This Thursday the 25th is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US. Many Americans will be spending time with their family members. A full moon in the sign of Gemini kicks in at 3:07 pm EST on Friday, bringing with it a spirit of polarity, of "good vs. bad" or "black vs. white...." with, perhaps, a dose of "red state vs. blue state" thrown in for good measure.

In the last few weeks I've observed that this is no longer a nation of red and blue states...but a country of black and blue states. People are pretty bruised by the intense feelings of polarity, of "right vs. wrong," that accompanied this Presidential election.

Whenever a pile of family members get together, there can be exaggerated displays of emotion. This is partly because - in this modern age - most of us aren't living with our "tribe" anymore, so when we do reunite with our tribe, there is an amplification of all the complex energies that we've been carrying around all year. For instance, if you have unresolved issues with a parent but you only see him or her once a year, all of that energy that needs to be healed gets acted out in a heightened or melodramatic way at holiday gatherings.

So unfortunately, for many people, holidays carry with them a sense of dread as well as joy.....anxiety as well as anticipation. Please be aware that those feelings of contradiction may be heightened this particular Thanksgiving because of the full moon kicking up complex feelings during its pass through Gemini.

Gemini is the famously "schizophrenic" sign which reminds us all about our own duality. We each have the capacity to be both hero and villain, master and slave, sovereign spiritual creator or passive victim. All of those archetypes could be intensified this week.

The best thing to do is to remain a little detached from your own mental processes, watching how you think, what you're reacting to, and what archetypal images or "cliches" are surfacing in your consciousness. I imagine that political debates will be especially strong this week between family members who may have voted for different Presidential candidates. But try not to let something that, for the most part, doesn't really affect you personally to become an excuse for war between loved ones.

The old peacemaking adage of "Let's agree to disagree" may be the thing that gets you through this holiday season. Try to diffuse negative energies with that one - it works pretty well, when wielded properly!

Of course, saying those words with a smile on your face and your heart open while projecting genuine feelings of love...that helps, too!

This holiday, I invite everyone to be more conscious of the energies that they are bringing to interpersonal interactions. If we want a peaceful world, peace starts at home. Pray for peace by BEING peace. If we want our prayers for specific things to work, we must BECOME the energy of that thing which we affirm in our lives through our prayer.

If you're interested in a short essay about the mechanics of prayer, feel free to read my past article about How to Pray Successfully by clicking here. I also invite comments, suggestions, and feedback about how prayer works (or doesn't work) in your life....and I welcome your thoughts on ways to create peace.

And a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone - whether you live here in the US or abroad. I raise a glass of Alsatian Riesling, my favorite white wine, in salute to all of you!