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  • Newsletter: 19/May/2025 Saturn — The Price You Must Pay

    Newsletter: 19/May/2025 Saturn — The Price You Must Pay

    Astrology Monday! Saturn: the price we must pay… 🧐
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    This Week’s Focus

    Saturn: The Price We Must Pay
    Issue 21 Volume 8          19 May 2025
    “He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.” ~ Eric Arthur Blair (George Orwell) (1903 – 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic famous for his novel 1984.
    Astrology Monday:
    Just the facts, please! 
    In the land of ’60s American television, hard-boiled detective Joe Friday always insisted on “just the facts”. Here’s this week’s no-nonsense forecast:

    20 May — Sun joins Jupiter in Gemini (Varuna)
    Vedic astrology: An influx of the masculine brings reward through the faculties of logic and reason. Step back and re-evaluate where you are heading as a botanist might examine the health of a forest. Remember to see the forest AND the trees.
    Aditya astrology: Varuna relates to the loving embrace of Life: the Sun and Jupiter do well here. Slow down; be kind to yourself. Your path and way forward is revealed during quiet times.

    25 May — Saturn joins Neptune and Venus in Aries (Aryamaa)
    Vedic astrology: Saturn in Aries is a bit like a ship at sea taking on water during a storm. Knowing what to keep and what to throw overboard can be confusing. Seek a safe harbour through the healthy masculine of the Sun and Jupiter in Gemini. Act on your loftiest goals. This is not the time for sensuality and sense gratification, but for sensibility and sensitivity.
    Aditya astrology: Aryamaa relates to the heart chakra and the external world. Saturn reveals lack of vision and harms Venus (support of friends). Lean on Mars, the dharma warrior within you.

    25 May thru 9 June — Saturn aspects Jupiter and Sun by sign
    In Vedic astrology, aspects also occur as whole sign aspects. Thus, beginning 25 May, Saturn aspects the Sun and Jupiter by sign. Saturn relates to survival and Jupiter encourages revival. Let your zest for life guide practical decisions and necessary choices, not your pain body, worry, or concern. The world is fine; it’s the prescription of your perception that needs correction. 😉

    Dear Wonderful Neighbour;

    Let’s chat about Saturn. It’s going into a difficult sign on 25 May, so maybe a chat can reveal a plan of action.

    Saturn is the price you must pay if you are to assume your rightful place on the throne of eternal joy. Saturn represents the unravelling of your karmic trajectory and is the medium through which you learn to keep what is beneficial while letting go what is not. Saturn always gives you what you deserve — even if it hurts — but it is the elephant goad that keeps you moving in the right direction towards the ultimate realisation.

    In world affairs, Saturn needs a healthy Jupiter lest its power goes unchecked resulting in trials and tribulations and never ending misery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, Saturn (authority) was very strong, while Jupiter (good fortune) was debilitated. Saturn is a planet of destiny, the karmic price we must pay for what has occurred in the past and Jupiter is our highest conscience, truth, and selfless intent. Thus, it was through the door left ajar by Jupiter’s weakness that Saturn rectified the world’s karmic debt, but the fee exacted was high: hardship, calamity, and death.

    On a personal level, even as millions were dying, some people thrived: it all depended upon one’s individual karmic trajectory. What is significant to understand is that most of the world acts unconsciously, including its leaders, so much of life simply unfolds the way it does because the conditioned mind does not perceive what is best. The world exists on autopilot.

    According to social psychologists, all inputs, including familial, environmental, social, cultural and economic, impress themselves upon the developing mind affecting behaviour, choices, attitudes and what we consider valuable and significant. However, like all impressions, value and significance are not set in stone; rather, they are like a sailing ship on the open sea whose direction is dependent not only upon the wind but whether the sails are unfurled. Likewise, what we consider valuable and significant is influenced not only by external circumstances and events, but by a changing inner landscape which allows us to “unfurl the sails” when opportunity presents itself.

    A healthy Saturn rids you of what you don’t need so your authenticity can shine forth. In this way, Jupiter’s unconditional Love becomes your inspiration and you perform deeds for the good of all. This is why an unchecked Saturn (as during the pandemic) can be so devastating: it causes one to indulge their pain, blocking the brilliance of their authenticity (Sun). A healthy Saturn and Jupiter are both needed to evolve and when one or the other is challenged astrologically as we experienced during the pandemic and are about to again beginning 25 May, progress becomes more difficult to experience. 


    On 25 May, Saturn enters Aries, its debilitation, and about two weeks later on 9 June, Jupiter enters Cancer, its exaltation. Saturn is the foundation of all things, the root, the earth. Jupiter is water and takes the shape of what you give it. In Cancer, Jupiter needs the dispassion and objective thinking of Saturn to keep it from becoming needy. Jupiter is also the fire of purification that must be endured to enable us to bring good to the world. Saturn’s structural integrity helps Jupiter maintain itself as a force of revelation and not a conflagration fuelled on greed and self-righteous indignation. 

    Best-selling author Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev pointedly reminds us, “Your mind is not your own. It is a complex amalgamation of all kinds of influences. The more you are identified with it, the further away you are from yourself.”

    We are not the body, we are not the mind, and we should not fan the flames of such falsehoods in ourselves or others. Saturn in Aries can be uncomfortable and disjointed as we look for something to hold onto. The world can at best only give us a temporary hold while we catch our breath. The real answer lies in allowing the strength of our magnanimous Jupiter to make the world a better place. 

    Seek truth. Practice kindness without it becoming narcissistic. Jupiter will be strong over the next two years, and this alone can soothe the aches and pains of our Saturn.

     🤗

    David 🔆

    astrologyofjoy.com


    In this issue:
    • Planning forecast and weekly reminder
    • Astrology of Now
    • Hero’s Journey: Free App
    Science fun fact:
    • A pilot study on the Isha Kriya meditation practice, an online guided meditation offered by Sadhguru, found that after just two weeks of daily practice, participants showed significant improvement in self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, with sustained benefits observed at four and six weeks.  (2022, Frontiers in Psychiatry).

    Astrology Monday

    Weekly Planning Forecast
    Suggestion: match the significations of the following dates to what you wish to accomplish. To plan important events further into the future, contact David for a Muhurtha reading which finds the best date(s) for your specific tasks or goals.

    If your Sun is in Gemini…
    20 May — 21 June

    The Sun in Gemini, a sign ruled by Mercury, highlights an individual who is witty, charming, light-hearted and intellectually engaging. Geminis can be mercurial, but they tend not to hold onto their emotions for long. They are flexible and have a discerning eye. They can quickly size up any situation and though they cannot resist the need to explore and experience what’s available, they are eager to share what they learn with others. They embrace logic and reason and enjoy a good puzzle or conundrum.

    Sun in Aditya Varuna…
    Fun Fact: Zodiac comes from the Greek zodiakos (kyklos) which literally means “circle of little animals” and reveals how astrological knowledge was shared between the cultures of Greece and India beginning in the time of Alexander the Great. For thousands of years before the Greeks, the Vedic culture used a 12-part circle which represented 12 aspects of the Sun. These Adityas offer us fascinating insights into our human potential.

    The Aditya that corresponds to the Greek zodiacal sign of Gemini is Varuna which symbolises the all embracing Love that holds within itself the whole of creation. Jupiter does very well here and will be in Varuna thru June 2026.

    When the Sun is in Varuna, God is directing your attention to the benevolent Mother who watches over her brood (creation) with great Love. Varuna is about being okay with whatever happens. This comes from an understanding that what is created is not different from the Creator. In this way, whatever happens in your personal life this month, pleasant or not, consider thoughtfully how what happened relates to your personal unfoldment as a complete human being. If pleasant, seek the source within you of that pleasantness. If challenging, look for a repeating cycle. With awareness and willingness, you can put an end to an unpleasant cycle of karma. 🤗
     
    Moon Planner
    Has the Moon got you hurried and harried?
     
    No worries! The Moon represents your capacity to receive, a feminine quality, and recognising 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 the poor fellow in the photo — Mr Lou Garou. 😉

    Moon Gauntlet:
    The Moon goes through a bit of a gauntlet this week and so do our emotional needs:
    Yesterday, 18 May:
    Moon conjunct Pluto in Aquarius: Pluto asks the Moon to look closely at the emotional needs. Perhaps they are not as critical as one might imagine.
    Thursday, 22 May:
    Moon conjunct Saturn in Pisces: Saturn’s influence causes the Moon to needlessly worry and fret. To make matters worse, Moon’s influence makes Saturn believe the grass is greener in the neighbour’s yard — it’s not.
    Moon conjunct Rahu in Pisces: Your Moon just jumped onto the back of a bucking bronco thinking it was just a carnival pony. All you can do is hang on and hope that when it throws you off you land safely!

    Moon conjunct Neptune in Aries: Moon and Neptune together are like going for a walk in the early morning fog: silent, mysterious, perhaps discomforting… you never know what you might find there!
    Friday, 23 May:
    Moon conjunct Venus in Aries: Moon and Venus make for some interesting imaginings, especially in relationships. Today, at least, what you want to happen will have to wait another day.
    This week’s reminder:
    Put astrology aside for a moment: transformation begins with your willingness to change. Retrograde Pluto in Aquarius thru 13 October helps you push the reset button. Where in life do YOU want to reinvent yourself?

    This week: Saturn/Jupiter preview
    On 25 May, Saturn moves into Mars-ruled Aries, its sign of debilitation. Expect the next several weeks to be a bit bumpy as we try to balance a need for caution with our sense of forging ahead. Saturn will suggest prudence and caution, but Mars is well situated in Leo and Jupiter approaches Cancer with joy, its sign of exaltation.

    In many ways, this is in reverse of what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, a strong Saturn starved an already emaciated Jupiter. Saturn is government and Jupiter is truth and we know how that turned out. This time, however, it’s a weak Saturn and a strong Jupiter bouncing off each other offering opportunity and possibility to those who remain grounded and upbeat.

