News Drop offers principles and practices for living in alignment with nature. For living osteopathically, in flow.

When we align with the forces of the natural world there is no limit to the sanity, ease and grace we can experience regardless of what is happening.

I can’t think of a more relevant conversation. Ready to dive in?

Here we are in Leo, 8/8 2025 Lion’s Gate.

Welcome gentle reader,

Here we are in Leo, in 2025 on the day of the Lion’s Gate. Leo is ruled by the Sun and represents heart energy, courage, authenticity, and creative expression.

According to mystics and astrologers, the planetary alignment of LionsGate, which peaks today on 8/8, greatly magnifies personal power, expression, and our ability to align with our soul’s purpose. Today is time to go inward, get clear about what your heart desires, and to open to receive what may come through this gate in service of your body and your life.

Our bodies go through big changes when personal and planetary energies shift. This is marvelous and magical, and it can also be quite difficult in some very literal ways. I’m hoping the words that follow offer you some reassurance and guidance as we continue on this seemingly never ending journey of expansion.

Years ago when my child was very small, most days felt like I was barely keeping my head above water.

I have since realized that communities are meant to raise children, but at the time I just felt like I was doing it wrong. I was so stressed some days I could barely care about any one or any thing.

I was sure something was very wrong with me. I woke up one day determined to “fix” myself, I prayed, meditated, and begged that my heart would wake up. I thought if I could just do that one thing, everything would be ok.

A few days into this begging practice, my heart did open. I was not praying or thinking about anything much the moment it happened, I was just walking up the stairs to my lovely little osteopathic office when suddenly, BOOM! My heart literally burst.

It was painful! I clutched my chest and took several moments to catch my breath. I understood in that moment as clearly as if I’d heard a voice, “be careful what you ask for. This is something to grow into over time.” My thoughts replied, “message received Universe . . . I needed that.” I did need this message. I think many of us do. I was trying to fix myself as if I was broken, and was sure I was behind schedule. Can you relate?

We’re not broken. We are here on this Earth to remember how to live from our hearts, and it’s not easy. It’s not meant to be easy. Difficulties and mis-takes are a big part of what drives us to keep seeking and challenging ourselves to do better.

While we aren’t broken, we sure can feel broken. Energetic shifts can be very uncomfortable in our bodies. Often when I open and thaw, I hurt physically and struggle emotionally. Sometimes my heart races, or I’m short of breath. There have been several times my bones and muscles have been sore and in spasm for weeks. Pain happens when the body thaws, just like with frostbite. When we’re actually waking up, pain is a sign of progress. It’s also an invitation to give some love and healing to yourself. One of my teachers says, “Our hearts need to break so more love can get in.”

I love what my dear friend Katharina Johnson, MD, says about tending to our bodies when our hearts are opening. She says, “Imagine your hands are very special, magical hands, and place them over your heart.” Your hands can heal!

I place my hands on both sides of my heart, or anywhere that hurts. You can place them in your mind’s eye if reaching is difficult, and imagine your own essence healing and soothing the whole area. When you do this, feel into any emotions, and any aches in your tissues. Go one step further and notice if you can feel your connection to the ground. Connecting to your body this way can bring great comfort and relief. This is also something you can do for another, or ask for from another.

We are all capable of so much more than we realize. Be sure to take some time during this potent window of heightened astrological forces to feel into what you want to manifest in your life and in your body, and ask for it!

As you continue to do our best to connect, feel, breathe, ground, and remain present in every cell, give yourself a break when the best we can do doesn’t seem that great. And we remember our touch heals. Our hands are healing hands.

I hope you’re feeling a little more excited about heartbreak!

It takes practice to conjure the healer within. Come practice with us! We discuss and delight in waking up together in the Flow is Medicine online community. Our doors are always open.

Thank you for being here, for being open, and for doing your best on behalf of your amazing body and blessed life.

In Celebration of your emerging Glow & Flow,

Dr. Michelle Veneziano

& the Flow is Medicine community