Tag: <span>lunar cycle</span>

Published October 15, 2012 by

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

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Published August 4, 2010 by

Yoga & The Pre-Natal Eclipse

Looking backwards can be a useful practice at times; especially when you’re pregnant.

We’ve all had the experience of being gestated in a womb.  At least I hope so, still **.  Things are changing so fast now, so much more is possible with the advances (?) of science.  Things just don’t stay the same;  impermanence is the nature of all things.

The environment of the womb is not isolated or separate from the larger world, and  the mother is subject to external conditions & circumstances beyond her ability to control or even process!  Her emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs are transmitted loud and clear into the fetus.  The watery womb is the perfect medium by which energetic,  non-verbal information enters the fetus affecting not just the physical growth, but the mental and emotional growth as well.  Everything that is happening outside of the womb, happens in the womb, too.  As above, So below.

eclipseAstrology provides a unique insight into one’s pre-natal conditioning and can give you some important information that might have gone un-realized until right now. I am speaking of the Pre-Natal Eclipse. Astrologers locate this by looking back in the ephemeris to find the eclipse that occurred just before your birth. It could be either a solar or lunar eclipse.  Where it was located in the zodiac is where the information is stored. It’ll show up in your natal chart in one of your houses (bhava).

It is a significant place in the natal chart to study, particularly if you are pregnant, have had children, or want to.  It describes the cosmic weather that was and still is in effect during your own gestation.

If you are curious and determined to become more self-aware regardless of where it takes you than you might want to arrange for a consultation with a professional to talk about your personal pre-natal experiences because whether you understand astrology or not the conditions (external & internal) that were present during the ime of the pre-natal eclipse have marked you just as significantly as your personal DNA.

The more we can understand our own Birth Story/History the more we are able to understand and create optimal conditions for the future children we carry in our wombs.  Yes?  No?

Yoga teaches us that the time is (always) NOW.   One of my teachers impressed upon me that what we feel, we heal and what better time to heal oneself?  We all want what’s best for our children.  Becoming a parent, a mother most especially, is such a unique experience.  The more we practice yoga, on and off the mat, the more we become aware of the myriad of sensations, thoughts, feelings, and insights that occur without pause, inside of us.  This is a moment of transformation, this new awareness.  We can intentionally insert a “change” order, if we are so inclined.  Regardless, taking one conscious breath while you continue to observe, is all that is necessary.

The whole birthing process has changed. The advances of  modern science & technology are competing with the previous advances of mid-wifery and natural birth.  The natural flow of intuition is being silenced by a money driven society and many women do not know what it means to ‘trust your body’.  It is vitally important that we remember who we really are.  It is vitally important that we care for our whole selves while we continue to pay it forward to the human race.

 

There’s another reason to study the pre-natal eclipse that’s very appealing to those who believe in reincarnation.  There are so many ways available to tap into this incredible resource of information….your past lives, that is. shamens,  Hypnotists, Psychics, Mediums, Regressionists, etc. all have powerful medicine to aid you in your search.  Astrology can also point a lens at your past lives and deliver some insightful, validating, and perhaps surprising details on who you used to be.  Searching the past helps one to understand Karma.  Creating a ‘now’ that will support you in the future is Dharma.  The pre-natal eclipse as stated above will describe the temporal environment at the time you were a fetus.  (Look for workshop/event on dharma/karma if you’d like learn more.)

to be continued…………………….

 

An interesting debate is available here:    Should we genetically engineer babies?

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

Yoga

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Published June 16, 2008 by

It’s About Time, Part Two

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.

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Published May 14, 2007 by

Balsamic Time Again

Sabbath

Today & tomorrow all of us will be experiencing the balsamic phase of the moon ending on Wednesday at 3;27 EDT when the New Moon cycle at 26Taurus begins. It’s time to dive in again and clean out the internal clutter.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to meet Wayne Muller who is an ordained minister, therapist and author of Sabbath, Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives. He definitly understood the symbolic meaning of the balsamic phase of the moon. He agrees that, without this time of introverted activity we are doomed to remain a stressed out, disease-ridden, self-centered culture showing little compassion or understanding for others. Whew. It stressed me out just writing that sentence!

The balsamic phase of the moon as I have previously written about here and here is the time to direct our attention to our inner world and our inner life. Many people don’t have a clue what that means which illustrates the need to educate and encourage this practice. Wayne Muller writes about Sabbath from both the Jewish & the Christian perspective. One celebrates this restful time on Saturday, the other on Sunday. I have personally discovered as an astrologer/yogini that using the balsamic time of the moon for my inward journeys to be extrodinarily auspicious.

We on this planet Earth are intimately connected to the cycle & phases of the Moon, our closest neighbor in the sky. We know that the moon affects the tides thru it’s gravitational pull on Earth. We know that we are more than 80% water. It’s not a gigantic leap to realize that we too are affected by that same gravitational pull. And, finally, we know that since the dawning of mankind we have watched and scheduled our lives by the consistent rhythms of the sun & moon. Afterall, isn’t that where our calendar came from? But, I digress.

It does make it somewhat challenging to withdraw from our daily lives if the balsamic phase falls on a Monday & Tuesday! Our contemporary worklife does not have a flexible enough schedule to accomodate the fluctuations of the lunar cycle. We are a solar based society, unlike some of the other cultures on our planet. (See this article on East vs. West astrology)

However, where there’s a will there’s a way. One of the ways I make sure that I acknowledge my balsamic tasks is to step up my yoga & meditation practice during these days. You might want to do the same and attend a class or two. Taking time out to be in nature is another way to celebrate this time. Journaling, napping, day-dreaming, are some other ways to honor yourself and build up your internal bank account. Practice ‘not doing’ as the yogi’s would say. Just Be. You will find that you are even more productive when the new moon comes back around if you take out some time for yourself now.

 

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