☼ Aurora alerts ~>

☼ Aurora alerts ~> Solar winds riding high during this lunation's Last Quarter Tara Moon - a moon cycle that began with celebrating Chökhor Düchen and Buddha's first teachings (of the 4 Noble Truths) now comes to an end with the ability to understand the nature of reality by allowing oneself a pragmatic yet spiritual overview _/♥\_
☼ As the harvest now begins (of healing herbs and food) the nurturing Moon is exalted in the sign Taurus; and the life-giving Sun radiates from its regal domain at the centre of a generous Leonine heart. The Sun is also now at one of eight Solar fire festivals. At the Fixed Fire cross-quarter point of the Sun wheel, the focus is upon the the fruits of our own labour, as well as that of beloved Mother Earth.

☽··✰ Sky dancers can also look forward to the Perseid meteor shower this week, which has already begun and promises to be this year's shooting star attraction! A waning moon heading towards Dark Moon on the 13-14th makes the Green Wood Goat a peak viewing year. Look to the North East and, light pollution notwithstanding, you may well witness a delightful display ☼ ☆•*¨*•.¸¸❤☾
With ℒℴѵℯ _/✿\_ & Thanks for beautiful artwork of Green Tara in the emanation of Compassion by Gill Ripingale ☆
Giving thanks now for the warmhearted love of the Great Goddess (which is in everyone - we all have an intuitive feminine side) _/♥\_
  'Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha'_/♥\_

❤ Final Medicine Buddha Moon of the Horse Year ☼ ☾ January 28th 2015

For the final First Quarter Medicine Buddha Moon of the Horse year, tonight’s exalted Moon in Taurus holds a powerful healing. The combination of Fixed air and earth swiftly connects to the very core of ailments and problems, so they can be managed with love and patience. Even if making sudden, quick change there’s a sense of stability and perseverance that gives value to certain actions which point to cures and remedies.
This year of the Yang Wood Horse has shown us how to be victorious by moving like a lotus rising up and out of the muddy pond, and into spaces that opened-up to light-filled opportunity through our own drive and sense of purpose. And as the Horse year comes to an end, not to be seen again for 60 years, there's bound to even greater development in this increasingly spacy and computerized world the next time this powerful Horse comes around.
Even so, projecting into the future can make one anxious. Aquarius is also a future-orientated sign; and events around this Moon phase can, however, steady frazzled nerves, and encourage one to remain on centre and build upon that which nurtures the heart-mind and soul (particularly important during this Mercury Retrograde period). So prepare now for a dazzling Full Leo Moon on the 3rd Feb, when the heart-mind reigns supreme and altruism is vital to riding the positively exciting planetary élan.
*•.¸(*•.¸❤¸.•*´)¸.•*´
Medicine Buddha Mantra “Tayata Om Bekandze Bekandze Maha Bekandze Radza Samudgate Soha” _/❤\_ ૐ

❤ Tara Moon ~ Medicine Buddha ~> 17th August 2014

Sun in Leo square Last quarter Moon in Taurus…

"With the realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world. According to my own experience, self-confidence is very important. That sort of confidence is not a blind one; it is an awareness of one’s own potential. On that basis, human beings can transform themselves by increasing the good qualities and reducing the negative qualities." ~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama, from 'Dalai Lama's Book of Wisdom'

In astrology, the radiant Sun is symbol of the self, exuding warmth, confidence and courage. The Sun is still currently at home in these last degrees of fiery Leo, so you’d think we could all be shiny, happy people having fun. But during this past week or so, karmic Saturn has made tricky aspects to both Spirit Sun and the sensitive Moon making it feel like we are wading through treacle, slowing us down to focus upon what’s important, especially when trying to move ahead and create dynamic change. This is not to say we cannot manifest the transformations and adjustments we wish, but whenever task master Saturn is prominent, as it is for a while yet (to be conjunct active Mars with the New Virgo Moon August 25th) that we should be patient with tough karmic lessons, appreciating what we learn within each present moment, particularly when working towards goals.