    From May 25 thru 9 June, Saturn will aspect Jupiter and the Sun by sign. Typically, Saturn and Jupiter hold each other in check with Saturn being a realist and Jupiter an optimist. However, Saturn’s transit in Aries can indicate too much caution applied to otherwise great opportunities. Use logic and reason to formulate a plan. Weigh the pros and cons and stay objective. Be authentic and real, and avoid all pretence. 
    Transformation Special! If you would like to go deeper into the potential and possibility of the next three months for you personally, I am offering an hourly special: £45/hr online; audio recorded. Contact me here.
    Important upcoming dates (2025)
    Thru summer 2026: Rahu in Pisces
         — Loss of boundaries; heightened creative expression
    APR 18 — JUN 16: Mars enters Leo
         — Aggressive work scenarios; energises authentic work and projects
    MAY 5 — OCT 13: Pluto retrograde in Aquarius
         — Opportunity to reinvent yourself!
    MAY 25 — AUG 31: Saturn enters Aries, its sign of debilitation
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks
    JUN 9 — JUN 30, 2026: Jupiter exalted in Cancer
         — Oh, boy! We finally get some help from the good guys!
    JUN 17 — AUG 6: Mars in Virgo
         — Taking on too many responsibilities; supports fitness programmes
    SEP 1 — FEB 13 2026: Saturn returns to Pisces
         — Tendency towards fear-based decisions; loss of boundaries; practical creative ideas
    FEB 14 2026— APR 12 2028: Saturn in Aries
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks

     
    Astrology of Now
    Disclaimer: I hold no party affiliation and have supported both sides of the aisle with my vote. My aim is to offer you an unbiased perspective of world events through the lens of archaeology, astrology, and yoga.
    Is Trump the beginning or the end? 🤔
    He’s turning world order upside down, but it takes equipoise to gauge the impact

    Good morning, fellow travellers!

    Many of you have expressed a grave concern for the state of the world since Donald Trump took up residence in the Oval Office in Washington, DC. No doubt, Trump is an interesting character, but is he a Hitler incarnate who is turning the world upside down, sowing seeds of hate, and ushering in an era only Damian* would love?

    *Damian was the son of the Devil in the 1976 horror film, The Omen, and not a very likeable fellow. 😁

    Let us very briefly take up your concern, though at the risk of oversimplifying a complex subject. The more one wades through the cause and effect of decades of ill-advised decisions by those in power on both the right and the left, the more one realises how close we have come to waking up in a world not unlike George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Coincidence or by design? Orwell’s tome envisioned a future where society is controlled through propaganda and fear. Huxley’s world, on the other hand, is controlled through mental and emotional conditioning using pleasure, entertainment, and drugs…

    Hmm… seems the future has already arrived.
    😕

    Trump is definitely creating chaos in the minds of global power brokers worried their decades-long grip on controlling the narrative is coming to an end. A cabal of elites, perhaps together, perhaps alone, have been actively supporting forever wars, a widening gap between rich and poor, and loss of personal freedom. They incite discord and create division because once you have labeled someone a victim, you have the means to control them. This is not to say there are not real victims for there are, but as spiritually minded individuals, we know that the greatest resource we have is ourself — not the government. Public policy should make us stronger, not dependent.

    As mentioned in a previous issue of this newsletter, the horoscope of Trump reveals a huge ego with vast amounts of self-confidence and bravado (Rahu/Sun in Gemini), a sincere desire to make the world a better place (Jupiter aspecting Rahu/Sun in Gemini/Varuna), an unstoppable ‘can-do’ attitude (Mars in Leo), and emotional needs he unsuccessfully attempts to fulfil through the external world (Full Moon/Ketu). His strongest asset is his independence and his biggest obstacle is that same independence which can rear its head like a snake and bite those he perceives as weak. He had to grow up fast, but, paradoxically, this also has kept him emotionally immature.

    When all is said and done, Trump pledges no loyalty to either the right or left and is vastly misunderstood by most European leaders. Trump is NOT a politician. He is a businessman who looks at the world in terms of profit and loss. Make no mistake: Trump wants to be on the plus side of a deal, but he also understands the value of negotiations and how each party must feel they have gained something. It’s the “art of the deal” and Trump would not be a billionaire real estate tycoon if he did not understand this.

    Let’s be very honest: Trump’s personality is what drives people mad. It is not even his policies which, when examined, are mostly common sense practical steps any of us would take to secure our own home. Trump has a huge issue and it is that his personality polarises. Half the world loves him and half the world hates him. His Rahu/Sun is in Varuna, the sign of the all encompassing Love of the Divine Mother… his feelings are sincere, but he also has Saturn/Venus/Mercury in Cancer, a sure sign he riles people with his acerbic wit... and very likely enjoys doing so.

    Still, rest assured he is not the demon or anti-Christ so many make him out to be. Indeed, Trump is what the world needs to step back from the precipice. I am not addressing whether his policies will work or not; that’s for another day and another horoscope. What I am suggesting is that Trump is helping us all see where corruption and deceit have long been hiding in plain site behind the labels of both Democrat and Republican. He has stirred the hornet’s nest and they are coming after him with guns blazing, literally and figuratively. 

    Let’s push the pause button and regard Trump with fresh eyes. Let us resist the temptation of the conditioned mind to fall into the habit of judging the world based upon our personal history. We are all seeking the highest expression of ourself and this begins now. We can go beyond Trump’s personality and consider with objective mind what he is doing as a president and why. We won’t be able to rely on the mainstream media and our favourite social media feed for accurate news, but we can rely on something much greater — our love of truth and our determination to find it.

    Here is an interview Sadhguru gave after Trump first took office in 2017 which offers some surprising insights as relevant now as they were then. Edited for space, you can find the complete article here:

    Q: Does Trump have an advantage since he has been a successful businessman?
    …a businessman-US President could be either a great opportunity or disaster. If he can turn things around, it would be an opportunity. Religious leaders seldom agree on anything. Military leaders are used to confrontation. But Trump as businessman is talking about making deals. For example, he wants to be friends with Russia; maybe this will end the longstanding cold war, setting a positive example for the future of Indo-Pak (India-Pakistan) and North-South Korea relations.

    But deals have to also be sustainable. When deals are made, whether in the marketplace or in a marriage, both sides have their expectations, so some compromises may have to be made. I’ll advise Trump to approach the world from a completely new context – not to look at people as ‘my friends’ or ‘my enemies’ but as what’s good for you and me – what way can America contribute to other people and what can other people contribute to America? People have changed; transactions have changed. So Trump’s Presidency is a new business opportunity, not for himself, but for the people of America and others, worldwide…


    Q: What should be the attributes of Trump as US President?
    Sadhguru: If Trump has to succeed as leader of the most powerful nation, he should be aware that with that great power comes great responsibility. The world has certain expectations of a US president; to serve the whole world. Right now the language out there is “America First”– but in terms of business, not in military terms. In business, both parties will have their own leverage. But in military, if you are powerful, I die. In Trump’s cabinet, there are several businessmen, so we can hope for good deals. So far, we are used to politicians using slick language but Trump talks straight; what you see is what you get.

    Q: What other specific advice would you give Trump?
    Sadhguru: Since Trump talks too soon and talks and tweets a lot, I would say now you should talk less, listen and do more. Then a lot of things will change. Maybe someone should take away his Twitter handle! He should look within. As leader, you need spirituality to gain inner experience. If you make 25 people with spiritual insight as heads of 25 nations, they will change the world. Give me 25 top leaders for five days and see what happens!


    In this interview, Sadhguru has shared a treasure trove of what it means to live as a true human being. Though his words are about Trump, we can all feel the truth of what he says for each of us. Our destiny is wide open. let our hearts be, too.

    🤗
    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, 

    Free and low cost programmes and discounts…

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    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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    Become an Astro Affiliate! Receive 20% cashback on any referrals.

    Visit astrologyofjoy.com/special-offer for more information.

    What is the Astrology of Joy? It’s a tool for finding your bliss and living a joyful life. It’s a gentle “push” to get you back on the right track. Based upon the time-honoured system of astrology practiced in India for thousands of years, Astrology of Joy is inspired by David’s four decades living in ashrams, seeking truth, and learning from enlightened beings who taught, “You are more than a body and a mind. You are That!” 
     

    Recommended Schedule

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    5. Muhurta Consultation
    Auspicious date determination for wedding, pregnancy, business start up, surgery, etc
    £29 per month analysis; £60 for three month analysis. Months do not need to be successive.
     
    All readings are recorded as an MP3 file for your continued reference.
    Financial concessions available.

    For more information, visit astrologyofjoy.com/consultations.


    AstrologyOfJoy.com

    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 everyday fulfilment in their spiritual and personal goals, relationships, 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 Burntisland, 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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  • Newsletter: 12/May/2025 Saturn in Aries: Are You Ready?

    Newsletter: 12/May/2025 Saturn in Aries: Are You Ready?

    Astrology Monday! Saturn in Aries! Are you ready? 🫣
    View this email in your browser

    This Week’s Focus

    Saturn: Planet of Destiny
    Issue 20 Volume 8          12 May 2025
    The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage.
    ~ Mark Russell (1932 — 2023), American political satirist targeting Democrats and Republicans equally
    Astrology Monday: Just the facts! 
    Sergeant Joe Friday from the hit 1960s cop show Dragnet on American television always insisted on simple truths and pithy statements. Here’s this week’s boiled down astrological forecast:

    12 May — Full Moon in Scorpio: 
    Allow your emotions to turn inward where your needs are not being met. This is where you hold a falsehood about who you are AND a tendency to create château en Espagne: castles in the air. Stay on the ground and see through the illusion.
    All week — Saturn squaring Jupiter in Gemini:
    In Vedic astrology, Saturn causes Jupiter’s cheer and optimism to turn inward and practical. This is not a problem as long as you don’t let pragmatism drain you of your lofty intentions and generosity. Saturn relates to survival; Jupiter encourages revival. Let your zest for life guide practical decisions and necessary choices.

    17 May — Moon conjunct retrograde Pluto in Aquarius
    Beginning with the Full Moon, this week reveals a transformational possibility around needs. Pay attention to your unfulfilled needs and determine whether they deserve your attention. Depending upon your answer, either let them go or come up with a better plan to fulfil them.
    18 May — Sun conjunct Uranus in Taurus
    Unexpected events at work or through someone you know is pushing you towards more authentic expression. Don’t think you have reached the end of the road; there is a LOT more of you left to discover. 😉
    We do not know if, out on the moons of Saturn, you will meet with good or with evil—or only with ruins a thousand times older than Troy.
    ~ Arthur Charles Clarke (1917 — 2008); science fiction author including 2001: A Space Odyssey
     

    Dear Friend;

    Poor Saturn. The most misunderstood of all the planets. Just because he devoured his own children does not mean we should not welcome him as a friend. As one of the most beautiful objects in the sky to amateur and professional astronomers across the globe, who do we have to blame for Saturn’s less than stellar reputation?

