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| This Week’s FocusSelf Service or Selfless Service? 🤔Issue 11 Volume 9 16 March 2026 |
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| The Allegory of the Long Spoon illustrates how actions motivated by survival lose their humanity. Saturn and Neptune together in Aries means renewal and rebirth through the process of wiping away the illusions that keep reality hidden, both within ourselves and in the world. Saturn’s the ‘long spoon’ that prods us towards unconditional Love (Neptune). This means the challenges we face are the very same challenges that will free us. Image Credit: Stuart McMillen |
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| |  Astrology Monday’s
Area 51 Research finds the average user only spends 51 seconds perusing a newsletter… that’s about 200 words read… Welcome to Area 51! 😁 This week’s focus The happiness and fulfilment we seek blossoms when we take ourselves and our life less seriously. In the whole scheme of things, we are just a speck; it’s what we offer to others that makes all the difference…
This week’s key astrological implications The Man in the Moon Wants to Dance Summary: This week, the Moon reveals how it has no enemies as it conjuncts the Sun, Mars, Mercury, Rahu, Saturn, and Neptune in Pisces and Venus in Aries. It’s party time! Expect emotions to be up and down and all around but wrapped in opportunity. Avoid: It’s all good from the Moon’s perspective, but Mercury and Saturn are better off without the Moon’s emotional input (see below). Avoid emotionally charged conversations during this time. Risks are best avoided. Remedy: Channel the Moon’s energy through close friends, good com pany, and spiritual discourse. Spend quiet time around water; meditate; revise goals and objectives to match the renewal energy of the spring equinox. Avoid: depressing people, movies, songs, and books. This is a time to dance, not mope.
Kshudhita Avastha for Saturn means challenge Summary: When the Moon meets Saturn in Aries, there is a higher probability of experiencing emotional and psychological strain, grief, loss of strength, and internal conflict. Saturn becomes emotionally starved and can manifest as depression, fear, or stress. Remedy: The same as last week: if something is crumbling, don’t try to prop it up. Instead, burn it down and build something new. Now’s the time. Avoid: hanging onto what is already dead or dying.
Word count: 260. Oops! 😁 |
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“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels… the ones who see things differently.” ~ Steve Jobs (1955 – 2011) American businessman and pioneer of the personal computer revolution
Dear friend and neighbour and fellow traveller; When I was a young fellow in primary school, I spent more time in the Principle’s office than I did in the classroom, not because I was ‘bad’ so-to-speak, but because I found entertaining my classmates so rewarding. I liked to make them laugh and feel joy — a little reminder they were worthy of love and friendship. As I got older, I became less of a classroom entertainer and more of the classroom philosopher who still promoted joy and friendship, but as a deeper experience. During my freshman year in high school, the teacher asked the class to choose one item from a list of ten of things to do if the school day was suddenly called off. The first nine on the list were what you might think of as typical possibilities: go to a movie, go to the mall, hang out with friends, watch television, etc. Number ten, however, was the only one oriented towards service. It simply read, “Spend time with an old person and listen to their stories.” The teacher asked all those who selected a particular item to come to the front of the class as a group and share why we chose what we did. Out of a class of about 30, I was the only one who chose to spend the day listening to the stories of an old person. Why? Like my classmates, I would have loved to have the day off with my friends and go to a movie, but when I read the last item, for me the choice was clear. The chance to show someone they mattered overruled any personal gain or pleasure. This is not to say we are to ignore the natural inclinations and proclivities that arise from our deeper passions or even to dismiss the need to ‘chill’ and destress doing the things we like. This is more about reorienting our day-to-day perspective from one of survival to one of service. Offering what’s needed at the time it is needed aligns us with the River of Life that runs through every moment of existence. The reward? True fulfilment. There is a wonderful story often attributed to Rabbi Haim of Romshishok, a 19th-century Jewish preacher, I was first told this story while living in the ashram of a realised yogi in the Catskills of New York, which, fittingly, is located in an area of strong Orthodox Jewish culture. A man dies, the story goes, and is shown both Heaven and Hell. In Hell, people sit around long tables laden with delicious food and delicacies, each holding a spoon with a four-foot handle. Despite the abundance, they are starving because they cannot bend their arms to bring the spoon to their mouths. Just as they are about to get a mouthful, the food spills and they remain frustrated and unfulfilled. In Heaven, the scene is identical—same tables, same food, same long spoons—but the people are happy and well-fed. The difference lies in their attitude: they use their spoons to feed the person across the table, and in return, they are fed. This mutual care, love, and cooperation allow everyone to thrive. I don’t know what the teacher had in mind when she asked us to do this classroom exercise. As I went to the front of the class, there were snickers and a few jokes from the ‘cool’ crowd about the ‘nerdiness’ of my choice, but after sharing my intention of offering someone else love simply because it was a good thing, there were no more snickers, perhaps even respect.
