The Teacher’s Journal

This morning I turned on CNN to see what ‘news’ was being reported thru this media/channel and I was immediately dis-appointed again to discover that the bloggers and the internet had these headlines day’s ago.  The ’story’ they are telling was seeded long ago and today’s headlines are no surprise.  Nor should they be!  (Uh, oh…..there’s one of Those Words…..”should”.)

Sagittarius rules publishing/media/journalism as well as all the other ways & means that information reaches The Public.  Ethics, morality, judicial conduct, lawsuits, our relationship with ‘aliens’ (foreign/legal/illegal/et’s/etc., etc.), how we understand foreign languages and our ability (or inability) to understand the ‘truth’ of what is spoken/written etc………………..these are all other topics that are assigned to the Sag agenda.

When Pluto was making it’s first entrance into this sign (1995ish), after many tumultuous years in Scorpio, the headlines of the day were all about OJ Simpson.  This celebrity event brought together all the issues of both Scorpio & Sag and gave us a preview of what was in store for the Pluto in Sag years to come.  (Oh!  Did I mention scandals around athletes up above?  Sag also rules those who compete in sport…………..  This year’s Olympics will be held during the death throes of Pluto in Sag……pun intended.)

The headlines of today are showing us what we have learned (or not-learned) regarding all of the Sagittarian themes.  We’ve only got a few more months to get it right.  Otherwise we’ll have to get our selves reborn into the next cycle of Pluto in Sagittarius which will occur………….when, it’s gotta be at least 240+ years from now.  Quick, anyone got an ephemeris?

Pluto stuck a toe into Capricorn earlier this year.  Immediately we began to see the ‘foundations’ of our society show signs of crumbling. Bridges came down.  Foundations are a Capricornian word.  Foundations are very important for stability & structure…….think big here, for now.  (Pluto in Sag taught us how to ‘think big’, too.)

Pluto will re-enter Capricorn around the end of November, 08  and stay there until 2024. (Time for a long, deep breath.) Saturn is the ruling planet for Capricorn so you might want to check this site and others to learn better how to navigate (a sag word) these changing times to come. (Capricorn is a ‘cardinal’ sign.  All cardinal signs bring Change.)

Capricorn is the leader, of the family, of the town, of the country.  Whomever holds  authority over others is the human representative of capricorn energy.  For the past 2000 years or so, this person has frequently been of the male gender, with some notable exceptions.  Capricorn is the ‘father’ role, and these days we see people of both genders assume that role.   There is much to come with Pluto in Capricorn!

I’ve been around for nearly six decades and I’ve experienced Pluto changing signs 4 times. This will be my 5th (the number of transitions) time.   Her orbit is widely elliptical and therefore each passing thru a sign covers a different length of time.  (Check with your favorite astrologer for more).  In my experience I have noticed that the time’s during the Entering and Leaving of Pluto are the most difficult.  During the twenty degrees or more of substantive time within the sign, life may be intense however most of us can hold on and maintain our daily life.  However, these enterings and leavings can be hard, just like beginnings and endings.  (Go here)

So, during these days of tumult, uncertainty, and yes, let’s call it Fear………..remember to make your yoga practice a priority.  Use this time everyday to learn how to move strong sensations & feelings through your body.  Use the breath to help you.  It will.  Take time to calm your mind thru meditation, prayer, art, music, or other solitary pursuits.  Find a class or a teacher to support you when your private practice falters.   The ancient masters lived thru much of the same tumult as we did and were able to survive and thrive despite the challenges.  Evidence is everywhere.

Be still, now.

Pause,

Take a breath.

Notice what’s :  in your body.     mind.       emotions.

Take another breath.

Let it be.

Om shanti.

It’s been a while since I posted here.  A long while.

As I’ve written in many different posts ( here, here & here) the balsamic phase of a cycle is a time when we turn away from worldly concerns ( 1st chakra ’stuff’) and redirect our energy inward ( or upward) towards the spiritual/cosmic/ethereal,  either voluntarily…….or not.

I have found that it’s best to just go with the flow of this time period rather than try to force anything .   Regardless of the local weather, you’re traveling thru some dense fog and smokey waters.  Meditation/Prayer is the best activity to engage in.  If you can find an ashram or retreat center near by, go.

