Guided by The Lights

Guided by The Lights Written by Linda Furiate

First Posted for the NSTA Newsletter – June 2012 Edition

I first developed cervical dystonia after a whiplash sustained from two separate car accidents (neither being my fault). Within weeks of the second accident, I began having uncontrollable head and neck movement. That was nearly 17 years ago. Needless to say I have learned a lot about dystonia over the years and more importantly I have learned an even greater deal about myself. My hope is to be able to express my thoughts in a way that will guide you on your journey toward self-discovery and come to terms with the fact that cervical dystonia is a part of our being, although we do not have to continue to suffer from symptoms.

Never once (well maybe once or twice) have I questioned “why me” – why did I get dystonia? However, from a perspective of healing I have often asked “why this” – what is it about my internal psychology and physical anatomy that permitted me to develop such strange symptoms?

In the early days of CD I read so many self-help books and medical texts trying to figure out how I was going to rid my body of cervical dystonia. It wasn’t until I learned that the word dystonia actually means “abnormal muscle tone” when I then realized none of those books were going to provide me with answers. I began looking at my body as individual and unique – if I was going to improve my muscle tone then I had to attack cervical dystonia with the same mindset as one who was trying to lose weight in that I had to consciously put forth the proper healing modality that was right for my body. In 1998 I developed an exercise regimen that kept me symptom free for nearly six years.

A few years earlier, I was re-introduced to Astrology –and not just horoscopes that you read in your local newspaper. Astrology is defined as a metaphoric language that is used as an interpretive tool to understand planetary energies and how the elemental energy of fire, earth, air and water has a bearing on the individual personality. The Myers Briggs is based on this similar elemental assessment. Centuries ago, it was commonplace for all medical doctors to practice astrology when treating patients.

After careful review, research and extensive delineation on how the language of astrology had an influence on my being I literally found my cervical dystonia in my natal/birth chart (this is obtained by knowing the date, place and time of birth). Understanding my chart and assessing what was going on in my life at the onset of symptoms has helped me a great deal in living with such a horrendous, painstaking and frustrating condition.

What I have found for myself is that cervical dystonia is both a physical ailment and an emotional condition that affects self-worth. One must ask – what came first the cervical dystonia or the issues with self-worth?

In astrology the planet Venus rules the neck region and muscle tone. Venus is also the planet that is associated with love, money, things we attract and those things that bring us happiness – all of which has an impact on our self-worth and what we value. When Venus and the two zodiac signs of Taurus and Libra (both ruled by Venus) are emphasized with challenges, we may have difficulty obtaining the things in life that brings us joy. Often when we feel as though the Universe is not responding to our needs and desires, this may lead to a sense of depression or worthlessness. Even worse, by not being able to build a life that we dream of the disharmony may play out as some form of physical trauma or illness.

Further analysis of my chart was also given to the planet Mars which is said to rule the head and the strength and health of our muscles. The planet Saturn has a bearing on our bones, teeth and skeletal systems. Weight was also given to Mercury which rules our mind/mental capacity and along with Uranus, has bearing on our central nervous system. The Moon in astrology rules our emotional security and how we feel. Are we the worriers or do we tend to bury our head in the sand when times get tough? The Moon will indicate how we emotionally deal with life issues. If we do not deal with our emotions of anger, worry, guilt, jealousy and loathing this may surface as distress in the body.

In those early days of education as I took my astrology chart apart piece by piece studying all the planets, I felt as though I was able to get more deeply into my soul while gaining the clarity I needed to understand “why this, why dystonia?”. By no means am I saying astrology itself has any curative effect on cervical dystonia. However, astrology has helped me to understand my hopes, desires and personality traits that allow me to live with this condition and create therapeutic tools to heal on an emotional, physical and spiritual level.

About Linda Furiate – she works as a professional astrologer and has been involved with astrology since 1990. She lives in Columbia, Maryland. She may be reached through her website www.LindaFuriate.com

Linda Marie Furiate

Motivator/Mentor/Cryptologist of the Stars

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