Sunday 27 May 2018

Saka Dawa Earth Dog Year 2018

Full Moon in Sagittarius 2018 ~ Tuesday 29th May @14:20UT
 ~~ Enlightened Mind ~~
Celebrating the birth, enlightenment and paranirvana of the historical Buddha, this Full Moon is called ‘Sagadawa’ or ‘Saka Dawa’ in the Himalyan Buddhist tradition. In Tibetan astrology Saka means ‘Star’ and ‘Dawa’ means Moon, ’Star Moon’. _/\_ Saka Dawa is the most important sacred day of the Buddhist Calendar; today is therefore optimum to engage in virtuous activities and spiritual practice. Karma is further multiplied x 100billion
 
Whenever the Full Moon is in fiery Sagittarius – as it is at 8°10’ Sagittarius, Tuesday 29th May @14:19, adventure inspires and exploration beckons. Travel is therefore nicely starred. With a Full Moon in Sagittarius opposite the Gemini Sun, the quest is one of enquiry directed inwards to discover how ideas stir and stimulate the breadth and depth of the world of feeling and emotion – and all the wonder that beholds within. While it is always helpful to cultivate the Sagittarian open mind that keeps worries and woes at bay, it’s also good to remember how the Sagittarian centaur is also half-man, half-horse, meaning the top half of the centaur represents the human brain, while the bottom half symbolises animal instincts.

While the Moon traverses the sign of the Centaur, those already with a predilection for passionate escapade can spend hours trying to unite brains and beauty with the drives of the internal beast, using prized intellect to overcome, integrate, and make sense of animalistic longing. Sagittarius is actually a mythical four-legged archer with horse-power for stamina and the ability to be extremely lucky. The Centaur is a skilled rider on the move, at one with his steed, armed with a bow and arrow.

Whenever you see Asian Oriental deities holding a bow and arrow, particularly Buddhist deities, it is the bow that is usually held in the left ‘wisdom’ hand, while the arrow is held in the ‘method-of-compassion’ right hand. This hand pairing of wisdom and compassion therefore propels one towards a life using ‘skilful means’ from an ethical point of view. From the astrological point of view the bow and arrow symbolises the high-flying analytical mind, with grand ideas aiming beyond the stratosphere.

It’s clear a free-roaming and spontaneous Centaur requires the freedom and free-will and independence to explore humanity’s higher ideals through theories and beliefs. No one ever got enlightened through concepts, but to celebrate academic and abstract ideas that revere the human connection with the natural world, gives life greater spiritual meaning.

So the temptation is to now saddle-up while the Moon is in the sign of the Centaur, leave troubles behind without a care in the world and gallop off into the far-horizon: casual, relaxed and brave. With a spacious mind, the Moon in Sagittarius will also focus upon those feelings which inspire confidence. When searching for answers – and the truth, the Moon Sagittarius will experience different cultures, different philosophies and even different gods, all the while adapting vessels into which one can pour faith, hope and charity. Anything foreign appeals to the Moon in Sagittarius: the more exotic and bizarre, the more it fascinates. A fiery Sagittarius Moon literally hungers for veracity and the freedom to spiritually grow.

During the Sagittarian Full Moon it’s the wise, however, who accepts inspiration and divinity are already within – aware that looking outside for enlightened intelligence to magically come and solve all life problems is unrealistic and only offers false expectation. That said; this Sagittarian Full Moon opposite the Gemini Sun culminates less than two degrees away from Fixed Star, Antares, indicating success and power comes from a discerning kind of insight. Be aware this placement also comes with a celestial warning. The Royal Star Antares demands focus and concentration for clarity to manifest. It also stresses how important it is not to become swamped in drama or crisis, as that could stymie you in your tracks. Take note: a few hours immediately following culmination, the Moon conjuncts a bright red star, Antares, offering a conceivable Eureka moment, when brilliance is also matched in the heavens.   

In point of fact, the horoscope for this May Full Moon of the Earth Dog has many amazing planetary patterns, such as two ‘Grand Trines’ and a ‘Finger of God’, that make this one of the more astrologically intricate charts of the year, like a diamond sparkling with many facets, each with their own heavenly hue.  
So much so, the potential for falling for glamour and getting lost in shimmy and sparkle – even in a fun, frivolous way, can lose sight of the bigger picture. So with this most fiery Full Moon watch out for getting burnt by the metaphoric hot sauce, or should that be ‘hot source’ ;) !

Astrological highlights & the Full Moon’s various facets and aspects:

    1) Jupiter is the planet which rules this fiery Sagittarian Moon. Jupiter leads the planets in a ‘Locomotive’ shaped astral map of this Full Moon. Generous Jupiter is the also a spiritual master that provides the correct view – even going backwards. Now retrograde motion in Scorpio, Jupiter is currently revisiting issues to do with trust, control and power. But interestingly, and maybe because Jupiter is also the planet of hope, Jupiter is now conjunct a fixed star called Zuben Elgenubi – a star portending positive social reform. This influence will stay for the next few months – until the end of August. We put faith into this astral Full Moon aspiration. 

