January 2010

New Year's Eve Lunar Eclipse :::Conversations with the Moon::: The second full moon of December takes place on New Year's Eve: Thursday, December 31st, at 11:14am Pacific Time. This full moon occurs in the lunar sign of Ardra, which is associated with the power of effort. That the lunar eclipse happens on this day signals success in new year's resolutions focused on quitting various activities. Ask yourself what you'd like to quit. Let's say you'd like to quit using your credit card for day to day living expenses, and shift over to using cash instead. Between now and New Year's Eve you'll have several days to remember what it was like to pay for everything on credit. You'll have time to thank the institutions that were willing to extend the credit, and time to thank the cards themselves for the lifestyle they afforded you. Then you'll want to envision yourself knowing how much you have in your bank account at all times, and going to the bank to have the cash you need for purchases. You could then write your resolution on a piece of paper: "My daily use of credit has ceased." Then ritually cut your credit card in half and place your new year's resolution into a new year's eve fire that you've got going in your fireplace... Get the idea? The important thing is to pick something you want to quit - not something you want to start. On a more esoteric level, the lunar eclipse in this sign promises an accelerated identity disassembly for anyone interested. (This day is a great opportunity to notice that who you are is not separate from Life itself.) Write this day/time into your calendar: Thursday, January 14, 2010, at 11:12pm Pacific Time. This new moon and the solar eclipse that accompanies it takes place in the vedic lunar sign of Uttara Ashadha. This lunar sign is associated with the ten "Vishvadevas," or collective forces of Light: Goodness, Truth, Willpower, Skill, Time, Desire, Firmness, Ancestors, Brightness, and "Peak." This lunar sign innately understands the responsibilities involved in leadership. That these collective forces of Light are being eclipsed mid-January will likely enhance greedy leadership unconcerned with widespread consequences (i.e. unconscionable bonuses for heads of financial institutions.) The power associated with this lunar sign is the power to grant an unchallengeable victory. With this power eclipsed, these next six months are like the scene in the movie where the good guys get their butts kicked, which makes their ultimate victory all the more sweet. Image: The Japanese Sun Goddess Amaterasu Emerging from her Cave, by Utagawa Kunisada, (歌川国貞), 1857

Planning & Scheduling :::Living in Accord with the Seasons::: New Year's Eve is an absolutely excellent day to lay low and spend some time in silence, resting and abiding in the eternal, unchanging truth of Who you are. The lunar eclipse will favor introspective, spiritual activities. Take some time to review the past year and connect with gratefulness for all it brought, and to playfully envision the upcoming year. Consider blueprinting your vision for 2010 with something creative like a collage. It is extremely important to connect with your heart's true longings, rather than holding on to outdated ambitions. Mercury is retrograde from December 26 until January 14. As during any Mercury retrograde period, patience will be required around Mercurial activities such as travel, communications, commerce. It's better not to sign contracts or initiate projects with high levels of detail during this time, as often the details must be revisited later. Mercury retrograde is a good time to edit, refine plans, go over details, and get back in touch with old friends. Venus and Pluto form a conjunction in Sagittarius on Monday the 28th of December, highlighting thrill-seeking activities, intense connections with others, and unblinking examination of existing relationships. Regarding relationships, resistance to change = pain. Letting go = freedom. Mars moved into the sign of Cancer on October 4, and will be staying in his sign of debilitation for almost eight months, until the end of May. In competitive areas of life, this placement of Mars may incline us toward playing an offensive, rather than a defensive game. Cultivate the balance of these forces as you go about achieving your dreams. This placement of Mars does not bode well for the real estate market. It is likely to create a general sense of insecurity in U.S. domestic affairs. Jupiter and Neptune are in an exact conjunction from December 20th until Dec. 25th. This conjunction represents several human tendencies: the tendency toward compassion, the tendency for striving toward ideals, the tendency for an unaware sense of entitlement, the tendency for an adolescent sense of invincibility. Actions benefiting others will bring far more joy and fulfillment than selfish actions during this time. Transiting Jupiter will conjoin the U.S. natal Moon from Jan. 23-26, which will likely coincide with the president's State of the Union address, promoting a general sense of hope and optimism. Saturn and Pluto have been dancing a tense little tango (forming a square aspect) since late October, and continue in this position until the end of February. No matter what good intentions exist behind reforming health care, reforming egregious banking/finance offenses, and creating jobs, powerful agents of change are already on the United States' doorstep. It is unlikely that governmental solutions will solve existing problems. Completely out of the box solutions will be needed. Social unrest brews. Notice what doesn't change, even when everything around you does. Coming from this place of what doesn't change - this is one way of apprehending enlightenment. Image: Inti Raimi, the Incan festival of winter solstice and the beginning of the year

