breathe and passion & pleasure

It's a very warm and heartfelt welcome back to the archangel who is forever present in my life. It therefore makes sense that it is Archangel Raphael who often chooses to be present in our readings as I have such a strong relationship with him and we work well together.

With Archangel Raphael always comes green light. Being Heaven's Physician he is closely associated with the colour of healing, green.

This card is not so much about the colours and symbolism as it is about interpreting the title in conjunction with the subtitle. So, for once, I will not be breaking down the image or the symbols and colours on the card.

Archangel Raphael is inviting us to "take several deep breaths, and exhale slowly to awaken your energy and to release old patterns."

In many traditions, the breath is referred to as our life force energy, prana, or Qi. Without it we simply would cease to exist. It is extremely powerful and, yet, we take it for granted.

AA Raphael is inviting us to focus on this powerful life force and use it for the benefit of our bodies, to remove blocks, and release old patterns of behaviour and thought.

When we are feeling nervous or stressed we may unconsciously hold our breath. When we are feeling frightened or scared we may unconsciously breathe quickly with short, sharp breaths.

Often how we feel is expressed by how we breathe.

Yogic breathing and deep breathing, which expands your tummy outwards, is believed to calm you and enable you to better focus. And so, it is through breathing that we can clearly focus on the things that are holding us back, the repeating thought patterns that are stopping us stepping forward, the old patterns and behaviours that are no longer serving us.

Many of these thoughts, beliefs and behaviours have been with us all our life. They are often something we have learned as children or through experiences we have created as we have grown up. However, many of them are simply outdated and no longer serving us or for our highest good.

AA Raphael is inviting us to breathe these patterns out and release them. You can do this in a number of ways:

• You can meditate and as you breathe out, one by one, you can visualise the old patterns leave your body, out through the soles of your feet and deep into Mother Earth
• You can meditate and as you breathe out ask AA Raphael to remove the blocks and old patterns that are holding you back
• You can sweep your hands over your aura (holding your hands about 5-10cms from your physical body) from the top of your head to your feet and visualise you sweeping away old patterns that no longer serve you. When you reach your feet, flick those old patterns away from your body
• You can call on the help of AA Michael as you meditate and ask him to cut through any energetic cords that link you with people or situations that have created the old patterns you carry around with you and which are no longer serving you.

Whichever way you find is easier to remove old patterns that are no longer serving you, AA Raphael is encouraging you to do so.

And as you breathe out those old patterns, you begin to awaken your energy and allow it to flow freely throughout your body.

So what old patterns are no longer serving you that you wish to release? Are you lacking in confidence, self-esteem or self-worth? Do you feel you're not enough? Have you a fear of visibility? Do you struggle to speak your truth? Are you lacking in self-love? Do you live your life from a place of fear and lack?

We each have our own patterns of thought and behaviour that no longer benefit or serve us. Only by letting them go and releasing them can we grow and expand and... savour a life of passion and pleasure.

Reference: This beautiful card is from Archangel Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue

This second card "Passion & Pleasure" is clearly a follow-on card from the first. Once we release old patterns and allow ourselves to grow and expand, we can begin to savour life fully and follow a life that is filled with passion and pleasure. And this, lovely soul, is exactly how the angels want us to live.

The angels and Creator, don't want to see us struggle through life. They want us to be the very best version of who we are. They want us to shine our light for others to see and enjoy. And that's why, through Archangel Raphael, they are encouraging us to let go and release old patterns.

The colours and symbols that stand out for me on this card are the deep blue of the trees at night, the light blue of the sky, the fire in the centre of the card, the caravan, and the music and dancing.

Deep blue and light blue signify strength and harmony. When you live a life filled with passion and pleasure, you are in tune and in harmony with your soul. And it is through living your life in accordance to what lights you up, your passion and pleasure, that you will grow and develop great personal strength.

When I see the fire, I'm thinking of phrases like "what lights you up?" and "burning desire". The angels are encouraging us to savour every minute of our life. Live in the present moment, don't dwell on the past or worry about the future. But live for today and savour the life you have been blessed with. Do what lights you up, follow your passion and dreams, follow your heart's burning desire. We are here to enjoy a human experience. And we only get one chance at this life. So why waste it? Why struggle? Why not live life to the full, savouring every single moment, taking no minute for granted? Why not follow your heart and your passion and do what brings you pleasure?

The caravan is making me think of a simple life. A life where you're free to come and go, move around, not tied down by clutter or materialstic things that you really don't need. The angels are inviting us to enjoy the small and simple things in life. To not take anything for granted. There's a quote that's popping into my head, a quote from GK Chesterton which reads: "When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude". The angels encourage us to take everything in life with gratitude.

And finally we have the music and the dancing which ties back in with the caravan. Enjoy the simple pleasures in life. If you enjoy singing, sing. If you enjoy dancing, dance. It is whenever you enjoy the things that light you up that your vibration will rise and you'll begin to attract even more passion and pleasure into your life.

Reference: This beautiful card is from The Sacred Traveler Oracle Deck by Denise Linn, artwork by Jesse Reisch

I've already combined the cards above when I mentioned that when you breathe and release the old patterns that no longer serve you and awaken your energy, you can then relish and savour life to the full by following what lights you up, what you're passionate about, and what brings you pleasure and happiness.

I feel the underlying message today is to be true to yourself. The thoughts, beliefs, behaviours that you have on repeat may have served who you were in the past but, today, they may be holding you back and inhibiting your growth. They are no longer true to who you are today. So release them. And let the true you shine through, follow what lights you up, follow your passion, and find pleasure in life.