Elemental Lunar New Year of the Boar/Pig 2019 Feb 5th

Elemental New Year, Feb 5^th
With a New Aquarius Moon, Moonday 4^th 21:03gmt, time to now to wave goodbye the year of the loyal Earth Dog, not be seen again for another 60 years. And ‘Hello’ to the New Year of the productive Yellow Earth Boar 4-5th February, and the start of a year that highlights steadfast patience, fertility, and the potential for great tranquillity.

The Pig/Boar is the 12^th animal sign in the Asian system, indicating the end of a twelve year cycle before starting anew next year with the year of the Metal Rat. Thus there is something already final about the Boar, who is often associated with the courageous Goddess of Life, Death & rebirth. Indeed, in Ancient Egypt, Goddess Isis appeared as a Sow, while the Pig was connected to Set, powerful Lord of the underworld. The Boar is seen as a mighty psychopomp that guides passing souls; even the historical Buddha died after eating pork in his 80^th year.

Known to be fierce, intelligent and independent, the Wild Boar is considered a sacred totem in various cultures around the world, from Adonis to Warrior Celts across Ireland and France honoured ‘Moccus’, a protector for hunters (also associated with Mercury). And ‘Cerridwen’, a Celtic Moon Goddess, with prophetic powers and a magic cauldron of inspiration, is represented by the Sacred Sow; she rules the night, astrology, science, poetry, knowledge and herbs. In India, ‘Varaha’ (the male Boar) is the 3^rd avatar, sacred incarnation of Vishnu, the cosmic ‘Preserver’. ‘Varahi Devi’ is the Shakti, one of the Matrikas who support the protector Goddess Durga. In the Tibetan tradition, ‘Vajra Varahi’, is the ‘Diamond Sow’, a formidable secret tantric Goddess, semi-wrathful in aspect and deeply insightful in the development of wisdom. 

In Tibetan Elemental astrology, the Boar is straightforward and amiable, if slightly naïve and often greedy; the Earth Boar year is one of transformation and perfection. As in the Chinese tradition, the Pig/Boar appreciates having money and food and, by keeping ambitions simple, can also enjoy tangible success.

Thus we have a year that has a distinctly feminine influence, as the Sow dedicates her life to others, generously feeding and nurturing in abundance. The devoted Female Boar provides spiritual and material sustenance and solace in a crisis, determined to remain connected to natures’ bounty and the natural goodness of the Earth. It’s also said the year of the Earth Pig is one of goodwill – May it be so!

Though indicated how one’s own animal year has obstacles, there are still good prospects for the Boar to overcome challenges, especially in business. Generally speaking, it’s a good year for Goat/Sheep, Horse, Ox and Rabbit. And a tricky one for Tiger and Dog, though easier for Dragons, who are always magically super smooth; busy for Rat, with a caution to avoid worrying; and a hectic year (of travel) for the Snake; and for the Monkey and Rooster, their task is to solve difficulties by teaming up with others and being mindfully diplomatic.   

  
I wish all a beautiful and fruitful, very happy year of the Earth Boar!
Losar Tashi Delek!
Kung Hei Fat Choy!

from Laura aka Astro Dakini _/♡\_☆•*¨*•.¸¸❤☼☾

🐓 New Year of the Fire Bird 🐓 Aquarius New Moon 2017

🐓 Shake a tail feather and now wave goodbye to the crazy year of the Yang Fire Monkey – not to be seen again for another sixty years! And hail a hearty welcome to the year of the Yin Red Fire Bird, which begins to crow with the Aquarian New Moon on the 27-28th January at 00:07gmt, 19:07est.
A Fire Bird year can be a controversial and colorful one with over dramatic scenarios, where the ordinary is given rank of the extraordinary – and vice versa, depending upon the power of the pecking order in the proverbial chicken coup (i.e. one’s own mind). 

The Red Rooster’s organizational abilities are generally stubbornly applied, although compromise and cooperation would create a greater sense of union - and harmony, as well create the adulation they desire and/or deserve for their perfectionism. The challenge in the year of the loyal and punctual Rooster is to see competition and comparison as futile and counterproductive to positive personal development, particularly when partaking and celebrating differences create the unified whole. 

