Inside This Issue

• Focus For The Month: Vision
• Affirmation for January 
• Blog: A Lesson For Us All
• Featured Essential Oil: Thieves
• It’s In The Stars for January
• Free Gift: A Prayer For You

     This month's issue is a little longer than usual....and packed full of information to help you achieve your Highest Potential this year! If you enjoy this issue, forward it to a friend! 
     As I sit at my desk working, I look out through a forest to a broad western expanse of mountain ranges folding over one another. It is a stunning sight. Although the intimate details of the horizon are difficult to see so far off, you are none the less constantly reminded that the big picture is always present. I've added something new to The 12 Keys Newsletter....a Focus for the Month and an accompanying Affirmation. I hope it helps you in January with your long range view.
     Also in this issue, you'll find more information on Young Living Essential Oils and why they are such a powerful tool. If you want to learn more about using oils, application techniques, emotional balancing with oils and specific formulae, we have the Essential Oils Pocket Reference Book which can be found in the Book section of our Online Store. Anyone who wants to know more about this gift from the plant kingdom should have this reference book on their desk. You can also find a downloadable .pdf about this month's essential oil Thieves on the Resources page at our website The12Keys.com .
     As we move into the energies of this New Year (my friend Gail told me - "2007 was Heaven, but 2008 will be Great!" hey....it rhymes....), it is clear that our experience is very different than the rest of the world. It is important we understand the messages and themes that the greater consciousness is expressing, even if it is markedly outside the scope of our own reality. For many - 2007 was not ‘heaven', but filled with challenge, and loss, and heart ache. The energies of the old ways must fall away and make way for the New way...there's simply no better ‘way' to say it. Check out my Blog this month for more on that.
     This New Year is part of a greater cycle. In terms of Numerology, it is the beginning of a ‘One' year (2 + 0 + 0 + 8 = 10 which reduces to the single digit 1 + 0 = 1), having just completed 2007 which was a ‘9' year ( 2 + 0 + 0 + 7 ).  Now, I don't expect you to take my word for the accuracy of numerologic interpretation. Take it up with Pythagoras. "From Pythagoras came the notion that each number not only possessed a meaning as a measurement of quantity, but also has intrinsic meaning that represented a broad range of philosophical, psychological, and cosmological concepts that could be applied to things on the basis of their numeric values. According to Pythagoras, everything in the universe could be reduced to numbers, and the fundamental nature of all things could then be explained by understanding these numbers."  1
     So, as a ‘One' year, we find ourselves at the beginning, as 1 is the beginning of all things. First cause, first word, first seed, it all begins with One. "As such, it is associated with God or the First Principle of the universe that sets all things in motion. One is the creative principle of the divine spirit, a number that represents unity, wholeness, and self-sufficiency."   2
     This leads me to believe 2008 is going to live up to its promise! I was struck by the awareness of other ‘9' years I have experienced - Nine is about completion, being the last single number in the sequence, having all other numbers and years build up to that threshold - and the life events that unfolded in other new beginning ‘1' years.... 1999, 1990, 1981, 1972, etc. In 1999, I moved twice and got married; in 1990 I got divorced, moved out, then I took a leap of faith to find my destiny and moved to Asheville, NC; in 1981 I moved and changed jobs; in 1972, my parents divorced and I moved from Michigan to Florida. 2008 will be about movement - translated into many forms!
     Pluto figures prominently in the workings of our Milky Way Galaxy, which is interesting considering Pluto is a planet that has to do with endings and beginnings. (I still consider it a planet.) Get a better look at all the planets in our galaxy and what they're up to in this month's column.....It's In The Stars. Finally, my gift to you this month is a prayer... to support the Power of Love....and to personally assist you with something specific in your life that could use a little more light. You'll find more at the bottom of this page.

Embrace the incredible new energies of 2008.....and let us share this journey as we walk together.

Focus for the Month: Vision

Affirmation for January:
Beloved Source of All That Is, In The Name of Love I Expand My Vision To See How Everything Serves Your Unfolding Perfection.

Blog: A Lesson For Us All 

In looking back at the year just passed, we saw endings on many levels. Relationships, life transitions, even on the home front.....2007 was about letting go. How many of us heard that message, and heeded the nudge from Spirit? We have been feeling the energy for some time... recognizing in the process that the old ways of doing things were no longer working for us. And yet for some, the vision of what we are moving toward isn't quite clear, it still seems too far away to comprehend or grasp. It is then that the Soul, with the help of Spirit, does more than nudge.

The death of Benazir Bhutto was a shocking thing to witness. With the explosive force of a bomb and one lone gunman, hopes and dreams and lives were shattered that day. Reminiscent of November 1963 and our loss of John F. Kennedy, or April of 1865 and Abraham Lincoln's death. The list is long.

As we step back for a moment from our disbelief and sadness, we can ask what Benazir's soul choice was. It's not a new paradigm to suggest we create our reality, or that experiences come about as a result of co-creative soul agreements. It is just difficult to mentally process an occurrence of this magnitude. At the soul level, was Benazir in agreement with this experience? And if so, then why?

