Yesterday Saturn -- the astrological indicator of karma, discipline and structure, and building for the long haul -- came out of its 5+ month, low energy / depressive / introspective funk to return confidence and commitment to those willing to work hard on their path toward success.

Saturn promotes commitment (self-accountability) and endurance in manifesting our dreams. This is THE astrological energy that reinforces a sense of responsibility in order to gain wisdom from experience and effort in a one step at a time manner.

But there is also an element of taking great leaps forward with Saturn, especially in business when inner confidence, spirit, strength, compassion for and understanding of one's Self are engaged.

I'm newly seeing Saturn as the quintessential coaches planet or indicator because of our focus on structures, accountability, wisdom from experience, direction, resilience, and moving through fear -- all features of Saturn energy in an astrology chart.

Saturn is the ruler of my Sun sign, so it's no wonder I've been atrracted to coaching as a profession.

A colleague has been encouraging me to combine my work as an astrologer with my coaching services. I think she's right.

~ Deah Curry, CPC
Astrologically Coaching You In Manifesting Your Destiny :)

What's Your Prime Motivation?

About an hour from now I'll be speaking with my coach -- yes! coaches have coaches!! -- and she's going to ask me two critical questions:

~ Why do I want to accomplish my goals?
~ What's in the way?

Like many coachees, I want to just plunge right in to action. I don't want to waste time analyzing motivations, and pondering insights, and wander around inside my head until I make a discovery. No. I want to design an action plan and get going.

She's right, though to encourage me to take a breath, and a step back, and make sure that my actions are directly connected to my motivations. Otherwise, how can I possibly know whether I'm working on the right goals. How would I even recognize what the immovable obstacles are, or find the doorways to go through them?

Creative Alternatives Coaching sounds like it's all about action, and much of the time it is. But before action can be productive, we just might need to apply a little creative alternatives effort to the thinking process as well.

So today's coaching questions for you, dear reader, are:

1. What do you really really want in your life right now?
2. What is your prime motivator for wanting that?
3. From your current point of view, what is in the way of having it?
4. And go deeper -- what thought or belief or emotion is in the way of removing the obstacle?

How Can You Challenge Yourself Today?

Change happens in two ways. It can be thrust upon us by external forces such as the requests of friends, family and others, and the unexpected shifts in life situations that demand response.

When this type of change is resisted, it can cause turbulent times in relationships, careers, perception of economic or social stability, and other intense difficulties. We tell ourselves that there's nothing wrong with how we are, or how we've been doing things -- if only others would realize that and cooperate.

Hmmm. Is that really true? Is it an effective position to take?

Change can also be a pro-active, self-selected, self-challenge process. When this type of change is embarked on, we are more likely to engage with it as an adventure, or an experiment. Our emotional defense mechanisms aren't triggered because we actually can have fun and gain satisfaction from the achievements that self-determined change brings.

Being a bit of a control freak, I prefer the latter. What about you?

How can you challenge yourself today? Here are a few ideas.

1. Emotional challenge -- identify a loss (of person, job, dream, etc) you haven't grieved, and admit how that loss changed you, for better or worse. Then consider how you grew from the experience of this loss.

2. Habit challenge -- select a personal habit you know you need to change, and do one small thing differently today. Make it a game, see how unusual or new or out of character you can be with your one small difference.

3. Interpersonal challenge -- decide to do something impromptu that will bring a smile to a neighbor or stranger. Give an apology, or make an unexpected phone call, or leave a treat for someone who does something usually unacknowledged for you.