Void of(f) Course

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.

Balsamic in the Winter……….

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.

Stumbling Thru Aquarius…….

The asteroid Chiron is named after a mythological centaur (horse/man) who became a great healer/teacher. In astrological mythology, Chiron is the Wounded Healer and has many talents. One story tells how he became immortal and lived a life of suffering after a fatal(?) wound from a poisoned arrow. In the attempt to heal himself Chiron learned the magic of herbs, gems, astrology, and many other ancient healing tools.

In our natal horoscopes, the placement of Chiron describes the circumstances of our unhealed wounds, the ones that require an integrated approach to understand. These are the wounds that are invisible to the world and sometimes even invisible to ourselves.The emotions of shame and humiliation will give you a clue as to where these wounds are located. By the time we reach our early 50’s we have had numerous opportunities to confront these wounds and perhaps we were successful in transforming this lead into gold. Also around the age of 50, the asteroid Chiron returns to the same place he was in when you were born….a Chiron Return in the astrological language. This might be considered a ‘last chance’ for healing in this lifetime the wound that binds you. It’s also a time (after 50) to share your knowledge with others and become the teacher/counselor/healer who helps others with wounds similar to your own, just as Chiron did in mythology.

The Wounded Healer contributes to the whole in ways that can’t be measured.

The success of the 12-step format is one way in which wounded healers have helped others create happy lives from painful pasts.

We all have a touch of Chiron somewhere in our psyche. It is an archetype that the whole human race feels. The location of Chiron in your personal astrological birthmap can shed some light on the wound that follows you everywhere and has the potential to become your greatest strength. Consult your astrologer/yoga teacher for guidance on this topic.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

Twenty Degrees of Leo

Tonite I am facilitating another Yoga Nidra experience. The timing seems to be very auspicious. On Sunday, Aug 12 there will be a New Moon at 20 degrees of Leo. That degree point has been very, very, hot (!) over the past few years…..and it’s a powerful point…… I’m glad to have this opportunity to de-compress before another lunar cycle begins.

Twenty degrees of Leo, according to Dane Rudyhar (An Astrological Mandala) refers to ” a return to the glorification of natural energies.”

Hmmmm. There’s a lot of different ways that might manifest. If you are a yoga teacher this would be an opportune time to practice ‘holding’. If you practice feng shui, you might want to look around your house and identify what has NOT changed in a long time. Start to change it.

Regardless,

Let’s envision,

together,

peace,

health,

harmony,

for all.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi……………………….

Time to rest…..

Out with the old, In with the new……………

Sometimes ‘trauma’ is not a result from our current life’s history. Stored cellular memory is retained in the deepest part of our brain, probably the medulla. The remnants of these old memories get carried on to the next life, and the next, and the next. If we didn’t have this, we’d have to re-learn how to walk, etc. instead of simply re-membering how to walk. Many of the things we do ‘unconsciously’and automatically are a result of stored memory patterns from ancient times. Scientists have proven this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
So consider just how much of your body is doing it’s job beyond your conscious awareness.

For instance, what’s your digestive system doing right Now? Can you control it or change it? And, which particular hormone is being passed around to the neuro-receptors, etc.?

The bad news is that your physical body is still responding in the ways that it learned from the time of wild animals and no tools. I’m referring here to the automatic stress response that works the same way today as it did in caveman days.

Karma could also be described as old behavioural patterns specific to the individual that are also retained somewhere in our being. Whether or not they’re in the brain is irrelevant for this discussion. And, whether or not these behavioural patterns get carried over from lifetime to lifetime is also irrelevant for this discussion.

Yoga Nidra , an ancient technique that has stood the test of time, falls under the heading of Pratyahara; the practices that seek to bring more awareness & consciousness to our senses. (The yogic philosophy is inherently rich and juicy on the subject of the senses.) When we reduce the amount of sensory input we become quieter, calmer, and more internally focused. At this point the physical body begins to relax and release long held tensions.

When we practice Yoga Nidra using a sankalpa (intention) formulated to reduce negative karma we are setting the stage for increased freedom and vitality. The best part is that you don’t have to understand any of this. It just happens. Releasing old karmic patterning is like cutting the roots off a dying plant. Without the roots, there’s no chance that the plant can come back. When we release and/or fulfill old karma, we create a space for new things to happen.

Sign me up.

Neptune, Yoga Nidra @ 9:10 pm………

It’s time to rest & let the higher mind take over for a while. This body is tired.

Go here for more information on Yoga Nidra

Time to rest……………..

Tonite I’ll be facilitating another Yoga Nidra experience. If you’ve never tried this yogic practice I highly recommend you find a local teacher and do it! It requires very little from you. Just lie down, breathe, and listen closely to what the teacher is saying. The practice falls under the heading of ‘pratyahara’ or sensory withdrawal and the benefits are amazing.

Yoga Nidra means yogic sleep and it has had profound effects on those that practice it. Check it out…..or check back here for more information tomorrow. I’ll let you know how the participants do.