Love

Love is the only force in nature that can both kill you and bring you back from the dead...

--AT

So amazing how
impulsive decisions can
change lives forever.

Solar Returning

One critical aspect of predictive astrology is the analysis of the solar return (SR) chart. This is a chart that changes every year and is valid up to 3 months before and 3 months after your birthday. That means that events shown in the SR chart can effect you for up to 18 months.

The SR chart is a chart cast for the day when the degree of your natal Sun is at the exact same degree as it was at your birth within the current year. The rest of the planets align accordingly. Thus, if a person was born in 1980 when the Sun was at 3'00" Virgo, the SR chart will be cast for the day when the Sun is at 3'00" Virgo in 2011. My personal technique for reviewing SR charts is to view the SR chart itself alone, not in overlay with the natal chart. I find this technique to be highly accurate. Basically, we are looking at the SR chart as an independent entity. House placements will be most important using this technique, followed by aspects.

Using the SR chart above, the most important things to note are the position of the SR Ascendant and house placements for the Sun and Moon. The SR Ascendant reveals the general personality traits of the native for the coming year and the Sun defines the focus of the year, i.e. where that person will expend most of their energy. The Moon reveals a great deal about the person's emotional focus and where their "heart" will be during the coming year.

SR Venus and the 5th and 7th houses will reveal much about any relationship issues, and Mars determines where the drive and energy, or the "fuel" for the focus of the Sun's house, will originate. Jupiter, if well-aspected, can show areas of fortune, luck, prosperity, or increase.

SR Saturn can reveal challenges, dilemmas, restrictions, increased responsibilities, or commitments. Uranus will reveal areas of potential change and upheaval, Neptune can reveal areas of dreams, wishes, inspiration, or delusion and disappointment. Be very cautious with a poorly aspected Neptune, depending on house placement. Lastly, Pluto shows where the native can expect transformation. Aspects between any of the outer planets and the luminaries are critical.

The Reading

In the example above, the SR Ascendant is in Gemini, revealing a fun, highly social year for the native, and one focused on communication. This would be a good year to develop new friendships or work on writing projects. Communication and the ability to express oneself will be very important this year.

SR Sun is in the 5th house, revealing that the focus of the year will be on creative energies and/or romance. Children (one's greatest creation) are also a 5th house focus. This native may start a new project, embark on a new romance, or have a child. If children are already present, they will receive a lot of attention this year. "Giving birth to something new" is the theme. The 5th house is the Sun's natural house so this is a benefic placement. Interestingly, SR Venus and Saturn are placed here as well. With Venus conjunct the Sun, I would lean towards "romance" being very much on the native's brain. Surely the native will experience love and pleasure this year. However, Saturn's presence in the 5th house could bring some kind of limitation, restriction, or obstacle to that romance. This is where aspects are critical.

SR Venus is in direct opposition to Uranus, suggesting a deep attraction but one with unstable elements...is there something unusual about the partner, is it an on/off relationship? This could also imply a relationship that begins unusually fast or is intense/chaotic, or induces change in the native. The hard aspect to Pluto reinforces the passion and intensity of this relationship, but also adds a warning about jealousy and possessiveness. The Venus-Pluto-Uranus aspect actually forms a tight T-square, with Pluto as the apex...regardless of the final outcome, this relationship may very well change the native's life.

Again, Saturn's presence needs to be evaluated...it is possible this relationship is long-distance or restricted in some other way. However Saturn is not always bad and in this case it may lend structure...a stabilizing and long-term energy to the wildness of the T-square. One important key to Saturn is that it is unaspected. This ALWAYS reveals a lesson for the native to incorporate. In the house of romance, there will be a lot of learning from this relationship. Luckily Saturn retains its exaltation in Libra so the lessons may not be too harsh but are important nonetheless. I would add that the presence of the North Node in the 7th house of partnership and relationships further emphasizes that relationships will be highly important to the native this year.

Mercury is very strong in this chart. Not only is it widely conjunct the Sun but it also rules the Ascendant in Gemini and is in domicile in Virgo. This emphasizes how important communication is to the native this year, and Mercury in the 4th house placement of home and family enforces this. Communication is a matter of deep comfort to the native, influencing how she feels about life itself, as the 4th house represents the foundation of the chart and of our lives.

