by Somya Devi | Nov 9, 2015 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Holy Days
The new Moon cycle begins at 9:47am PST on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. The night of the darkest Moon is the night of Tuesday, November 10th. This is a good time for staying inward, releasing any worry or stress from the last cycle, and nourishing oneself spiritually to prepare for the new lunar month. This New Moon begins with Sun and Moon in sidereal Libra, initiating the Vedic lunar month called Karthika, and marking the celebration time for the Hindu festival of Diwali, the “festival of lights,” where we call forth remembrance of the divine light within. This festival is often celebrated over the course of five days, with the main night of festivities on the dark night before the New Moon.
It is related to a variety of stories from Vedic mythology, often with that of Lakshmi’s birth and with that of Lord Rama’s return from exile. Goddess Lakshmi represents wealth and prosperity (spiritual and material), as well as devotion, love, beauty, and happiness. Celebrating her is a way to call these qualities into our lives. Lord Rama represents dharma, or doing the right thing, as well as devotion, compassion, courage, and righteous leadership. Diwali celebrations often commemorate his and Sita’s return to the kingdom of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile (a story from the Ramayana).
Diwali (also seen as Divali, Deepawali or Deepavali) comes from the sanskrit words deepa (light) and avali (row). It is typically celebrated with rows of oil lamps or candles lit to remind us of the inner divine light in us all. Though one flame can be used to light many others, it is not diminished by sharing its power of illumination. We can pray for the peace and happiness of all beings, and each one’s awareness of their inner light. This is pertinent to remember and to celebrate during this particular Dark Moon time, when the Sun, the planet of our inner power, strength, and divine light, is in Libra where he is considered “debilitated.”
When Sun is in Libra, the sign of balance and relationships, we often relate to our own personal power through our relationships with others, or may try too hard to care for others, forgetting to nourish the divine spark in ourselves. We may simply feel depleted by trying to balance too much in life, and out of touch with our personal strength and vitality. This can be especially true right now as Venus, the ruler of Libra, is also in his debilitated placement in Virgo. Sun has been debilitated since October 18th, and Venus since November 2nd.
At the beginning of this cycle, set an intention for a mindful self-care routine this month. Light some candles for Diwali on the Dark Moon night, and if possible, take some time every day to light a flame for a while and offer yourself some time to connect with, nourish and honor your inner light. Self-care practices can include yoga, meditation, chanting, art, or self-abhyangha (oil massage). You can also make some herbal tea to nourish yourself during this vata (cold and dry) season.
Venus’ current position in Mercury-ruled Virgo can make us approach relationships with a more pragmatic and analytical nature, and we may feel less romantic than usual. He is also joined with intense Mars and Rahu, who bring the possibility for arguments, tension and discomfort. Try to take it slow when you feel stress or criticism coming up around loved ones. With Mercury in Venus-ruled Libra, Mercury and Venus are “exchanging” signs, which will make their energies more cooperative. This means that engaging our intellects and communication skills can really help to smooth out relationships, and our hearts’ desire for beauty, love and cooperation can support our paths to clear thinking. Try reading a book or listening to a talk that offers relationship support skills. Practice engaging Mercury through journaling, and Venus through arts & crafts (can include doodling or coloring) or music, to get their energies flowing and working for you.
This cycle begins with the Sun and Moon in Vishaka, a Vedic nakshatra which relates to accomplishment. Its deities are Indra, the King of the Gods, and Agni, the deity of fire and transformation. Its ruling planet is Jupiter who brings optimism, hope, and expansion. This combination gives Vishaka the ability to succeed in achieving goals, and this star is often represented by a triumphal archway or a tree of life. Its meaning is “forked branches,” however, representing how planetary energies here often present us with a choice of two different directions to take in life. Through concentration and meditation we can choose the path that is right for us and then follow it with courage.
With the New Moon in Libra and Diwali, we call forth the awareness of our inner light, reconnecting with our source strength and the illuminating power of the Sun. We celebrate the qualities of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Rama, praying for peace and prosperity for all, and remembering to offer some of that devotion to our spirit through self-care practices. With the positions of Venus and Mercury, thoughtful communication is an important support tool for our relationships this month.
