• • •( ( (☾ ☼ DARK MOON SOLSTICE ☼ ☽) ) )• • •

“As you breathe in, cherish yourself.
As you breathe out, cherish all Beings.”
~ His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama __/❤\__

June 21st 2017 @4:24UT Sun 0 Cancer Moon 18 Taurus

☼ Our Sun is ‘The Great Illuminator’ and ‘the Spiritual Centre’ which freely radiates warmth, love and light from its’ generous heart. Life on Earth thrives when we have the right proportions of light and warmth: too much light and we are over stimulated; too much heat and we burn. For the spiritual warrior it’s important to recognise the phases, strength – and courage – of the Sun so that we can mindfully tune into the innate healing power that emanates from our central life-giving source - and take cover when too hot

☼ Sun represents our consciousness. In esoteric astrology it is ‘The Light of intelligence’. In the horoscope, the Sun in individual identity, central to one’s being, determining who we are growing into (a process which can take a lifetime), as well as the dominant issues we are managing and learning in this life.

☼ Yang in quality, Sun is also authority, ego, father and boss. At 0 degrees Cancer – Capricorn Sun dertemins a major turning point: right now it begins the longest days in the North, and shortest in the south, before it changes to swap around again. align in your scope to get an idea of what, how and where the world axis activates one’s own inner-authority.

☼ When Sun is at standstill, as it is over Solstice for the next three days it creates a cosmic pause; like 'the gap' in meditation that happens in between our out breath and the in. Solstice is the collective pause. For the practice meditator Solstice could even encourage samahdi. For most of us a Dark Moon Solstice is a time in which we can rest, and gather closely our thoughts, friends and ideas .

☽ With the Dark Moon ending this Saka Dawa lunation, Luna is exalted in Taurus (Buddha’s birth sign), conjunct Venus, also at home in Taurus. As the Queens of the Night meet, Moon & Venus together provide a feminine touch for perfect days – and nights - to reflect and meditate upon that which we value, before the New Moon Saturday 24th makes it a weekend of newness and setting the right intention for healing familial, working, and personal relationships.

HAPPY SOLSTICE!

With love and thanks to all... ☸️💖☸️ 🙏🙏🙏
& to unknown artist for sun-filled Buddha ☀☀☀

☆ •°*☾ ◯☽ *°•.☆ Halloween ~ Diwali Solar Eclipse 0° Scorpio ☆ •°*☾

Pre-eclipse DarkMoon in Libra until Thursday, when the Moon occults the near Halloween 0° Scorpio Sun (@22:57bst), and an incoming tide of emotional and spiritual transformation rides a strong and deep wave. As this New Moon solar eclipse tests how we identify with our passions, which are best observed even when indulging, a new process begins in the way we view obsession and desire, making it easier to see and recognise craving’s nuances, so that we won’t need to get hooked by greed or possessiveness, thereby enabling one to relax within caring, loving relationships (including the relationship we have with our 'self').
☆ •°*☾ ◯☽ *°•.☆ 

On route to the partial SolarEclipse (visible in the US) the sensitive moon in Libra seeks balance, even whilst in the scattering mode of leaves and seeds (depending upon which half of the hemisphere you are in: autumn peaks in the north, spring in the South); Triggering first the ongoing 'Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun' (still in effect until next year), and igniting that Divine spark of inspiration which enables one to walk the noble path of transformation and embrace personal change that also benefits others, La Luna then also occults the still retrograde Mercury for a potentially wiggy reminder that fairness and dialogue (as well as following one’s breath in meditation), are optimum means to discover and connect with innate inner-beauty, as well as the harmonious heart-mind.
☆ •°*☾ ◯☽ *°•.☆
Moments before the Diwali Solar Eclipse, the Moon enters Scorpio to even eclipse Venus. In effect, this heart opening rip in the fabric of space-time is one through which ‘the witness within’ can perceive the universal and profoundly magical healing of the power of love, without getting stuck in any power-play. _/\_

With many thanks to the unknown artist for Autumn Buddha & the Transformational Butterflies _/\_

ૐ Dakini Day! _/♥\_ૐ April 24th ~> onwards to the Solar Eclipse!

April 24th ~> Dakini Day! _/♥\_ૐ With the Goddess always committed to spiritual care, it is during this intense time of the Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun that honoring the Divine Feminine now blesses all enlightened activity.

