✴️ All change! 4 planets change direction for the start of the Wood Horse Year!

Hooray! Mercury, planet of information and communication, goes forward today, 28th February, just in time for Losar, the Tibetan New Year of the Wood Horse. In these past few weeks, Mercury has perhaps even revealed how a bit of distance and reorganisation, coupled with a change of attitude has garnered help to visualise the dream and overcome (emotional) problems. At the same time dynamic Mars stations in the heavens to go retrograde (which is does every two years and two months) and concentrate upon the Libran qualities of peace and love. For the next three months (until May 20th), the challenge for Mars in Libra is to mediate rather than take up arms in any kind of conflict. The Libran Mars (remember Summer 2012) accents that the pen is mightier than the sword, and the need for justice when working with others and forming alliances, especially those which can help conquer feeling helplessness in situations/relationships where we perceive we have no control. The old adage “Two heads may be better than one” may prove rather effective in generating the enthusiasm to create some kind of power/fiscal/emotional balance.

The two personal planets, Mercury & Mars, are not the only ones changing direction: Jupiter, the celestial pantheon’s Grand Duke is also making a second of three hits to squaring Uranus, the planet of change, all-the-while preparing to go forward at 10Cancer, Wednesday the 5th March – only two days after the end of the protector Dön period leading up to Losar (and beyond). So even though things might seem at a standstill for the Year of the Horse, there will undoubtedly be noticeable movement from this date.


Lord of Karma, Saturn, also changes direction to go retrograde on Monday! For almost 5 months, Saturn going backwards in Scorpio will no doubt bring up issues of secrecy and trust.

Any changes we now see/sense/understand are therefore a clarion call to partake in the evolution of humanity in this dynamic year of the Wood Horse during a Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun. Those with planets around 9-12 degrees water signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces; and those with planets at 25-29 Air may astutely feel these winds of change blowing in his or her direction and feel compelled to respond and act upon critical collective issues, and bring about positive transformation compassionately, so that each individual can contribute to the greater good of the whole, aiding all beings seen and unseen.

☼ ☽ ¸¸.•*¨*•☆
If you would like to know how these changes of direction constellate your horoscope, I’m giving special rates during the Losar month ~> please contact me for rates.
With thanks for sharing to ShadRaja for this wonderful cosmic windhorse! _/\_

☾ Dark Aquarian Moon ~> Feb 28th '14

The New Tibetan/Himalayan Year of the Green Wood Horse is almost here! Before it begins with Losar’s magical karma multiplied month of healing miracles (after the New Pisces Moon Saturday March 1st at 11Pisces (8:08UT/3amEST)), there’s a dark moon phase to navigate, while the sensitive Moon passes through quirky Aquarius. Be aware: Keep up protection practice; Aquarius is the zodiac’s wild card, which can epitomize eccentrics and sudden change, all of which can open the mind and actually be very liberating. Out of the blue, this Moon in Aquarius can offer a fixed point to move from, as the astral theme of change of New Moon & New Year is also compounded by no less than FOUR planets also switching direction. _/♥\_

ॐ Maha Shivratri Thursday 27th February 2014

Today, Thursday 27th February is Maha Shivratri, honouring Shiva, the Hindu Lord of Creation and Destruction, as he burns up negative karma and partakes in the cyclic cosmic dance of life, death and rebirth (symbolised by the passage of Shiva’s ornamental Moon, from Dark to New). Fasting and calling upon the all-powerful Shiva to protect from the poison encountered when churning up the Milky Way and the great Ocean (of Samsara) Shiva saves from ignorance and desire. Dating from the time of the Vedas, 4000 years ago, Shiva, whose name means ‘The Auspicious One’, also permeates Tibetan Buddhism in the form of Tantric Dharma protector Mahakala, for example - among others. Indeed, Mount Kalaish is revered by Shaivites and Tibetan Buddhists alike as the source of all spiritual power, as well as India’s great rivers. Mt Kalaish is considered the home of Shiva, together with Tibet’s Heruka Chakrasamvara, and a place of pilgrimage for devotees of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jains. Shiva is also patron of the arts and yoga; his symbol is the snake, representing the power of Kundalini as well as the ability to transform base emotion/action/thought into spiritual understanding.

