Tag: <span>cycles</span>

A long time ago I created the word timescaping….it’s a verb.  I couldn’t find it anywhere else, and I researched it, so I’m ready to take ownership of this word, now.  It describes the act of perceiving time as  cyclical & multi-dimensional, not linear, which is how a majority of us see it.  The word implies, by intention, that we can have an effect on time, just as time effects us.  We can speed it up or slow it down, almost at will.   It’s much, much harder to manage time for those that retain the linear perspective of absolute beginnings & absolute endings.   Of course, that’s silly, because many, many things do end.  Absolutely.  And yet, the invisible, energetic, impulses & sparks do live on if there’s any karma around it at all.

After decades of research, life experience, and risky experiments, I came to believe that living one’s daily life according the cycles of the Moon, (and other cycles too, taken as a ‘whole’ picture perspective), is a far superior way to organize one’s activities then adhering to just calendars & clocks,  Apple watches included.

The Synodic Cycle of the planets holds the key for conscious time management, particularly the Lunar Cycle.

I will post some excerpts and links asap.

 

 

 

Recently I read somewhere, that it takes 10, 000 hours of  consistent & persistent study to achieve Mastery over the subject at hand.  The author of these remarks meant it quite literally, and meant for us all to add up the hours spent in serious study, and practice.  If you are fortunate enough to attend a school of formal learning, they will do the math for you and assign you some letters  to add after your name. This may make living in this new-normal world easier, or not.  Time will tell.

The first book I was assigned to read when I began my yoga teacher training in 1998, was titled  Mastery by George Leonard, and for me, the bookworm,  it was a surprising and disappointing assignment.  I was burning to dig into ancient indian texts on how to achieve enlightenment and change my life, and stuff like that.  Mastery was small stuff.  I am grateful that my thinking has evolved since I achieved my 10,000 hours.

With Saturn in Virgo residing in my third house, natally, I’ve always been quite picky about  subject matters regarding intelligence, mental health, communications, education, and siblings.  You will find me quite firm in my opinions regardless of how quickly said opinions change.  And, change again.  Mutable signs are like that.

Then there are the ten thousand sorrows and ten thousand joys that the Asian Buddhists write of.   Why 10,000?  Why not 11, 001?

I had a major spiritual awakening during a vedic math class once.  I’ve never forgotten that moment and it has been a source of delight in my memory cells ever since.  Numbers are a deep source of symbolic information, yes?

Wikipedia informs me that there is a 10,000 year clock , conceived in 1986 and currently being built by a group of new-normal-wizkids including  Jeff Bezos , of Amazon, who donated 42 million towards this project!  It’s called The Clock of the Long Now.

How appropriate.

But why, 10,000 years?  Why not 11,001?

Other details to consider:

  • 10,000 years = 864,000 ,000 seconds
  • 14,400, 000 minutes
  • 240,000 hours
  • 1428 weeks (rounded down)

Then, sadly, of course,  there is that ever vigilant, awake & ready army of 10,000 , which has been mythologized, dramatized, and institutionalized  since 400 BC.

But the most recent incident of 10,000, the inspiration for this blog post, came in the mail from Amazon.com.  It’s my new pedometer!  It counts my steps. According to the new-normal-thinking of 2014, we need to take 10,000 steps a day if we want to lose weight, 6, 000 steps to maintain one’s fitness, etc. etc., and blah, blah, blah.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

10,000?

And, last,  just for fun : 10,000 Maniacs.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxW0CUaPWAE&w=420&h=315]

May you live for 10,000 years.  Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

Astrology Blogging journal entry philosophy Time Management Yoga

clockandhourglass.jpgWhew. Well, it’s moved on now and no longer in the exact degree of eleven. Those of us who are sensitive to Pluto/Uranus can feel a slight sigh of relief.

During the mid-60’s Uranus and Pluto were about to merge, conjoin and initiate a cycle of Radical Change & Transformation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The last conjunction was in 1850 in Aries. But that was before we even knew that Pluto existed.  The 1960’s conjunction occurred in middle degrees of Virgo, and other things needed to change and transform. The cycle lasts approximately 138 years and the next conjunction is: Apr.24, 2104 in early Taurus which will display a different theme of Radical Change & Transformation.

One way to think about conjunctions is that they mark the beginnings of a cycle, and cycles begin ‘in the dark’. (ie. the new moon cannot be seen) The ‘dark’ symbolizes the state of being unconscious and can sometimes express itself with spontaneous and impulsive actions. But, not always. The events of the 60’s were just the ‘seedform’ of what will ultimately be seen in 2045 at the full phase of the current cycle.

