Category: astrology

  • Finding Your Guru

    Finding Your Guru

    Be Not Afraid

    “I come because you need me.”
    Jesus of Nazereth

    As much as some of you resist a teacher, others often ask me to recommend a teacher, a spiritual master who can take you across to the other side, across the vast ocean of illusion from which all problems arise. The illusion is that you are small and separate from God. From my own experience in the company of such beings, I can assure you are not who you think you are. In the company of an authentic teacher, you will see this as easily as you see a flower or a sunset. Still, it’s your choice whether to seek and follow their teachings…

    As you know from the Astrology of Joy, you came into this life with countless impressions from countless lives, which are themselves a mere drop in the karmic bucket. In our sessions together, we have discussed your past life burden and steps to free yourself from its grasp. Yet, according to enlightened spiritual masters, we have as much karma as every grain of sand on every beach in the world. How can we possibly hope to teach ourself to rise above this mass of memory and live as free men and women?

    It’s true that you can do things on your own that will bring you peace of mind and pleasant life experiences and if this is all you want, what’s the problem? I commend your efforts.

    As it is, I can only offer you my own experience being in the company of enlightened spiritual masters. Finding one’s teacher is a blessed event and a personal one: your teacher appears when the yearning of your heart reaches a certain peak.  This teacher will be one who has “been there done that” and will themselves guide inward.

    Beginning next month, I will share with you some of my own stories of being on the spiritual path for several decades and of being in their company. It’s my wish that my stories will inspire you to find your own teacher. This coming period may be bumpy, but it is also an opportunity of a lifetime.

    Onward and inward.

  • Your Sun-Sign Forecast: January/February 2024

    Your Sun-Sign Forecast: January/February 2024

    20 January through 18 February

    Your monthly horoscope according to your birth sign (Sun-sign).

    This month, the Sun and Pluto share Aquarius, the zodiacal sign associated with following the will of our higher Self. Sun/Pluto is a razor’s edge and if we are to find success this month, it will come through our willingness and courage to sacrifice our pride on the alter of humility. Saying, “I don’t know” is a strength not a weakness…

    Aquarius Sun
    Happy birthday, Aquarius! Although the beginning of this month can leave you feeling a bit discombobulated and unsettled because of the Sun and Pluto occupying the first degrees of Aquarius, spending alone time can help you understand the deeper opportunity. Pluto is an agent of transformation and this only happens through change. What (or who) are you identifying with, Aquarius, that is holding you back?

    Pisces Sun
    Giving without expectation is a powerful spiritual practice and you have a penchant for serving others and empathising with their troubles… but are you taking on too much? This month, remember to maintain your own sense of self even as you serve selflessly. Honouring Self begins with honouring self. 😉

    Aries Sun
    Material gain and income is possible when you combine your creative vision with working with others. Even if you don’t add to your bank account, you will take a huge step towards acting upon the all-knowing voice in your head that says, “Follow me!”:

    Taurus Sun
    Do you sometimes wonder how to balance work and home? It’s hard to be in two places at once, but this difficulty starts in the mind. This month, if you throw yourself into your work and activity with abandon, a door will open in your understanding and you will ask yourself what all the fuss was about.

    Gemini Sun
    Fulfilling desires gets a boost this month, but only if you recognise the double edged sword that is brandished by your shadow self. No worries! After all, it is your own self that will tell you quite plainly that one road takes you to difficulty while the other takes you to the promised land. Hint: unconventional spirituality is a dear friend.

    Cancer Sun
    What was that you said? Communication opening doors you don’t want opened? I have faith in you, Cancer. That door is an opportunity to bring realisation and resolution. Walk through and destiny smiles… the reward makes it all worthwhile.

    Leo Sun
    Losing ourself in relationship is never a good idea unless it is in a relationship with our higher Self. Discover the difference this month, Leo, and not only will you find your relationships blossoming but you will be the Sun that brings out the very best in everyone.

    Virgo Sun
    We already know your capacity for tending to life’s details: second to none! Still, this month reveals how easy it is for you to become overworked and over stressed. Learning to delegate is a talent too often learned from the hospital bed. Use your power of communication to let go what is not yours to do.

    Libra Sun
    Think outside the box and this month can bring you improved relationship with children, more romance, and a creative vision that can open doors to income. Mind what I say, Libra; outside of the box means lifting the rug in your own mind and discovering what you swept under there a long, long time ago. Don’t be afraid; it’s something good.

