July 31st, 2019, Los Angeles: New Moon in Cancer, Month of Shraavana

This New Moon in Cancer, in the constellation of Pushya marks the beginning of the month of Shraavana. The month is named Shraavana according to Indian calendar because the full moon will most likely occur in the constellation of Sravana or Dhanistha directly opposite that of Pushya in Cancer.  The month of Shraavana is considered very auspicious because the entire Indian sub-continent experiences monsoon during this time. It is also considered Lord Shiva’s favorite month as Parvati did immense penance in this month to have him as her husband. Astrologically speaking, the New Moon in Cancer is preceded by the New Moon in Gemini cycle where Rudra, the fierce form of Shiva destroys the creation that has gone corrupt. Rudra’s tears post-destruction when hits the earth gives rise to new flora and fauna – this is depicted in the stories of Punarvasu and Pushya in Cancer. One can draw analogies to the monsoon in the Indian subcontinent bringing life to the flora and fauna after a spell of extreme summer that burns up most life. Most devotees of Shiva will start a 16 Monday fast in this month to celebrate the abundance of life.

Shraavan is also the month when many poets and artists compose new pieces inspired by the sounds in nature. It is not surprising that the constellations of Sravana and Dhanistha symbolize sound and music The Full Moon on August 15^th will occur in the nakshatra of Dhanistha. I remember some of my favoriate poems in Marathi are on the beauties of Shraavan month and I would read them with renewed vigor as I watched the rains, inhaled the fresh air & smell of wet soil, and enjoyed the sound of raindrops against my window.

Many may also feel a renewed vigor this August because of Mercury and Jupiter going direct, and Mars coming out of debilitation as it moves into Leo. Notice what got uprooted last month. It may have been a change in habit or lifestyle, unearthing office politics and gossip, discovering false promises, technical problems with electronic devices, softwares and websites, identifying ways by which you bleed money,  realizing the dark underside of authorities in power, acknowledging your own inner indiscipline, lack of vitality and motivation, and non-clarity in your approach to life. Many of us might have felt parched for true inner nourishment.

Jupiter will station for a few weeks before it begins its forward movement in the sky. It may bring up the feeling of being choked about things that bring us hope before we feel a sigh of relief. Mars will transit over the Gandhanta (junction) point between Cancer and Leo around August 6 to 10 making us feel irritated due to low energy, focus and discipline. Renewed sense of energy will be experienced by many after Mars has completely transitioned into Leo. Saturn will also begin to slow down in preparation of its forward movement in September. Venus transiting close to the Sun in the sky (phenomenon called combustion) may burn the impurities in our relating to others. Back biting, politics, manipulations and inconsistencies in relationships may surface making us feel burnt. Make sure to take the tonics of self-love and self-care.

It is good time to find inner joy in anything that has rhythm and music. See if music leads you to nature. Seek out streams, waterfalls, waves of ocean, birds in forest and the sound of breeze. Notice how these move you towards renewed life.

My favoriate Shraavan poem written by Poet Balkavi Tryambak Bapuji Thomre is ‘Shraavan Masi Harsh Manasi’ (translation available online):

श्रावण मासी हर्ष मानसी हिरवळ दाटे चोहिकडे,
क्षंणात येते सर सर शिरवे क्षंणात फिरुनि ऊन पडे

वरति बघता इंद धनुचा गोफ दुहेरि विणलासे
मंगल तोरण काय बांधले नभोमंडपी कुणी भासे

झालासा सुर्यास्त वाटतो,सांज अहाहा तो उघडे
तरु शिखरावर उंच घरावर पिवळे पिवळे ऊन पडे

उठती वरती जलदांवरती अनंत संध्याराग पहा
सर्व नभावर होय रोखिले सुंदरतेचे रुप महा

बलाकमाला उडता भासे कल्पसुमांची माळिच ते
उतरुनि येती अवनीवरती ग्रहगोलचि की एकमते

फडफड करुनि भिजले अपुले पखं पाखरे सावरती
सुंदर हरिणी हिरव्या कुरणी निजबाळांसह बागडती

