Our office window birdfeeder has attracted a string of different birds, and I watch them come and go. Lots of finches, because hey, finches run in packs. The cardinals come, often both Mr. and Mrs. And just like old, married couples, they start to look alike after a while. The big blue jays that grab the big nuts and glide off. Warblers galore and beautiful bird songs off and on all day.

The Starlings have really been speaking to me, standing out. But then again, they were kind of born to stand out, no? With the iridescent sheen and the little dots like stars in the night sky, how could you miss them?

Starlings are known for being gregarious birds–and for their imitations. They imitate not only many other birds, but also mimic environmental sounds and have local dialects. They are studied for insight into the development of language.

And while they are fairly aggressive birds, they also know how to work in in a group. The grace of their flock dances defy description.

This is a week to be as the Starlings would suggest–be your beautiful, iridescent self, always. Of course. Don’t shy back and hide, but stay flexible in your communication. Keep your action in keeping with what you want to be about, you know? Going with the flow, (gracefully) is highly recommended.

Lots of Pentacles coming up, with a smattering of swords. So we’ve got our primary focus on results, concrete, physical, flesh and blood manifestations. Not so much emotional focus or mental focus.Outcomes are emphasized over conceptual issues. So let’s dive in!

Monday, Nine of Pentacles rx:  Don’t nitpick. Upright, this card shows a very refined, clean approach. Reversed, something is not quite there yet, missing a little something. But relax into it and understand it’s a process, just like you’re a work in progress. It’s fine, wherever you’re at in it. Enjoy and appreciate what IS working right and don’t make a big deal about what is still coming into refinement.

Tuesday, Page of Pentacles: You will begin to get some clarity on the types of issues bothering you yesterday. The message will be recieved. Look for it and work with it.

Wednesday, The Empress: Great day for creative pursuits. The Empress is the Tarot mama. Great day also for self care (and isn’t creativity a form of self care)? Great day to make something, bake something, nurture someone else or yourself. A warm, fuzzy day. So enjoy it.

Thursday, Ace of Wands rx: May be a delay getting started on something you wanna get rolling. That’s okay! Don’t stress, just let it be. It will come together in time. Let it go and keep on doing what you’re doing.

Friday, Five of Pentacles rx: Possibility for overreaction. I’m seeing a kid crying themselves silly after dropping an ice cream cone. Overreaction to small losses due a limited perspective. However you feel is fine. I’m not saying to feel bad over how you feel. Just don’t amp up unhappy thoughts by playing them on autoloop. If you’re feeling like something is a really, really big deal today, fair enough. It matters because it’s important to you. But do what you can to soothe yourself and understand with a little perspective, you will see it differently.

Saturday, Three of Swords rx: Adjusting to something you want that feels missing. Reversed, it’s an opportunity for healing if you’ll allow it. It’s a choice, what feelings you ramp up vs. what you let go. It’s within your capacity and any rawness there is actually on the mend.

Sunday, Four of Pentacles rx: A little anxiety going down. It’s not necessarily based in reality. I’m seeing this as internal. Very much what’s going on in the head, not in the world. You may be anxious or there may be a rawness in the world at large. So look to soothe the anxiety without trying to take action to “correct” the situation.

Overview/Advice, Nine of Swords rx: Anxiety or guilt may be players, with some having difficulty sleeping this week. Let go as much as you can because the Self-Blame Express ain’t doing anything useful for anybody. If you do the “what if, what if, what if” disaster scenarios, stop! You’re amping up unrest. Try to catch yourself quickly before it picks up steam and is harder to redirect. And your week will feel so much nicer, even if the objective circumstances are exactly the same. Pretty neat trick, don’t you think?

Affirmation: When I reverse the thought, I reverse the condition. Sorry if you’re not a Law of Attraction person. But the idea is, there is nothing in life that cannot be changed. You use your emotions as your guide. For example, if you have chronic pain–it’s hard to ignore, in your face. You don’t have a choice as to where you are with that in the moment it’s happening, other than how you think about it.

You can have that pain and feel angry, scared, or frustrated. You can also have it and feel hopeful, believing it will get better, or intentionally distracted by other things. The pain may be the exact same physical manifestation, but the experience of it is much different. You may be in a place you don’t want to be. You can either suffer a great deal by dumping unhappiness on top of it, or you can reach for the best feeling, most optimistic thought you have access to. If you reach for better-feeling, what you live is the best you have access to in the moment. How justified any feelings are doesn’t matter pragmatically. If I’m choosing between justified anger or unjustified happiness? No contest.

Grab onto the best-feeling thoughts you have access to and ride them up. Over time it will raise your vibration and improve your experience without regard to outside conditions.You see how there is freedom in being able to always pull yourself back to center? Just keep bringing yourself back, bringing yourself back, again and again and you’ll find your life shifting in ways you really like.

Stay in the flow and you’ll fare well, even if it takes you a minute to realize.

Do you get advice from the birds?

This week’s forecast features the Housewives Tarot. Currently, still running the 2017 Year-Ahead Zodiac special (via mp3). Hit me up here.