•by Dawn King•We know how magnets work; south poles repel each other, but are magnetic to north poles. Did you know this applies to astrological Sun signs as well? I suppose it’s because being with a person of the same astrological Sun sign could be like being with yourself—same old, same old—or, nothing different to find new and interesting. Actually, I find it comforting to be with others who have the same Sun sign as myself. I can relax and enjoy our similarities.
But I didn’t intend to write about Sun signs exactly; this article is actually about Virtues, in particular the Sunburst Virtues that go with the zodiacal Sun signs. Yes, each zodiacal sign can be associated with a particular Virtue. Norman Paulsen, the founder of Sunburst, revealed these 12 Virtues and their zodiacal associations. He explained that these Virtues are the Divine Creator’s personality. As children of the Creator, we can assimilate and express these Virtues to exemplify our true own divine nature.
During the year when our Sun in the sky is transiting each tropical zodiacal sign, we are challenged to focus on the associated Virtue. During 50 plus years of my life in Sunburst, I’ve found these monthly challenges to be real!
On Sunday, May 18, 2025, Sandy Anderson led Sunburst’s Sunday service. She talked about the Virtue of the zodiacal month Taurus (4/19 – 5/20), which was near its end (they vary slightly year to year). Taurus is the month of Patience. Our challenge has been to be patient, and not fall into the trap of getting angry. Yes, each month has its temptation as well.
Of course, the sign we’re born under naturally challenges us to remain steadfast to its Virtue. Furthermore, in my experience and that of other long-time Sunbursters, we’ve found out something else also happens. The zodiacal sign opposite our Sun sign can also challenge us to manifest its Virtue!
So, if you are a Taurus (wonderful earth sign), you not only need to be patient, and keep your cool, you need to embrace the courage of Scorpio. You will most likely find courage is an important trait you need to exemplify. Incidents will come up to prove this out. Here is a list of the Sun signs, their tropical dates in 2025, their Virtues, and their temptations.
At the least, you can notice which Virtue you should focus on during the coming month, and see if it doesn’t challenge you during the time shown. it’s much food for contemplation. Have fun with it!
•by Dawn King• One of my favorite books in childhood was The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley. The 1930 edition’s cover is shown in part above. It was a wonderfully imaginative tale of escape from a dreary existence into a delightful world of water. Since I wanted to grow up to become a mermaid this suited me.
In a recent blog I wrote: We are each inhabiting a physical body that is 60 – 70% liquid. This body has its own electromagnetic structure that is sensitive to solar storms and other influences—the Moon’s tidal influence for instance.
Oceanographic Magazine says: “Our bodies have been shaped and formed by water; we have an ocean inside us. Like the Earth, we are 70% saltwater. In 1897 French physician Rene Quinton discovered a 98% match between our blood plasma and sea water…. Like our mammalian cousins, dolphins and seals, we too have evolutionary aquatic markers. Take for example our brains. Simply looking at water changes our brain wave frequency, putting us in a more meditative state. Consider our nervous and endocrine systems. Cold water stimulates the vagus nerve, calming our fight or flight response, lowering cortisol and releasing feel-good hormones.”
Wow! No wonder we like to go to the beach or lake, or maybe to walk in the rain. And no wonder the element of water is associated with our emotions.
Perhaps you are familiar with Dr. Masaru Emoto who wrote a book called The Hidden Messages in Water. His experiments with water were an illustration of how our thoughts affect our surroundings. A review states: “He found that water from clear springs and water exposed to loving words shows brilliant, complex, and colorful snowflake patterns, while polluted water and water exposed to negative thoughts forms incomplete, asymmetrical patterns with dull colors. Emoto believes that since people are 70 percent water, and the Earth is 70 percent water, we can heal our planet and ourselves by consciously expressing love and goodwill.”
Reflecting on that statement reinforces my concern that my self-talk, my thoughts, affect my physical body in more ways than I realized. I’m programming the water molecules in my body by thinking positive or negative. Of course, keeping my body’s water content “unpolluted” by ingesting healthy liquids and solids would also be helpful.
So…be mindful of how you are programming your body’s cells. And always remember the symptoms of dehydration, which we can experience at any time of the year. Some of them are:
Early signs: Headache, thirst, dry mouth, dark urine
More severe symptoms: Dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, reduced urination.
Yes, we are each encouraged to drink 8 glasses (64 ounces +/-) of water each day for optimum health. According to an early study, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%. Even our bones are 31% water. So let’s keep our miraculous bodies healthy by staying hydrated, and thinking all the positive, loving, and peaceful thoughts with which we’d like to fill the world.
•by Dawn King on 4/16/2025•photos of Aurora Borealis, Finland•Last Saturday was a stressful day for me. I made an error in my washing machine maintenance which resulted in it flooding our home utility room. While moving things off the puddle, I stepped onto our seldom used back porch with a big box in my arms. The rotted wood gave way under one foot. Suddenly, I was laying upside down on the steps with one leg under the remaining porch floor. Fortunately, only some bruises and scrapes resulted. The porch will be getting replaced.
