❤❤❤ Maha Saraswati Basant Pancham Valentine _/\_ ❤❤❤

❀❤❀With the growing light of the Losar Moon, today in the Indian and Himalayan tradition, this fifth day of the ‘fixed Air cross’ Aquarian lunation, is ‘Basant Panchami’, honouring Saraswati, the Goddess of music, art and wisdom _/\_  <3 Saraswati is the great Goddess who boosts intelligence and cultural understanding; she presides over a day this year (2016) when the dynamic Aries Moon is conjunct Uranus, inspiring newness and change; while the radiant Sun is square to Mars (applying into his retrograde shadow phase). Scarlet Mars also rules Aries. The challenge is to therefore create, not destroy. This combination of ‘Lights’ (Sun & Moon) also suggests making adjustments to projects already on the go may be surprisingly illuminating. That said, anything radically innovative has the blessings of the Sacred Goddess.  Yet as Mars is retrograde throughout the spring to early summer, best be prepared to rework and re-do whatever is being generated now.
❀❤❀ May the blessings of the Goddess abound, and be especially sweet for Valentine weekend! Om Aim Namah॥_/\_  ❀ ❤ ❀
Fyi: Mars retrograde 18 April @8Sagittarius --> 30 June @23 Scorpio; Mars can also now be seen in the early evening sky.
Thanks with love to unknown thangka painter for beautiful Nepali Saraswati _/\_  ❀❤❀

New Libra Moon ~> Oct 2012

Change is now very much in the air. The leaves are turning colour and falling – slowly (in northern hemisphere), and tomorrow’s new Libra Moon (at 13:02 British Summer time, 8:02EST) highlights the need for LOVE and a peaceful heart-mind in the midst of continued transformation, as well as a realistic view and practical plan in order to concretise dreams.

Luckily, dynamic Mars, currently in soul-se

eking Sagittarius, prompts our Spiritual Warrior into action. The scarlet planet makes spectacular celestial aspects in this fresh quest for truth, respect, and freedom; now separating from a confrontation with nebulous Neptune, clouds of confusion could even be lifting – though the intensity of concerns persists. Yet with personal responsibility accepted, authority riven veils may also lift to reveal a crack of light in the darkness. The way is thus clearing for potential growth (difficult, slow and rewarding) and/or quick-change (much easier, especially when seen as part of a long-term process).

At the same time as tomorrow’s new moon (at 22 degrees Libra) – which holds a mixed celestial message of loving kindness and harmony through special insight and responsible engagement – fiery Mars forms an intense but helpful trine (120 degrees) aspect to awakening Uranus; this, (due to Mars being the ruler of Aries, the sign in which Uranus currently resides) is a particularly strong connection that instills bravery and rallies competition, be that with self or others. Passions may therefore also be quick to rise throughout this dark and new Moon phase.

It’s a wise Spiritual Warrior who now implements self-initiated change within one’s own personality and lifestyle, anticipating compromise in relations to others before getting too hot under the Martian collar. Best bear in mind how anger wipes out any hard-earned points in the karmic merit bank, and know there is strength to be gained as mindful self-improvement makes for an altruistic heart.

The collective higher mind is currently evolving by transmuting selfishness into selflessness; tap into this mind set and it will be surprisingly easier to experience connectivity, co-operation, and spiritual liberation. Alice A. Bailey refers to the energy surrounding a Libra moon such as this as the opportunity to "escape from opposing forces at the midway point between the source and the goal", which is the point of balance and beauty.

If you think this new moon is a good time to have an astrology reading and discover your own point of balance and beauty, please check my blog for rates.

image by Catherine Nelson

The Centaur & the Caduceus --> New Moon in Sagittarius December 2010

Today’s new Sagittarius Moon, the 5^th December, at 17:36 gmt, is a signal to lift our metaphorical archer’s bow and direct the quivering arrow to fly high through the sky, like a thoughtful prayer with wings that carry hope, optimism, and the next big idea. The Archer is a brave and bright, forward-looking sign, able to envision the best to come. As a fire sign, it directs light as a beam of focused intent; being mutable Sagittarius illuminates the path, enabling one to move towards a target’s centre by adjusting when needed. 

As many planets now in Sagittarius suggest hitting the mark in one, there are always more targets in the distance for the far-sighted centaur, who eyes the centre of galaxy. While dynamic Mars, strategic Pallas Athena, soulful Moon, Spirit Sun and sacred Vesta are together in this sign, it also suggests we make a plan (the likes of which will differ for everyone, according to where 14Sagittarius lies in the horoscope) and remain hopeful.  

In many ways this December presents a defining moment, primarily because the destiny-fulfilling North Node is with transformational Pluto and communicative Mercury in practical Capricorn, to also make the first of three conjunctions on Monday, the 6^th, due to Mercury’s imminent retrograde on the 10^th December – (No crying over missed Xmas cards or presents – you have been warned!).  On the same day, at the start of the week, Uranus, the planet of dramatic change goes forward. 

Best make a note that powerful Pluto conjuncts Mercury, planet of communication, on the 6^th, 14^th, and again on the 18^th January; this union suggests that practical insight is the key to manifesting long-held ambitions. Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn bring about a serious kind of wisdom and mind control.  As Nagarjuna says in an 1800 year old 'one-liner' “Without the discipline of guarding the mind, what use are other disciplines?”

