☽ New Moon in Moon-ruled Cancer ♋ 15th/16th July 2015 ~>

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Tonight/Tomorrow’s New Moon in Cancer @2:25BST (21:25EST) accents deeply emotional reactions to issues that can make one feel defensive and want to crawl back into the proverbial crab shell. There's also a tendency to be impressionable, absorbing other's emotions easily. Psychic interconnection heightens when Sun and Moon are in Cancer - all of which may or may not be a good thing, depending upon how this profound sensitivity to others is used.

Sun & Moon, ‘The Lights’, are also making a several complex connections in the sky, involving a helpful aspect to karmic Saturn, as well as being conjunct both, informative Mercury and dynamic Mars; these 'relationship' planets are also in Cancer, sparking off a potential new and passionate way of communicating how one cares, which is hopefully with creativity and kindness (perhaps even in reaction to all the heavier degradation we see around). And even though some interactions may raise the temperature, the trick is to catch any anger, or resentement and redirect any hot-headed passion (encountered or generated) into creative pursuits that make everyone feel secure.

All these planets in Cancer can also bring out a mothering instinct that kicks into action to relieve suffering, show mercy, and nurture and look after others as if they were family. This is the way of ‘The Bodhisattva’, a person who defers Buddhahood in preference to being a source of unconditional love, for all beings – not just human beings.

This New Moon also sparks the infamous 7-hit Uranus-Pluto square (the vibration of which lingers into 2018), which has been representing society’s radical changes, through technology (among other things). Our own ability to be the agent of our own change and exercise compassionate in any given situation may seem like a lot to ask for, but the heavens do tend to incline and not compel.

Lastly, this lunation also sees one of the year's most important Buddhist Wheel-Turning days, Chökhor Düchen, on the 20th July. , The 4th day of the 6th month in the Tibetan Calendar, is a karma-mulitplied day, commemorating the Buddha’s first teaching on ‘The Four Nobel Truths’. It is also when The Lights make their first positive aspect to each other enroute to a heart-healing Full Blue moon, July 31st.

Thanks to unknown artist for artwork of Kwan Yin, 'The One who Hears the Cries of the World' _/♡\_

☽ Sun in Cancer – Last Quarter Moon in Aries ~> ‘mutual reception’

Goddess Tara – Medicine Buddha Moon _/✿\_

Sun in Cancer – Last Quarter Moon in Aries

Due to an astrological association called ‘mutual reception’, this often tense combination of ‘The Lights’, at the Last Quarter Moon phase, can now actually work rather well. This is because both Sun and Moon are in signs in which the other is strengthened, i.e. the Sun is exalted in Aries and the Moon rules Cancer.

Goddess Tara now blesses this specific astral arrangement which enhances bravery as well as confidence, so that even unusually stressful conditions can quickly be resolved with courage and conviction. Also, as the hyper-sensitive Moon is currently conjunct Uranus, the planet of sudden surprise, events and ideas benefit from original thinking, uniquely outside any box. An impulsive quick change could easily lead to innovation – yet patience is still called for, especially when dealing with group situations, friends and technology. And as the Cancerian Sun also conjuncts Mars (the ruler of Aries) it’s compounds the momentum to make things happen, hopefully without becoming so self-absorbed that it kills empathy. Be aware that eradicating selfish elements (particularly within ones’ self) requires continual awareness, as well as tolerance, loving kindness, and repeated good intentions (so that one becomes familiar with raising the altruistic intention by doing what is best for everyone); and that catching ones’ self before frustration, resentment or anger takes over because others aren’t moving fast enough, or doing what we want, involves clear and objective self-awareness – and practice. For the spiritual warrior, each time we stop the mind from wandering into dangerous territory, where accumulated positive karma is wiped-out by anger in nanosecond, it's a victory towards liberation. Embrace such freedom now: there is no time like the present to increase compassion in action! 

°˖✧◝( ◠‿◠ )◜✧˖° Tara Mantra ~> Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha _/\_

✶ Grand Water trine ~ July 2013

▼ Now the summer’s 'Grand Earth Trine' begins to stabilize the ‘Grand Sextile’, as the elements Earth and Water highlight the management of resources and material ambition, as well as clarifying the flow of deep and powerful emotion.

▼ At the same time a second Grand Water Trine also begins its long-lasting constellation (until mid-September), with development between the magical Piscean Shaman, Chiron, aspecting our destiny-fulfilling North Node, presently in Scorpio; together they form a powerful triangle with a brief conjunction between Mercury & Mars, in Cancer. While this 'Grand Water Trine’s' latter two planets encourage a stream of care and active communication, the basis of the Water triangle is firmly upon renewing resources that purify obscuration and generate spiritual healing. Insight into and about previously untapped realms requires constant compassion.