Personal Vedic Astrology readings available here can help you to see how the current astrological weather will affect you and offers specific tools you can apply to your self-care routine.
by Somya Devi | Oct 24, 2015 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Planets Changing Signs
The Moon will be at its fullest on Monday night! Tuesday, October 27th brings the peak of the full Moon in Ashwini nakshatra at 5:05am PDT. Ashwini is the first constellation in the order of the zodiac, comprised of the two bright stars Hamal (alpha arietis) and Sheratan (beta arietis) on the side of Aries closest to Pisces. Ashwini refers to a horse-woman and carries horse-power with it. In it lies the energy we require to get moving and power through things. We may feel a sudden burst of energy around this full Moon, and can attempt to harness that power towards our goals and the new direction we’ve found after emerging from the transitions of the recent eclipse cycle.
The deities for this star are the Ashwin Kumars, the divine physicians, and this full Moon brings their great healing potential. This cycle began with Sun and Moon in Chitra, related to Vishvakarma, the celestial architect who inspires creativity and perfecting the structures we create. With the full Moon in Ashwini, we can call upon the celestial physicians to help heal and strengthen the places we need divine medicine to move forward in strength on our creative journey. These juices flow from deep within you, and now is a chance to get in touch with your self-healing potential.
It’s a fortunate time for this opportunity, because there are a few factors that may have been making us feel spread a little thin this month. The Sun, the planet of our vitality and inner power, entered his sign of debilitation (Libra) on October 17th. When Sun is in Libra we tend to place more emphasis on trying to please others and balance relationships than we do on taking care of ourselves. Sun in Libra can fashion us the peacemaker, trying to negotiate a good deal for everyone else but sometimes forgetting about our own self-care regimen.
Furthermore, Sun will be in the nakshatra called Swati during this full Moon, which is a place in the sky that often scatters everything like the wind. Try to center your energy before taking big strides, and hold tight to the reins (through focus and practice) so the horse-power of Ashwini doesn’t pull you astray. On top of this, vata dosha (cold, dry, and windy) naturally increases during fall and winter, so in the northern hemisphere we are facing increasing vata, which can also make us feel scattered and depleted. With all of these factors, be sure to take the time to care for yourself this month. It’s a good time to start bundling up and nourishing yourself with warm soups, cozy baths, and moisturizing oils. The full Moon in Aries will remind us of how we feel about our personal strength, so it will be a good time to check in and reconnect with your own health and well-being, while calling upon the healing energies of Ashwini.
We may also be feeling inspired as well as overwhelmed by the pile-up of planets in sidereal Leo–Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. These three are conjunct this month, which amps up the energy we feel behind our philosophies, will, and desires. We can see this bright cluster on the eastern horizon just before sunrise. The confluence of these planetary energies can support each other if we do the work needed to introspect and synthesize them towards our highest purpose, but they can also be at odds with each other when the planets get too close for comfort (within one degree celestial longitude).
For example, on October 15th-17th Mars and Jupiter were so close that we may have faced some blow-ups over our philosophies. If our actions weren’t totally in line with our values, there might have been explosive shifts to help propel us into alignment. October 24th-26th brings a tight conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, which could bring up a discrepancy between our values and our relationships and pleasurable pursuits. We could be facing some tough choices about compromising. October 31st-November 3rd, Mars and Venus are closely conjunct, which will pin our individual will against our ability to compromise. It could be a pivotal time for healing relationships and moving forward. The three planets are in Purva Phalguni nakshatra during this full Moon, which brings the energies of relaxation and rejuvenation. With all of these planets in Leo, the fiery sign of the Sun, we have the opportunity to purify ourselves and clean up our energies so that we feel totally oriented in the right direction in all areas of life. On the night of November 2nd both Mars and Venus will enter Virgo (where Venus is debilitated), joining Rahu, which could make us face romance in a more practical, analytical way, but could also intensify our desires.
During the full Moon in Ashwini nakshatra on October 27th, give thanks to the divine physicians and bask in the healing energy of the Moon!
Don’t forget to change clocks back in the U.S. on November 1st!
by Somya Devi | Oct 16, 2015 | Astrology, Holy Days
Shukla chaturthi, the fourth tithi (lunar phase) of the waxing Moon this month marks the fourth day of Navaratri, wherein we celebrate Goddess as Kushmanda, the power of Shakti that created the universe. It is said that when there was only darkness, Kushmanda smiled and the universe was illuminated. She is known as Adi Shakti, the first Shakti, creatrix of everything. She resides in the center of the Sun (Surya), and creates his bright light from her “cosmic egg.” She is radiant and glowing, and spreads warmth as well as vitality to her devotees. Kushmanda rides a lion or tiger and has 8 arms, holding many weapons, as well as a lotus, a japa mala, and a pot of honey or divine nectar.