    The Greeks certainly presented Saturn (Cronus) as a bad boy, a power-hungry titan who devoured his own children as a preemptive measure against a prophecy he would be overthrown by his own son. Not exactly an endearing quality, of course, but the Romans were more appreciative of his proactive nature and gave him the role as god of agriculture, justice, and strength who was said to have ruled over a Golden Age of abundance, prosperity, harmony, and peace. They even had a major gastro-busting and gift-giving festival in December (Saturnalia). Sound familiar? Saturnalia was later appropriated for the birth of Christ by Christians seeking to put an end to paganism in the Roman Empire. 

    For hundreds of years, at least from the time of Alexander the Great, there was much commerce and cultural interchange between the Greeks, Romans, Mesopotamians, and Indians. Their mingling influenced many aspects of astronomical and astrological knowledge. For example, we find many instances in classical texts where it is apparent Greek, Persian, and Indian astrologers exchanged knowledge.

    In astrology, Saturn is associated with infrastructure, time, karma, and dissolution. As a symbol of death and the inevitable passage of time, Saturn “devours” everything, even his own children. Nothing with a physical attribute will last forever, not even the Cosmos and certainly not our body born of the elements. This is why the scythe which was a symbol in Roman times of Saturn’s rulership over agriculture later became associated with Death — the ever swinging scythe cuts down the stalks of life with stoic indifference. 

    In Vedic astrology, Saturn is the planet of death, time, and the cycle of karma that brings us face-to-face with our destiny. Saturn is the inevitable retribution necessary to rectify the karmic debt delivering its results based upon past thoughts, speech, and deeds. Though, he has gotten a bad reputation because of the trials and tribulation he symbolises, Saturn is always just and the force behind the adage “you reap what you sow” and “what goes ’round comes around.”

    Saturn in its fall in Aries
    On 25 May, Saturn will cross the threshold from Pisces into Aries. In Vedic astrology, the signs actually take precedence over the planets, so when we consider transits, we must ascertain the sign and its  ruling planet. Aries, ruled by Mars, is fundamentally the sign of the zodiac that relates to the unlimited possibility inherent in the “conscious nothingness” before creation. Through Aries, we envision what is possible and conceive plans to make it happen. As a Mars sign, Aries is bold, courageous, enthusiastic, and focused on the goal. It is a fire sign that represents the spark of creation erupting from Stillness and exploding outward in a Play of Consciousness.

    Saturn, however, is in its fall in Aries. For more or less the next three years, Saturn’s power as an aspect within us will struggle to find security in the unlimited expanse of Aries. Saturn is structure, security, borders, and pragmatism. In the expansiveness of Aries, it becomes disoriented, uncomfortable, and even fearful. Even in terms of the Earth there may be an uptick in earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and other natural disaster relating to the earth element.

    What to do?
    For starters, you might fire up the grill, invite some friends over, and have a modern day Saturnalia celebration. This may appease Saturn and get him on your side. Of course, Rome did fall… 

    Better, yet, seek to understand the greatness of your own Saturn and appease this aspect of yourself through concrete steps and strong effort. Saturn symbolises Shiva, the aspect of God manifesting truth, authenticity, and identity with the immortal Self. When our Saturn is vibrant and pulsating with duty, dispassion, and dharma, we are organised, objective, embrace routine as medicine, and put forth our best efforts. Now is the time to strengthen the foundation of your physical body and mind and tend heroically to your external affairs and circumstances. Your obligations will one day be seen as your treasure.

    We’ll chat more about Saturn in Aries. Stay tuned.

     🤗

    David 🔆

    astrologyofjoy.com


    In this issue:
    • Planning forecast and weekly reminder
    • Hero’s Journey: Free App
    •  
    Science fun fact:
    • The heart generates a powerful electromagnetic field that can be influenced by emotional states. Positive emotions like love and gratitude lead to a coherent heart rhythm pattern that enhances cognitive function, emotional well-being, and immune response (2024, Neurotracker).

    Astrology Monday

    Weekly Planning Forecast
    Suggestion: match the significations of the following dates to what you wish to accomplish. To plan important events further into the future, contact David for a Muhurtha reading which finds the best date(s) for your specific tasks or goals.

    If your Sun is in Taurus, the bull…
    20 APR — 20 MAY


    The Sun in Taurus highlights an individual who is loyal, grounded, connected to the earth element, and who seeks security in their life. Since the Sun relates to your self-expression and identity, you tend to identify yourself through Venus, the ruler of Taurus. This means art, beauty, relationships, and win-win situations are important to you.

    The Sun can never be inimical to our existence in astrology, but it can be troubled. Venus, ruler of Taurus, is an enemy to the Sun and can indicate too much identification with the world of objects whether it is a person or a thing.  Venus hijacks Sun’s emphasis on self-expression and attempts to define itself through the accomplishments of others.  A wayward Venus is not easily recognisable. As the ruler of external comforts and pleasures, it can become dependent upon another person’s creativity, their lifestyle, even their looks. As always, this is not about living a spartan existence; rather, it is about being aware of the tendencies and making adjustments. Depending upon another person or object may work while you have access to them, but sooner or later, that access is denied either by their choice, circumstance, or simply the passage of time. To this end, it is always best to embrace your own worth and greatness first — then bring others into your ‘bubble’. 

    Fun Fact: Zodiac comes from the Greek zodiakos (kyklos) which literally means “circle of little animals” and is one indication of how astrological knowledge was shared between the cultures of Greece and India beginning in the time of Alexander the Great. For thousands of years before the Greeks, the Vedic culture used a 12-part circle which represented 12 aspects of the Sun (Adityas) and offer us some fascinating insights not gleaned from the Greeks.
     

    Sun in Aditya Mitra (Taurus)…

    The Aditya that corresponds to the Greek zodiacal sign of Taurus is Mitra which symbolises the dawn, i.e., the birth of the cosmos. Mitra highlights friendship and along with the Aditya Vivasvan, Mitra relates to the throat chakra underscoring the quality of beneficial communication inherent in friendships. Mitra also works closely with Varuna as the upholder of truth as an expression of unconditional love. When we are established in unconditional love, truth is automatically protected because nothing can be taken or added to unconditional love.

    When the Sun is in Mitra, God is directing your attention to your capacity, or lack thereof, for the art of diplomacy, truth, childhood, friendships, and the creative potential of physical reality as a medium for learning what you need to develop fully. The stronger and less afflicted your Sun, the less work you will need to do to express yourself authentically in a constructive way. The Sun in Taurus can become enamoured with its own opinion which creates a stubborn resistance to hear other views… stay loose and nonjudgmental and simply do what’s needed. 🤗
     
    Moon Planner
    Has the Moon got you hurried and harried?
     
    No worries! The Moon represents your capacity to receive, a feminine quality, and recognising the resources you have available to fulfil your emotional needs.  Too often, we get distracted with what is not ours to have and miss out on the available opportunity, experiencing disappointment and disillusionment… or worse, we become like the poor fellow in the photo.  

    Full Moon in Scorpio:
    Monday, 12 May: Full Moon in Scorpio (16:58 GMT)
    Full moons magnify your emotional mind, good or bad. There is science behind this: just as full moons create higher than usual tides on earth, so there is a natural draw of fluids into your brain. Full moons are a great opportunity to access profound emotions bringing you deeper insights and intuition.

    The Scorpio Full Moon can help you understand how your emotional tendencies colour your perception and thus, your world view. Emotions are aspects of our personality which make the experience of life more enjoyable. However, as we witness with so many of the mindless rants in public and across social media, when we allow emotions to hijack our logic and reason, common sense takes a vacation. 

    Emotions are not meant to destroy life; they are part of nature’s way of enhancing life. Yet, every day our emotions rain destruction upon ourselves and others because we allow the survival mechanism to influence their expression. Contrary to popular opinion, life is not about “me”; life is a multiplayer game where the only rule is to express yourself as a piece of the Cosmos. This is not selfish; this is about experiencing yourself as a part of everything else.

    The bright half of the moon cycle is an opportunity to expand your capacity for emotional expression in a healthy way using the resources available to you. During the dark half, there is a natural drawing down of the attention which is useful for rexamining what you consider is a need. is it a valid need or is it an expression of your fear that seeks survival above all else. Ask yourself what is it that thinks it needs to survive even when you are in the quiet of your home in bed or at the dinner table…

    Scorpio is the sign of transformation. Allow it’s energy to power-wash away your false needs and you will step into a you that is more real, more vibrant, and more beneficial to the world and yourself.

    Mother’s milk from mother Moon: Gurumayi of the Siddha lineage once shared with us two practical ways to harness the full moon energy. The first is to simply go somewhere quiet and gaze at the beauty of the full moon for an extended time paying close attention to your feelings. Another is to leave milk in a clear, covered glass overnight in a window sill where it will catch the full moon’s rays. In the morning, consume the milk. Milk easily absorbs the positive energy around it as well as neutralise negative energy and is used to purify jewellery of negative energies or unhelpful karmas that may be associated with the jewellery maker or previous owners. You can also do this as a jewellery rejuvenator every six months or so to keep your jewellery energetically fresh. It is best to use organic whole milk, raw if possible.
    This week’s reminder:
    Put astrology aside for a moment: transformation begins with your willingness to change. Retrograde Pluto in Aquarius thru 13 October helps you push the reset button. Where in life do YOU want to reinvent yourself?

