Feeling Grateful

Astrological expert I am not. However, friends who are have told me we are nearing the end of Mercury Retrograde—a three week time period when communications and the normal course of our lives have the tendency of going haywire.

Two days ago, my husband experienced his own taste of either astrological snafu or near miss, depending on how you look at it. While helping neighbors clean up their debris-filled property, a result of the recent flood, he found himself toppling headfirst toward the river. To catch himself, he jerked backward, only to find himself falling sideways onto a steel signpost buried under the debris.

The gash was deep and wide, and we spend the good part of the evening at the emergency ward. He is fine today, but I am finding myself feeling deeply grateful—grateful he is alive, grateful for life, grateful for so many things—health, happiness, home and helpful neighbors. The list could go on and on.

Sometimes when we feel an ounce of the misfortune of the world entering our own realm—-however unwelcome—-we become a lot more cognizant of what we have and compassionate towards the suffering of others.

As Mercury goes direct in a few days, and we experience a solar eclipse this afternoon--a great time for beginning anew, I'm told--I find myself feeling hopeful about the future, and grateful for all I’ve been given.