A natural born confident Fire Rooster knows how to strut one’s glorious every-day stuff with regal style and strength, without having to prove one’s authority. Those born in 1957 will truly resonate with this year’s fiery element. It is, however, a time for everyone to wake-up and cultivate mindfulness with noble intentions in all spheres of life, honing skills with precision and awareness, which others may benefit from. 

From a spiritual point of view, this year of the Fire Bird is one of a phoenix in transformation, possessing the courage to root out any negative minutiae the ego tenaciously holds onto, in order to fly up to higher sights. In the astrology of the Tibetan Kalachakra Tantra, it is the mighty and mythic Garuda Bird who is akin to the zodiac sign Aquarius, the group-oriented sign in which this Chinese New Year starts – which is also the sign of surprises and amazement. (Please note Tibetan New Year, Losar, begins with the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Pisces on the 26th of February). 

The soaring Red Garuda is also a King of outrageousness; he emerged from his cracked egg fully grown, already perfect in his warrior ways, having overcome hope and fear in order to experience freedom and spaciousness.
This is year is auspicious for Snake; successful for Ox; happy for Dragon; entertaining for Goat; and good for Tiger, Monkey and Boar; a fair one for the Horse; and moderate for the Rooster; while Rabbit and Rat may be happier in a less provocative role, a Dog’s relation to the Rooster will depend upon how fiery elements dominate his or her horoscope. 

With love & prayers _/|\_ & even though we don't really need wings to fly to a higher perspective and get our clearer view (meditation and dharma will do!), best wishes to one & all!
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Happy Chinese New Year of the Fire Bird!
🎆 🐓   🌟 🐓 🌟 <3 🐓 🌟 🐓 🌟

☆•*¨*•.¸¸ ☆ Losar Tashi Delek! ☆ ¸.•*¨*•☆

☆•*¨*•.¸¸❤ ☆ Losar Tashi Delek! ☆ ❤¸.•*¨*•☆

☆ Happy New Year of the Green Yin Wood Sheep-Goat-Ram-Ewe! ~> Feb 18th/19th

☆ At the start of Losar's karma multiplying month of miracles*, there's a second New Super Moon in Aquarius, on Wednesday, the 18th, at 23:47gmt (18:47EST). At 30 degrees in the sign of the Water Bearer, ‘The Lights’ (Sun & Moon) awaken a need for change, some of which may be quite dramatic, and possibly self-instigated this coming weekend (21st).

☆ Good deeds and humanitarian compassion are now rewarded due to the steadying influence of the Green Yin Wood Sheep (Goat, Ram, and Ewe) with us for the rest of 2015. This, therefore, is THE New Moon of the year to set the altruistic intention to work for the welfare of other beings, and to aspire towards enlightenment in order to benefit others. The chances of creating excellence, and surrounding oneself with peaceful friends supportive of noble endeavors, are greater this year. Finances also generally tend to be more stable in Sheep years; though the Green Wood Sheep needs to be careful of being taken advantage of, making unwise sacrifices, and reacting in anger. Better to remain generous in spirit, and maintain strong moral principles.

☆The Full Moon on March 4th suggests emotions run deep, when it’s almost natural to be overwhelmed, but the awareness of (the need for) a powerful healing will also take place.

May the year of the Green Wood Sheep/Goat be auspicious!

With many thanks to Mushroaming.com for the wonderful Goats and prayer flags _/\_
.☆¨¯`*★。。☆ ♥
*Honouring the marvels Buddha performed to create future merit and devotion within his students when challenged by non-believers (in the 8-fold path).

♒ ☽☼☾ ♒ Aquarius New Moon 1st SuperMoon of 2015

☆ Jan 20th at 13:13GMT the 1st SuperMoon of 2015 is also the 1st of two new moons in the intellectual AIR sign Aquarius. The second will be next month, Feb 18th at #LOSAR (year of the Goat), with another, 'stealth' Super New Moon. Two New Moons in the same zodiacal sign accent a higher kind of consciousness; and the form this perception takes is signified by the sign. In this case, the New Moons are the sign of the Water Bearer, humanitarian, co-operative and mindful, emphasising the soul's ability to generate the altruistic intention.
☆ This is no time to rest on laurels, but to move and bend with the winds of change, all the while determining the mind’s eye the ability to see with the correct view. Spacy and scientific, Aquarius is also the zodiac’s wild card, indicating a time when things/ideas/situations can arise from out-of-the-blue and take one by surprise. The wonder may even be how humanitarian humanity can be and how kindred spirits working for the benefit of others can rally around to remove obstacles with team spirit.

