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Interview with Ailsa Forlenza from Ailsa Marina Astrology

In our lives, it's important to have positive influences. Whether it's family, friends, or even celebrities, it's nice to have someone who we could always look up to for inspiration. One of those people in my life was Ailsa Forlenza, who I had the pleasure of working with for over two years. In addition to being a great person, she always maintained a positive attitude at work. No matter how much work was thrown at her, she always smiled and took it head on. She's always looking on the bright side of a situation, and she's the kind of optimist that more people should be.  In my years of working with her, I've never heard anyone say a single bad word about her. Ailsa describes herself as an "astrologer, healer, and writer".  She has her own astrology website, where you could learn about astrology, book a reading, or browse through her blog. From my understanding, she uses her love and knowledge of astrology to help spread good vibes and positivity. I recently got the chance to interview my good friend, so let's learn a bit more about who she is and what she does: What got you into astrology? Was it something that you've always been interested in, or something that became a passion in recent years?   To some degree, I have always been aware of astrology. I knew about my sun sign, and it had always made sense to me. I didn't dive into astrology until the year after I graduated from college, when I was still living in New York City and not necessarily going through the most positive time period in my life. I've always been a spiritual person, and because I was experiencing a "dark night of the soul" you could say, I started reading more spiritual blogs and articles, and I stumbled across the website Mystic Mamma, that posts an "astrological roundup" every month. It really blew my mind. Everything made sense to me. It helped me grapple with the difficulties I was facing, and gave me a context and language in which to work with these great inner and outer challenges. Once I moved back to Buffalo in 2013, I started listening to any astrology podcast I could get my hands on. My favorites ended up being Adam Sommer's Exploring Astrology, Chris Brennan's The Astrology Podcast, and Benjamin Bernstein's This Moment in Astrology. I loved the creative depth they gave to astrology. My first reading was in 2014 with Benjamin Bernstein. I think from that moment onward I hit a turning point that this was going to be something I paid more attention to and studied. I then started taking local classes with Cassandra Butler, and dove right into the craft. In 2015, I started studying with Adam Sommer and eventually got certified by him through his Apprenticeship Program. How have you used astrology to help maintain such a positive attitude and lifestyle?  I think one of the main points I'd like to bring up here is that life is in flux. There is shadow and there is light, and there are the stretches in-between. Each planet, house, sign, and aspect, has these shades of variability. When I analyze an astrology chart, or I'm looking at transits that could be difficult for us as a collective, a client, or me personally, I view it through this lens. Everything is in potential, it's how you apply your free will to wield it. Knowledge, to a degree, is power. By understanding what is happening astrologically, you can then wield it in your favor. Of course, life happens - and you can only do the best you can, we can’t control everything. But we can control how we respond to life, and astrology assists us with that. If I see that there's a difficult transit coming up ahead, for example in my chart, the planet Pluto will be crossing my North Node (a person's life path) in Capricorn in the Second House. If I wasn’t aware this was happening, and I was continuing to be a spendthrift and not looking at my finances or the way I value or see money, I could potentially go bankrupt. However, I am aware that the reason Pluto is crossing over my North Node in the Second House is to transform and transmute any and all limiting beliefs, attitudes, or outdated values related to my self-worth, finances, material goods, and wealth. This is not a light transit, it's heavy. It's already brought up many dark things. However, I understand how to wield it, and what Pluto asks for: transmutation, recycling, and a total overhaul. Pluto brings the deepest growth in an individual. Things that rock your soul - and this can be a very, very healthy thing. So I think as a whole, astrology gives me foresight, hindsight, and a way to approach life practically and objectively. It helps me stay in my power as an individual, which in turn I believe makes me lead a more positive lifestyle. What is your main goal with being an astrologer? Is it to help people to learn more about themselves, is it to help heal, or is it something totally different?   