever before.

You probably think I’m crazy for saying this but here is why. If you follow these seven steps, your chances of thriving when everyone else is buying into mass hysteria (and lowering their immune systems by worrying) will be exponentially greater.
1) get seven to eight hours sleep a night. we live in a sleep deprived nation of people who think it makes them superior by bragging they can subsist on 5-6. In evolutionary terms, our bodies are wired to wind down after the sun sets and wake up when it rises. When you follow this natural rhythm instead of sitting at your computer until 11 PM, you will have the restoration that sleep brings in the morning and a stronger immune system.

2) eat foods that have lots of mineral content. Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables are the best. The more alkaline your diet is the stronger your body will be. The most acidic foods contain sugar. red meat is also highly acidic so eat lots of veggies when you eat them for acid/alkaline balance.

3) moderate exercise. Any exercise that takes you into exhaustion at the end will deplete your adrenal glands. These little glands that sit on top of the kidneys are critical to immune health. If you feel your body is especially tired, substitute restorative yoga and walking in the sunshine for 30 minutes a day. Vitamin D that we get from the sun really supports immune function.

4) Speaking of which, extra vitamins such as a good B complex, vitamin E and 3-4 grams of Vit C are also supportive of your immune system. Many people swear by organic medicinal mushroom complex (which can be obtained from any number of nutritional supplements companies) as the source of their strong immune system.

5) Keeping your blood sugar stable through adequate amounts of protein throughout the day nourishes your adrenals as well.

6) Managing stress. Stress is the biggest drain on the immune system. The best way to manage stress is to be aware of your response to sudden or unexpected changes and resist the temptation to resist. Say yes in the form of acceptance to whatever is before you. The best way to economize our emotional response to challenging moments is to breathe consciously right into the place in your body where you are reacting. Often, that is our gut. As you breathe in, push your stomach out and as you breathe out, allow your stomach to contract. do this twenty times, three times a day and it serves as an emotional colonic to releasing stuck feelings so you dont take them to bed with you.

7) Meditating for fifteen minutes or listening to a guided visualization every morning can help carry you into a centered place throughout the day and then you don’t have to do the extra work of clearing yourself of reactive feelings later on. a great time saver! My CD,The LifeQuake Method is very helpful for those of you who have trouble meditating.

In summary, the key here is to eliminate fear and anxiety as much as possible. When you are rested, well nourished, and relaxed, your brain thrives and is able to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances like having to spin on the head of a dime. Times they are a changin’ and they aren’t going to slow down any time soon so it is just common sense to make sure your body, mind, and spirit are thriving.

Dr. Toni Galardi is a licensed psychotherapist, public speaker, author, and columnist. Her first book, The LifeQuake Phenomenon: How to Thrive ( not just survive) in Times of Personal and Global Upheaval is now available through her website www.LifeQuake.net or various online book stores.

February 26 2009

Meditation as a change management tool

Dr. Toni From the LifeQuake Desk barack obama, book, book author, los angeles, meditation, psychotherapist, psychotherapy, self-help, the lifequake doctor, the lifequake method, the lifequake phenomenon 0

I notice that on mornings that I don’t start the day with meditation, my thinking process is so much more rigid. It seems to be like dominos. If I jump out of bed and begin by moving fast, it revs my nervous system. In a hyper state, my mind seems to think in more negative terms. The more wired I am, the poorer my food choices are, the less good fuel I have for my brain and the less agile my mind is in handling unexpected challenges or crises.

When I start the day by breathing into my diaphragm and opening myself to get more oxygen into my body, I find that my mind expands and creative ideas come pouring in. When I get up from a sitting posture, I’m more centered, moving more slowly, and the choices I make for my breakfast are more nourishing. I then find myself to be more present, focused, and loving with my friends and clients. I then am more prone to use meditation tools in my coaching. I also am a much better problem solver and able to change course in my schedule if need be more easily.

As I was watching President Obama’s address last night to the bi-partisan room, I couldn’t help but think, if the various factions of our government could only meditate together, we could make a huge leap in thinking outside the box together. Perhaps each of us citizens meditating could be like a good virus that infects us all with peace and then change in our own lives might not be that hard after all and the last domino becomes all of humanity. Just from meditating for five minutes a day…

Dr. Toni Galardi is a crisis management coach and psychotherapist. Her new book on adapting to change The LIfeQuake Phenomenon: How to Thrive (not just survive) in Times of Personal and Global Change is now available through her website http: www.LifeQuake.net.