❂ Fire bird Sakadawa ~> New Moon Gemini _/\_ 25th May 2017 ♊ 🙏

The New Gemini Moon of the Fire Bird Year (20:44BST) is perigee, meaning it is the closest New Moon to Earth of the year, with tides higher than usual - and emotions could also overflow up to three days after the New Moon.

For the Himalayan Buddhist this New Moon is the start of Sakadawa, and a karma multiplied month x100 that gains momentum until the Full Moon June 9th, when karma is multiplied by 100 billion as we celebrate the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Although this sounds delightful in the need to be mindful of action and results, this is also a New Moon with two rather difficult astral signatures within its scope: one is how the Goddess of Love, Venus – now conjunct asteroid Pallas Athena - is bringing out the fearless warrior woman looking for serious change. And as Venus and Pallas square up to Pluto, the secretive planet of control, it puts the feminine archetype into a powerful position, which may or may not work. Successful outcomes depend upon intention and insight.

Another factor to take into account is one of my least favourite transits, that of feisty Mars in opposition (Rx) to taskmaster Saturn. This combination of the two planetary malefics can signify all kinds of hard-hitting bully-boy tactics. And as the Moon connects to this aspect over the weekend, it brings home harsh realities and how much work needs to be done to overcome doubt and fear. We would all do well to take an active responsibility within our various walks of life, so that can we find within the strength to overcome any fear that could stultify positive potential.

Back in the 80’s there used to be a popular phrase that I always found helpful which was ‘feel the fear – but do it anyway’; and Pema Chodron says in her book 'When things fall apart' "Usually we think that brave people have no fear. The truth is that they are intimate with fear. When I was first married, my husband said I was one of the bravest people he knew. When I asked him why, he said because I was a complete coward but went ahead and did things anyhow." So be brave, my friends, as life goes on in its myriad of changes. Thankfully the planets begin to brighten up somewhat towards the middle of next week.
May all our new Moon intentions be helpful, especially to be free from the fear of suffering by the means of enlightened thoughts, words and activity. 🙏🌹

With many thanks for 'Chenrezig, Lord of Compassion', to unknown artist _/\_

☾ 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”  __/❤\__

Solar Eclipse 19° Taurus ~> May 9th/10th _/✿\_

KARMA MULITPLIED dayS x 100,000,000 ~> _/♥\_ૐ
                  ☆~☽☼☾~☆

In the northern hemisphere, Gaia now stirs the senses, spring flowers burst forth as nature performs spontaneous acts of love with new forms and shapes growing quickly day by day; colour, sounds and smells vividly stimulate a curious heart essence to blossom and bloom. In the southern hemisphere a new kind of freshness brings a different vision, beckoning one inward towards an intimate kind of warmth.

And so it is at each monthly conjunction of Sun and Moon, another lunation begins and a sense of the new begins to stir. With Sun and Moon now in fertile Taurus forming a Solar Eclipse on Friday morning at 1:27am BST (8:27pmEST 9thMay), a cosmic kind of consciousness has the potential to ride the celestial waves that flow between Sun-Moon and Earth to nourish body and soul, as well as dramatically innovate and stimulate the mindstream into blissful pristine awareness. Eclipses present a rare moment suspended in time, where the bounty of eternal beauty comes from aligning the dynamic Sun with our reflective Moon and Mother Earth.

It is at this point when the earthy Taurean equanimity of a determined male Sun and bountiful female Moon conjoin (energetically at third eye). In meditation we can create a sacred internal space that opens a powerful portal for magical human realization; worldly concerns can melt away and pale into insignificance. If you are in the Pacific, on a cloudless day you will see the Moon in front of the Sun, surrounded by a golden glow emanating the Sun’s light of intelligence. Wherever we are we can still tune-into and feel this very special phenomenon, when actions, thoughts and words take on a great karmic significance.

This Taurean lunation is the second of three eclipses. The previous was lunar, revealing the importance of letting-go of all that no longer serves, at the same time accepting personal responsibility for personal happiness. The next full moon will be another Lunar Eclipse, on May 25th. It will also be SakaDawa, celebrating Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and Paranirvana. And now we have a Solar eclipse, accenting the light of Spirit being supported either side between these two yin Full Moons. These are potent weeks: While we have the cosmic tools to be mindful of the present, past-life and future life visions can deja-vu.

