by Somya Devi | May 18, 2016 | Uncategorized
The Full Moon on May 21st gives the power to explode, or to transform (Vedic Astrology). The Moon will be full in sidereal Scorpio, where we are compelled to strengthen our emotions and embrace transformation, rather than cling to material stability. Things could be extra volatile because Mars and Saturn are joining this full Moon, which peaks at 2:15 p.m PDT on Saturday (the brightest full waxing Moon will be Friday night).
This lunar cycle began with the Sun in sidereal Aries, where we feel most empowered and sure of ourselves. We were ready to birth our visions into the world. Since then, Sun has transited into Taurus, a sign where we seek to solidify our strength by getting grounded and relying on stable material structures around us. But the full Moon will be opposite Taurus, in the most emotionally vulnerable sign, Scorpio. In contrast to our quest for stability, we are reminded of our vulnerability and impermanence. We are challenged to embrace the flow of change and allow ourselves to transform as we step up to meet the evolving world around us.
This full Moon will feel especially intense on the emotions, because Moon is also joining firey retrograde Mars (very closely), and onerous retrograde Saturn. The conjunction of Mars with the Moon makes a potentially explosive situation for our hearts and minds. His fire elicits our anger, passion, jealousy, and our courageous warrior-like nature.
This could result in intense feelings of passion or rage, perhaps with a few emotional outbursts, but the Martian fire is also the element that aids in digestion and transformation. Instead of exploding outwardly, we have the opportunity to harness this fire and use it to process and digest the changes that have been taking place in our lives. It’s a conscious choice… let your mind find fault and anger towards others, and the outer situation, or, summon your inner warrior and use that strength grow and adapt.
The full Moon joins retrograde Saturn, also in Scorpio. We are in the middle of a 2.5-year-long process of transformation with his transit here. The pressure is on to re-evaluate our long-term goals, especially around our spiritual growth and material attachments. Whichever house is in sidereal Scorpio in your chart, this is the area of life where you have been facing the most change this past year. This full Moon highlights this transformation process, as you are beginning to follow a new long-term direction in that area of your life. Saturn’s presence here forces us to face our fears, while Mars offers us the strength to withstand and digest them.
The full Moon falls in the Vedic nakshatra Anuradha, at the beginning of Scorpio. This is a constellation of friendship and success, whose deity is Mitra, meaning “friend.” Its symbol is a lotus flower, or a staff, which its three stars resemble in the sky. Both of these symbols signify the ability to overcome a challenge despite opposition. The lotus reminds us that even amidst the muck of emotional disturbance, we still have the potential to access our most pure, beautiful sattvic nature, and rise towards the light. This will be important to remember while the Moon is sandwiched in between Mars and Saturn from Saturday through Sunday afternoon (Americas).
There’s some good news! After the full Moon, Mercury will be going direct again and out of retrograde. (Phew!) Making plans and having clear communications should get a little easier.
With Jupiter (now direct) and Rahu still close in sidereal Leo, zealous fervor continues at large, and radical beliefs are on the forefront for many. Once Jupiter moves on to Virgo in August, philosophical beliefs and debates will begin to sound more practical (hopefully). Right now they are really extreme and are fueling the quest for personal power. The balance between personal power and universal service will continue to be a widespread theme as long as Rahu transits Leo, through next summer.
We may be feeling a little self-centered in our power on this full Moon, because Venus is now very close to the Sun (combust) over the next several weeks. Our ability to compromise, offered by Venus, may be burnt up so close to the hot rays of the Sun, which could put relationships at odds. On the other hand, the purification and illumination offered by the Sun could help us to elevate our petty desires into higher ones that allow us to connect with universal spirit.
Meditation and self-inquiry help us to access the higher lessons that the planets have to offer. Take the opportunity to digest some emotions and embrace transformation on this full Moon, and unleash your spiritual warrior to help you ride the waves of change.
You can get specific tips and personal coaching on how to understand and maximize your relationship with the planets through a personal astrology reading and coaching session.
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by Somya Devi | Apr 4, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Events, Holy Days, Planets Changing Signs, Retrograde
The new moon in Pisces and Hindu New Year will fall on the early morning of April 7th, 2016 (at 4:24 a.m. PDT), initiating a lunar cycle that will connect us deeply with our emotion and intuition, and allow us to choose where and how we will direct our energy through the coming year.