खिल्लारे ही चरती रानी गोपही गाणी गात फिरे
मंजूळ पावा गाई तयांचा श्रावण महिमा एकसुरे

सुवर्ण चंपक फुलला विपिनी रम्य केवडा दरवळला
पारिजातही बघता भामा रोष मनीचा मावळला

सुंदर परडी घेऊनि हाती पुरोपकंठी शु्द्धमती
सुंदर बाला या फुलमाला रम्य फुले पत्री खुडती

देव दर्शना निघती ललना हर्ष मावे ना हदयात
वदनी त्यांच्या वाचून घ्यावे  श्रावण महिन्याचे गीत

PC: Anonymous

Full Moon, July 16th, Guru Purnima, Lunar Eclipse

This full moon occurring in the nakshatram of Uttara Ashada (in Sagittarius) is known Guru Purnima. It is said to be the day, about 15,000 years ago, when Adi(first) Yogi, Shiva became the Adi Guru to seven sages. Uttara Ashada is also considered the birth nakshatram of Ganesha. We have the lunar eclipse on this day with Saturn and Ketu joined the moon in Sagittarius directly opposite Sun, Rahu and Venus in Gemini.

Many of us are experiencing an inner friction of our individual identities and interests with our higher principles. Social themes that effect well-being at an individual level are at a rise. Awareness of disparities in income, healthcare, housing, education, employment, management-employee wages, quality of life and opportunities for a better standard of living and personal growth is high right now. Ketu and Saturn are bringing in intense scrutiny of the current operative systems at the individual, social, culture and political levels. Venus and Rahu joined the Sun in Gemini are bringing in much needed disruption, chaos and reevaluation of our relationships with the other.

Uttara Ashada (literally means the later victorious one) is ruled by the Sun. Sun is the part of us that sheds light and purifies the areas we are unwilling to see. Notice the tendency to feel frustrated with the disparities we observe in the world, in the inconsistencies of our relationships and the lack of our spiritual growth.

Ganesha, the elephant head deity is also related to Ketu. Ketu is the headless celestial body and Ganesha had his head cut off, to be replaced later with an elephant’s head. Ketu eclipsing the moon may bring up unaddressed past patterns, actions, karmas and relationships either in real life or in our dreams. There is also a high scrutiny of the unaddressed past which can be mind bogging. Invoking Ganesha, will bring in the potential to be an observer and a listener instead of reactor. Invoking Shiva, the Adi Guru, brings in light to see reality sans our filters and judgement.

While many predict gloom and doom, I am of the view that we are living in times that has high potential to raise our intellectual frequencies, our consciousness and our discernment. It is a great time to embark on the journey of truth as it pertains to self in relation to the world. It is a great time to reevaluate our beliefs and principles and really commit to pure teachings.

It is our responsibility to keep our vessel clean to receive the highest order of teachings from the Universe.

#gurupurnima #fullmoon #lunareclipse #adiyogi #shiva #ganesha

Solar Eclipse – July 2nd, 2019 – Mumbai Floods

A lot of us are already feeling the intensity of the #eclipsecycle. #Solareclipse, today, July 2nd, 2019 is in the #nakshatra (constellation) of #Arudra and the sign of #Gemini. Arudra is ruled by #Rudra, the fierce and wild #RigVedicDeity who is associated with #hunting, #roaring and deep #crying or #wailing in #sorrow of the destruction caused. Rudra also fathered #Maruta, the #stormdeities and is the only one who can control the destructive nature of the storms.



When intense planetary energies align in this nakshatra (right now #Rahu(#northnodeofMoon) #eclipsingSun ) many of us feel the #existentialRoar within us – some #primal in nature which feels like we are being #annihilated. Intense planetary energies in this nakshatra are also associated with #naturalcalamities such as #floods and #hurricanes. As I am writing this, MUMBAI IS PARALYZED BY FLOODS caused by heavy rains. Sept 11, 2001 was another destructive event when the twin towers were brought down with a roar.

