☯ ☼ ☾ New Libra Peace & LOVE Moon _/|\_

☯ ☼ ☾ A New Libra Moon approaches; time now to set our intention to bring PEACE and LOVE, serenity and balance into our lives. At 0:07 Universal Time (can I hear someone humming the Bond theme? ;) ) on the 12th/13th October, Sun and Moon join at 19 degrees in the sign of the scale, to unite ideals and people that seek justice and truth.

☯ ☼ ☾ Libra is suave and sophisticated, passionate about harmony and beauty; and as ‘The Lights’ come to oppose Uranus in Aries, the planets indicate change comes by being braver and more conscious about how to accomplish splendour in our environment, and harmony in relationship. In areas of conflict, dialogue functions best when working for the benefit of all parties. When still and silent, we may even be aware how the real enemy lies within: muster strength and learn to love our demons and pacify a restless ego with kindness not cruelty, in fairness not indulgence. And by the time of the last of autumn’s three supermoons on the 27th October, we could see a triumph of transformation, emotional as well as spiritual.

Apart from All Hallow's Eve, also this lunar month we will celebrate Lord Buddha's decent from the God Realms of the 33, November 3rd. _/\_ One of the most important Buddhist practice days of the year.

☯ ☼ ☾ Image is of Vishnu, the Preserver, with his Sun disk, the Sudashana chakra, to invoke ‘a vision which is fortunate’. _/|\_ ❤ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸❤✫

P.S. In case anyone is wondering why illustrate with Hindu deities, my lineage is Kalachakra, the all inclusive time-wheel in which Vishnu also features _/\_
Happy New Moon everyone, with ℒℴѵℯ ॐ, from Laura

☾ Healing Halloween Medicine Buddha Moon _/ ૐ \_ Oct31st 2014

☆ •°*☾ Scorpio Sun & 1st quarter Moon Aquarius ☽ *°•.☆

Honoring ancestors, as well as the recently departed, tonight’s Halloween festival venerates the profound emotions of Scorpio, sign of death and rebirth. Over the next few days and nights, during this month of regenerative Scorpio, the veils thin between the worlds of the living, those passed and those yet to come; as the hallowed souls of those gone beyond bequeath a reminder of magic and mystery, and the connections to kindred spirits enhance psychic abilities, intuitive insight and prophetic dreams.

So when looking up and around to see if any witches are flying on broomsticks, or Kinkara* dancing the cremation grounds, also note a beautiful First Quarter healing Medicine Moon, gliding across the starry firmament like a golden offering bowl, brimming with unconditional compassion. In Aquarius, this First Quarter Halloween Moon accents the human soul’s capacity for tremendous restoration by delving into the beauty, joy and meaning of life, in all its intensity. Reap now the blessings of the departed, knowing spirit never dies, but in the never ending cycle of life, death and rebirth, it is the essential spirit which only transforms.

May all souls, saints and spirits be happy and healed, now and always, with ℒℴѵℯLiGHt
_/❤\_

Healing Buddha Mantra “Thayatha Om Bekanze Bekanze Mahabekanze Rasa Samut Gate Soha”
_/❤\_

& Many thanks to unknown photographer for beautiful Tibetan mask dancers _/❤\_

✴️ Dark Moon Halloween ~> 2013

Some moments are more enchanted and potent than others. At Halloween, when the veil between visible upper and unseen lower worlds is thinnest, mythical skeletons dance across the skies, and witches wing by on Birch tree brooms, it tends towards a magical time that gets deep, edgy, and powerful.  Halloween holds a mystical magic that can transform in a dream-like instant, purely by honoring the ancestors and all that has gone before - and by being ready for a dramatic renewal. And as tonight’s is a Dark Moon Halloween, it’s advisable to call upon our protectors, totems and guides, and all that can help the Spiritual Warrior maintain emotional balance, which is specifically important when crossing the karmic threshold of the fixed and focused New Moon Scorpio Solar Eclipse, November 3rd.

Bear in mind that while we are now at the peak of the on-going 3-year Uranus-Pluto square (more on that tomorrow), astrological Halloween is actually November 7th, when the Sun is at degree where we officially pass through the ‘Via Combusta’, a.k.a. ‘The Fiery Path’, when Spirit rises like a proverbial phoenix out of the ashes. 
All the while we have a myriad of sacred geometry providing anchors for practical magic, and heavenly pointers to where the fates are flying:

The ‘Kite’ formation harnesses a ‘Grand Earth Trine’ stimulating recuperative and regenerative conservation of resources; with the Dragon’s Tail (South Node) implementing the healing energies we bring with us, which can also be used in the future.