    This week’s Sun-sign conundrum:
    Aries Sun: Don’t fall for the Venus sun-trap: it’s your vision that counts; not someone else’s. Be your own rock star.
    Taurus Sun: Income increases not from seeking security, but from seeking your authentic nature. A single step now, even a baby step, brings rewards later.
    Gemini Sun: If you take away the small self from the big Self, what remains? The same Self, of course, because the small self never existed. Welcome the unexpected.
    Cancer Sun: What’s been holding you back is the fear that you might meet someone who will force you to admit you don’t have answers. This improves in 2 to 4 weeks. 
    Leo Sun: The Sun is bright because the world needs its warmth. You’re bright because you also have something wonderful to give to the world… your God-given gifts! 
    Virgo Sun: Personality is overrated. Where your talents meet the needs of others is where you will find your answers. Look carefully; what others want is not what they need.
    Libra Sun: Self-doubt wears the mask of pride. Understand why the meek shall inherit the Earth and you will discover something wonderful and amazing about yourself.
    Scorpio Sun: Love is a force of nature that emanates from a humble heart affecting everything in its path. When you polish conditional love, only the unconditional remains. 
    Sagittarius Sun: In the fire of purification, ore becomes gold. Allow this fire to touch your storehouse of desires and what will remain will be your life’s work.
    Capricorn Sun: Your task is to uncover the treasure trove of talent you have hiding within you. Seek them in the corners of your mind where you dare not look.
    Aquarius Sun: Transformation of identity is fundamental to finding everything you seek. Are you prepared? Have no fear; your life is about to blossom. 
    Pisces Sun: Confidence is what the world needs less. Confidence with clarity is what the world needs more. It 2 weeks, you will begin to understand what this means.
    Transformation Special! If you would like to go deeper into the potential and possibility of the next three months for you personally, I am offering an hourly special: £45/hr online; audio recorded. Contact me here.
    Important upcoming dates (2025)
    Thru summer 2026: Rahu in Pisces
         — Loss of boundaries; heightened creative expression
    APR 18 — JUN 16: Mars enters Leo
         — Aggressive work scenarios; energises authentic work and projects
    MAY 5 — OCT 13: Pluto retrograde in Aquarius
         — Opportunity to reinvent yourself!
    MAY 25 — AUG 31: Saturn enters Aries, its sign of debilitation
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks
    JUN 9 — JUN 30, 2026: Jupiter exalted in Cancer
         — Oh, boy! We finally get some help from the good guys!
    JUN 17 — AUG 6: Mars in Virgo
         — Taking on too many responsibilities; supports fitness programmes
    SEP 1 — FEB 13 2026: Saturn returns to Pisces
         — Tendency towards fear-based decisions; loss of boundaries; practical creative ideas
    FEB 14 2026— APR 12 2028: Saturn in Aries
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks

     
    Astrology of the Times
    Disclaimer: I hold no party affiliation and have supported both sides of the aisle. My aim is to offer you an unbiased perspective of world events through the lens of archaeology, astrology, and yoga.
    Is there an adult in the room?
    Childhood wounds keep us small and separated from realising our full potential

    A few days after the pope’s funeral and before a new pope was elected, US president Donald Trump posted an AI-generated photo of himself as the new nope sitting on the papal throne complete in papal raiments and miter. It received the expected condemnation from around the world, expected, it seems, by everyone but Trump. Where was the Adult-in-Charge? 🤔

    In a previous issue of this newsletter, I pointed out childhood wounds in Trump’s horoscope (14/6/1946; 0951; Jamaica, NY) that lie at the root of him being loved by half the world and despised by the other half. For Trump, his potential to be a generational leader is limited only by his “child mind”. With long-overdue ideas to “right the ship”, too often his unmet emotional needs as a child raises its head and creates impediments to fulfilling his goal of a more peaceful world and a more prosperous and unified society.

    Like Trump, we all have varying degrees of experiences in our childhoods that reveal unfulfilled needs, crushed dreams, and a message we are not good enough. Indeed, our early years represent the tip of the karmic past piercing the thin veil that separates previous incarnations from this life. This is why you can observe an infant and already see tendencies coming to fruition, some pleasant, some concerning.

    I was once told by an expert in dog behaviour that you can get a good idea of the fundamental personality of a puppy as an adult dog when you put them on their back and watch how they respond. A puppy who lays frozen with scared eyes will be meek and nervous. One which tries desperately to get up wants to be the Alpha dog (over you) while the puppy that is calm but annoyed and seems to ask, “What exactly do you think you are doing?” is well adjusted and will make a great companion. I have yet to try this on a human baby.
    😄

    Every astrology reading always considers childhood experiences which need resolution. Such experiences are not always registered in our memories as trauma and tribulation. We are subjected to a steady stream of “good advice” from parents, teachers, and ‘Aunt Alice and Uncle Rohan’ which cause the pliable child mind to believe it is someone it is not. Clients come to me lamenting spending 20 years in work they never really wanted to do, their true love pushed to the back by well meaning adults offering advice that was not based upon the child or young person in front of them, but on the nonsense they carried in their own minds.

    This can be devastating and much can be written about the necessity to “purge” so we can begin to separate who we really are from all the nonsense we have gathered form others. In Trump’s case, he had parents whose nonsense kept them from realising what the Trump-child needed. Worse, astrology even suggests they decided to withhold it “for his own good.”

    One very important point: having a terrible childhood is not a call to indulge in copious amounts of self-pity. There is not a soul on Earth who does not carry a burden. To be brutally honest, what you gave in the past has come back around and it is up to you to realise your unlimited nature in spite of your karma. For this to happen, we can get support from astrologers, gurus, and through our own self-reflection. Compassion begins with yourself and though self-love has nothing to do with self-pity, we can always be mindful that the odds are stacked in our favour. The ocean always calls forth the drop and when they meet, all pain is resolved in the Ocean of Love.


    🤗
    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, 

    Free and low cost programmes and discounts…

    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.


     

     
    Consultations

    Become an Astro Affiliate! Receive 20% cashback on any referrals.

    Visit astrologyofjoy.com/special-offer for more information.

    What is the Astrology of Joy? It’s a tool for finding your bliss and living a joyful life. It’s a gentle “push” to get you back on the right track. Based upon the time-honoured system of astrology practiced in India for thousands of years, Astrology of Joy is inspired by David’s four decades living in ashrams, seeking truth, and learning from enlightened beings who taught, “You are more than a body and a mind. You are That!” 
     

    Recommended Schedule

    1. One-time Natal in-depth overview:
    £95… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
     
    2. NEW! Varshaphala (6-month Solar return)
    £95… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
     
    3. Rahu/Ketu Elemental Reading
    £79… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.

    4. Specialised Consultations:
    £79… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
    • Relationship/Compatibility
    • Career/Finances
    • Health and Wellbeing
    • Spiritual Development
    • In-depth examination of any area of your choosing
    5. Muhurta Consultation
    Auspicious date determination for wedding, pregnancy, business start up, surgery, etc
    £29 per month analysis; £60 for three month analysis. Months do not need to be successive.
     
    All readings are recorded as an MP3 file for your continued reference.
    Financial concessions available.

    For more information, visit astrologyofjoy.com/consultations.


    AstrologyOfJoy.com

    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 everyday fulfilment in their spiritual and personal goals, relationships, 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 Burntisland, Scotland, where he serves on the board of the Burntisland Harbour Access Trust helping maintain public access to the historically significant harbour.
    Copyright © 2025 Elemental Astrology, All rights reserved.

    Our mailing address is: Elemental Astrology, Burntisland, Scotland

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  • Newsletter: 5/May/2025 Pluto Retrograde: A Second Chance

    Newsletter: 5/May/2025 Pluto Retrograde: A Second Chance

    Astrology Monday! Pluto Now: A Second Chance! 🥳
    View this email in your browser

    This Week’s Focus

    Pluto Retrograde: A Second Chance
    Issue 19 Volume 8          5 May 2025
    About the image
    Gustave Doré’s etching depicts a scene from “The Divine Comedy”, Dante Alighieri’s epic exploration of sin, redemption, and enlightenment. In this scene, Dante seeks to enter Hell as a means to better understand the darkness in his own mind. Accompanied by Virgil, the Roman poet, as guide, Dante is at first barred entry to Hell by a multitude of fallen angels. An angel from heaven, however, crosses the River Styx, admonishing the fallen angels for denying passage, then effortlessly opens the gates to Hell. 

    This is an incredible passage that symbolises what it takes to embark on the path to God, to enlightenment. In this scene, Virgil represents logic and reason and the Angel represents Divine Grace. That Virgil was unable to open the gate expresses how logic and reason alone are not sufficient to overcome the obstacles; divine grace is necessary. 

    Dante’s path through Hell is a metaphor for facing our own darkness, the shadow mind. It’s the hero journey we must undertake in order to slay the dragons that lurk there and purify the mind — a prerequisite for receiving God’s grace — and a journey in astrology symbolised by Pluto.

    In Roman mythology, Pluto was not seen as evil; he was simply the ruler of the underworld and ruled over the transition from life to the after-life. In Vedic astrology, Pluto is also benevolent, though its “personality” can feel rather intense. Pluto is a power of God and always seeks to reconnect us to our true identity, our unbounded Self. As such, Pluto rules transformation and the change necessary to bring about spiritual understanding. Currently retrograde, Pluto is signalling a second chance and “reinvent” ourself according to our authentic nature and natural talents, a “redo” that can absolutely transform our life both inside and out.

    ~~ The Divine Comedy, Inferno, Canto 9: The Angel Opens the Gates – by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) – Illustration by Gustave Dore (1832-1883)
    “Opinions have caused more ills than the plague or earthquakes on this little globe of ours.”
    ~ Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) (1694 – 1778), French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, abolitionist; advocate of freedom of speech and separation of church and state.
     

    Dear Friend;

    I woke up this morning in the same room, the same flat, the same town, the same country — but it was also the ‘first time’ I did so. And this made all the difference…


    Do you ever feel you complicate your life beyond measure? Do you sometimes look back and wonder when it was that you left the Highway of Joy and found yourself on a meandering road filled with potholes and scattered with boulders and debris? Could it simply be a matter of perception?

    Pluto can help you change the prescription of your perception. It pushes you to experience your highest aspiration — to experience your infinite nature. Pluto means transformation and its retrograde status in Aquarius now through 13 October is an opportunity to reinvent yourself along your highest potential and your most cherished dreams. It’s a “second chance” you won’t want to miss and only your contrived opinions and self-defeating notions stand in the way.

    Opinions are unique to human beings. In the madness of opinion, however, we confuse what we think is real for what is and thus, we become the agent of our own undoing and the suffering of others. Skilful driving will get you back on the highway, but first you need to stop and survey the road ahead as it is, then decide what you can do with the resources you have. No benefit to “what if” your life away, but please remember the wise words Shakespeare wrote for Hamlet: There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.


    Hamlet was right: thinking shape’s our perception of reality. What we call the world is simply a play of light and shadow picked up by light sensitive cells in our eyes and filtered through the brain where it is compared to past experience. Considering we not only have experiences in this life tucked away but countless experiences from innumerable lifetimes lodged in our subconscious, we have quite an extensive file our brain can access. This file is fine as a tool of survival, a mechanism the brain evolved because it got tired of being devoured by sabretooths and Pleistocene wolves, but how many of us need to call upon this tool in our everyday lives?