Om Om Om! Om Namo Shivaya! ॐ_/♥\_

Leaving the year of the Black Water Snake, we now shed the last of the snake’s skin, to be renewed and ready to embrace the Green Wood Horse year. ॐ_/♥\_

Happy Maha Shivratri! May all beings be blessed to find a source of creativity energy to transform ignorance into wisdom! ॐ_/♥\_

♆ SUN conjunct oceanic Neptune today (SUNday 23rdFeb). ☼ ♓ ♆

Before the New Year of the Green Wood Horse trots to canter at 'Losar' with next weekend's New Pisces Moon, March 1st/2nd, a last major aspect is made by the Blue Water Snake SUN conjunct oceanic Neptune today (SUNday 23rdFeb). ☼ ♓ ♆

The planet of illusion and dreams, interconnection and compassion, Neptune, is now enthused by Sun’s celestial spotlight, accenting a profound spiritual sensitivity towards the seen and unseen, the inner Divinity and third eye, and that part of self which surrenders unto devotion and visualises the greater good of the whole, without becoming engulfed by the overwhelming.

In esoteric astrology, the Sun ‘veils’ Neptune, meaning that when the Sun (self/ego) is connected to Neptune, it activates the benevolent and generous heart of the Sun, i.e. each individual has ability to embody the Neptunian influence within, as a caring Divinity, as well as tune into collective events/thoughts/projections with greater compassion and empathy.

ॐ_/♥\_ॐ_/♥\_ॐ_/♥\_ Thx to AsianArt.com for Nagini

ღ Tara Moon ~> Sun in Pisces & Moon in Sagittarius ☼ ♓ - ☾ ♐

Today, at the Last Quarter Moon, we honour Goddess Tara, the Great Mother Liberator who quickly helps to overcome obstacles. By channeling the Divine Feminine’s currently pronounced qualities, the Great Compassion for all beings and her far seeing eye, we tap into the ability to engage in difficult situations with loving kindness, able to remain open, detached and positive, even if we witness seemingly unbearable suffering.

This is the last part of a lunation leading from the end of the female Black Water Snake year into the yang New Year of the Green Wood Horse; as such it is one of the darkest moments of the Tibetan Year, called the Dön Season (Feb22nd –March3rd). During this time energy seen and unseen can create problems (internal or external), when relying upon protectors is advisable . Call in the Great Spirit, Angels, Lamas, and Yidams now. ॐ_/♥\_

Tara Mantra ~> "Om Tara Tutare Ture Soha" _/♥\_

❤ Friendship, Love & Unity on a Full Moon V-day! ♥ Feb'14

V is for Valentine, the healing saint who married couples forbidden to wed, and over the years has become a symbol for romantic LOVE. V is also for Venus, Goddess of LOVE hearts and flowers, who presides over relationships.  
Cosmic synchronicity abounds as Friday 14^th February is Valentines’ day, the very same day of the week that Venus governs, Friday.  Not only that, joy of joys, it’s also a Leo Full Moon, the playful sign of LOVE which rules the warm heart.

Ever get the feeling the heavens are asking us to perfect the heart essence and let our natural loving goodness flow? ~> Heart to heart…

“ If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.” ~Pema Chödrön
☆•*¨*•.¸¸❤☾ ☼ ☽❤¸¸.•*¨*•☆☆

Astro-tech ~> Accenting creative self-expression and the glory of the individual Spirit in relation to the greater whole, this Full Valentine Moon is exact at 26 Aquarius (in the decanates ruled by Venus!), at 23:52GMT Friday night (6:52EST).

Spirit Sun and Soulful Moon are also in T-square to karmic Saturn, accenting associations that require networking, patience and strength to overcome issues which block the path to love & freedom. While visionary Aquarius is the light that shines across the world ‘shining light within the darkness, cleansing with healing rays until the darkness is dispelled’, the Leo Moon fires passion and confidence in doing what’s best for all concerned, friends as well as loved ones.  

♥ ☼ ♥ Shine the Love Light ♥ ☼ ♥

A poem ~> ‘Illuminating Light’ from the Upanishads

“There the sun shines not, nor the moon and the stars,
nor the lightning, let alone this earthly fire.
Only when illumining Light shines,
everything else shines;
the self-revealing Light illumines the entire universe.”

