Astrology of Joy

Author: David

  • Yogi’s Corner: Science Backs Meditation

    Yogi’s Corner: Science Backs Meditation

    Do you know that scientists from the University of Indiana and Rutgers University recently discovered that regular meditation can improve short-term and sustained mental health, improve the blood lipid profile, and reduce systemic inflammation (peer-reviewed study)? This follows a 2012 study from Stanley Medical College in India that found an improvement of cardiovascular health in regular meditation practitioners. To read a more user friendly breakdown of these studies and others, visit the Isha Yoga science page.

    Though these studies were based upon Isha Yoga meditation practices, whatever path you follow, the important thing is to follow it consistently.

  • Earth Day April 22, 2022

    Earth Day April 22, 2022

    Never in the history of human life has humanity been at such a significant crossroad. With so many challenges facing us, we are tempted to throw up our hands in consternation and say, “What else could possibly go wrong?” In such a predicament, we don’t often know where to put our limited time and resources and so we look for distractions to help take our mind off the world’s problems. However, there is a new global campaign that seeks to resolve what many scientists consider is our most pressing concern, asking for nothing save our willingness to tell others.

    Taurus is an earth sign and the campaign to save our soil makes this coming Earth Day especially relevant. With the sun in Taurus, now is the perfect time to raise awareness that will end soil degradation and desertification by becoming an “earth buddy”. Doing so has the potential to cause a cosmic shift in how governments approach the health of our planet and literally save humanity from running out of arable land, a possibility the United Nations has set at only 60 years in the future. This would have an absolutely devastating impact on geopolitics causing countries to go to war with each other simply to feed their hungry masses.

    There is a solution and it’s not rocket science. This has been known since at least the 1930s. First, though, we all need to speak up.

    Click the image below to learn more.

  • Your Sun-sign Forecast MAY 2022


    For the coming month
    (April 20 through May 20, 2022)

    Taurus: home, family, emotional connection… these have always occupied a significant part of your identity and your search for happiness. This month take advantage of your expanding solar energy and look beyond family to yourself where the source of true contentment lies. Ask yourself, “What makes me happy? What brings a smile to my face each morning?” It is human nature to be joyful, loving, and blissful. This month, find yours.

    Gemini: your task this month goes beyond chasing your desires and seeking to fulfil your personal ambitions. Acknowledge the natural stirring in your heart to offer yourself in service to the world and others. Though speech may seem an impediment, communication is not. There is more than one way to cook rice. 

    Cancer: opportunity has opened the door for you this month, but it is up to you to cross the threshold. Material gain happens through networking and networking depends upon good communication. Don’t overthink it and no need to pander. You are already in the limelight.

    Leo: perhaps no other time of the year affords you such an opportunity to understand why you are in the work you are, why you chose the career path you did. Once you understand this, you will be in an enviable position to make your work a source of joy… or find new work that does. 

    Virgo: do you fancy a spiritual teacher who can help you “swim to the other side” as Pat Humphries sings in her song of the same name? This month, there is an uptick in your openness to find such a teacher. Feeling stuck? Look to the earth for answers: spend time in your garden or walk barefoot on the beach. It helps clear the cobwebs and sparks the fire of opportunity.

    Libra: it’s not uncommon to shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to making income. Pride is the culprit. This month, investigate the possibility of combining your goals with someone you trust. Business partnerships are percolating within you and can help get you over the hump. Need an extra push? Spend time with yogis and mystics. They tend to think “out of the box”.

    Scorpio: this year has been a bit tough and I can’t really tell you the challenges are finished. Don’t despair! This month, your work and activity gets a boost through your capacity to bring out the best in people. This makes you feel good about yourself and just as the snowball gathers more snow as it rolls down the hill, so too, do you gather more authenticity.

    Sagittarius: do you have any father-figures in your life, a teacher, perhaps, or a mentor or guru? Perhaps your birth father? Good. Everyone has something beautiful about them. Spend time with them this month and learn from their example. Selfless service brings untold rewards, most of which you have never considered.

    Capricorn: this is an interesting and potentially exciting month for you. Your power of intuition and psychic ability is holding the hand of your creativity. Allow the mystical to inspire you whether it is to resolve an old issue or to paint a masterpiece like the Mona Lisa whose other-worldly smile has transfixed the hearts of millions.

    Aquarius: you tend to give a lot of yourself in your relationships which has not always taken you where you wanted to go. This month, however, you get a boost from friends and family who help you discover that home and family is, indeed, more an experience than a place. Lucky you.

    Pisces: O my! Your desires and what the world needs are sharing the same space this month. Good for you. Now you can roll up your sleeves and give the world your best. After all, you are a poet and you know it.

    Aries: did you benefit from the sun in Aries last month and take a decisive step toward an authentic life uniquely yours? Great! Now turn your attention towards communicating with others. Don’t think in terms of words only. Creativity has entered the house of communication and always thinks outside the box. You should, too.