Worshiping Kushmanda helps us to feel the spark of divine existence that radiates from the Sun to and through us all. She helps us to attain strength, good health, happiness and spiritual illumination. She is said to bestow siddhis (special powers) and thus can assist us in achieving success in many areas of life, including wealth, material comfort, and relationships. The power of the Sun enhances our positive and sattvic qualities through our worship of Kushmanda. She relates to the ahahata (heart chakra), and as such we should remember to approach her and make offerings from the purity of our hearts.
In some areas where Navaratri is dedicated to Durga, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati for three nights each, today begins the worship of Maha Lakshmi. After calling upon the energy of Durga for three days to destroy our demons (shortcomings, false beliefs, and external obstacles), we now invoke Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity. She helps us to attain both material and spiritual wealth, including virtues such as devotion and compassion. Through worshiping Lakshmi and seeking her benevolence, we call forth the benevolence from within ourselves which will bring joy and happiness as we share it with others. Similarly, the warmth and energy of Kushmanda and the Sun is meant to be shared with others from the heart, which will help us to find ourselves in a kingdom of love and light.
Full Article on Navaratri 2017
by Somya Devi | Oct 10, 2015 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Events, Holy Days
New Moon in Virgo in Chitra Nakshatra and Navaratri
As we complete the most recent lunar cycle which brought two powerful eclipses, we are settling into the effects and transformation that they brought to our lives. The solar and lunar eclipses of September were the last of a series to occur with the nodes in sidereal Virgo and Pisces, where they have sat since July 2014. Lessons that we have been working on through this time have taken on a new light, and many of us are now ready to face change and growth, whether it be in career, relationships, residence, or other important areas of life that have recently transformed.
The New Moon in Virgo in Chitra nakshatra occurs on October 12th and offers us a day (and night) of stillness and darkness to sit with the changes, go inward and reflect, and prepare for the next lunar cycle. This Dark Moon phase will be from around 3pm PDT on October 11th until 5:05 pm on October 12th, at which time the Moon and Sun will be at a conjunct longitude (commonly called the New Moon). This conjunction happens near the end of Virgo constellation, in the Vedic nakshatra called Chitra. After that point the Moon begins its waxing phase, and the new lunar month.
Chitra means “the brilliant” and is a very creative place in the zodiac. The deity for Chitra is Vishvakarma, the divine architect of the cosmos. This month we will feel inspired to create and to perfect our creations, just as the architect creates the universe in perfection. We will be attracted to investigate the mystery behind that divine creation. Gemstone medicine is powerful now, as gems are a symbol of this star. Chitra also relates to magic, and it is a time to tap into the powerful forces of magic within ourselves, and let them shine brightly.
Beginning this cycle in Virgo, and with Sun and Moon joined with exalted Mercury there, we feel Mercury’s influence compelling us to seek understanding, and to organize the details around our creative pursuits. The second half of Chitra falls in Libra (as will the Sun during much of this lunar cycle), and under Venus’s influence, we may also feel called to balance our relationships this month. Mars is the nakshatra ruler for this star, and he brings us an energy, along with the fire element, that helps fuel along our creativity. There may be more emphasis on sexuality this cycle. Chitra is itself a balancing point in the zodiac, being the middle (14th) of the 27 nakshatras, so we seek harmony in all things as we prepare for the next season.
For most of this cycle (through November 2nd), we also experience the influence of Jupiter, Venus, and Mars all joined in Leo. This will make us give a lot of importance to the things all three of these planets represent (beliefs, desires, and personal will). At times this could create conflict (especially when they pass over each other in close conjunction), but in general it gives us a lot of energy. Jupiter in Leo energizes our belief systems, giving our philosophies a lot of weight in our decision-making process. Venus in Leo makes our desires come to the forefront, and we must be careful not to be too indulgent or selfish when it comes to getting what we want (whether it be in relationships or in our pursuit of beauty and recreation). Mars in Leo adds extra fire to the planet of action, will and energy, which could be good for our personal physical discipline, but could also cause us to get aggravated and argumentative over our philosophies and desires. Turn that Martian energy on yourself instead of getting hot-headed with others (read: time to reboot your workout routine or asana practice!). Sun’s rulership of Leo gives us the opportunity to work on purifying and refining all of these things this month–our beliefs, our desires, and our instinctual energy driver.