At this last quarter exalted Taurus Moon, the Lights, the Leo Sun & Moon, encourage us to be realistic and return to source. Taurus Moon exalts the Divine Feminine, to unconditionally nurture and build strength and stamina, quietly polishing and stabilizing our inherent and glistening Buddha nature, to positively gleam with the clear light mind.

Thanks to Green Tara, Goddess who quickly removes obstacles and whose mantra is ‘Om Tara Tutare Ture Soha’ _/\_

Please note I’m also now available for astrology consultations; contact me here for rates, with love & thanks.

⊚ Solar Eclipse 9° Taurus ~> April 29th _/✿\_

KARMA MULTIPLIED day (positive or negative)
x 100,000,000 ~> _/♥\_ૐ
The cosmic ring of fire that surrounds the New Taurus Moon SOLar eclipse early Tuesday morning at 7:13am BST (2:13pmEST) is only visible in the remote regions of southern Antarctica. Though a partial eclipse will be seen in Australia, as this feminine and fecund, earthy Taurus Sun Moon Mercury & Earth align with the powerful and karmic Dragon’s tail, otherwise known as ‘Ketu’ or the ‘south node’.

Astrology associates the Dragon’s tail to past-life energy and the often difficult influences/issues/states of mind – kleshas - we bring with us from previous incarnations. Buddhism notes three main kleshas as being attachment (desire), aversion (anger), and ignorance, from whence all our problems in this life, and past and future lives emit. Thus Ketu, currently conjunct and ruled by fiery Mars, retrograde and in fall in Libra, is Karma Control: In union with the sensuous Taurus Sun and Moon, Karma Control emphasizes the need to observe the aggressive desire nature and to be mindful of impulses.

This is a solar eclipse to set a positive intention towards stabilizing the mind to rest in the inner-peace Buddha would do in Earth-Touching mudra meditation. Dynamically balancing delicate beauty within a peaceful heart-mind also takes active training and discipline. Be kind to yourself, remember the Taurean Buddha sat under a tree for years before his enlightenment. Taurus is practical and patient; and when not being indulgent or lazy is currently capable of transforming the most reticent mind into appreciating the richness of Spirit at One with nature, showing loving kindness in every thought, gesture or word - with a love that even stabilizes spiritual devotion and understanding.

Wishing you all good practice, my friends _/\_

With ℒℴѵℯ_/✿\_ & thanks for sharing and special thanks to www.himalayantraders.com for beautiful Buddha with Gold Dragon artwork _/♥\_

Miracles _/♥\_ Day 4 ~> March 5th *•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´

Day 4 ~> A King presented Lord Buddha with offerings, from which Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha created a pool of water with eight infinitely spiraling streams of water. From the sound of the water came Buddha’s manifold teachings, including the eight-fold path and four immeasurables. With this teaching, a multitude were/are blessed with higher states of consciousness and rebirth. _/♥\_

~ ☆ ~ Astrologically today the oceanic Pisces Sun is still with Shaman Chiron; both are making a helpful aspect to the sensitive Moon exalted in stabilising Taurus, who currently conjunct Hygeia, the asteroid of healing. This wonderful combination of ‘The Lights’ (Sun & Moon) encourages emotional and spiritual healing with food, flowers and Earth medicine, as well as through dreams and music and dance and prayer. _/♥\_

Many thanks with love to Bernart Amygdalah for his wonderful flowing Buddha _/♥\_

۞ Heal Ourselves & Heal the World ~ Medicine Buddha Moon ~> 6/7th February __/♥\__

A potent Medicine Buddha Moon is now exalted in earthy Taurus. This first quarter Moon proffers a chance to soothe and organise the mind during a wild and windy Aquarian month. This ability to steady and ground oneself is helpful in stabilising meditation, as well as within relationships – especially those valued aspects (of self) which are in final phase of a powerful transformation.

In tight aspect to the Water Bearer, the waxing Taurus Moon highlights the good things in life which help us heal: food, flowers, and friends. By honouring simple pleasures shared with loved ones or effortlessly savoured alone, the boost to the immune system and recovery that occurs when happiness abounds is enormous. And even one moment of restorative awareness, caught and congratulated, can be goodness multiplied when dedicated to benefit of all beings.