  • Mars-Saturn Conjunction in Aquarius 2022

    In astrology, in addition to the birth chart, we also consider the current movements of the planets within the zodiac. This helps bring awareness of opportunities to welcome and pitfalls to avoid. These movements are called transits. When two or more planets combine their energies because they are transiting certain signs in relation to one another, their combined effect can be profound.

    In this post, we are focusing on one such transit occurring in Aquarius because of its strong potential to cause inner turmoil affecting outer circumstances. As challenging as it might be, however, there is an opportunity. 

    The aspect in question is the Mars Saturn conjunction presently going on through 15 April in the sign of Aquarius. Aquarius is the sign related to following the will of God, i.e., your higher Self, your authentic Self. In Capricorn, we learn to listen to God’s commands. In Aquarius, we follow them… at least that is the idea. Because we are evolving spiritual beings, being authentic is a learning process. When Mars and Saturn move through Aquarius together, that process is interrupted and challenged.

    Mars-Saturn Conjunction: Inner Turmoil, Outer Conflict

    Although recent studies indicate that in regard to world history we are living more peaceably with one another than ever before, a casual review of current affairs and the recent past and we find it hard to believe that human society is evolving. The truth is we all play a part in what goes on in the world and the current Mars Saturn conjunction in Aquarius illuminates how this begins with each of us. The inner turmoil caused by our unfulfilled desires creates outer conflict.

    Mars represents action; Saturn is inaction. In its most mature form within a human being, Mars is the capacity to do the right thing at the right time. In eastern traditions, this is referred to as dharma. Saturn is the capacity to objectively engage life. Though emotions bring sweetness to our circumstances (moon), it is Saturn that provides the firm foundation upon which the emotions play. When we are ungrounded, our Saturn, i.e., when our capacity to stay rooted in the present is disturbed, our emotional nature can become unstable and we can suffer large mood swings. 

    The Nature of Mars-Saturn

    Imagine you are making a pot of lobster bisque from an old family recipe. In this pot, you have all the finest ingredients: fresh lobster from Maine, tomato sauce from your own vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes, hand-picked forest mushrooms and cream from your local farmer. You add some chopped organic celery and chives, a touch of tarragon and thyme, fresh ground pepper and… where’s the hand-harvested sea salt from Île de Ré?? Not a pinch in the house! The local shop is closed and your guests arrive in ten minutes. There is only one thing to do; get mad! Get angry! So you give your grateful dog the bisque and yell at your spouse for using the last of the salt in their morning bath… ?

    This is what the Mars-Saturn conjunction is like: we have a strong desire, but we meet a thick wall of resistance either from within or without. The result is unfulfilled desire which often leads to frustration, anger, loss of discrimination and, ultimately, destruction. Not a very joyful way to live, is it? Is there a better way? 

    Mars and Saturn are in Aquarius and indicate a need for us to be vigilant of our own tendencies to prevent destructive actions from taking place. Mars is our capacity to take right action at the right time. It is our warrior knight who knows what needs to be done and does it willingly. Saturn represents our objectivity and our capacity to persevere by embracing the necessary process. When we are methodical, we are accessing our Saturn.

    When these two share the same space in a chart, the results are not pleasant UNLESS you know what is happening. Our impulse is to act without hesitation (Mars); our prudence seeks to commit only after a careful examination of the details (Saturn). When conjunct (together in the same sign), they create friction. Mars wants to go, Saturn wants to hold back. In the end, frustration happens. Frustration, of course, is a result of an unfulfilled desire. Unfulfilled desire leads to anger, either towards others or towards oneself (depression). Once anger establishes itself within us, we lose discrimination and this loss of discrimination can become destructive. 

    Helpful Hints

    For Aries, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, or Pisces sun-signs, Mars is a ‘friend’ and Saturn an ‘enemy’. This means your Mars energy is more balanced than your Saturn energy. Therefore, action is a better policy than holding back. Obviously, you want to do your homework, but your basic tendency is to sabotage your goals through too much consideration and deliberation to the point you miss the opportunity.

    For Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn, or Aquarius sun-signs, your Saturn energy is more balanced than your Mars energy. Therefore, be cautious of strong desires during this time. Use your Saturn to make sure what you are about to do is going to take you where you want to go. If your plans get delayed, reflect on whether that delay was a blessing in disguise.

  • Sun-sign Forecast: March 21 — April 19

    Are you an Aries or a Leo, a Libra or a Capricorn? Whichever sign you were born under, your sun-sign reveals the quality of your self-image — do you see yourself as a shining star or a lump of coal? Elemental Astrology considers the ‘sun chart’ as the most important astrological chart; our life is built upon our self-image and identity. The more we identify with our limitless, infinite self, the more we live joyfully authentic, free from the limitations of our past.