Warrior Mars is weak at the moment, in its position of fall, and with fleet-footed Mercury, is often depicted as rushing and careless, where speed can become a form of aggression (which we saw yesterday (July 25th) with dangerous consequences and the train crash at Saintiago de Compostelle, one of Europe's most important places of Christian pilgrimage). Best learn the lesson: proceed with caution, tread lightly and leave a small footprint; and still aim for emotional regeneration. _/▼\_ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸✶

Prayers for all lost lives and their families _/♥\_

Crowning Leo Glory ~> Full Moon in Aquarius 2011

A mega blast of cosmic energy roared from the Leo Sun King marking wild this week. The triple series of solar flares peaked with an X-flare on Tuesday the 9^th August at 8:05UT. Solar flares hurl highly-charged particles and plasma into the solar system. These fierce coronal mass ejections impact upon Earth through a variety of means, from the weather to communication satellites; the flare on Tuesday (Mar’s day) was thankfully not directed head-on towards Earth, yet there are still strong vibrations; and the sensitive found it hard to sleep, with little appetite, feeling listless. This particular set of flares are symbolic of our spiritual progress and being able to familiarise oneself with the ability to remain centred during the purification process which encourages the Leo crown (chakra) to shine.  

The Sun is exalted in Leo, so events are dramatic, and often fun. Though this past week has been ‘marred’, literally, with Mars igniting volatile inflamitory issues through the challenging square to Uranus in Aries, i.e. the economic downgrades for U.S. & France, and of course, the "England riots", which shocked everyone by the speed at which they spread (and I don’t think one can blame social media, I saw many posts that encouraged people to stay home and safe). Mars is hot, fiery and implusive, as is Aries. Uranus however, will reveal any instability, whereas Mars ignites the tinder-box. Mars is also in a detrimental position throughout August (in homey Cancer, as well as being ‘unruly’ out-of-bounds). Mars also aggravates anger; it is well documented that people lose their ability to think straight when angry. Rioting is therefore a lose-lose situation - all the more reason to follow the Buddha’s advice and practice being calm. Yet with Mars' opposition to powerful but secretive Pluto (square Uranus), has brought a challenging and often polarising emotional and economic roller-coasters to ride, from the depths of dispair and up again to envisioning the confident future - as well as bringing previously hidden ufo files, to surface. I love ufology and am endlessly fascinated by what’s hidden in space (of course from the Buddhist pov, there is no-space:)). But still, my relative inclination is towards spiritual esoterica.  

Esoterically speaking, it might interest you to know how the Sun works on three levels - a bit like a sand-mandala, with its’ triple layered meaning: physical (body), heart (speech) and Spirit (the wisdom mind). There are also times when each of the Sun’s different qualities are activated. We are now in a long period of coming to understand the Spiritual wisdom-mind, a mind that has been stirring the heart-mind with varying intensity since the summer solstice 2010.

During this time of accelerated Spiritual development, we are learning to go beyond the political mundane events we see around us, and elevate our consciousness so that when confronted by difficult situations we remain clear and lucid.  

The Full Moon at 20 degrees of Aquarius on Saturday August 13^th, at 19:57bst, we have the opportunity to connect to kindred spirits, and raise that loving vibration, to generate the altruistic intention the Aquarian brotherhood of humankind symbolises.

Planet Venus is also currently up-close and very personal with the Sun (exact conjunction on 16th) and opposing the Moon, indicating the importance of LOVE. So let's look at how we love: INTERpersonal describes relationships between you and another. INTRApersonal describes self-love - which is very poignant during a superior conjunction of the Sun and Venus. Can you honestly say, with hand on heart, that you love all of yourself? During this time when Spirit Sun is with Venus planet of values, respect and love, learning to love oneself, ghastly bits and all, is paramount, in order to transform the very same negative aspects. That which we condemn or deny are the most difficult to transform.

Acceptance encourages the healing magic.

As we say in Buddhism, when we learn to love one's own demons - jealousy, anger, greed etc, they stop eating at us or destroying in the same destructive way - and, more often than not, they disappear.

To be dedicated to LOVE is to be dedicated to evolution of the human SPIRIT.

Personally I am going to be with my most precious guru, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama over this full Moon ~> holding you in my prayers and sending Lama love your way :) _/|\_