I live at the sea.  It helps.

The Lunar Balsamic phase lasts 3.5 days.  That’s a pretty easy time frame to work with for pulling out of the rat race.  However, the days of the week may prevent some challenges if you’re on some one else’s schedule and not your own.

Every planet in the solar system goes through a balsamic phase at some point-in-time.  The solar balsamic phase occurs for the 6-week period every year before your birthday. ( The Solar Return occurs when the sun reaches the exact place it was in at the moment of your birth.

The Balsamic phase for Mars lasts approximately 16 weeks.  Jupiter’s balsamic phase lasts about 18 months and Saturn’s balsamic phase is approximately 3.5 years! Few of us live long enough to experience a balsamic phase for the outer planets…..except perhaps Uranus.

In addition, any planet transiting thru the 12th House would also initiate the same kind of energy as a balsamic phase.

All that said, I am currently experiencing a 12th house Sun transit, a balsamic Mars, Jupiter, AND Saturn………………all at the same time.  It’s a miracle I can function!  For those of you versed in Vedic Astrology I have  just completed the Sade Sati which is a 3 year period of Saturn aspecting the Moon, also similar to the balsamic phase.  Whew.  It’s exhausting for no apparent reason.   What keeps me positive is the absolute knowledge that when this period is over I will be poised for a creative cycle beyond that which I have experienced for quite some time.

Teaching yoga is a gift.  Spiritual practice and practices are highly recommended during balsamic periods.   Yoga helps to create a global awareness of body, mind, emotions, and spirit.  For me, yoga helps me to be in the world and in-spirit at the same time.

Today is a First Quarter Phase in my lunar cycle, a time for action, ergo this post.

For the past few months I have been busy working on a private blog which I hope to publish soon, perhaps as an E-Book.

The subject is Astrology for Yoga Teachers/Therapists. If you’re interested  in being contacted upon publication please send an email to: asanctuary@optonline.net.

PART ONE HERE.

BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS

After studying the nature of (astrological) cycles for so many years I learned rather profoundly that it can be hard to recognize the difference between beginnings and endings. They frequently, if not always, happen at the exact same time. It is a matter of perspective. The key is to honor both equally as a significant time, showing no preference. There is an ancient teaching that goes something like, “as the beginning, so is the end”. Time constantly varies according to the way we perceive it in the moment and also according to a divine plan of which we may be quite unaware of.

I also learned, also profoundly, that there are many cycles happening at the same time, some longer than others, some shorter. And so as you begin to identify the differences between varying lengths you also begin to integrate them into a balanced way to live. Also, you begin to see the relationships that one cycle has to another. This awareness allows you to prioritize your activities in ways that feel good. When time flows you can really appreciate the utter beauty and magnificence of the universe. There is order within chaos, and there is chaos within order. Ultimately there is  choiceless awareness that feels like peaceful balance.

WHY WE START WITH THE LUNAR CYCLE

The lunar cycle is long enough for you to learn about yourself deeply, and also short enough for you to experience immediate feedback to your newfound knowledge.

Cycles come in varying lengths of time. Using the orbits of the known planets around our sun as a starting point, we begin our measurements with Earth which takes exactly 365 days, 6 hours and some 14 minutes to travel its elliptical path around the sun. The speed with which the Earth travels varies according to the distance away from the sun, speeding up as it gets closer and slowing down as it travels farther away. Each planet carries with it, its own anomaly or individual orbital characteristics that set it apart from the other planets. This dance of the earth around the sun we’ll call the Solar Cycle.

The Lunar Cycle, of course, represents the length of time it takes for the moon to orbit the earth or 29.531 days (the mean length of a lunar cycle). (Go here for a time lapse photo of the lunar cycle. http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010218.html) Each planet cycles around the sun at its own pace in its own way.

Reconnecting with LUNAR rhythms can be an important first step in either gaining or relinquishing control in our lives and thereby reducing stress. Astrology can be an important tool in establishing this reconnection. Within the astrological body of knowledge is a clock that suggests universal time principles and also information that will help you to reconnect to the internal, intuitive clock that lies deep within.