This new Moon begins the first month of the Hindu calendar year (called Chaitra), during which the Sun makes his transition into Aries sign (or Meesha rashi, in sanskrit). Sun enters sidereal Aries on April 13th, a good three weeks after the equinox. (The western, Tropical zodiac aligns the spring equinox with zero degrees Aries. The sidereal zodiac, used by most Vedic Astrologers, marks the position of the planets as they align with the constellations as viewed from Earth.) From our vantage point, this lunar cycle begins with the Sun, Moon and Venus in the Piscean section of the sky.
We will feel a surge of emotions stirring this month, because of the strong watery nature of Pisces, which is the only purely water-going rashi (sign) in the Vedic zodiac. Your intuition will be strong, as your heart and mind (Moon), soul (Sun), and desire-nature (Venus) align in the “self-abiding” sign of the twin fishes. Jupiter’s rulership over Pisces helps us to connect these with our higher purpose and most optimistic beliefs. Venus is the planet that drives us to seek happiness and pleasure (usually sensual). With Venus in Pisces, it’s possible for our desire-nature to expand, so watch out for over-indulging. At the same time, the sattvic nature of Pisces gives us the opportunity to elevate our desires into things that support our values and our path to spiritual liberation.
In the environment, our bodies are engulfed in the watery flow of winter’s melting ice and spring’s rushing rivers. Internally, our minds and emotional bodies have begun to thaw out of the static quietude of winter, as the nourishing rains create fertile beds for our hopes and dreams to grow. Pisces’ energy will draw us deeply into our imaginations and our mystical power of psychic awareness. Through these, we can discover our most purposeful visions for the coming year, and Pisces’ flexibility will give us the power to change directions if necessary. This is a prime time to orient ourselves in the direction we want to go this year, so that when Sun transits into Aries and we speed ahead into activity, we will be facing the direction that we want to go.
Where do you want to steer your precious life-force this year? The dark Moon time (mostly on Wednesday, April 6th, before the new cycle begins on the 7th) is a potent night to go inward and reflect on what you learned during the last lunar cycle (and the last yearly cycle through the seasons). The most recent moon cycle brought two eclipses, which revealed a lot of our subconscious patterning, whatever was holding us back or calling for our attention. After the illumination of these shadows, we saw where we need to make some changes in our lives, either by throwing out limiting beliefs, or by realigning ourselves towards our highest potential with more clarity and purpose.
The new Moon in Pisces offers us the chance to enter deeper states of meditation, and brings forth our sattvic nature (the part of us that is most aligned with universal spirit). This new Moon is in the Vedic nakshatra (constellation) called Revati, “the wealthy.” This star relates to Goddess Lakshmi’s abundance (both material and spiritual wealth). Though we often think first of her material blessings, this star actually has a great deal to do with unlocking spiritual wealth and wisdom. It is the last of the 27 nakshatras, symbolizing the spiritual maturity that can be achieved as one nears the end of life (or a cycle) in the material realm. It is a place of letting go of earthly attachment, and preparing to enter the mystery of the next unknown chapter.
The ruling deity of Revati is Pushan, who ensures safe journeys (including those into the next realm), and the care of livestock and pastures (also symbolic of wealth). As you follow your intuition and psychic awareness, you may feel called to embark upon a new venture this year. This dark Moon time is a good night to gather your energy and your prayers, and call in divine support for a prosperous journey. Pisces, like the small fish in the vast ocean, evokes the energy of surrender and faith. After we have chosen our direction (with cues from the intuitive silence of meditation), and offered our prayers to the universe for guidance, we must also surrender to the flow and have faith that it will carry us where we are meant to go.
Rahu and Jupiter remain joined in sidereal Leo, exaggerating the general sense of the importance of one’s own beliefs right now. At the time of this new Moon, these planets will be in the sixth house of task-oriented hard work, selfless service, and dealings with enemies and opponents. If you’re feeling political, this month’s energy may inspire you to get involved and do some 6th-house “chores” of service to support your beliefs and challenge your opponents (like fundraising and sharing information about your favorite candidate, or getting on the phone bank to encourage supporters to go out and vote on caucus days). Be aware of the potential to face some serious clashes with those who disagree with you philosophically.
The new Moon joins Venus in Pisces as well, aligning our heart and soul with our desires and relationships. We may really bond with people over dreams and visions this month, especially when Venus enters Revati (on the 14th), his nakshatra of exaltation. Here our normally sensory-bound desire bodies reach for a more emotionally and spiritually based satisfaction. There could be some strong psychic connections. In partnerships we could be feeling especially romantic and optimistic right now, and may be coming together around shared principles, hopes, and dreams. Be mindful of overindulging, however, or going too far into the dream-world, especially if you have a tendency to try to escape from reality.
