ॐ Feb 17th ~> 1st Guru Rinpoche day of the new Fire Monkey Year! _/ ♡ \_

☆ With the radiant Sun in altruistic Aquarius, and the responsive Moon in Gemini, the Lights (Sun and Moon) create an altogether enquiring and intellectual combination, encouraging one to tame this monkey mind, and live life by what is best for everyone. 
☆ On this first Guru Rinpoche day of the Fire Monkey year, it is also good to know that Guru Rinpoche was a real person – and a Monkey; so we honour the memory of Guru Rinpoche, also called Padmasambhava, the ‘Lotus born’, Tibet’s second Buddha, who subdued negative forces and brought Tantra (from India) to Tibet. This also makes a Monkey year extra special for Guru Rinpoche, a Jewel of a Teacher. Connecting now, with body, speech, and mind, to all our most precious teachers, those living, those passed, and those yet to come, also maintains the thread that holds the treasured wisdom together. 
☆ As the Moon grows in light, Chötrul Düchen, the Full Moon Day of Miracles is only a few days away. Note how we also are in a karma multiplied period; goodness applied now could well be quickly rewarded _/♡\_

With ℒℴѵℯ  ॐ__/❀\__ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸❤✫
& many thanks to unknown artist for Guru Rinpoche Thangka, whose teachings bless the sublime inner essence. 

❤ Losar 2143 Year of the Red Fire Monkey

☆ Losar, the Tibetan fortnight of miracles, begins February 8th, with a New Moon at 20 Aquarius, at 14:40gmt, and the 2143 Year of the Red Fire Monkey! Get ready now, as the charming antics of the Wood Goat make way for dynamic, progressive and ingenious, Monkey action!

☆ Two things to note about a Monkey year, one is that Padmasambhava, Tibet’s second Buddha, was a Monkey, with an ability to master everything under the Sun – and Moon. This year is therefore a special year to connect with and honour the great Tantric master; to be confident and gain mastery of the chattering Monkey mind, as did he. In words of precious Guru Rinpoche “Fortunate ones, mingle your mind with the Dharma and the happiness of Buddhahood will manifest within you!”
☆ The second interesting point is how the United States is actually a Fire Monkey (1776), which makes sense when one considers how the quick-thinking Fire Monkey is inventive (if not always cautious), able to swiftly seize the moment to upstage and outshine. All Monkeys strive for improvement with originality and supreme optimism, but the Fire Monkey does it in great self-assured style and with remarkable initiative.
☆ Generally speaking this is a good Year for the Rat, Snake, Sheep. Lucky for Ox, Horse, Monkey. Mixed for Rooster, Dragon. Challenging for Tiger. And fair for Rabbit, Dog, Boar.
Wishing everyone a fortunate, loving and happy New Year of the Fire Monkey
_/❤\_ Losar Tashi Delek! ☆ With many thanks & love _/❤\_

♥ Feb1st _/✿\_ A Cross-Quarter Tara Moon _/|\_ ☾ ☩

In the lead up to the Losar New Moon February 8th @ 14:39gmt, Spirit Sun arrives at the Solar Fixed cross-quarter point in the year that is midway between seasons, winter in the north and summer in the south. These are sacred days in the solar cycles, as light now begins to noticeably grow in the Northern hemisphere. The next Solar marker after this will be at Spring Equinox, in 6 weeks.
In the ancient nature religions this current cross-quarter phase. from 7-15 degrees Aquarius, is variously called Imbolc, the Feast of Torches, or Candlemas or St Briget’s day in the Christian Calendar, honouring feminine qualities of poetry, art and craft, as well as smiths and offering shrines.In esoteric astrology, the Sun in the sign of Aquarius ‘shines the light within the darkness, cleansing with healing rays until the darkness is dispelled’. Thus the pure light Goddess gains greater emphasis as tonight/tomorrow’s last quarter Tara Moon conjuncts fiery Mars (at home in Scorpio). Now is the time to invoke the help of the Great Mother Liberator (Tara and/or Brigitte) to help conquor dark demons and overcome obstacles that might hinder a positive start to the New Moon, when the Tibetan month of miracles, Losar, and a fast-moving year of the Yang Fire Monkey begins. Profoundly transformational action, in the name of art, beauty and culture, now has the potential to take one closer oneness, as well as to more personal goals over the coming days.

With ℒℴѵℯ _/✿\_ blessings ॐ & thanks ♥
Laura _/♥\_

☆ Santa Karma Full Xmas Moon 11:11 ☆☆☆ • • •( ( (☾ ◯☽) ) )• • • ☆☆☆

☆☆☆ • • •( ( (☾ ◯☽) ) )• • • ☆☆☆ Full Xmas Moon in Cancer 11:11ut (-5est) _/❤\_ Reflecting the brilliance of our radiant life-giving Sun, this Full Cancer Moon embraces the practical caring and nurturing Mother luminosity of feminine wisdom (within), to shine a light upon the path ahead for ourselves, as well as others, and into 2016’s year of the Fire Monkey (which begins Feb8th).

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this Full Moon also reveres the long-life Buddha from the pure lands, Amithaba. As such, Christmas is a karma-multiplied day x100. So not only Santa knows when you’re good, today ;) but karmic actions, thoughts and words are also magnified - good or bad. This might sound daunting in the face of Full Moon and friendly family gatherings, but the best way to raise karmic merit is to dedicate all love, kindness and good that we experience to the benefit of others, so that all beings can find happiness. Even if we can’t help to literally look after others, by dedicating all such Christmas Spirit we can still raise the cosmic love vibration and keep it rippling into the new year. Enjoy!

Image is Amitabha Buddha in the centre, with Bodhisattva at each side, each with their Moon halo. With ℒℴѵℯ & best wishes for a beautiful day wherever you are. ॐ__/❤\__ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸❤✫