Yet still we might find the suffering we see around us touches that tender place within. Then we know the transformation of the heart is a personal journey, one that witnesses pain and still remain grounded and centred – engaged in goodness, but not overwhelmed by sadness. With six celestial markers in Taurus, the good life invites us to live more simply: give thanks, eat well, sleep well and practice well_/ ✿\_

Sun & Moon are also conjunct explosive Mars, informative Mercury, AND Pallas Athena, warrior woman strategist, bringing active plans into focus. But seeing as combative Mars is also stirring up action best cover all bases, and at least look at the pros and cons of plan B.

☆~☽☼☾~☆

Thanks to unknown artist for eclipse fractal _/♥\_ૐ

Jupiter Direct ~> Jan'13

Depending upon where Gemini is in your horoscope, all kinds of projects/ideas/relationships/situations now gain greater perspective and protection. Some could even sense growth and/or liberation; as freedom-loving Jupiter begins to go forward in the sign of the twins, boosting the impetus to expand through communication and knowledge. Dualistic Gemini reveals the play of opposites: yin and yang, male and female, creative and receptive; Jupiter here quickly gets to the heart of truth, however easy or difficult that may be to digest and process.

And for the next couple of days the feminine strategist, Pallas Athena, conjuncts Uranus, planet of dramatic change and awareness @5-6-7 Aries; look to this point in your chart to see where intuitive insights now create a surprise change of ideas and/or direction.

If you would like to know how this time of truth constellates within you, I am giving a special Losar rate for the Tibetan New Year of Black Snake, please contact me for details _/♥\_

ૐ _/♥\_ thx to Visual Alchemy for 'Surprise' artwork x

LOSAR ~ TIBETAN New Year 2139 Black Water Dragon ~Feb-22-2012

Best LOSAR wishes to EVERYONE for the TIBETAN NEW YEAR of the WATER DRAGON 2139! _/♥\_ 

New Moon is at 22:35gmt (-5 NY, +5:30 Delhi) in 2 Pisces; Sun and Moon conjunct Neptune, Pallas Athena, Chiron & Mercury all in Pisces indicate that magic is in the air with such an extraordinary heavenly line-up, encouraging one to make a plan to heal the suffering of being a human floundering in the sea of Samsara, to dissolve duality into ONEness and experience Piscean/Neptunian emptiness & bliss _/♥\_ ૐ And maybe even create a miracle by Full Moon on March 8th, the 'Day of Miracles' ♥ 

Although we’ve been asked not to celebrate Losar this year, and to remain in prayer for those who are in Tibet, I still want to bubble up through the Piscean Dragon water and say please do enJOY the spiritual offerings and essential greatness this combination of planets symbolises. 

Essentially there are a great many pointers that indicate that now is the time think in longer cycles, not just where we are in relation to the East’s Black Water Dragon, who is active, passionate and extremely perceptive for a whole solar year; but also our Western Oceanic Neptune is now at home in imaginative Pisces for the next 14 years; and this new way of collective sensing even reverberates with yesterday’s MahaShivratri, the Hindu festival when Shiva dances his creative-destructive cosmic dance, at the same time he saves humanity by drinking the poison which comes about from churning-up the milky universe; this rather selfless and compassionate, Dzogchen action perfectly aligns with current planetary aspirations to save or be rescued.  

With so many planets resonnanting together in the sign of samsara and nirvana, hope and hopelessness, victims and martyrs - especially those who suffer for their spiritual faith - I am also saying a prayer for all those in Tibet – including the Chinese. This currently horrific wave of violence and self-immolation or reactive crackdown is tragic for all concerned.  Yet while both cultures have much in common - and there has to be a 'middle way', I also feel incredibly helpless, as totalitarian commercialism marches upon all indigenous and shamanic beings who live in close harmony to the land and the elements, all over the world.  It is not just Tibet where 'tribals' and 'communities' are threatened and often sacrificed in the name of power. Still, it is still interesting how Tibet and China do share certain development (Much like the English and Irish, i.e. similar, but not quite.). In the calendar there are often have different starting dates for new elemental years. China, and a most of Asia, always celebrate on the Aquarius New Moon. The energy of which indicates an intellectual cool and detached approach to humanity (which also resonates with China’s Moon sign). The Tibetan year shifts between Aquarius, and where it is found more often, in devoted and spiritual Pisces. Maybe this says something about the general population themselves? All food for thought - especially if we consider the difference of being Jupiter ruled, or Saturn ruled, as is New Year for most of the world. 