Mars is in the 3rd house of communication...energy and drive are directed there this year. Communication, communication, communication! She won't thrive without it this year.

Both the Moon and Jupiter are located in the 12th house of the mind, subconscious, secrets, intuition, and past life karma. Jupiter expands the energy of whatever it comes into contact with, so let's examine this in more detail.

The Moon in the 12th house is a tricky placement. In trine to the Sun and Venus, it is linked to the relationship energies of the 5th house. Thus, the relationship previously discussed may be secret or clandestine in some way.

As the Moon represents our emotional Self, our instincts and inner lives, it deserves a lot of attention in the analysis. Moon in the 12th house can represent fear of vulnerability or a need to be private about feelings. The Moon also represents the mother, so this year the native may address some deeply buried childhood issues or unearth some feelings about her mother. This is a deeply psychological placement, and changes in mood, psyche, and spirituality can be expected. The native can also expect an increase in intuition and emotional sensitivity this year. Dreams may be psychic, etc. The native will also be very sensitive to the influence of drugs, alcohol and medication. Use caution.

All of the spiritual energies of the 12th house Moon are magnified by the presence of Jupiter, the ancient ruler of Pisces and thus spirituality. Jupiter also serves as a protective influence here, so this is a highly benefic placement. No matter what the emotional duress, the native will make it through. Not only that, but Jupiter positively aspects Mercury, the chart ruler. Jupiter sits in this chart as a benevolent and guiding influence, indicating that the native is under protection of some sort. In the 12th house, it can even represent the angelic influence of a departed soul.

Lastly, Neptune in the 10th house reveals that the native may experience issues with concentrating on work this year or may feel restless in her job. The harsh aspect to the Moon emphasizes this, and the native should be aware that she may struggle with her work feeling fulfilling. An awkward quincunx to Mars in the 3rd reminds the native to beware of "seeing what she wants to see" or "hearing what she wants to hear" when it comes to communications from others. She should also make an effort to be precise in her communications.

Lucid Dreaming

An informative discussion on lucid dreaming.

As a lucid dreamer, I've learned some tips on how to have more effective lucid dreaming.

1. Get enough sleep. Fatigue negatively impacts the brain's ability to determine its own level of consciousness.

2. Have a "kick." I adapted this term from the movie "Inception" (great film by the way), but I knew what a kick was long before that. Basically, something happens in your dream that lets you know you are dreaming. One of mine is having to go to the bathroom in the dream. Once I start focusing on having to go to the bathroom, and weaving scenarios into the dream to make that happen, I realize that my real-life physical urge is interfering in my dream and it brings me into awareness. Another one is the presence of a lion. Once I see a lion, I usually realize that I am dreaming.

3. Record your dreams. Keep a dream journal. Consistently dreaming about the same thing makes it easier to become familiar with the dreamscape if you are entering a recurring dream. This is also just good dreaming practice in general. I will talk more about dream journaling in future blog entries.

Will

Just a brief note on willpower...

Your mind has the power to manifest the outcomes you desire. As a conscious being, the constructs of your daily existence are only limited by the force of your will. Some people call this the law of attraction, thinking positively, sending out good vibes...what have you. Whatever name you have for it, the concept is ancient, and despite recent pop culture and media marketing, is no Secret. Quite simply, mind trumps matter.

Your will is one of the most important tools of your spiritual existence, so guard it carefully. Use it wisely. When you hear words and phrases like "willful", "battle of wills"...pay attention. You may be unconsciously engaging in spiritual warfare with another person or entity and not even realize it.

Remember...Think it. Conceive it. Believe it. Achieve it.

Asteroid Karma

Asteroid Karma (3811) is a very useful asteroid to investigate in astrology. It represents positive/negative karmic connections, either for the individual (karmic astrology) or in partner astrology. Positive karma can indicate events such as sudden good fortune, chance encounters, etc. Negative karma can manifest in events such as illness, heart break, accidents, financial losses, even death. Retrograde Karma in the chart is often an indicator that there is more negative karma present in the current life than positive. 