The commentary has been endless - Time, Newsweek, CNN, Networks, the internet - have all been focused on the unfolding drama. Viewed as a political leader and a hero, welcomed by mobs of hundreds of thousands of people chanting her name, she had survived previous assassination attempts. How surprising was it that one final attempt actually succeeded?

And despite her obvious courage, intellect and passion, why was she viewed as a hero? Her two previous tenures as Prime Minister ended in scandal, including questionable service by her husband, and she went into exile. The legacy of her family is tragic, notably her father's political demise and death. Yet you could see the true desire in her eyes to change things for the better, that was what she was fighting for. She wanted to bring true Democracy to Pakistan, and in the process diminish the growth of Muslim radicals and their extremism. But she was going about it the old way. And how did her supporters respond to the terrible incident? As they always have, with riots and burning and more people getting killed. Very un-Democratic and a mirror of extremism. Though I have compassion for their frustration, what honor does this pay to the principles she gave her life for?

I can't say whether she heard the message or not - The energies of the old ways must fall away and make way for the New ways. But there is a broader lesson in it for us all.

What she was working to change was the cause and effect that creates a vicious cycle we see played out over and over again. Cause: ignorance, fear, death and destruction; Effect: ignorance, fear, death and destruction. Collectively, we have to find a way to break this cycle all over the world, and we can start with ourselves.

Cut 14 small strips of paper about an inch long, write the following words down, and put them in a bowl on your counter.....new, original, innovative, fresh, groundbreaking, pioneering, inventive, unique, creative, imaginative, unusual, inspired, resourceful, ingenious. All synonymous with the word new.

Give me 14 days. Each day start out by speaking to yourself out-loud: Today I will do things in new ways, I will be _________ and then draw a word and speak it. Keep that key word in your mind throughout the day as you encounter situations or challenges. Pick a new word every day. After two weeks, look back over your life and see what has changed. Perhaps it will be something big, perhaps the shift will be imperceptible.....how does it feel to be doing things in new ways?

Why use Living Essential Oils?

Pure, Potent Plant Remedies... Uplifting, protective, calming, and regenerating, essential oils are a unique gift from the natural world. Often referred to as "nature's living energy" or the very essence of a plant, essential oils are aromatic liquids derived from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds. They not only deter­mine the plant's aroma, but are vital for plants to grow, live, evolve, and adapt. Essential oils also help defend plants from insects, environmental conditions, and disease. Today, research shows that when used aromati­cally, applied topically, or taken internally, essential oils can calm, ener­gize, balance, purify, and rejuvenate the mind and body. *

From perfumes and aromatherapy to cooking and medicinal purposes, essential oils have been a vital part of everyday life, dating back to 4500 BC. After personally experiencing the many benefits of essential oils, D. Gary Young, Founder and President of Young Living Essential Oils, began a personal campaign to promote the ancient healing art of essential oil therapy. The result? An abundant line of pure, therapeutic-grade essen­tial oils, including over 140 single essential oils and unique essential oil blends, and the world's largest community dedicated to achieving well­ness via nature's purest, most potent gift.*

Therapeutic-grade: The Young Living Standard... There is a significant difference between essential oils that simply smell good and those that are therapeutic-grade. Independent laboratory testing proves that Young Living essential oils meet and often exceed industry requirements, and as stewards of nature's plant remedies, Young Living maintains higher internal stan­dards, built upon the magnitude of our own rigorous Quality Assurance requirements. This standard is known as "therapeutic-grade." In order to achieve therapeutic-grade classification, each essential oil must achieve the designation naturally, without excess manipulation and refinement, and meet specific criteria in four key areas: Plants, Prepara­tion, Purity, and Potency.*

Find more information on essential oils in the Reference section of The12Keys.com

*Reproduced from Everyday Oils Booklet, © Young Living Essential Oils; access the complete booklet here (pdf file, 4.46 mb)..... everyday_oils_booklet.

Next Month we'll explore the many different ways to use essential oils.

Featured Young Living Essential Oil:  Thieves
        Save $5 ! On Sale Now Through January for $33.50 !
   

15ml -Thieves® was created based on research about four thieves in France who covered themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims. This proprietary essential oil blend was university tested for its cleansing abilities. It is highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health and found to be highly effec­tive against airborne bacteria. Price: regularly $38.50 - now $33.50!

Ingredients: Clove† (Syzygium aromaticum), lemon† (Citrus limon), cinnamon† (Cinnamomum verum), Eucalyptus radiata† and rosemary† (Rosmarinus officinalis CT 1,8 cineol). † 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oil. 

How To Use:

-Drop 4-5 drops onto a dryer sheet to freshen laundry.

-Add 4-5 drops of oil to dishwater or dishwasher to thoroughly clean dishes and eliminate bacteria and odor.

-Drop directly on the tongue, in a spoonful of Young Living's Blue Agave, or on a piece of bread and swallow for unpleasant breath.