These last few weeks in April/May have astrally marked a major shift in consciousness, albeit on a deeply subtle level for many. Now the sensitive Moon in Pisces (conjunct Neptune) makes her last strong and sacred aspect to the Taurus Sun, before joining forces with the New Taurus Moon Solar eclipse on Tuesday 29th, to create core stability that aids staying on center during the upcoming solar eclipse and Grand Cross activity. This is a profoundly feminine combination of ‘The Lights’ accenting heartfelt devotion (to helping self to help others). It is worthwhile noting that La Luna makes mainly positive aspects while she transitions through this waning Moon phase. Only on Sunday the 27th does the Dark Aries Moon activate the Grand Cardinal Cross, and the four yang planets indicating the guards of the gates of the four square mandala: Uranus in Aries (east), Jupiter in Cancer (south), Mars in Libra (west) & Pluto in Capricorn (north). The Moon in worldly astrology represents the people; and as the Moon now enters the mandala through the Eastern gate associated with the Year of the Horse, we can all sense something big is happening. And it’s true, with beneficent Jupiter, planet of freedom, truth and expansion also the natural synthesizer of this Cardinal Cross.a natural kind of magic is developing - almost out of the blue. And manifesting Divinity into matter is not just a wistful whim of the imagination, but a dramatic realization that by relaxing into the refuge of the flowering heart, we discover the blessed joy of great delight. _/♥\_ૐ
☒ Please contact me here for rates if you would like an astrological consultation during this Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun. With a big Thank YOU to travelling Alchemy for Red Metatron _/♥\_ૐ with love, Laura

☾ 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_/♥\_

☄ _/♥\_ Dark Moon in Scorpio - Dec1st ♏ ♄ ☽ ☿ ☄ ☉ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸✶

Dark Moon in Scorpio with ISON, Mercury & Saturn - Dec 1st '13
_/♥\_ ♏ ♄ ☽ ☿ ☄ ☉ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸✶
Dark moons are just as much times for sowing the seed as they are for releasing and letting go of old issues and sticky problems - sending them back to void. Because this particular balsamic Moon is conjunct the planet of the mind, Mercury, and karmic Saturn, the planet of limitation and endings, there’s a sense of finality to certain difficult issues (which could have been around for years). And as this weekend’s dark Scorpionic moon phase could trigger profound feelings - fear, loss, hopelessness - bear in mind how even these emotions can now serve as the means for dramatic alchemical transformation, from base ordinary things/ideas/relationship into treasured golden enlightenment.

It’s also worth noting that informative Mercury, disciplined Saturn, and the sensitive Moon are with Comet ISON! Though much is now hidden with the dark Moon, if there is ever a story of life, death and regeneration, it is Comet ISON. Pronounced dead and gone after its perihelion sungraze, ISON reappeared and perhaps may even able to grow its glowing tail once again – we just don’t know yet, as it has still yet to come into view, which it could well do again after the forward-moving New Moon in Sagittarius Dec 2nd/3rd. Though on December 1st, early bird sky dancers will catch the last slither of the Moon, with Mercury & Saturn in the pre-dawn sky – and possibly the comet. This combination of planets and comet is actually an extremely sobering stellium that once again determines the importance of understanding the nature of reality, in order to combat debilitating fears and doubts: that all is ultimately pure love and bliss.

Comets always bring unknown factors from deep space into play. And, in ISON’s case, coming from beyond magical mystical Neptune, its dynamic transformational energy affects us all. Generally speaking comets are not considered to be good omens, as they excite and heat disordered conditions. However, ISON – in whatever state it is in, is still under Sun’s beams, in the ‘crossover’sign between Scorpio & Sagittarius sometimes called the 13th sign, Ophiuchus. This part of the sky is attributed to the teacher of Hippocrates, the healer ‘Asklepius’ who is holding a snake; his staff the symbol of modern medicine.

ISON’s passage becomes doubly symbolic during the year of the Black Water Snake. In Tibetan Buddhism, the snake depicted in the wheel of life is symbolic of hatred, the root emotion to violence and war, when the way of peace is by transforming that angry emotion into compassion for all beings. Remembering also that the third week after enlightenment, Lord Buddha (whose rebirth we recently commemorated, at LhaBab DuChen, only a week ago) was sheltered by the coiled snake energy (Kundalini) of the seven headed snake (in line with seven chakras). Thus, to my mind, the symbology of a Dark Moon touching the tail of Asclepius’ Snake, aligned with the healing brother Mercury, earthy Saturn & ISON, it suggests the importance of global healing, activating Kundalini Earth energy, transforming consciousness and raising the Diving feminine Shakti power to the max.

And December's Venus retrograde dance at Solstice will again teach the importance of Five-Star LOVE ☆☆☆☆☆

Image is of Vajrayogini, the Goddess for degenerate times, as she is the manifestation of ultimate wisdom and compassion, aiding in the transformation of mundane experience into higher levels of spiritual understanding.

✴️ Behind closed doors at the Dark Moon in Scorpio ☾♏ Nov'13

Retrograde Mercury, planet of the mind, and karmic Saturn in Scorpio are enhancing the power of deep introspection; for Scorpio is secretive sign, with the need for privacy when delving into interior of one’s heart-mind; it is often behind closed doors that the most powerful transformations take place.

