MARCIA SACKS

​The Full Moon is on Monday, May 12 at 11:55 a.m. in 22° Scorpio which gives us a deeper awareness into our subconscious mind where we can see the motivations for our actions more clearly. We are more intuitive than usual at this time. And our minds are drawn both to what we have and what we need to let go of. In the spring, the seed needs to let go of its protective shell in order to sprout and grow.

A good mantra for this type of letting go is "Om Namah Shivaya" honoring the Divine process of transformation and renewal. Here is Krishna Das chanting it with Nina Rao and others:

Full Moon opposed Uranus

The Full Moon at 22° Scorpio opposes the Sun at 22° Taurus and Uranus at 27° Taurus. This suggests sudden, unexpected changes of plan. For all of us, there's a certain amount of restlessness or agitation. For some, Uranus brings chaos. Moving with awareness, deliberately slowing down, and thinking before speaking can help. Watch for the flashes of genius Uranus can bring. Unusual ideas, inventions, even resistance to norms can help us find a new path.

An Astrology Experiment

Try this at each full moon: go back to the previous new moon in the same sign. For example, the new moon in Scorpio was on November 1, 2024. If you journaled then, you can determine if there is a message from your past self to your present-day self. Can you see a repeating pattern? Have circumstances in your life changed since that new moon. What is obvious to you now that you didn't know then? Did you begin something then, that is coming to culmination now?​​

Coming up: Saturn enters Aries on May 24th

On May 24, Saturn enters the fire sign Aries for two and a half years.  Saturn's positive keywords are foundation and construction. Saturn in Aries is like clay fired in a kiln. A cup or plate might be created which can be useful and a beautiful work of art. A brick can be created which is strong and can be used to build a house.

Saturn's other keywords are limitation and constriction. A clay object, whether pottery or brick, has lost flexibility when fired in a kiln. It must remain in that shape. All your experiences with Saturn in Aries will either build strength or limit you in some way. Use wisdom, self-discipline, and skillful means to get the best from Saturn.

Karmic Astrology Seminar

The Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR presents:
Karmic Astrology: Trining Your Squares and Squaring Your Trines
with Marcia Sacks
Tuesday, May 13, 7:30 pm CDT via Zoom
$5 NCGR Members, $10 non-members
​Registration click here

Bring your own horoscope and learn how to create a positive future using the karmic astrology techniques of trining your squares and squaring your trines. Multiple methodologies will be discussed which you will be able to apply to any aspect in your natal, progressed or transiting chart. This process is sometimes called remediation, mitigation, sympathetic magic or the yoga of wise action.

Babaji Festival 2025 - Celebrating the Living Lineage

Here is our video from the April 27th Babaji Festival where we honor Babaji and the gurus of our Kriya lineage. My talk on "Planetary Changes, The Eternal Dharma, and the Living Lineage" is included along with other talks, mantra, music and stories.

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The New Moon is on Sunday April 27, at 2:30 pm CDT in 7° Taurus. The strength of a Taurus new moon gives us the ability to get really down to earth, really practical in our projects and ideas. In the northern hemisphere we are experiencing spring and can easily commune with nature. Even looking out my window as I'm writing, I'm hearing a multitude of birds chirping and seeing the mist of new green leaves appearing in the distance. Fresh air from an open window is a joy. Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet of beauty. Tuning into nature's beauty is a known stress reliever.

The main aspect in the new moon chart is a T-Square with the Sun and Moon at 7° Taurus and Mars squaring that point from 4° Leo and Pluto squaring from 3° Aquarius.

Goswami Kriyananda described the Sun as an external amplifier and the Moon as an internal amplifier. So, a new moon or full moon are always intensifying events happening in your outer world and heightening your emotions.
If Mars (activation, motivation, anger) and Pluto (transformation, rebellion, revolution) are in a challenging aspect to the Sun and Moon, they can test your resolve to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, if you find yourself motivated to take your old papers to the neighborhood shredding event, you are using this aspect's energy in a positive way. Recycling is a Pluto word, symbolizing the 'circle of life.' What other things could we do to honor Pluto's transformative nature?

I like to clean out a drawer or closet during Pluto aspects. Pluto in mythology is the god of the underworld. Closets, drawers, basements - these are our symbolic underworlds. Like our subconscious, things may get stored away because we don't want to deal with them. Here's my affirmation:

One more note of caution: When we start feeling like we know best how the world should be run or what other people should do, that’s a Mars in Leo opposed Pluto in Aquarius thought. We are more easily magnetized to those type of thoughts at this new moon. When we become aware of those thoughts, that’s our clue to pull inward and reflect on the work we still have left to do on our own selves.