☆ This New Moon also marks the last lunation of the Green Wood Horse Year, a year when personal opportunities have been more successful with such friendly reinforcement and family support. And now, just before the Wooden Horse leaves, not to be seen again for another 60 years, Mercury goes retrograde on Tuesday 21st at 17 Aquarius, putting on the breaks to slow (the mind) down during the Horse’s final lunation, in order to re-think, re-wire, re-calibrate whatever it is that these future-orientated Aquarian degrees spark in your own horoscope.
☆ This potentially wild, wiggy and exciting Mercury retrograde ends with Mercury direct at 1Aquarius on 11th Feb, (with a last quarter healing Moon). For re-thinking structures and ambitions key dates to watch and reflect upon are 5th January (just gone), 5th February, and the 19th Feb. And for powerful breakthroughs: 14th Jan, 28th Jan and March 1st.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Moon with starry blessings, with ℒℴѵℯ __/\__ & many thanks for artwork 'StarChild Encoded Healing' by Visual Alchemy.

☆ 2014 Year of the Green Wood Horse

“When god created the horse, he said to the magnificent creature: I have made thee as no other. All the treasures of the earth lie between thy eyes. Thy shalt carry my friends upon thy back. Thy saddle shall be the seat of prayers to me. And thou shalt fly without wings, and conquer without sword; oh horse.” ~ Anonymous

2014’s second New Moon SuperMoon on the 30th of January is at 11Aquarius 21:38GMT, (16:39EST) heralding the Chinese New Year of the Green Wood Horse. (Losar, Tibetan New Year, is 2nd March, when the Sun is in Pisces). As a Super New Moon, when the Moon is perigee (closest) Earth, tidal floods (and winds, as Aquarius is an ‘Air’ sign) are higher than usual. This also means emotions are likely to be heightened, and thoughts intense and wilder, making this a rather strong start to an exciting lunation (lunar cycle) that already promises to gallop into action to stimulate growth, especially in the spheres of friendship, heroic group activities, technology, and individual brilliance. Note that ‘Spring Tides’ occur approximately three days after a New Moon.

This affable Green Wood Horse is yang in nature and a symbol of stamina and strength with great social skills, as well as a powerful and boldly innocent fearlessness when starting new projects. Associated with new shoots and the season of spring, the colour green connects to ‘Air’ which is moving and growing, intellectual and questioning. Wood is grounded, stable and solid in the Earth (base chakra), able to reach up towards the heavenly light, to shoot the breeze with youthful enthusiasm to express and quickly create (activating the throat chakra).

Tibet’s WindHorse even conveys great good fortune to all four corners of the Cardinal Cross, and is often shown in prayer flags that flutter in the wind carrying prayers, hopes and wishes, with the blessings of the three jewels: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.

This New SuperMoon also coincides with the direct motion of planet Venus. After 40 days and nights of retrograde motion, the Goddess of Love will go forward at 13Capricorn, on the 31st, completing the year of the snake’s transformational process of self-perceptin – all the while supporting both Wood Horse Year (celebrated on the 31st, just after the new Moon) and the Celtic Imbolc, or Candlemas, when signs of light (returning to the North) help to renew conviction and faith.

Wishing everyone a very happy and loving year of the Green Wood Horse _/\_ Special thanks to tsakli.org for the beautiful Tibetan Windhorse _/\_

As we enter the Wood Horse Year during these times of profound change, a personal astrology reading expands one's understanding of how to ride the four winds. For consultations and rates please contact me here
Thank you! •~☆♥´¯`•.¸¸.•L❀VE•´¯`•.¸¸. Laura

Imbolc Iron Rabbit ~ New Aquarius Moon 2011

When Spirit Sun zapped into Aquarius at the tail end of our most recent Super Full Moon (the 19^th of January), it joined forces with dynamic Mars for daily life to speed up to warp factor five. Personal projects are particularly subject to being revved-up. On a collective level this Aquarian Sun is equally busy, activating a global connection with the Aquarian brotherhood of man, energizing ‘the will of the whole’. Now, two weeks later, we are at the Aquarius IMBOLC NEW MOON, when there are no less than six heavenly bodies in the sign of the water bearer, four planets, a planetoid, and the all-important healing asteroid Chiron, activating ‘the light that shines on Earth across the sea’, and igniting the light of Spirit that illuminates hopes and dreams.