    2 )   When we include sextiles thrown from both the 8° Sun and Moon Gemini and Sagittarius to the Leo-Aquarius Lunar Nodes (North & South), we see a ‘Mystic Rectangle’ = Practical magic with creative inclusivity.   

      3) TWO GRAND TRINES!!! = an almost Merkaba, double tetrahedron, with the two Grand Trines being Fire & Water. Yin water AND fire yang.  …Things might get steamy! 

The dynamics of a fiery Full Moon Grand Fire trine include the self-directed, destiny-fulfilling Leo North Node; stabilised trine again by Shamanic Shapeshifter, Chiron – the asteroid recently moved into self-orientated Aries. Chiron is currently conjunct fixed star Mirach, indicating a harmonious self-healing. Take note: this is a quick fleeting association, only lasting until the Moon is full.  

The Grand Water Trine is currently dominant and longer lasting, shifting in and out of intensity until the July Full Moon. Currently involving Love Goddess Venus, in homebody Cancer; with expansive Jupiter in intense Scorpio; and oceanic Neptune in Pisces: all bound together spiralling in a triangular wave of emotion in fluid motion. A Grand Water Trine reveals spiritual and karmic mysteries, as well as how people are easily influenced. Over the next eight weeks, the heavens will continue to grace us with this currently tight triangle formation. 

Jupiter in Scorpio, plus Neptune in Pisces, encourages us to be in our flow. Whether cash, love or ideas, being in one’s flow also means keeping an open mind and making changes when necessary. Being in your flow also means that if there’s a block, you innately sense ways to go around it; similarly, if there’s a hole, know there’s a way to go through it, even if that requires planning and patience. And if something is not clear, remember there are ways to clarify – and giving yourself space is one of the easiest ways to do so.. 

Its worth mentioning that the trine from Jupiter in Scorpio to Neptune in Pisces is perhaps one of the most favourable aspects of 2018, as it grows the ability to touch base with the psyche and subconscious, with lucid dream for instance, or at least present the potential for an awareness of the dream and the dream-body – and the ultimate reminder that all life is an illusion.  The dates of influence are Dec 3rd 2017 -> May 25th August 19th 2018.
    
   4)  Mutable T-Square = Hard and challenging changes present an opportunity for the mutable signs LOVE WISDOM to emanate.
Moon in Sagittarius =  ‘I KNOW’ the vastness of the soul
Sun in Gemini = ‘I THINK’ with the alacrity of Spirit
Neptune in Pisces = ‘I BELIEVE’ in the magic of the dream, and the compassion of the human Spirit.

5) A karmic ‘Yod’ aka ‘the Finger of God’ or ‘Finger of Fate’ with the Gemini Sun sextile the future-beckoning North Node, in creative Leo; with both NN & Sun honing 150 °to karmic Saturn, to pin point the pressure for future karmic responsibility. 

Lastly, I wanted to note Mars retrograde for the coming months, and the square it now makes in this chart with Uranus. As Mars is a warrior planet it’s good to be aware that we have already had this year a slew of really difficult Mars aspects, rattling potential danger, most recently from past (collective, fanatical and weird) disputes – perceived or real. How we handle Mars, in often quickly developing moments is key to the heart at peace, especially among our mates and kindred spirits. This year we have already witnessed a couple of really challenging planetary connections including Mars; in chronological order: starting with martial Mars conjunct karmic Saturn (2nd April) ; followed by the intensely combative Mars conjunct transformational Pluto (26th April); and from now, and throughout the Summer, Mars conjuncts the karmic what-you-bring-from-past-lives, South Node, in Aquarius, also making a harmonious ‘sextile’ to the Sagittarian Full Moon, and a boon-giving ‘Trine’ to brilliant Gemini Sun. This is not necessarily an easy aspect, however, and over the years I have witnessed attacks from restless ruffians during this aspect. So please take good care. In the ‘highest sense, for Mars in Aquairus the challenge is to be actively altruistic; at its most base watch-out for nutcases with old grudge matches . Also, seeing as Aquarius rules technology, there could also be a wave of cyber-attacks (as has happened to beloved C*I*A facebook page getting hacked and hijacked). We would really like the page back in Agent 12’s control – asap!

This is Astro Dakini, signing off for another lunation... 

“Whoever has done harmful actions but later covers them up with good is like the moon which, freed from clouds, lights up the world.”  Gautama Buddha
 
With thanks for Image of Avaloketisvara to Himalyan Art Resources https://www.himalayanart.org/items/40

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