With only one choice out of ten directed towards someone other than oneself, perhaps the teacher wanted to find out if anyone would take the long handled spoon and feed another. Perhaps she was very wise and all she wanted to do was plant a seed, a seed she knew would one day sprout when it received enough light and water. She, too, offered to feed us with her long handled spoon, and I, for one, am incredibly grateful to her.
🤗
Warm thoughts and many blessings,
David 🙏🏻
astrologyofjoy.com |
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| | | | What Now Special! Lost and confused? Don’t be. Let’s have a chat. 1-hr online consultation £49. |
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Pisces Sun: Surrender and Devotion19 February—20 MarchThe Sun in Pisces helps us identify with our greater humanity. Compassion, devotion, and creativity all blossom when Pisces is energised and we are able to surrender our limitations.  Pisces is ruled by Jupiter and is the final sign of the zodiac. In the chart of the Cosmic Person, Pisces reflects the full maturation of the soul from lost individual to exalted expression. In Pisces, even the selfless desire to do good has gone and there is simply the expression of God’s intention.
In Pisces, there is an understanding that all beings are one and deserve our respect and protection. People with strong Pisces planets tend to be creative, imaginative, empathetic, and poetic. Pisces people are like the minstrels of old who danced and sang their way across the kingdom to spread joy and good cheer. Sun in Aditya Dhata
Before the arrival of the Greeks, the ‘zodiac’ used in India was a 360 degree circle based upon the Sun’s movement (Adityas). The Aditya corresponding to Pisces is Dhata which relates to the mother and a mother’s capacity to bear the pain of childbirth so the child can be born. As the Aditya of health, wealth, and peace, Dhata brings wellbeing, prosperity, and spiritual harmony and ensures there is balance on Earth through a flourishing of biodiversity. People born with planets in Dhata, especially Sun, Jupiter, Venus, Moon, and Mars are great empathisers who wish to end the suffering of the world. They are philosophical/spiritual by nature and can e |
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Moon Planner
Has the Moon got you hurried and harried?
No worries! The Moon represents the feminine and your capacity to receive and recognise the resources you have available to fulfil your emotional needs. Too  often, we get distracted with what is not ours and miss out on the available opportunity, experiencing disappointment and disillusionment, or worse, we become like my hairy friend, Monsieur Lou Garou. 🤭
New Moon
Thursday, 19 March: New Moon in Pisces (01:23 BST )
New Moons are best spent quietly in meditation and reflection to allow for latent insights to rise to the surface so you can allow them to work their magic.
This New Moon occurs just before the spring equinox at 28˚ 27” Pisces signifying emotional release and letting go old patterns, unresolved trauma, and limiting beliefs. Only 37 hours from spring, this is an unusually strong opportunity to make space in your mind and body for new beginnings. It’s an opportunity to clear the emotional clutter and let go the heavy emotional baggage you have been carrying. Key Themes A rare stellium (cluster of planets) of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars, and North Node in Pisces amplifies psychic sensitivity, intuition, dream state, compassion, and creative inspiration. What are you waiting for! Jump into the Lake of Knowing and start anew.
Emphasis: Inner work This New Moon acts like a springboard — the energy you put in is the energy you take out. It’s a time to take inventory and consider what has been holding back that you know in your heart you need to let go. Yes, it’s painful, but in the space created, Love comes willingly.
Practical Guidance Ideal for: Journaling, meditation, spiritual practice, dream work, energy clearing, creative expression, and setting Jupiter-aligned intentions focused on compassion, creativity, spiritual growth. and making the world a better place. This is NOT a time for gritting your teeth or forcing your way forward. Open heart brings clarity. Tip: Nature is your friend.