During the first nine days and nights of the waxing Moon this month, Navaratri is celebrated (starting October 13th in North America). Literally the “nine nights,” this is a Hindu festival dedicated to worshiping the Goddess, Devi, in her many forms, for nine days and nights. As the night represents darkness and ignorance, we pray to her to help reveal and remove our shortcomings, bestow blessings, and confer wealth and knowledge. We face the darkness and call on the Divine Mother to remove it and let the Atma, or the pure divinity within each of us, shine forth. Navaratri worship can include creating a special altar to the Goddess, and making daily offerings including flowers, food, incense, light (a flame), ghee, as well as prayer, fasting, meditation, mantras and bhajans (devotional songs). The Devi Mahatmya (a.k.a. Chandi Path), the story of Durga, is a traditional text to read throughout this festival. In some places Devi is worshipped over the nine nights in reverence to nine incarnations of Durga: Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Occurring in the fall-time in India and the northern hemisphere, this Navaratri also coincides with the harvest season, and is a great time to give thanks for the abundance of the harvest and pray that it carries us through the winter season.
In some places, the first three nights of Navaratri are dedicated to Goddess in the form of Durga or Kali, who help us to destroy and remove negative tendencies in our minds and hearts, cleansing them of impurities that create obstructions in our spiritual and material pursuits. The next three nights are dedicated to Goddess in the form of Lakshmi, who helps us to cultivate positive qualities, like compassion and devotion. She helps us to achieve spiritual and material prosperity. In the final three nights we worship Goddess as Sarasvati, who assists us with learning and attaining knowledge and wisdom, through the illumination of consciousness. She relates to prana, the vital breath, often associated with chi or life-force. Through our devotion, service, practice, study, and meditation (all forms of yoga), we allow prana to flow freely, helping us to exist in a state of peace, bliss, and oneness. The tenth day of Navaratri is known as Vijayadashami, the day of victory. After calling upon the Divine Mother’s presence and qualities to arise from within us for nine days and nights, we emerge victorious, basking in Her light and virtues. This will be an auspicious time (October 22nd) for beginning new ventures, especially creative and spiritual pursuits.
by Somya Devi | Sep 9, 2015 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Events, Planets Changing Signs, Retrograde
The New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Purva Phalguni on September 12th will bring the shadow energy of the planet Rahu to the forefront, revealing to us things that are usually hidden in the subconscious. The New Moon occurs in sidereal Leo, around 11:41pm PDT. This begins a Leo cycle for us, which raises the energy of inspiration and compels us to tap into our source power and share it with others. Leo is ruled by the Sun, the archetype of divine masculine energy in the heavens. The source of all life on earth, Sun energy reminds us of the divine spark that we all share, and encourages us to purify ourselves and to care for our surroundings (or kingdom), offering our power forward. During this month we may feel an urge to purify ourselves and purge what is unneeded–maybe a cleanse to prepare for the changing of seasons. Take stock of where you allocated your energy this summer, what type of kingdom you’ve created, and what you can do to strengthen your connection with source as you continue to manage your responsibilities.
On the night of September 12th (Pacific time), Sun, Moon, and Earth are all in close alignment near the northern lunar node, known as Rahu. Earth will experience a partial solar eclipse at this time, but it will only be visible from very southern regions (southern Africa and Antarctica). When the Moon’s orb passes in front of the Sun, and the shadow emerges, this brings otherwise hidden energies and knowledge to the surface. In the sign of Leo, this eclipse will help us to examine our relationship with power, how we approach our responsibilities, and where we feel powerless. At the eclipse time, the Sun’s light (representative of our inherent power and connection to the soul) is temporarily blocked out. This can elevate our awareness of where we feel powerless, and at the same time directs us to find that connection with source and soul power. It ultimately leads us to the realization that God/Goddess energy is in fact present with us in all our movements and actions.
Looking deeper into the sign of Leo, we see that the New Moon and Solar Eclipse occur in the Vedic nakshatra (constellation) called Purva Phalguni. The symbols of this star sign are a couch, a hammock, or the two back legs of a bed. As such, this sign represents rest and relaxation, as well as recreation. Its energy will encourage us to take it easy and have some fun. This sign is also associated with a Shiva lingam, and is sometimes translated as “the former reddish one.” In this way Purva Phalguni is related to procreation.
It is a good time to remember that in order to be creative, we must also spend time being inactive and restful. The period of rest is what assists us in rejuvenating our creative energies in order to have the strength to be active and producing output again. In the generally active sign of Leo (a fire sign, ruled by the Sun), this nakshatra reminds us that part of tapping into our inherent strength and divinity is sitting back and enjoying life. The deity for this nakshatra is Bhaga, who relates to enjoyment, wealth and prosperity (he also relates to the Sun). Venus is the ruling planet of this star, which naturally draws an emphasis towards pleasurable activities, art and beauty, as well as makes it a social constellation. This could be a great weekend to enjoy some art and music, as well as relaxation and romance. Bhaga also relates to the morning star, which is currently Venus, who rises in the east a little while before the Sun.
