Veils between the Bardo Realms ~ Samhain 2010

✫ The light from just one candle dispels darkness ✫ ☾☉~♥~☉☽✫

While the shadowy Scorpio ♏ Sun & Venus & Mercury conjoin asteroid Vesta, Goddess of the Hearth, there is a flicker of light in everyone's heart that can be kept aglow, to illuminate a sometimes hidden but precious treasure, that of sacred sexuality, love & faith. 

Vesta is the Goddess of the eternal flame, a virgin goddess with many priviledges: she could even release a prisoner condemed to death, her influence so respected. Vesta bestows warmth, purity, and prosperity for the earth.

Hymn to Vesta
Homeric 

Come, Vesta,
To live in this beautiful home.
Come with warm feelings of friendship.
Bring your intelligence,
Your energy and your passion
To join us with your goodwill.
Burn brightly at my hearth.
Burn always in my soul.
You are welcome here.
I remember you.  

Spirit Sun conjuncts Vestal virgin on the 8th of November. 

Vesta now also makes her second of three timely conjunctions to Venus during her current cycle around the Sun, magnifying Goddess power:

Her 1st was a vow of Virgoan purity ♍ which took place during August's Cardinal cross of the Spiritual Sun. The 2nd is happening now (end of Oct), in Scorpio ♏, highlighting intimate & shared values. And the 3rd is at the end of February in Capricorn ♑, to be mindful of accomplishments. 

From one candle we can light many more...

As we approach all Hallow's Eve, the veils between the bardo realms begin to thin; dynamic and fiery Mars moves into Sagittarius ♐ (also a fire sign), adding impetus to dispel the darkness of ignorance and honour wisdom's light ~ so all beings can be happy. 

The going can get tough during this time of rebirth and deep introspection, when letting go of the old and outworn can bring up fragile feelings of desire. But it is by having to face the fear of releasing all that no longer serves do we discover strength and fearlessness. Call on the Goddess Vesta, to keep the inner-flame alight which shines upon that very courage.  

Interestingly, Lha bab Duchen, one of the four most important Buddhist festivals, of a renewed Buddha, is also around this same Scorpionic time when something (or someone) dies in order to be reborn.  In the Buddha's case he, himself, was reborn, as he left his mother behind in the realms of the 33.

AstroNote: Astrological Halloween, marking the water sign Scorpio Sun's fixed intermediate cross-quarter, is Monday the 8th November, a few days after the Scorpio New Moon at . We could therefore deduce that the new Moon, at 4:52 gmt, November the 6th, is our darkest Halloween moment. This is THE time for wizard's spells and witches bonfires that denote a time of rebirth.  A sacrificial offering, a written intention into the votive fire, or scrying into a bowl of water can be the means to a heightened sensitivity into our human obscurations, and enhance the ability to see the usually unseen, into other worlds of ancestors, spirits of the land, even future lives.  

Its also worthy to mention this Pagan festival of life, death and, ultimate renewal, is the first since Paganism was recently recognised as a religion in the United Kingdom. Such nice timing to have a New Year, Samhain, only weeks after being brought back into Establishment's fold! :-) 

So both traditions, Celtic Pagan AND Buddhism, now point to an time of intense transformation. We just have to make sure to keep the intention pure and bear in mind the witches old rule: what we put out comes back thrice fold. Which is a bit like having a day of multiplied karma. 

Now, to light my sparklers and scribe a wish in the night sky¸.•¨¯`•☆٠.·..·¨*☀!

♥_/\_ૐ Many thanks to Romio Shrestha for his extraordinarily beautiful painting of Yama holding the Wheel of Life ♥ & Bill Burns for his wonderful Celtic Buddhist Mandala ♥ & to Tenpa-la for butterlamp photo.  ♥_/\_ૐ

Sun-Venus-Earth = Rose Heart ♥

Sun-Venus-Earth = Rose Heart ♥

This is the celestial mandala of VENUS, the LOVE Goddess ♥~☼~♥

It takes 8 years for the Earth, Venus, and the Sun to create one round of this beautiful five-petal Sky Rose. From the geocentric, earthly point of view, when Venus is at inferior conjunction - during her retrograde phase - she reaches the tip of a petal. Each petal takes approximately 20 months to trace in the sky.

When aligned with the Sun, loving Venus basks in the Suns' radiant light of intelligence, illuminating dark thoughts & doubtful feelings. Warming the heart and burning up fear in the transformational fire of LOVE, Venus symbolises all that we cherish. Although we cannot see her at this retrograde point, as she is hidden from our Earthly view, we feel her loving vibration: for the 40 days & 40 nights of the retrograde phase, Venus generates unconditional heartfelt LOVE through the Spirit of the Sun into one's SELF; thus her innate need for egoless peace and harmony brings Spirit into balance. ♥

Breathe IN LOVE & expand your HEART ♥

Breathe OUT LOVE & balance your HEART ♥
When your heart is in harmony, so is the Earth's ♥
LOVE flows in a circular movement, each breath going around and around expanding LOVE further out into the universe ¸.•¨¯`•☆٠.•..•¨*☼ ♥

☆ ♥ ☽~ ☼ ~ ☽ ♥ ☆ ♥ ☽~ ☼ ~ ☽ ♥ ☆

Planting the seed of LOVE with a

'tāṃ' the Seed-Syllable (bījākṣāra) of Sita Tārā (Tib. Drolkar སགྲོལ་དྐར)

Invoking the Goddess Tara, I invite the Venusian seed of LOVE to grow with the LIGHT of the Sun within all beings. 

