The Teacher’s Journal

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.

….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.

Wow.

After all that technological turmoil traveling thru my airways,

today is the best day ever according to my Blog Stat’s and it’s not even 9:30am EST.

I’m glad it’s a balsamic moon…………….

no need to do any kind of follow-thru to that piece of information………yet.

Let’s Celebrate……………..

.

It’s a void-of-course moon again today! Oh, yippee!!! Because I don’t think I have another ‘productive’ minute in my body. It’s time to re-group and practice some deep breathing. Chiron’s coming around soon.

It ends around 11:24 pm tonite……… yup, time to get a good rest in.

The void-of-course moon is like a microcosm of the longer measurement of time called the balsamic phase of the moon. The difference is simply the length of time……ie. 6 min / 6 hrs….get it? Check out the other posts all over this site on the ‘balsamic moon’. There’s a search engine over there in the upper right hand corner.

BTW, the balsamic phase begins just as the void-of-course ends………..yup, a nice long rest will do fine….Equinox coming, too.

Om shanti.

This month’s lunar cycle began at 17 degrees of Capricorn.  Have you ever noticed how certain numbers continue to provide symbolic information?  Seventeen is one of those numbers for me.

The Sabian Symbol for this cycle speaks about “the  protection afforded to individuals and groups by powerful institutions in charge of maintaining order”.

Isn’t it fascinating how the metaphors work, and the synchronicities appear?

Practice stillness.  Practice peace within yourself.  Seventeen degrees sits near the center of each zodiac sign………………if this is you, be a peaceful role-model.

Om nama shivaya.

I’ll be back later to put the links in.   Have a nice day.  

Have you noticed how the outside really does reflect the inside? All the time.

I’ve just returned from Kripalu Center where I was able to take on the role of musician in the Saptah ‘event’ and then facilitator and yoga leader in the IQI.

A lot happened. Nothing happened. The stillpoint that becomes present when I find my center was exquisitly healing for me personally & professionally.

And, just to remind me that the universe supports inward journeying I’ve arrived home during the balsamic phase of the moon; another opportunity to develop relationship with the more causal levels of existence.

I’ll be facilitating another yoga nidra this thursday.

The astrology is perfect.

I feel like I’m doing my part to bring peace to the planet.

I couldn’t do this work without practicing peace for myself.

May we live in peace, no matter what we’re given.

Om nama shivaya.

Sept. 11, 2007 is a New Moon Solar Eclipse in the Chinese Year of The Fire Boar.

There’s some pretty auspicious chi flowing and that’s always a good time to practice the ‘way’ of feng shui.

TO DO: Ask yourself: What area in my life needs attention? Go to that room/gua/corner. Clean out. Wipe down . Create clear space in your favorite gua or direction….. set an intention, and then move nine things holding your intention in your mind. Light a candle sometime around 8:44am EST. (the exact time of the eclipse in EST)

Breathe. Relax. Feel. Watch. Allow.

Everything is exactly perfect. It’s our “wanting things to be different” that creates the suffering. So explained, the Buddah.

There has always been a lot of *fear* around eclipses. One can only imagine what it must have felt like to observe the moon or sun go dark in the sky. The memories and feelings of that primal fear live on in our ‘old’ brain and continue to run like a silent computer program in the background. What do you think would happen if we used all of the power of our attention to dis-engage the fear button? Think about it. Practice.  Take a conscious, deep breath every time you feel fear. Go to a yoga class to learn the subtleties of breathing.

The September 11, 2007 Solar Eclipse occurs at 18 Vir 24 using the Western (tropical) zodiac. In the Eastern (sidereal) zodiac, the eclipse is occuring at 24 Leo 32′. degree.) There’s approximately 24-25 degrees difference between these two systems of astronomical measurement. (Google: Ayanamsa.)

Marc Edmund Jones, 10/1/1888 - 3/8/1980, the astrologer who ‘created’ the Sabian Symbols, taught that astrology “properly used” can help people see more clearly their own tendencies. Once seen, we can then apply our free will to adjust, modify, change, or ignore what has been seen. Our evolutionary engine depends on our ability to learn & grow in this fashion.

The sabian symbol for 19Virgo is: A SWIMMING RACE. (When you work with the sabian symbols you always round up to the next degree. You can also go here to read more of what I’ve been exploring with Sabian Symbols)

In his book, An Astrological Mandala, D. Rudyhar interprets this image as “The stimulation that comes from a group effort toward a spiritual goal.” Hmmm.

What would happen if our spiritual goal was: *peace in the moment, no matter what* ?

Rudyhar goes on to remind us not assume that the image symbolizes competition.
In fact, he then says that ” the personal ego-centered ambition to succeed and to be “first” is indeed a sign of expectable, spiritual failure.” Yikes!

I didn’t know there was such a thing as spiritual ‘failure’. Oh dear.

It does pose a dilemma, this image, (A Swimming Race) pointing to our issues around competition, success, failure, and how a competitive path interferes with spiritual rewards. He concludes by pointing us towards “emulation“. ….hmmmm.

Now, I’m wondering if Dane Rudyhar’s sabian symbols can be used with Jyotish, the Vedic system of astrology? I don’t recall ever reading or hearing any of my Jyotish teachers refer to these symbols. In fact the teachers were always quick to remind us NOT to apply western astrological techniques to eastern charts, and vice versa. (That’s surely something to meditate on…………..)
Jyotish does, in fact, have it’s own methodology for referencing each of the 360 degrees in the zodiac. They, too, use their discriminative faculties to identify incredibly subtle differences and broad sameness. (note to astrologers: please feel free to comment on this)

So, let’s break the rules for a moment and integrate these two astrological systems and see what happens.

The sabian symbol (a western technique) for 25deg of Leo (the degree of the eclipse according to Vedic Astrologers. ) states: A LARGE CAMEL IS SEEN CROSSING A VAST AND FORBIDDING DESERT.
Self-sufficiency in the face of a long and exhausting adventure.
Rudyhar recommends, ” total independence from our surroundings and uncompromising persistence.”Hmm. How’s that sound? Reminds me a little of all of the forecasts from ERIS!!

So, let’s see what kind of theme’s play out over the next few months and look for how these images manifest in your personal world, and the external world. See for yourself how the essence of these themes get expressed. Of course each of us responds to eclipse energy differently. There will be those who are strongly affected, and those who are not. Consult your local astrologer and get a reading.

May all beings live in peace, no matter what.

Om Shanti.