Wood Sheep SakaDawa 2015 ~> Guru Rinpoche Day_/\_

☼ △ ☾ A glowing Luna beautifully reflects the light of Spirit Sun, which is also now growing into its illuminating magnificence; SakaDawa Full Moon in Sagittarius celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and paranirvana, is on Tuesday 2nd June. Before then, the current Gemini Sun, Mercury, Mars conjunction continually stimulates the mind (great time to train the mind with lojong and/or mindfulness); as the ability to understand and act upon the ‘right view’ is greatly enhanced by resting on centre, and finding balance by talking things through with others, and generally airing questions, thoughts and information that can be put into action.

☼ △ ☾ In good aspect to the Moon in Libra, which is conjunct the destiny-fulfilling North Node, ‘The Lights’ now presents a wonderful turning point, towards the light, towards love, beauty and harmony as a mainstay of relationships.

☼ △ ☾This configuration on Guru Rinpoche day suggests the relationship is one between teacher and student, Guru and chela is almost ‘fated’, as though one were ‘meant’ to have a soul contract in splendour and devotion. Today, therefore, is a day to cherish those relationships from which we learn.

Image with thanks & ℒℴѵℯ_/✿\_ to the brilliant Karma Phunstok

Mercury retrograde ~ Change is inevitable

Change is inevitable. Or as Heraclitus says "Change is the only constant". Understanding impermanence and that nothing is ‘fixed’ but everything is subject to alteration is essential in Buddhist philosophy. But it’s when and how we change, especially breaking out of negative patters or restrictive molds that can make all the difference to our emotional, mental and physical well-being. With the current retro Mercury and Mars in Gemini, the time now is ripe to re-think, re-work, re-consider changes, in direction, in approach, and even in the deepest recesses of the heart-mind, as the planets suggest the plasticity of the mind is now heightened, particularly by personal active intervention and continuous movement. Indeed, it may be time now to (re)consider new ways of looking at the same old thing, or even walking down another street to get a completely different point of view...
Here's a wonderful poem, often spoken by Sogyal Rinpoche, to illustrate how we change, and how habits can be broken and life improves with practiced mindfulness:

“Autobiography In Five Chapters

1) I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost... I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

2) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I'm in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

3) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in... it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

4) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.”

by Portia Nelson
From: Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Image with thanks & ℒℴѵℯ_/✿\_ to the brilliant Karma Phunstok

☸ Holy month of SakaDawa 2015 - Medicine Buddha Moon

☸ During the holy month of SakaDawa, honouring Buddha's birth, enlightenment and paranirvana, according to one of the Tibetan calendars (there are several), this lunation's Medicine Buddha Moon is when Buddha Shakyamuni was born. 

☼⚥☾Associated with health and wellbeing, today’s First Quarter Medicine Moon in Virgo has a magnified healing quality encouraging heart-mind, body and soul to be nourished with positive routine, healthy thoughts and diet, enough sleep and dutiful service: these are ordinary ways to find beauty therapy, love medicine, and joyful remedy.  

☼⚥☾With awareness flow moment to moment in ease and simplicity: There are planetary configurations generating heat and wind over water – a tight and tense ‘T’ square with Spirit Sun and dynamic Mars with a double whammy Mercury in Gemini retro (Virgo Moon ruler) blowing hot and fast, stirring emotions, strumming memories; Tame the tiger now, to veer from anger, resentment or desire, and relax into the bigger issue of compassion for all beings floundering in this Neptune in Pisces Samsaric sea, and perfect the positive healing qualities,  integrating wisdom and compassion.  ॐ_/♥\_

  

“May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes,
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its causes,
May all sentient beings never be separated from bliss without suffering,
May all sentient beings be in equanimity, free of bias, attachment and anger.”