-Add to cinnamon sticks or to potpourri for home fragrance.

*Reproduced from Everyday Oils Booklet, © Young Living Essential Oils; access the complete booklet by linking here .

Please note: Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Always dilute before applying to the skin or taking internally. Keep out of reach of children.Some of these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Shop The Store to purchase.

It’s In The Stars

Don't miss the Quadrantids meteor showers January 3-4^th , with an expected 50-80 meteors per hour coming out of the pre-dawn northern sky. This month we take some extra time to look at all the planets and their positions as we begin the New Year.

Welcome 2008 with the Sun in feminine Capricorn, whose influence is felt until the 19^th , when the Sun moves into Aquarius. The energy of Capricorn is steady and surefooted, with patience being rewarded.

The New Moon in Capricorn is on the 8^th , and as I have said before, a new moon is a good time to plant the seeds of new ideas as it reflects the beginning of a new lunar cycle.  The full moon in Leo on the 22nd brings to the forefront our potential planted during the new moon, and with the partnering energy of Aquarius, these ideas can be expressed and communicated.

Three planets we watched closely in December continue their influences on our experience into January: Pluto, Jupiter and Mars.

Pluto has been in Sagittarius since November of 1995, and it moves into Capricorn on the 25^th of this month where it will stay until 2023! Pluto governs endings and beginnings (did you see my reference to this at the beginning of this newsletter?) , and its transformative power combined with Capricorn's slow and steady focus on the pursuit of destiny will help all of us move closer toward our goals.

Jupiter, the planet of expansion and higher mind, starts the year in ambitious Capricorn where it will stay in 2008. Jupiter is noted for its influence on our desire to improve things coupled with the energy of optimism and a desire to grow.

Mars begins the year retrograde in Gemini, and on the 30^th , turns direct. Did you see the Mars-Moon spectacle on Christmas Eve?  Once every 15 years it comes nearest to earth. As a planet of energy and action named for the war God, Mars can represent struggles within our-selves or with others. The dualistic nature of Gemini might amplify this aspect, but expressive Gemini provides a favorable place for Mars' energetic activity and its ability to turn ideas into action.

A note about Retrograde Motion. From our point of observation here on Earth, planets in our solar system are called retrograde when they ‘appear' to be traveling backward through the zodiac. In truth, they are not traveling backward, but merely traveling slower than the observer. In olden days, retrograde motion was considered a negative influence, but more modern astrologers have come to see retrograde as delaying or sometimes reversing the influence of the planet's influence, which depending upon the planet and sign in which the retrograde motion occurs can actually exert a positive effect.

Saturn entered Virgo in September after spending two years in Leo, and remains there throughout this year. It goes retrograde (its movement appears to slow down) on the 19^th , and goes direct in May. Saturn rules Capricorn, and is the planet of hard work and responsibility. Symbolically, Saturn can represent our destiny and empower us to realize our highest potential. Conscientious Virgo and disciplined Saturn work well together, a very good aspect for this year.

Though it begins the year in Capricorn, Mercury travels retrograde three times in 2008, the first phase coming the 28^th  - February 19^th  in Aquarius. Mercury is the planet of communication and intellect, and affects the way we assimilate information. Aquarius's expressive and communicative nature will be well served by Mercury as it stays there until March 29^th .

Neptune, which represents the power of imagination, spends the year in Aquarius. A planet of spirituality and mystery, its inspirational nature feeds your dream life and mystical qualities. Neptune will stay in the sign of Aquarius until 2012, bringing visionary ideals into reality.

Uranus, which transits a sign once every seven years, begins and ends the year in Pisces.  Uranus is the planet of change, called the planet of the future, and is considered to be the ruler of the New Age that began with the Age of Aquarius. Uranus represents your will, seat of power, and what drives your unconscious purpose. In free flowing and adaptable Pisces, as the last or twelfth sign in the zodiac, we have the opportunity to experience spiritual rebirth.

Venus begins the month in Sagittarius, and moves into Capricorn alongside Pluto around the 24^th. The power of love expressed through Venus brings a harmonic completion to Pluto's dance in Sagittarius as they both move forward together into Capricorn.

We begin February in a powerful way with an annular Solar Eclipse on the 6^th (will not be visible in the US, but we'll feel the effects none the less) coupled with a new moon in Aquarius, and the Chinese New Year beginning on the 7^th . Also in February, watch for the Lunar Eclipse on the 21^st , which coincides with the Full Moon in Virgo!

Free Gift:

Each month we add a free gift for you to request and download...and all you have to do is ask! Perhaps we’ll send a prayer, an inspiring message, highlight an essential oil or a story that touches you.

I remember being in a private darshan once with my beloved Teacher, and I asked her, "If everything is always in divine order - why must we pray for all things to be in divine order?" She replied thoughtfully, "Because perfection must be maintained."

My gift to you this month is a prayer for The Power of Love, and an offer of assistance with some aspect of your life that could use a little upliftment.

May you find the Gift in each day.

• A Prayer For You