Facing the truth about money and change š°
Volume 3, Issue 5
March 13, 2025
Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Virgo š ā
Sun in Pisces āļø ā
Full Moon/Eclipse Greetings, dear Readersā£ļø
I need to feel the ground beneath my feet. I need to feel my breath in my body and my heart beating. As spring approaches, I feel drawn to withdraw even as I long to step outside and let the warm sun touch my face. This winter has felt endless, and though Iām weary of its grasp, part of me still wants to climb under the covers and rest for the remainder of March.
Why? Because the energy of this moment feels intense. There is an anxious current running through me, a deep sense that nothing will look or feel the same a year from nowāperhaps even a month from now. I feel this shift both personally and collectively, and Iāve sensed it building all year. In my heart, I know that 2025 is going to change me, change us, forever.
This is difficult to share. Thank you for taking the time to read Tides of Being. Your presence here means so much to me.
Right now, Iām navigating a challenging midlife financial reckoning. The current climate of uncertainty, upheaval, and forced change has left me unsettledānot hopeless, but deeply aware that I need to confront my financial reality with honesty. I must develop solid plansāA, B, and Cāeach requiring major shifts in my habits and my relationship with money.
Recently, I stumbled upon an essay I wrote in December 2023 called Filling the Void. It explored how much my financial situation had changed since Sierra passed. I had intended to share it here, but at the time, I felt too ashamed. I tucked it away. Last week, I read it again, edited it, and prepared to share itāonly to find that same shame rising once more.
There are certain struggles we all face as human beings. Managing finances, living within our means, and facing the consequences when we donāt. The challenge is made even harder by the reality of unfettered capitalism, where we are constantly bombarded with messages telling us we need more. That this thingāwhatever it isāwill make our lives better, easier. We chase after the next shiny object, only to find ourselves longing for something new the moment we acquire it.
My understanding of money came from watching my parents. We lived a comfortable, middle-class life, took vacations, and never wanted for anything. It felt like we were wealthy. But after my dad passed, I learned the truthāthere were no savings, only debt. My mother was left in a difficult financial situation at 63 years old.
I started adulthood with no real financial foundation. No one taught me how to manage or save moneyāI only knew how to spend it. Then, I had a baby on my own before I graduated from college or established a career. Raising children on a limited income, I never had enough to set aside savings. Iāve lived paycheck to paycheck my entire adult life.
Death and finances are two of the most taboo topics. Iāve always been too embarrassed to ask for financial advice. We donāt ask each other how much money we have, how we manage it, or how much debt we carry. Instead, we make assumptions based on neighborhoods, cars, and clothesāthough credit cards make it all too easy to live beyond our means.
This midlife reckoning is terrifying. By now, I should feel financially stable. Iāve worked and earned money for nearly 40 years. Yet here I am, in my mid-fifties, with a mortgage, no savings, and other debt. Iām supposed to have a nest egg. Iām supposed to be preparing for retirement. Instead, retirement feels like a pipe dreamāunless I make drastic changes.
Thankfully, I have my health. I have a full-time job. And I refuse to give up hope that I can turn this around.
So, here it isāmy shameful secret: Iāve been financially incompetent, and itās taken me my entire life to truly face it. This is one of the biggest reckonings Iām experiencing right now. I know I have to move forward differently. I have to make real, lasting changes and completely rewire my understanding of money at 55 years old. And that is terrifying.
But this process is teaching me something profound. It is forcing me to confront hard truthsānot just about financial stability and personal accountability, but about the larger systems that shape our lives. And maybe, just maybe, by facing this reckoning head-on, I can finally begin to change my story.
Itās no surprise that this financial reckoning coincides with the full moon lunar eclipse in Virgo and the retrogrades of Venus and Mercury. These cosmic shifts call for deep reflection, urging us to reevaluate our values, habits, and relationshipsāespecially with money, self-worth, and personal responsibility. The universe is pushing me to face what Iāve long avoided, to step into a new way of being. And while this transformation feels daunting, I trust that the upheaval is necessary for real, lasting change.