__/♥\__With versatile Mercury going retrograde today, and Venus just having come out of retrograde, plus Mars now in the shadow phase of its’ retrograde on March 1st, the personal relationship planets are certainly gyrating in the heavens. Even the most solid alignments can swivel and turn (in the nicest possible way) to change direction, goal or intention, which is why it’s important to now hold one’s space and get comfortable within one’s own skin (as best we can) during this first quarter Moon phase; because the planets of rapport and affinity are currently keeping everyone alert to evolving within the variable creative tension that naturally arises between interconnecting loved Ones and friends, family and colleagues. En route to the Valentine’s Full Moon, the trick is to now nourish the soul and make LOVE healing, sweet and wholesome.

“Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease” Hippocrates

☼ Autumn Equinox in the North ~ ☯ ~ Spring Equinox in the South ☼ Sept'13

Whether contemplating falling leaves or looking at new green shoots, Equinox marks a moment of inevitable change as Spirit Sun enters Libra, the sign of the scales, on the 22nd September at 20:44UT, and the balance of the ‘light of life’ switches hemispheres. In the north, we embrace the darkened reflective womb of feminine yin, as nights get longer and days shorter. Whereas fiery yang will dominate in the south. But, for these few equinoctial days, as the effects of a Full Moon linger, the heavenly harmony of equal-day and equal night, yin and yang, are in total equilibrium.

Whichever hemisphere you are in, with the sensitive Moon now in sensual, earthy Taurus, this equinox has a very Venusian feel, as both Libra Sun and Taurus Moon share the Goddess of Love, Venus, as ruler.

Venus currently traverses insightful Scorpio together with karmic Saturn. Interestingly, Saturn is Libra’s hierarchical ruler, emphasizing the importance of working partnerships and social relations, as well as developing trust within intimate friendships. This conjunction of Goddess and Time Lord is generally considered testing, particularly as they conjoin the destiny-fulfilling North Node. Commitment, discipline and responsibility are now key transformational factors, especially when applied with tender loving care.

Controlling Saturn’s greatest lesson is to learn how to come from the heart, to love with integrity, to be fair and just - without strings or attachment. It’s worth bearing in mind that if feeling alone or lonely at this time of change, some important and long-lasting relationships can have this realistic yet loving celestial connection. Furthermore, in Scorpio, this celestial rapport intuitively knows who and what offers meaningful support to the profound alchemical process in the transformation of the heart. So if there is change to be made in our personal lives now, it is to surround ourselves with spiritual and like-minded friends, companions who favour awakening to the LOVEly ultimate reality that there is no separateness between 'me' or 'we', and that we are, in fact, pure wholesome bliss.

Happy Equinox _/☯\_ & thanks to unknown artist for lovely seasonal contemplative Buddha.

✶ Sacred Star & Cosmic Cross ☩ ~> August Bank Holiday '13

✶▼△ ☼ Glorious planetary activity shines upon this August bank holiday weekend, with two very rare configurations happening at the same time; both alignments constellate together from the early hours of Sunday morning, 25th August, until the end of the month, creating magical sacred geometry that unifies the heart-mind: The stabilizing focus of the ‘Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun’ provides direction and ambition, stimulating critical spiritual mass to encourage individual awareness to acknowledge the Divine within all things. The longer lasting pattern (until 7th September) is a welcome return of the mystical Six-pointed Star, aka Grand Sextile, the Double Tetrahedron, Merkaba, Star of David, Seal of Solomon (which I’ve written about in depth already).

The difference now is how the Sacred Star involves the illuminating ‘Lights’, Sun & Moon, highlighting feminine elements Water and Earth. As a perfect solar Virgo Goddess makes a wonderful aspect to Luna, exalted in fertile Taurus, this is Goddess power to the max, adding strength, beauty and wisdom within, sequencing subtle psychic sensitivity with a rare celestial empowerment that can at once activate deeply felt compassion and loving kindness, with the practical ability to remain grounded in peace and LOVE no matter what the circumstance. As His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama says “The more you are motivated by Love, The more Fearless & Free your action will be.”