    On March 20, the sun moved into Aries, a fire sign that represents the power behind creation. Everyone can make this a time of growth and rejuvenation; however, depending upon your sun sign, your approach will differ. For those with sun-sign Aries, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, or Pisces, this period is constructive and offers an opportunity to build upon your vision of what is possible. For those with their birth sun in Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn, or Aquarius, this time breaks down old patterns, signifying an opportunity to lay out a new direction filled with possibility and potential.

    NOTE: The following is offered for your consideration and contemplation as a means to nudge your awareness. As always, to get the most out of current astrological events, sign up for a consultation with me through ZOOM. What follows is only a small snippet from the perspective of the sun. A reading from the perspective of the moon and rising sign, though absolutely essential, requires an accurate birth time.

    Forecast March 21 through April 19

    Aries Sun: With the Sun back in your birth sign, you have an opportunity to stand firmly in your own identity during this period. With renewed confidence in your yourself, vision is key and taking this month to gain clarity in how you want your life to unfold will lay the foundation for greater things. To help this process and overcome a inclination to fear change, focus on how you communicate with others, both in expressing yourself and in listening. Jupiter helps you take positive steps toward embracing the spiritual process and finding a teacher to help guide you.

    Taurus Sun: There is a blossoming energy of self denial and humility that can support you in understanding your spiritual nature while making progress serving others without regard for yourself. This is great as long as you don’t deny your emotional experience while doing so. Helping others is an affair of the heart and best served with love, compassion, joy, and gratitude. To get the most out of this period, understand that your ability to serve is a vital aspect of who you are.

    Gemini Sun: Giving attention to the role material gain and income plays in your life will help you align these areas with your natural talents and abilities. With Jupiter in Pisces, this can also give you insight into your work and activity. The key for you is to spiritualise this process by embracing activities that help ground you. The best way to do this? Be true to yourself.

    Cancer Sun: There is a subtle shift in how you identify with your work and activity allowing for gains to be realised in these areas. Through honest communication with yourself and others, you have an opportunity to begin a process of reestablishing a connection with work that is more “you”, more authentic. This, in turn, sets into motion income and material gains down the road. For you, feelings are more important than outer show.

    Leo Sun: Your relationship to teachers and fathers or father figures gets a nice boost while the sun is in Aries. Opportunities through these relationships symbolise a natural increase in your capacity to connect to grace and generate your own “good luck”. Long journeys during this time will help you find more confidence in yourself. A bonus? Spend time with animals, in particular friendly ones.

    Virgo Sun: The sun creates an opportunity to embrace the mystical, the unseen ever-present hand of grace. This energy is naturally inward moving making it challenging to make worldly gains, something that is better suited when the sun enters Taurus beginning April 20. Instead, use this time to meditate and reflect on your capacity to receive what is offered. Meditative activities prosper.

    Libra Sun: Now is a wonderful time to reflect on how you relate to others and to the world in general. In one sense, the world is a mirror of what we hold within ourselves and challenging relationships during this time can reveal the ways in which we try to make gains off of others. In truth, you are complete as you are. Experiencing this, you relate to others not from need, but from a sense of unity and compassion. Be wary of handing your power over to others.

    Scorpio Sun: Making friends with enemies, especially at work, brings gain. Embrace your physicality through activities like gardening, trekking, fitness training, or getting a massage. These will help align you to a more robust vision of yourself and will help offset this year’s extra sensitivity you have to the past. Spending this time immersed in life’s details helps clear the cobwebs.

    Sagittarius Sun: While the sun is in Aries, have a romantic fling with Life! Embrace creative pursuits which can bring you a more expanded vision of who you think you are and what you can become. This goes for embracing intellectual challenges and activities with children, especially in nature. Throw yourself completely in your spiritual practices and you shall find a handsome reward.

    Capricorn Sun: Make home and family a place of rejuvenation by stepping out of the box. This is a time of new horizons when thinking of home and family. Be warned, however; a lack of humility and too much emphasis on “me and mine” can derail possible gains. This is especially true in your relationship with the mother. At its root, there is a tendency to sabotage compassion and love at the alter of security. Security is an inner state of feeling one with all of life, not an outer temporal circumstance.

    Aquarius Sun: Feelings of fulfilment can come through your pursuit of goals as long as there are good intentions behind your desires. Be careful of trying to run over others in pursuit of happiness. Instead, be like the sun: it shines on all no matter who they are. Even on a cloudy day, the sun still shines. A class in acting, dance, music, or photography can help you find a better you. Keep a journal.

    Pisces Sun: Candid communication with yourself brings rewards, especially in resolving childhood issues and establishing the frame of mind required to ignite your wealth building power. Jupiter’s current position in Pisces indicates a natural inclination within you towards self-reflection on work and activity. The sun in Aries offers great support for this to happen. Look for this to be connected to health, healing, and selfless service.