Karma – Time & Space Consulting

Five Remembrances

Published November 28, 2019 by ifc

Five Remembrances

Buddha’s Five Remembrances

– Thich Nhat Hanh

I am of the nature to grow old.

There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill health.

There is no way to escape ill health.

I am of the nature to die.

There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.

There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings.

I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.

My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

Buddhism Dharma Karma Yoga

Buddha

Seva, Saturn, & Self-Discovery

Published April 7, 2017 by ifc

Seva, Saturn, & Self-Discovery

Most astrologers focus on time. The questions that begin with ‘when’ are innumerable. The ability to analyze the present moment, the past and the future using a natal horoscope reveals larger patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed.

In 1986 -ish I attended a weekend workshop in CT taught by Jim Lewis, the pioneer of what is today called Astro*Carto*Graphy. (Where you were born holds equal weight with when you were born You are the intersection of time, place, and DNA) This 3 day course was an amazing intellectual exercise with stimulating and provocative material. I soaked it up. But, unlike a natal (time) chart, the calculations necessary for a ACG map were impossible. I would have to be satisfied with theory. In 1989 astrological software became available. I immediately purchased a computer and the proprietary software that had just been released.

Theory could be tested now, first hand. I calculated hundreds of maps & charts for myself, family, friends looking for the places on the planet that showed up in significant ways. All personal traveling became infused with curiosity. How would the planetary energies manifest in different locations. I’ve gathered up a few amazing stories over the years to illustrate my research. On April 9, the Astrological Society of Princeton will host a lecture on Sunday and I look forward to sharing my research there.

This May I will be spending 3 weeks, nearly a lunar cycle, on a ‘new’ line of my personal astromap, the paran of Saturn and Chiron . Looking around the globe I see that although I may have crossed this line a few times I ‘ve only crossed it and never spent much time there, not nearly enough to absorb/recognize the ‘energy/vibration/prana/chi’. Obviously I am in for a new experience.

Saturn lines aren’t necessarily fun places to spend time. Saturn’s influence is always serious, studious, and disciplined. Saturn doesn’t do anything easy. And, Saturn is slow. If Saturn stood alone at this Florida location I may not have chosen to visit there. But paran lines reflect a relationship between 2 planets, and in Salt Springs, FL and locales nearby, Saturn intersects with Chiron, and that combination is one I am cautiously curious to experience.

The nature of my visit there is Saturnian which bodes well for my stay at this newly established ashram with a world recognized Guru. I have volunteered for Seva there. It’s location on this particular line seems quite fortuitous and prescient. I’ll let you know more when I come back.

more to come

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AstroCartography Karma Saturn

chiron florida parans

Published March 30, 2015 by ifc

Happy Birthday Storytellers Mosaic!

I am s Arjuna o happy to be a part of this group. Please join us on April 12 for our annual birthday show. Click here for flyer.

I’m still “in process” of cobbling my story together. The ‘working’ title is “Tales from the East”. The blurb I submitted reads:

Personal challenges take on deeper meanings when viewed from different perspectives. This telling will weave together a personal tale with an ancient story out of the Bhagavad Gita.

Ancient Wisdom Dharma Karma philosophy StoryTelling

arjuna pilgramage

Spiritual Economics

Published August 12, 2014 by ifc

Spiritual Economics

THE DEBT OF KARMA
Yogi Amrit Desai

Every soul is charged with an evolutionary mission
To realize its inborn divine potential.
Life is a perpetual therapeutic irritation.
It provides a compelling force to drive us
Toward the completion of our mission.
When we deny a painful experience,
It goes underground as a pending debt of unfinished karma.
When you block pain, you may feel temporary relief,
But your karmic account is not closed.
The collection agency will present the lesson
Again and again, in various forms.
Through apparently unrelated events.
Every event that is not faced fully and consciously comes back
As irritation, emotion, resistance or denial.
Habitual ways of reacting and reliving the same event
Perpetuate unconsciousness.
All lessons will be repeated until they are learned.
The debt of karma is paved in consciousness.

Ancient Wisdom Dharma Karma Yoga

amrit desai debt karma

Published April 29, 2009 by ifc

Saturn Time….a slow, long view

If you’re coming around to 30, 60 or 90 years of age (rounding off the numbers for simplicity….consult a professional astrologer for your exact dates.) you’re probably approaching The Saturn Return. A return is when a transiting planet arrives at the same place it was in when you were born. Every year around your birthday you have a Solar Return.

Volumes have been written about the Saturn Return and I encourage you to ‘google’ the term and do your own research. I have a list compiled at librarything.com and as soon as I develop some more technical skills I’ll share it with you. However, be prepared. You may not like what you read. Saturn has a reputation of bringing us face to face with cold, hard reality.

If you move thru this transition time with consciousness there are some very definite rewards to be gained if you are willing to work hard. It is a time for discipline and patience.

