 The Full Moon is on Monday, April 26, 10:31 p.m. CDT, at 7° Scorpio. Pluto, the ruler of Scorpio is at a stationary point, going retrograde on April 27th. These two planetary positions occurring in the same time frame increase the intensity of our emotions and desires. Be on your guard for flare ups of anger, resentment and jealousy. This is not the best time for starting an argument (you may be calling it a discussion but it's likely to escalate). Pluto stationary points can be good for putting energy into clearing out closets, basements and attics. It's also good for taking things off your to do list. I don't mean checking things off. I mean re-evaluating what's on there and taking off things that have lost their value or priority. If you want to read an article that's more centered on the external, global impact of this Pluto direction, check out Ray Grasse's article in The Mountain Astrologer.  There is also a T-square in the Full Moon chart. The stellium of Sun, Uranus, Venus and Mercury in Taurus are 180° opposed the Moon in Scorpio and 90° squared to Saturn in Aquarius. This challenging configuration brings out an urge for freedom versus an urge for tradition. In my recent Yoga Chicago article I said, "These forces seem like they should always be opposed to each other but they can work together if you see Saturn as foundation and Uranus as creativity. Most arts have a foundation of skill or mastery of the basics and yet the true artist is often the one that brings that genius of creativity to bear." I give some affirmations for a more positive Saturn square Uranus in my talk for the Temple of Kriya Yoga Babaji Festival. 
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 The New Moon is on Sunday, April 11, 9:30 p.m. CDT. at 22° Aries. We're in the midst of spring, life growing and abounding. Tune into the energy and vigor that fiery Aries brings. Mars at 23° Gemini and Jupiter at 25° Aquarius are trining each other while the Sun and Moon sextile them. Very productive energy for all types of activities. The caution is this New Moon is square to Pluto at 26° Capricorn. Ego (the Sun), Emotion (the Moon) and Obsession (Pluto) can get in the way of moving harmoniously toward your goals. Flip the switch internally to focus on Vitality (the Sun), Balanced Inner Awareness (the Moon) and Motivation (Pluto). In this way you will get more benefit from your energy output. To avoid hyper or angry energy try this affirmation: I move through the day with an abundance This is a good affirmation for issues with fatigue as well. The avatar Rama is related to the sign Aries and the planet Mars (and the Mars chakra). So chanting the "Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" mantra is balancing, whether it's a Mars/Aries transit or an aspect in your own natal chart. Here is the mantra sung by Krishna Das: Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram  Coming up: Babaji Festival 2021 Virtual from the Temple of Kriya Yoga Sunday, April 25th at noon - Link will be posted at: https://www.yogakriya.org/sunday-services.html My talk will be: Astrology, Kriya Yoga and Karma  The Full Moon is on Sunday, March 28, 1:48 p.m. CDT in 8° Libra with the Moon exactly opposed to Sun, Venus and the asteroid Chiron in Aries. Other people and the partnerships you have with them are influential at this full moon. At the same time, one of the karmic lessons of Libra is to be able to believe in yourself and the value of what you bring to the table without needing the validation of others. This is most important to know if you have Libra Sun, Moon or Rising in your own natal chart. Venus so close to the Sun may have its natural loving nature overwhelmed by the ego strength of the solar force. For our spiritual growth it can be helpful to watch the play between compassion and self interest over the next few days.  As an astrologer, I look at Chiron, "the wounded healer", when it's in a strong position like the one in the Full Moon chart. This means you can be helpful to people with the wisdom gained from having worked with your own deeply difficult experiences. You may not have perfect resolution of your own personal issues, but your journey toward wellness may shine a light on the path for others. Don't give advice, just share your story when the time is right. Mercury is conjunct Neptune in the Full Moon chart. As usual, this is good for meditation and your inner quest, but not great for paying attention to things in the outer world. Take your time to get the facts straight when making decisions. Online: Here is the video from my most recent noon meditation for the Temple of Kriya Yoga: The Professional Astrology Course: How to Be a Practicing Astrologer
The Professional Astrology Course from the Temple of Kriya Yoga is a two year, home-study, self-paced program that you can start anytime. The course consists of over 120 recordings by Goswami Kriyananda, plus textbook and pdfs. As an instructor for the program, I answer student questions, grade tests, and provide supplemental material and webinars. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the course. If you're not familiar with Goswami Kriyananda, the Temple has various free recordings available each week linked on the home page. You can find me on:  The New Moon is on Saturday, March 13, at 4:21 a.m. CST in 23° Pisces. The Sun and Moon are aligned with Venus and Neptune creating a stellium in Pisces. Decision-making is at a disadvantage with Neptune creating fog around the road ahead. Wait at least 3 days after the New Moon. You'll likely find there will be extra information critical to your decisions that was not available before. This New Moon with Venus and Neptune is good for anything that has to do with the arts, music, painting, poetry, writing, etc. It is excellent for meditation, chanting, prayer and devotional singing. It's also a good time for studying your dreams. Honor your dreams by writing them down. Take time to think about the symbols and their meanings. There are a number of seminars on dreams and dreaming here: https://www.yogakriya.org/seminars.html  The vernal equinox takes place on March 20, 2021, 4:37 a.m. CDT. It's the start of the astrological year where the Sun returns to 0° Aries. So it's a symbol of new beginnings. It's a good time to write down and affirm your goals for the year ahead. It's generally a good idea to have one main goal. But with the Moon and Mars in Gemini in the equinox chart, it will probably make some people happier to make a whole list of things to accomplish in 2021-2022. Online: My Sunday Noon Meditation "Deep Dive into Cosmic Consciousness" will be posted on 3/14/21 around noon on the Sunday Services page of Temple of Kriya Yoga website. NORWAC - The Northwest Astrological Conference is virtual again this year, May 28 - 30th. Lots of excellent speakers. I attended (via my home computer) last year and signed up again right away. I enjoyed this discussion of Astrology and Tarot that was recently recorded on The Astrology Podcast. https://theastrologypodcast.com/2021/02/19/tarot-and-astrology-as-forms-of-divination/ The latest issue of New Observations is now available for free online. The issue is called "The Extended Moment: The Photography and Writing of Ray Grasse." Beautiful, mystical photos and many essays and excerpts of Ray's books.   The Full Moon is on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 2:17 a.m. CST in 8° Virgo. For the next several days, it is a good time for projects that require paying attention to details. It is also positive for starting improvements in health or nutrition. Virgo is often related to the idea of service to others. In yoga, we strive to be unselfish in our service, doing things for others without any thought or expectation of reward. I like the helpfulness prayer from the book "A Course in Miracles": I am here only to be truly helpful. I am here to represent Him Who sent me. I do not have to worry about what to say or what to do, because He Who sent me will direct me. I am content to be wherever He wishes, knowing He goes there with me. I will be healed as I let Him teach me to heal. [You can replace Him and He with a different pronoun or the name of the way you choose to see God.] A good topic for reflection at this full moon is to think about what it means to be 'truly helpful.'  Coming up: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 7:30 p.m. The Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR presents: Cosmic Dreaming: Astrology and Dream Interpretation with Marcia Sacks Both dreams and astrology can give us information helpful for psychological insights, problem solving and forecasting the future. Combining astrology with dream interpretation creates a powerful system for communication with the higher consciousness that speaks to us through our dreams. This talk will include how to remember and record your dreams, methods to apply astrology to dream interpretation, and ways to use this information to improve your life and expand your awareness. Bring your own recent dreams to use as we workshop these techniques together. There is no charge for this event. To receive the Zoom link, contact Janet Berres, janetberres@gmail.com   The New Moon is on Thursday, February 11, 1:05 p.m. CST in 23° Aquarius. There's actually a huge lineup of planets in Aquarius. Along with the Sun and Moon, there's Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. It really puts the focus on connection and how we relate to others. There will be a true longing to get together with people we haven't seen for awhile. That will conflict with common sense as we evaluate and negotiate the pandemic. Use Zoom and social media to visit with one another. Practice a bit of control, thinking before you speak. The wildly creative Aquarian energy can lead to oversharing ideas that need a little more reflection before verbalizing. Venus and Jupiter are conjunct at this New Moon, symbolizing love and abundance. In spite of all the current craziness of everyday existence, watch for something wonderful to come into your life. I thought about this as I started reading a new book that I took out of the shipping box yesterday. Even reading the first few pages of the autobiography "Being Ram Dass", rekindled my awareness of all the love and goodness in the world and all those wonderful, beloved souls, all the mystics and teachers who have shared their journeys and wisdom with us. Speaking of which, I just finished reading Ray Grasse's autobiography "The Sky Stretched Out Before Me: Encounters with Mystics, Anomalies, and Waking Dreams". It reminded me that for those of us whose spiritual search ignited around the time Neptune went into Sagittarius in 1970, we all have interesting stories of our life's journey to tell. Ray's includes connecting with yogis and metaphysicians including Goswami Kriyananda and Kriyananda's guru Shelly, plus artists and filmmakers, and includes adventures in the pyramids in Egypt. Very much of a book to read when so many planets are lined up in Aquarius. I love the Aquarius feeling that we're all connected, that we meet up with each other in wonderful and serendipity ways. Sometimes it's the way one good book leads to another.