Saturn has recently turned retrograde, where he appears to move backwards through the sky from our viewpoint on earth. This will last through the summer, and will give us all a good look at our long-term goals, especially in the area of life where Saturn is currently transiting (sidereal Scorpio) over our personal chart. If you have planets in sidereal Scorpio, you may feel like the pressure is on to do some serious reflection in that area of your life. He may also disrupt things in the two houses that he rules for us individually. For a deeper look at how Saturn Retrograde is affecting you, be sure to sign up for my mailing list so you’ll be the first to get the free Saturn Retrograde Forecast for Your Sign.
The first nine days of this lunar month, Chaitra, comprise Vasanta Navaratri, a springtime festival for honoring the many forms of the Goddess (the Maha, or “Great,” Navaratri is observed in the fall)–Jai Ma Durga!. The ninth day of Chaitra is Ram Navami, the celebration of the birth of Lord Ram. Chant the name of Ram! Then the birth of Hanuman, Ram’s greatest devotee, is celebrated on purnima tithi, the full Moon phase of the month. This is called Hanuman Jayanti, and falls on April 21st in North America. It is a powerful holy day to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman, to summon personal devotion and strength, and invoke the grace to calm and tame our restless minds so that we may live in blissful awareness of divine presence. Jai Hanuman!
by Somya Devi | Dec 10, 2015 | Astrology
The new Moon cycle begins in the early hours of Friday, December 11th, at 2:30am PST. The Dark Moon night is December 10th, and is a good time to stay quiet and still and to prepare for the next cycle. Feeling introverted? With Sun and Moon in Scorpio, as well as Saturn, we’re likely to be feeling extra sensitive and inward both now and throughout this cycle, due to the nature of this sign.
Scorpio is a water sign–emotional, intuitive, and flowy, yet it’s also a fixed sign, which can keep us from surrendering to those waves of emotions at times. It’s ruled by Mars, a fiery planet, which adds intensity and passion to whatever we are feeling. It is also a feminine sign, which compels us to tune inward and reflect on our own energies and emotions. We’re more likely to keep them to ourselves and brew over them than to act out right now. With celestial energies gathered here, we’re not likely to take things lightly.
Scorpio energy is also potentially transformative, however. With Scorpio energies heightened we become aware of our vulnerability. We may feel intensely passionate towards some things (or people), but the emotional intuition and watery nature ultimately alerts us to the fact that everything ebbs and flows, and despite our desire to keep things fixed, there is always movement and change. The Martian energy of Scorpio helps us to face this awareness with courage, and to strengthen our capacity to go with the flow and accept our deepest desires and the emotional waves that accompany them.
Saturn is also in sidereal Scorpio with Sun and Moon, adding his influence to the new cycle. Saturn has sat here for a little over a year now. He is the planet that makes us aware of time, and how our choices will reverberate into the long term. Saturn in Scorpio has made us face our commitment to our own process of emotional strengthening and personal transformation. Saturn also relates to fear and pressure, and his influence here brings awareness of how we handle these things. His transit here is a great opportunity to face our fear, our vulnerability, and where we are most deeply sensitive, and to find the courage to make changes that will help us in the long term. This Moon cycle will also highlight that opportunity for self-examination and our commitment to transformation. Now is a good time to re-commit to the tools and practices you have chosen to assist your personal growth process.
This cycle begins with Sun and Moon joined near the end of sidereal Scorpio constellation, in the part of the sky called Jyeshtha in the Vedas. The deity for Jyeshtha is Indra, the King of the Gods, who is associated with storms and lightning, which also bring the power of purification and transformation. This star brings courage and the potential for great accomplishment. It also relates to Vishnu and his spinning disc (sudarshana chakra). While you are taking stock of your emotional body this month, consider how best to manage your own power. Personal health is still an important factor, as Sun joined with Saturn can put stress on our nervous system.
Venus remains in Libra, his own sign, which can add pleasantry and cooperation to our relationships. At the same time, however, Rahu and Mars are joined in Virgo, which can bring out anger or intensity with others when it comes to material organization (especially when the Moon transits here later this cycle). Jupiter in Leo is still bringing a lot of power to philosophical debates. He is now aspecting Mercury in Sagittarius as well, which will make us extra loquacious about this during the coming cycle. The new Moon in Jyeshtha nakshatra in sidereal Scorpio initiates a cycle where all of these energies are present.
