Category: <span>Yoga</span>

fear not

The Jupiter/Pluto conjunction of 2007 began on December 11 at twenty-nine degrees of Sagittarius. When planets come into conjunction a new cycle begins. Phases are the individual parts of a cycle.  (more on cycles & phases always, check back again)

The Sabian Symbol for 29SAG is:

A FAT BOY MOWING THE LAWN OF HIS HOUSE ON AN ELEGANT SUBURBAN STREET.

The Keynote reads, “the need to attend to everyday tasks which both ensure social worth or respectability, and benefits one’s constitution.

Hmmm.

It may indeed be time for some economic adjustments.

Jupiter is going to show us how to do this when he moves his girth and expansive gifts to Capricorn….sometime over the next week. Here’s where we gain some understanding of how status, reputation, and tradition show up in our lives. Pluto is going to transform all of that. Yup. I can see that happening.

The question is, just how painful (or pleasurable) will the cycle be? Most people opt for one or the other, which maintains lila.

What if we just do nothing?

What if we just continue our yoga practice of ‘being’?

What if we gave a war and no one showed up?

What if all the people holding guns on the planet just put them down and walked away?

Jupiter will be in Capricorn for 12 years.

That’s a time period that gives us plenty of breathing room.

Take a breath, now.

Things are going to get interesting.

Fear Not!

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi

Astrology Planets and their Cycles Pluto Yoga

chiron2.jpgThe asteroid Chiron is named after a mythological centaur (horse/man) who became a great healer/teacher. In astrological mythology, Chiron is the Wounded Healer and has many talents. One story tells how he became immortal and lived a life of suffering after a fatal(?) wound from a poisoned arrow. In the attempt to heal himself,  Chiron learned the magic of herbs, gems, astrology, and  other ancient healing techniques.

In our natal horoscopes, the placement of Chiron describes the circumstances of our unhealed wounds, the ones that require an integrated approach to understand. These are the wounds that are invisible to the world and sometimes even invisible to ourselves.The emotions of shame and humiliation will give you a clue as to where these wounds are located. By the time we reach our early 50’s we have had numerous opportunities to confront these wounds and perhaps we were successful in transforming this lead into gold. Also around the age of 50, the asteroid Chiron returns to the same place he was in when you were born….a Chiron Return in the astrological language. This might be considered a ‘last chance’ for healing in this lifetime the wound that binds you. It’s also a time (after 50) to share your knowledge with others and become the teacher/counselor/healer who helps others with wounds similar to your own, just as Chiron did in mythology.

The Heirophant

The success of the 12-step format is one example of how wounded healers have helped others create happy lives from painful pasts. The Wounded Healer contributes to the whole in ways that can’t be measured.We all have Chiron somewhere in our psyche. It is an archetype that the whole human race feels. The location of Chiron in your personal astrological birthmap can shed some light on the wound that follows you everywhere and has the potential to become your greatest strength. Consult your astrologer/yoga teacher for guidance on this topic.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.


Astrology consciousness Holistic Health Karma Planets and their Cycles Yoga yoga nidra Yoga Therapy

Laksmi

May all beings be healthy.

May all beings experience abundance.

May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings be happy.

om shanti, shanti, shanti

Ayurveda Yoga

There has always been a lot of *fear* around eclipses. One can only imagine what it must have felt like to observe the moon or sun go dark in the sky. The memories and feelings of that primal fear live on in our ‘old’ brain and continue to run like a silent computer program in the background. What do you think would happen if we used all of the power of our attention to dis-engage the fear button? Think about it. Practice.  Take a conscious, deep breath every time you feel fear. Go to a yoga class to learn the subtleties of breathing.

eclipse

The September 11, 2007 Solar Eclipse occurs at 18 Vir 24 using the Western (tropical) zodiac. In the Eastern (sidereal) zodiac, the eclipse is occuring at 24 Leo 32′. degree.) There’s approximately 24-25 degrees difference between these two systems of astronomical measurement. (Google: Ayanamsa.)

Marc Edmund Jones, 10/1/1888 – 3/8/1980, the astrologer who ‘created’ the Sabian Symbols, taught that astrology “properly used” can help people see more clearly their own tendencies. Once seen, we can then apply our free will to adjust, modify, change, or ignore what has been seen. Our evolutionary engine depends on our ability to learn & grow in this fashion.

The sabian symbol for 19Virgo is: A SWIMMING RACE. (When you work with the sabian symbols you always round up to the next degree. You can also go here to read more of what I’ve been exploring with Sabian Symbols)

In his book, An Astrological Mandala, D. Rudyhar interprets this image as “The stimulation that comes from a group effort toward a spiritual goal.” Hmmm.

What would happen if our spiritual goal was: *peace in the moment, no matter what* ?

Rudyhar goes on to remind us not assume that the image symbolizes competition.
In fact, he then says that ” the personal ego-centered ambition to succeed and to be “first” is indeed a sign of expectable, spiritual failure.” Yikes!

I didn’t know there was such a thing as spiritual ‘failure’. Oh dear.

It does pose a dilemma, this image, (A Swimming Race) pointing to our issues around competition, success, failure, and how a competitive path interferes with spiritual rewards. He concludes by pointing us towards emulation. ….hmmmm.