July 2009

Eclipses for Inner Growth Conversations with the Moon A lunar and solar eclipse pair is a once-every-six-months occurrence. But to have a third eclipse tagging along for the ride is a little unusual. It certainly intensifies the challenge of the six month period that the eclipses influence. We have three eclipses happening over the next month: on July 7, then on July 21, and then on August 5. Lunar eclipses can only come about on full moons, when the earth stands between the sun and the moon, blocking the moon's light. This month, a full moon/lunar eclipse happens on Tuesday, July 7, at 2:22am Pacific Time, in the lunar sign of Purva Ashadha. Our sense of military invincibility, as well as our sense of financial invincibility as a nation will experience a shakedown during the six months affected by this eclipse. A useful contemplation on the day of this lunar eclipse will be: "What fuels my optimism?" The solar eclipse happens on Tuesday, July 21, at 7:36pm Pacific Time, in the lunar sign of Pushya. We may witness challenges for agriculture in the coming months. The current administration may have more difficulty providing relief to the sectors most in need. Practicing qualities of gentleness, kindness, sweetness, and tenderness on this day will help human generosity stay alive during a time when it is being eclipsed by fear. The solar eclipse's Path of Totality affects a swath of Asia from Bombay, India, through the city of Chengdu and the Sichuan province of China, all the way through the city of Shanghai. Bombay, Chengdu, and Shanghai could experience troubles around this eclipse. The third of the three eclipses is a lunar eclipse, which happens on Wednesday, August 5 in the evening, in the lunar sign of Shravana. More on this eclipse in the next Beacon. The above image is a 17th century Chinese illustration of a crank-operated rotary winnowing fan machine, separating husks from the grain. Ancient Hindu astronomers associated the process of winnowing grains with the portion of the sky they named "Purva Ashadha."

Planning & Scheduling Living in Accord with the Seasons Mercury travels through the constellation Gemini until July 15, a placement that stimulates reading, writing, exchanging ideas, and lots of talking. Fireworks are not the only potential explosions this July 4th weekend. Transiting Mercury and Pluto are in an exact opposition, creating some volatile verbal outbursts from self-righteous parties. While getting excited about ideas, just respect others' rights to their own opinions. Venus continues a conjunction with Mars, but for the month of July this creative pair are in a much more enjoyable tango than they were in June. They're traveling through earthy, sensual Taurus, heralding July as a month of enjoyment, and the pleasures of the senses. Jupiter is in Aquarius until the end of July in opposition to Saturn, symbolizing the reorganization of leadership within communities. Jupiter is also closely conjunct Neptune until the end of July, signifying altruism, rooted in an ideologically based compassion. In general, people may want to escape during this time, into imaginative technological spaces like the movies and the internet. Saturn is finishing his tour of the sign of Leo. From now until September 10 is a time for mandatory self-actualization. With the economic changes we are facing as a nation and across the globe, we are witnessing a fundamental shift in the social construct of "career." Many are having to adjust to job loss, and financial insecurity. If this hasn't affected you personally, it is likely that someone close to you has been affected. Notice what doesn't change, even when everything around you does. Coming from this place of what doesn't change - this is one way to look at enlightenment.

"Eternity" by William Blake He who binds to himself a joy Does the winged life destroy But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity's sun rise

February 2008

Planning & Scheduling Living in Accord with the Seasons Mars forms an opposition to Pluto in the beginning of March, releasing a certain tension around standing behind your passions and ambitions. Pluto is teamed up with Jupiter so we may find ourselves questioning ideologies that seem elitist. The energy of popularity and popular values and opinion give prestige a run for it's money - how does this relate to your life? Also, your mission, should you choose to accept it, around this Mars/Pluto opposition, is: to learn skillful means in fulfilling your life's passions, and to open up to the alchemy of turning anger into energy. Venus enters the sign of Aquarius mid March, and conjoins Uranus at the end of the month. Socially, we open up to new possibilities. People that seemed a little out-of-the-box up until now, are suddenly more delightful to hear out. Jupiter in Sag continues his opposition by sign, to Mars in Gemini through the end of April, bringing abundant energy for new ideas. This period might bring balance between your many interests; and a healthy tension between developing competency in many things at once versus tying them all together. Venus conjoins Neptune on March 7th and Mercury conjoins Neptune on March 9th, bringing idealism and inspiration into our lives. We're mobilized to believe in forgotten dreams again. Just don't try to pin down the poets and politicians on the details!