    The survival brain has its use, but somewhere in our childhood we set it on automatic and forgot to take back control. 
    For an observer detached from the consequences, it can appear as if we are intentionally choosing to self-sabotage our life through questionable choices. It’s not intentional, of course, but our “reshaping” of reality can alter the course of life in tragic ways.

    Opinions are the castle we hide behind and a primary reason our life is the way it is. Untold amounts of energy and resources are expended in dead-ends and falsehoods. Still, we are going to make mistakes. What can we do if we find ourself in an intolerable situation? Ekhart Tolle addressed this situation in his bestseller, the Power of Now:

    Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your “here and now” intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally. If you want to take responsibility for your life, you must choose one of those three options, and you must choose now. Then accept the consequences.

    Pluto in Aquarius is asking you to rework your life in specific areas. Consult the “noteworthy notes” section below to discover these areas relative to your Sun sign. Then sit quietly. Chances are, you have already felt the stirring of some of these needing to be addressed, of a change you need to embrace so that transformation can begin. 

    Now’s the time to rework, redo, and reinvent… it’s the prescription that will make all the difference!

     🤗

    David 🔆

    astrologyofjoy.com


    In this issue:
    • Weekly Planning Forecast
    • Hero’s Journey: Free App
    Fun science fact:
    • When you think unpleasant thoughts, your body secretes adrenaline and cortisol the same as when faced with a fight or flight decision. Great when physically threatened, but toxic when it happens on a daily, or hourly, basis.
    • Pleasant thoughts not only trigger a neural response that leads to more dopamine, the feel good neurotransmitter, but actually builds new “pleasant pathways”, in effect, hard-wiring your brain to feel more joy and pleasantness.  This is one reason meditation and spiritual practice work. 😉

    Astrology Monday

    Weekly Planning Forecast
    Suggestion: match the significations of the following dates to what you wish to accomplish. To plan important events further into the future, contact David for a Muhurtha reading which finds the best date(s) for your specific tasks or goals.

    If your Sun is in Taurus, the bull…
    20 APR — 20 MAY


    The Sun in Taurus highlights an individual who is loyal, grounded, connected to the earth element, and who seeks security in their life. Since the Sun relates to your self-expression and identity, you tend to identify yourself through Venus, the ruler of Taurus. This means art, beauty, relationships, and win-win situations are important to you.

    The Sun can never be inimical to our existence in astrology, but it can be troubled. Venus, ruler of Taurus, is an enemy to the Sun and can indicate too much identification with the world of objects whether it is a person or a thing.  Venus hijacks Sun’s emphasis on self-expression and attempts to define itself through the accomplishments of others.  A wayward Venus is not easily recognisable. As the ruler of external comforts and pleasures, it can become dependent upon another person’s creativity, their lifestyle, even their looks. As always, this is not about living a spartan existence; rather, it is about being aware of the tendencies and making adjustments. Depending upon another person or object may work while you have access to them, but sooner or later, that access is denied either by their choice, circumstance, or simply the passage of time. To this end, it is always best to embrace your own worth and greatness first — then bring others into your ‘bubble’. 

    Fun Fact: Zodiac comes from the Greek zodiakos (kyklos) which literally means “circle of little animals” and is one indication of how astrological knowledge was shared between the cultures of Greece and India beginning in the time of Alexander the Great. For thousands of years before the Greeks, the Vedic culture used a 12-part circle which represented 12 aspects of the Sun (Adityas) and offer us some fascinating insights not gleaned from the Greeks.
     

    Sun in Aditya Mitra (Taurus)…

    The Aditya that corresponds to the Greek zodiacal sign of Taurus is Mitra which symbolises the dawn, i.e., the birth of the cosmos. Mitra highlights friendship and along with the Aditya Vivasvan, Mitra relates to the throat chakra underscoring the quality of beneficial communication inherent in friendships. Mitra also works closely with Varuna as the upholder of truth as an expression of unconditional love. When we are established in unconditional love, truth is automatically protected because nothing can be taken or added to unconditional love.

    When the Sun is in Mitra, God is directing your attention to your capacity, or lack thereof, for the art of diplomacy, truth, childhood, friendships, and the creative potential of physical reality as a medium for learning what you need to develop fully. The stronger and less afflicted your Sun, the less work you will need to do to express yourself authentically in a constructive way. The Sun in Taurus can become enamoured with its own opinion which creates a stubborn resistance to hear other views… stay loose and nonjudgmental and simply do what’s needed. 🤗
     
    This week’s noteworthy notes:
    Pluto is retrograde in Aquarius for about 5 months (thru 13 October). Retrograde planets are opportunities to redo, rehash, and recreate. Pluto in Aquarius urges you to reinvent yourself according to your highest aspirations. What is it you want? What is it you really want? Be warned: Pluto does not listen to beggars; assume your rightful seat on the throne as a child of God and what is yours will be yours.
    • According to your Sun Sign, Pluto retrograde in Aquarius can help you reset your life in the areas indicated. Re-examine your approach and the results: is it working?
    Aries Sun: income, community, networking, life goals
    Taurus Sun: work and activity
    Gemini Sun: teachers, gurus, father; spirituality/religion; journeys/travel
    Cancer Sun: debt, disease, mysticism, shadow mind, unearned income, research
    Leo Sun: relationships, business partnerships, foreign residence, sexuality
    Virgo Sun: health and wellbeing, expense, conflict resolution, daily activity, service
    Libra Sun: creativity, art, romance, investments, spiritual practice, children
    Scorpio Sun: home and house, family, contentment, education, mother
    Sagittarius Sun: desire, goals, performance, writing, courage/risk taking
    Capricorn Sun: communication, wealth/possessions, childhood, domestic situation
    Aquarius Sun: self-confidence, self-esteem, physical fitness, projection, recognition
    Pisces Sun: enlightenment, solitude, ashrams/monasteries, spending, exotic travel
    Pluto Special! If you would like to go deeper and detail the potential and possibility of the next five months for you personally, I am offering an hourly special: £45/hr online; audio recorded. Contact me here.
    Important upcoming dates (2025)
    JAN 12 thru summer 2026: Rahu enters Pisces joining Saturn and Neptune
         — Loss of boundaries; heightened creative expression
    APR 18 — JUN 16: Mars enters Leo
         — Aggressive work scenarios; energises authentic work and projects
    MAY 5 — OCT 13: Pluto retrograde in Aquarius
         — Opportunity to reinvent yourself!
    MAY 25 — AUG 31: Saturn enters Aries, its sign of debilitation
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks
    JUN 9 — JUN 30, 2026: Jupiter exalted in Cancer
         — Oh, boy! We finally get some help from the good guys!
    JUN 17 — AUG 6: Mars in Virgo
         — Taking on too many responsibilities; supports fitness programmes
    SEP 1 — FEB 13 2026: Saturn in Pisces
         — Tendency towards fear-based decisions; loss of boundaries; strong creative ideas
    FEB 14 2026— APR 12 2028: Saturn in Aries
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks

     
    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, 

    Free and low cost programmes and discounts…

    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.


     

     
    Consultations

    Become an Astro Affiliate! Receive 20% cashback on any referrals.

    Visit astrologyofjoy.com/special-offer for more information.

    What is the Astrology of Joy? It’s a tool for finding your bliss and living a joyful life. It’s a gentle “push” to get you back on the right track. Based upon the time-honoured system of astrology practiced in India for thousands of years, Astrology of Joy is inspired by David’s four decades living in ashrams, seeking truth, and learning from enlightened beings who taught, “You are more than a body and a mind. You are That!” 
     

    Recommended Schedule

    1. One-time Natal in-depth overview:
    £95… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
     
    2. NEW! Varshaphala (6-month Solar return)
    £95… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
     
    3. Rahu/Ketu Elemental Reading
    £79… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.

    4. Specialised Consultations:
    £79… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
    • Relationship/Compatibility
    • Career/Finances
    • Health and Wellbeing
    • Spiritual Development
    • In-depth examination of any area of your choosing
    5. Muhurta Consultation
    Auspicious date determination for wedding, pregnancy, business start up, surgery, etc
    £29 per month analysis; £60 for three month analysis. Months do not need to be successive.
     
    All readings are recorded as an MP3 file for your continued reference.
    Financial concessions available.

    For more information, visit astrologyofjoy.com/consultations.


    AstrologyOfJoy.com

    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 everyday fulfilment in their spiritual and personal goals, relationships, 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 Burntisland, Scotland, where he serves on the board of the Burntisland Harbour Access Trust helping maintain public access to the historically significant harbour.
    Copyright © 2025 Elemental Astrology, All rights reserved.

    Our mailing address is: Elemental Astrology, Burntisland, Scotland

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  • Newsletter: 28/April/2025 Jupiter, Saturn, Purpose, and Meaning

    Newsletter: 28/April/2025 Jupiter, Saturn, Purpose, and Meaning

    Astrology Monday! Life Purpose! Saturn and Jupiter Dance! 🥳
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    This Week’s Focus

    Purpose and Meaning
    Issue 18 Volume 8          28 April 2025
    Your own Self-Realization is the greatest service you can render the world. Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside. Self-Realization is not acquisition of anything new nor is it a new faculty. It is only removal of all camouflage”.
    ~~ Ramana Maharshi (1879—1950), one of modern India’s greatest sages







    © 1999 Charles Schultz (1922 — 2000); American cartoonist, creator of one of the world’s most popular comic strips, Peanuts
     

    Dear Friend;

    Many of you come to astrology seeking answers to the purpose and meaning of your life… yet, there is no purpose to life!!

    Your task is to simply be yourself. This is all life is about. Surprised? Shocked? Depressed? Perhaps you feel relief from all those years of seeking purpose and meaning. If so, count yourself as one of the lucky ones for now you can go about the business of actually living your life as Life intended – joyful, exuberant, and fulfilled.

    Vedic astrology offers a simple path to living joyfully: in whatever sign and house your Rahu (North node) is located, make those areas of your life shine like the brightest star. As you do this, the constrictions you placed upon yourself lifetimes ago (Ketu — South node) begin to dissolve. An enlightened you is the you who remains after the conditioned mind has been bathed in the waters of authenticity — an authenticity found through Rahu. As I always remind you when you have a reading with me, your Rahu is the door through which everything you seek will be found.