The New Year is a great time to receive a personal reading to help you anticipate coming changes! It is also a great holiday gift to offer to loved ones.
by Somya Devi | Sep 25, 2015 | Astrology, Eclipses, Events
The Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Uttara Bhadrapada will coincide in sidereal Pisces on the night of Sunday, September 27th, with the peak of the eclipse around 7:47 pm PDT (and the peak of the full Moon at 7:50). This is the final eclipse in a series of eclipses since Rahu and Ketu, the north and south nodes of the Moon, have been in sidereal Virgo and Pisces for the last year. During these eclipses we have been unearthing the shadows of our subconscious drives towards the moods represented by these two signs. The mood of Virgo compels us to organize the details of life and our material surroundings, to perform hard work responsibly in order to avoid conflict, and to iron out imperfections in ourselves and others. Pisces, on the opposite side of the zodiac, draws us to let go of the material world and surrender into the unknown, embracing imagination and life’s mysteries, or sometimes escaping into fantasy or other outlets to avoid the drudgery of life.
The eclipses around this astronomical axis have drawn our attention to these opposite compulsions. As the “shadow planets” align with the Sun (our inherent divine power) and the Moon (our emotional bodies), we may see what is normally subconscious but drives us to one or both of these extremes. There could arise distress around our desire to keep everything materially organized, or our tendency to be overly responsible and meticulous. This is put in glaring contrast for us when we see Pisces’ need for us to surrender to the flow and be more fluid in life’s waters. On the other hand, one’s shadow tendency to escape and avoid may arise, often in chaotic and confusing ways, to show us that we better need to integrate our dreamy idealism with practical management of life’s details. The period surrounding the eclipses can often feel turbulent, stressful, and confusing, but there are always deeper lessons being offered so that we can learn truer ways to bring forth the empowerment of our spirit and the comforting of our hearts.
This full Moon is a Supermoon–one that occurs with the Moon at it’s closest orbital point to earth (perigree). The Moon will look up to 14% larger than usual! During a lunar eclipse, the Moon takes on a dim red coloring, and is often referred to as a “blood moon” because of this. Why doesn’t the moon totally disappear behind the earth’s shadow? During solar eclipses, the Moon’s orb (directly between Earth and the Sun) appears as a black disc that almost completely covers the Sun’s light for a few minutes, save for a thin bright ring around the outside of the disc (in a total solar eclipse). The light we see as moonlight, however, is actually the light of the Sun being reflected off of the Moon. The Sun’s rays pass through the atmosphere of Earth before reaching the Moon, and are refracted in many directions. This is why the Moon does not completely disappear during the lunar eclipse — sunlight is still reaching it, but through indirect, scattered rays bouncing through the atmosphere and around the earth.
This phenomenon corresponds to the astrological idea that eclipses often cause confusion and may make us feel scattered. Furthermore, it can be hard to get in touch with the emotions of the heart (Moon energy) during a lunar eclipse, as the divine light of the Sun is reaching the emotional body only through shadowy twists and turns, not directly or with its full potency. As such, a lunar eclipse can feel especially heavy on the heart, and we may feel all twisted up inside. At the same time, we can see and feel the twisty things that are normally dormant, hidden or overlooked, but nevertheless are molecular paths making up part of our inherent experience. This is a good time to face the things that are unpleasant, or that cause us confusion or heartache, so we can let go and realign. We can look at where we have been sidestepping our way to emotional nourishment (especially through avoidance) instead of taking action by the most direct routes of self-care. Applying conscious effort and prayer, we can let go of unsupportive patterns and make way for the most authentic ways of nourishing our hearts and minds.
The fullest part of the Total Lunar Eclipse will be from 7:11pm – 8:23 pm PDT. The beginnings and ends of the eclipse will be visible from 5:11pm to 10:22pm. Within the region of Pisces, Vedic Astrology further divides the sky, and we see that this eclipse is in the nakshatra of Uttara Bhadrapada. This star-sign lies in the area of Pegasus and Andromeda, directly above the constellation of Pisces. The deity of this nakshatra is Ahirbudhnya, the serpent from the depths, and thus this constellation relates to kundalini as well as deep emotional waters. Much wisdom is available here. As we feel into the depths of the emotions, Saturn’s rulership of this sign makes us face our fears, and strengthen our connection to divine consciousness as we loosen our attachment to the material.
Uttara Bhadrapada also relates to the funeral cot and the process of death and dying. With the Moon eclipsed here, we may feel like we are dying, or may desire to retreat and escape from the world temporarily. We may need to allow the death of something whose time has come, our attachment to which has been holding us back from living in our highest alignment with spirit. Also a Harvest Moon (the full Moon closest to the fall equinox, accompanied by many nights of bright moonlight in the evening), it is time to cut down and allow the death of what we have been cultivating, and permit it to transform into its next purpose. This may involve letting go of some of our desire to organize the material world (the mood of Virgo, where the Sun lies). The approach of this eclipse has likely brought up a lot of conflict and confusion around this issue, and the Solar eclipse on September 12th likely disturbed the other end of the spectrum (material stability). We may also be called to find more balance in our Virgoan pursuits, and be more meticulous with our own spiritual practices rather than with everything and everyone in the world around us.
