Candlemas 2010 offers unique, rich opportunities for clearing, visioning, and setting or empowering our intentions. Why? Because it follows a powerful lunar and solar eclipse cycle, and occurs in what Steve Nelson, author of Mythic Times, calls a 'Venus Year' -- a time in which "all things Venusian prosper." Let's look at the symbolism, in which we can ground ourselves for rich inspiration as we look into this Venus Year, 2010.

There is a saying: "Pain pushes, until vision pulls." A vision reflects our sense of purpose. A clear vision is like our North Star, rich with a sense of who we are, what we're doing, and what we're doing it. It gives us a sense of direction and momentum, and guides inspired, efficient action. With our intention and attention on that vision, we navigate whatever is before us more easily, supported by the courage vision bestows.

Whether you're into the Law of Attraction, cultivating a strong vision and brand, looking for improved communication, or wanting to experience better relationships and interactions with others, positive expectancy is an essential component of your approach.

With the holiday season upon us, and gift-giving a part of many traditions, many of us look for 'just the right gift' to give. Consider that one of the most valuable, precious gifts we have to offer is the gift of our full, true presence. So few of us experience the luxury of another person's full presence -- or our own -- that it's one of the most priceless gifts you can give.

No matter how many times I've been immersed in the creative process, or found myself in that tense, creative transition-space between something ending and something new beginning, I've felt the tension and an almost unbearable restlessness in it. After all, creativity and stepping into the unknown take a lot of courage, along with a sense of heartful conviction and a strong vision. And we find all of these within us.

How do you define success? True, authentic success is not something defined by other people, but something that you have defined for yourself. Our deepest yearnings and values provide clues to the definition of success that is truest for us. Authentic success is woven from that which has real heart, joy, and meaning for us. It's an expression of our deepest purpose. What blocks authentic success, then?

If relationships are a mirror -- and they are -- what are yours reflecting back to you? Whether with people at work (boss, employees, clients), at home, or with yourself and particular areas of your life -- are your relationships hinting at untapped potential for growth, expression, refinement, meaning, creativity, harmony, and artistry? Imagine feeling more relaxed, more grounded, experiencing smoother interactions, more enjoyable relationships.

"Who would rather be perpetually stuck in cycles of fear and lack than in new experiences of trust, prosperity, joy, creativity, inspiration, and so on?" Which would you choose, if you had the choice? Lack or prosperity? Fear or faith? Grace and ease, or perpetual struggle? Joyful creativity or uninspired 'grind'? You know what's miraculous? You do have the choice (and so do I) to shed the old programs, which replay ad-nauseum as the same old issues or problems.

I imagine most of us are aware of the story about a U.S. Congressman whose outburst during the President's speech caused quite a stir, for better or worse depending on which 'side' one is on. And yet all of us, me included, can no doubt remember times when we 'lost our cool', didn't stay centered, and let our reactions fly out of our mouths in ways that, in hindsight, we regretted.

Most of us don't think of ourselves as magicians, but in reality, each and every one is us is a magician. Everything within and around us is magical. Including me, including you. No kidding. Read on; you'll see what I mean.

Communication has always been a mastery path -- one of those areas where everyone thinks that they're 'a good communicator' and everyone else has communication issues. But if you're not experiencing relationships, interactions, manifestation, or marketing, etc., the way you'd like to be experiencing them, it's an indication that you have opportunities to refine your mastery in communication.

Did you ever wonder why things seem to come up to derail the manifestation of your vision, or why you'd get close or even accomplish parts of it only to watch it 'wash away' in a series of events or waves? Or wonder why even when things are going well you have a sense of impending doom, dread, or loss? It wasn't until I started to integrate what I'd learned from my business and life experience with what I'd learned from my various energy/shamanic, Indigenous Wisdom, intuitive, and vibrational-healing teachers that I really started to understand the dynamics that were at play.

A month or so ago, a fellow from corporate-training company approached my publisher and invited their authors, including me, to contribute content to their training database. In his conversation with me, he invited me to contribute in areas of my expertise that were under-represented in their database. Wonderful! Then came the clincher: "I love your web site and the work that you do; you're obviously a thought-leader. But in the content you contribute, we can't use the "F Word".

Is your creative nature yearning for fuller expression? Do you feel that there's no time or place for cultivating your creativity? Do you find yourself saying 'I'm not creative...'? Many people don't think of themselves as being creative at all, or see themselves as having no time to express their creative nature. Yet creativity is an expression of your very soul -- it's part of you who are at your very core. Creativity is your essence, which is why we all have an increasing yearning and need to reconnect, deepen, and express it in the world.

Do you consider yourself to be visionary? Intuitive? Creative? Having some unqiue genius? Do you sense these gifts calling for greater expression -- personally or organizationally?

What's the difference between a life of fear and a life of possibility? It's a pretty big difference. It's time to come alive, throw off the shackles, and move into a greater sense of connectedness and expansiveness. Just imagine … in a good way.

The 'fine art of surrender' seems strange to our Western minds, trained as we've been in 'efforting' -- planning, doing, rolling that boulder up the hill, and swimming against the currents. And that can be pretty exhausting, and not a little frustrating, can't it? It can feel like you're traveling incognito -- pretending to be someone other than the unique and radiant being that you are.