Then Tuesday, after a restless night, I felt very strange all day, like my aura was out of line. Maybe you also felt the electromagnetic solar storm that hit us on Tuesday (4/15). It caused a blackout in Puerto Rico, among other sites, and is associated with a number of earthquakes that occurred around the world. Another is expected around April 24-25. It may affect your ability to sleep, and cause strange feelings.
We are each inhabiting a physical body that is 60 – 70% liquid. This body has its own electromagnetic structure that is sensitive to solar storms and other influences; the Moon’s tidal influence for instance. I’m certain the opposition of planetary energies (Pluto and Mars) is influencing some sudden accidents in my case.
Our planet is racing around the Sun, while our solar system flies around the edge of the Milky Way, constantly bombarded by new cosmic weather. Life’s fast pace on Earth has us reeling at times. It’s hard for our body, mind, and emotions to process it all fast enough. On the other hand we’re blessed to be living in a time when rapid spiritual growth is possible. How can we best cope with it all?
Let’s take some time to refresh our spirits each morning when we wake, and again before we go to sleep. This saves my sanity; I remind myself that I am one with the Universe, and always connected to my Source. I am never alone or forgotten; God knows everything I’m experiencing and is helping me grow in consciousness. A near-death experience I had as a child taught me this.
Countless angels and helpers are also nearby, ready to respond to our request for help,or direction. There’s a life path for each of us, one that we chose ourselves before our physical birth. Hopefully it leads us to greater connection with the creative mind center enlivening the Universe. And I pray for each of us to embrace these lessons. They were embodied by Jesus along with these teachings:
1. Our spirits are immortal, and after sojourning on Earth we drop the physical form and continue on another dimension. In spirit, we are each a perfect manifestation of God, capable of tremendous achievements. 2. Our thoughts are more powerful than we know; as we think, we create our life, and we affect others and our environment. By our thoughts (and actions) we change the world. 3. Love and fear are the dualities of this dimension; embrace love. Give unconditional love to all; everyone is doing the best they can. Love yourself, your neighbor, the one who seems to be an enemy or problem character in your life, and love LIFE here. It is fleeting, and has unique rewards.
Humanity and Earth are entering a more spiritual dimension. Relax, and give yourself time and space to inhale, and to incorporate new experiences and concepts. Recognize the emotions you are feeling, the life-improving inspirations you are receiving.
Here’s hoping you get to see rare Comet Swan in the next 10 days, more pictures of the Aurora Borealis caused by our Sun’s solar storms. AND I hope you’ll read my next blog about water—we have an ocean inside of us, as well as stars. Blessings!
•by Dawn King•Before the age of industrialization—the late 1800s—all of humankind looked to the skies as their calendar. Today, there are cultures that still rely on observations of sunrise, sunset, moon, stars and planets to set their sacred dates. Even now, observing the Sun, we change our clocks based on the equinoxes, and celebrate mid summer at the longest day of the year.
We may mostly ignore the sky today, but stardustis in our DNA. Our bodies are in constant flux with the lunar cycles that move the tides on our planet. The more aware we become, the more we realize that our Earth is alive and evolving, ever-changing.
Now to Venus. As it appears and disappears in our skies, Venus has been an important planet in the culture of many ancient and current peoples including Australian, Mayan, Roman, Egyptian, Aztec, Vedic (India), Hopi (and other Native Americans), Arab, and Chinese—so pretty much every culture. It appears very bright to us because the clouds of Venus reflect sunlight.
For 90 days Venus regularly appears on Earth as the so-called “evening star;” then it disappears for a number of days, only to reappear as Earth’s “morning star” for about 90 days. This all takes place over approximately 18 months. Why does this appear to happen from our vantage point?
Venus orbits between the Earth and the Sun. Sometimes it disappears on the far side of the Sun, and sometimes it is between us and the Sun in a way that we cannot see it. It’s orbit is quite different from Earth’s in length. Venus orbits the Sun about 13 times for every 8 orbits of the Earth. If we make a diagram of this movement with Earth in the center, it appears as a sort of pentagram or flower, reminding us of the mystical patterns of sacred geometry, and life. Here’s the diagram.
This week, Venus is as close to Earth as it ever gets and a rare view of Venus took place. It was observed both in the evening, and then the morning as a thin crescent. This was the first day of Venus becoming the “morning star” once again (March 23rd).
If a new Venus cycle wasn’t enough, we are also having a solar eclipse this weekend. Venus is restarting it’s beautiful spiraling design, the Moon will eclipse the Sun, and 7 planets will be visible in Pisces all at once. Maybe the night sky is trying to tell us something.
One of these planets is Saturn, sometimes called the “Lord of Karma” It remains in a sign for about 36 months. All of these events are concurrent set points—they mark the end and the start of eras or human attitudes and experiences.