I have a few goals when it comes to being an astrologer...I definitely consider myself a healer first and foremost, and astrology is my main healing modality. Learning about oneself is healing oneself. I think we move through life so unconsciously sometimes, that when we have a problem or habit we are totally unaware of it. Jung talks about this as the unconscious mind. There are so many ingrained beliefs, complexes, and ways of being that stay with us in the unconscious, unless we face and tackle them. So, my first goal would be for clients to understand their life path, and have self-awareness around their strengths and shadows. Simply by walking through this process, there is healing. I approach every reading with care and consideration for a person’s mental, spiritual, and emotional growth. My second goal is to teach and educate people about astrology, which is why I write blog articles and will soon put up products people can download on my website to learn more on their own. I am pro self-empowerment. I want to give people healing tools that they can also use to heal themselves. Your website is very informational when it comes to astrology history and learning about the different aspects of astrology. With that in mind, I find that a lot of people don't believe in astrology. They consider it to be fake, unreliable, or simply just fantasy stuff. Have you encountered a lot of this type of thinking, and if so, how would you respond? I have, quite a lot in fact. It simply comes with the territory. Astrology, and many other spiritual subjects, are still considered taboo. We live in a rather close-minded, left-brained, rational society. Astrology breaks all that up. A lot of people aren’t educated about what astrology actually is. There are certain arguments like, "Well, I’m not actually a Scorpio, I’m the 13th constellation, Ophiuchus." That argument is based off the sidereal, or actual, positions of the stars in the sky. Astrologers use the Tropical Zodiac, which aligns with the Equinox points, so you would in fact stay a Scorpio. (See: "OMFG I'M NOT AN ARIES?!") The other thing is, the zodiac is not strictly based off the constellations, they were inspired by them. Back in the ancient days, astronomers divided the sky into 30 degree increments, or 12 sections, which eventually became the 12 zodiac signs, and at the time aligned with the 12 major constellations. Through careful study of the movements of the sun and other planets through the signs, the zodiac signs gathered rich meaning, archetype, and myth, and became the 12 sun signs they are today. Another argument is, "I'm nothing like a Sagittarius, etc." There is much, much more than your sun sign when it comes to astrology. For example, if a person is a Libra rising, but has Sun, Venus, Mars, and Mercury in Aries, they may not be such a classic Libran person! They surely could come off as a Libra (pleasant, sociable, graceful, people-literate), but have a steaming underbelly of fierceness, raw passion, ram-headedness, and bravery. My go-to response is to get a reading, and study it for yourself. There are a lot of astrologers who have actually gone out to prove astrology wrong, only to end up becoming one. If someone is interested in becoming an astrologer, what advice would you give them? I would suggest a few things. Get an astrology reading, or two. Learn about your chart. Read books/listen to podcasts by reputable astrologers. There's a lot of, simply put, not so great stuff on the Internet. Read/listen as much as you can, and start applying what you've learned. Take local classes, or get a teacher. Learning astrology on your own can be daunting, and it's helpful to have a guide or two along the way. Like I said before, there’s a lot of misinformation around astrology, and it’s important to learn from people who have put in the work and effort to master the craft. Start giving readings to friends and family. Practice! Create your own language and attitude toward astrology. Use your intuition. You’ll eventually start to have you  r own viewpoints on certain subjects, and that's okay. Stay open-minded. I am constantly surprised by certain correlations that come through for me regarding astrology. It's important to maintain that beginner's mind. Last question. You’ve recently released an album, which is very relaxing. How did this come about, and how did you integrate your knowledge of astrology and healing when creating this album? Thank you! This was a long time in the making. I thought of the line, "Find Me Hollow, Free Me Full" a couple years ago, actually, and I thought it would make for a good album title. The songs were originally written as poems and lines taken from poems, and then I translated them into song. Some tracks are straight up songs, some are poems set to music/atmospheric sounds. I would say that my knowledge of astrology and healing influenced this album mainly subconsciously. The process of writing and making music is a healing modality in my opinion. I am inspired by chanting, ritual music, spiritual music, and spiritual imagery, all of that leaks into the words and tones. Essentially, the album is about finding oneself through a dark period of time, and the spiritual growth and strength that can come from that process. The first song, "Grace," is simply this phrase repeated: "It is gracious to let go into the light and be with the dark." I wanted to embrace my darker thoughts and feelings and release them. Each track in the album moves from darkness to a place of peace and acceptance. I’ve struggled with anxiety and bouts of depression for most of my life, and I finally feel like I've entered a period of peace and joy. Dealing with mental illness can be very challenging, and sometimes soul-crushing, to deal with. It taxes on pretty much every aspect of your life: friends, relationships, your job, everything. Sometimes it's a tough pill to swallow to realize that you are in control of you. Looking within is where healing starts. Also, seeking assistance (professional, spiritual, whatever that looks like to you) can be the bravest, and kindest, thing you can do for yourself. Check out Ailsa online Website: http://www.amfastrology.com/ Book a Reading: http://www.amfastrology.com/book-a-reading/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amfastrology/ Find Me Hollow, Free Me Full Album: https://alfsigr.bandcamp.com/releases Contact: Email - amfastrology@gmail.com Phone - 716-866-7764 Read the full article