Mercury in retrograde at 5 Capricorn also sparks off this year’s mega cardinal T-Square once again, reminding us of that greater challenge: to find the balance between autonomy and relationships, security and status.  During this Mercurial phase not only will we have the power to manifest, mould, and create by focusing with the light of wisdom to become one with the target (as Mercury slips back into Sagittarius for the Solstice Lunar Eclipse), but we might also need to be the objective observer and make several attempts to achieve goals, as this Mercury back-flip indicates. 

As always, multi-faceted-multi-talented-multi-tasking Mercury is always on the go; and this retrograde sees the planet of versatility and curiosity extra busy, in triple contact with quite a few planets: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. This could therefore make the run up to Solstice, the New Year and beyond mighty hectic, sifting through all kinds of information and ideas to implement solutions – indeed, certain discussions may not see any resolve until the end of Feb. One thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment with Mercury as active as this.

Mercury is also the planet of healing. With that in mind, as this new moon is working towards a culmination at Solstice, with a partial Lunar Eclipse pointing towards the galactic centre, conjunct Mercury, Pallas Athene and Mars, it is essential to maintain faith and keep feet on the ground whilst our lights, the Sun and Moon, male and female energies align with the galactic vortex. To my mind this is an important time to activate the internal caduceus, Mercury’s healing wand, and gather in circle to meditate and raise our vibration to that of unconditional love so that we can create a subtle but powerful light body - one that mirrors the beautiful violet light gamma ray of our galaxy, which interestingly looks like a mega purple infinite 8!

Veils between the Bardo Realms ~ Samhain 2010

✫ The light from just one candle dispels darkness ✫ ☾☉~♥~☉☽✫

While the shadowy Scorpio ♏ Sun & Venus & Mercury conjoin asteroid Vesta, Goddess of the Hearth, there is a flicker of light in everyone's heart that can be kept aglow, to illuminate a sometimes hidden but precious treasure, that of sacred sexuality, love & faith. 

Vesta is the Goddess of the eternal flame, a virgin goddess with many priviledges: she could even release a prisoner condemed to death, her influence so respected. Vesta bestows warmth, purity, and prosperity for the earth.

Hymn to Vesta
Homeric 

Come, Vesta,
To live in this beautiful home.
Come with warm feelings of friendship.
Bring your intelligence,
Your energy and your passion
To join us with your goodwill.
Burn brightly at my hearth.
Burn always in my soul.
You are welcome here.
I remember you.  

Spirit Sun conjuncts Vestal virgin on the 8th of November. 

Vesta now also makes her second of three timely conjunctions to Venus during her current cycle around the Sun, magnifying Goddess power:

Her 1st was a vow of Virgoan purity ♍ which took place during August's Cardinal cross of the Spiritual Sun. The 2nd is happening now (end of Oct), in Scorpio ♏, highlighting intimate & shared values. And the 3rd is at the end of February in Capricorn ♑, to be mindful of accomplishments. 

From one candle we can light many more...

As we approach all Hallow's Eve, the veils between the bardo realms begin to thin; dynamic and fiery Mars moves into Sagittarius ♐ (also a fire sign), adding impetus to dispel the darkness of ignorance and honour wisdom's light ~ so all beings can be happy. 

The going can get tough during this time of rebirth and deep introspection, when letting go of the old and outworn can bring up fragile feelings of desire. But it is by having to face the fear of releasing all that no longer serves do we discover strength and fearlessness. Call on the Goddess Vesta, to keep the inner-flame alight which shines upon that very courage.  

Interestingly, Lha bab Duchen, one of the four most important Buddhist festivals, of a renewed Buddha, is also around this same Scorpionic time when something (or someone) dies in order to be reborn.  In the Buddha's case he, himself, was reborn, as he left his mother behind in the realms of the 33.

AstroNote: Astrological Halloween, marking the water sign Scorpio Sun's fixed intermediate cross-quarter, is Monday the 8th November, a few days after the Scorpio New Moon at . We could therefore deduce that the new Moon, at 4:52 gmt, November the 6th, is our darkest Halloween moment. This is THE time for wizard's spells and witches bonfires that denote a time of rebirth.  A sacrificial offering, a written intention into the votive fire, or scrying into a bowl of water can be the means to a heightened sensitivity into our human obscurations, and enhance the ability to see the usually unseen, into other worlds of ancestors, spirits of the land, even future lives.  

Its also worthy to mention this Pagan festival of life, death and, ultimate renewal, is the first since Paganism was recently recognised as a religion in the United Kingdom. Such nice timing to have a New Year, Samhain, only weeks after being brought back into Establishment's fold! :-) 

So both traditions, Celtic Pagan AND Buddhism, now point to an time of intense transformation. We just have to make sure to keep the intention pure and bear in mind the witches old rule: what we put out comes back thrice fold. Which is a bit like having a day of multiplied karma. 

Now, to light my sparklers and scribe a wish in the night sky¸.•¨¯`•☆٠.·..·¨*☀!

♥_/\_ૐ Many thanks to Romio Shrestha for his extraordinarily beautiful painting of Yama holding the Wheel of Life ♥ & Bill Burns for his wonderful Celtic Buddhist Mandala ♥ & to Tenpa-la for butterlamp photo.  ♥_/\_ૐ