Yoga Nidra -- Vishnunabhi

I just returned from a Yoga Nidra meditation class. Yoga Nidra is sometimes referred to as the yoga of sleep, but it is far more than that. It is one of the deepest meditations. It cultivates a stillpoint of the mind so that one can be in the deepest sleep vibration while conscious.

One of the reasons I love my yoga teacher, Katerina, is that she is so in sync with universal energy. Tonight's class started at 7 pm, when the constellation of Sagittarius with the galactic center, Vishnu's navel, was rising. I had wanted to include this image of Vishnu dreaming with my last post on the GC, but I thought it was too esoteric.

In tonight's class, Katerina began her instruction with the story of Vishnu's dream:

Brahma (Ultimate Creator) sits on a lotus,the symbol of divine energy and divine grace. The lotus grows from the navel of Vishnu, who is the sleeping god, whose dream is the universe. . . . Brahma opens his eyes and a world comes into being. . . Brahma closes his eyes, and a world goes out of being. ~Joseph Campbell

She also described the esoteric meaning of AUM as three states: A=Brahma/creator, U=Vishnu (preserver)/, M=Shiva (destroyer) and it reminded me of the four elements of the structure of the aum symbol that refer to waking, sleeping, enlightened and dreaming states -- as in the prayer flag illustrated here. I can't help but compare them to the four yugas -- each with its own state of consciousness. I believe that the alignment of the solstices with the galactic center, Vishnunabhi, marks the point in cyclic time when the Kali Yuga (Iron Age) shifts to the Satya Yuga (Golden Age). . . when we go from sleep state to enlightenment. Or could the opening and closing of Brahma's eye refer to the pulse generated by the periodic explosions at the GC? For more on this theory see http://www.jayweidner.com/2012Topology.html.

As I just described my last post, the ancient seers of the Vedic culture referred to the Galactic Center as Vishnunabhi, or the navel of Vishnu. What a perfect time to practice Yoga Nidra, as Vishnu's navel was rising. I have to say it was easier than usual to activate this state, perhaps because the planetary line up is so supportive with Pluto's transit of this region all rising at the horizon.

I am looking forward to sleep tonight. Since I started the Yoga Nidra practice this spring, my restless sleep pattern has changed. My dream world has shifted to what it was in childhood, a reflection of what I wanted to create in reality. As Katerina also quoted from Joseph Campbell:

Myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths.

As mythology has developed around man's stories about the constellations, perhaps we are the public dreams of stars; and each of us are stars within stars creating our own private worlds. The archetypes in my dreams are playing out in amazing ways and coincide beautifully with stellar messages. As above, so below, and within. Sweet dreams!

Namaste!

Galactic Center - Transits of Pluto & Jupiter

The Galactic Center (GC) is the mysterious and complex bright core around which our spiraling galaxy rotates. It cannot be observed at visible, ultraviolet, or x-ray wavelengths because interstellar dust obscures the line of sight. All scientific information about the GC comes from observations of gamma ray, hard X-ray, infrared, sub-millimetre and radio wavelengths. The precise astronomical location of the Galactic Center at approximately 3 degrees Sagittarius (sidereal) was first verified in 1918 by Harlow Shapley. However its energetic connection to the earth was not realized until 1932 when Karl G. Jansky, an engineer working for Bell Telephone, was investigating the source of the static interference with overseas telephone lines. He discovered that the interference was due to radio waves being emitted from the center of the galaxy. The source of the radio waves appears to be located almost exactly at the Galactic Center, and may coincide with a super massive black hole. This black hole has the equivalent mass of 4 million suns and is the source of most of the gravitational energy in our galaxy.

In 2002 Antony Stark and Chris Martin presented research that indicated evidence of episodic star bursts at the GC in which many stars undergo supernova explosions at a hundred times the current rate. They believe these explosive events occur every 500 million years with the next one due in 200 million years. The effect on earth would/will be cataclysmic. Some scientists even theorize a pulse generated 200 million years ago may have been responsible for mass extinctions, thus inferring that these pulses are responsible for shifts in evolution.

