Can people change?

It’s a question we usually ask after we’ve seen the same behavior more than once. After apologies that sound sincere. After conversations that feel promising — and then familiar.

We want to believe in growth. We also don’t want to keep getting surprised by the same outcome.

And while this question is often aimed at someone else — a partner, a parent, a friend, a coworker — there’s usually a quieter follow-up we don’t say out loud: If they don’t change, what am I supposed to do with that information?

Today isn’t about deciding whether to stay, leave, forgive, or confront. It’s about learning how to tell the difference between real change and good intentions, and noticing what you’ve been carrying while you wait.

No conclusions required. Just honesty about what’s actually happening.

Today in 15 seconds:

Notice where your energy is going today.

Are you managing someone else’s expectations? Hoping they’ll finally act differently? Bracing for disappointment or confrontation? Recovering from patterns that keep repeating?

Whatever comes up, name it. Don’t fix it. Don’t judge it. Just notice it. That’s your clue.

Where your energy is flowing tells you what’s real — what’s changeable, what’s not, and where your attention actually matters.

Take a breath. One tiny moment of clarity can shift the whole day.

Connect Without Obligation

Notice any small rifts or tensions in your relationships — minor misunderstandings, old arguments, or unspoken feelings. Consider whether there’s an opportunity for reconciliation, even just a tiny gesture: a kind note, a brief acknowledgment, or a message that simply expresses curiosity or care.

Here’s the key: only do this if it feels right for you. There’s no obligation. Only act if it makes sense, if you genuinely want to, and if the timing feels safe. This isn’t about forcing connection or expecting someone else to respond in a certain way — it’s about honoring your own capacity for generosity, curiosity, and clarity.

Even just trying in thought — imagining what it would feel like to reach out — can shift your perspective. You might notice your own openness, the patterns you carry, or the boundaries you need to maintain. Connection isn’t always about resolution; sometimes it’s about conscious, mindful intention, showing up in the smallest, most authentic ways.

So pause. Notice the relationships that matter. If a gesture feels right, follow it. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too. Every step toward mindful connection — even just noticing it — is meaningful.

Gentle Circles, Big Release

This practice invites you to release tension, let go of rigidity, and create space in both your body and mind.

How to do it:

As your neck loosens, notice the symbolic release: the stiffness in your muscles is a reminder that flexibility, in body, mind, and relationships, is possible.

What the sky’s doing whilst we move about below

Tonight, keep an eye on Algol, the “Demon Star” in Perseus. This fascinating variable star dims and brightens in a 2-day, 20-hour, 49-minute cycle as its companion star passes in front of it. Algol usually shines at magnitude 2.1, similar to Almach, but by 10:27 p.m. EST it will drop to magnitude 3.4, nearly matching nearby Rho Persei. Around 5:27 p.m., Algol begins its fade, visible about halfway up in the eastern sky, and by late evening it will be almost overhead in the west. No telescope required — your eyes or binoculars are enough to notice this cosmic wink.

The Moon is a thin waning crescent in Scorpio today, visible at just 3% illumination. It joins Mercury in the southeast before sunrise, forming a delicate pre-dawn pairing about 10° apart, roughly 9° above the horizon by 6:45 a.m. Antares, Scorpius’ red alpha star, rises just 6.5° below Mercury, adding a splash of fiery energy to the quiet morning sky. Mercury shines bright at magnitude –0.5, 82% illuminated, 6” wide through a telescope.

This pre-dawn alignment encourages subtle awareness. Notice the quiet influences shaping your thoughts and intentions before the day truly begins. Small insights now may become meaningful guidance later.

Asteroid 3 Juno meets the Sun at 1 a.m. EST, and shortly after, the Moon reaches apogee — its farthest point from Earth — at 1:09 a.m., about 252,477 miles away. Jupiter glows in the western sky after sunset, while Saturn holds a steady position in the evening sky, offering grounding stability.

With the Moon at its most distant point, consider where you feel stretched or disconnected. The distance isn’t absence — it’s perspective. What feels far away today might offer clarity tomorrow.

Pyromorphite isn’t just a crystal — it’s a spark in stone form. Rare, vibrant, and a little electric, it can show up as smooth clusters, tabular plates, or the rarest form: prismatic crystals that collectors will pay tens of thousands to hold. Its colors range from soft green to fiery yellow, orange, brown, and even colorless — each shade carrying its own subtle pulse of energy. Named from the Greek words for “fire” and “form,” Pyromorphite was recognized centuries ago for the way it transforms when heated, but its magic isn’t just historical. It’s alive today, waiting for those ready to harness its energy.

Energetically, Pyromorphite is a bridge between the heart and the will. Place it over your heart during meditation, and suddenly your passion and purpose converge. Your desires don’t just stay in your head — they flow into your body, charging your intentions with action-ready energy. Goals that felt abstract before suddenly start feeling tangible. This is the stone for anyone who’s ready to move forward with courage and clarity, to act on what matters most without hesitation.