On a personal level, notice the #innerbattles and storms especially as it pertains to #ideas and #philosophies (Gemini). There is a higher tendency to #egoistically pursue our own ideas without considering/at the expense of others. #Venus is joined this eclipse, bringing into focus the pressure of meeting everyone’s needs, egoistical needs as it pertains to ideas, interests and philosophies! When the #egoidentity is #threatened, it is easy to fear total annihilation because that’s where the mind goes. Notice the urge to scream out of frustration and anger or just wail and cry. The #beauty of this #cosmicconfiguration is that it creates the opportunity to let go of that which doesn’t serve us in the most primal way possible – so that we can free up our energy to create something new. In the midst of the inner storm (which might be reflected by an #externalstorm), when it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we are required to #surrender instead of #escapeintobingewatching .

Rudra is also known as #Vaidhyanath (God of Medicine), the one who carries a pouch of #wildhealingherbs. His #tears form #Rudraksha (#Rudraseyes or from Rudra’s eyes), the bead with #healingpowers. It is also said that after the grand destruction of Rudra, when his tears hit the Earth, new life emerged. Rudra is also associated with #unknowndiseases and healing of unknown diseases. First American reports of AIDS in 1981, was when several planets including the Sun and Moon were #transiting the nakshatra of Arudra. Planets in this nakshatra bring in the potential for #otherworldly diseases and #therapies. If you are in research and development, expect otherworldly or #unimaginable #discoveries to take place. The same applies to #spiritualseekers.

For the #waveringMind, use #Pranayam (breathwork). Pranayam is focused #breath (wind/storm) that #vitalizes. Find avenues for #emotionalrelease – whether it is through intense muscle exertion or crying. Be willing to #sacrifice your ideas and identities that you cling to. Be in surrender, heal yourself and build #strengthtoRise

Summer Solstice 2019

June 21^st, 2019, Summer Solstice 2019: The longest day of the year. Geocentrically speaking, today is also the day the Sun begins its southern course (Dakshinayana) with days becoming progressively shorter till December 21^st. Dakshinayana is a great time to reign the outward expressing energies and focus on practices that take us inwards.

The Sun also enters the nakshatra (constellation) of Ardra today (6^°40’ Gemini) and aligns with the galactic plane of the Universe that passes through this nakshatra. Sun represents our inner most power and purest form that fuels our life. At the time of solstice, as the Sun crosses the galactic plane, many of us question and reevaluate where we spend our power and energies. Around winter solstice we are busy making New Year resolutions and around summer solstice we are often re-evaluating how we are going to orient and focus our energies for the rest of the summer and the year. Make a conscious note of how you are using your inner power around this time, what drains your power and what enhances it.

Mercury just switched signs and Mars is about to switch signs from Gemini and Cancer. Both planets being very close to the transition point between 2 zodiac signs makes them volatile. Notice your tendency to be frustrated and angst. Instinctively communicating without weighing all options & consequences (Mars interfering with Mercury areas of life) as well as hesitating to take action and do the needful due to overthinking and analyzing (Mercury interfering with Mars areas of life) are common tendencies amongst people as Mars and Mercury traveling closely together in the sky. Mars is also casting an 8^th house aspect on the Moon today, creating a level of inexplicable inner agitation which if not channelized with Sadhana will lead to implosion and then outward explosion. Watch out for your tendencies for micro and passive aggressive behavior and/or being the recipient of it.

Saturn and Ketu are also conjoined at exact degrees in sidereal Sagittarius, bringing in focus, rejection, deep dissatisfaction, great disappointments, and disillusionment – all of which can lead to loss of faith, hope, and depression with yourselves, our higher belief systems, political & religious systems and everything else. However, we are called to exercise higher discernment which may seem difficult without the support of a strong Mercury.  

We are also in an eclipse cycle that will take place on July 2^nd, 2019. Rahu, Sun and Moon in Gemini will be opposed by Ketu in Sagittarius, causing the solar eclipse. Venus will soon switch signs and join Rahu and the Sun for the eclipse while Saturn continues to be conjoint Ketu. This eclipse in Sagittarius-Gemini axis joined by Saturn and Venus will bring disruption and the opportunity to create new in terms of our relationship to others (more on this later). There is also a potential for natural calamities, political upheaval, and agitation & aggression with others.