This year's Losar Pisces Black Water Dragon Neptune Moon is a serious reminder us that our global theme of the moment is the state of our WATER.  To be in the flow: of water, of communication, cash, and cosmic biocognative energy is what the coming decade is all about. Good to note that Pisces's traditional ruler is Jupiter, modern ruler is Neptune, and esoteric ruler is Pluto; in this order it suggests that in the past we grew, at present we dissolve into divinty, and deep down, within the shared psyche, we powerfully transform – a process that takes generations to complete; but once it happens as a race we evolve to become more compassionate and caring, as indicated by the highest vibration of this end of zodiac sign. That’s the theory anyway. We may actually keep on swimming in our own nonsense forevermore, which would also be quite in keeping with Pisces/Neptune & the 12^th House – otherwise known as the Celestial Dustbin, as dear Liz Green calls it!   

:) Me? I prefer the super-subtle but mighty-powerful spiritual evolution that’s on offer and, seeing as Pisces is on my 4th house cusp (and the angles are always very important for transits), I will no doubt see my spiritual foundation grow, dissolve, and surrender into the transformation within the magical and universal unfolding of mystical Neptune in emotional Pisces _/♥\_ ૐ

So, with that..

I wish all beings are happy, that they be free from suffering and that all are liberated from this ocean of Samsara and its pounding waves of old age, birth, sickness and death. _/♥\_ ૐ

_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ_/♥\_ ૐ

Goddesses Venus & Pallas Athena in Capricorn * Feb11

Dakini Day! _/\_♥ 

Only few more days before the six-planet line-up in Pisces for Losar 2011; and Loving GODDESS VENUS is now conjunct PALLAS ATHENE, whose emblems are the OWL and snake. There's been a lot of twit-twooing going down recently, with several divine beings simultaneously posting wise-owls!:) 

As both heavenly Goddesses are in practical and earthy CAPRICORN its time to boost the anti-oxidents and look after body and soul so we can tune into that Capricorn work ethic! :).

Venus also rules flowers and money, so I thought Pallas could share my two Athena coins and an early spring violet _/\_♥

Initiating Life Divine ☾ ☼ ☽ Capricorn New Year Solar Eclipse

A Solar eclipse in Capricorn is about giving form to the spiritual objective; tomorrow morning there is a small and narrow stargate for Earth to connect to the void, when the gates of karma open; and our meditation is to invite the (internal) deity into our life Divine.

Now the moon has passed the point of lunar eclipse, already in Capricorn, we are in a dark moon phase; the responsibility of what lies ahead could seem overwhelming. Don't Worry. Formulate a plan (and allow a year or so materialise) to remain mindful in the present ♥ Karma is also multiplied 100000X

So here we go: 2011! Wow! In with an astro bang! Tuesday the 4^th January, 9:03gmt (time zones), at 13Capricorn ♑ , a Solar Eclipse  stats a new moon lunation, potent with the ability to transform everything that we’d like to be praised and recognised for the work we have achieved. Planet Earth is also perihelion the Sun during this eclipse, so Spirit and Form are cosmically close. At the same time a shower of meteors, the Quadrantids, herald from just below the Big Dipper!

A year that starts with a Solar eclipse, with the North Node also called Rahu, or 'dragon's head', accompanied by strategic Pallas Athena and fiery Mars in earthy Capricorn, suggests there is no time to lose, that we initiate, take action, and make a plan to stabilise so that we have a point to move from.  Personally I would wait until the effects of the eclipse have waned a little, and wait a day before charging headlong into anything - as it might take a day or so to calm down after any potential Sun-Moon-Mars flare up. 

So it’s not just because its winter that we also need to boost the immune system, be that physically, psychologically and psychically, with a very real and practical approach. The Warrior Queen Pallas Athena is our asteroid associated with health, healing, and regeneration, alchemically being able to transform with her serpent wisdom (Kundalini). And while she is currently companion to the Sun and Mars, its time to heavy-up on the anti-oxidents and look after ourselves.

There is another astrological reason for Tuesday being important, due it marking the last and final exact conjunction of the three hits of Jupiter and Uranus. This visionary and expansive conjunction started off with Jupiter conjunct Uranus in June at 0Aries; then around Autumn Equinox last September, when retrograde, they formed another conjunction, in Pisces; this last union, also in the sign of the fish, magnifies uncontrollable flow (of highly charged emotion), change and sudden storms; this can happen individually, as well as in the collective. In Pisces, a mutable water sign, it’s a signal we are possibly feeling overwhelmed by outside forces, feeling swept along with the tide.  How one steering through this last conjunction, which has a sphere of influence all the way until the end of February, will depend of course, where this conjunction lies in the chart.  

