What makes you tap into your courage?

A practical way to navigate spirituality, moving from confusion to awareness, staying present and connected to your body

Apr 17, 2026

The clock is ticking, time is passing by, and life around you fills your calendar and makes you constantly question: ‘how will I ever be able to focus on what I want with everything that is going on in my life?’

Last week’s message felt like there was a baseball coach looking straight into our eyes and almost in a shouting mode, asking: ‘What is it that you want? You need to make a decision right now, or you won’t make the final cut.’

I may be sounding a little harsh, but somewhere, in between these past days, it did feel like there was a pressure being put on us to help us focus.

Life continued to do its job: present us with opportunities for learning and situations asking for our attention. And when you have in your (human) design a taste for manifesting different things, or a gate that sparks new ideas on an ongoing basis, well my friend, temptation knocks on your door almost daily, persuading you to spread your energy and attention all over the place.

The only problem with that is that, at the end of the day, or the week, you feel like you’ve moved a million things around and still accomplished nothing. Or at least, not enough.

But today, as per the messages we have been receiving, and what is about to come (next week), the ground underneath us will tremble. And besides all that, I can’t ignore the fact that today we’re entering a new moon with seven planets in the same sign. Seven! And it’s not just any sign, it’s Aries.

Wait!!!! Before you leave..

Even if you’re not that into Astrology, give me a chance here.

Let’s be practical and look at what this has to show us, not from an astrological standpoint, but giving it perspective to understand what this could mean.

We’re not only considering what’s going on in the world, outside of us, but also what we’re being called to look at in our secret realms.

Because my friend, let’s be honest. The time to ignore reality and try to go through life dissociated, numb, indifferent about humanity and about our own personal growth, has passed. Long gone!

Be it Astrology, spiritual guides, your therapist, your mom, the Uber guy, regardless of where you’re getting this message from, like it or not, it is everywhere: the times have changed! This is a moment to face the truth!

And then what?

We face it, we look at what we don’t necessarily want to see, and what comes next?

Well, first things first. Let me start by showing you what Aries is here to teach us, because it’s all interconnected.

On a side note, for those of you who are super into Astrology, here is a well written piece about what this new moon and stellium of planets have to tell us, in full spectrum.

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Aries is the first sign of the zodiac; it debuts the astrological year every end of March. Because of it, it brings the concept of initiation, starting new projects or new ideas.

With its symbol being a ram, and the element of fire, this sign calls us directly to take action, and courage is the energy that will propel us forward. There’s an impetus for competition, an eagerness to achieve our goals, getting ahead and standing out in the crowd. But in order to do that, we can’t focus on multiple things all at once.

That’s why, under this sign, we are called to discern, focus, and get rid of everything that could potentially get in the way of achieving the one goal we set for ourselves. Because another aspect of Aries is about turning our life’s focus to ourselves, to what we need, and where we’re going with our lives.

It’s a sign that asks us to tap into what we want. If you ever thought about starting a new business, launching a book, moving to a rural area, or taking a bold step in your life, this is the energy you would be tapping into. This is what this sign makes us look at.

When you listen to last week’s message - Let your creativity run free, in the ALMA VIA Podcast, if you haven’t already done so, you’ll be mesmerized by how in alignment everything is. And no, I did not record it under the light of the new moon. Even when I bring in these elements, the message itself comes from the oracles and tarot cards, and carries a meaning on its own. Which leaves us in complete awe to witness the resemblance of it all.

Listen to Episode

Got the idea? Great!

Now look. Take this simple description I gave about the sign of Aries. Add on top what came for us last week, about courage, about focusing on the dream, the desire, the project or idea we feel most called to manifest. Can you see how there’s a common denominator to all of it?

Regardless of how these messages are finding your way, you’re here right now, being called to pay attention to this!

So let’s give it the proper importance it’s requiring.

Before you move on, grab some paper and pen.

Ok. Now, once you read what’s next, role with it and notice what comes for you.

Ready?

Just imagine there’s someone randomly interviewing people on the streets, and they approach you. There’s a camera pointing to your face, and a mic directed to you when they ask:

‘If you could simply put a stop to everything in your life, what would be the one idea, the one thing, you would choose to invest (not spend) time and energy on?’

Go!

Don’t let your mind overrule your gut feeling. What is the one thing that popped into your head?

Got it?

Write it down.

Good!

Now, notice how thinking about this idea makes you feel! (Look at what you wrote). Just go with the feeling. Don’t think about it. Feel it!

Do you notice any sensations - not thoughts!? Move from your mind to your body.