Can you dissolve or shapeshift the obstacles that are before you? Yes, though it may be in different ways from what we expect (or not), and it requires practices that take place despite current worries, fears, and old ways of seeing things. It's 'mastery practice', right in the belly of the crucible!

One gift that we can offer to others is the gift of our full presence -- being fully present with and for another. Deeply listening, looking for and receiving the very best within them, and being open-hearted and kind.

There certainly is a lot of 'doom-saying' these days. As Jonathan Cainer, the witty and optimistic British astrologer, says, "There is a boom for doom-and-gloom!" We could easily collect ample evidence for doom-and-gloom -- we can work ourselves into a panic of fear and scarcity -- if we want to do that. But is that really where we want to invest our focus and energy? Is that really where we want to invest our power? Is that what we want to see more of? My point is this -- and it's something I've been reflecting on and living into for quite awhile now, and sometimes struggling with, too: the questions we ask and the thoughts and actions we choose are an investment of our energy and power. As we go through our days, are we investing more in Light-and-Love or Gloom-and-Doom?

Fresh inspiration, empowered creativity, strengthened intuition, and a 'miracle friendly' perception can be our greatest allies in times like these.

In these times of change, when systems and institutions seem to be crumbling, and fear and anxiety seem intense, it's helpful to remember that seeming crisis can also be an open door that invites us to unparalleled opportunity.

These have been quite a wild and challenging few years for many small-business owners and solopreneurs (who make up a large percentage of the small-business-owner population). So much in the news about economic woes and other gloom-and-doom forecasts can affect the confidence and motivation, which are crucial when you're running your own business.

For spirit-centered solopreneurs, this is particularly true, because you're already doing something 'out of the norm' in approaching your work and business in a new way, with a new-paradigm perspective that moves away from the old Machiavellian 'the ends justify the means' approach.

So what's the best approach as you read the news and perhaps even experience a shift or seeming slow-down?

Trust, like faith, is far from a passive stance; it's very active, in that it requires diligence, cultivation, practice, discernment, and response. It requires us to choose, moment by moment, day by day, whether we give ourselves over to fear and anxiety, or to trust and greater purpose. Rather than clunking our way through life as an obstacle course, getting bruised all along the way, trust allows us to dance, connect, and perhaps even experiencing grace and synchronicity.

Spiritual and philosophical wisdom tells us that when we are out of alignment, or out of harmony, with Nature and our authentic natures, we will experience that misalignment in our mental and physical bodies. Modern-day statistics for those of us in Western industrial cultures tell a strong story that we are badly out of alignment.

Your Powerful Navigation System

For those who feel aligned with Cultural Creative values, or feel called to use their gifts and experience to make a more positive 'ripple effect' in the world, symbols, metaphors, and archetypes can be an invaluable 'guidance system.' Many of the new ways of working, or yearnings for a new and healthier way of living in harmony with others and the Earth, don't conform to long-established norms or standards of what's been considered desirable or 'successful.' So the old maps aren't quite as useful as they used to be, because many people are feeling called to different destinations altogether. In order to create new maps, many people are turning to ancient and inner Wisdom. And just how, exactly, might you access that? How can symbols help you to navigate your own authentic power-story?

What's Out? What's Emerging?

Most of us can sense, see, and hear a whole new 'way of seeing, way of being' being born, affecting how we view and 'do' every facet of our lives, including how we do business and how we approach 'work'.

De-stress and Re-connect with the Power of Sacred Wisdom Practices

Fostering a Culture of Deep Inquiry and Listening

The degree to which leaders and transformation-agents embody, communicate, foster, and require such skillfulness will define the degree of success the organization will have in meeting their greatest challenges, and aligning action with the vision and values of the organization. By leading into a culture of deep inquiry and skillful listening, leaders can strengthen the foundation from which all else stems.

The Paths of 'Conscious Enterprise'

As with anything else, there is more than one pathway for the expression of purpose, values, and Wisdom in the world, or of expression in general. The concept of "conscious enterprise" holds within it the intention to work more wisely, with a greater consciousness of the source, the intentions, the values, the ways, and the effects of what we do, why we do it, and how we go about it. It flips on its head the old Machiavellian standard of "the ends justifying the means.". As we know, "the means" often have a significant impact on quality of life and how we end up feeling about our life's work. What are the Value Paths of Conscious Enterprise, and which path are you walking?

The first step in thriving at any given time is to make the choice and set the intention: "Regardless of what's going on around me, regardless of the temporary circumstances at any given time, I choose to thrive."  Once you've decided to thrive rather than simply survive or eke out a life, there are many practices and resources available for you to play with. Here are a few; you'll find more ideas and practices at Ivy Sea Online and in my blogs.

Most of the time, when we think of 'the elements' or specific Seasons, we think of things like whether it's raining or snowing, or whether it's Spring or Fall. But the seasons, cycles, rhythms, paces, and wisdom of Nature is also evident in our own lives, livelihoods, and businesses. When we're aware of and connected to these, and cooperating with them, things seem to flow more gracefully and smoothly, and the results are far richer.