Interestingly, this asteroid has numerological connotations. 3811 adds up to 13, the date on which it was discovered. As previously discussed, 13 is a number with a bad reputation but it holds the promise of knowledge and power if properly mastered. 

Asteroid KARMA in the signs:

Karma in Aries: Destined for balance in creative impulses, egotism, and self- absorption. Did you pay enough attention to self in the past lives? Can relate to head wounds (safety issues or a predilection to getting them), a tendency towards argumentativeness, or success with entrepreneurship. Did you undermine someone's business in the past life? Did you motivate someone to succeed?  Karma placed here can involve the native needing or supporting independence and family values reform.

Karma in Taurus: Destined for balance in establishing a family, accumulating possessions, patience in projects. Did you stifle others’ projects in the past? Did you enable others’ projects to proceed speedily in the past life? Did you enjoy creature comforts? Did you enjoy too much?  Not enough? Karma here can also involve the native reacting to family survival mechanisms and coming to terms with musical talent.

Karma in Gemini: Destined for balance in the intellectual and communicative plane. Did you talk too much in the past? Was the talk useful or harmful? Did you deceive using fast wit? Did you write enlightening literature or books of facts? This placement also indicates experiences that help the individual guide social reform. A hidden law may help many innocents reclaim dues and one with Karma in Gemini may be destined to research this data and be useful to thousands. In the past life he may have been cheated because of ignorance.

Karma in Cancer: Destined for balance in emotions, financial security and basic survival. The native may not have attained any financial security nor had a decent home life in the past. Karmic debts to the native are associated with receiving money, the home life, and emotional nurturing from the mother figure. Had he abused these, then he may have to pay others financial dues, nurture others and give emotional empathy to others because he did not do so in the past. Treating your mother well can be part of the destiny. This native in the highest level can pay his dues by initiating child welfare reforms in maternal care, soup kitchens or be a philanthropist who gives away interest-free loans.

Karma in Leo: In the positive sense, this native is very likely to have been a total pussycat in their past lives. Now it is time to roar, time to be forced into expressing some creative aspect of self, to wallow in the ego and enjoy romance and luck in gambling. However, if negatively aspected or retrograde, this means balancing experiences that cause the ego to suffer, public insults, being stifled, failure in speculation and lack of romance in life due to abuse of ego in the past lives.

Karma in Virgo: Destined to balance health issues, critical studies, and routine work. Were you a miserly boss who made your workers suffer? Did you neglect your health in the past? Did you work as a nurse who selflessly toiled? Depending on the good or bad of the past and the positive or negative of the present, this can be a very useful placement. Career success is assured for one who builds on the positive karma.

Karma in Libra: One of the most challenging placements. Destined to understand and master balance, mentally or physically. Every thought that is wrong may instantly be balanced by contradictory evidence. You may judge someone as wicked and proof may come that he is good. Watch out for guilt trips and pricks to the conscience. It is best to never judge or label anyone but instead to objectively analyze and assess with disclaimers.

Negative karmic experiences here include heart breaks owing to being too flirtatious in the past. Positive debts may mean a wonderful spouse and relationship in this life, wonderful surroundings and so on.

Karma in Scorpio: A rogue occultist or a dedicated surgeon? A black magician or a healer? A monk or a sex maniac/mass murderer? This is a challenging placement that can help fate plan a powerful destiny or a punishment of sinking to the lowest depths of despair. Emotional control is the ally for this native. Letting emotional hatred get out of control will set up a vicious cycle of karmic debts that never benefit anyone. Forgiveness is a fantastic asset. These natives must master breath control, meditation and some form of social service, at least mentally.

Karma in Sagittarius: Were you a religious fundamentalist or a social reformer? A corporate cheat or a philanthropist? Watch for experiences that balance your clumsiness, your kindness, your luck, your manner of speech and your friendships. If you are unkind in words, even if you meant otherwise, the asteroid Karma will still make you feel the other person’s emotions at your words. At the highest level, such people can become great religious reformers.