Venus, who was in retrograde (backwards) motion for the last 6 weeks or so, is now stationary, and will soon be starting to move forward slowly through the zodiac. During this time we may have felt backed up around relationships, or around how we relate with pleasure and seeking happiness. By this time we should have had some realizations and some clarity about which direction to move forward and how. The New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Purva Phalguni on September 12th give us a boost of energy towards letting loose around Venus things–slowing down, relaxing, and letting our pleasure centers indulge a little. Purva Phalguni reminds us about the importance of recreation.
Of course, there is also a shadow side to each sign that can send us too far in one direction. When amplified by the eclipse, Purva Phalguni energy could lead us to slip out of balance into a place of excessive indulgence or laziness. Especially with the procreative power of this nakshatra, make sure that your romantic affairs don’t go further than you’re ready for! Jupiter is very close to the Sun during this eclipse as well, which can amplify things and bring on a big optimistic nature. Feeling hot under the Sun’s rays, however, Jupiter’s position here could make us doubt our current belief systems and want to purify them as well. This gives us an opportunity to freshen our value systems and decide what teachings to hold onto, sorting out what serves our highest purpose and what does not.
Eclipses in general tend to amplify everything, and though it can feel like a lot of upheaval is going on, the result is usually a revelation of wisdom. We may get to realize where we have been denying ourselves the inherent goodness found in resting, relaxing, and having fun. We could get a good look at the shadow side of our pursuits of indulgence (or over-indulgence). The nodes themselves are still on the Virgo/Pisces axis (through all of the eclipses this year), so we’ve been called to look at and balance in ourselves the side of us that wants to keep everything organized (Virgo) versus the side of us that is willing to let go into the unknown (Pisces). Examine what these themes mean to you, and where you’ve been struggling with that dichotomy. We’ll see another eclipse (Lunar, this time) in two weeks on the September 27th full Moon, so it’s likely that we’ll be really feeling what is coming up around this through then. Wherever Pisces and Virgo are in your chart (based on Vedic rising sign), the motifs of those houses are what will be calling your attention through this time.
So, during this New Moon, take some time to relax and enjoy your surroundings, reveling in the kingdom that you’ve built for yourself to live in (whatever that looks like). Take pleasure in the work that you’ve done, and let that happiness rejuvenate your creative energies before the next steps must be taken. Saturn also aspects this New Moon and eclipse, so that will assist the purification process by helping us to commit to the responsibilities and values we find most beneficial towards our goals and soul purpose. It could still be hard work, especially as we proceed with relationships after reevaluating them through Venus retrograde. The balance between letting go and organizing everything will still be on our minds through the next eclipse, and we’ll get some time to review it when Mercury goes retrograde on the 17th. For now, with Sun and Moon in Leo, bask in the last rays of summer offered by that warm, generous headspring that fuels us all, remembering the atman that it also symbolizes.
Diwali (also seen as Divali, Deepawali or Deepavali) comes from the sanskrit words deepa (light) and avali (row). It is typically celebrated with rows of oil lamps or candles lit to remind us of the inner divine light in us all. Though one flame can be used to light many others, it is not diminished by sharing its power of illumination. We can pray for the peace and happiness of all beings, and each one’s awareness of their inner light. This is pertinent to remember and to celebrate during this particular Dark Moon time, when the Sun, the planet of our inner power, strength, and divine light, is in Libra where he is considered “debilitated.”
At the beginning of this cycle, set an intention for a mindful self-care routine this month. Light some candles for Diwali on the Dark Moon night, and if possible, take some time every day to light a flame for a while and offer yourself some time to connect with, nourish and honor your inner light. Self-care practices can include yoga, meditation, chanting, art, or self-abhyangha (oil massage). You can also make some herbal tea to nourish yourself during this vata (cold and dry) season.
This cycle begins with the Sun and Moon in Vishaka, a Vedic nakshatra which relates to accomplishment. Its deities are Indra, the King of the Gods, and Agni, the deity of fire and transformation. Its ruling planet is Jupiter who brings optimism, hope, and expansion. This combination gives Vishaka the ability to succeed in achieving goals, and this star is often represented by a triumphal archway or a tree of life. Its meaning is “forked branches,” however, representing how planetary energies here often present us with a choice of two different directions to take in life. Through concentration and meditation we can choose the path that is right for us and then follow it with courage.