Scientists, researchers, and astrologers have all documented the effects of the moon on life on earth. This fact is no longer disputed. All one needs to do is check the weather patterns or the records at the hospital or police station to see the effects of the full moon phase. Whether these effects are a result of gravity, electro-magnetic energy, or sunspot activity is not important for our purposes here. What is important is that we become more aware of the rhythm of the cycle that prompts our actions. Reconnection to the lunar cycle as a time-management tool will help to smooth out all of the stresses that our modern day world has created.

HOW TO USE THE LUNAR CYCLE

Even if you are new to this concept it is very easy to begin aligning yourself with lunar time. Depending on the cultural differences between different astrological systems the entire cycle (360 degrees of something) can be divided into as many pie-shaped phases as you like. For the purposes of this book I am going to use the Eight Phase division of the circle yielding time periods of 3.5 days for a 28 day lunar cycle. The Vedic astrologers using a different methodology refer to phases as nakshatras and recognize 27 of them

First check a newspaper and/or calendar to see when the next New Moon phase occurs, that’s a good time to investigate something new! Each phase lasts approximately 3 days, give or take about 10 hours. The phases that are most important at first are the new, full, and quarter points. The others will become more apparent to you after you have become familiar with the most dynamic ones. A good idea would be to mark your personal calendar or daytimer so that you are reminded what phase is current.

At first, just notice what is going on during each phase. You might want to make a few notes in a journal to refer back to later on. During these early stages while you are still learning the most important thing is to just become aware of what types of events are happening and how those events fit into the larger scheme of your life. One of the rewards of following the lunar cycle is the ability to discern the importance of any singular event. A seemingly insignificant event can take on added importance if it occurs during particular phases. After a couple of cycles, you might then attempt working with the phases and begin to plan your time accordingly. I often receive questions on the best time to begin new projects, and the answer to that is not a simple one.

THE BEST TIME TO BEGIN NEW PROJECTS

First you need to consider the nature of the project. Is it something that is done routinely? If so, are you very clear about the results you are looking for? If the answers to these questions were yes, then the full phase of the moon would work well. If, on the other hand, you are beginning something totally new and you’re not sure about outcome, then sometime between new and first quarter would be better. Please remember that there are other planets circling with energies that might hamper or help your plans. If you are working on something that is very important to you it would be best to consult the advice of an astrologer who can give you a bigger perspective on the timeliness of your choice. The lunar phase is best applied to things that are part of your daily life.

COMING TO COMPLETION

Not everything can become completed in a 28-day lunar cycle. Some things take a little more time! The symbolism of the phases still works. During the new phase, a project might spontaneously take a new turn. The quarter phases will continue to bring change, crisis, and challenge. The full moon brings clear perspective to everything and always signals a good time for negotiation and discussion. And, of course, no matter what we are working on one needs downtime to rejuvenate. Balsamic phases are an important part of every cycle.

INTERSECTING CYCLES

The lunar cycle is visible. You can look into the night sky at any given time and see ‘what time it is”. The visible reflection of the moon is like a giant clock in the sky.

This visible cycle is what I call ‘generic’ time. When the moon is full in the sky, it is a full phase for everyone.

However, there is another cycle that is occurring at the same time and that cycle is happening on a more internal or personal level. Each of us, individually, have our own personal clock or cycles that are apparent only to ourselves. Sometimes our personal cycles coincide and complement the outer, external, generic cycle. And sometimes our personal clock conflicts with the generic, visible cycle creating a challenge for us to integrate our personal life into the whole of the population.

Here’s where Yoga enters the picture.

Stay tuned for more excepts from: A Teacher’s Manual.

Om shanti, peace to all beings.

Moon conjuncts Saturn today.

Responsibilities Rule.

What happens when you integrate astrology into the yogic practice of self-observation without judgement?

Self-inquiry is a spiritual practice that directs our energy and our attention inward. It’s a particular form of self-discovery that encourages one to first recognize and then drop the social mask (also known as the persona, personality, or ascendant) and practice authenticity in every moment. (rather than productivity or some other external goal). In, The Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield, he describes a Buddhist practice of sitting quietly and repeatedly asking yourself, “Who am I”, over and over until you reach a point where something in the body/mind relaxes (?) and a subtle shift in consciousness happens. It’s one of those things that you have to experience for yourself and hard to describe.