Sense the emotion. What is your body trying to show you? Don’t try to name it, just identify where in your body it’s manifesting.

Great!

What you’re doing right now is allowing your body to tell the story, not your mind. Your body has imprinted in it a memory. When you feel a certain way, there’s a narrative behind this sensation. This is the most reliable source of guidance you can trust.

Trust that your body knows more than what your mind is telling you.

Today, I want you to sit with this experience. I want you to simply feel your body.

Write about it if you can. I can’t stress enough how important this exercise is. When you sit down to write, you open a bridge between your subconscious and your conscious mind. This is not only healing, it’s informative.

Aren’t you even a little intrigued to know what your body wants to say? Aren’t you looking for answers about how to move on with your life? This is a great starting point. And a touch point too, ongoing.

I don’t want you to get stuck in your mind. I want you to return to your body, because that’s where your healing journey really starts.

Connect to what your body wants to tell you.

If you want to stop here, good. Sit with the feeling. Make space for it and go on with your day playing around with this exercise. Simply notice what your body has to say when you face a decision. Don’t complicate it.

Play around with it, if you will. When deciding what you’re going to have for lunch or dinner, or while working and a sudden need for a pause emerges, or when somebody asks you for a favor, or you receive an unexpected call, simply notice:

How does your body react in these moments?

Where does each of these situations manifest in your body? In what parts?

What are the sensations? Is your chest suddenly feeling heavy? Is your back aching? Did your stomach flip? Maybe it’s the opposite, and there’s a sense of complete relaxation or even what once was feeling constricted has now softened.

Just notice!

If you’d like to move on with this conversation, there’s something else I would like to bring to your attention.

When it comes to making decisions, we basically navigate between two concepts: we either feel called to do it, and move forward, and simply say yes, or the other way around - a direct no.

We could navigate in between and throw a maybe into the mix, but this means nothing but you trying to buy yourself some time until you go with one of the two options above.

The thing about making difficult decisions, or any decision for that matter, is that we have no guarantee of the outcome. And when we only consider what our minds try to tell us, we ignore the true source of knowledge: our body.

In Human Design, we have 5 Authority Centres. When it comes to making wise and assertive decisions, understanding from which of these centres we respond from is what will help us.

Because our authority is the ability to take charge of our lives. Removing self-doubt or the smallest ounce of insecurity and hesitation from the equation, gives you direct access to an important element: confidence.

We’ve been too stuck in our minds and have profoundly disconnected from our bodies.

The positive side of it is to see how many somatic practitioners are now emerging in the market, because more than ever we need this healing work to help us reconnect with our own temple: our body.

When we look into a Human Design Chart, like the image below - for those new to this field, you can see that the Ajna, or the Mind, is not connected to the Heart, Sacral, Self and Root centres. There’s no direct line that connects them. These are what are called the Authority Centers.

Adding to this mix, we also have the outer authority, which is characterized by a chart with the Crown, Mind, and Throat Centers defined, or coloured in, and all the other centres undefined, or not coloured. This is a very particular authority because, instead of looking inwards for guidance, the individual will go through an external search and discovery of their inner truth.

This is important because, for someone with a Sacral authority centre, for example, the decision making process happens through a gut feeling, not simply a yes or no response. We exercised this idea earlier in this article. Where do you feel your response came from: your gut - a physical sensation in your body; your heart - your desires; your emotions; your spleen - without hesitation; your G center (Self) - a sense of inner knowingness; or outside of yourself - exploring and double checking the options and resources available?

I have a Sacral Authority Centre. When my husband asks me: ‘What would you like for dinner?’ you lose me right there. I get lost in the notion of having to think about all the possible things available in the form of food. One important aspect of this authority is to wait to respond, not to proactively engage. I can’t run to my fridge and look at all the food I have available, and still feel lost.

So I learned to narrow my options down and pick between two ideas. I can still look at everything available in my fridge to then think of possible menus. But wait. It doesn’t stop there. I need a moment with the options. It’s not a mental decision, remember? In order to respond, I need to sit with the possibilities.

Only then can my body show me what feels like a direct yes, or a direct no. I will use my mind to picture the dishes, but it is my body that will either make my mouth water or my stomach twist.

You see how different it is? Now think about all the other possible ways people respond or act from their authority centres. You’re probably starting to think about those close to you and how different, or alike, you may be in making decisions.

Now my husband, who has wisely learned how to better communicate with his wife - LOL - comes to me and asks:

- Do you feel like eating sushi or pasta today?

