It's funny how we can create scenarios in our mind. We envision the way we think things will turn out. The problem is, life sometimes has totally different things in store for us than we expected! We can make all the plans we want and sometimes our lives go exactly the way we envision, but in all reality life tends to get messy.

More often than not the Universe steps in with an agenda all of its own to reroute our lives for opportunities to grow and expand in ways we never knew were possible. The more we learn to go with the flow and open ourselves to the possibilities the greater the chances are we will live in harmony and grow from the experiences.

The end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 have been full of challenges. I was planning on a relaxing vacation in Texas with my long time friend. I totally envisioned spending a week really relaxing. Sometimes we get what we want and other times we get what we need. The Universe had a completely different scenario in store for me! My pure intent for 2008 was to heal and clear any issues that were blocking me from experiencing peace and balance in my life. With that in mind, little that I knew, I was being delivered the perfect opportunity to do just that!

Well, I was definitely thrown a curve ball as the grand finale to end my year, as many of us were. Instead of spending a week in Texas I was catapulted to California to support my friend as she dealt with the issues of mortality with her elderly parents. I felt as if I was thrown into some alternate reality. My deep-rooted issues were brought to the surface and triggered through situations that occurred. I kept checking in with Spirit to show me what I needed to gain from each experience. I continually had to bring myself back to the present, go with the flow and connect with my feelings to find out what I needed in the moment. It was quite a challenge for me.

The Universe also decided it was time for me to really wrap up any lingering issues I was harboring. My illusions were shattered once and for all. I held certain pictures of reality that clouded my vision and I was forced to take off my rose-colored glasses and see things clearly. I had held onto belief systems that really weren't valid for me anymore. I was jolted out of my reverie and shown the vision of my own higher truth. It was no longer serving me to stay in this illusion.

It was a cosmic joke that I wound up in California only two hours away from my family at Christmas. I had some unresolved issues with my family members. I had vowed that I wasn't coming to California any time soon. I knew that I always eventually get over hurt feelings but I was going to give it plenty of time before I dealt with these issues. Oh, but Spirit felt that now was a better time than later. Once I realized the Divine synchronicity of me being placed in California despite my resistance, I knew I had to make peace with whatever that I was holding onto. We wound up having a wonderful Christmas together and I experienced all the love and caring I feel for and from my family. My hurt feelings melted away. I surrendered to the moment and just let go of the past.

Upon my return home I came down with a severe case of the flu. It has not gone unnoticed by me that I have, and almost everyone I know has, had, or is getting, to one degree or another, this flu in the form of a chest congestion or a stomach virus. My guidance is that this is a major physical cleanse. The symptoms are parallel to ascension symptoms, which include, coughing, congestion, sinus pressure, body aches, weakness, stomach discomfort, sleep disruptions, brain fog and headaches. We are purging many toxins through our physical bodies on a cellular, ancestral and energetic level.

Through the cleansing many of us are experiencing a clearing and opening of our chakra system at a deep level. The upper chakras are going through a major expansion process. The obvious symptoms of the crown and third eye chakra being worked on and opened are the headaches, head pressure, brain fog, sinus pressure, memory loss, and an odd feeling of disassociation with 3-D reality. The throat and heart chakra cleansing indications are congruent with coughing, congestion, sore throat, tickle in the throat and loss of interest in talking or expression.

We are in frequent planning sessions with our healing team and spiritual families nightly which are causing sleep disruptions, waking up feeling unrested and a sense of a lot of talking or activity in our dream state. We are dropping so much density as we release our issues and old patterns and prepare for change, it is causing the fatigue, weakness and body aches. Our bodies are working over time to accomplish this cleansing process so must be as understanding and compassionate with ourselves as we possibly can be.

We have accumulated and absorbed so many negative thoughts, emotions, memories, and belief systems that no longer match our vibration in this new energy. Our world is going through a major cleanse. Old ways of doing things are no longer acceptable. The system is crumbling before our very eyes. As the changes occur in our society they must also occur within ourselves.

This is a very powerful and intense time. None of us are spared from having to deal with our issues. Many of us are experiencing great loss at the same as we are gaining so much wisdom and inner awareness. Things will balance themselves out in time.

While it seems like a very harsh and severe time it doesn't need to be so. It is imperative that we are gentle and loving to ourselves. This cleansing process is teaching us to honor each other and ourselves. It is showing us that we need to take care of our body, mind and soul. This process is causing situations that make us slow down and rest, whether it is through job loss, illness or mitigating circumstances.

Mercury has gone retrograde through February 1st. We have a new moon coming up, along with a solar eclipse on January 26 (which happens to be on my birthday, further intensifying things in the sign of Aquarius). This gives us additional opportunity to go inward, tie up loose ends, reevaluate, and reassess things. Now is a time to rest, a chance to heal, build strength, set strong foundations and nurture ourselves.

In the coming months things will begin to work themselves out. Our current challenges will find solutions. The cleansing we are undergoing within ourselves and the plans we are making will be set in motion as we transition through this phase of the process.

Never before has humanity been given such an opportunity to grow and evolve with such magnitude and purpose. I am humbled knowing that while we may be feeling weak, exhausted, and frustrated by all the challenges we are currently facing we are ultimately in the divine flow and are truly protected. All is in divine and perfect order. We are the dough that the baker is kneading and rolling. Until we are pliable we cannot be molded into a finished creation.

It is for us to surrender to the process and accept the cleansing process as a necessary step to experiencing the changes we long for.

Stefanie Miller is a teacher, energy healer, spiritual counselor and an intuitive, channeled writer. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and has taught elementary school for over 16 years. Stefanie has been assisting individuals on their spiritual path since 1998. Facilitating private healing sessions, workshops and through her channeled writing, Stefanie guides individuals toward achieving self mastery by connecting with their Higher Self and Source through a heart centered focus. Visit her site, A Magical World, email or tel: 954-562-8813.

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