Because we currently celebrate Spring and the start of Aries as the beginning of a new astrological and weather year, Pisces happens to be the final sign of the 12 sign zodiac on the ecliptic we see in our night sky. This makes all of this weekend’s events even more significant. We are all entering a new era of new opportunities and experiences.
As my friend James Kelleher states: “Meditation, reflection, and spiritual discipline will be essential tools for navigating this period. Saturn in Pisces reminds us that life is impermanent, and change is inevitable. By seeking the unchanging essence within, individuals can cultivate resilience and a sense of inner peace that remains untouched by political, environmental, or societal upheavals.”
Let me know if you want to read more about our amazing solar system. dwn.king1@gmail.com
•by Dawn King•Confusion is rife on our planet today. Realize that this too shall pass, and all human conflicts will end over time. Meanwhile, you are expanding your awareness of how to be part of the solution of rebuilding society and the planet…starting today.
Why me? Embrace the idea that “I chose to be here now, and chose my life experiences because they serve me. They help me grow stronger in spirit.” The law of attraction (your thought) is powerful; you will continue to attract what you need. Think positive and you will attract positive experiences.
1. Affirm: “Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I’m making it a purposeful life.”
2. Feel safe in your own space, your own spirit. Yours is the power to create your life as you will it. Your spirit is in a place separate from fear. Your thoughts and actions can operate from that same centered place. If needed, physically move yourself into a place that feels safe, while asking for, receiving, and knowing spiritual help is guiding you. It will FEEL right.
3. Grounding is needed while we live in these physical bodies. Plant a garden. Create or take a job that serves humanity and the Earth. Be practical in your decisions to act. Idealism can lead us into rash actions we later regret.
4. Be a loving person. Our task today is to move our center of consciousness into our hearts. Be kind; love yourself for acting in a way that will make you a better person. Your spirit is perfect; it is the offspring of a loving Creator. Identify with your perfect spirit; it is eternal—going on after this physical life is past.
We are spiritual beings in physical bodies, trying to cope with the drama unfolding around us. Take the time to tune out the drama of the world, and tune into your spirit.
Learning to control our thinking is vital to living a productive and happy life. Meditation and self-reflection is helpful in this process. Use affirmations: “I am choosing to let all conflict go; I am choosing to be at peace.”
“I am grounded.” Visualize your roots of support and strength extending into Gaia, our Mother Earth. Your energy field naturally extends around you in all directions, including going into the Earth. Spend as much time as you can in Nature. Absorb its energy and teachings.
Like a little child, when you live from the heart you have no fear, and others cannot control you. Your effort to be your best is always good enough. And like a little child, you need not judge others. Embrace those who feel like your own, and let loose of those who do not. Wish everyone well, but keep your distance from those people and things which don’t uplift your spirit.
You are valued by the Earth and the Universe. You are loved by those beyond this dimension, and by your Mother-Father Creator. Keep yourself mindfully in that positive light. Open your heart and mind to all the light and love that is available to help and nurture you. You are never alone.
• by Sharon Ray • You will often find that people who care about their health have a strong spiritual life. Loving God and loving life go hand in hand with loving and caring for the body temple that one lives in. Building and maintaining good health is a way to honor the gift of life we have been given. When we are full of energy and vitality, it is easy to be joyful, and it is a sign that we have a strong nervous system.
Our bodies are like light bulbs and the nerves are the pathways upon which energy travels. To feel vital and alive we have to have pathways in good repair and lots of energy traveling along them.
One thing we can do to increase our energy and sense of wellbeing is to be sure we are oxygenating our blood through diaphragmatic breathing. This way of breathing is different from chest breathing in which the rib cage rises in response to our inhales. With diaphragmatic breathing, which is deeper, the abdomen rises and falls with each breath. The oxygen goes deep into our lower lungs, not just into the upper part.
Oxygen fuels all the processes in the body and makes them strong and vibrant. Oxygen helps keep the nervous system strong. Studies have shown that our breathing is directly connected to our emotions and sense of wellbeing.
Shallow breathing is associated with the sympathetic nervous system and can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. Holding your breath may happen unconsciously when you are very focused, thinking deeply, or repeating negative thought cycles.
Deep breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, activating the parasympathetic nervous system; this promotes relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety. We can practice diaphragmatic breathing by lying on our backs, hands on our lower abdomens, consciously breathing in through the nostrils, sending the air into the lower abdomen.
Feel the abdomen rise. Exhale and feel the abdomen deflate. After a week, begin this practice sitting up. After another week, do it standing, then walking. It will soon become your natural way of breathing. When you catch yourself chest breathing start moving the breath into the abdomen.
Let’s visualize our body as comprised of sparkling, happy cells. In the name of Joy, and of Loving Life, let’s embrace deep breathing!
Paramahansa Yogananda offers this affirmation: “Every cell of my body is filled with light and life. I am radiating vibrant health, peace, and joy through every cell of my body”