Water, however, continues to be a major theme this year, with both Chiron and Neptune to enter in oceanic Pisces in April (which I will go in-depth at a later date.).  Suffice to say we only have to look at how the element Water is a feature of our era: We have Jupiter and Uranus, plus healing Chiron in conjunction with the sea-ruling Neptune in the late degrees of Aquarius, emphasising the entire planet’s water (especially since Uranus and Neptune have been in a sometimes mutual relationship these past 23+ years). With an area the size of Germany & France under water in Queensland, Australia, as well as recent floods in China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Europe, plus the tragic Deepwater incident in the Gulf of Mexico, one quickly understands how the water element is subject to tremendous import, as indicated by these planetary configurations (compounded by the movement of both Chiron and Neptune into Pisces this year).  Water within our body is akin to our emotions; we are made up of 70% water; and our emotions ride the internal waves. When looking at the way the world’s seas, oceans and rivers are behaving, we could also say our own collective emotion is also out-of-whack.  Yet all is not lost, while water cleanses, heals, purifies, Pisces and Neptune are also signs of forgiveness and compassion. This doesn’t mean that we can carry on polluting as we have been, but it does mean we can see the ignorance of humanity’s ways, being able to forgive, then get on with the Spiritual work of World Service: healing, detoxifying, energising the light. Which may well be what this eclipse is all about: initiating a world of spiritual and emotional awareness, so we can absolve ourselves and others (past and present), and concentrate upon a healthier future.   

Having discussed the watery Jupiter-Uranus, this actual eclipse is in solid and earthy Capricorn, which is also about being practical, taking personal responsibility to stabilise emotions - and thoughts, as well as places, business and traditional government.  But because eclipses are pivotal turning points, these powerful earthy eclipses shake us up, bringing the shadow into stark focus. It’s good to remember that underneath the Capricorn Mountain Goat’s sturdiness, a sign of movement into future ventures which require self-discipline, dedication and support, Capricorn also has a scaled fish tail, indicating deep spirituality combined with an intrinsic awareness of the karmic law of cause and effect, which can be used for better or worse.

Capricorn is a no nonsense sign that, like most Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer and Libra) enjoys the spotlight, as it marks the end of darkness and the entrance of the New Light King. These next few days could thus bring about dramatic endings and new light-filled beginnings.  No matter what is happening, at work, at home, on the road, it’s good to stabilise an eclipse moment with Shamatha meditation (calm abiding and watching the breath) before entering into any Kundalini or Chakra work. Those inexperienced with chakra work please do not experiment during an eclipse. Instead rest in your breathing, and allow this time to be an initiation into Spirit.

Bare in mind that the Full Moon on the 19^th Jan is 29 Cancer (the 4^th Full Moon at an Anaretic degree) is the culmination of this eclipse lunation.  Earthy Capricorn and watery Cancer are form and formlessness, and THE signs linked to the Sun and the Moon channels in the body, Ida and Pingala – as well as being the signs that urge souls to incarnate or even, after many incarnations, reach the point of crystalization.  This, therefore, is a time when Spirit can pass through both doors, and is why all the great masters emphasis the need for protection.

I’ve written quite extensively about the way an eclipse functions in the psycho-anatomical-subtle body, so I’ve changed the time-scale of popular posts on the side-bar of the blog; I suggest you read any article with the word ‘eclipse’ in it to get a better handle on how to breathe and meditate through and with this powerful trinity of Sun, Moon and  Earth, spirit, soul and form – light, dark and shadow - Particularly this from our last Solar Eclipse.

The next eclipse, in six months time, will be a set of three (which happens every few years). This will be a summer solstice lunar eclipse on June 15th, related to this winter’s solstice lunar eclipse, when so many planets aligned with the Milky Way’s Galactic Centre. In summer, it will be the Moon at 24 Sagittarius which aligns our emotional centre to the heart of the Galaxy, connecting our heart to the crown chakra.

So stay blessed, dear friend. I’ll be with you in spirit, connecting to the light grid from the wilds of the countryside, before heading back to dear old hometown London, from where the next blog will be posted. ♥

Thanks as always to our beloved Bill Brouard and other unknown but much appreciated artists ♥