△ ♒ ☼ △ ♊ ☾ Sun in Aquarius - Moon in Gemini Feb 9th

The most promising aspect in astrology is the ‘trine’, as 120 degrees between heavenly bodies brings out cosmic gifts and talents. When this aspect takes place between the Sun and Moon before Full Moon it highlights the male, yang attributes; thus Tibetans assign this to the most precious Guru (within), Guru Rinpoche – honouring that which seeks rational clarity and wisdom and the ultimate realisation of the ‘Rainbow Body’.

Today we not only see this beautiful aspect activate the blessings of the teacher, as the intellectual and altruistic Aquarian Sun harmonises with the quick-thinking and versatile Moon in Gemini (made all the more astute as Mercury, Gemini’s ruler is retrograde); but the two ‘Lights’ are also connecting the Mars in Libra forming a ‘Grand Air Trine’. Air encourages an interchange of ideas and enjoys companionship. The position of Mars in this Grand Trine kindles an awareness of the lunar eclipse April 15, and is ripe for the Spiritual Warrior to harness the loving qualities of a balanced heart-mind to interact in a positive manner in all relations, in friendship, and in love.

__/\__ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸✶
“Ultimately, the real guru is inside ourselves: We are our own guru, we are by ourselves. So it’s up to us to walk the path, always. We are born by ourselves in this body, and we will die by ourselves. There will be nobody who will take care of us afterwards in the sense like holding our hands and carrying us. We have to walk the path by ourselves.”

– Tenzin Ösel Hita, from “Teachings from the 45th Kopan Course,” given in 2012 at Kopan Monastery, Nepal

۞ Heal Ourselves & Heal the World ~ Medicine Buddha Moon ~> 6/7th February __/♥\__

A potent Medicine Buddha Moon is now exalted in earthy Taurus. This first quarter Moon proffers a chance to soothe and organise the mind during a wild and windy Aquarian month. This ability to steady and ground oneself is helpful in stabilising meditation, as well as within relationships – especially those valued aspects (of self) which are in final phase of a powerful transformation.

In tight aspect to the Water Bearer, the waxing Taurus Moon highlights the good things in life which help us heal: food, flowers, and friends. By honouring simple pleasures shared with loved ones or effortlessly savoured alone, the boost to the immune system and recovery that occurs when happiness abounds is enormous. And even one moment of restorative awareness, caught and congratulated, can be goodness multiplied when dedicated to benefit of all beings.

__/♥\__With versatile Mercury going retrograde today, and Venus just having come out of retrograde, plus Mars now in the shadow phase of its’ retrograde on March 1st, the personal relationship planets are certainly gyrating in the heavens. Even the most solid alignments can swivel and turn (in the nicest possible way) to change direction, goal or intention, which is why it’s important to now hold one’s space and get comfortable within one’s own skin (as best we can) during this first quarter Moon phase; because the planets of rapport and affinity are currently keeping everyone alert to evolving within the variable creative tension that naturally arises between interconnecting loved Ones and friends, family and colleagues. En route to the Valentine’s Full Moon, the trick is to now nourish the soul and make LOVE healing, sweet and wholesome.

“Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease” Hippocrates

LOSAR 2141 ~> March 2nd 2014 _/♥\_

Before Mercury goes retrograde on Thursday, 6th February, the celestial courier reminds me to clarify, as best I can, why the beginning of the Tibetan New Year of the Green Wood Horse 2141, LOSAR is, according to the most widely used Tibetan Calendar, March 2nd, which, by cosmic coincidence, is also around the time that Mercury also goes forward at 18 Aquarius ((28th Feb) and Mars goes retrograde (more on the scarlet planet in due course)).

But just as the Horse year canters into action, it appears there’s some confusion about this year’s date for Losar. This is mainly due to several factors – not least the different schools calculating calendars in Tibetan astro-science. The two main calendar systems are Tsurbu (Kagyu) and Phugpha (Galugpa). These two sects generally agree on the starting date for Losar; this year, however, the (older) Tsurbu system calculated 31st Jan as the start of the New Year Losar, corresponding with the Chinese New Year and some Tamang in Nepal. But according to the (newer) Phugpha calendar and to Dalai Lama’s official office, His Holiness - and therefore most other Himalayan Buddhists - will celebrate Losar March 2nd. So don't put away your best party outfit too soon, but get ready to ‘Tashi Delek’ once again March 2nd!