    But what about “purpose”? Don’t we need one?

    The spiritually wise tell us that “it is not what you do, but how you do it.” Do you live your life as an expression of love, bliss, and joy? If yes, then you need no purpose to your life; you are living it. Charles M. Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip once pondered, “My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right?” ☺️

    The reason we seek purpose in life is simply because we are not happy. Yet, happiness is not even what we really seek. Happiness arises when a desire is fulfilled which brings on a pleasurable satiation, but just like leaving the table satisfied and three hours later you are raiding the fridge, there is always another desire waiting in the queue for its chance to agitate your mind. Can we call such a life living?

    Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev puts it this way:Your experience of life itself has not become grand and worthwhile enough. That is why you are trying to find a meaning. If just sitting here and breathing was ecstatic for you, you wouldn’t ask, ‘What is the purpose of life?’” 

    Though usually associated with John Lennon of the Beatles, it was cartoonist Allen Saunders who wrote in 1957, “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” So true! We are so busy doing, doing, doing and thinking, thinking, thinking, we miss out on the bounty of life all around us and within us in every moment. Indeed, we ARE Life!

    Surveys taken from people in hospice care during the waning days of their lives reveal overwhelmingly a regret of not having taken “the other road”. According to Bronnie Ware, a palliative nurse who wrote The Top Five Regrets of the Dying (2011), the most common regret was “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, rather than the life others expected of me.” I hear this in many of my astrology sessions along with her other four:

    1. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard ( i.e., missing their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship due to their focus on work).
    2. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings (i.e., realising too late the importance of expressing their love in close relationships).
    3. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends (i.e., letting friendships slip by due to the demands of their busy lives).
    4. I wish I had let myself be happier (i.e., they had stayed stuck in old thought patterns and habits and missed out on the joy in front of them).
    In one of the world’s great epics from Vedic India, the Mahabharata , the protagonist, Yudhishthira, is asked many questions by his father disguised as the Lord of Death to test his understanding of dharma, right action. One of the questions he asks is this: What is the greatest mystery? Yudhishthira correctly answers, “Though he is surrounded by death, the greatest mystery is that man believes he will live forever.”

    Life is short. Let us not leave this world with regrets, but understand, too, that the only way to fully do this is by removing the limitations you have placed upon yourself as an individual. As an individual, how can you leave this world without regrets for will there not always be a “road not taken”? The key, then, is to realise your unbounded nature which has no limitation. Perhaps more than he realised, astronomer Carl Sagan once observed, ” The cosmos is within us. We are made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.”

    Seeking purpose is not the answer. We only seek purpose and meaning because we forgot who we are and where we came from; all we need do is remember. Seek, instead, your authentic nature. You’ll know you have found it when the question of purpose never arises, and if, by chance, someone should ask, you’ll simply smile and ask them back, “Does the apple tree need a purpose to blossom? Does the wind need a purpose to blow? Does a star need a purpose to twinkle?”

    There is no purpose, but there is Love, the fabric of Life… what more do we need?

     🤗

    David 🔆

    astrologyofjoy.com

    In this issue:
    • Weekly Planning Forecast
    • Eye on the Globe
    • Hero’s Journey: Free App
    Suggested Reading
    Do you know of anyone in their twilight years or in hospice care? A friend or family member? For a wonderful book on supporting those nearing the end of their life journey, I recommend Leaves of Love by Scotland’s own Lucy Aykroyd, a published writer, artist, and yoga enthusiast who is also a life-enhancing care-giver and end-of-life doula.

    From the back cover:
    Leaves of Love is a simple yet essential guide for both layman and expert to keep by your side as you learn the beautiful and ancient art of accompanying another over these final transitions… Laced with inspiring real-life stories that depict the rich gleanings and unexpected opportunities that can reveal themselves when we embrace the reality of our dying, Leaves of Love ofers a toolkit of ideas and practical tips to empower the carer within all of us.”

    You can find Lucy’s book and rave reviews on Amazon (US) and Amazon (UK) or contact her here

    Astrology Monday

    Weekly Planning Forecast
    Suggestion: match the significations of the following dates to what you wish to accomplish. To plan important events further into the future, contact David for a Muhurtha reading which finds the best date(s) for your specific tasks or goals.

    Sun in Taurus
    20 APR — 20 MAY

    The Sun in Taurus highlights an individual who is loyal, grounded, connected to the earth element, and who seeks security in their life. Since the Sun relates to your self-expression and identity, you tend to identify yourself through Venus, the ruler of Taurus. This means art, beauty, relationships, and win-win situations are important to you.

    The Sun can never be inimical to our existence in astrology, but it can be troubled. Venus, ruler of Taurus, is an enemy to the Sun and can indicate too much identification with the world of objects whether it is a person or a thing.  Venus hijacks Sun’s emphasis on self-expression and attempts to define itself through the accomplishments of others.  A wayward Venus is not easily recognisable. As the ruler of external comforts and pleasures, it can become dependent upon another person’s creativity, their lifestyle, even their looks. As always, this is not about living a spartan existence; rather, it is about being aware of the tendencies and making adjustments. Depending upon another person or object may work while you have access to them, but sooner or later, that access is denied either by their choice, circumstance, or simply the passage of time. To this end, it is always best to embrace your own worth and greatness first — then bring others into your ‘bubble’. 

    Fun Fact: Zodiac comes from the Greek zodiakos (kyklos) which literally means “circle of little animals” and is one indication of how astrological knowledge was shared between the cultures of Greece and India beginning in the time of Alexander the Great. For thousands of years before the Greeks, the Vedic culture used a 12-part circle which represented 12 aspects of the Sun (Adityas) and offer us some fascinating insights not gleaned from the Greeks.
     

    Sun in Aditya Mitra (Taurus)…

    The Aditya that corresponds to the Greek zodiacal sign of Taurus is Mitra which symbolises the dawn, i.e., the birth of the cosmos. Mitra highlights friendship and along with the Aditya Vivasvan, Mitra relates to the throat chakra underscoring the quality of beneficial communication inherent in friendships. Mitra also works closely with Varuna as the upholder of truth as an expression of unconditional love. When we are established in unconditional love, truth is automatically protected because nothing can be taken or added to unconditional love.

    When the Sun is in Mitra, God is directing your attention to your capacity, or lack thereof, for the art of diplomacy, truth, childhood, friendships, and the creative potential of physical reality as a medium for learning what you need to develop fully. The stronger and less afflicted your Sun, the less work you will need to do to express yourself authentically in a constructive way. The Sun in Taurus can become enamoured with its own opinion which creates a stubborn resistance to hear other views… stay loose and nonjudgmental and simply do what’s needed. 🤗
     
    Important upcoming dates (2025)
    JAN 12 thru summer 2026: Rahu enters Pisces joining Saturn and Neptune
         — Loss of boundaries; heightened creative expression
    APR 18 — JUN 16: Mars enters Leo
         — Aggressive work scenarios; energises authentic work and projects
    MAY 25 — AUG 31: Saturn enters Aries, its sign of debilitation
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks
    JUN 17 — AUG 6: Mars in Virgo
         — Taking on too many responsibilities; supports fitness programmes
    SEP 1 — FEB 13 2026: Saturn in Pisces
         — Tendency towards fear-based decisions; loss of boundaries; strong creative ideas
    FEB 14 2026— APR 12 2028: Saturn in Aries

         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks
     
    Astrology of the World
    It can be useful to examine world events from the perspective of the astrology of the players involved, not just in understanding the forces behind occurrences, but in understanding the tendencies of our own mind. Human beings have similar inner challenges which mundane astrology can help us understand…

    Disclaimer: I hold no party affiliation. I aim to offer you an unbiased perspective of world events through the lens of archaeology, astrology, and yoga.

    This Summer’s Matinee!
    Saturn and Jupiter make their move…

    A rare treat? Deft handling makes it so


    From 10 June through 1 September, Saturn will be in its sign of debilitation (Aries) while Jupiter moves into is exaltation (Cancer). Not since 4/March/1967 thru 22/May/1967 has this occurred. Before that? I’m not really sure to tell you the truth: my planet calculator crashed after processing 250 years worth of data… At the least, this event did not occur through the late 18th century.

    If you liken the system of planets in Vedic astrology to a kingdom, the Sun is King and Jupiter the wise Prime Minister who offers sage advice when the King needs it most. Saturn is the castle walls which keep wild animals at bay and repel enemy attacks. Both are needed for peace in the kingdom, but if only one is operating fully, the situation becomes a bit trickier.

    In Vedic astrology, Jupiter and Saturn are neutral to each other. This designation by the sages hints at how they actually work together to create balance. Saturn is the foundation. When strong, Saturn is our capacity to resist the trials and tribulations of life. Even if we must go through a trial, we stand firm and come through the ordeal even stronger. It was Friedrich Nietzsche who said “What does not kill me makes me stronger”. He undoubtedly had a strong Saturn.

    Jupiter, on the other hand, is our capacity to love unconditionally. From this simple quality, everything else falls into place. For this reason, a good Jupiter indicates abundance, creativity, children, community, and spiritual knowledge. Jupiter is what makes life joyful and fulfilling. Yet, Jupiter needs a strong foundation (Saturn) upon which to stand in order to fully realise the bounty that is possible just as Saturn needs a strong Jupiter to prevent itself from becoming self-absorbed and narcissistic.

    This summer, Saturn will be in Aries, a sign where the will of Mars clashes with Saturn’s more prudent manner leading to frustration. Saturn here indicates a certain amount of floundering that can be offset by encouraging your Jupiter. Over in Cancer, Jupiter is feeling the brightness of the Moon indicating expanded emotional connection, abundance, and a sense of being at home within your own mind. 