The Saturn Return presents us with choice points: critical decisions are considered, and changes can be implemented ……consciously and/or unconsciously.

All that said, the focus of this post is on the ~3 year period of time that precedes the return, beginning somewhere around the ages 27, 57, or 87 approximate.

Astrology Feng Shui Karma Planets and their Cycles Saturn Time Management Yoga

cycles sade sati saturn return transitions

Published October 27, 2008 by ifc

The Saturn Cycle…Measuring Time…Part One

If you’re coming around to 30, 60 or 90 years of age (rounding the numbers off to prioritize ‘concept’), you’re probably approaching a time period that astrologer’s call the Saturn Return.

Volumes have been written about the Saturn Return and I encourage you to Google the term and start reading. However, be prepared. You may not like what you read. Saturn has a reputation of bringing us face to face with cold, hard reality.

If you stay with it though, there are some very substantial rewards to be gained, and they’re always worth whatever efforts you make. We can talk more about the essential meaning of the planet later. Remember, these are years when critical decisions are being made……consciously and/or unconsciously. Take your time. Move slow. Demonstrate Patience.

The 3 year period of time that precedes the return, beginning somewhere around the ages 27, 57, or 87 approximate is also a part of the cycle that deserves attention. The balsamic phase of the Saturn cycle lasts a whole lot longer than the balsamic phase of the moon. The balsamic phase of the moon is ~3 days compared to the 3+years of Saturn’s balsamic phase.

If you are currently moving thru the balsamic phase of Saturn then it’s time to do some serious clutter-cleaning. Prepare by creating some ’empty space’ for Saturn to fill.

Clutter shows up everywhere. We get cluttered physically, mentally emotionally, and every other way that you can imagine. This is the time to recognize the places in your life where you are: stuck, limited, over-responsible, under responsible, too serious, not serious enough. Re-define your relationship to time and re-set your personal biological clock.
(You can read about the balsamic phase of a cycle here to better understand the mood of these 3 years. You might also find some practical suggestions of appropriate actions to take during this time. Up until now we’ve been applying these phase definitions to the lunar cycle. However, in actuality we can apply these phases to any repeating cycle.)

Among other things the Saturn cycle describes our relationship to time.

That’s Huge!

How we measure & prioritize our time, both as a culture & as individually, defines us as surely as anything else on this planet.

How we behave towards ourselves and each other is often a response to the often ignored subtle details of time *management*. Check it out yourself.

The position of Saturn in your chart establishes the beginning of your ‘life pattern’ that will unfold over the next 28-30 years, and then repeat itself one or two more times before you pass on giving you specified times for growth and development. Learning to tell time by cycles and phases can be much less stressful than telling time by years, clocks & calendars.

The Vedic Astrologers have their own rendition of a Saturn Cycle. They call it Sade Sati and it comes at a completely different period of time than the western Saturn return. The jyotishi’s measure this period in the chart when transiting saturn begins to move into the sign that precedes the natal moon sign. So, for instance, if your natal vedic moon is in Cancer , Sade Sati begins when transiting Saturn moves into Gemini and stays in effect until it gets to Leo. Hrmpf. That’s a really long time. I know. I just completed it and Saturn has truly ruled the roost in my world. Unfortunately for me, I now at the opening act of my western Saturn return. I guess I still have a lot of time management to learn.

What I love about the philosophy inherent in vedic astrology is that it prescribes remedies. The ancient schools prescribed mantra, ritual, chanting, gemstones, herbs, and yogic practices. The intention was to make peace with the planets (gods & goddesses). In this way we could minimize negative events and engage in activities that bring joy & pleasure.

Stay tuned for more on this topic.

Astrology Karma Planets and their Cycles Saturn Time Management

sade sati saturn return

Published August 19, 2008 by ifc

A Maverick in the Sky…………………..

moons nodes As I write this, Chiron is in active conjunction with the North Node at 18+ degrees of Aquarius. As many of you know, I have been actively watching Chiron’s travels for a while. For me, this conjunction with Rahu (the vedic term for: North Node of the Moon) is a good opportunity to sweep and de-clutter the path in preparation for the ‘new earth’. Wherever Chiron goes, healing occurs………………………or not.

The north node is a place and not an object in the sky. It is a symbolic moment in time/space that has no physical substance to it like the moon or mars. Think of it as a line bi-secting the earth & moon ecliptics.

Many astrologers have decided that the nodal fields of activity are our relationships with other people, present day company and also past company as in both childhood and past lives. Karmic experiences are highly likely for those with a belief system that supports this notion. (In India where Vedic Astrology began, karma and past-lives are an integral part of their belief system. Hindu’s Buddhists, and the followers of Guru’s all share a deep respect for the laws of karma and extend this respect to their honoring of all beings.)