Solar and Lunar Eclipses of February Conversations with the Moon Twice each year, earth experiences a pair of eclipses. Solar eclipses happen by definition at the New Moon and Lunar eclipses occur at the full Moon. An annular solar eclipse took place on Wed., Feb. 6, 2008 at 7:45pm Pacific Time and there will be a partial lunar eclipse on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 at 7:31pm Pacific Time. Solar Eclipse Eclipses are excellent times for introspection and downtime. In terms of natural life cycles, they're not the best time for beginning important ventures. This solar eclipse is in Dhanishta. Folks with planets in the late degrees of sidereal Capricorn may sense this purposeful "prune" of excess energy streams. Lunar Eclipse When the light of one of the luminaries is blocked, life can feel unusual. We're meant to be taking a moment away from our usual lives, to recharge our batteries. This lunar eclipse is in the lunar sign Magha, and the Moon joins up with austere Saturn on this day. Saturn's influence may ask us to dig down for some necessary emotional self-reliance, especially around being our own cheering squad, our own welcoming committee, and the ultimate authority in our own lives. People with planets in the early degrees of Leo may feel the pinch of this eclipse more strongly than others - life may seem to be testing their mettle. Magha has to do with royalty and real estate, among other things - watch what happens to world leaders, and to the real estate market. On Feb. 20, 1989, there was a lunar eclipse in roughly the same placement as this one. What was going on then for you? Can you see any relationships between that time and now? (It would depend on which house 7 degrees Leo falls in your chart.)

Eclipses of February 2008

Solar and Lunar Eclipses of February
Conversations with the Moon


Twice each year, earth experiences a pair of eclipses. This month, there's an annular solar eclipse on Wed., Feb. 6, 2008 at 7:45pm Pacific Time and a partial lunar eclipse on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 at 7:31pm Pacific Time.

Solar Eclipse
Eclipses are excellent times for introspection and downtime. In terms of natural life cycles, they're not the best time for beginning important ventures. This solar eclipse is in Dhanishta. Folks with planets in the late degrees of sidereal Capricorn may sense this purposeful "prune" of excess energy streams.

Lunar Eclipse
When the light of one of the luminaries is blocked, life can feel unusual. We're meant to be taking a moment away from our usual lives, to recharge our batteries. This lunar eclipse is in Magha. People with planets in the early degrees of Leo may feel this eclipse more strongly than others. Magha has to do with royalty and real estate, among other things - watch what happens to world leaders, and to the real estate market.

On Feb. 20, 1989, there was a lunar eclipse in roughly the same placement as this one. What was going on then for you? This eclipse is a higher rung on the same evolutionary spiral.

September & October 2007

Total Lunar Eclipse Aug. 28 Conversations with the Moon There's a full moon and total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, August 28th at 3:35am Pacific Time, in the lunar sign of Shatabhisha. This eclipse is fertile ground for spending contemplation or journaling time on examining addictive behaviors or unnecessary attachments. This is the time to commit to our own self-designed "recovery" programs. It is a particularly well-suited time to explore any addictive tendencies within our social collective (our extended families, our spiritual groups, our nation), and our own individual participation in that collective behavior. For example, as a nation, do we have an 'addiction to oil' as our president has observed? If so, what can we each individually do about it?

Planning & Scheduling Living In Accord With The Seasons There is a partial solar eclipse on September 11th, at 5:45am Pacific Time in the lunar sign of Purva Phalguni. Traditionally, eclipses are thought of as excellent for inward spiritual life, and not good times to initiate any significant endeavors. The Sun travels with Saturn and Ketu in the vedic sign of Leo until mid-September, signifying a call to responsible action, and a commitment to realizing our unique potential - and maybe some painstaking efforts in getting there. Saturn and Ketu are tightly conjunct in Leo during the second half of October. We may each be feeling the pressure of authorship that we have over our own lives. Performers and politicians may experience self-doubt around their own ability to 'sparkle'. Is it possible we might see the resignation of a world leader? Neptune in Capricorn is loosely opposite Venus in Cancer during the month of September. We might be appreciating the beauty and romance of traditional gender roles in the family structure. (i.e. the nurturing mother, the father who's a strong provider). These themes may come up specifically in the new movie releases during this time. Perhaps we'll hear this theme crop up during political campaigns. The full moon of September happens on Wed., Sept. 26 at 12:46pm, Pacific Time. The full moon of October happens on Fri., Oct. 26 at 11:51am, Pacific Time. Mercury goes retrograde from Fri., Oct. 12 until Wed., Oct. 31. Mercury retrograde is best for editing, revising plans, hooking up with old friends, revisiting the past. It's energy is backwards moving, so communications don't always flow forwards so smoothly. Avoid, if possible, signing contracts, embarking on journeys, beginning big projects. If you must, don't sweat it. (Just like with the weatherman - if you have a picnic planned and the weatherman says "there'll be rain", you don't necessarily cancel the picnic - maybe you find a covered picnic area just in case.)