Today, 2012-2015, the cycle reaches its 90 degree/first quarter aspect, a square. This is the “crisis-in-consciousness” point. I refer you to Buz Myers, Dane Rudyhar, Alexander Ruperti, Barbara Hand Clow. They were (and are still) some of my favorite teachers. Their writings and teachings on ‘the nature of a cycle’ are brilliant and resonate still today.

In 2221, Uranus and Pluto will be conjunct again…starting another new variation of Radical Change & Transformation. And again, in 2357. Radical Change & Transformation. You can mark your calendars. It’s that certain.

On May 24, 2013 Uranus and Pluto squared each other for the first of seven squares occurring between 2012-2015. At the very least, expect major events & global headlines.

Here are the dates for the other squares:

• June 24 2012

• September 19 2012

• November 1, 2013

• April 21, 2014

• December 15, 2014

• March 17, 2015

The current incarnation of astrologers are watching and documenting, and sharing what they see.  And so am I. There’s much to learn.

Anything that involves Uranus and Pluto, involves me, personally.All the time. And, that fact has manifested in the timing of significant events in my life. Uranus and Pluto create incredible havoc when they’re together for everyone, and some of us get walloped personally, at the same time. We may become agents of Radical Change & Transformation.  It’s hard to know how to prioritize things sometimes.

Anyway, this month in our ongoing series of Experiential Astrology & Yoga workshops, we’ll be working this current transit of Uranus & Pluto to decipher where in our lives is Radical Change & Transformation.

Prescription.  Practice More Yoga.  Meditate, Often.

Om Shanti, May All Beings Live in Peace.

Astrology electro-magnetic energy

NEW

Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute:

What you can do, or dream you can, begin it:

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

Only engage and the mind grows heated;

Begin and then the work will be completed.

(Goethe)

 

There are 13 lunar cycles to a calendar year of 12 months, 13 opportunities for new beginnings.

The New Phase of the Moon initiates the waxing half of the lunar cycle. Waxing means growing in light, representing formative processes. Dane Rudyhar writes that the waxing time represents the “power of instinct”. Thus, during the two-week waxing period we need to express our spontaneity and instinctive behaviors. Beginning is paramount; outcome is incidental.

At the New Moon the sky is dark. The exact time of it by direct observation is impossible. Metaphysically, the dark represents the unconscious mind, individually and collectively. It is a reflective time, a time to be open and receive clues from the Universe.

The phase begins with a gradual emergence that feels like unfinished business or something pressing to do, but,  you’re not sure what it is, it’s “dark” out. If we neglected to do our mental/emotional/spiritual housecleaning during the previous phase/cycle, it requires effort to shake off the lethargy and the hovering ghosts.

The new phase also represents the passage from nothingness to the more active part of the cycle. It is the stillness behind the motion, the state of suspension before the birth, steeped with hope, possibilities,  and significant beginnings.

It’s an interesting practice to investigate the space between endings and beginnings.  May find that both happen at the same time, and time becomes a wheel.

During these days/months we need to express energy instinctively. Becoming attuned to ourselves and less focused on the external environment, unless you practice spiritual feng shui in your home. This period may also be experienced as a state of confusion, being completely in the dark about the “why” of our actions. Spontaneity and impulsive actions are okay to practice now. Like Nike said, Just Do It.

When the sun and the moon come together at the New Moon, our sense of purpose and our unconscious responses become one and the same, blending their energy. Yin and Yang are one, briefly.

It is a time to trust our unconscious and let it be our guide. The Universe will open the door now. Watch, listen, pay attention to what you attract.

If you are astrologically literate and familiar with your natal chart take notice of where the new moon falls. What house is it in and does it aspect any of your planets?

It seems logical to begin things during the time of the new moon. After all it does represent beginnings! However, because the unconscious element is so prevalent at this time take heed. The results you get from starting projects during a new moon may not always be the results you plan for. The unconscious is in control during this time. And, sometimes, most times, our unconscious is a mystery.

I recommend you use this phase to practice being in the moment, aware of sensations in the body, thoughts, emotions, and breath. Give your self some moments of long stillness and then give yourself permission to be (safely, responsibly) impulsive. Let it be okay to not have a goal, or make a new one. Watch what comes to you. Journal.

Later, after a few cycles have completed you can look back and see the significance of the events that began at this time.

Coming:  Yoga Practices for the New Moon

Astrology lunar phases Planets and their Cycles Time Management Uncategorized

How we perceive the passage of time depends on how define the word time. Consider this. Scientists define time as something that is mathematical and linear, at least before quantum physics began to shake up that definition. When someone asked A. Einstein what is time, he replied, “what a clock reads.” Philosophers and spiritual seekers believe that time is subjective depending on the nature of our experience. Ram Dass writes, “time is the relationship between moments of consciousness”.

Biologists see time passing as a link between the rhythm of internal processes to the regular rhythms of the outside world such as mating seasons, and the cycle of growth/death of most vegetation. Corporate Executives and politicians see time as something to control as Golda Meir exclaimed, “I must govern the clock, not be governed by it. Everyone has their own way to relate to time.

