☼ 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.

ॐ Virgo Lunation ~ Guru Rinpoche --> Cardinal Cross & Fixed 'T' Square 2013

September 14th ~> Guru Rinpoche
Sun in Virgo - Moon in Capricorn

I was asked today why, according to astrology, these are such challenging times. And this is a really long and involved answer with lots of astro-tech, as there are two very difficult aspects going on at the moment, which involve both Cardinal and Fixed signs (which is 2/3rd of the zodiac), so few escape the planetary energies – apart from the cosmic enlightened ones, of course, who are beyond the influences of the heavens. _/\_

One such difficult aspect is the Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun, which will continue to come and go until 2015/6 with varying intensity (as it has already been doing for the past three years). This highly evolutionary square is rare in its longevity, and involves dynamic, active Cardinal Signs: Assertive Aries with Uranus, planet of awakening as the agent of the square; Sensitive Cancer, with Jupiter, planet of expansion as the synthesising factor; Balancing Libra with messenger Mercury, planet of communication – with the Equinox Sun highlighting the Cardinal Cross at the end of the calendar month; last but not least, responsible Capricorn with transformative Pluto.

At its highest vibration, this square represents a rising Divinity (within). To be honest, this Grand Square with its two oppositions and an enduring hard aspect between two generational planes, Uranus and Pluto, it’s not easy to say the least, as interconnected life can go ‘haywire’ it involves a great deal of personal transformation and spiritual awareness to remain true to self. And every time the Moon hits one of these planets during this incredible Cardinal Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun, we feel deeply the part we are playing in being able to dissolve the veils obscuring our shining and true Buddha nature.

Yet the required spiritual critical mass for Divinity to rise is, to my mind, almost here - if not already reached; as a collective tide turns towards the Divine Feminine, the Goddess balancing the rational of the mechanistic left-brain with the holistic creative right-brain, as well as awakening an intuitive wisdom with loving compassion. Still, the stress created by this realignment, of human with Divine, can be tough with on-going suppression of freedoms. And having a day when relationships falter, or self/others fail to produce, or authority clamps down and/or peer group seems alienating and a seemingly toxic collective upholds mass distraction with toys for celebrity boys (and girls), it’s all the more reason to hold ground, centre up and rest in the natural beauty of the glowing and radiant heart-mind ~> So when the going gets tough, breathe, meditate, slow down, and rise above the negative vibration that can hook the mind into slavish nonsense.

If the Grand Cross isn’t enough, the second aspect is a hard ‘T’ square between relationship-orientated Venus, disciplined Saturn, and the North Node in Scorpio (and by extention the South Node in Taurus) to Mars in Leo, which means fiery Mars has, for the past week or so, be on ‘The Bends’, turning between the dark side of the Moon and happenstance. Which could well feel just as crazy as it sounds! And Mars is still in square to Saturn creating a sensation a bit like wading through treacle, which has an upside, in as much as martial Mars is halted through fear, doubt, or plain realistic assessment (phew!). Note that Mars is akin to the energy of the South Node (logging the kind of energy we bring from previous incarnation or situations), and karmic Saturn is akin to destiny-fulfilling North-Node. So basically the Martial Lion has been wrapped around the Dragons’ Head AND the Dragon’s Tail, caught between coming and going. Now, he is going – straight into the arms of passionate, powerful love.

And as Venus, the planet of love now conjuncts Saturn, a commitment to the transformational power of deep, meaningful love means abandoning power plays of control and domination. So that when Love Goddess Venus squares passionate Warrior Mars at the last quarter moon 27/28th September, it can spark ardour, confidence, and the consciousness to renew and revitalise shared enterprise by following the urge to accomplish brave deeds, with unconditional LOVE conquering anger, hatred and aggression; for in the planetary pantheon Mars only disarms with Venusian charms.

So seeing that today, 14th September, is this lunation’s Guru Rinpoche day, with Sun in healing Virgo, the sign of the perfect and abundant Goddess, in good aspect to the sympathetic Moon in sensible Capricorn, it is more than fitting to ask for blessings and protection (from the Guru within) and discover the ability to overcome obstacles of these difficult aspects, so that all our aspirations can be fulfilled. ॐ_/♥\_

Guru Rinpoche as Medicine Buddha. Guru Rinpoche Mantra ~> "Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Pema Siddhi Hung" _/♥\_

❥ An arrow of blessings ~ Medicine Buddha Moon Sept '13

First Quarter Moon ~ Medicine Buddha ~ Tara Puja __/♥\__

To eat lightly, rest deeply, and work in the healthy service of all sentient beings are the energies of Spirit Sun in physical, earthy, purifying Virgo, the zodiac's healing Goddess. Now the Sun is in square to the Moon in fiery, far-reaching Sagittarius, ‘The Lights’ work with base chakras, keeping feet planted on the ground to remain optimistic when searching for truths which resonate deep within the heart-mind. Tonight’s Sagittarian Medicine Buddha Moon helps direct energy up and beyond, sending out an arrow of blessings. Maintain a sense of adventure when performing the most ordinary activities, and spirits will rise to see the beauty in simple tasks such as cooking, cleaning, or caring for oneself and/or others. So as we head towards the meditative Full Moon in Pisces on the 19th September, sensitivity is heightened to demonstrate compassion and kindness. The Grand Cross of the Central Spiritual Sun is also once activated over the coming days: Being anchored within helps to overcome doubts and fears (especially within relationship), as noted by the Venus and Saturn conjunction riding the destiny-fulfilling North Node on the western horizon at sunset - Such a heavenly sight at this time of major transformation!