Coming up:

Pluto goes retrograde on May 4 at 3° Aquarius. Pluto is a powerful motivator. If you have clear goals, Pluto will give you a push toward achievement. If you are stuck, Pluto will provide strong reasons to make that change now.

​​You can find me on:

• Facebook 
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• YouTube
• Bluesky​

The Full Moon is on Saturday, April 12 at 7:22 pm CDT in 23° Libra.  Take time to reflect on your partnerships, whether romance, business or just working with someone on a project. Partnerships, relationships, and diplomatic missions are ruled by Libra and therefore more significant at this full Moon. Look for balance, compromise, and compassion as much as possible.
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Mars at 27° is squared to the Sun and Moon indicating that we will all be more sensitive to criticism, even mild critiques. On the other hand, the cardinal energy of Aries, Libra, and Cancer may give us the push to get going on those plans that faltered when Mercury went retrograde.

Venus is at a stationary point, turning direct on April 12 at 24° Pisces. Venus is moving slowly to conjunct Saturn at 25° Pisces (exact around April 25). With Saturn and Venus in close alignment people tend to feel dissatisfied with life. That dissatisfaction (Saturn) can relate to purchases (Venus represent money) or a feeling of confinement (Saturn) in romantic relationships (Venus). The benefit of knowing astrology, is knowing that a Venus transit is relatively brief. If it is logical, delay money and relationship decisions until a week after April 25 to see if your situation or attitudes have changed.
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Just when you think we're out of Mercury retrograde you realize it's heading back to the conjunction with Neptune making things unclear and uncertain at least for a week or so. Review all documents. Proofread important messages. Do your best to communicate clearly. Be willing to give others the benefit of the doubt in written messages that lack tone or verbal cues. Ask for clarification.

Coming up this weekend:

The Furthest Reaches of Dreamwork
This Saturday, April 12, noon central time, Robert Moss will be doing another of his valuable talks on dreamwork, free via The Shift Network.
https://theshiftnetwork.com/Furthest-Reaches-Dreamwork

Second Sunday Tarot
A discussion group for anyone from beginner to long-time reader of the Tarot.
Sunday, April 13
12 - 2 pm CDT via Zoom
https://www.meetup.com/tarot-336/
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Ongoing:

Astrology, Kriya Yoga, and the Path of the Mystic
Open Q&A with Marcia Sacks, Swami K. Adinadananda
Most Fridays, 11 am - 12 pm CST via Zoom
Click here for description and registration 

Astrology Study Group with Marcia Sacks
Webinar: The Karmic Lessons of Your Ascendant
Wednesday, April 23 at 7 pm CDT via Zoom.
More information and registration:
http://www.kriyastrology.com/astrology-study-group.html

Resources:
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A minute of nature and relaxing meditation with Swami Jnanamudrananda
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2363456314027794

The Healing Power of Sound: Nina Rao Performs "White Tara Mantra"

​Healing Light Meditation with Marcia Sacks

​The New Moon is a Solar Eclipse taking place on Saturday, March 29 at 5:57 a.m. CDT in 9° Aries. Coming right after the Sun's entrance into Aries at the Vernal Equinox on March 20, this Solar Eclipse is filled with energy, vitality, and the urge to go headfirst into something new. 

With the full force of the Sun and Moon, the eclipse is conjunct the degree Mercury went retrograde on March 15 and the degree Venus went retrograde on March 2. This suggests that however strong the desire to take action is, it could be wise to pause for a moment of reflection. Are you setting out onto a clear path, one that aligns with your highest goals? Or, are you walking into the fog (or off a cliff)?  

Mercury is still retrograde until April 7 and less than a degree away from an exact conjunction with nebulous Neptune as the eclipse occurs. There's a lot of idealism, imagination, and vague intuitions, but perhaps fewer facts. Mercury retrograde can be good for research and planning, so it can help to start all new projects with those.

Mars is the planetary ruler of Aries, so any mantra, meditation or balancing of chi related to the Mars (manipura) chakra can be beneficial. Ram is the seed syllable of the Mars chakra and relates to Rama, the avatar of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana.
Here is a Ram mantra from Krishna Das:

Coming up:

Neptune enters Aries on March 30 transiting this sign for the next 14 years. When you are confused, have a cup of tea. It's a symbol of boiling water (the fire of Aries, the god of the waters Neptune) creating something healthful and soothing.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - Asana and Pranayama
The Practice of Balancing Your Physical and Pranic Life Energies
with Swami Pharananda
A 20 minute talk with discussion afterward
Presented by Kriya Yoga Teachings
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m. via Zoom
Email [email protected] to receive the zoom link