    Scorpio Sun
    If you have ever had thoughts to have a home business, now’s the time to get a clearer vision. When you hit it, it won’t follow convention, but you’ll know it because it will stimulate your thirst for adventure. And guess what? Along the way, you have the chance to know what it is that makes your heart sing.

    Sagittarius Sun
    The Lord of Good Luck is offering you a chance to throw out all those pesky little desires that only serve to distract you from what you really want. Suggestion: go on a short journey and watch how clear-headed you become. Nature is your friend and others can be a support, but only in measured doses. Room to reflect is wonderful.

    Capricorn Sun
    A restless energy is detected in you, Capricorn. What shall we do with it? It seems the Sun is shining through a window of open communication revealing an opportunity to lay a road to more wealth and prosperity. There’s also a path to resolving issues that arose during childhood. Remember, however, communication is a two way street.

  • The Significance of the Winter Solstice

    The Significance of the Winter Solstice

    In ancient cultures across the world, the winter solstice was a time of great significance. Marking the “longest night” of the year, the winter solstice heralds the beginning of the Sun’s northward journey in Capricorn. Yogi, mystic, and New York Times best-selling author Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev explains its importance:

    People who have been spiritually aware have always identified this transition as a possibility for human consciousness to blossom. Particularly, the first half of (this northward journey) until the equinox in March is a period where the maximum amount of grace is available. The human system is more receptive to grace at (this) time than any other. History clearly indicates that the maximum number of people have attained (enlightenment) in this phase of the sun in the Northern Hemisphere.

    During the southern run (June thru December), what is below the anahata (heart chakra) can be purified very easily. During the northern run (December thru June), what is above the anahata can be worked much more easily. That is why in terms of sadhana, (the southern run) is for purification. (The northern run) is for enlightenment. This is the period of receptivity, of grace and enlightenment, of attainment of the ultimate. This is the time to harvest… human potential.

    The human body, if brought to a certain level of intensity and sensitivity, is a cosmos by itself. Everything that happens in the external sphere, in a subtle way, manifests in the body. It is happening to everyone, it is just that most people do not notice this. But a more organised and purposeful rearrangement of the human mechanism could be done if one becomes conscious of the external movement and aligns that with the movement that is happening within the human system. If you want this body of flesh and bone to imbibe the nature of the cosmic body, understanding and being in tune with this movement… is very essential.

  • World News and You: December 2023

    World News and You: December 2023

    Considering today’s issues through the lens of an archaeologist/astrologer

    First Look: Saturn, Solar Flares, and Us

    Beginning in 2025, astrological indications and astronomical events will converge signalling an increased likelihood of difficulty for both individuals and the global community. These indications relate to 1) Saturn moving into an inimical sign, Aries, an event that happens every 28 years, and 2) increased sunspot activity affecting the emotional sensitivity of human beings.

    Underscoring the sense of urgency, bestselling author Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has recently spoken of this time as one of great possibility or great challenge. In an article last year, Sadhguru observed how, according to NASA, we have entered into a cycle of heightened sunspot activity which can profoundly affect the psychological and physical processes of a human being. This is because increased sunspot activity increases electromagnetic radiation which in turn affects the earth’s magnetic field — and, thus, anything on earth that is “electrical” including the human brain. With millions of neurones firing throughout the brain at any given moment, any disruption in the brain’s electrical field could cause a disruption in how the brain functions and, conceivably, in how the mind perceives the world.

    Sadhguru writes:

    Probably by mid-2025, this solar activity will rise to its peak. At that time, will we bring realisation to the world, or will we bring disasters? Will nations start shooting at each other? I would like to see something very positive and wonderful happening. But I am just one man Someone said I have an “army.” An army takes commands. I do not want a “yes, sir” from you. I want you to come to your senses because the next few years are going to be a charged-up time on this planet.

    Sunspots

    Sunspot activity has long been linked to significant world events. The increased solar energy creates a disturbance in both the human brain and the heart’s electrical activity which has underscored some of history’s most ill-conceived plans and decisions. Until last year, scientists were predicting that the current 11-year sunspot cycle which began in 2020 ( pandemic) would follow the preceding cycle and be weak in terms of sunspot activity. However, this past summer, a team of scientists from the United States NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency) published their findings using a multitude of techniques and have predicted that this cycle will be perhaps one of the most active cycles since records were first kept in 1755. Recently, scientists have suggested the peak may come sooner, as early as the summer of 2024.

    Saturn in Aries
    In astrology, a convergence of indicators pointing in the same direction indicate an increased chance of a particular event happening. The more indicators present, the more likelihood that event will come to pass and the more significant its consequences.