Although their calculations may be a little different than modern ones, ancient Vedic and Mayan seers described similar phenomena. The Maya had a glyph (see above) for the Galactic Center called Hunab Ku, the supreme God and ultimate Creator. To them it represented the gateway to other Galaxies beyond our Sun as well as all of the Consciousness that has ever existed in this Galaxy. Hunab Ku is liken to a womb that births new stars and it gave birth to our own Sun and planet Earth. The Maya also described periodic bursts of energy coming from Hunab Ku that influence life and consciousness here on earth, and the Mayan Calendar marks these cycles, which some believe are to coincide with the conclusion of the current cycle in 2012.

The ancient seers of the Vedic culture referred to the Galactic Center as Vishnunabhi, or the navel of Vishnu. It is a marker for the ascending and descending yuga cycles that are measured by our Earth/Sun relationship to it (ie the pole star alignments at the solstices). Its location at the end of the final Gandanta series is intriguing. As I wrote in a previous post, each of the Fire signs are the portals to soul growth. Aries marks the beginning of the soul's journey, the individuated or inner self; Leo develops the outer self and material; and Sagittarius designates the point at which the soul turns away from the material as it seeks to merge with universal consciousness. Since the GC falls in the early degrees of Sagittarius, it marks the gateway to this transition. Therefore, planets transiting this space channel energy from that portal to our solar system, and depending on their nature express messages from the core to those of us on Earth who are listening -- and willing to evolve.

In 2005 Edith Hathaway published an article on Pluto's transit of the Galactic Center entitled Pluto in Kali's Zone. She writes: "The two nakshatras most associated with Kali are Jyestha and Mula. . . In this particular transitional area, the mythic battles between the Devas (the gods of light) and the Asuras (gods of darkness) became the most intense. . . For the first time in 248 years, transiting Pluto hovers at the exact border of these constellations for much of three years: from Nov. 2004 thru Nov. 2007. As it marches towards the Galactic Center, we have perhaps a major turning point in the history of civilization as we know it. Pluto, or indeed any planet slowly crossing Kali’s terrain, enters into an arena where it is now more visible and recognizable."

Although Pluto is not one of the visible planets usually discussed by Vedic astrologers, Neo-Vedic astrologers still value it's mythological and allegorical use. And despite the IAU's (International Astronomical Union) demotion of Pluto to dwarf planet, its message to those watching its position is not diminished. Pluto is still an indicator of death, rebirth and powerful transformations. It has been transiting this critical point in space since November 2004. And although its "exact" conjunction with the Galactic Center occurred on December 29, 2006, July 18, 2007, and will occur on October 28, 2007, it seems to me to be cumulative.

In addition to Pluto's transit of the Galactic Center, I am watching Jupiter's upcoming transit to it in the Gandanta degrees -- between November 8 - December 5, 2007. As the great benefic, Jupiter is significator of happiness, knowledge, learning and expansion, and rules Sagittarius. Jupiter changes signs from Scorpio into Sagittarius on November 21, 2007, and promises to bring hope and quest for the truth. In its own sign of Sagittarius Jupiter becomes more powerful and is able to express theses innate qualities. But in the nakshatras of Jyestra and Mula it may have a little bite. Jytestha is ruled by the deity Indra, the dragon slayer. Under this nakshatra the chief motivation is to conquer and to gain supremacy. The presiding deity of the following nakshatra, Mula, is Nritti – the goddess of destruction. Nritti is one aspect of Kali, the destroyer of illusions, and her purpose here is to help us break apart and destroy things, making room for a new creation based on a new foundation. Mula may inflict pain, but it is intended to keep us on the right track to God-realization.

Jupiter conjoins Pluto on December 11, 2007. By the winter solstice Jupiter, Pluto, Mercury and the Sun will be drawing down energy from the Galactic Center, enhanced two days later when a full moon conjoins Mars in Gemini. This powerful alignment may present political or fanatical religious conflict destroying things that aren't working. At the same time it may indicate a window of opportunity when we may be more open to receiving and understanding the messages from the source of life, the mula or root of the galaxy, the Galactic Center.

In'Lakesh!

Butterfly Effect

In 1972 Edward Lorenz presented the paper, "Predictability- Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set Off a Tornado in Texas?" Now known as the butterfly effect, it is a phrase that suggests a small variation of an initial condition of a dynamic system may produce large variations in the long term behavior of the system. So the flapping of butterfly wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear(or not -- it could be countered by a butterfly in Texas).

