starworlds: August Astro Weather 2010

Saturday, August 7, 2010

August Astro Weather 2010

New Moon August 9, 2010

August begins with a New Moon in its ruling sign of Cancer. A Moon in Cancer is often described as sensitive, perceptive, emotionally responsible, feminine, and supportive. In many earth traditions, the New Moon was recognized as a time that promotes growth. It is a time to plant seeds and set goals that will come to fruition under the full moon. As the New Moon falls in its own sign, or mulatrikona, it is a particularly powerful one for new growth.

This New Moon occurs in the mystical 9th Nakshtra Ashlesha which consists of six stars in the constellation of the Hydra, the mythical seven-headed sea monster. In Vedic astrology it is fitting that Ashlesha translates as "the entwiner." Another name for this lunar mansion is the "clinging star" which reveals its tendency to embrace and entangle the object of its attention.

Ashlesha is symbolized by a coiled snake. Kundalini means "coiled" in Sanskrit. In yogic traditions serpent imagery is used to describe the sleeping energy coiled at the base of the spine that becomes activated either with spiritual practice or naturally with time. As this energy rises through the chakras it awakens the each one, until finally it reaches the crown chakra bringing enlightenment and pure bliss.

As the deity assigned to Ashlesha is Ahi, the serpent of wisdom, this asterism is associated with Kundalini energy and enlightenment. Ashlesha is an intense and sharp nakshatra, and like a snake it has the power to heal or inflict poison with its venom, visasleshana shakti. Under its influence, this New Moon may generate knowledge that may be used to heal or to inflict suffering. It may require deep and penetrating insight to use this new found wisdom wisely. Ashlesha is ruled by Mercury which turns retrograde later in the week, so make sure your information is correct.

Mercury Retrograde August 20, 2010 - September 12, 2010

Astrologers love to analyze and discuss retrograde cycles. A planet is described as 'retrograde' when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. Although every planet in our solar system appears to station and turn retrograde in cyclic periods, they are never actually retrograde or stationary. The planets appear to shift direction due to an optical illusion. This illusion occurs as a result of a planet's motion in relation to earth.

The outer planets move slowly in relationship to the Earth's orbit. They appear retrograde when they are in the sign(s) opposite the Sun. The gas giants often spend up to 6 months in retrograde motion effecting slower astrological changes than the inner planets.

The inner planets move more quickly than the Earth and always appear within 30 degrees of the Sun. This means they always occupy the same sign as the sun, or the signs before and after. During a retrograde cycle the inner planets, Mercury and Venus, seem to disappear behind the sun and return as transformed figures, such as Venus Morning Star shifting to Venus Evening Star. It was viewed by ancient sky watchers as a shamanic process for a planet to disappear from the sky, fall into the Sun, and return after some sort of solar alchemical process.

In both Western and Eastern astrological traditions Mercury rules thinking and perception, as well as communication, commerce, education and transportation. While it is traditionally believed that difficulties occur during retrograde, it is also a time for reflection and to understand the meaning of any obstacles that occur. Western Astrologers often describe Mercury's three-week retrograde period as a challenging time for its activities. In Vedic astrology a retrograde planet is interpreted at being more powerful, especially on the days that it stations, so Mercury retrograde can also be viewed as a time of sharpened insight. How we experience a retrograde period is different depending on whether our natal charts have retrograde planets, or where the retrograde planet transits our natal charts. By knowing when the planets start to go retrograde, it is possible to be prepared to utilize the shifting energy effectively.

Next week Mercury begins its second retrograde pattern of the year in the sign of the Sun, Leo. In 2010 all Mercury retrograde cycles fall in fire signs. The fiery quality of Leo imbues Mercury with a brightness, good recall, high ideals, and creative thought. When Mercury stations in this sign, the heat gets turned up on Mercurial matters. The Market may burst into new activity, or burn up in a dramatic flair. Leo is said to rule over kings and leaders, and Mercury retrograde is a challenging time to get any kind of agreement settled. It is a great time to review, but not sign contracts as all the information may not be available. And this time Mercury stations opposite a Moon-Neptune conjunction that may cloud logical thinking with dreamy emotional thoughts. Neptune is also the modern indicator for oil, and Mercury's retrograde in the opposite sign may bring up new information about the BP oil spill that was hidden from the public eye.

Perhaps the most fruitful use of Mercury retrograde is to make time for reflection. Slow down and review the past few months' mercurial activity. For example, it is an excellent time to complete unfinished projects, or correct things that were not done right the first time. If you are involved in the business world, it is wise to back up files and make copies as Mercury retrograde can interrupt the smooth flow of information. A retrograding Mercury also influences thinking, and allows us to focus inward. Dream work and meditation may be more profound, and bring up things we have forgotten, or unfinished business on a psycho-spiritual level. Retrograde planets may also function to fulfill a karmic debt or promise, or to clear up things from the past. One must take a step backward in order to go forward later. It is a great time to clear away karmic clutter.

Namaste!

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Aum saraswateye vidmahe, bramputriye dhi-mahi, tanno sarawati prachodayat

Saraswati is the Goddess of leaming, knowledge, and wisdom. The Sanskrit word sara means "essence" and swa means "self." Thus Saraswati means "the essence of the self." Saraswati is represented in Hindu mythology as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe. Since knowledge is necessary for creation, Saraswati symbolizes the creative power of Brahma. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by all persons interested in knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists.