Given the heavy cosmic energies we are all are navigating together, it is a great time to dive inwards through spiritual practices – pranayama (breathwork; to balance breath and thoughts), kriya & asanas (physical yoga; to move energies through the body and the muscles), meditation (to align the energies in the chakras (nerve plexus) and connect to the divine), and practice of kindness, compassion and service to all. 

Full Moon in sidereal Sagittarius, nakshatra: Mula

June 17^th, 2019: Full Moon in sidereal Sagittarius, nakshatra: Mula

Today we are experiencing the energy of the full moon happening in the nakshatra (constellation) of Mula in the sidereal sign of Sagittarius. We are currently living in times with a high potential for exponential evolution, growth and transformation. Mula is represented by Goddess Kali. The story of Kali reveals several allegories and metaphors.

Sumbha & Nisumbha were two brothers who sought to conquer the three worlds (Kāmaloka/world of desire, Rūpaloka/world of form & Arūpaloka/world of formlessness) through severe penance. Chanda & Munda, two lesser forms of asuras came across Parvati, wife of Shiva (maiden form) and were enchanted by her beauty. They took the news of Parvati’s beauty to Sumbha who was immediately grappled by the desire to conquer Parvati and her beauty. Sumbha and Nisumbha had Brahma’s boon of protection against men and demons but not against goddesses. So, in his quest for Parvati, Sumbha sends the demon Sugriva and then Dhroomalochana followed by Chand and Mund. Parvati intercepts the advances towards her all the while changing and transforming herself.  She emerges as Durga and transforms as ChaMund-eshwari after slaying the duo Chand and Mund. Sumbha then deploys Raktabija (Rakta=Blood; Bija=seed) who had Brahma’s boon of cloning himself when his blood drops hit the earth – which made it impossible to destroy him. To meet the challenge of the fight against Raktabija, from Durga’s eyebrows emerges Kali (the dark one. The form that is left behind is called Gouri, the fair one). As Kali begins slaying the many clones of Raktabija, she drinks his blood to prevent it from falling on the earth, wears the cut clone-hands around her naked body as skirt and wears the cut clone-heads around her naked torso as a garland. Eventually Nisumbha & then Sumbha are slayed too.

Kali becomes drunk on the blood and the immense energy she has moved through. There are various endings to this story. According to Tantric traditions, after slaying the demons, Kali dances in trance and ecstasy; she creates rhythm by the stomping of her feet; her long unbound hair creates movement of the wind as she dances; her dance creates a pulse and a rhythm in Universe. So ecstatic is her dance that Shiva dances the tandav (the scared dance) in tandem with her which culminates in them making love with Shiva in a corpse (Shava = dead body) position & Kali infusing new life into him. It is at this moment when Parvati, who started off as the student of tantra with Shiva becomes his equal & then supersedes him. Kali becomes the female embodiment of time (=Kala).

The puritan, patriarchal version of the end (doesn’t resonate with me) which came around the time of colonial rule in India, is that after slaying all the demons, Kali goes into a frenzy and dances across the Universe, threatening to destroy it. Shiva then lays himself under Kali which embarrasses her and she calms down.

Why is this story so relevant now? Saturn and the south node of the moon, Ketu are in Sagittarius, very close to the Full Moon in the axis of Mula (Sagittarius, deity: Kali) and Ardra (Gemini, deity: Rudra, a form of Shiva associated with destruction of the animalistic nature). Rahu, the north node of the moon, Sun, Mars and Mercury are all in Gemini bringing a lot of focus on the Mula-Ardra /Sagitarrius-Gemini axis. The two nodes of the moon are the physical points where the orbit of Earth around the Sun and the orbit of Moon around the Earth intersect. These points get illuminated during the eclipses (the next one being on July 2^nd, 2019). The nodes are unintegrated parts of our psyche and subconscious that the soul is seeking to evolve. The Mula-Ardra axis is also where the galactic plane is located. The nodes in this axis now have opened up portals through which immense change and transformation are set in motion, as I write this.