With the dark moon also going into Scorpio today, there’s already a growing sense of tomorrow’s oncoming Scorpio New Moon Solar Eclipse 3rd November (12:48pmGMT), when we welcome the newly risen Phoenix that rises from the Sun’s ‘Fiery Path’. And as we approach the cosmic union of Sun, Moon and Earth in heavenly alignment, we could also sense the need to raise consciousness so that Spirit can fly like the proverbial reborn Sun bird. But in order to be ready to cross this threshold, from dark to light, we may need to rest and retreat into our own sacred space, to dig deep within and remove obscuration, releasing old and outworn, negative aspects of our psyche and personality.

Now, therefore, is the optimum time to assess, from this day forward, exactly what it is that we wish to be karmically responsible for. In other words, no one else is able to do our practice – we have to do the work ourselves in order to polish the most precious Dharma jewel, so Spirit naturally radiates: When the doors of perception open, infinite LoveLight shines._/♥\_

✴️ Dark Moon Halloween ~> 2013

Some moments are more enchanted and potent than others. At Halloween, when the veil between visible upper and unseen lower worlds is thinnest, mythical skeletons dance across the skies, and witches wing by on Birch tree brooms, it tends towards a magical time that gets deep, edgy, and powerful.  Halloween holds a mystical magic that can transform in a dream-like instant, purely by honoring the ancestors and all that has gone before - and by being ready for a dramatic renewal. And as tonight’s is a Dark Moon Halloween, it’s advisable to call upon our protectors, totems and guides, and all that can help the Spiritual Warrior maintain emotional balance, which is specifically important when crossing the karmic threshold of the fixed and focused New Moon Scorpio Solar Eclipse, November 3rd.

Bear in mind that while we are now at the peak of the on-going 3-year Uranus-Pluto square (more on that tomorrow), astrological Halloween is actually November 7th, when the Sun is at degree where we officially pass through the ‘Via Combusta’, a.k.a. ‘The Fiery Path’, when Spirit rises like a proverbial phoenix out of the ashes. 
All the while we have a myriad of sacred geometry providing anchors for practical magic, and heavenly pointers to where the fates are flying:

The ‘Kite’ formation harnesses a ‘Grand Earth Trine’ stimulating recuperative and regenerative conservation of resources; with the Dragon’s Tail (South Node) implementing the healing energies we bring with us, which can also be used in the future.

A ‘Mystic Rectangle’, made up of only helpful aspects, suggests spiritual stability throughout this eclipse period, until November 8th.

The ‘Finger of God’, pointing to Uranus, planet of awakening altruism for the next couple of days, with the life-giving Sun and destiny-fulfilling North Node (Dragon’s Head), in the sign of renewal and shared assets, joining forces with Mars in Virgo, sign of healing and discernment.  All this suggests many are currently creating intrepid communities, forming Sangha and affinities with kindred spirits, individuals who feel also the need to support others in this time of dramatic change to power structures and resources. 
__/❤\__ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸❤✶

Happy Halloween everyone!
Thanks to unknown artist for Mahakala Dharma protector ~> May all beings be protected from fear and want. _/♥\_

☾ Dark Moon in Gemini ~> June 13

☼☾ Maintaining a quiet mind during this the Dark Moon presents a challenge, as Moon conjuncts active Mars and policymaker Pallas Athena, whilst all in communicative Gemini – the same sign as tomorrow’s new Moon, when our nurturing Moon conjoins Spirit Sun (and expansive Jupiter) at 16:54 BST (11:54EST).

☆ A multi-dextrous Gemini juggles ideas, fact and figures, as well as conveying information, goods, and medicine (and therein lays the gift of the celestial courier). With no less five celestial markers now in Gemini, it suggests we’re on information overload (but still with an inclination towards healing); brains could whir trying to understand a planet involved in seemingly endless chitter-chatter. Yet making sense of the dualistic world now demands different tactics than ordinary number-crunching analysis, especially as energy levels tend to be naturally low at dark Moon. Consider stepping back from the monkey mind to revitalise and strengthen heart and soul, and potentially provide answers to tricky questions. These planets in airy Gemini not only emphasise data and brilliant intelligence, but also the importance of giving the mind much-needed space, to shape new ideas and grow.

When in the still silence of space, mind naturally radiates; and it is in this state that insight naturally arises – which is why watching our breath in meditation is so helpful for personal decision making, as well as generating mindfulness towards others, rooted at One with all that we are.

Also today Neptune, planet of dreams, meditation and unconditional compassion begins a 5-month retrograde in Pisces; this extra-long transit teaches universal forgiveness (among other qualities), internalising kindness and sympathy.

“As you breathe in, cherish yourself.
As you breathe out, cherish all Beings.”
~ His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama  __/❤\__

Thanks to Cameron Grey for his image “The Never-Ending Dreamer”  __/❤\__