Relationship Astrology - Synastry
with Lynn Ewing
presented by the Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR
In comparing their individual natal charts to one another we can understand the karma that brings them together as well as understand the difficulties, challenges, eases and successes within their connection. 
Tuesday, April 8, 7:30 pm via Zoom
Members: $5, Non-members: $10
To register and pay for this seminar

Ongoing:

Astrology, Kriya Yoga, and the Path of the Mystic
Open Q&A with Marcia Sacks, Swami K. Adinadananda
Most Fridays, 11 am - 12 pm CST via Zoom
Click here for description and registration 

Online:

Here's the video of my talk given on the Vernal Equinox, March 20, 2025

The Full Moon is a Lunar Eclipse on Friday, March 14, at 1:54 am CDT in 23° Virgo.  If emotions are high at a normal Full Moon, they are intensified in the days before and after the Lunar Eclipse. Eclipses bring change, so we look at aspects to the Moon to see if those changes will be harmonious or inharmonious. The Moon in this Lunar Eclipse is opposed to Saturn at 22° Pisces and, of course, the Sun at 23° Pisces. Saturn in this configuration makes it a difficult time for changes, often indicating that the changes could be forced on you by a boss or other authority figure (or the government).  Under any Saturn aspect, tasks will take longer than planned or be a greater commitment than described. .
 
With the Moon in Virgo involved, there is a tendency for everyone to ramp up complaints and critiques. While Virgo types might imagine they are being helpful pointing out the faults of others, Pisces types take it personally and feel hurt or victimized. 
 
Goswami Kriyananda taught that "santosha" or contentment was the most important of the yogic observances. In his book "The Spiritual Science of Kriya Yoga" he explains that verbal contentment means not complaining. I talked about this in my noon meditation last Sunday for the Light of Kriya Sangha. The video is listed below.
 
If you want a Lunar Eclipse challenge, try a "complaint fast". So instead of going for 24 hours without food as a spiritual discipline, try going without verbally complaining about anything for 24 hours. If you think that won’t be too hard, step up your game and try not to complain silently in your mind for that time.

I love reflecting on the actual astronomy of the planets. For something new about Saturn, check out this article about The Moons of Saturn.

Online:
I gave a talk for the Light of Kriya Yoga Sangha last Sunday called "Bloom Where You are Planted." Along with my thoughts about living in this wondrous garden of God and how to gain more contentment, there is also a guided healing meditation at the end.

This week:
My four-week "How to Read Tarot Cards" starts this Friday, March 14 at 5 pm central time via Zoom. Class description and registration information. 

Coming Up:

Kriya Yoga Teachings invites you to a short talk and meditation to celebrate the arrival of the Sun at 0° Aries, the start of spring, and a time for new beginnings.

Vernal Equinox: The Blessing of New Beginnings
Thursday, March 20, 2025
12 noon central time via Zoom
With Swami K. Adinadananda (Marcia Sacks)
Email: [email protected] for the zoom link

Ongoing:

The topic for this week's talk and discussion is "Reincarnation" at Astrology Kriya Yoga and the Path of the Mystic (every Friday at 11 a.m. central time).  Class description and registration information.

Astrology Study Group: once a month Q&A or occasional webinar. Description and registration.

The New Moon is on Thursday, February 27 at 6:44 pm in 9° Pisces. Actually, there are a lot of planets in Pisces right now, making it a very 'watery' time. Water signs, like Pisces, enhance our intuitive nature but make us hyperaware of all the suffering that's going on around us. It can be helpful to cleanse or strengthen your own aura - not to block out the world - but to be more attuned to the unlimited flow of Divine Goodness and to be able to send that Goodness back out as a blessing to all beings.

Cleansing your aura can be as easy as taking a pleasantly warm shower, especially after work or after a difficult human interaction.  For those of you who have learned pranayama - yoga breathing techniques - those with the rapid in and out of the breath (such as the bellows breath),  give your aura a good shake, like taking a dusty rug outside and flapping it in the wind.  More simply, walking in nature, especially a walk by a river or around a pond can be aura cleansing.
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For aura strengthening, try this: standing straight, arms at your sides, turn your palms up, begin to inhale and raise your arms out to the side and over your head till your palms touch together. As you are bringing your arms up, imagine that you are pulling beautiful white or golden light up around you, from below your feet and over the top of your head. Turn your palms 'face out' and as you exhale, push the light further out around you as you bring your arms back down to your sides. Do this a few times and then relax. (PS -  If you have any physical limitations, do this sitting down, laying down, or just use your imagination and picture yourself doing it.)