Astrology views time as a cyclical experience rather than the linear view most others have.

The effects of time on the body has been well documented. Aging is easy to see. When we look closely, minute daily changes steadily progress to  larger, physical changes. Small lines become deep wrinkles. Slight aches become crippling joints. Body postures once limber and upright, become hunched, rounded, and appear to carry tremendous weight on the back. All of this becomes visible over the course of time.

Although things like poor diet, lack of exercise, substance abuse, and ignorance can contribute to this apparent deterioration, time also plays a part. Our awareness of time passing becomes translated into the body. If we believe that we are supposed to age , deteriorate, and get sick as we get older, then that is exactly what will happen. In Japan, many insurance companies are paying out large sums of money to the widows of overworked business men. They call it hurry sickness or kashori and it shows up as sudden death in the workplace. Our perception of not enough time certainly adds to this modern day illness. And that’s exactly the point. It’s our perception of time that holds the key to releasing the stress we feel. Sometimes time goes very slowly, as if one minute or even a few seconds feels like years. Have you ever had a car accident? Perhaps spun out on the road in bad weather? The consciousness slows down and you can sometimes witness the loss of control of the car as if it were happening in slow motion. Other times, time passes very quickly. Vacations, weddings, happy occasions tend to ‘speed’ up time so that 1 week can fly by as if it were one hour.

The key to time management is to learn to recognize cycles, phases, and patterns rather than months, days and hours. To develop the ability to flow with the passing time rather than to fight the clock. There is a certain rhythm in the world that supercedes any manmade time telling device and this rhythm remains constant, stable, and secure and is not subject to the whims of man who we know makes mistakes.

Astrology consciousness Miscellaneous Planets and their Cycles Time Management Yoga Yoga Therapy

Cycles of Becoming, The Planetary Pattern of Growth by Alexander Ruperti is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read on the study of cycles, phases , and patterns.

Here’s what he writes for age 56-63.

Phase 9.  Possibility of 3rd birth in the Uranian cycle. Demonstration of the capacity to focus the spiritual quality of being inherent at birth, through the personality.  New spiritual activities or, negatively, further crystallization of mind and feeling responses.

He goes on to write that after 63 we move towards, “conscious preparation for the afterlife….or senility”

Astrology Dharma Holistic Health Planets and their Cycles Saturn Time Management

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

PART ONE HERE.

clockandhourglass BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS

After studying the nature of (astrological) cycles for so many years I learned rather profoundly that it can be hard to recognize the difference between beginnings and endings. They frequently, if not always, happen at the exact same time. It is a matter of perspective. The key is to honor both equally as a significant time, showing no preference. There is an ancient teaching that goes something like, “as the beginning, so is the end”. Time constantly varies according to the way we perceive it in the moment and also according to a divine plan of which we may be quite unaware of.

I also learned, also profoundly, that there are many cycles happening at the same time, some longer than others, some shorter. And so as you begin to identify the differences between varying lengths you also begin to integrate them into a balanced way to live. Also, you begin to see the relationships that one cycle has to another. This awareness allows you to prioritize your activities in ways that feel good. When time flows you can really appreciate the utter beauty and magnificence of the universe. There is order within chaos, and there is chaos within order. Ultimately there is  choiceless awareness that feels like peaceful balance.

WHY WE START WITH THE LUNAR CYCLE

The lunar cycle is long enough for you to learn about yourself deeply, and also short enough for you to experience immediate feedback to your newfound knowledge.

Cycles come in varying lengths of time. Using the orbits of the known planets around our sun as a starting point, we begin our measurements with Earth which takes exactly 365 days, 6 hours and some 14 minutes to travel its elliptical path around the sun. The speed with which the Earth travels varies according to the distance away from the sun, speeding up as it gets closer and slowing down as it travels farther away. Each planet carries with it, its own anomaly or individual orbital characteristics that set it apart from the other planets. This dance of the earth around the sun we’ll call the Solar Cycle.

The Lunar Cycle, of course, represents the length of time it takes for the moon to orbit the earth or 29.531 days (the mean length of a lunar cycle). (Go here for a time lapse photo of the lunar cycle. http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010218.html) Each planet cycles around the sun at its own pace in its own way.

Reconnecting with LUNAR rhythms can be an important first step in either gaining or relinquishing control in our lives and thereby reducing stress. Astrology can be an important tool in establishing this reconnection. Within the astrological body of knowledge is a clock that suggests universal time principles and also information that will help you to reconnect to the internal, intuitive clock that lies deep within.