In esoteric astrology, the sign of Aquarius ‘shines the light within the darkness, cleansing with healing rays until the darkness is dispelled’.  In Buddhism we can dispel obscuration by generating light in Tantric deity meditation practice, as well as being kind to others, and generating the altruistic intention in body, speech and mind, i.e. word, thought, and deed. 

As an intellectual air sign, Aquarius tends to rationalise and contain emotion (as symbolised by the human carrying the pot of watery emotions); not only does Aquarius therefore objectify individual emotions, but in doing so it can also understand how feelings connect ‘One’ to the Universal Whole; thus Aquarius accents the significance of the Central Spiritual Sun, recently activated by the Cardinal Cross. At the risk of being too technical, for our current Imbolc New Moon on the 2^nd - 3^rd February, the Aquarian astral line-up reads thus: Earth Mother Ceres, Spirit Sun, soul Moon (who are both at a mid-way 13 degrees), warrior Mars, oceanic Neptune, and healing Chiron.

With such a Martian Aquarian emphasis (accidentally exalted), the current energy is fired-up to become potentially hectic, wiggy and unpredictable, so we may need to adjust any grand plan (that came about from having five planets in the sign of Capricorn, the master builder (destiny fulfilling NorthN, sacred Vesta, transformational Pluto, stratigest Pallas Athena, and Mercury, as messenger)). 

Note how the astro-symbols I read (others read more, and some less) are now concentrated into a 60 degree slice of the zodiac pie, with weighty Saturn as the outsider making hard aspect to Neptune and Chiron – triggering the challenge for collective psychic healing (Had any good dreams lately?); but Saturn is also trine to the Sun & Mars conjunction, suggesting its easy for authorities for to be formidably assertive, particularly while Aquarius is also the sign of rebels and revolution.

There are also other astrological features to observe while Saturn in Libra is this important singleton, however, as it is also exalted – meaning that authority has to find a point balance (in the heart); but is also retrograde (until June), so it needs time to find the balance. Saturn retrograde tends to slow down the ability to come to any conclusion on important issues, such as appraising the karma in relationship, peaceful resolution, or law.  So as we enter into the Chinese New year of the white Iron Rabbit– aka ‘the metal cat’, it’s also worth bearing in mind how this exalted Saturn in Libra is linked to no less than eleven heavenly markers, because Saturn is the traditional day ruler of Aquarius and the night ruler of Capricorn. So while the overall gentility of the rabbit expands yinwards, the heaviness of the times resonates strongly with everyone.  But let’s not get too gloomy, as Aquarius is also the sign of wishes. This is therefore the wishing moon.  My intention over this moon is to nicely ask the kindly bunny to hop to it, and help attain (global) peace of mind.  

This is one of the many years when the Tibetan Lunar calendar is out of synch with the Chinese animal Solar calendar, because the Tibetans doubled the 11the month (!) so Losar, Tibetan New Year of the Female Iron Rabbit, is on the Pisces new Moon, March 4^th. That the Chinese and Tibetan New Year do not always dance together is a common occurrence. 

The pagan festival of Imbolc also coincides with Chinese New Year. Imbolc ignites the light of the fixed  cross, and  is otherwise known as the feast of CandleMas, whose benefactor is Brigianta, Bride or St Brigit, the Lady of the Hearth (i.e. the spark of warmth and light now returning to the northern hemisphere); she is the patroness of poetry, craft and smithies. With this last honorific, until the light of the Leo Moon shines brightly (and when I will be back online), I leave you with a poem from the Upanishads, called

‘Illuminating Light’

“There the sun shines not, nor the moon and the stars,
nor the lightning, let alone this earthly fire.

Only when illumining Light shines,
everything else shines;
the self-revealing Light illumines the entire universe.”

Thank you Ximi for the Bhutanese protector_/\_♥ ૐ and to all other unknown photographers.