This business of which New Year to celebrate (or align with) is also further complicated as Tibetan astro-science also employs various methods of astrology, Kartsi, Nagsi & Bön elemental; as such, there are even THREE major ‘New Year’s’, two of which are lunar (Elemental & Losar) and one solar (Kalachakra), with the Lunar Losar being the most important as most Tibetans even count his or her age from the Losar of their birth; nearly everyone also celebrates their birthday at Losar (birthdays are generally not acclaimed in the same way we do in the West), making Losar a truly shared experience.

With four planets in fun-loving Leo, I personally raise a toast and blow the horn to all of these dates, and will also happily include Western New Year’s, Solstice & Halloween, as well as Spring Equinox into life’s festivities. Though from the western astrological view point of view, I find it fascinating that Chinese New Year is always Aquarian, accenting noble intention, but with a totalitarian caution; while Tibetan Losar can float between the fixed Water Bearer and the more fluid and sympathetic sign of the Fishes. Oceanic Pisces also appertains to humanities’ collective vastness, so symbolic of the Buddhist ‘Sea of Samsara’ and the different realms of existence, that I find it fitting, somehow, that Tibet’s New Year is often celebrated at the beginning of a Pisces Lunation by a culture whose spiritual leader’s name, Dalai Lama, means ‘Great Ocean of Wisdom’. Indeed, isn’t such wisdom to be revered, as we course through all life’s passages, planting and growing the seeds of compassion?

And so, in this promising and dynamic year of the Green Wood Horse, I wish health & happiness, insight & understanding, whichever Losar or New Year you celebrate! Losar Tashi Delek ~> with Light Blessings! _/♥\_

With love thanks to _/♥\_  the Jonang tradition for Green Wood Horse illustration.

☉ ♒ ☼ Imbolc ~ & Mercury Retrograde ♓ ☿ ♆ ☽

Feb 1st ~> Astro-Flash! We are now midway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Winter is almost over. And planet Mercury is currently applying to a Mercury Retrograde phase, which is just around the celestial corner on Feb 6th! Mercury is currently in dreamy, oceanic Pisces – today with Neptune/Chiron AND the Moon, highlighting each individual’s spiritual connection to holistic healing ~> _/♥\_ ♓ ☿ ♆ ☽

During its retrograde Mercury will swish the fish, about turn and high-tail all the way back to 18Aquarius, to re-join and/or re-organise one’s position, as well as reignite hopes and re-consider wishes. At its best, Mercury in this situation awakens altruistic intention to generate Bodhicitta and relieve both collective and individual suffering; at its worst, Mercury caught retrograding between these signs can succumb to feelings of confusion, nihilistic hopelessness and victimisation, prone to baffling mysticism, spouting dictatorial intellectual nonsense.

The key to clarity during this period is to utilise the combined Pisces-Aquarius ability to visualise a positive view, through meditation and cooperation, and welcome flashes of insight and innovation. Mentally prepare to re-work, re-do and rethink outside the box, and find exciting alternatives for certain projects, ideas or plans, especially those pertaining to team-work and avoid being any kind of fall guy when dealing with professionals. Look also to 3Pisces and see which area of your horoscope now commands forgiveness and compassion and unfailing patience, possibly until the Spring Equinox, acknowledging that loving kindness is the only option. __/♥\__

☉ ♒ ☼ The few days between now and the start of Mercury Retrograde on Thursday also embrace Imbolc, or Candlemas, which is the Aquarian Fixed Solar Fire Festival, also known as Brigitte’s day, to honour the Goddess of Light, patron of poets, crafts and smiths. Bride Wheels are made (similar to Tibetan ‘Doh’), to symbolise the turning of the Cosmic Sun Wheel and protect from fire. This is also a time for weather divination (by watching badgers and snakes), and reflecting upon dreams, made all the more poignant by Mercury’s current connection to the out-of-this-world Pisces planets. __/♥\__ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸♥✶

With thanks to unknown artist for cosmic connection _/♥\_