Scientists, researchers, and astrologers have all documented the effects of the moon on life on earth. This fact is no longer disputed. All one needs to do is check the weather patterns or the records at the hospital or police station to see the effects of the full moon phase. Whether these effects are a result of gravity, electro-magnetic energy, or sunspot activity is not important for our purposes here. What is important is that we become more aware of the rhythm of the cycle that prompts our actions. Reconnection to the lunar cycle as a time-management tool will help to smooth out all of the stresses that our modern day world has created.

HOW TO USE THE LUNAR CYCLE

Even if you are new to this concept it is very easy to begin aligning yourself with lunar time. Depending on the cultural differences between different astrological systems the entire cycle (360 degrees of something) can be divided into as many pie-shaped phases as you like. For the purposes of this book I am going to use the Eight Phase division of the circle yielding time periods of 3.5 days for a 28 day lunar cycle. The Vedic astrologers using a different methodology refer to phases as nakshatras and recognize 27 of them

First check a newspaper and/or calendar to see when the next New Moon phase occurs, that’s a good time to investigate something new! Each phase lasts approximately 3 days, give or take about 10 hours. The phases that are most important at first are the new, full, and quarter points. The others will become more apparent to you after you have become familiar with the most dynamic ones. A good idea would be to mark your personal calendar or daytimer so that you are reminded what phase is current.

At first, just noticewhat is going on during each phase. You might want to make a few notes in a journal to refer back to later on. During these early stages while you are still learning the most important thing is to just become aware of what types of events are happening and how those events fit into the larger scheme of your life. One of the rewards of following the lunar cycle is the ability to discern the importance of any singular event. A seemingly insignificant event can take on added importance if it occurs during particular phases. After a couple of cycles, you might then attempt working with the phases and begin to plan your time accordingly. I often receive questions on the best time to begin new projects, and the answer to that is not a simple one.

THE BEST TIME TO BEGIN NEW PROJECTS

First you need to consider the nature of the project. Is it something that is done routinely? If so, are you very clear about the results you are looking for? If the answers to these questions were yes, then the full phase of the moon would work well. If, on the other hand, you are beginning something totally new and you’re not sure about outcome, then sometime between new and first quarter would be better. Please remember that there are other planets circling with energies that might hamper or help your plans. If you are working on something that is very important to you it would be best to consult the advice of an astrologer who can give you a bigger perspective on the timeliness of your choice. The lunar phase is best applied to things that are part of your daily life.

COMING TO COMPLETION

Not everything can become completed in a 28-day lunar cycle. Some things take a little more time! The symbolism of the phases still works. During the new phase, a project might spontaneously take a new turn. The quarter phases will continue to bring change, crisis, and challenge. The full moon brings clear perspective to everything and always signals a good time for negotiation and discussion. And, of course, no matter what we are working on one needs downtime to rejuvenate. Balsamic phases are an important part of every cycle.

INTERSECTING CYCLES

The lunar cycle is visible. You can look into the night sky at any given time and see ‘what time it is”. The visible reflection of the moon is like a giant clock in the sky.

This visible cycle is what I call ‘generic’ time. When the moon is full in the sky, it is a full phase for everyone.

However, there is another cycle that is occurring at the same time and that cycle is happening on a more internal or personal level. Each of us, individually, have our own personal clock or cycles that are apparent only to ourselves. Sometimes our personal cycles coincide and complement the outer, external, generic cycle. And sometimes our personal clock conflicts with the generic, visible cycle creating a challenge for us to integrate our personal life into the whole of the population.

Here’s where Yoga enters the picture.

Stay tuned for more excepts from: A Teacher’s Manual.

Om shanti, peace to all beings.

Astrology lunar phases Planets and their Cycles Time Management Yoga

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2007 October 23
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download  the highest resolution version available.

Crescent Saturn

Explanation: Saturn never shows a crescent phase — from Earth. But when viewed from beyond, the majestic giant planet can show an unfamiliar diminutive sliver. This image of crescent Saturn in natural color was taken by the robotic Cassini spacecraft in May. The image captures Saturn’s majestic rings from the side of the ring plane opposite the Sun — the unilluminated side — another vista not visible from Earth. Pictured are many of Saturn’s photogenic wonders, including the subtle colors of cloud bands, the complex shadows of the rings on the planet, the shadow of the planet on the rings, and the moons Mimas (2 o’clock), Janus (4 o’clock), and Pandora (8 o’clock). As Saturn’s moves towards equinox in 2009, the ring shadows are becoming smaller and moving toward the equator. During equinox, the rings will be nearly invisible from Earth and project only an extremely thin shadow line onto the planet.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/

Saturn

In this post we find that Eris has shifted back into the energetic orb of 21 degrees of Aries.

In this post we learned that the 21st degree of Aries corresponds to the Sabian Symbol : “A Pugilist Enters The Ring”

Go here now………………..

The Universe works in some amazing ways.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

Astrology Eris