I recently received an astrological reading. I had given the astrologer my birth stats, where and when; the usual information that astrologers need in order to prepare your chart. With this info they tell you what all the planets were up to at the moment that you were born and therefore the influences that they will foist upon you the rest of your life. I find these readings a fun thing to do, and sometimes I get helpful information. The woman told me many things she saw in my planets which coincided with my reality, which is always good for the reading’s credibility. Then she started telling me some upcoming things that I had to either work through or look forward to. This is always nice information to have so that when the shit hits the fan you can’t blame yourself because it’s all the planets’ fault. She told me something that was going to happen later this year that is very desirable, but truly very unlikely. Still, it’s nice to be given the feeling that something so unrealistic but cool could happen to you simply because it’s in your destiny. You do have to behave and lean heavily in the direction of that possible happenstance so as not to miss opportunities that could bring it to fruition. You also want to be mindful so that you don’t inadvertently screw up the whole thing. Mindfulness is always good, right?
The astrologist also told me that I needed to oil my body every day. All of it. Even twice a day if I felt like it. She recommended a light sesame oil. I am totally into moisturizing my face, but oiling my whole body seemed a little excessive. I remember once reading that wrestlers in ancient Greece would oil their entire bodies before competing and it immediately conjured up the image of an end-of-the-day slurry of oil and sweat and dirt. I don’t wrestle, but an oily body did not sound pleasant. Because the astrologist had established a sufficient amount of good will and credibility, I decided to try it anyway. It did seem rather indulgent at first, but it also felt like I was quenching a chronic thirst that I didn’t realize I had. The oil seem to get absorbed and it made my skin feel great. I liked that feeling so much during the day, that I decided to do it at bedtime as well. I had to start wearing pajamas, however, in order not to oil up the sheets. It quickly became a nurturing gift that I was giving my body every day; at least as gratifying as makeup and a good haircut. The astrologist had given me a more important reason why she felt I should do this; she said I had a hard time setting boundaries between myself and other people’s needs and that this simple layer of oil on my skin would act as a literal and conceptual barrier to help me maintain separation. I immediately pictured needy people grabbing for me and me squirting away like a greased pig.
Thanks to my astrologer, I have been informed of this fabulous thing that’s going to happen for me later this year, if I do my homework. If simply applying sesame oil to my whole body twice a day can literally or otherwise grease the skids, I’m in.
Plethora 