Now, I’m wondering if Dane Rudyhar’s sabian symbols can be used with Jyotish, the Vedic system of astrology? I don’t recall ever reading or hearing any of my Jyotish teachers refer to these symbols. In fact the teachers were always quick to remind us NOT to apply western astrological techniques to eastern charts, and vice versa. (That’s surely something to meditate on…………..)
Jyotish does, in fact, have it’s own methodology for referencing each of the 360 degrees in the zodiac. They, too, use their discriminative faculties to identify incredibly subtle differences and broad sameness. (note to astrologers: please feel free to comment on this)

So, let’s break the rules for a moment and integrate these two astrological systems and see what happens.

book jacketThe sabian symbol (a western technique) for 25deg of Leo (the degree of the eclipse according to Vedic Astrologers. ) states: A LARGE CAMEL IS SEEN CROSSING A VAST AND FORBIDDING DESERT.
Self-sufficiency in the face of a long and exhausting adventure.
Rudyhar recommends, ” total independence from our surroundings and uncompromising persistence.”Hmm. How’s that sound? Reminds me a little of all of the forecasts from ERIS!!

 


So, let’s see what kind of theme’s play out over the next few months and look for how these images manifest in your personal world, and the external world. See for yourself how the essence of these themes get expressed. Of course each of us responds to eclipse energy differently. There will be those who are strongly affected, and those who are not. Consult your local astrologer and get a reading.

May all beings live in peace, no matter what.

Om Shanti.

Astrology lunar phases philosophy Yoga

Once again, I feel full from my experience at Kripalu. Regardless of how I spend my time there……participating, assisting, teaching, or just be-ing, I consistently return home inspired, grounded, and hopeful. I am so grateful that there are places such as this to remind us …………………………………………

The keynote speech on the last morning was given by Shoban Richard Faulds and intermittently enhanced with poetry by his wife, Danna. Shoban inspires me, as do many of the senior teachers of this particular yoga lineage. One of the lessons that the Kripalu community models so well is how to be a community.

Ommm Shanti, peace……………………………………………

Tonite………….yoga nidra & the balsamic moon, perfect together.

Yoga

I’m traveling into the beautiful Berkshire Mountains tomorrow heading to the Kripalu Yoga Teacher’s Conference. Over on the sidebar to the right you’ll find a link for more information.

One of the things I love most about Kripalu yoga is it’s emphasis on community and creating a more peaceful world.

I look forward to re-connecting with my teachers and my peers. After all, there’s just ONE of us here, right?

Om shanti , shanti, shantihi

Saraswati

I’ll be back next week.

Kripalu Yoga

Tonite I am facilitating another Yoga Nidra experience. The timing seems to be very auspicious. On Sunday, Aug 12 there will be a New Moon at 20 degrees of Leo. That degree point has been very, very, hot (!) over the past few years…..and it’s a powerful point…… I’m glad to have this opportunity to de-compress before another lunar cycle begins.

Twenty degrees of Leo, according to Dane Rudyhar (An Astrological Mandala) refers to ” a return to the glorification of natural energies.”

Hmmmm. There’s a lot of different ways that might manifest. If you are a yoga teacher this would be an opportune time to practice ‘holding’. If you practice feng shui, you might want to look around your house and identify what has NOT changed in a long time. Start to change it.

Regardless,

Let’s envision,

together,

peace,

health,

harmony,

for all.

the bridge across the street

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi……………………….

Astrology consciousness Feng Shui lunar phases My photos The Jersey Shore Yoga yoga nidra

Water Buddah

lunar phases Meditation yoga nidra

Recently at Kripalu, I had the great, good fortune to meet up with

Akim Funk Buddah.

Akim is a wonderful teacher and/or role model for our youth today. He delivers a very important and timely message within his chosen form of Hip-Hop music and Rap style of talking. I am grateful that he is out there helping to create a more peaceful world.

In my wildest dreams, never did I see myself performing the harp in accompainment to one such as he. As some of my closest friends have said,

“You just can’t make this stuff up!”.

Anyway, check him out by clicking on the link above. And if you ever get a chance to see him, do it! Sometimes, you just never know who is going to have an impact on your life. Isn’t that a good reason to practice kindness towards all?

wally cropped

Harp journal entry Kripalu Miscellaneous Music

Sometimes ‘trauma’ is not a result from our current life’s history. Stored cellular memory is retained in the deepest part of our brain, probably the medulla. The remnants of these old memories get carried on to the next life, and the next, and the next. If we didn’t have this, we’d have to re-learn how to walk, etc. instead of simply re-membering how to walk. Many of the things we do ‘unconsciously’and automatically are a result of stored memory patterns from ancient times. Scientists have proven this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
So consider just how much of your body is doing it’s job beyond your conscious awareness.

For instance, what’s your digestive system doing right Now? Can you control it or change it? And, which particular hormone is being passed around to the neuro-receptors, etc.?

The bad news is that your physical body is still responding in the ways that it learned from the time of wild animals and no tools. I’m referring here to the automatic stress response that works the same way today as it did in caveman days.

Karma could also be described as old behavioural patterns specific to the individual that are also retained somewhere in our being. Whether or not they’re in the brain is irrelevant for this discussion. And, whether or not these behavioural patterns get carried over from lifetime to lifetime is also irrelevant for this discussion.

sleeping

Yoga Nidra , an ancient technique that has stood the test of time, falls under the heading of Pratyahara; the practices that seek to bring more awareness & consciousness to our senses. (The yogic philosophy is inherently rich and juicy on the subject of the senses.) When we reduce the amount of sensory input we become quieter, calmer, and more internally focused. At this point the physical body begins to relax and release long held tensions.

When we practice Yoga Nidra using a sankalpa (intention) formulated to reduce negative karma we are setting the stage for increased freedom and vitality. The best part is that you don’t have to understand any of this. It just happens. Releasing old karmic patterning is like cutting the roots off a dying plant. Without the roots, there’s no chance that the plant can come back. When we release and/or fulfill old karma, we create a space for new things to happen.

Sign me up.

Astrology consciousness Karma lunar phases philosophy Yoga yoga nidra Yoga Therapy