Your Thoughts? Join the conversation on Substack!
I know Iām not alone in navigating financial challenges and trying to find my place within an economic system that often feels overwhelming.Ā
- Have you ever found yourself in a cycle of spending to cope with stress or uncertainty?Ā
- How do you manage personal finances while balancing emotional well-being?Ā
- Is it difficult to share and discuss money habits honestly with your friends and family?
Iād love to hear your thoughtsāletās start a conversation. Please share in the comments section on Substack.
Continue reading for a song share, a mindful moment on well-being and money stress, a planetary almanac, and an art feature.
With love and care,
Jennifer š«šš«
A Two-Minute Embodied Moment šŖ·
Ease Money Stress and Cultivate Well-Being
Take a moment to pause. Wherever you are, find a comfortable seat or stand with your feet firmly on the ground. Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs completelyā¦ and slowly exhale through your mouth. Feel the weight of your body settling into this moment.
Now, bring your awareness to the sensation of your feet on the ground. Imagine roots extending downward, anchoring you to stability and support. With each inhale, feel a sense of steadiness. With each exhale, soften tension and worry.
Place one hand over your heart and the other on your belly. Notice the gentle rise and fall with each breath. Acknowledge any stress or tightness you may be holding around money, security, or uncertaintyāwithout judgment, just noticing.
Now, repeat silently or aloud:
“I am not my financial situation. My worth is not measured by numbers. I have the power to make choices that support my well-being.”
Take another deep breath inā¦ and sigh it out. Feel yourself softening. With your next inhale, invite in a sense of trustātrust in your resilience, in your ability to navigate challenges, in the support that surrounds you.
When youāre ready, gently wiggle your fingers and toes, bringing awareness back to your space. Open your eyes and return to your day with a little more ease, knowing that you are enough, just as you are.
Planetary Bodies šŖ
- Full moon/lunar eclipse in Virgo on March 14, 2025 š ā
- Mercury in Aries ā stations retrograde ā¬ ļø on March 15, 2025Ā
- The Sun in Pisces moves into Aries on March 20, 2025 ā ā”ļø ā
- Spring Equinox on March 20, 2025 š
- Waning half-moon in Capricorn on March 22, 2025 š ā
- Planets conjunct the Sun in March – š Cazimi!Ā
- Saturn cazimi in Pisces on March 12, 2025 ā
- Venus cazimi in Aries on March 22, 2025 ā
- Mercury cazimi in Aries on March 24, 2025 ā
- New moon/solar eclipse in Aries on March 29, 2025 š ā
Full Moon Affirmations: I release shame and embrace financial awareness. I let go of guilt and self-judgment around money. I choose to see my financial journey with clarity and compassion, knowing that change is always possible. I am worthy of stability, abundance, and self-trust. I honor my past choices while stepping into a future of financial empowerment. I trust myself to make wise, aligned decisions that support my well-being. I welcome transformation with an open heart. I surrender to the shifts unfolding in my life. I trust that this period of change is guiding me toward a more balanced, intentional, and abundant future.
The lunar eclipse happens overnight on March 14, 2025, at 2:54 am, and is visible in North America if the sky is clear. Learn more about this eclipse from NASA.
Current Offerings – Planet Prana Meditation Space šļø
- Live Group Meditation On Zoom Meditation for All – Monthly Mindfulness Break on the second Monday of each month.
- Guided meditation library: The growing on-demand guided practice library includes collections of shorter practices for grounding, mindfulness, and embodiment; a new midweek mindfulness break uploaded weekly; and my signature meditation course – Meditation Demystified.
- Visit Planet Prana Meditation Space on YouTube for more free content: Iāve made some of the older Midweek Mindfulness Break practices available to the public, which can be found on the home page. While these practices are created based on the moment’s energy when recorded, they are still valuable to practice anytime.
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