Oh Jesus! Now you’re talking. Well, actually it’s my gut that will be doing all the talking. I just wait to hear what it has to say to me and savour my meal.

I discuss more about another two of these centres in this article here.

Besides this authority aspect of a chart, another area I consider to be important to look at, in one’s Human Design (HD), is where the planet of Mars is located.

Having the conscious and unconscious sides in HD representing mind and body respectively, we need to look at both placements for this planet. But I want to give them proper attention today because Mars is about our courage and calling, and these are the aspects this week’s message, in the Podcast, talks about.

Of course we still have to consider the gates and lines in these placements, but overall our conscious Mars represents our willpower, our capacity to act. Because in HD our consciousness is related to the mind, we have to look at the element of movement through the lens of taking initiative, the force that makes us push through resistance and purposefully move toward our goals.

It’s that energy that suddenly takes over our body and makes us move forward regardless of whether fear is present or not. It’s our drive, and therefore, what helps us be disciplined and focused. It’s about being bold, feeling courageous to take risks, and through this movement, through action, find inner clarity.

On the unconscious side, Mars represents our calling. It’s about initiation and the impulse that moves us into acting. But because it’s at the body level, it’s related to how we feel. Not what we think. In this part of our charts, our unconscious Mars shows us where we are instinctively driven toward growth or purpose. It’s our body directly communicating where we want to go, when movement is needed, what it takes to pursue our dreams. It’s the energy that comes from within.

Can you see how this is all connected? Seriously. I know it may be easier for me because I’m all immersed in this world and I’m the one channeling the messages, recording the podcast, writing the notes and essays, and blah blah blah. But really.

Today I did not plan to sit at my desk and write about all this. I was really looking to work on next week’s post for the Podcast.

But it’s not by chance moments like these happen, and I not only trust them deeply, but I also honour and make space for them.

This message of courage is not here to be dismissed. There’s something very, very, very, very, very (you get it right?!), very, very important for us to look at.

Because my friend, spoiler alert, next week’s message will hit us at our core. I can only imagine what’s coming our way, with all these planets coming together under the same sign (a total of 7, just so you know. Yep. 7!!!).

Even if you don’t believe in Astrology, what I’m trying to invite you to do is to notice, simply notice, all these aspects I described today, in your own life.

How are they manifesting for you?

Can you sense a sudden urge or impatience with your life, with things you want to do? Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed because you came to realize all the tasks, projects and demands you already have to attend to besides all of those you would like to find time to act on.

Maybe you decided to clean out that closet, or subscribed to the local gym, or started an new arts and crafts project that was sitting on your desk for the longest time, or booked that trip you so wanted, or decided to write the book you always wished you would but never really had the C.O.U.R.A.G.E to do so.

There’s something in the air moving you from inside out, making you uncomfortable, maybe even irritated with life right now, and you’re not sure why, but it’s calling you to move!

Well, now you have a better idea of why. I hope..

Listen - and now that I’m truly reflecting on why this message is coming to me today - if you’re still not feeling anything, it will be very hard for you to notice, especially if staying in your mind is all you do throughout your day.

But Livia, what you mean by ‘staying in my mind’? Aren’t we all?

Well my friend, yes and no.

Of course our minds will always be almost like the entity that governs our life. But it’s not the leader. You see. We think our minds rule the party, but not really. It helps communicate the rules, govern the territory, but it is informing, sending notes, storing the files, organizing the agenda. It is not ruling the party (politically speaking).

Our minds are our internal GPS. They help us locate ourselves in time and space. But your decision making process does not happen there. Nope! It happens in your body.

So if you’re not connected to this very important part of your being, you will not notice how the energies are manifesting around you, let alone what life is trying to show you to HELP YOU stay on track and honour your truth!

I know it all sounds pretty and cute, but let’s be super honest: are you currently actively looking to make your existence worth the time you’re spending here?

This is not about what you are doing, all the things you’re accomplishing, and what you’re building. All these things are a reflection of WHO YOU ARE BECOMING.

Now I’m seriously asking: are you living in alignment with your truth?

Does your life reflect what you feel you came here to do?

Yes, no, maybe?

Remember right at the beginning when we talked about this idea of maybe? Let’s be honest then: yes or no?

Ok, you may feel like saying ‘somehow’, because you have done things you feel proud of and your most deep desire is to continue doing so.

Great! You hit the jackpot!

This is exactly what I need to reflect on:

What about you, in those moments of brilliance and achievements, made you go after what you wanted and actually do it? What part of yourself did you listen to? Why you had the courage to face the unknown and go for it?