Friday the 13th special!

Today only - take 13% off all orders of $5.00 or more at lunasgiftsntreasures.com or the virtual store on skycladdreams.com. Any order $100.00 or more (shipping and tax not included in total) will get a FREE $10.00 gift card for future orders.


Brightest blessings to all! (A portion of all orders will and is donated to charities, so make a difference by helping me to give back while you get something enjoyable).

Running a SPECIAL on Tarot/Rune readings

I am running an 'On the WHIM' special today. It's only good for today (July 12), come midnight-the offer expires and prices go back up. Be sure to check out the special by visiting:
http://www.skycladdreams.com/Tarotinfo.htm

Retrograding Planets you should be aware of.

Retrograding Planets: Uranus, Mercury and Pluto

When planets go retrograde, it appears that are moving backwards. What the planets usually represent in our everyday routines and how they are situated in our houses/ birth charts has a lot to do with how we think and feel. Planets have associations and duties, however, when a planet goes retrograde, it seems that their associations and duties are just the complete opposite of what they stand for.


URANUS

Uranus goes retrograde on July 13 and will be for about six/seven months and revels in suddenness and delights in last minute plan changes....like complete reversals and shock effects. He is the head of the Dept of One Never Knows-meaning you will and can even surprise yourself with the things you say and do. You may like order in your life, however where personal freedom is concerned-rules are made to be broken regardless of the consequences. If you feel confined or in a rut, Uranus is the planet to set you free. He is similar to a computer wizard-involved in mass communication and is bold enough to help you seek a solution to a problem and see it in a whole new light. However, when he is retrograding-all this goes out the window and the complete opposite happens. Be prepared to feel in a rut, to have your personal freedom disappear and to feel caged in or to have a situation hang around for a while and you to give yourself a headache on how to make it go away, find a solution or make it right.

So if you're feeling stuck in a present circumstance, well, hope for a transit to happen so you won't be stuck for long-however 'temporary people' often enter your life or people whose only purpose is to jolt you out of whatever you were missing and appear to provide exactly what you were sorely missing.

MERCURY

Yep, it's that time again where planet Mercury goes retrograde on July 14. What this means it that it appears that the planet is moving backward. The good news is Mercury is only retrograde until August 8th - only 25 days. So what does this mean? Pretty much means to expect the unexpected. This is a time where Electronic Devices may not work properly, may break, or may malfunction. (Cell phones, cars, machines, appliances, computers, etc). Letter, bills, any communication with people may seem strained, delayed or misinterpreted. Mercury is also a trickster and you'll be amazed over some of the cleverly disguised errors that will happen - like losing something in your car or it falls behind something, and even bills, letters or orders can be sent to wrong addresses. People may be in tense moods and you may find yourself desiring/wanting more solitude. You may experience problems/delays in travel or trips and with meetings and appointments. This is a time where communication and schedules can be compromised. This is not a good time to sign contracts or make big purchases such as a car or appliance, hence things tend to break down or not function properly. People from your past may resurface and memories or past regrets may come from out of nowhere to haunt you.
What to do during this time: Think about your past and how you feel about your current circumstances. Consider if you are happy in your current situation? If not, think of ways to change it. This is a time to rethink, reflect, research, revise and renew. (Keep the RE in mind for the next few weeks). In regards to relationships and partnership matters, our thinking is turned inward. Re-evaluating a partnership and communication style within that relationship is wonderful use of this reflection period.

What not to do during this time: Not a good time for big purchases such as a home, car or electronics. These types of things/items will generally encounter major problems. Don't sign important contracts or paperwork. Try not to get upset over set backs. Expect them so when they happen, you're prepared. Keep cell phone charged, keep a can of fix a flat in the trunk, and don't panic if you leave the directions/invitation with the address on it at home, etc.