Medicine Buddha Mantra "Tayatha Om Bekanze Bekanze MahaBekanze Rasa Samut Gate Soha" __/♥\__

“Hail! Appear, O Healer, O Healer, O Great Healer, O King of Healing! Let the Healing be swift And let the Healing begin!” __/♥\__

Heart-Mind & the Lunar Eclipse November 2012

An intense Venus Saturn conjunction perfects tomorrow in Scorpio. This is karmic love at it's most profound. Fear-based astro-peeps can get quite het-up when they consider a Venus Saturn conjunction, and especially one in Scorpio that conjures up deeply secret and (tantric) powerful relations. 

While it is true that, depending upon the dynamics and the interaction of chart, person, circumstance and karma, this can be a challenging conjunction; it is one that also symbolises commitment and responsibility towards that which we love - and that can freak out ‘freedom lovers’ (a.k.a. commitment-phobes) who have yet to understand the concepts of interconnection and interdependence, and how there is liberation in knowing Oneness in all things. 

From a personal point of view, some of the most important things/people/events I have ever been involved with have this celestial pledge of dedication, durability and devotion. So when dealing with matters of the heart over the next few days  it may well be a case of ‘feel the fear, but do it anyway’, especially when developing relationship or building business and/or career ideas and connections that bring about respect and self-esteem. 

From the astrological point of view Venus and Saturn are making a marvelous aspect (60°) to the current Mars-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn. This is a little bit complex but I trust (hope!) you will be able to follow the importance of the relationship planets (Venus and Mars) in relationship: Mars and Pluto, while in Capricorn, are also in mutual disposition and ‘friend’s’ with the Scorpio Saturn: Pluto rules Scorpio (the sign Saturn is in) and Mars is exalted in Capricorn, meaning that Mars works best in this sign as he loses the wilfulness associated with blundering chaos and gains mastery through his initiation into Universal understanding. Together, this mighty combination suggests strength, stamina and stealth – all of which can be used for good or bad.   

Venus, however, is in her detriment in Scorpio, although being empowered by her good relations to Mars and Pluto, the Goddess’ darker energies may well mean that jealousy, obsessions and paranoia are given the short sharp shrift. 

In our new world order based upon love-wisdom and compassion, such difficult dynamics are used to help overcome duality, activate the heart-mind, and generate the everflowing nectar of Bodhicitta, relative and ultimate.  

Wishing to develop Bodhicitta, and that all mother sentient beings are free from suffering, is considered relative, and this may well be enough during the powerful eclipse coming up early in the week, as the lunar eclipse sparks off once again the theme of 2012: global heart-mind activation. 

The lunar eclipse on the 28^th November constellates the 7 degrees Sagittarius Sun and Gemini Moon, within a ‘finger of fate’ or ‘finger of g0d’ (nodding to Greg for Divine spelling), yod formation. This ‘finger’ points directly to the Moon during the eclipse, representing our emotions; responses and feminine intuition lie in the (Gemini) mind, which resides in the heart.

So wherever 7 degrees Gemini-Sagittarius, Scorpio or Capricorn are in your chart, these are the areas now involved in adjusting to the development of heart-mind. I say adjusting because this is configuration is like a push-me-pull-you, when funnelling intense pressure requires consideration, effort and precision. During this Lunar Eclipse, as it is the moon which provides the precision, it is essential to look at Gemini more deeply.   Doing so with esoteric astrology we see the sign of communication, neighbourhood, and siblings, Gemini’s esoteric ruler is Venus, planet of love and harmonious relations; learning to communicate love therefore, to our brothers and sisters within our immediate environment is essential to enhance the orthodox mind of ideas and thoughts. 

This degree of the lunar eclipse is also the very same degree planet Venus was at during her epic transit of the Sun this year. And it is also the very same degree which will be aspected at the Winter Solstice 2012 by Jupiter, Sagittarian ruler of wisdom and higher learning. Get the picture? Consciousness resides in the heart. Train the mind now and see the bigger picture with a loving heart, and be released from the bondage of attachment and aversion.

There’s also a deliciously magical and profound cosmic energy to tap into that helps soften any harsh revelation. The celestial delight I speak of is due to Goddess Venus alluring and loving in Scorpio (with Saturn), linking up with Earth Mother Ceres in fellow sensitive water sign, Cancer; together Venus and Ceres then constellate a gorgeous ‘Grand Water Trine’ with spiritual Neptune and healing Chiron in Pisces. For the next few days we may even sense certain things, ideas, people and situations are worth loving, forgiving and saving, such as honesty, nature and friendship.This Grand Water Trine will come into greater focus with the Moon in Cancer on the 30th November.

Next month we have a new supermoon to look forward to and, of course, our Winter Solstice global meditation for world peace and heart-mind alignment. 

Blessings and Thanks to Anya Langmead for Vajrasattva and Pounyan for wonderful image _/♥\_