Svadhyaya is one of the niyamas (from Patanjali’s 8 Limbs of Yoga) that encourages us to look at ourselves, clearly, without prejudice. It’s a challenging task and requires constant practice. Kripalu Yoga is the methodology that i practice. It brings the physical and energetic bodies into the mix by developing a heightened sense of awareness to sensations, breath, thought patterns, and spontaneous emotional expression.

Astrology attempts to find meaning in the natural order of the cosmos. Everything has it’s own time, it’s own season, and every minute that passes is unique. Astrologers observe both long term & short term trends and relate that information to the present moment. In addition, astrology also adds mythological, archetypal, & psychological dimensions that are extremely personal and relevant.

Natal Astrology looks at an individual (or oneself) thru a lens that has no prejudice. The natal horoscope does not see: gender, race, religion, economic status, socio/cultural differences, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any of the ways in which we categorize ourselves. What the natal chart does describe is our ‘energetic’ makeup and the timing of unfoldment. The ‘how’ is up to us. There are many ways to manifest the potential of our horoscope. It’s the energy pattern and the timing that are pre-determined. All else is free will. When approached with equanimity and non-judgement the natal horoscope becomes an impartial map of possibility with a built-in clock to help one connect to the present moment more intimately.

Yoga & Astrology have co-existed harmoniously in various cultures for eons. Each discipline recognizes the value & contribution of the other. Across the centuries, astrologers have continued to relate the movement of what is above to the movement of what lies below. Whereas, at the same time the yogi’s were discovering what lies without, also exists within. They both agree that here & now is important.

Yoga provides us with the tools to help us be with that moment in peaceful co-existence. Astrology helps us to understand the characteristics of the our particular ego-state and the nature of the obstacles that impede our path towards a higher consciousness. Yoga helps us to smooth out the obstacles, minimize the ego drives and approach life’s challenges in peace. Astrology provides us with the nature of the ever-changing present moment. Yoga practices train us to respond to the ever-changing moment with acceptance. Astrology, when properly understood, can advance us towards spiritual awakening. Yoga does the same.

As a Professional Kripalu Yoga Teacher & Astrologer it’s taken me most of my life to bring these two paths together in a way that goes beyond the mental field or intellect. After 30+ years of study and practice I have now reached a point where I can no longer keep them separate. My personal practice and the programs I offer always include the cosmic point of view in an attempt to teach the hermetic principal, As Above, So Below. For those who are ready for the practice of self-inquiry and seek to approach life multi-dimensionally, astrology & yoga together can be quite enlightening.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

….around the cosmos these days. The recent new moon has jumpstarted the energy that was forecast by the recent equinox/full moon. This lunar month promises to keep things stirred up for a while.

Meanwhile, much further away than the moon, on April 4 Eris moved to 21AR01′58″, a mile-marker for this distant planetoid. The Sabian Symbol for this degree reads: THE GATE TO THE GARDEN OF ALL FULFILLED DESIRES. The keynote says: Abundance made possible by human together-ness and cooperation. Eris will remain in this degree until November, 2008…which, interestingly, coincides with the next shift of the Mayan Calendar, the beginning of Day Six.

Given all that I’ve been following with spinning planets, ancient calendars, and A New Earth birthing, it’s become increasingly important to continue with my yoga practice. How else can we possibly integrate all that is happening? Being Here and Now feels good and removes the stress of multiple possibilities in a changing world.

Early this morning I read Barbara Hand Clow’s New Moon horoscope which was the inspiration for this post. Below is a small part of her article (including the link so you can read all of it).

From the perspective of the Mayan Calendar and astrology, we are in the darkest days of Night Five, and I feel like I am seeing the probabilities very clearly. With this New Moon in Aries, we enter the most critical phase of the Galactic Underworld since it began in 1999-a phase I label “evolutionary bifurcation.” Using Chaos Theory (an advanced math system examining the way natural systems change and evolve), a bifurcation happens when an old evolutionary pattern is collapsing while a new wave is building. During great evolutionary shifts, mature species are no longer able to adapt to changing conditions, such as the extinction of the dinosaurs when placental mammals emerged 63 million years ago. With the breaking point-the bifurcation-evolution continues through new species while the old ones die off. This is always a very dangerous moment for any creature that wants to survive. As humans, if we are to survive, we must move to a more cosmic level and re-enter the universe. We need to consciously flow with the new wave while keeping ourselves free from the collapsing systems.

http://www.handclow2012.com/astroflash.htm#New%20Moon

When you look at all of the astrological aspects within the context of the Mayan Calendar it all makes perfect sense. I am reminded of the Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.”