What is the Difference between Vedic and Western Astrology: 23 Degrees, Nakshatras, and Sidereal

Twenty-three is my quick answer to the question: "what is the difference between Vedic Astrology and Western astrology?" I don't mean to be cryptic, but 23 degrees is literally the difference between the Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs. It is called the Ayanamsha -- in Sanskrit ayana meaning solstice and amsha meaning portion -- and it refers to the difference between Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs.

The zodiac is a ring of constellations often referred to as signs, such as Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio and Taurus. It is a cosmic clock around which our solar systems operates and how astrologers measure cycles of time. Most people do not realize that there are two distinct zodiacs. Vedic astrologers use the Sidereal zodiac and Western astrologers use the Tropical zodiac. The Sidereal zodiac is based on observations of planets lining up against the backdrop of the fixed stars. It is oriented to the center of the galaxy. On the other hand, the Tropical zodiac is based on the relationship between the sun and earth. It is oriented to the equinoxes. In Western astrology the spring equinox sets the beginning of the Tropical zodiac at 1 degree Aries, even though the sun is astronomically traveling in the light fields of Pisces. In other words, it does not correspond to observable position. Vedic astrology is called Jyotisha in Sanskrit, meaning the science of light, and Vedic astrology describes how the light emitted from the stars effects us. When Western astrology was in its early stages, the two zodiacs may have lined up; but over time the two moved apart approximately 50 seconds per year to the current 23 degrees of separation (even that number is debated, but the standard of India, the Lahiri ayanamsha is 23 degrees 10 seconds).

Vedic astrology is considered by scholars to pre-date Western astrology and is the only system that has accounted for the precession of the equinoxes. What is the precession of the equinoxes? The answer to that involves another occurrence of the number 23 (those familiar with the enigma of 23, like LOST and RAW fans, may find this amusing). Because Earth's axis is tilted 23° 27' in its orbit around the sun, its equatorial plane is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane, the plane created by Earth's orbit. These two intersecting planes create an intersecting line called the vernal axis that occurs on the first day of spring, or Vernal equinox. As the Earth spins on its axis, its axis wobbles (precesses 50.3 seconds of arc per year or 1 degree every 71.6 years) very slowly over a period of about 24,000 to 26,000 years. As this occurs, the pole of the Earth inscribes an arc in the heavens called the precessional arc. The Earth's pole aligns with different stars throughout the precessional period. The current pole star is Polaris. Approximately 13,000 year ago it was Vega, one of my favorite stars. Earth's precessional cycle is also referred to as Earth's Great Year in the alchemical tradition, World Ages, or Yugas in the Vedas. David Frawley describes it a one year in the life of humanity.

In Vedic astrology there is a line of thought that suggests this 24,000-26,000 cycle (and even wobble of the earth itself) maybe be generated by a grand cycle of our sun with a companion dark star. Modern astronomy is studying this possibility as well. The ancient Vedic seers divided up the cycle into four world ages: the Satya(Truth or Golden), Treta (Third or Silver), Dwapara (Third or Bronze) and Kali (first or Iron) Ages. Each age describes a stage of awareness for mankind in which consciousness ascends, descends, and ascends in unending cycles perhaps due to the influence of this yet to be discovered companion star. Although New Age philosophers have described humanity as entering the Age of Aquarius, astronomically speaking that will not happen for approximately 300-400 years.

According to Vedic thought, the cycles of ascending and descending consciousness are connected not only to our rotation around a companion star, but also our cycle around the galactic center. According to David Frawley, "Vedic astrology orients the zodiac to the galactic center, or the central galactic sun, whose influence comes to us through fixed stars of the constellation Sagittarius." The galactic center is like our cosmic belly button -- it is sometimes called Vishnunabhi, or the navel of Vishnu-- the point from which our galaxy grew and expanded. Many ancient cultures studied and recorded their observations about this area of the night sky, including the Mayans whose calendar marks an astronomical event of our winter solstice aligning with the galactic center in 2012. It's like the earth's pole or antenna will be aligned and open to receive message from the source itself. [H]ohm is calling.

One of the most brilliant developments of the ancient Vedic seers was to further divide the zodiac into more identifiable parts. They did this by creating the Nakshatra system. In Sanskrit Nakshatra means lunar mansion. As the moon travels through the entire zodiac in 27-28 days, the ancient seers ascribed a Nakshatra for each day simplifying its location. Although too vast a subject to go into in this post, it is interesting to point out that the name for the Nakstratra that marks the galactic center is Mula, meaning root or source.

Another difference between Western and Vedic astrology is the modern use of non-observable planets and asteroids. As a Neo-Vedic astrologer I do consider some of the outer planets when I look at a chart, but I tend to be more interested in the fixed stars and Nakshatras. I marvel at how Western astrologers bring in new astronomical discoveries to their chart interpretations. Basically I see Western charts as a map of the same terrain as a Vedic chart, but indicating different types or levels of information. It's like comparing a topological map with a road map. I don't need to know the difference of elevation between Broadway and 3rd Avenue, but I might like to know the street number of Benaroya Hall. It all depends on what type of information one is seeking. Vedic astrologers come from a tradition and philosophy that focuses on the four aims of life: dharma (purpose), arthra (attainment), kama (desire),and the most important moksha (liberation). Western astrology is enriched by many diverse traditions and the information gleaned from it may be quite extensive and more suited for the modern mind. But for me, I've always been drawn to the stars in the night sky and have felt them speak to me in the language of light. And as Jyotisha is the science of light, it is the tool and filter I use to translate this information.

For a good video overview on precession click here.