White Tārā Mantra in the Siddhaṃ script:

"oṃ tāre tuttāre ture mama ayūḥ-puṇya-jñāna-puṣṭim kuru svāhā"

I understand in the Tibetan tradition, Tara, whose name means 'Star', is associated with Venus. 

So while Venus is retrograde we need all the self-help we can generate in order to be deeply conscious about the profundity of love, and how we can safely share our most intimate feelings; because when we share love from the heart, we actually empower everyone and everything, including our self. 

☆ ♥ ☽~ ☼ ~ ☽ ♥ ☆

Thanks to Melanie Rheinhart, who sent me the beautiful Rose Mandala many years ago; AnyaLandgard for Tara, and to Visible Mantra on facebook for the beautifully painted Tara seed syllable.  ♥

A 2nd Aries Moon beams the Light of Life ~ Oct '10

The Divine Light of consciousness stimulates head AND heart with a second Full Moon in Aries. This time the Moon will be at 29degrees Aries at 2:36 am (gmd) early Saturday morning. A second Full Moon in any zodiacal sign is a ‘Krishna Moon’ or ‘Christ Moon’ radiating love for all, including self (& this may well be the origination of the ‘Blue Moon’ concept, due to Krishna’s royal colour.).

Only a few days after the Moon in apogee, stretching our Earthly electromagnetism, this full Moon happens to be very powerful.  Once again in Aries the Moon is opposite the Libran Spirit Sun: the spiritual warrior’s sacred heart is balanced with mirror-like wisdom and a certain familiarisation, as both Lights (Sun & Moon) contain within them the various emotional and spiritual experiences since the previous Autumn Equinox Full Aries Moon: thus the ‘Light that Moves to Rest’ reflects ‘The Light of Life’ that shines on a true and loving heart. 

From nought degrees Aries at the Full Equinox Moon, until now at the anaretic degree at the very end of the sign - one entire lunation - the Libra-Aries axis of personal will verses relationship is given a second cosmic focus. The theory is that because we are acquainted with the range of dynamic Aries-Libra expressions: I and we, individual and partnership, assertion-compromise, we are therefore more in tune with these powerful and forward moving energies, able to find a happy balance between the will of action and peaceful dialogue (or not, as the case may be). 

 

Now is the time to balance personal will within relationship needs. Impulsive or irrational feelings could tip the Libran scales.

Much, as always, will depend upon the individual’s connection to these all important Cardinal signs, especially now that taskmaster Saturn is in harmonious Libra, sometimes parading as the Lord of Love who dares to dance with the horned devil (a power-playing ego), while squaring up to Pluto at 3 degrees Capricorn, indicating a formidable, almost painful transformation of authority; and on the opposite side of the sky lie Jupiter and Uranus, stirring up personal, collective and planetary change in a most challenging way.   

This, however tricky the current arrangement of the planets, is an important Moon for Buddhists, as it is the Full Moon when the Lord Buddha agrees to the Deva’s request to descend from the Heavenly Realms of the 33, the Trayatrisma (where he had repaid kindness by teaching his mother), and return to Earth to continue teaching the dharma. In a week’s time, at the last quarter moon on October 30^th, just before Halloween, we celebrate the actual descent, Lhabab Du Chen, as being one of the four most important days in the Buddhist calendar.

This ability to move between spheres is not confined to the Buddha. The Spirit of the Sun is also currently up-close and personal with Venus and communicative Mercury.  When in Scorpio, Mercury acts as mediating psychopomp between the seen and unseen, urging us to be attentive to our thoughts while we shift between our levels of consciousness, so that we can recognise any gems we might discover. Venus retrograde provides a loving kind of insight; and Mars in Scorpio adds probing depth.

Medicine Buddha Moon ~ Libra Sun ☼☀☽ Capricorn Moon

As the Sun passes through Libra, the sign of the scales, finding balance and treading the middle path is our greatest challenge. Libra is an intellectual Air sign. What we now really need to work on is a well-developed mind, to stop ourselves from potentially going to damaging extremes.   

Staying calm with focused breathing helps to let go of drama and rest in our natural equanimity.