NEW CLASS! 
How to Read Tarot Cards
with Marcia Sacks, Swami K. Adinadananda
4 weeks beginning Friday, March 14, 5 pm CST via Zoom

Learn to read Tarot Cards and understand their symbols and deeper meaning including a Kriya Yoga and astrological perspective.

Recommended deck: Rider-Waite Tarot (also called Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot)
Recommended text: A Complete Guide to the Tarot by Eden Gray
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There is no charge for this class because I am paying forward the generosity of my guru, Goswami Kriyananda and his abundant sharing of wisdom with his disciples. Because Tarot tradition requires some sort of energy exchange, I'd like you to send me a message requesting to be in the class - that's an easy energy exchange :) If you are moved to do so, consider making a donation to a charity that represents what you would most like to see manifest in the world.

Kriya Yoga Teachings
This Sunday, March 2, 10 am via Zoom

Life fulfillment, maximizing yoga's yamas and niyamas to unfold your life's journey
with Swami Rakshananda (Gary Wager)

The yamas and niyamas are a detailed map of where you are in your unfoldment and potential of your life.  They free you to take ownership of your life, directing it to the fulfillment that all seek. 

Email: [email protected] to receive the Zoom link. All are welcome.

Online:

​So grateful for this The Astrology Podcast episode with Jason Holley, not only because I love experiential astrology and use it when I teach, but also because he honors my beloved friend, and sister in the dharma, the late Barbara Schermer. Her book Astrology Alive! is sadly out of print but available as a used book.  Barbara and I studied together with Goswami Kriyananda and she was an inspiration and mentor to me as I began my astrology practice.

The Full Moon is on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:53 a.m. CST in 24° Leo. Each individual will find success and strength the clearer they are at knowing who they really are. Find your authentic self. Use your leadership abilities to help improve the human condition.

This Full Moon is square to Uranus at 23° Taurus. Unexpected changes of plan. Unusual happenings. At the Friday morning Q&A*, we talked a lot about our experiences with the Uranus stationary point on January 30th. Chaos in general and weird weather. But we also shared about heightened creative energy and new ideas. This will continue with the lunation. New moons and full moons are triggers to aspects, so this Full Moon may revisit these chaotic and creative type of situations from the past few weeks.

In the future:
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Mars is going direct on February 24 at 17° Cancer. Projects and programs that have seemed to be spinning their wheels will begin to move forward. But slowly. Mars is trine Saturn, a good aspect for carefully laying foundations. Don't let that Mars impatience impel you into hasty actions and decisions. Planning is where it's at.

Coming up:

*Weekly Open Q&A: Astrology, Kriya Yoga, and the Path of the Mystic
http://www.kriyastrology.com/classes.html
With Marcia Sacks, Swami K. Adinadananda
Fridays, 11 am - 12 pm CST via Zoom
This Friday we start with a question that was asked last week about intuition and having confidence in your intuition.

Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and any changes to the schedule. Register by sending your request to join in an email or contact me through my website here: http://www.kriyastrology.com/contact.html

Kriya Yoga Teachings

Sunday, March 2, 10 am CST via Zoom

KYT is a fellowship of swamis, disciples, and students of Goswami Kriyananda. Our purpose is to share the ancient, timeless teachings of Kriya Yoga as taught by Kriyanandaji, who founded the Temple of Kriya Yoga over 60 years ago in Chicago. We will start by offering inspirational talks on the first Sunday of the month, at 10 a.m., CST. Via Zoom. The 20-minute talks will be followed by a group discussion. All are welcome! 

To be on the mailing list for the March 2 zoom link and for future notifications of events, please email: [email protected]

Here's the February 2 video with Swami Mahashastrananda speaking about Patanjali's Yoga Sutras:

New class!  Details at the end of the astrology update.

The New Moon is on Wednesday, January 29 at 6:35 am CST in 9° Aquarius. Fellowship is one of the key words for the sign Aquarius. At this New Moon you may find yourself drawn to groups, clubs and organizations that have a humanitarian goal. Sharing ideas with like-minded folks is very healing for the soul. Networking of all sorts is beneficial at this time.

Two cautions relate to two different aspects in the New Moon's chart.

The first is Mercury just moving past a conjunction with Pluto at 2° Aquarius. This indicates the ideas you come in contact with at this time can be very powerful motivators like an affirmation that really resonates with you (good for personal growth) or ideas that propose extreme (unbalanced) fixes for a problem, like suggesting a health routine where you give up food and live off the rays of the sun. Remember the mudra (hand gesture) for "namaste" where we bring the palms of the hands together at the heart level. This is a symbol of bringing the extremes (arms outstretched) to center (palms together). When you are drawn to take up something extreme, perform this mudra and take time for reflection.