Day of Miracles ~ Valentine Losar 2137 ~ Year of the Metal Tiger 2010

How wonderful it is when, for no other reason than glorious happenstance, diverse traditions meet to celebrate on remarkably auspicious days and double any potentially supreme good fortune. This year in our Western calendar the day of red hot passionate love hearts, St Valentine's, is the same day as Losar, the Tibetan New Year, which, according to Tibet's Eastern tradition, also marks the start of a month of miracles. Bringing the two hemispheres together we have a whole month when love is the key for making miracles happen. How cool is that?

As a result, Valentine’s love vibration abounds while we also have an altruistic and friendly Aquarius New Moon (2:51 am GMT), enabling us to generate the self-existing mindfulness that fully opens the heart to the loving kindness and consideration for others and ourselves that we can all enjoy: Welcome a new moon that accents heartfelt individuality within the ‘whole’, celebrating diversity in unity.

Interestingly, two adversaries also come together with this year’s Aquarius New Moon, a lunation which always marks a Chinese New Year, yet not always a Tibetan New Year (which can move - rarely into Capricorn, but often into Pisces): Valentine’s ‘arrows of love’ point to both cultures meeting at the New Year of the romantic and passionate Metal (or Iron) Tiger. With the elemental focus now upon sharp and cutting metal, strength comes this year from being be clear and focused, resolute and utterly beautiful and unique.

Differences in interpretation (and opinion) do exist: from China the Metal Tiger is assertive, direct and forceful, with a tendency to be self-orientated and rigid. From Tibet we also have the freedom-loving, generous commander; yet there is another side to the determined Tibetan Tiger, who is symbolic of meekness, less complicated by ego desire and therefore able to more easily show compassion towards others. According to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, “the Tiger is an expression of ‘unconditional confidence’ …not stalking for prey, but self-satisfied and modest, watchful and relaxed, mindfully aware of how to conduct affairs”.

Losar is also a time of ‘Light Blessing’. A Tibetan blessing differs from our usual understanding, in as much as it suggests purification with an intentional transformation.

Tiger is associated (in both cultures) with Aquarius, a future orientated zodiacal sign of hopes and wishes, symbolic of humanity’s desire to come together and build a brighter tomorrow. Tiger’s planet is Venus, the planet of love, who now flourishes in her exaltation, in Pisces. So the kind of love we are now talking is deeply felt, oceanic and delightful, nothing short of unconditional cosmic love.

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

It’s been 60 years since China invaded Tibet, the last Metal Tiger year. This means a whole new Metal Tiger cycle is about to begin. According to Chogyam Namkhai Norbu, this is a completion of a first 'metreng' of the 'cycle of the mewa' (smen 'khor – i.e. the element and number relation). Sixty years is also mega important in Kalachakra astrology, being the above mentioned as well as a completion of five elemental cycles of Jupiter through the twelve signs of the zodiac, plus two cycles of Saturn (the planet that orders the flow of bagua): this is a cycle that demonstrates how wisdom and karma work together.

Let's hope then, at the start of this second metrung (60 years), that miracles can and do happen, that we can string the necklace of the numerically magic ‘mewa’ together in peace and harmony, so that the people of Tibet (and China, and the world over) have the Aquarian liberty to practice their non-harmful light-shining spiritual belief, free in speech and worship, and free from fear or want.

~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~

From the western astrological point of view, the horoscope of this year’s Losar, erected for GMT, has positive and forward-thinking Sagittarius rising, with beneficent Jupiter ruling the chart. Optimistic Jupiter is in the third house of communication, in his traditional domain of enchanting Pisces, conjoined by the sympathetic, loving and harmonious Venus. This strong combination is astro-speak for potentially very helpful relations, willing to enter a dialogue that could bring about an end to matters, or at the very least, agree on the need to co-exist and co-operate and co-create (much like this surrogate tiger mum to a litter of pigs).

The life-giving Sun is also currently with visionary Neptune and healing Chiron, as well as symbol of the collective, the Moon. At best this combination suggests spiritual healing, big style, (through the cyber airwaves?). At worst it is about a harmful intention to pull the wool over the masses’ eyes. Working together (with or without miracles) we could quite feasibly make it the former.

Tiger is also an endangered species. One wonders if this is a year when more of an effort is made to protect them. With the all-consuming love shown in this year's chart, one might well hope this is the case.

Many thanks to all tigers (especially the one I saw on my honeymoon, all those years ago in India's Sarsika national park) & credit to Janosh for beautiful healing mandala www.janosh-art.com