Have a wonderfully starry end of August! _/♥\_

"Celebrate Unconditional Love & Peace"
╔╗◕‿◕ "Anywhere, anytime
║║╔═╦╦╦═╗ ► without judgement,
║╚╣║║║║╩╣ ► without prejudice
╚═╩═╩═╩═╩ ► without regret.

☼ ✶☽ Goddess in residence ~> Dakini Day

Dakini Day ~> Sun in Cancer & Moon in earthy Taurus _/✿\_
Emphasising the force of nature and the need to nurture, the brilliant and radiant Sun is in sensitive Cancer, with the Moon exalted in sisterly Taurus: This is Goddess power to the max, supporting and celebrating the creative feminine Spirit. With one hand the caring Goddess today gives generously her earthly delights, but with the other she takes and destroys materialistic desire. Traditional Taurean values such as money, bricks and mortar, are shown to mean little if life’s more simple pleasures are ignored, such as being at one with self, friends and family. Today we may even be aware that life’s real treasure is the heart-mind, the essence of which is the realisation that the Goddess lies within. _/♥\_

Artwork is by Charlotte Backman of 'The Goddess Dancing' with thanks_/♥\_

Guru Rinpoche Day _/♥\_ Dec 22 2012

♥¸.•¨¯`•☆٠.•..•¨*☀☽✩☼
Guru Rinpoche Day ~> Solstice feasting continues today by honouring our teachers. With the Winter Solstice Sun & exalted Moon in stabilising Taurus we celebrate the preservation of the good life: food on the table, shelter over our heads, warm and loving friends, guides and teachers. Though easy to take for granted, not everyone in the world has the sustenance of such life-affirming simple pleasures. Giving thanks now, especially as the new era of ‘Unity Consciousness’ begins to form in the collective heart- mind _/♥\_

Watch the action as La Luna grows in light, heading towards the Full Christmas Moon on the 28th December at 10:21GMT, 7 degrees Cancer. Spirit Sun will be with powerful Pluto in Capricorn, signifying a renewal and TRANSFORMATION of all that no longer serves, be that emotional and/or practical: Great time to renew vows, or make early New Year’s resolutions. You may even notice a dramatic change in attitude towards traditional support systems.

Image is of Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born founder of Tibetan Buddhism, whose mantra is "Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum" _/♥\_ ૐ :)

Last Quarter Taurus Moon ~> Golden Sun in Leo ~> August 9th 2012

With today's last quarter moon, a Tara or Medicine Buddha practice (or indeed any kind of meditation practice) to overcome obstacles and banish negativity, the insight gleaned can have far reaching results. This is because both lights, Sun and Moon, are at home and exalted, respectively. Spirit Sun in his Leo domain encourages a positive focus upon self, while the sensitive Moon in Taurus nurtures, in a very real and caring manner.

With helpful feedback from personal meditative awareness, one can release any sense of worthlessness, to be ready for a confident and generous heart to shine with a new Leo moon on the 17th August.

~ ♥ ~
Homage to you, the golden lady
Whose hand is adorned with a blue lotus,
You are the Lady of the domain of the activities of generosity,
Diligence, simplicity, tranquility, patience and meditation.

Om Tara Tutare Ture Soha _(♥)_

image of Yellow Tara by Nepalsilvercraft ~ with thanks ♥

Medicine Buddha Moon ~ ♉ ~ Jan 2012

☆•*¨*•.¸¸❤☾☼ ☽❤¸¸.•*¨*•☆☆
Today’s MEDICINE BUDDHA MOON is exalted in TAURUS (also the sign of the Buddha’s birth); and with Guru Jupiter as the restorative Moon’s right hand companion, celestial healing properties abound. Good time to connect to (inner) Guru, as well as earth and stabilise ideas, projects AND relationships. Make positive adjustments now and prepare for fulfilment around a very creative full Moon Feb 7th :)) _(♥)_

Seven Magical Sisters & Artemis ~ Taurus Full Moon '10

“Twinkle Twinkle little STAR, how I wonder what you are. Up above the sky so bright, like a diamond in the night.” Everyone, young and old, has smiled and sung this song at some time and marvelled at the starry heavens. And there is one very special cluster of stars which truly fascinate and activate this sense of wonder in more ways than is at first obvious; these are the Pleiades –Seven magical Sisters who shimmer and glitter at the very last degree of Taurus, who are linked to mysticism and power, life and death.