For more information on Mercury and the info that you should know about Pluto, please visit my website using the link below:
 http://www.skycladdreams.com/retrograding_planets.htm

Babies in homes with pets may be healthier.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Dogs are no longer just man's best friend: The furry family members may also protect infants against breathing problems and infections, a new study suggests.Researchers found that Finnish babies who lived with a dog or - to a lesser extent - a cat spent fewer weeks with ear infections, coughs or running noses. They were also less likely to need antibiotics than infants in pet-free homes.


Dr. Eija Bergroth from Kuopio University Hospital in Finland and colleagues said one possible explanation for that finding is that dirt and allergens brought in by animals are good for babies' immune systems. The researchers studied 397 infants who were born at their hospital between September 2002 and May 2005 for their first year.

Parents filled out weekly diaries starting when the child was nine weeks old, recording information on babies' health as well as their contact with cats and dogs. Based on those diaries and a year-end questionnaire, the researchers determined that 35 percent of the children spent the majority of their first year with a pet dog and 24 percent in a home with a cat. Despite only a third of families owning dogs and fewer owning cats, the majority of babies had at least some contact with a dog at their house during the study period and more than one-third were exposed to a cat. Before their first birthday, 285 of the babies had at least one fever, 157 had an ear infection, 335 had a cough, 128 wheezed, 384 got stuffy or runny noses and 189 needed to take antibiotics at some point, parents reported.

The researchers found that contact with dogs, more than cats, was tied to fewer weeks of sickness for babies.

For example, infants with no dog contact at home were healthy for 65 percent of parents' weekly diary reports. That compared to between 72 and 76 percent for those who had a dog at home. Babies in dog-owning families were also 44 percent less likely to get inner ear infections and 29 percent less likely to need antibiotics.

The researchers said infants who spent more than zero but less than six hours per day at home with a dog were the least likely to get sick. "A possible explanation for this interesting finding might be that the amount of dirt brought inside the home by dogs could be higher in these families because (the dog) spent more time outdoors," the researchers wrote Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

Bergroth told Reuters Health in an email that the dirt and germs a dog brings into the house may cause a child's immune system to mature faster, which makes it better at defending against the viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory problems. That theory is commonly referred to as the "hygiene hypothesis."

In many ways, (the study is) saying, if you're exposed to a natural environment… your immune system recognizes that you don't fight the normal allergens, said Dr. T. Bernard Kinane, the chief of the pediatric pulmonary unit at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston. Kinane, who was not involved with the new study, told Reuters Health not all research agrees that exposure to dogs and cats helps protect against kids' breathing problems. But he said there is an overall trend in that direction.

The researchers also can't rule out the possibility that people who own dogs are less likely to get sick for another reason, and not due to protection offered by pets, Bergroth noted.

To view article on the web, please click link below:
http://news.yahoo.com/babies-dog-owning-families-may-healthier-041915748.html
By Andrew M. Seaman Reuters – 16 hrs ago..

Empathy...Is this the secret to a lasting relationship?

Article by Julie Hanks, LCSW, for Sharecare


Empathy-the secret sauce for a lasting marriage/relationship

Are you empathetic? Is your partner? It might be the secret to a happier marriage. According to a recent study from Harvard University, being able to accurately read a partner's emotions--and believing that your partner is trying to understand your emotions--is related to couple relationship satisfaction.

This study highlights certain gender differences that echo dynamics I've seen in my clinical practice and in my 23-year marriage:

1. Women are more satisfied in their relationship if their partner accurately empathized with negative emotions.

2. Men were more satisfied when they could read their partner's positive emotions accurately.

3. Women's ability to read their partner's negative emotions was positively linked to both men's and women's relationship satisfaction.

The authors suggested that for men, being able to understand and be empathetic to their partner's negative emotions may feel threatening to the relationship, but women don't seem to find negative emotions threatening. Findings suggest that effort, not just accuracy, positively impacts relationships.

Developing Empathy
If your relationship is distressed or if you simply want to make a good relationship better, here are some ways to work on your empathy skills.