My Bohemian Life by Arthur Rimbaud I went off with my hands in my torn coat pockets; My overcoat too was becoming ideal; I travelled beneath the sky, Muse! and I was your vassal; Oh dear me! what marvellous loves I dreamed of! My only pair of breeches had a big whole in them. - Stargazing Tom Thumb, I sowed rhymes along my way. My tavern was at the Sign of the Great Bear. - My stars in the sky rustled softly. And I listened to them, sitting on the road-sides On those pleasant September evenings while I felt drops Of dew on my forehead like vigorous wine; And while, rhyming among the fantastical shadows, I plucked like the strings of a lyre the elastics Of my tattered boots, one foot close to my heart!

March 2007

Party Animal Navel Gazing Watching the Vedic Moon The Full Moon of March 2007 carries with it a partial lunar eclipse, happening on Saturday, March 3rd, at 3:18pm Pacific Time, in the lunar sign of Purva Phalguni. This portion of the nightsky corresponds to the enjoyment principle in human life - creativity, the pleasure of sexuality, rest and recreation, and the delight that children bring. The normal expression of the full moon in this sign would be a good time, a celebration, or a creative outlet. The fact that there's a total lunar eclipse in this portion of the lunar zodiac however, suggests that we may feel a little more stretched than usual in our global community, not able to relax; perhaps we have difficulty sleeping. We may also see world events that bring to light the compromised wellbeing of children, or issues surrounding birth control. For anyone with planets in mid degrees of vedic Leo, this will mark a time of more work than play, more seriousness around creativity, and amorous energies focused inward rather than expressed. (i.e. kundalini energy channeled for meditation.) For all of us, with Uranus so closely conjunct the Sun, and Jupiter in close square, this Saturday is an excellent day for tuning ourselves in to the "new" higher frequencies of consciousness flooding the earth plane, through meditative and contemplative practices. Despite the enervating shake-up that this eclipse may prove to be, we experience an air of philosophical open-mindedness. We entertain the willingness to grow and expand into an understanding of the deeper meaning of Pleasure, and the Knowledge of its true Source.

Planning & Scheduling Living In Accord With The Seasons There's a solar eclipse on Sunday, March 18, at 6:43pm, in Pisces. A good time for introspection, meditation, down-time. Mars is in Capricorn, his sign of exaltation for the month of March. This placement brings in an air of heightened productivity, and digging deeply to uncover our true capacity. At the same time, Saturn is transiting opposite Mars, while Neptune conjoins Mars, making us shoot for a lofty ideal, and being challenged by reality to bring this ideal into manifestation. This month can feel frustrating in its stops and starts, and constant feeling of an upward climb. Developing patience, endurance and commitment in the face of these obstacles, can enable us to build something of true, lasting value. Rahu and transiting Uranus are traveling along with Mercury for the month of March, creating compelling, unusual conversation, stretching our limits of what we thought we might entertain conceptually. Internet communications (blogs, MySpace-esque online communities, the YouTubes of the world, etc.) go through heightened mass-market appeal, development, and innovations. New forms of sustainable living, green energy, gain wider appeal. Mercury goes direct again on Mar. 7. Try to wait until the 8th of March before initiating important things, and especially before making agreements or signing contracts.

Ignorant Before the Heavens of My Life by Rainer Maria Rilke Ignorant before the heavens of my life, I stand and gaze in wonder. Oh the vastness of the stars. Their rising and descent. How still. As if I didn't exist. Do I have any share in this? Have I somehow dispensed with their pure effect? Does my blood's ebb and flow change with their changes? Let me put aside every desire, every relationship except this one, so that my heart grows used to its farthest spaces. Better that it live fully aware, in the terror of its stars, than as if protected, soothed by what is near.