For millennia we humans have known something very special emanates from the Seven Sisters. Mythology abounds with stories of these blue stars: To the Greeks they were Doves; to the Celts they are ‘The Fates’; to the Chinese the ‘Seven Sisters of Industry’; to the Indians they are ‘Seven Mothers’ who judge and wield moon-shaped razors; and to the Egyptians they are Seven Goddesses whom the dead encounter. Through these stars we acknoweldge a portal into another world.

Just by watching these alluring Seven Goddesses we link into a collective cosmic mythology that has captivated our imagination and thereby become a part of historical harmony. In esoteric astrology the Pleiades stimulates the human heart centre, enabling one to relinquish the obsessive desire that Scorpio can often cling to. Scorpio is also associated with transformation through rebirth and renewal; though letting go of all that no longer serves can sometimes be a painful process due to Scorpios’ fixed intensity.

So while the Sun is in Scorpio, still with Vesta igniting the inner flame, and the Full Taurus Moon conjuncts the influential Pleiades on Sunday, the 21^st at 17:27 gmt, the power of love is coupled with the power of renewal.  (Look to 29 degrees Taurus and Scorpio in your chart to see where this renewal is taking place.)   

When planets are found at the last degree of a sign, in astrology we call this degree ‘anaretic’, meaning it has an accumulative effect from having almost completed the passing through of one sign.  It’s as though we have already digested all the qualities of the sign before leaping into the next, and in the case of this Full Moon, when the Sun is in Scorpio and the Moon in Taurus, those consecutive signs are truth-seeking Sagittarius and curious Gemini.  Nonetheless, the issues surrounding this Full Moon are still Taurean (personal values and constancy, love and money) and Scorpio (shared values and strength, intimacy and power). Over this moon we harness Scorpio’s ability to deeply sense our Taurean needs in a heartfelt and protective manner without so much the need for words.  A Moon with the Pleiades can trap, hold, and purify (with wisdom and compassion) any negativity that comes to light via Scorpio’s psychic radar.

The Moon is also our emotional anchor; when full the Moon brings clarity and wisdom; and in Taurus, the Moon is exalted, where we find stability.  In the West she is feminine, a Goddess with many names. At this time of year (in the northern hemisphere), when the leaves on the trees have fallen and the nights are dark we call her Diana, or Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt. Artemis is the bringer of Light, caring for children, women and the environment.  She is often connected to the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades in myth, and being reunited with them over this Full Moon indicates our Goddess energy is once again magnified.  

This gathering of moon maidens and sky dancers creates a dynamic connection, particularly as we are still under the cosmic auspices of the Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun (which resumes an exact formation March 13th 2011).  Alice A. Bailey writes that during the time of a Cardinal Cross, the Pleiades employs both Mercury and Mars as agents working through Gemini AND Sagittarius; so it is interesting how they are now in conjunction in truth-seeking Sagittarius.  This could well be a sign that in order to understand the truth we also need to connect more with our intuitive and feminine sides, creating Shiva-Shakti over this Full Moon.  And from Monday, both Sun and Moon move into these signs, when a greater, yang energy becomes our celestial focus for another month, through which the heart-orientated Pleiades communicates.

Wherever you are during this full Moon, when looking out for the Pleiades with the Moon, take a moment to weather-watch. As over November’s ‘Dark Moon’, in both an ancient Babylonian custom, as well as Tibetan, it is said the during Full Taurus Moon (where the moon is exalted) one can note what might lie ahead in the cold winter months, especially for practical sustenance, as Taurus is an earth sign, symbolic of gardening and crops.

Thanks as always to Bill Brouard,"Artimis" by beloved Susan Seddon-Boulet, and other unknown but much appreciated artists.