Listen for emotional messages
The emotional message isn't the same as the words that your partner is saying. Your partner may be criticizing you for not spending enough time together, but the emotional message may actually be, "I miss you and I'm afraid I'm not important to you."

Push the pause button on your own emotions
When your partner is expressing something critical, it's easy to respond defensively. Before reacting, take a deep breath and try to slow down your own emotional response so you can hear the emotion behind the criticism.

Reflect back your partner's emotional plea
Instead of coming back defensively with, "What are you talking about? We just went on a walk yesterday, and we went to dinner last weekend!" respond to your partner's emotional plea by saying something like, "You really miss me and want to spend more time together. Thanks for letting me know. I love you."

Even if you read the emotional message inaccurately, your effort to understand your partner's emotions will pay off!

To read the article on the web, click link below:
http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/empathy-secret-sauce-happy-marriage-044200327.html

Planets Venus & Saturn are now direct.

Even though Venus and Saturn are now direct, you may still feel the effects of their retrograde for up to 14 days even after they have gone direct. Just be prepared.


A quick reminder as to how these planets may affect you:
Saturn goes direct on June 25th. Saturn represents authority and he heads up the Boundaries and Rules Dept. like withholding and resistance to change. Saturn deals with your discipline, teaches you to respect your elders, follow rules, do things correctly the first time, don't act inappropriately...be in control, respectful and conservative. When Saturn retrogrades-all that flies right out the window. You lose control of emotions, can be disrespectful, harsh and short with people, may do some impulse buying or do things half ass, which will come back to bite you and you will end up having to redo all over again. You may notice your desk is messy and not as organized and that short cuts may be taken when guidelines are dealt with. Saturn also relates to skin and bones-the structure that holds your body together so if you notice rashes, aches and pains....there you go.
 
With Saturn being direct, be prepared for the screw ups to arise and come to light. All the short cuts that you took with certain details and the things that you did half ass could come back to haunt you now. That impulse buy that you did, may break or there are hidden fee's that you weren't counting on that will be surfacing now to make you aware of. Be prepared for the people that you were 'short or disrespectful' to - well they may bring up those feelings or perhaps Lady Karma will come around and correct things. 
 
Venus goes direct on June 27th. When she is retrograding, she can cause communication setbacks in all relationships with people, plus you may find that relationships and money concerns seem to become delayed, overlooked, muddled and mis-communicated. Venus supplies us with our favorite people, places and things, however when she is retrograding, you may not see your friends as much or be in your comfort zone. You may notice changes in chit chat, behavior and contentment issues. But don't worry, once she goes direct, things will get back to normal and you can get some much needed catching up done.
 
Venus is associated with harmony, love and reconciliation as well as beauty, joy, finances and friendships. Venus relates to your body's receptors - examples are sight, taste, smells, sound and touch. With Venus being direct, you will find that time to enjoy your significant other and to make time for catching up with friends and having some get togethers.


Not to put a damper on things, but hold on to your hat because both Uranus and Mercury will go retrograde a day apart from each other this month (July 13/14). Oh the fun! Brightest blessings to us all.

Neptune going retrograde.

Neptune goes retrograde on June 4th. Neptune is in charge of romance, nostalgia and magic. This planet has an official title as of the head of the Dept. of Avoidance and Fantasy. If you hear yourself sigh or slip into a daydream, well this is Neptune. Neptune is one of the most creative energies that you, yes you, own. It helps you delight in glamour and illusion and helps wishes for dreams to come true. You may feel compassion and sensitivity for beings and creatures less fortunate than yourself. The combination of sensitivity and harsh reality doesn't always mix well and when Neptune is retro, well think the opposite. You may try to escape the real world at times but now you just can not escape, you compassion level is no where near compassionate. Neptune may release the poisons, toxics and virus's that infiltrates the body's immune system and things go haywire. When Neptune is retro, every thing seems to be at it's opposite.