To make a connection to Medicine Buddha, mantra is  “TAYATHA OM BEKANZE BEKANZE MAHA BEKANZE RADZA SAMUGATHE SOHA” _/\_

P.S.: You don’t need initiation to say this mantra and feel healing effects. :) _/\_

Medicine Buddha image from Kagyu Rintchen Tcheu Ling, with thanks _/✿\_

New Moon in Taurus & Fixed Star Algol

“Life begins with love, is maintained with love, and ends with love. Right now, while we are alive, is the time to practice and express love. So please take care of your love. Love is capable of reaching so many people.” ~Tsoknyi Rinpoche

A New Moon at 26Taurus @ 5:12bst Monday, 18th May, is ruled by Love Goddess Venus, Taurus is an earth sign, where a New Moon in the sign of the Bull suggests there’s a greater stability to be found in all we truly cherish: love and nourishment, as well as finances and shelter. Please, Goddess, let it be so, especially in Nepal, as well as the rest of the world.

This New Moon sees the start of SakaDawa, the ’Star Month’ which culminates with a Full Moon June 2nd, when Himalayan Buddhists honour Buddha’s life, death and enlightenment. Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment in the ‘Earth-touching’ position, seated under the (Taurus ruled) Bodhi Tree. “The great 20th-century Vedantin sage, Ramana Maharshi said the Earth is in a constant state of dhyana (meditative absorption). The Buddha's earth-witness mudra (hand position), as in the shown illustration, is a beautiful example of "embodied cognition." His posture and gesture embody unshakeable self-realization. He does not ask heavenly beings for assistance. Instead, without using any words, the Buddha calls on the Earth, by touching it with his right hand, to bear witness.”* Note now, that this New Moon also coincides with quicksilver Mercury slowing down to go retrograde until June 11th. Time now to remodel outmoded thinking. As this lunation begins, we can begin to review, and renew the way we communicate about subjects we care about. And like the enlightened Buddha, bear witness to the value to life, all the while reorganising and re-training the mind to awaken compassion and loving kindness. 

At the 26^th degree of Taurus, Sun and New Moon conjunct (on the 18^th May) a challenging fixed star called Algol, which represents the ‘Gorgon’s Head’, the snake-hair dreadlocked Medusa, whose name originally meant ‘sovereign female wisdom’ **. Fixed stars tend to pinpoint certain intensity: In this case it is a concentrated primal feminine passion which, if obstructed or repressed, severed or feared, has the potential to dramatically harm and turn to stone – or, surprisingly, to heal, when the powerful feminine force is understood and revered.

Interestingly, Medusa in myth is one of three winged gorgons (skydancers!), sometimes shown with fangs and a boar’s head (Vahari!); while Medusa is the central ‘ruler’, the other two are ‘wanderer’ (Moon) and ‘strength’ (Sun). All of which could, in my opinion, be twilight language for awakening Shakti-power through the human subtle body’s three main channels, stirring Kundalini serpent power.

Also fascinating is how blood from the right side of the Gorgon’s head has the power to restore the dead back to life, while that of the left is venomous. This relation to the brains’ two hemispheres (and three channels) is poignant for modern yogis - especially when one considers when heroic Perseus cuts off the Gorgon’s head (i.e. ends his animal passion), it is only for the immortal magical winged horse Pegasus to emerge with his brother Chrysaor, holder of a golden sword.  Also in my opinion, this myth suggests that when we prevent the espression of a powerful sexual energy it can devour us in fear, frozen in time with frustration unresolved and supressed, only to explode more violently at a later date. Better to address these often taboo subjects, that of man’s desire and female sexuality, and release pent-up (sexual) energy in a healthy, beauty honouring manner and heal the feminine within.     

There is also the not-so-small matter of Mercury retrograde in the healing, trickster brother’s home sign, Gemini. Until June 11^th, Mercury wends his way back over old ground (13-4Gemini).  A finger of fate between the retro Mercury and Cosmic Guru, Jupiter, points directly to transformational Pluto, suggesting a dramatic change of mind directly appertains to the healing power of information, and the truth found therein.  

