Eating, Meeting, Mighty, Money

 The Full Moon in Taurus arrives on October 25 in Los Angeles and October 26 in many other parts of the world. 🌕 Taurus represents money, possessions, financial security, good food, and a comfortable lifestyle. Love, money, and a peaceful life. Who doesn't want them all? But this Full Moon comes with an interesting cosmic twist. It's one of those "Would you like the good news or the bad news first?" situations! ✨ The Good News: A Minor Grand Trine Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto form a harmonious configuration known as a Minor Grand Trine . This aspect suggests opportunities for positive transformation, fresh ideas, and unexpected possibilities. Sometimes, embracing change rather than holding on to familiar patterns can lead us toward greater security and abundance. ⚡ The Challenging News: Two Overlapping T-Squares Meanwhile, the Moon in Taurus, Sun in Scorpio, Venus in Libra, and Pluto in Aquarius create two overlapping T-square patterns. These tense configurations highl...

 I recently received an OMRON body composition scale that measures body fat percentage, visceral fat, skeletal muscle percentage, and even body age. Naturally, I had to try it out. My old bathroom scale displayed my weight in pounds, which never really meant much to me. Even after living in the U.S. for years, kilograms still make more sense. But when I switched to kilograms... OMG! When did I get this big?! Apparently, I've been growing without even noticing. And at my age, I'm pretty sure I'm done growing! My body fat percentage was a little higher than I'd like, although my visceral fat level wasn't too bad. But here's the good news. My body age was TWO YEARS younger than my actual age! Of course, it's just an estimate calculated by the scale, but hey, I'll take it! My Very Relaxed Fitness Routine About three months ago, I joined a gym. I try to go twice a week, walking on the treadmill for about 30 minutes, followed by a few strength-training machine...

 The Libra New Moon arrives on October 10 in Los Angeles and October 11 in Japan . Libra is associated with relationships, fairness, balance, partnership, and diplomacy. This makes the New Moon a good time to reflect on how we connect with others and where more balance may be needed. However, this New Moon is not simply about peace and harmony. Saturn brings a strong reality check, while Jupiter offers some support and room for growth. At the same time, tense aspects involving Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Pluto may bring hidden frustrations to the surface. On a personal level, this could mean reviewing relationships, boundaries, communication, and agreements. Some situations may need to be restructured rather than ignored. On a broader level, themes around diplomacy, negotiations, power struggles, finance, and information may also become more noticeable. This New Moon feels less like “everything is resolved” and more like finding a realistic way forward while tension is still present...

 Around Los Angeles, overall prices are about 29% higher than in 2020 , while groceries are up roughly 32% . So if grocery shopping feels noticeably more expensive, you’re not imagining it. Rent, insurance, and gas are hard to control. Food is one of the few major household expenses where we still have some room to adjust. And right now, even a basic sandwich and drink can easily cost around $20. Cooking at home may not be glamorous, but it gives you more control over both cost and ingredients. I grew up in Japan in a household where home cooking was normal, but once I started cooking every day myself, I realized how much work it actually takes. Planning, chopping, cooking, cleaning. Still, after years of practice, it becomes a useful skill. Now I can look at a few ingredients in the refrigerator and usually turn them into a meal. And today, if you’re stuck, you can simply ask: “What can I make with these ingredients?” One thing that still surprises me about American recipes is the...