Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Hey Friends,
Happy March and Women’s History Month! I’m gonna keep this short because I’m typing with only nine functioning fingers after accidentally slicing the big index guy open on cut glass yesterday.
I’m reviewing You Were Born for This by Chani Nicholas this week. But first, I want to let you know about a special offer that's only valid for the month of March.
Chani and crew are offering FREE premium access to their app for 30 days with the code SATURN30.
If you already keep up with the planets, you may be aware that Saturn is changing signs, which is kind of a big deal.
March 2023 ushers in a wealth of cosmic change and premium access to the app will let you know exactly how this affects you personally. Chani talks more about it in her mini-podcast.
I'm a huge fan of this app! I check it every day—sometimes multiple times—and it's really helped deepen my relationships with astrology and myself. I highly recommend taking advantage of this offer! (I’m not affiliated with Chani in any way, just a really huge fan tryna spread the word!)
Okay, let's get into the review…
You Were Born for This: Astrology For Radical Self-Acceptance
You Were Born for This is a thought-provoking and insightful book that explores the intersections between astrology and self-discovery. Chani is a highly respected astrologer and brilliant writer who I’ve been following for nearly a decade. This book highlights her unique perspective and teaches basic skills to better understand ourselves through astrology.
The book is divided into five parts, with each section offering a different approach to understanding astrology and its potential for personal growth.
Part I: Your Birth Chart
In the first part, Chani provides a comprehensive overview of astrology, including its history and the basic principles of reading birth charts. She explains how the alignment of the planets at the time of our birth can provide insight into our personality, strengths, and challenges.
Chani uses the natal charts of Frida Kahlo and Dr. Maya Angelou as examples throughout the book. So, you get the added bonus of understanding how two admirable icons aligned with their own cosmic blueprints.
Part II: The Basics
The second part of the book focuses on the fundamentals of astrology. Chani describes the planets, the twelve zodiac signs, and the twelve houses. She offers a detailed exploration of each one and the unique qualities and characteristics associated with them.
Chani also delves into the symbolism and mythology behind each sign, helping readers understand how their individual birth chart fits into the larger astrological picture.
Parts III through IV: Choose Your Own Adventure
In the final part of the book, Chani provides practical advice on how to use astrology as a tool for personal growth and transformation. Parts 3-5 focus on your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant (rising sign).
It’s a choose-your-own-adventure model in that you only read the sections that correspond to your specific birth chart, which you can look up for free on Chani’s website.
In each section, Chani offers exercises for working with the energy of different planetary transits and aspects, and how to use astrology to better understand and navigate key life transitions.
Top Takeaway
IMHO, astrology for radical self-acceptance is a perfectly appropriate subtitle for this book. I wasn’t sure what it would mean until I dove into my own chart and found the descriptions of various blessings and challenges to be eerily on point!
For example, it felt empowering to learn that a challenging square between my Sun and Saturn (planet of the moment!) “can feel like an obstacle that depresses your life force.” It’s nice to know my predisposition toward periods of depression is due to a notoriously difficult planet and not a problem with me!
One of the strengths of You Were Born for This is Chani's relatable and accessible writing style. Even if you have no prior knowledge of astrology, she makes the subject easy to understand and apply to your own life.
Overall, You Were Born for This is an excellent book for anyone interested in astrology or learning more about themselves!
But it on Amazon. (That is an affiliate link.)
And if you’re interested in merging astrology with tarot, I offer a zodiac reading that harnesses the energies of the twelve houses. Email l.steinheimer@gmail.com to learn more!
3 Things I Love
This article in the Washington Post about how inflammation in the body is linked to depression in the brain. It reminds me of the Brain Weaver book I recently reviewed. Here’s a quote from the article: “The coordinated involvement of the immune, vascular and nervous systems also underscores that depression is a whole-body problem that requires a whole-body approach to solving it.”
How Last Week Tonight covered the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) the same week I did, and in much greater detail.
This Goth Garden Flower mix by Hudson Valley Seed Co. “Let your inner Wednesday Addams delight in these velvety black, plum, and burgundy blooms.” They got me.
Thanks so much for reading! Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment or replying to this email. I love hearing from you, and it makes this more of a conversation!
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XoLauren