Karma in Capricorn: A very difficult placement. Retrograde and negatively aspected might indicate a corporate white collar criminal or big billionaire conspirator against the masses in a past lifeline. Greedy Ambition and status consciousness that sacrifices ethics and truth leads to humbling balances in this life. The native must practice generosity, inner and outer. He must treat all people with respect and must not be condescending to others. No misdeeds like ratting on fellow employees for promotions, for instant karmic punishment will follow. One must be wary of taxation problems and legal problems. 

The Native must balance career and affection to family, and not let career be the only objective in life. Once positive loops are set and old karmic debts erased, this placement can bring large financial rewards. This will then become the new test. Is social service funded with the rewards? Is egotistical reputation concern mellowed? Is Status still given importance or character of people? Is ambition under control or do the past bad habits of power trips raise their ugly head again? 

These natives can become Nation Builders or Global Corporate/Financial/Legal Reformers in the highest positive level.

Karma in Aquarius: Destined to balance their capabilities for humanitarian causes and to find guidance for individual reform. Were you a thinker who was too lazy? A mad scientist? An eccentric engineer who burnt his inventions because he did not get a patent? These natives will be prodded in this life with experiences that settle the old debts of neglect and inspire ideas of benefit. Negatively, they may have made many people uncomfortable with unrestrained wildness/rebelliousness in the name of individual freedom and in this life, their freedom may be curtailed. One must be wary of sudden events and accidents if there is a square to Uranus or Mars. 

Karma in Pisces: The end of the karmic wheel! The native may have transcended the highest Spiritual realms of ecstasy or crawled through life as an alcoholic or drug abuser. This placement may also indicate that the native mislead others in topics of spirituality or deceived others by misusing compassion. Positively, this can be a native who was so selfless in thought and deed that this life will give a balance in the form of true knowledge or opening of the third eye/psychic powers and higher states of consciousness. Retrograde Karma here could mean chances of psychiatric illness, schizophrenia and more drug abuse. Great honesty, objectivity and self mastery are needed in this case for setting up the positive karmic loops to enable Neptunian rewards from this Asteroid placement. 

Karma Aspects:
Karma squared by Mars or Saturn or Pluto is another typical indicator of negative karma. Karma trine Jupiter or Venus or Sun is a typical sign of positive karma. 

The Tao Te Ching

Some quotes from Lao Tzu...

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

"Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world."

"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich."

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving."

"Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know."

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

"The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth."

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."

"Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you."

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

"A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live."

"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you."

"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream."

"Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner."

"At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want."

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

"The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself."

"Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her."

"If you understand others you are smart.
If you understand yourself you are illuminated.
If you overcome others you are powerful.
If you overcome yourself you have strength.
If you know how to be satisfied you are rich.
If you can act with vigor, you have a will.
If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting.
If you die without loss, you are eternal."

"To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day."

"Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?"

"By letting go it all gets done."

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."

"Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment"

"To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders."

"Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires."

"Men are born soft and supple; dead they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail."

"She does not show herself, and therefore is apparent. She does not affirm herself, and therefore is acknowledged. She does not boast and therefore has merit. She does not strive and therefore is successful. It is exactly because she does not contend, that nobody can contend with her."

"Because of a great love, one is courageous." 

Introduction to Chakras

What is a chakra? The word chakra is derived from the Sanskrit word for "wheel." You can think of a chakra as a spinning wheel of energy residing within the body. There are 7 primary chakras and several lesser ones. The primary chakras are concerned with our emotions and spirituality, while the lesser chakras are aligned along meridians within our bodies and often used to manipulate "prana" or "chi", the energy that exists within all living things. 

The 7 chakras are the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, brow, and crown chakras (see illustration above). They correspond with the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and indigo/white, respectively. Below is a summary of each chakra:

Root Chakra

Color: Red

Location: Between anus & genitals, at the base of the spine

 Associated Areas of the Body: Spinal column, bones, teeth, nails, rectum, anus, blood, building of cells

Emotions: Fear, attachment, letting go, clinging

Glands: Adrenals

This 1st chakra is concerned with survival and instincts. Its purpose is to keep us grounded and it deals with concerns of food, shelter, communication, clothing, and other practical things. If this chakra is blocked and we are not connected to the grounding energies of the earth, we may hoard things or be fearful of loss or letting go. To remove this energy, practice detachment. Give things away, clean up your environment, or just let go!