Kali is associated with the underworld or the underbelly of the Universe; creating the opportunity to unearth the deep truth and lies that rule our lives. Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter is related to our higher principles and teachings – which is brought into focus by the microscopic lenses of Ketu and Saturn. Gemini is related to individual learning and interests through Mercury’s discernment, curiosity and questioning. There is immense potential now to bring focus and attention on your already existing systems – whether religious, spiritual, political, personal & others – question it, uproot it if it doesn’t serve you anymore and create the new.

It is easier to see this in world events now. The themes of masculine-feminine power-struggle in the collective consciousness and the individual consciousness is very evident. The rigid, often violent masculine forces in the world are being scrutinized and the feminist, me-too movement as well got a lot of backlash. I love watching ‘ The Patriot Act’ by Hasan Minhaj on Netflix because it brings to surface several social and political issues of our times – oil, immigration, large scale corruptions and scandals in Malaysia, India & Brazil, civil rights & capitalism, censorship in China, political dictators and tyrants across the globe & student loans amongst others. It is evident that the times we are living in calls for each one of us to be awake & woke; not live passively in oblivion.

The important allegory from the above story to remember is that as we struggle in this life – struggle because of our resistance; because of our false quest for truth; because of our quest for worldly fame, power & prestige (seen in the spiritual communities as well); we are challenged to rise above the noise and tap into the rhythms of the Universe – just like Parvati transformed into Durga, Chamunda and Kali to become the pulse of the Universe. If your tapas (penance), sadhana (practice) and devotion is for anything else, struggle and suffering is inevitable.

In the spiritual seeking communities, I often come across people who are enamored by the transformative Kali energy and mindlessly invoke her without really understanding the depths of her power. The word ‘transformation’ is used frivolously without focus and intention. I feel that we are very blessed to be presented with the current alignment in the cosmos right now. Saturn-Ketu in Sagittarius and Rahu-Mars-Sun-Mercury in Gemini gives the necessary restlessness, focus, drive, discipline & courage, inner power & apt discernment to embark on a journey to truly transform ourselves and by extension, the world.  Yes of course it may feel like you are dying at times; yes of course, you’ll be grappled with immense fear; yes of course, you’ll feel a level of angst like never before – the most transformational times of our lives do feel like that; yes of course, you’re are required to surrender and trust like never before – Are you ready for it?

I start & end my morning meditation with this simple mantra to align myself with the cosmic powers:

Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya | Take me from the untrue to the eternal truth
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya | Take me from darkness to eternal light
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya | Take me from death (fear of) to eternal bliss

Saha Naav[au]-Avatu | Together may we Move (towards our higher learnings, the Teacher (circumstances / Guru) and the Student (me)),
Saha Nau Bhunaktu | Together may we Relish (the fruits of our hard work towards higher principles),
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai | Together may we implement (our learnings) with focus/concentration/ vigor / vitality,
Tejasvi Naav[au]-Adhiitam-Astu Maa Vidvissaavahai | May the higher learnings fill us with the Brilliance (of Understanding, leading to divine wisdom); May it Not give rise to Hostility (due to lack of Understanding),
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

-         

Image credit: http://shiva-parvati.blogspot.com/2016/08/why-does-goddess-kali-stand-on-lord.html

MahaShivaratri

MahaShivaratri is a special night when the devotees of Lord Shiva immerse themselves in his devotion. Several devotees fast and/or stay up entire night chanting in praise of Shiva.

Every month or every lunation cycle, there is a Shivaratri. It is the 14th night of the waning moon; also known as the Krishna Chaturdashi in the Indian Panchang system. The Krishna Chaturdashi that happens before the new moon that marks the beginning of the Spring is a special one as the moon is considered to be the darkest amongst all 12 of the lunation cycles of the year. It occurs in the month of Phalgun in the sidereal zodiac of Aquarius (sometimes Capricorn) usually opposite the nakshatra (constellation) of Purva Phalguni.


There are two mythological stories that highlight the significance of MahaShivaratri.