    Beginning in 2025, Saturn, one of the the slowest moving planets, will enter its sign of debilitation, Aries, and stay there for about 2.5 years though it retreats back into Pisces for about six months during the fall and winter of 2025/2026. Instead of showcasing its strength as an indicator of stability and dispassion, objectivity and equipoise, Saturn in Aries indicates the breakdown of traditions and social norms, fear and oppression. As individuals, we can become emotionally unstable, selfish, fearful, cold-blooded, and lacking the capacity to be objective and methodical. We can become more easily overwhelmed, disorganised, and unable to “go the distance”. This becomes more pronounced for those of you who have Saturn not-well placed in your astrology charts. Still, your experience is in your hands.

    Though I always express to my clients that life is of our making, this is so only to the extent we are embracing our authenticity. The past has shaped your personality and it is your personality that shapes your future through your choices. To know the future, the astrologer simply reads your past. There is no need to be a psychic; for most of us, it is easily apparent in the birth chart, but for one who has risen above the confines of their past, the birth chart becomes a canvas upon which can be painted the highest of possibilities. This should be our focus and is always the goal of the astrology reading I give you.

    But what about the world as a whole? Is everyone pursuing a path to reclaim their authenticity? According to the sages, conscious pursuit of one’s true nature is very rare. When Saturn is debilitated, it indicates an incapacity or inability to stay grounded and dispassionate. Debilitated, it indicates an overt focus on the survival instinct, the “what’s in it for me” attitude that wreaks havoc upon the world.

    Next month

    In January’s issue, we shall take this topic up again and look at ways we can counter the challenge and bring our life to an even keel during this period. In the meantime, contemplate the nature of this world and your part in it. Too often we run full steam ahead towards the illusory objects of this world believing fulfilment is found in relationships, wealth, power, and status. In truth, it is only our connection to our true nature that settles the mind and brings fulfilment. In a state of incomparable bliss, the world becomes a playground, a garden to enjoy.

    Aries represents the entirety of what is both conceivable and inconceivable. It is where the untainted masculine and feminine unite in a play of consciousness giving birth to the cosmos. Aries is the vision; Saturn is the methodology. Therein lies the answer: during this period, do not allow your survival nature to take the lead. Saturn, a planet of prudence and caution, becomes fearful in the expansive nature of Aries. Keep focused on the good you can do for the world (vision) and allow Saturn, i.e., your capacity to be organised and objective, to help make it happen.

    See you next month.

  • What confines you doesn’t define you

    What confines you doesn’t define you

    Though we enjoy technological achievements vastly beyond what previous generations could ever have imagined, our increasing reliance on intoxicants to make it through each day is unprecedented. As a society, we are turning to anti-depressants, alcohol, and illicit drugs in a fruitless attempt to hide our pain and ease our fears. Yet, even those who stay sober mistake their pettiness for something meaningful and spend so much of their life energy propping up an illusion. We cling to race, religion, nationality, even political affiliations, titles, and surnames. No matter the consequences, we will use anything as a lifeline to keep us afloat… until it doesn’t. When the storm hits and the waves of circumstance tower over us, our pride abandons us and we are left feeling alone and afraid. What’s the answer?

    Considering the zodiac as a representation of our journey from embodied being to liberated soul, the constellation of Leo is that point in our journey when we assume a physical body in order to find meaning. For most, this means seeking the answer in the material world (through Virgo). Yet, even though our physicality is projected outwards, it is how we see ourselves that unlocks the door to meaningful experience. Thus, Leo is the state of our self-confidence and our self-worth; in short, Leo is our self-image and Virgo is where we express it.

    Uma’s Garden is a wonderfully, uplifting site featuring aphorisms and artwork as well as inspiring quotes from icons of spiritual thought. One of the illustrations I found especially relevant this month is that of a butterfly and chrysalis with the proclamation “What confines us doesn’t define us”. From one perspective, this illustration urges us to look past our limitations and trust in the process of transformation — a natural part of every human life. This is an important attitude to take for too often we sabotage our experience of joy simply through over-analysis and self-judgment. 

    The chrysalis also symbolises how the process of transformation happens within us just as we are. Though we are a bundle of physical and emotional traits gathered from our past, those traits do not define who we are. Like the caterpillar in the chrysalis, no matter what is on the outside, the inner change from individual to exalted soul is happening within the context of who we are, just as we are — right here, right now. Though it happens whether we realise it or not, even whether we want it or not, becoming aware of the process has the power to turn a fragile spark into a roaring blaze. 🤗