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Christmas Village

My parents officially started setting up their toasty little village under the Christmas tree.  What could give a more positive and happy feeling than this?

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Thanksgiving is Less Than a Week Away!

In the United States, Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays of the year.  For most people, it means gathering together with family and having a nice feast.  It's really the last big event of the fall, and to many, the end of Thanksgiving signals the beginning of the Christmas season.  Holiday shopping, decorating, and music usually follow. Anyway, it's crazy to think that we're less than a week away from Thanksgiving!  It's come upon us quickly, as it typically does, but next Thursday is already the big day.  Not only does it mean food and family gatherings, but it also means a couple of days off for most people.  Can't go wrong with that!

Regardless of your personal feelings on this holiday, try to take some time to make this day special.  Think about everything that you're thankful for.  Even if you feel like you're having a bad year, try to pull out the positives.  Trust me, looking on the optimistic side will always make you feel better. If you spend this day with your family, try to make your time with them count.  Have some insightful discussions at dinner, play some fun board games, and watch a good movie. Don't forget to throw on the football games.  They've become almost as synonymous with Thanksgiving as the dinner itself.  Even if you're not a football fan, just leave it on in the background for some mindless entertainment. Most importantly, have a fun day and stay positive!  After all, Thanksgiving festivities are one of our top 10 ways to stay positive during the winter season. Read the full article

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The Positivity of the Sun

It's freezing here today, but the sun is shining bright.  Everything feels better on a sunny day!

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The Beauty of Fall Leaves

Say what you want about the autumn season, but there's no denying its beauty.  The brightly colored leaves will help anyone feel positive.

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10 Simple Ways to Cheer Up

We've all been there. We start to obsess and ruminate and before we know it, we find ourselves in a big funk. Perhaps it was an argument you just had or an upsetting news article or an overwhelming day at the office; whatever it is, it's on your mind and it's bringing down your mood. When this happens, it's a good idea to have a few tricks at your disposal to get you back on track. Here are some simple things you can do right now to start feeling a little better: Read the full article

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The Positive Power of Pets

Whether you're a dog person, a cat person, fish, birds, hamsters, or whatever, there's no denying the positive power of pets.  I adopted two cats earlier this year, and it's impossible to feel negative with them around.  Even when I've had a bad day, seeing these cute faces will instantly make me feel better.

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Remember the Sun on a Rainy Day

It's easy to feel down on a gloomy and rainy fall day, but always remember that the sun will come out again.  It sometimes likes to hide for a while, but it will come back brighter and happier than ever!  Read the full article

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10 Ways to Stay Positive During the Winter Season

I've spent my entire life living in the Northeast United States.  As with any area of the country, it has its advantages and disadvantages.  One of the biggest disadvantages to living here is the dreaded "winter season". 

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It's A Beautiful Autumn

We're a month into the autumn season, and the wildflowers are still blooming!  #positivity Read the full article