So my question is if a nuclear waste material is leaked into the ocean, what effect might that have on weather patterns around the globe? Last week the 6.8 earthquake in Japan triggered a leak of nuclear waste. The company said the amount was far too small to pose a health hazard but has come under criticism for initially underreporting radiation levels. Even if the amount was small, those who understand homeopathic theory realize that it only takes a small amount to imprint the radioactive message on water. As the oceans are the source of our weather patterns, any disturbance in them could potentially have an effect anywhere around the globe. During the past 4-5 days our weather in Seattle has been unseasonably rainy and humid. I can't help but wonder if there is a connection. Luckily as Masuru Emoto has shown, water responds to thought and prayer and it's structure can be harmonized with thoughts of gratitude and love. I would suspect our ocean water could use a little gratitude right now.

Namaste!

Gandanta -- Water to Fire

Last March the Cassini spacecraft took the above picture of a mysterious phenomenon taking place on Saturn. A hexagonal storm encircled the entire north pole. The hexagon is the form of the crystallized stage of water, like a snowflake. Saturn's nature is cold and crystallizing, so I find it an interesting coincidence that this hexagonal phenomenon was discovered while Saturn was in a water sign, Cancer. For more on the story see http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007-034.

Today Saturn shifted into Leo, a fire sign. As I mentioned in my last post, a physical manifestation of this change may come through increased temperatures, volcanic activity, and earthquakes. Sadly almost to the exact moment of transition, there were two 6+ earthquakes in the ring of fire today in Japan. One quake killed 9 elderly people (Saturn rules old age and death), injured more than 1,000, and triggered a leak of contaminated water from a nuclear power plant. The ring of fire is the earthquake zone where water meets fire. The ring of fire was particularly active while Saturn journeyed through the water sign Cancer, beginning with the 2004 tsunami.

Water and fire are opposite elements, each able to support or extinguish the other. In Taoist traditions maintaining their balance in the body is the alchemical secret to immortality. According to Yin-Yang theory, everything in the universe can be divided into two opposite, but complementary, aspects of yin (water) and yang (fire). Yin and yang are relative. One cannot exist with out the other.

In Vedic astrology the transition of a water sign to fire sign is called Gandanta. It is traditionally seen as an inauspicious position causing misery to the area of influence of the planet. (ie. Saturn rules earth as in land). In Sanskrit Gand means knot, or node, and anta means end, in particular the last 3 degrees of a water sign, and first three degrees of a fire sign -- at the three distinct junctions of Pisces (Revati)- Aries (Aswini), Cancer (Ashlesha)- Leo (Magha), and Scorpio (Jyeshta)- Sagittarius (Mula).

Each of the Fire signs are the portals to soul growth. Aries marks the beginning of the soul's journey, the individuated or inner self; Leo develops the outer self and material; and Sagittarius designates the point at which the soul turns away from the material as it seeks to merge with universal consciousness. When planets are placed in these positions, they take on a special power to unravel the knot of karma and move on to the next level. If a planets falls in the last three degrees of water sign, it is completing an old cycle; if it falls in the first three degree of a fire sign is beginning a new cycle. On a soul level, Saturn in Leo represents the potential to create social boundaries for the outer self and manifest its pursuit of the material.

Saturn is unique in that it is more powerful as it matures, thus gaining strength in the later degrees of a sign. It increased its potency in May when it entered the last three degrees of Cancer, which is part of the Ashlesha nakshatra. The ruling deity of Ashlesha is the Naga or serpent. Saturn has finally finished shedding its skin and is now, though still a little raw, ready to grow a new one. Saturn will be Gandanta through early August.

The Gandanta experience can be extremely painful, but it is necessary for the soul to grow into another dimension. At the Magha/ Leo stage, the soul is finally getting ready to experience life at a material level. While in Leo, the sign of kings, Saturn may also have a sobering effect on world leaders. The nakshatra of Magha is ruled by the Pitris, the great Fathers of humanity, who function as guardian angels giving protection in the event of major calamities on earth. Perhaps they were at work in Japan as there were only nine deaths -- of elders, who now have transitioned and have become ancestors.

Sending prayers to those suffering from today's earth changes. May the Pitris continue to protect you and all of humanity.

Namaste