The second aspect in the New Moon's chart is Venus coming up to conjunct Neptune at 27° Pisces (exact on Feb. 1). The metaphor for this aspect is falling in love without really knowing the other person. Under this aspect, take your time to develop the relationship. It doesn't really have to be a person. It can be items you're tempted to spend money on. Wait a week and read the reviews for the product before the purchase.

Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, is at a stationary point at 23° Taurus, ready to go direct. For this coming week, unexpected changes of plan, issues with electronics, and unusual situations in general. For good news, keep an eye out for articles about any type of innovation. Pay attention to your own sparks of creativity. And write those ideas of yours down instantly. Those lightning flashes of insight can disappear from memory in a flash. 

Even though Uranus (weirdness) won't move into Gemini (communications) until July, this video by OK Go is a perfect metaphor for that transit with its unique creativity, the multiple screens and multiple people, the electronic technology - even the algorithm that put this in my YouTube recommendations. 

Coming Up:

New! Astrology, Kriya Yoga, and the Path of the Mystic
Open Q&A with Marcia Sacks, Swami K. Adinadananda
Most Fridays, 11 am - 12 pm CST via Zoom starting February 7, 2025

Casual Q&A open to students from the Professional Astrology Course, The Kriya Yoga Seminary, and the Meditation Teachers Training Program or any others interested in astrology as it relates to Kriya Yoga, spiritual living and softening your karma. Other topics may include symbology, dream interpretation, tarot and other methods of divination. Your questions guide the discussion.

Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and any changes to the schedule. Register by sending your request to join in an email or contact me through my website here: http://www.kriyastrology.com/contact.html

There is no attendance requirement, but the sessions will not be recorded for the most part. If I decide to record an answer to a specific question, then a link to the recording will be sent out to the email list.  Once you are registered, feel free to drop into any session. 


Kriya Yoga Teachings

Sunday, February 2, 10 am CST via Zoom
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, First Thoughts with Swami Mahashastrananda

To be on the mailing list for the February 2 zoom link and for future notifications of events, please email: [email protected]

KYT is a fellowship of swamis, disciples, and students of Goswami Kriyananda. Our purpose is to share the ancient, timeless teachings of Kriya Yoga as taught by Kriyanandaji, who founded the Temple of Kriya Yoga over 60 years ago in Chicago. We will start by offering inspirational talks on the first Sunday of the month, at 10 a.m., CST. Via Zoom. The 20-minute talks will be followed by a group discussion. All are welcome! 

The Full Moon is on Monday, January 13 at 4:26 pm in 23° Cancer. So we may experience the nurturing, caring and generally mother-like nature of the Moon in Cancer either within ourselves or from people in our lives.
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The Full Moon is conjunct Mars at 27° Cancer. When Mars is added to the mix, it warms things up. Cancer is a water sign and in astrology water symbolizes our emotions. When water gets heated up by Mars, it symbolically becomes boiling water - great for making a soothing cup of tea, not so good for heated discussions. 

For this Full Moon, let's try this mantra or just affirm the idea in your own words:

Coming up:

Dawn Silver: Astrology Predictions for 2025
Tuesday, January 14, 7:30 pm CST via Zoom
Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR,
Members: $5.00; Non-members: $10.00
Registration and Payment:
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/northern-illinois-chapter-ncgr-january-2025-meeting
Dawn will be talking about Uranus, Neptune and Pluto changing signs, and more.
Participants will receive Dawn's 2025 Sky of Jewels calendar of events for the year ahead!

Kriya Yoga Teachings
Sunday, February 2, 10 am CST via Zoom
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, First Thoughts with Swami Mahashastrananda

The Kriya Yoga Teachings is a group of swamis, disciples, and students of Goswami Kriyananda. We will be sharing inspirational talks on the first Sunday of each month. The 20-minute talks will be followed by a group discussion. All are welcome. 

If you would like to be on the email list to receive each month's zoom link please email: [email protected]

The New Moon is Monday, December 30 at 4:26 pm CST in 9° Capricorn. Capricorn energy is down to earth and practical. If you are writing New Year's Resolutions or planning projects for the year ahead, this is a good new moon to do so. I recommend selecting your number one goal, then use a pen and put it on paper. Sign your name on the paper and date it. This is a good symbolic first step to utilize the power of the New Moon in Capricorn.
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Or you can just Resolve to be Happy!

New Book from Ray Grasse:

Ray Grasse has written another book about my param guru Shelly Trimmer, ​"In the Company of Gods: Further Dialogues with an Unconventional Mystic."

Wishing you many blessings of love, peace, wisdom and happiness in 2025!