A root chakra that is not in optimal condition can lead to digestive disorders, either constipation (blocked chakra) or tummy upsets (overactive chakra). Surround yourself with the color RED to stimulate this chakra or BLACK to soothe it. 

Kundalini energy, "the coiled serpent" (another post for another day) resides beneath this chakra and begins to rise here.

Sacral Chakra

Color: Orange

Location: Lower abdomen, above the navel

Associated Areas of the Body: Pelvis, kidneys, bladder, liquids within the body, including urine and reproductive fluids

Emotions: Passion/Desire

Glands: Prostate, Ovaries, Testicles

This 2nd chakra is concerned with our emotional lives. Any negative childhood experiences that damaged or supressed our emotions may have blocked this chakra. This chakra is also associated with our creative and reproductive energy. Most people who find themselves in need of chakra healing work with the 2nd chakra. 

A sacral chakra that is not in optimal condition can lead to problems in relationships and relating with others. A blocked chakra can lead to inhibitions, emotional coldness, or suppression of desire. An overactive chakra can lead to promiscuity, sexual addiction, and excessive fantasizing. 

Solar Plexus Chakra

Color: Yellow

Location: Below Ribcage, Upper abdomen

Associated Areas of the Body: Digestive Organs

Emotions: Anger

Glands: Pancreas

This 3rd chakra is concerned with our power and intellect. It is the source of the term "gut feeling" as we instinctively process information through this chakra when it functions properly. 

When the solar plexus chakra is overactive, anger, hatred, and an overemphasis on power, acquisition, and validation can be present. When it is underactive, digestive problems, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and feelings of powerless are usually present.  

Heart Chakra

Color: Green

Location: Heart Center

Associated Areas of the Body: Lungs, Chest, Arms, Breasts

Emotions: Joy, Sorrow, Grief

Glands: Thymus

This 4th chakra governs our abilities of love and compassion. It is concerned with our ability to surrender to joy, to experience empathy, and to perceive and appreciate beauty.

When the heart chakra is overactive, issues of co-dependency, possessiveness, jealousy, cardiovascular problems, and hypertension may surface. When it is underactive, the person may experience feelings of shyness, loneliness, depression, or be unable to forgive. Physical symptoms may include asthma and other lung diseases.

Throat Chakra

Color: Blue

Location: Throat

Associated Areas of the Body: Jaw, Neck, Mouth, Throat, Tongue

Emotions: Faith/Truth

Glands: Thyroid

This 5th chakra is the first of the spiritual chakras and is the bridge between the upper and lower chakras. It deals with communication and inner truth.

When the throat chakra is overactive, it can cause hearing problems, excessive talking, and an overactive thyroid. When it is underactive, it can cause neck and shoulder problems, jaw issues, throat problems, an underactive thyroid, and fear of speaking, in public or otherwise.

Brow Chakra

Color: Purple

Location: Forehead, between the eyes, "third eye"

Associated Areas of the Body: Eyes, Head, lower brain

Emotions: Insight

Glands: Pituitary

This 6th chakra is associated with perception. It deals with visualization, intuition, imagination, and telepathy.

When the throat chakra is overactive, it can cause headaches, hallucinations, nightmares, and difficulties with concentration. When it is underactive, it can cause memory dificulties, eye problems, and inability to visualize.

Crown Chakra

Color: Violet/White

Location: Crown of head

Associated Areas of the Body: Upper brain

Emotions: Illusion/Enlightenment

Glands: Pineal

This 7th chakra is associated with the highest states of enlightenment and the infinite. It is the culmination of all the chakras and the gateway to higher realms.

When the crown chakra is overactive, it can sometimes cause an overly intellectual nature. When it is underactive, it can cause spiritual skepticism, apathy, and materialism. To stimulate this chakra, practice meditation and yoga. 

If you feel that you need chakra work, a good place to start is my Chakra/Aura cleansing post (see labels) or an experienced yoga or reiki practitioner.

Some information provided by www.nothingbutyoga.com