Practice: Close the eyes and close the phone, but keep a notepad nearby. As something arises, open your eyes and jot it down. For support, try this 7-minute meditation app
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Important dates (2026+)
Now thru 2026 and beyond
2 MAR —9 APR 2026: Mars transits the sign of Pisces, bringing a shift toward more intuitive, spiritual, and introspective action though its time with the North Node can fan the flames of impulse. Now thru JUL 26 2026: Rahu in Pisces: Loss of boundaries; excessive empathy; heightened creative expression and imagination.
Now thru JUN 30, 2026: Jupiter exalted in Cancer: Heart-centred approach brings rewards when emotions are tied to your good intention and not selfish gain. JAN 26 thru 2039: Neptune in Aries. Tension between acting and visualising disrupts progress.
FEB 14 2026— APR 12 2028: Saturn in Aries: Weakening foundation; supports taking calculated risks. Prudence is fine; obsessively cautious denies needed change. APR 25 2026 — Uranus re-enters Gemini and stays there until 2032. War? Revolution? |
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| | Hero’s Journey
The journey of the hero is about the courage to seek the depths; the image of creative rebirth; the eternal cycle of change within us; the uncanny discovery that the seeker is the mystery which the seeker seeks to know. ~ Joseph Campbell, |
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| Wise Quotes from Regular Folks Your own Self-Realization is the greatest service you can render the world. Ramana Maharshi (1879 – 1950) Indian sage and jivanmukta (liberated being) |
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| | The Simplest Way to Enlightenment Sadhguru brings lofty ideas of enlightenment down to earth. Based on where you are right now, he points out a surprisingly simple method that, if relentlessly applied, can lead you straight to enlightenment. 😉 (video duration: <12 minutes) |
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| | Free and low cost programmes and discounts… |
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| Miracle of Mind! FREE Meditation App!
Recent science shows that even a short amount of time is enough to spark positive neuro-physical changes in your brain. Stick with it, and these quick sessions build up, boosting your mental resilience and overall happiness.
Launched by Sadhguru this past Mahashivratri, Miracle of Mind is a free app to download that empowers you through a daily 7 minute meditation. For more information, follow this link.
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| | | | |  Astrology is not what you think it is…
Forget predictions — they keep you enslaved to fate. Astrology of Joy offers a blueprint for taking charge of your life and living joyfully. Based upon the time-honoured system of astrology practiced in India for thousands of years, Astrology of Joy is inspired by four decades living in ashrams and learning from enlightened beings who taught, “You are more than a body and a mind. You are That!” Astrology Consultations
Concession/economy…….. £49/hr online Designed for the budget conscious, returning clients, or anyone seeking a review of their current astrological trends and trajectories. Includes 1-hr of pre-session chart analysis. Audio file included.
In-depth consultations.……. £69/hr online These readings include 2 hours of pre-session chart analysis. Audio file included at no charge. Examples include: Natal in-depth overview: perfect for new clients or as a comprehensive review
Varshaphala (Solar Return): prevailing tendencies over the next 3 to 6 months
Specialised Consultations: Include: Relationship/Compatibility Career/Finances Health and Wellbeing Relocation (analyse up to 3 locations) Spiritual Development In-depth examination of any area of your choosing Rahu/Ketu elemental reading Muhurta: Auspicious date determination for wedding, baby planning, business start up, medical procedures, home purchase, etc.
Optional add-on personally written eBook available for any reading… £49 For more information, visit astrologyofjoy.com/consultations. 
AstrologyOfJoy.com
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|  New! Astro-Coaching!
Astro-Coaching includes time with a certified Transformational Coach to help you take specific steps towards creating the life you want. For information, please write to me here.
If you want success, the foremost thing is to ensure that you are not the obstacle to it. — Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, yogi, mystic, humanitarian, NYT bestselling author |
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| | About David: Personally certified by Dr. David Frawley, author and founder of the American Institute of Vedic Studies, David has been a professional astrologer for over 30 years. David learned the art and science of Indian astrology while a ten-year resident in the ashram of a realised spiritual master. David guides clients throughout the world on achieving fulfilment in their spiritual and personal lives and wellbeing.
David served as editor of Isha Yoga’s European newsletter for two years, was Vice President of the Rosia Montana Cultural Foundation in Romania, and has a Masters in Archaeology (with Distinction), studying the challenges and issues facing contemporary society from the archaeological perspective. He also wrote and published a parent-child picture book with his brother, Steve (illustrator), about the life of Adiyogi, the first yogi. He currently resides in Scotland, where he serves on the board of the Burntisland Harbour Access Trust helping maintain public access to the historically significant harbour. |
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