A ‘Mystic Rectangle’, made up of only helpful aspects, suggests spiritual stability throughout this eclipse period, until November 8th.

The ‘Finger of God’, pointing to Uranus, planet of awakening altruism for the next couple of days, with the life-giving Sun and destiny-fulfilling North Node (Dragon’s Head), in the sign of renewal and shared assets, joining forces with Mars in Virgo, sign of healing and discernment.  All this suggests many are currently creating intrepid communities, forming Sangha and affinities with kindred spirits, individuals who feel also the need to support others in this time of dramatic change to power structures and resources. 
__/❤\__ ☼✶•*¨*•.¸¸❤✶

Happy Halloween everyone!
Thanks to unknown artist for Mahakala Dharma protector ~> May all beings be protected from fear and want. _/♥\_

Scorpio Sun ☼ Taurus Full Moon ~> Karmic Love

Tomorrow’s Full Taurus Halloween Moon (Monday 29th October at 19:51 GMT; 15:51EST; Delhi Tuesday 30th 1:21am:) is already INTENSE. Opposite the mysterious and secretive Scorpio Sun, currently conjunct karmic Saturn, this full Moon prompts a deeper understanding of how karma works, which is fundamental to our individual and collective transformation, now cosmically symbolised by Saturn in Scorpio. 

When we are conscious of the karmic ‘law of cause and effect’ (and how we even create karma in our sleep!) we can then develop faith and trust to mindfully raise our spiritual vibration and keep the love in our heart. Scorpio is THE sign of trust. As a fixed water sign, Scorpio accents powerful renewal and that part of our self which has the strength to let go of something which no longer serves. For it is often only when something dies that we discover our deepest emotions; and an inexhaustible well of concentrated potency comes to life through the revived power of Spirit. Through confronting death - as in the loss of a loved one, finances, ideas, things, or even through loss of ego identity in sexual union, any of these experiences can transport us into the very depths of our being, so that we release the outmoded to emerge stronger and wiser and be reborn. Saturn’s two year sojourn in Scorpio highlights the sustained discipline needed to continue the dramatic make-over. And as 2012 draws to a close, Saturn begins to form a harmonious aspect with Pluto, Scorpio’s ruler, so we’d be wise to utilise Saturn’s other gifts – patience and prudence in our revitalising process.

Exalted in Taurus (the best possible sign for the Moon to be:)), the Halloween full Moon casts a very good aspect to Pluto, Scorpio’s modern ruler, reminding us that the power of LOVE works hand in hand with the power of RENEWal.

It is also the full Moon which marks the run up to the second of this year’s ‘eclipse season’, with a new Moon solar eclipse on the 13th November, and its’ pairing full Moon lunar eclipse on the 28th November. During this time, seismic shifts happen within our personal consciousness and as well as with Mother Earth.

Before then though, Buddhists will celebrate Lord Buddha’s acceptance to descend from the 'God Realms of Thirty Three tomorrow'; the actual descent is commemorated on 6th November. (More on that to come from me, when I shall be on retreat with one of my most venerated living masters, Jangtse Choje Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin).

Until then I leave you with a quote "The more you are motivated by Love, The more Fearless & Free your actions will be."
~ H.H. Dalai Lama ~

Halloween Samhain ~11~ Moon Pluto in Capricorn

Halloween blessings to one and all _(♥)_ As nature’s thinning veils between life and death allow one to view the previously hidden with a profound spiritual sensitivity, leading to greater insight and extra-sensory perception, it is at Samhain that a mysterious part of the psyche can shift into visible consciousness, and renew determination to understand deep-rooted influences, discover deceptive secrets, and resolve difficult power issues.

During the Day of the Dead, we magically communicate with loved ones who have passed, and imbibe Spirit of Ancestors. Thus empowered by the strength and beauty of all that has gone before, we can embrace the affairs of the everyday world with the resources to transform selfishness into selflessness and subdue the nature of our base desires.

From the astrological point of view, at ‘All Hallow’s Eve’, the gothic Scorpio Sun marks the sensitive Water element of zodiac's Fixed Cross (exact on the 7th November) symbolic of controlling systems facing points of crisis that, through honed intuition, can relinquish all which no longer serves (collective) liberation.

The Sun is currently sextile the waxing Moon that today conjuncts Pluto, Scorpio’s ruler, making this a rather emotionally satisfying Halloween, even if relationships are extra intense with Venus conjunct Mercury at 27Scorpio, the Scorpio Sun is still cojunct Juno, loyal with laser-like feminine intuition - like a witch's black cat ;)

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