**http://www.skyscript.co.uk/algol.html

With love & thanks to the FPMT for beautiful Shakyamuni Buddha in Earth-touching mudra & to *http://www.ecobuddhism.org/wisdom for inspiriation _/\_ & Ramana Maharishi quote.

☆ •°*☾The Moon: Reflections upon the Soul of the Horoscope☽*°•.☆

☆ •°*☾The Moon: Reflections upon the Soul of the Horoscope☽*°•.☆

As the radiant light of the Sun illustrates Spiritual strengths in the birth chart, so the Moon reflects upon the mysteries of the Soul and all it pertains to in this life, as well as past and future lives. Luna is a magical and restorative, dependable magnifying mirror, amplifying energies of contacting planets and providing regular windows of opportunity within a monthly cycle to align heart-mind and soul. 

In this work/playshop we will explore Soul's cosmic karmic imprints by observing Lunar cycles through astrology’s informative elements, signs, phases of the lunar month and the moon’s nodes. The Lunar placement can also determine which of the three Moon chakras dominates, with gifts or challenges. 

Bring your chart! Together we can reveal and highlight Soul's purpose, your challenges, secrets, and gifts, by synthesising natal sign, phase, and house placement – as well as moon aspects to current transits and progressed lunation cycle. (Or email me to have your chart prepared.) 

Bio: Viewing life through a Buddhist lens, Laura Boomer-Trent is an astrologer with over thirty years of astrological experience. She has an arts background, and is credited with creating, writing and presenting C4’s ‘The Astrology Show’ back in the day...

For maps, directions and address, here's the link to
The Theosophical Society
50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA
Sunday May 10th @14:30
£15, £10 concessions, £7 TS members

Buddha Purnima ~ ☼ ♉ -- ◯ ♏ 3rd/4th May

Buddha Purnima – Wesak - Vesak is the Full Moon (exact tonight/tomorrow morning 4:42BST @14 Scorpio) when much of southern Asia celebrates the birth, death and paranirvana of Gothama Siddartha Buddha. The Himalayan Buddhist community will celebrate the same features during Saka Dawa, the ‘Star Moon’ next month (June 2nd).

☸ Like the Buddha, one can reap now profound insights during this extremely powerful Full Scorpio Moon, which one can apply to maintain a healthy sense of self-worth and emotional stability. Spirit Sun in Taurus encourages us to appreciate what is of value in this life. Whereas the Scorpio Moon imparts an inner sensibility, which intuitively knows when it is time for renewal, and when to let go or ideals, materials and even people that no longer serve the union of spirit and soul, and the part one plays within the soul groups’ contract.

☸ With both Sun and Moon in hard aspect to expansive Jupiter in generous Leo, this tends to magnify any self-made drama so it is essential that we become big-hearted, kind to ourselves and others and generate faith in our optimism. While it is important to harness Jupiter’s ability to view a bigger picture, it is also imperative to be realistic, and keep a close eye upon personal expectations. With Jupiter’s unrestrained nature we can set ourselves up for disappointment if we watch things, people and events come and go without understanding that all is transitory.

☸ This Full Moon is also called 'the Flower Moon'. Buddhists use the symbol of a flower to symbolise life’s fleeting nature: resting one’s gaze upon nature we can appreciate the beauty and joy inherent in all things, yet understanding that beauty fades and dies, only for the seed of consciousness to be reborn, by releasing any propensity to rely upon the material world for fulfilment. Now is the time for the spiritual seed of enlightenment to grow and shine.

With thanks to Visual Alchemy for Beautiful Buddha, & sending ℒℴѵℯ on the moonbeams, especially to everyone in beloved Nepal, where there were 3 more eathquakes today, and renewal is for the future to rise like a phoenix from the ashes, but for many survival is the present. Please give generously: a kind thought, prayer or donation can go a long way.
Thank you, Laura__/❤\__ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸❤✫