During this week’s careful analysis of my Gold Coast Counselling practice, I found it interesting to consider how often “relevant themes” emerge with clients. Currently, the theme appears to be based upon feelings of worthiness. The Oxford dictionary describes worthiness as “the quality of being good enough; suitability.” Free dictionary states, “the quality of deserving attention or respect.” Brene Brown, a woman whose work I greatly admire and respect, offers the explanation, “There are no prerequisites for worthiness.” So how do we evaluate and measure our worthiness?
Spending Saturday evening at home, I was fortunate enough to view a superb concert starring the singer, songwriter, Jewel. The concert stimulated me to consider the whole concept of “worthiness’. Jewel referred to her orchestra with great pride, sweetly playing strings and guitar in support of her vocal performance. I was astounded when she stopped suddenly and shared how she was simply “a country bumpkin girl with no musical qualifications.” Jewel, having no formal or professional musical training, truly esteemed the classical education these musicians possessed. I do not for one moment wish to downplay the importance of formal training, and in line with Jewel’s suggestion, I believe and appreciate that her musicians were of a particularly high standard. However here was a lady, who has sold her music to millions of listeners across the world, deferring to the musical attributes of the orchestra, simply because they held professional qualifications and classical backgrounds. Jewel prompted her audience to appreciate that she was less deserving of the same respect. I found that idea fascinating and could not stop contemplating how, at times, we all buy into the unsubstantiated notion that, “we are not really good enough and require much improvement”
So where does this idea of not being good enough come from? Perhaps many of us comprehend how our family of origin and the foundational bonds of attachment, undoubtedly help to determine the blueprint we choose to live by. It is interesting to listen and catch ourselves as we speak. Do you have a sense that at times you open your mouth and your parent’s voice comes out? At times we are aware of our mothers or father’s values and thoughts, replicated in messages we pass onto other people. On the other hand, there are individuals who come into the world and appear to bring worthiness and joy with them, while others bring less confidence, anxiety and apprehension.
Worthiness can be challenged, confronted and tested. If we are willing to open up to new approaches, we can stop blocking our pathway to greater joy and happiness. In a few short sessions it is possible to find and begin to love your peaceful heart. Be Brave and give it a try. Yours in therapy, Jill.
This month Jill has kindly asked me to write my Astrological interpretation on ‘worthiness’.
From an astrological point of view, worthiness is related to the Virgo archetype which has to do with striving for perfection and purity. The sign of Virgo is alive in everybody whether you have planets sitting within that sign or not. Virgo is about transforming self-doubt; I’m not feeling good enough, I need to get better. Virgo can be a sense of lack if adversely aspected by other planets or points in the chart.
In a chart consultation signs and houses are established through the birth time. Where Virgo is situated in your chart is where you are growing and you want to get better by observing, adjusting and improving. You want to become more proficient and therefore feel more worthy. Individual uniqueness and differences become more apparent throughout each personal consultation.
One Astrologer recalls a Virgo once saying in her class that, sometimes it is healthy for me be to be okay with a “half- assed” job and walk away from it feeling peaceful about it. This received a lot of laughter or recognition from others who understood/related to that Virgo part of themselves. Via distortions (aspects in the chart), Virgo can think that anything is never good enough and they are never ready. In reality it never is and so if you can be ok with it instead of focusing on what is wrong, it is easier to release. Maybe you don’t have to be perfect to appreciate worthiness.
Through a chart consultation, life’s greatest potentiality for growth lies understood against the backdrop of your soul’s intentions. I work with Evolutionary Astrology which offers tremendous insight into where the soul has been, its current life purpose, and ultimately where the soul is going. Discovering your soul’s journey can be a really validating experience and assists in the process of healing self-doubt and transcending failure. (Simon Vorster.com)
I welcome you to meet with me on the Gold Coast to discover your evolutionary path, Dallas.
References.
Brown, B., (2012) Daring Greatly.Penguin Random House. N’Y. USA
Hey girls, great work, really enjoyed the joint blog.
Dear Jill,
As always your blog led me to quiet moments of self-reflection. Thank you for deepening this reflective process by inviting Dallas to further enrich your informative blog by adding her understanding of how “worthiness” can be viewed from an astrological perspective.
I found myself reflecting on how many times in the past and even today, despite many years of learning and being challenged by your good self, I, similar to Jewel, continue at times to be guilty of sabotaging/deliberately down-playing my “worthiness”.
Although I have experienced the excellence of Dallas’ work, I am not sure where in my astrological chart Virgo may play a role. However as I more than identified with the journey needed to be able to be comfortable with a “half-assed job”, I am aware, in order to explore all aspects of self-growth and personal development, this is an area I need to pursue further with Dallas.
Jill throughout the years of knowing the way you work and having worked with you, I have often been the recipient of an invitation to stand up to the power of self-depreciation/the putting down of self-worth/denial of “worthiness”. Reflecting on these moments and on both what you and Dallas have written in this blog, whilst not trying to minimise my own struggle, I am aware this struggle with acknowledging “worthiness” is fairly common among Australians.
Does this behaviour come out of “the great Australian way” and if so, how did it begin and what was its purpose? Alternately can these ideas be as you suggest, generated by the psychic, our astrological self or do they come from messages received in the past from parents/grandparents/siblings/the “wicked witches of education? I have been left with a sense my struggle with acknowledging “worthiness” may, in reality, be a combination of all of these factors.
Many thanks for taking me on this reflective journey Jill. It has raised again my awareness of the importance of self-talk, of the language I use to describe myself and the need to be able to appreciate my own “worthiness” as well as the “worthiness” of others.
Take care
Eileen
Wow Eileen you took the words out of my mouth in Australia we are encouraged to be humble and not pat ourselves on the back (or boast) and I also add the ” tall poppy syndrome”. So along with the messages some of us did receive while growing up its no wonder many of us doubt our worth. I decided to study at University as a mature age student and received comments from family on both sides that challenged this decision. Who did I think I was, I wasnt clever enough and one comment made to my husband which was interesting was “mate once your wife goes to uni she will think she is better than you” I was appalled at the lack of support. Well it took me 7 years part time and im glad I did it and guess what I dont think Im better than anyone else. Ha Ha thanks for allowing me to share that.
Kim
Evolutionary astrology, with the focus on Pluto and it’s relationship with the whole natal chart and transits, was pioneered by Jeffery Wolf Greene and his books. Since others have taken it up, including Simon Vorster.
I have one of the most challenging and complex Pluto charts in this area, and have never been able to ‘win’ ,feel growth or fulfil my potential.
Pluto 11th Leo, opposite moon 6th in piceas, And square Saturn 2nd in Sagitarious, (ie Saturn t square Pluto and moon) , AND nodal axis square Pluto- Moon ( nth node in 2nd scorpio, south node in 8th Taurus.)
6th house is natural Virgo house ie, self worth. My moon ? is in that house.
Note polarities and opposite Sth node Taurus in scorpios natural house of 8th, and north node in scorpio on Taurus natural house of 2nd.
According to Greene , and Vorster, with a nodal axis square Pluto, ‘stand on top of your Pluto’ and point with your left arm to the left nodal position, to resolve the blockage, my case that’s the south node…in8th house.
Traditional astrology says focus on north node, but this is the opposite.
I have not been able to get into Vosters website, it is closed now. ?? Oct 12018
Confused, I need help.
Andrew.