The shakti of Uttara Bhadrapada is the power to bring rain. Call upon the cleansing energy of rain to help wash away the old and stale and nourish the soil of decay to make it fertile for new life. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac and brings us closer to death, helping us to see that the material clinging we experience through life is not what is eternal. As we release our holding and consciously embrace the unknown–rather than simply falling into the escapist potential of Pisces energy–we come in contact with the abundance of divinity that lies within the great mystery. We can awaken the serpent power of Ahirbudhnya and invite new wisdom to circulate through our free-flowing channels. The Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Uttara Bhadrapada on September 27th offer us the chance to see into our own depths and expand our capacity for conscious surrender as we continue into the next chapter.
by Somya Devi | Aug 12, 2015 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Planets Changing Signs, Retrograde
The New Moon will occur in Ashlesha nakshatra in sidereal Cancer, at 7:54am PDT on Friday, August 14th. This means that the darkest night, beginning this new cycle, is the night of Thursday, August 13th. New Moon nights are a great time for inner practice and ritual, fully releasing everything from the last cycle and preparing for the new.
Ashlesha (or Aslesha) nakshatra and Cancer are both related to the water element, which correlates with our emotions and second chakra. This cycle will call us to explore the depths of our emotions. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, the feminine reflective principle in the cosmos. While the Sun represents the primordial source that fuels all life, the Moon is that wherein Sun’s power is reflected on another body. Moon is therefore the planet that feels what it is like to be a material body animated by divine consciousness. The Cancer cycle will allow us to tap in to our emotional and feminine side, as Moon is the archetype of the divine feminine principle. Examine and honor the waves of feelings as they come up for you throughout the month.
The potency of this cycle is enhanced by Ashlesha nakshatra, found in the constellation Hydra, the water snake. The snake represents kundalini energy, which often lies coiled in a dormant state at the base of the spine. In this cycle there is the potential for that coil to unwind and for kundalini energy to rise, as flow energy is enhanced and blockages dissolve. This is a time for emotional transformation.
The deities for Ashlesha are the Nagas, the serpents of wisdom. We have the opportunity to receive guidance from these serpents and receive more wisdom about our own hidden emotions. In your practice time, you can ask yourself what is coiled within? Where in your body do you feel a coil or a knot that can be loosened? Around what themes in life do you feel stuck? Probing into these matters and calling upon the water element or the Nagas can help to bring you more fluidity around them.
Mars is currently sitting in sidereal Cancer, where he is debilitated (at his least strong position in the cosmos). This means that our energy towards taking actions could be low right now. All the more reason to tap into that feminine, internal reflective principle, in order to loosen the emotional joints so that we can act with more clarity when Mars has more power again.
Jupiter is settling nicely into sidereal Leo, where he began his year-long transit a few weeks ago. Around this time we saw in the world a sudden righteous crusade towards celebrating lions (Cecil) and the rest of the wildlife kingdom. Leo, or the lion, is indeed the monarch of this realm, and Jupiter is a planet that relates to our values and principles. The worldwide value of these things suddenly surged when Jupiter took his seat on this zodiacal throne. During his transit here we may see many principle-based movements rise, in which large groups of believers will be pushing to get their values to the seat of power.
Venus continues his retrograde transit, now backtracking into the sign of Cancer. This is a time for reviewing relationships in our lives, and how we compromise and maneuver while seeking happiness. He continues retrograde motion until September 6th, after which time things should start moving forward again around those themes. With Venus retrograde so close to this New Moon, coupled with Ashlesha energy relating to the depths of our emotions, a lot could be coming up in our minds and hearts about past relationships. Remember to allow the flow and let the purifying waters of Cancer and Ashlesha wash away what is ready to move on, and nourish that which needs more unconditional love.
Mercury is joined with Jupiter in Leo right now, so we could easily feel the temptation to talk a lot. Like any serpent, Ashlesha has the power of venom within its tongue as well, so take heed to speak slowly to avoid harmful remarks. As with any purification process, we may feel the sting of that poison in ourselves as we release unwanted energies from our system. Be nourishing towards yourself, and drink lots of water to enhance the flow and cleansing. This will be a sensitive time, but a potent one for diving deep into the depths of our sensual bodies, and emerging from those waters with stronger emotional health and clarity.