The first story is about Chandra, the Moon God, who was married to 27 (27 equals the 27 constellations seen from Earth) of Brahaspati's daughters. Amongst the 27, Chandra loved only one - Rohini. The other wives felt neglected and complained to Brahaspati. Chandra ignored Brahaspati's urges to treat all his wives equally. Brahaspati in turn curses the moon to fade away. As the moon begins to fade, he meditates on lord Shiva. Embarrassed because of the curse, the moon takes refuge in the ocean, just beyond the horizon. The flora and fauna that are dependent on the moonlight begin to suffer which disturbs the balance of earthy life. When the moon is about to disappear, Lord Shiva appears and provides shelter to the moon on his head. That's why we see Shiva with a crescent shaped moon on his head. This helps restore balance to the noctural life. Due to Brahaspati's curse, the moon wanes for 15 days and with Shiva's blessings it waxes for 15 days as it travels through the 27 constellations.

In this story, the moon is the metaphor for the mind. Our mind is constantly distracted and wavering. Many experience moods and emotions like the phases of the moon. When we anchor our mind and focus on Shiva, we experience true inner stability irrespective of what life presents to us on the outside.

The second story is of the churning of the milky ocean at the beginning of time. Both the gods and the demons desired the immortal nectar of life. They employed Mount Mandara as the churning rod and snake Vasuki as the churning rope.One of the first things that came out from the ocean in this process was a lethal poison called Halahala that threatened to destroy all of creation. Lord Shiva, being the saviour he is, consumes this poison. Parvati worried for Shiva's life holds his throat to prevent him from swallowing the poison. As a result, the poison collects in Shiva's throat and he becomes 'Neelakantha', one with the blue (neela) throat (kantha). Shiva becomes feverish with the poison in his throat. Hence, devotees pour water, milk, ghee and yogurt as offerings to the Shiva lingum to cool Shiva's fever.

The churning of the milky ocean is a metaphor for our minds. When we churn our minds to find the immortal truth within us, often times we are faced with our own poison - our miseries, sufferings, attachments, mind-chatter, lies, bigotry and others. The invitation of MahaShivaratri is to give our unbearable poison to Shiva to hold so that we can enjoy the nectar of life.

As we approach MahaShivarati, I have been pondering over the significance of this night for me. In the the recent past, I have been going through a lot of my own mind-chatter. I finally reached a point where it became unbearable. That's when I remembered the story of the milky ocean. In a blink of an eye, I handed over my poison to Shiva to hold. This created a profound shift in me. I realized, in true essence, our joys, sufferings and the sum total of our life experiences do not belong to us. They belong to Shiva. It is Shiva or call it the divine consciousness (or anything else you like) that experiences life through us. Isn't that what Bhagvad Gita is all about too? Where Krishna tells Arjuna on the Kurushetra battlefield that our job as humans is to perform our actions and the fruits of that action belong to the divine.

Shav in sanskrit means a dead-body; Shiva is the one who has transcended death - that's why he can hold our lethal poison in his throat. Shiva is also the one who has transcended time and space symbolized by the moon (moon is the mind, that creates the illusion of time) on his head. On MahaShivaratri, devotees are reminded to anchor themselves in Shiva to transcend the limitations of space, time and death.

Happy MahaShivaratri!

#MahaShivaratri #haraharaharamahadeva #shiva

I Rise

Disappointments, heartaches and pain, 

From your oppression, neglect and infliction of shame,

Walking through the Fire

I rise from the Pyre

Queen of pentacles, cups, swords and wood

Taming the lion 

With a roar of my naked truth 

Walking through the Fire

I rise from the Pyre

Stepping into my Power

I look over to find you Crouched

Eons have passed but my Faith in you

Has walked through the Fire

And risen from the Pyre

Don’t you see my yearning

For us to share the throne 

And relish the garden of Eden?

I light the path with million Suns 

Walking through the Fire 

I rise from the Pyre

The veil of illusions that led to delusions

I tore with my bare hands.

The price of your pretense

Was the blood of our unborn

That I drank to my Now

To show you How

Embracing the Unknown 

I created my Own 

Walking through the Fire

I rise from the Pyre! 

- Mālini

Picture credit: roserambles.org