Nodal contacts can bring new people into our lives for new relationships and/or create so much separation between us in existing relationships that we finally (?)break apart. Because the north node always occurs with a south node it can be a little confusing to know which has more ‘juice’ at any moment. A gifted astrologer can really help here, seek one out. The rule of thumb is that the NN will lead you towards future karma or dharma, whilst the SN reflects to you more of your past karma. Since Now is the only moment that really counts the challenge is to balance the two energies and find common ground. When a planet highlights a node, as is the case today, it makes it easier to find the particular relationships in your life which are operating on a karmic level, and which aren’t. (ie. the grocery clerk who winked today, or a phone call from an old friend) Look around.

Aquarian energy will be the common denominator for awhile. (The NN will remains in Aquarius for about 18 months and then it moves on to Capricorn. It is about halfway into it’s cycle. ) Also note that the nodes revolve around planet earth in the opposite direction from the planets/asteroids. Think of this conjunction like you would preview a ‘movie trailer’ with a release date of 2009 – 2010. (More on this to come.))

Some keywords for Aquarius are: friendship, terrorists, eccentrics, genius, intuitive, future-oriented, difficulty with intimacy, objectivity, out-of-the-box, humanitarian. One might wonder why the word terrorists is on that list and that’s a good question. I will leave it for another day and I encourage you to meditate on it for the greater good of all beings. Om shanti.

The 19th degree of the Sabian Symbols (always round up) says:

A forest fire is being subdued by the use of water, chemicals and sheer muscular energy.

The keynote reads: the skill and courage necessary to bring under control the destructive potential fo carelessness of karmic “visitations”.

Oh! I left a word off the keyword list above………Aquarius is also the sign of aliens and extra-terrestrials. Hmmm.

Time for bed.

Links tomorrow if I have the time.

May all beings be peaceful.

Astrology consciousness Karma Planets and their Cycles Time Management Yoga

Aquarius chiron Feng Shui jyotish ketu rahu vedic astrology

Published August 1, 2008 by ifc

Consciousness and the Evolutionary Journey

Each zodiac sign has a core truth that only time spent in a human body can accomplish. Few of us display the virtues of our sun sign at birth. In reality, it takes at least a Saturn cycle of experience (approx. 28 years) to connect with and live from the essence of our Sun sign. Before that, most of us are operating from our moon sign and moving thru the world with habitual and unconscious response patterns. As we approach our first Saturn Return we begin to understand what the essence of our Sun sign is all about and we begin to make a conscious transition from habitual patterns (moon) to conscious living.

One thing that I find most interesting about natal-chart astrology is that you can’t tell by looking at a chart the level of consciousness of the individual. Jeffrey Green in his wonderful book on Pluto- The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul writes about four states of evolutionary conditioning that are not revealed by the chart.

The first state is what he describes as the “dimly evolved” state and encompasses about 3% of the population. It is quite doubtful that we as yoga therapists will come in contact with these individuals as many of them are severly mentally deficient.

The second state he calls the herd state and about 75% of the population falls into this category. He describes these individuals as those who comply with the social/cultural norms of the day. They rarely question their beliefs and are happy to follow mainstream thinking and behavioral patterns.

The third state which holds about 20% of our population ( and growing by my observation) he labels the individuated state. These people question the beliefs and norms of society and look to develop their individuality. Many of them are drawn to yoga and the other spiritual practices which teach from the inside out. Self-discovery is their chosen methodology for learning.

The fourth state of about 3% of human beings is the spiritual state where one lives from a universal state of consciousness. These individuals have moved beyond the individualized state and and attempt to align themselves with the timeless, universal state of being. Jesus, Buddah, Mohammed are the primary examples of what is possible in this state.

In order to support our clients/students it is important to recognize which evolutionary state they are operating from and work from there. Those in the herd state will require patient understanding and acceptance before they can move to the third, individualized state. When working with others it is always important to meet them where they are before you attempt to move them. Yoga & yoga therapy supports experiential learning so rather than using dialogue to explain the different states it is much more effective to design experiences that will help them discover for themselves a more enlightened way of being.

Astrology consciousness Dharma Karma Teachers Time Management Uncategorized Yoga Yoga Therapy

consciousness enlightenment evolutionary astrology Jeffrey Wolf Green saturn

Published April 28, 2008 by ifc

Self-Inquiry, Astrology, & Yoga

What happens when you integrate astrology into the yogic practice of self-observation without judgement?

Self-inquiry is a spiritual practice that directs our energy and our attention inward. It’s a particular form of self-discovery that encourages one to first recognize and then drop the social mask (also known as the persona, personality, or ascendant) and practice authenticity in every moment. (rather than productivity or some other external goal). In, The Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield, he describes a Buddhist practice of sitting quietly and repeatedly asking yourself, “Who am I”, over and over until you reach a point where something in the body/mind relaxes (?) and a subtle shift in consciousness happens. It’s one of those things that you have to experience for yourself and hard to describe.