Effort is required to maintain this stability, as recent decision making has been burdened with responsibility, leaving some of us feeling like Atlas, with the weight of the world on our shoulders (and desperate for a good massage). Such tension was recently reflected in the heavens as the celestial taskmaster, Saturn, conjoined the Libran Sun, imparting the sense that any move has a direct bearing not just on the immediate future but also upon how situations will develop over the next year, as though we were about to concretise karma.  So finding that delicate Libran poise, whilst mega important, has been fraught because of the endless possibilities that a rattling mind can cleverly envisage – such vision, or course, is laudable.  While vascilating with sometimes ominous and restless thoughts during this airy period does make it more stimulating, it also feeds the unnecessary fear that makes it impossible to settle upon one definite course of action. Thankfully, the wandering planets move away from such difficult aspects: If you have not already taken one particular major task in hand, keeping one’s options open may well be the wisest course of action, at least tomorrow and Friday, the 14^th/15^th, when the first quarter moon sheds more light upon any obstacles to overcome before feeling quite self-satisfied a week later, with the Moon is full in Aries, on the 23^rd October. 

This Medicine Buddha Moon in practical and realistic Capricorn, has an unusally easy healing quality, as it makes very pleasant connections to several important planets, connecting to Mars at home in Scorpio for insightful action, and the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction provides the compassionate overview. Event’s surrounding Thursday’s first quarter Moon could also be key in triumphing over any difficult business or partnership situation too. Which brings me to THE planet in serious astrological focus right now: Venus the planet of loving partnerships, is now in her retrograde phase, going backwards for 40 days and 40 nights.  Queen of the skies, Venus, is the ruler of Libra (where the Sun currently is); and she is now passing through sexy Scorpio, encouraging us to maintain a sympathetic heart while we delve into the deepest parts of our soul, to discover an acute kind of intuitive acumen that heightens psychic ability and activates the power of transformation. Come here to read a more in depth article on this passage of Venus through Scorpio.

The Geocentric Sun Saturn Mandala

♥ Our new Libra moon moved quickly (and thankfuly) away from the Sun and Saturn into Scorpio to continue growing into what is already a very strong lunation (marked by toxic floods & the Earth Mother's blood red sludge in Hungary).

♥ This Saturday the Moon conjuncts the Scorpionic Venus & Mars to reveal insight and passion through some kind of inherent hidden memory: have we been here before? And what can we learn from such profoundly felt emotions? There may be no obvious answers to how we are feeling right now; but as soon as the Sun and Mercury leave Saturn's orb by the end of next week, the 17th Oct, clarity of mind becomes apparent (over an issue possibly related to Sept 3rd)

above is a mandala illustrating the Sun-Saturn cycle from the Geocentric p.o.v. = Talk about bringing things to a head!. This rather tough conjunction - full of karmic connections - will soon be out of orb; so while some might have made further commitment (to relationship/fairness/balance), others will have fulfilled their karma. ♥

♥ Many astrologers do not share my love of wider orbs, up to 15 degrees with a conjunction of the Sun and Moon.  But over the years I have come to realise that planets in conjunction are times of concentration and focus, and conjunctions, especially with Saturn, need time before the seed energy sown at dark moon (a day or so before the new moon) takes hold. So as this Sun Saturn begins to wane, be like the image in the mandala, put down roots to sway in the Libran breeze, all the while remaining stable and strong. ♥

LOVE conquers ALL ♥ New Libra Moon 2010

♥ New Moon 14Libra at 19:44 bst --> LOVE ~ PEACE & UNITY

♥ Being human, we need someone to talk to, hold, and most of all, LOVE.

♥ So while the new Moon is in Libra, the sign of the heart in harmony, it's time to look at the way we relate: Partnerships, in relationship and business, now call for fairness, committment AND passion.

♥ And by some Divine twist of fate, the planets are also now in sharing mode, all currently operating in pairs: Spirit Sun with Soulful Moon; Loving Venus with macho Mars (in deeply magnetic Scorpio); communicative Mercury with karmic Saturn (weighing heavy on thoughts & speech); transformational Pluto with Earth mother Ceres; Healing Chiron with dreamy Neptune; expansive Jupiter with visionary Uranus. Get the picture? The heavens are saying that we’re meant to be working with another (or other part of ourself) to create a partnership on an even keel, however that might work, be it sexual or spiritual, romantic or business. Now is the time of healing, reality and togetherness. Bring every possible positive aspect of self to the fore; and cosy up with someone or something you love that stimulates wholeness: a person, book or hot-water bottle!

♥ While BALANCE is the cosmic order of the day, the aligning Mercury Saturn also means we need to encourage a mind of healing, and watch negative thinking by being diciplined and nippping it in the bud right away. We can do that by making a commitment (i.e. setting the intention) to attain the clear mind (of enlightenment) without fear or desire clouding our view or judgement.

♥ Of course, that's the theory. ;) But Saturn is practical, and if we can just stop ourelves from just once spiralling into a black hole over the next few days, we create a clearer connection to our own spiriutal light. And practice makes perfect. (Shamatha) Calm abiding meditation is the key today.

♥ Note that unless we are in a complete state of trust, there is no need to reveal everything we want, feel or think, to those who have yet to show unconditional friendship. Indeed, we may to hold back from confrontation, in order to understand emotional fears.

♥ Remember that LOVE conquers ALL things: let us too surrender to love ♥