Because it vibrates at such a high frequency, Pyromorphite can feel intense for beginners. If you notice lightheadedness or overstimulation, step back, breathe, and try again later. Pair it with grounding stones to anchor yourself, letting its transformative energy flow without overwhelm.

Reach for Pyromorphite if you’ve been:

Pyromorphite has a protective edge. Carry it, wear it, or keep it nearby, and it quietly shields you from negativity — from toxic environments, draining people, or any subtle energies that throw off your balance. It’s like a spiritual battery, keeping your energy strong, steady, and aligned while you navigate the challenges of the day.

3-8 minutes to stretch your view

Off the top of your head (3 min): Which behaviors are deal-breakers for you?

Spill it (5-8 min): Have you been clear about them?

Let it land when you’re ready.

Take a moment today to notice when someone’s true nature shines through — beyond their words, beyond their promises, beyond any attempt to perform or convince.

It might be in the way they laugh at something unexpected, the way they quietly show up when no one is watching, or the simple gestures that reveal their character without explanation. Maybe it’s a fleeting act of patience, a choice to speak gently, or the consistency of their actions over time. These moments are subtle, easy to overlook, but they carry profound truth.

When we witness this, it reminds us that change isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s small, visible only in the quiet consistency of who someone is at their core. And noticing it doesn’t mean ignoring the parts that hurt or disappoint us — it’s simply recognizing the reality of who they are in this moment.

You might also notice your own nature shining through, even in tiny ways: the patience you exercise, the love you extend, or the boundaries you honor. Seeing these truths, both in yourself and in others, is a gentle reminder that transformation is real, but it often moves in quiet, imperfect ways.

Pause, breathe, and let yourself witness it. These glimpses of authenticity — however brief — are worth acknowledging, carrying, and reflecting on. They illuminate, right here, right now.

Today, think back on an act of forgiveness — a time when you let go of resentment, irritation, or judgment, or when you extended compassion to someone, even in a small way.

Forgiveness doesn’t always have to be dramatic. It can be as simple as deciding not to replay an old argument in your mind, choosing not to respond to a harsh word, or offering a silent wish for someone else’s well-being. These moments are powerful because they reflect a conscious choice: to release the weight of anger or hurt, and to open space for clarity, peace, and growth.

Gratitude for these moments isn’t about excusing behavior or pretending harm didn’t happen. It’s about noticing your own capacity to move through difficulty with awareness and heart. Each act of forgiveness is a quiet acknowledgment of your own resilience — proof that you can honor your boundaries while still holding space for understanding, empathy, and transformation.

You might also notice the ripple effects: the tension that softens, the heart that feels lighter, or the shift in perspective that allows you to see someone — or yourself — more fully. These small acts remind us that while we cannot control whether others change, we can always choose how we respond.

Acknowledge this gift you’ve offered — to yourself, and to the world around you. Even the tiniest moment of letting go carries beauty, courage, and freedom.

Have you ever changed for someone else?

Changing for someone else isn’t inherently bad — sometimes it’s growth, adaptation, or a sign of care. But often, it comes with a cost. Did you feel like you were stretching in ways that felt unnatural? Did parts of you get lost in the effort to meet someone else’s expectations? Or did it spark insight, courage, or new understanding in yourself?

Reflect on both sides: the change itself and the motivation behind it. Who were you trying to serve — them, or some part of yourself that hoped to be seen, loved, or accepted? Notice what patterns emerge. Are there ways you’ve been tempted to change repeatedly for others, and how has that shaped your relationships or your own sense of self?

This question isn’t meant to provoke guilt. It’s meant to illuminate. It’s a mirror for self-awareness, showing where your generosity, hope, or desire for connection has met boundaries — your own or someone else’s.

Change is not guaranteed. Some people, some situations, some patterns — they may never shift in the ways we hope. And yet, nothing transforms until it is acknowledged, until we shine a light on it, until we face it fully and honestly.

Facing doesn’t mean forcing. It doesn’t mean judgment or blame. It’s simply the act of seeing clearly, of standing in awareness, of letting yourself meet reality, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s in these small acts of attention, reflection, and acknowledgment that the seeds of growth are planted.

Take a deep breath and offer yourself a quiet nod of recognition: for noticing, for observing, for daring to see what’s real. Even if nothing changes immediately, the act of facing it — truly facing it — is the first step toward clarity, courage, and freedom. And trust that in doing so, you are doing the most important work of all: showing up for yourself.

P.S. We made this because most spiritual content made us feel like there was something wrong with us for being tired, messy, or not “high-vibe” enough. If this made you feel a little more human today, that's all we wanted.

💌 Pass it on

Got a friend who’s basically your spirit animal? Forward them this email. Sharing is caring, and honestly, who couldn’t use a little less chaos and a little more realness?

📬 We love hearing from you

Got thoughts? Rants? Random life updates? We’re here for all of it. Reply to this email. We actually love hearing from you (yes, really).