Svadhyaya is one of the niyamas (from Patanjali’s 8 Limbs of Yoga) that encourages us to look at ourselves, clearly, without prejudice. It’s a challenging task and requires constant practice. Kripalu Yoga is the methodology that i practice. It brings the physical and energetic bodies into the mix by developing a heightened sense of awareness to sensations, breath, thought patterns, and spontaneous emotional expression.

Astrology attempts to find meaning in the natural order of the cosmos. Everything has it’s own time, it’s own season, and every minute that passes is unique. Astrologers observe both long term & short term trends and relate that information to the present moment. In addition, astrology also adds mythological, archetypal, & psychological dimensions that are extremely personal and relevant.

Natal Astrology looks at an individual (or oneself) thru a lens that has no prejudice. The natal horoscope does not see: gender, race, religion, economic status, socio/cultural differences, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any of the ways in which we categorize ourselves. What the natal chart does describe is our ‘energetic’ makeup and the timing of unfoldment. The ‘how’ is up to us. There are many ways to manifest the potential of our horoscope. It’s the energy pattern and the timing that are pre-determined. All else is free will. When approached with equanimity and non-judgement the natal horoscope becomes an impartial map of possibility with a built-in clock to help one connect to the present moment more intimately.

Yoga & Astrology have co-existed harmoniously in various cultures for eons. Each discipline recognizes the value & contribution of the other. Across the centuries, astrologers have continued to relate the movement of what is above to the movement of what lies below. Whereas, at the same time the yogi’s were discovering what lies without, also exists within. They both agree that here & now is important.

Yoga provides us with the tools to help us be with that moment in peaceful co-existence. Astrology helps us to understand the characteristics of the our particular ego-state and the nature of the obstacles that impede our path towards a higher consciousness. Yoga helps us to smooth out the obstacles, minimize the ego drives and approach life’s challenges in peace. Astrology provides us with the nature of the ever-changing present moment. Yoga practices train us to respond to the ever-changing moment with acceptance. Astrology, when properly understood, can advance us towards spiritual awakening. Yoga does the same.

As a Professional Kripalu Yoga Teacher & Astrologer it’s taken me most of my life to bring these two paths together in a way that goes beyond the mental field or intellect. After 30+ years of study and practice I have now reached a point where I can no longer keep them separate. My personal practice and the programs I offer always include the cosmic point of view in an attempt to teach the hermetic principal, As Above, So Below. For those who are ready for the practice of self-inquiry and seek to approach life multi-dimensionally, astrology & yoga together can be quite enlightening.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

Astrology Buddhism consciousness Dharma Karma Kripalu Meditation philosophy Teachers Yoga Yoga Therapy

Jack Kornfield kripalu niyama Patanjali svadhyaya

Published April 4, 2008 by ifc

The Pluto Line…..oh dear

And, it runs right thru Southern California on my astro-cartography map. AstroCartography is an astrological technique by which we re-draw the ‘map of the heavens’ and place it on Planet Earth. Mathematically, we are transforming time into space…..or rather, integrating them…..together.

I became fascinated by this technique from Jim Lewis way back in the ’80’s. I took a weekend workshop where Jim taught the attending astrologers how to work with his maps and It blew me away! I’ve been playing around with this technique ever since and I’ve come to respect it as much as the more traditional ways to use astrology. When combined with feng shui, astro-cartography becomes a powerful methodology for positive action. Go here to read a post on a related topic.

I don’t have any major lines running thru my current hometown location. I have two paran lines that I cross over if I drive a couple hours south. Other than that, not much going on here for me in NJ.

However, as you can see by looking at this map the line representing Pluto goes right thru Long Beach, California where I am going to be spending a month, soon. Oh dear! For this Scorpio Sun, it’s a mixed blessing for sure. No doubt it’ll be a life-changing (transformational) trip.

The horizontal (paran) line that crosses it near Long Beach represents Mercury/Jupiter. Aaaaah. That feels better…..especially since I will be spending a good deal of time writing while I’m out there. For one who earns her living teaching, this location could be quite a ‘page-turner’! 🙂

Transiting Pluto is moving thru my 6th house these days and coming into orb of my Moon/Uranus opp. Venus aspect. It’s the tightest aspect in my chart and hasn’t had a major aspect from Pluto in a long time. Something is getting ready to happen for sure.

So, what to do?

Following my own advice the first thing is to notice….thoughts, feelings, attitudes, expectations, prejudices, all the ‘knee-jerk’, unconscious responses to this information. I confess to a little fear, but also anticipation and excitement too.

For now, I think the task is simply to get comfortable with not-knowing anything (for certain) and stay open to possibilities.

Hmmm. Sounds like a plan.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi. dorothy