It’s getting very interesting.

On a personal note, I’ve entered the balsamic phase of my personal lunar cycle. Phew. Resting will feel good today.

Om Nimah Shavaya.

And, it runs right thru Southern California on my astro-cartography map. AstroCartography is an astrological technique by which we re-draw the ‘map of the heavens’ and place it on Planet Earth. Mathematically, we are transforming time into space…..or rather, integrating them…..together.

I became fascinated by this technique from Jim Lewis way back in the ’80’s. I took a weekend workshop where Jim taught the attending astrologers how to work with his maps and It blew me away! I’ve been playing around with this technique ever since and I’ve come to respect it as much as the more traditional ways to use astrology. When combined with feng shui, astro-cartography becomes a powerful methodology for positive action. Go here to read my previous post on this.

I don’t have any major lines running thru my current hometown location. I have two paran lines that I cross over if I drive a couple hours south. Other than that, not much going on here for me in NJ.

However, as you can see by looking at this map the line representing Pluto goes right thru Long Beach, California where I am going to be spending a month, soon. Oh dear! For this Scorpio Sun, it’s a mixed blessing for sure. No doubt it’ll be a life-changing (transformational) trip.

The horizontal (paran) line that crosses it near Long Beach represents Mercury/Jupiter. Aaaaah. That feels better…..especially since I will be spending a good deal of time writing while I’m out there. For one who earns her living teaching, this location could be quite a ‘page-turner’!

Transiting Pluto is moving thru my 6th house these days and coming into orb of my Moon/Uranus opp. Venus aspect. It’s the tightest aspect in my chart and hasn’t had a major aspect from Pluto in a long time. Something is getting ready to happen for sure.

So, what to do?

Following my own advice the first thing is to notice….thoughts, feelings, attitudes, expectations, prejudices, all the ‘knee-jerk’, unconscious responses to this information. I confess to a little fear, but also anticipation and excitement too.

For now, I think the task is simply to get comfortable with not-knowing anything (for certain) and stay open to possibilities.

Hmmm. Sounds like a plan.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

A while back we were discussing all the possible meanings of the number 108 which is so prominent in the Hindu religion, yoga, and other eastern paths. Here’re some links to inspire you. (Click on the picture too. ) Please feel free to comment and help us learn together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/108_(number)

http://www.globalmala.org/index.php

http://www.salagram.net/108meaning.html

Japa is the practice of repeating mantras (___) times using the mala beads to keep count.

Vedic astrology uses mantras to appease the negative effects of difficult planetary transits. Some of these mantras need to be repeated 10,000’s of times!  That should keep one out of trouble for a while.

Hmmm. How are your planets today?

Om shanti, peace.

CHIROS: Time has usually been considered (’with the stars’) the realm of the planet Saturn, but in actuality, Saturn only rules one type of time–chronological time. [duration]. Chiros (Kairos) represents time that is outside that realm–time that obeys an entirely different set of laws [if it does, indeed, obey any law al all]. Chiros has even been called, ‘timeless time’. Many people have been able to enter this type of time through deep meditation. Remember that Chiron’s orbit is, for the most part, beyond Saturn, and that will assist you in contemplating a time which is not ruled by the clock or the calendar.
Image @ http://www.inkognito.de (greeting card)

Some great information on Chiron can also be found here and here.

One fascinating way to understand the essence of something (like Chiron) is to look at the etymology of the word. Chiron comes from the root syllable, chiro which relates to the hand. Thus, chiromancy (palmistry), chirography (penmanship/calligraphy), chironomid (one who makes gestures with his hands), and of course the chiropractor who adjusts our nervous system by manipulating our spine. Chiron is the original ‘alternative’ genius.

Here are some more words that convey the ‘energy’ of Chiron.

Maverick, Quest, Guide, Healing, Key, Doorway, Bridge, Loophole, Qualifier, Teacher, Mentor, Holistic Healer, Ecologist, Mentor, Rainbow Bridge, Shamen.