    Read your own chart!
    Consider the following a “public service announcement”. 😄

    What you personally experience will depend upon several factors, most notably the condition of your Saturn and Jupiter. To really understand fully how these planets will work in your life, you can have your horoscope read. However, let’s have some fun! Below is a very, very, very simplified way to at least get an idea of what to expect: 
    1.  Determine how “friendly” Jupiter and Saturn are in your horoscope as follows:
      1. Consider your Sun sign.
      2. Jupiter is especially friendly to Aries, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Pisces Suns and neutral to the others. Saturn is friendly to Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn, and Aquarius Suns and inimical to the others. 
      3. If your Jupiter is friendly, expect opportunities to come, but be on guard for over-optimism that distracts you from seeing the possibility realistically.
      4. If your Saturn is friendly, expect to achieve what you want after much effort and be on guard for greed and coveting others accomplishments or abundance.
    2. Determine the areas of life affected as follows using the chart images below:
      1. Whatever sign your Sun is located in becomes “house” number one.
      2. For Jupiter: Using Image 1, beginning at your Sun sign, count the number of houses until you reach Jupiter. Now look up that number in Image 2 and read what it is about. These are some of the areas Jupiter is affecting during this time.
      3. For Saturn: same as above except that you count from your Sun sign to Saturn and look that number up in Image 2.
    Example: for a Taurus Sun sign, we consult Image 1 and count the number of “houses” to Jupiter which equals 3 (Taurus is 1, Gemini is 2, and Cancer is 3). Next, we consult Image 2 and find the “house” labeled “3” and read what it says. For Taurus, Jupiter will be influencing younger siblings, competition, skills, sales, mechanical ability (and desires, courage, and creative performance!). When we do the same with Saturn, we count 12 “houses” from Taurus Sun which means Saturn will influence 12th house affairs like enlightenment, far-off travel, hospitals (and ashrams, expenses, charity, and solitude!). Since Saturn is friendly for Taurus and Jupiter is neutral, then Taurus Sun signs can expect to work hard for what you want (desires) and will find success as long as you remain realistic and focused on benefitting everyone (not just yourself).

    You can also repeat these steps for your Moon sign and your Rising sign (ascendent). Your Sun sign relates more to your self-image, self-worth, public projection, and physical health. Your Moon sign is more about your emotions and emotional needs. The rising sign is more about circumstances and opportunities.

    Obviously, this is a very simplistic technique, but I hope it gives you an idea. There are many nuances and determining factors as to how these planets will work for you, but this requires a reading.

    Next week, I will highlight Jupiter and Saturn’s influence from a global perspective.


    ☺️
          
    Global Revolution Special! If you would like to go over in detail the potential and possibility of the next six months for you personally, I am offering an hourly special on Varshaphala readings (in-depth look at current period): £45/hr online; audio recorded. Contact me here.
    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, 

    Free and low cost programmes and discounts…

    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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    Become an Astro Affiliate! Receive 20% cashback on any referrals.

    Visit astrologyofjoy.com/special-offer for more information.

    What is the Astrology of Joy? It’s a tool for finding your bliss and living a joyful life. It’s a gentle “push” to get you back on the right track. Based upon the time-honoured system of astrology practiced in India for thousands of years, Astrology of Joy is inspired by David’s four decades living in ashrams, seeking truth, and learning from enlightened beings who taught, “You are more than a body and a mind. You are That!” 
     

    Recommended Schedule

    1. One-time Natal in-depth overview:
    £95… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
     
    2. NEW! Varshaphala (6-month Solar return)
    £95… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.
     
    3. Rahu/Ketu Elemental Reading
    £79… 2hr online reading. Optional: £29 add on eBook.

    4. Specialised Consultations:
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    • Relationship/Compatibility
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    • In-depth examination of any area of your choosing
    5. Muhurta Consultation
    Auspicious date determination for wedding, pregnancy, business start up, surgery, etc
    £29 per month analysis; £60 for three month analysis. Months do not need to be successive.
     
    All readings are recorded as an MP3 file for your continued reference.
    Financial concessions available.

    For more information, visit astrologyofjoy.com/consultations.


    AstrologyOfJoy.com

    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 everyday fulfilment in their spiritual and personal goals, relationships, 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 Burntisland, Scotland, where he serves on the board of the Burntisland Harbour Access Trust helping maintain public access to the historically significant harbour.
    Copyright © 2025 Elemental Astrology, All rights reserved.

    Our mailing address is: Elemental Astrology, Burntisland, Scotland

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  • Newsletter: 21/APRIL/2025 Victory for All Girls and Women

    Newsletter: 21/APRIL/2025 Victory for All Girls and Women

    Astrology Monday! A Victory for All Girls and Women… 🤗
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    This Week’s Focus

    Upholding the Feminine
    Issue 16 Volume 8          21 April 2025
    I tell you in very truth, Man is the Son of the Earthly Mother, and from her did the Son of Man receive his whole body, even as the body of the newborn babe is born of the womb of his mother. I tell you truly, you are one with the Earthly Mother; she is in you, and you in her. Of her were you born, in her do you live, and to her shall you return again. Keep, therefore, her laws, for none can live long, neither be happy, but he who honors his Earthly Mother and does her laws.
    ~~ Jesus of Nazareth, Book One, The Essene Gospel of Peace
    Justice to the third gender is good but sensitivities of ladies and gentlemen have to be taken into account.
    ~ Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, self-realised yogi, humanitarian, NYT bestselling author

    Dear Friend;

    Easter Sunday
    As I look out my window towards the east, the Sun rises in a purple field of clouds, a shaft of golden light piercing through as if God had handed Gustave Doré the task of etching such a beautiful scene. It’s Easter Sunday as I write and rare it is that both the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholic Church celebrate on the same Sunday. On this Easter of 2025, both the Julien and Gregorian calendars align and, for today anyway, the Great Schism of 1054 which divided the Christian Church is healed. 

    A Victory for Girls, Women, and Mothers
    April 16 was a monumental day for women. Though technically applicable only to the United Kingdom, the unanimous ruling by five UK Supreme Court justices that the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act is based on biological sex, not gender identity, was undoubtedly a “market correction” against years-long attempts to “masculinise” the feminine and is no doubt reverberating around the world. Of course, while some are celebrating the “return of common sense”, others are lamenting the decision as a setback and already are plotting to undermine the ruling as evidenced by leaked Whatsapp messages from Labour party ministers. 

    Nevertheless, the astrology on April 16 favoured the feminine. Mother Moon was in Sagittarius receiving a strong aspect from wise Jupiter, the planet of equal justice, unconditional Love, and legal decisions. Feminine Venus was exalted in Pisces, a sign associated with the feminine element, water, and the feminine qualities of compassion and empathy. Even androgynous Mercury who takes on the qualities of whoever it associates was only .36 of a degree from Neptune, a planet often considered feminine through its esoteric and ethereal qualities and the one who pushes us (or society) towards unconditional love.

    Yet, judging by the large protests occurring in London as I write this, some folks are not happy with the ruling. Do they really know why they are unhappy? 🤔

    A strong sense of being man or woman means that you are too identified with your reproductive organs. If you must be identified with some part of your body, try the brains. It could work out better for you and a more healthy social fabric could be woven. ~ Sadhguru

    Wise men and women who have reached the ultimate expression of human potential, those exalted souls who carried names like Jesus of Nazareth, Buddha, Lalleshwari, Ramakrishna, Rumi, Ram Tirtha, Black Elk, St Teresa of Avila, Meister Ekhart, Milarepa, Mirabai, Don Juan, Janeshwahr, Sadhguru, Gurumayi, Muktananda, Mother Meera, and on and on… they all spoke and speak of transcending one’s limited identity, that it is our attachment to our body and personality that is in fact, the root of our suffering. They taught that discarding one’s limited identity means letting go limitations like “I am a man. I am a woman.” These are all aspects of who we are not… they are a role we play and a role we should play well, but like an actor on the stage, it is not who we are.

    Have you noticed when you are in a state of great joy, love, or ecstasy, your limited identity naturally dissolves into the Ocean of Presence alive only in the present moment? Our limitations leave without even a whisper because, in truth, our limited identity is a fabrication of the mind and holds no reality beyond what our conditioned past gives it. Consider a time when you were filled with the exuberance of simply being alive. I speak not of happiness, for happiness is born from a desire fulfilled. I speak of the sublime stillness inside you that can no longer contain itself and finally explodes in complete abandon. In that experience, you are no longer a limited being. Man, woman, rich, poor, smart, stupid… in such moments, you have unlocked the cage of your own doing and stepped into freedom, free to soar with the Sun where even Icarus could not. 

    Happy Easter.

     🤗

    David 🔆

    astrologyofjoy.com


    In this issue:
    • Weekly Planning Forecast
    • Eye on the Globe
    • Hero’s Journey: Free App
    Saturn! Neptune! Revolution Special! If you would like to go over in detail the potential and possibility of the next six months for you personally, I am offering an hourly special: £45/hr online; audio recorded. Contact me here.

    Astrology Monday

    Weekly Planning Forecast
    Suggestion: match the significations of the following dates to what you wish to accomplish. To plan important events further into the future, contact David for a Muhurtha reading which finds the best date(s) for your specific tasks or goals.

    Sun in Taurus…
    20 APR — 20 MAY


    The Sun in Taurus highlights an individual who is loyal, grounded, connected to the earth element, and who seeks security in their life. Since the Sun relates to your self-expression and identity, you tend to identify yourself through Venus, the ruler of Taurus. This means art, beauty, relationships, and win-win situations are important to you.

    The Sun can never be inimical to our existence in astrology, but it can be troubled. Venus, ruler of Taurus, is an enemy to the Sun and can indicate too much identification with the world of objects whether it is a person or a thing.  Venus hijacks Sun’s emphasis on self-expression and attempts to define itself through the accomplishments of others.  A wayward Venus is not easily recognisable. As the ruler of external comforts and pleasures, it can become dependent upon another person’s creativity, their lifestyle, even their looks. As always, this is not about living a spartan existence; rather, it is about being aware of the tendencies and making adjustments. Depending upon another person or object may work while you have access to them, but sooner or later, that access is denied either by their choice, circumstance, or simply the passage of time. To this end, it is always best to embrace your own worth and greatness first — then bring others into your ‘bubble’. 

    Fun Fact: Zodiac comes from the Greek zodiakos (kyklos) which literally means “circle of little animals” and is one indication of how astrological knowledge was shared between the cultures of Greece and India beginning in the time of Alexander the Great. For thousands of years before the Greeks, the Vedic culture used a 12-part circle which represented 12 aspects of the Sun (Adityas) and offer us some fascinating insights not gleaned from the Greeks.
     

    Sun in Aditya Mitra (Taurus)…

    The Aditya that corresponds to the Greek zodiacal sign of Taurus is Mitra which symbolises the dawn, i.e., the birth of the cosmos. Mitra highlights friendship and along with the Aditya Vivasvan, Mitra relates to the throat chakra underscoring the quality of beneficial communication inherent in friendships. Mitra also works closely with Varuna as the upholder of truth as an expression of unconditional love. When we are established in unconditional love, truth is automatically protected because nothing can be taken or added to unconditional love.

    When the Sun is in Mitra, God is directing your attention to your capacity, or lack thereof, for the art of diplomacy, truth, childhood, friendships, and the creative potential of physical reality as a medium for learning what you need to develop fully. The stronger and less afflicted your Sun, the less work you will need to do to express yourself authentically in a constructive way. The Sun in Taurus can become enamoured with its own opinion which creates a stubborn resistance to hear other views… stay loose and nonjudgmental and simply do what’s needed. 🤗
    Moon Planner
    Has the Moon got you hurried and harried?

    No worries! As a symbol of the feminine quality, the Moon represents your capacity to receive. In this sense, the Moon is about recognising the resources you have available and using them for your benefit.  Too often, we do not recognise what is available around us to make our life more fulfilling. Instead, we get distracted with what is not ours to have and miss out on the available opportunity, experiencing disappointment and disillusionment… or worse, like the poor fellow in the photo.  😄

    Sunday, 27 April: New Moon in Taurus (19:31 GMT)
    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.

    ALERT: Occurring this week in Taurus, the Moon’s degree is past its exaltation indicating a greater possibility of falling into an emotional trap. Influences related to Venus (ruler of Taurus), Uranus, and a strong square aspect from Pluto means outer circumstances in relationships can be challenging to handle as emotions are volatile. Uranus can indicate an unexpected person as the source of volatility. Pluto indicates transformation through challenge. Do you feel lucky? 😁

    As with all new moons, a much better use of your time during this New Moon is to spend it in spiritual pursuits, contemplation, or creativity. Spiritual practices promoting bhakti (love and devotion) during this time is wonderful as is creativity that in some way connects you to the earth element (gardening, pottery, finger painting, beading, etc). Inwardly, this can be a time of emotional breakthrough.

    Auspicious day: the second day after a New Moon is considered especially auspicious to start new projects as the Moon has begun its journey in the bright half towards full.

    Neptune has moved into Aries…

    No small matter as Neptune will be there through 2028

    Neptune relates to the blossoming of unconditional Love. In fact, Neptune represents the catalyst necessary for this blossoming to occur. Without experiencing unconditional love, we cycle through an endless array of relationships looking for love, but only find we have placed conditions upon it. Neptune says, “Hold on! I will strip you of attachment so you can experience what true love is really like.” This can be unsettling, even jolting, but it is a step towards your true fulfilment.

    Neptune has been in Pisces, a water sign where it does well keeping us focused on the subtler aspects of life, creativity, and spirituality. In Aries, a sign of vision, dreams, and exalted ideas, Neptune can add a mystical, ethereal element to our yearnings and draw us into situations that take us from harsh realities to higher dimensions. Stay grounded, however, as our Neptune qualities can get lost in illusion and fancy. Jupiter is the planet of unconditional love and its overriding intention to uplift everyone will protect you. Stay true to your heart’s desire and all ends well.

     

    Saturn is moving into Aries…

    …a three month test run

    Saturn will enter Aries on 25 MAY then back into Pisces on 1 SEPT then back into Aries 14 FEB. Through July, consider Saturn’s initial stay in Aries a test run alerting you to where you need to address leaks in your consciousness. Saturn becomes debilitated in Aries and indicates a tempest that temporarily keeps us floundering for something to hang onto. We look this way and that, trying to stay afloat, until we finally realise that it is the Greatness of Saturn within us that keeps us afloat. Saturn is dispassion, objectivity, hard work, and disciplined organisation. Saturn is our capacity to resist and let go what does not serve us. In Aries, this capacity is weakened by Mars which rules Aries. Mars is wilful action at odds with Saturn’s more prudent approach. This can mean difficulty in finding the traction necessary to move forward. Again, objective reasoning is your friend. Do not let fear or resistance to change keep you stuck. 

    With Neptune, Saturn indicates more possibility of learning lessons in love through trials and tribulations. On the positive side, you will be less likely to fall for illusion and false charm. Depending upon your personal horoscope, Saturn in Aries can mean a challenging period of rectifying your karmic debt, and/or finding stable ground after some trials. Indeed, a strong inner and outer foundation is important over the next three years. You can always contact me for a better understanding of how your Saturn will fare over the next three years.

    Until then, seek to stabilise your mind through spiritual practice and devotion, your body through healthy habits, and your life situation through common sense, objectivity, and right action.
    Important upcoming dates (2025)
    JAN 12 thru summer 2026: Rahu enters Pisces joining Saturn and Neptune
         — Loss of boundaries; heightened creative expression
    APR 18 — JUN 16: Mars enters Leo
         — Aggressive work scenarios; energises authentic work and projects
    MAY 25 — AUG 31: Saturn enters Aries, its sign of debilitation
         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks
    JUN 17 — AUG 6: Mars in Virgo
         — Taking on too many responsibilities; supports fitness programmes
    SEP 1 — FEB 13 2026: Saturn in Pisces
         — Tendency towards fear-based decisions; loss of boundaries; strong creative ideas
    FEB 14 2026— APR 12 2028: Saturn in Aries

         — Weakening of foundation; supports taking calculated risks
     
    Astrology of the WorldIt can be useful to examine world events from the perspective of the astrology of the players involved, not just in understanding the forces behind occurrences, but in understanding the tendencies of our own mind. Human beings have similar inner challenges which mundane astrology can help us understand…

    Disclaimer: I hold no party affiliation. I aim to offer you an unbiased perspective of world events through the lens of archaeology, astrology, and yoga.
    This week:
    Revolution, counter-revolution… resolution?
    The world is in the midst of an ideological battle that will dictate the course of world events for decades to come…

    It’s not difficult to see we are in the midst of an ideological battle between opposites, e.g., right, left; conservative, liberal; democracy, socialism. While this is true, we can gain some solace from realising these battles are the stirrings of a much deeper process that is pushing humanity from ignorance towards enlightenment. For Western astrologers, this process is encapsulated in the approaching “New Age” which will usher in a new period of higher consciousness. Depending upon which astrologer you ask, the angle of the Earth’s axis is either leaving the sign of Pisces and entering Aquarius or has left Pisces and is at the beginning of Aquarius. Either way, western astrologers tell us we are in a period of transition — that the “Age of Aquarius” and its focus on humanitarian principles is unfolding. Excited for the new dawn? Do understand that this Aquarian unfolding will likely take at least a few hundred years. We still have time to do our homework.
    ☺️

    In a similar vein, yogic science mirrors what astronomers have discovered, that the Earth cycles through the zodiac every 25,920 years. Realised yogis and mystics tell us life on Earth travels a cyclical wave through four yugas with each yuga representing a higher evolution of consciousness. This repeating wave goes from ignorance (Kali Yuga — the bottom of the wave) to enlightened (Satya Yuga — the top of the wave) and back again over a period of 25,920 years.

    According to Sadhguru and others, we are currently trending upwards and approaching the end of the second yuga, Dvapara, and the beginning of the third, Treta, which, according to their calculations, will begin around AD 2082 and last for roughly 3900 years. Treta Yuga is considered the second best time in the cycle of yugas, a time when humanity experiences a significant increase in human intelligence and spiritual growth leading to a more profound understanding of our connection to the planet and the cosmos.

    What is most relevant to us right now, and especially to our children and children’s children, is that as yugas give way to the next, there tends to be an upheaval in the world, an adjustment, not necessarily related to war (though war is a possibility). AD 2082 is not far off, relatively speaking. Are we doing what we can to make a better world for the future generations? As it so happens, we are not doing a very good job in at least one metric. Research in purchasing power reveals that, on the whole, each succeeding generation is worse off since the Baby Boomer generation (1946 — 1965). For example, Generation Z (1997 — 2012) has 86% less purchasing power than Baby Boomers did when they were in their 20s. Baby Boomers share how most families easily lived off one income during the 60s and 70s. Tell that to a Gen Z twenty-something and they won’t see how it can be possible, so conditioned into two person incomes have they become. Whether this conditioning is a result of bad choices or part of a larger, nefarious plan of the powerful remains to be seen (though I must tell you that the evidence increasingly supports the latter).

    Though the battle between conservative values and liberal ideologies has been raging for at least a century, much of the reason it continues is because most Europeans and especially Americans have a short memory and an appalling lack of historical knowledge. Such knowledge would help move everyone back towards the centre. Where there is extremism, there is fear, and where there is fear, there is death, destruction, and chaos. 

    As a historian and archaeologist, I tend to look at world events through the lens of past trials and tribulations, after all, as the saying goes, those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat the ills of the past. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and powerful people who lack a higher consciousness will always seek to reshape the world to their image. How successful they are will depend upon the counter mechanisms in place that allow the less powerful to have a voice. For this to happen, freedom of speech is essential.

    In the coming weeks, we shall look more closely at the astrology of these present times. Saturn and Neptune are moving into Aries and Jupiter soon into Cancer. With solar activity still higher than expected, we are in the midst of a volatile period. How we get through these times as nations, communities, and individuals will ultimately depend upon people like you and I. Are we up to the task?

    I leave you with these words from Sadhguru:

    In the yogic tradition, it is said that once you distance yourself from the compulsions of your genetic and karmic software, as well as the vested interests and identifications of your intellect, you are in touch with chitta, an unclouded consciousness. Now, your life returns to the way it was always intended to be – radiantly alive, fresh, immaculate. 

    Imagine making choices from an unclouded consciousness. As Louis Armstrong sang in 1967, “What a wonderful world, Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world…”


    ☺️
    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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    What is the Astrology of Joy? It’s a tool for finding your bliss and living a joyful life. It’s a gentle “push” to get you back on the right track. Based upon the time-honoured system of astrology practiced in India for thousands of years, Astrology of Joy is inspired by David’s four decades living in ashrams, seeking truth, and learning from enlightened beings who taught, “You are more than a body and a mind. You are That!” 
     

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    1. One-time Natal in-depth overview:
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    Auspicious date determination for wedding, pregnancy, business start up, surgery, etc
    £29 per month analysis; £60 for three month analysis. Months do not need to be successive.
     
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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 everyday fulfilment in their spiritual and personal goals, relationships, 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 Burntisland, 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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