Coming up:
On February 17, Saturn in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus. Aquarius has two ruling planets, Uranus and Saturn. They represent two extremes. Saturn is resistant to change. Uranus is unexpected, sudden change. There's a lot of stress as these two forces meet under this inharmonious aspect. Your challenge is to find balance in the center of that polarity. Or at least be able to recognize the patterns of conformity vs rebellion playing out in your own life. Pull yourself gently away from extremes and avoid making major decisions a week on either side of the 17th. For more on the Saturn square Uranus, check out the astrology portion of my article "Divine Compassion" in the current Yoga Chicago magazine. Just a reminder that Mercury is still retrograde until February 21st. Do your research and planning now, wait to activate until a few days after Mercury goes direct. Email Newsletter If you would like to receive Astrology Update by Marcia Sacks as an email newsletter, just message me through this website's contact form. You can find me on:  The Full Moon is on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 1:16 p.m. CST in 9° Leo. Vibrant, creative and social Leo energy, with a touch of optimism from the Sun Jupiter conjunction at 9° Aquarius. It's an excellent time to reach out to friends and family with an email or phone call. Just ensure that you listen as much as you speak (everyone may be a bit more self-oriented at the Leo full moon). With the rose-colored glasses that Jupiter puts on, it's important to be aware that the Sun is still separating from Saturn, so there may be responsibilities to conclude before you can do more playful activities. Venus and Pluto are conjunct at the full moon in 25° Capricorn. This conjunction often signifies temptation and allurement. Be cautious both in romance and in unplanned purchases. With Pluto involved, be vigilant for cons and scams.  Mercury goes retrograde on Saturday, January 30th at 26° Aquarius. Be careful in what you say and how you say it, whether written or spoken. Mercury retrograde is not good for things like signing contracts - read the fine print. However, this 3 week Mercury retrograde period, ending February 21, can be positive for research projects and information gathering. If you need a big helping of peacefulness, try this Om Shanti mantra from Meditative Mind. Here is a wonderful (and free!) opportunity to hear leading speakers on spirituality and mysticism: The Mystics Summit New book from Ray Grasse: The Sky Stretched Out Before Me: Encounters with Mystics, Anomalies, and Waking Dreams   The New Moon is on January 12, 2021 at 11:00 pm in 23° Capricorn. That places the Sun and Moon right next to Pluto at 24° Capricorn. It symbolizes the potential for a fresh start by leaving the past behind. It's a good time to reflect on what negative attitudes and emotions we're clinging to and if we're willing to let them go. Also a good new moon to create a vision board or "treasure map" to visually reinforce your goals and dreams for the year ahead. Venus trining Mars and Uranus is good for all types of creative and artistic endeavors. At this new moon, Mars squares Saturn which is the feeling of frustration, of things not happening fast enough. If you feel tired and worn out, watch the ways in which you are processing "spinning your wheels." Use breathing techniques (pranayama) and chanting/singing to restore calm and replenish energy.  Uranus goes direct on the 14th at 6° Taurus. Over the next two weeks there will be unexpected changes of plan and strong urges for freedom from restrictions. As yogis and spiritual seekers we are always working with these roller coasters of emotions as part of an internal process. To be safe, though, keep an eye on the news and avoid large crowds whether protests or celebrations. Uranus is electricity so symbolically or actually, don't go out walking in a lightning storm.
You can find me on:  The last Full Moon of the year is Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 9:28 pm CST in 8° Cancer. The Moon in Cancer places the focus on home, family and memories from the past. The Sun opposite in Capricorn, looks to the future and our career goals, business plans and, of course, New Year's resolutions. It's a good time to reflect on the past, with a view toward giving yourself credit for all the things you've accomplished this year. Clearing out negative emotions can give you a fresh start in 2021. Do your best to have compassion toward yourself and others. I like this mantra: "Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu" or the English version "May all beings attain peace and harmony." Remember that it's not just January 1st that can give you a fresh start. Each new moon is a chance to plant or re-plant the seed of your goal. Lots more thoughts on this in my article "Resolve to be Happy."  Venus in Sagittarius is exactly square Neptune in Pisces on December 29th, suggesting caution with money matters for a few days. It's not good for loaning money out (unless you're clear in your mind that it's a gift and may never be paid back). Discretion in romantic relationships - Venus/Neptune aspects like this one can bring temptations. Jupiter and Saturn are still in orb of their conjunction. As I said last time, it's important to remember that any big goals set or major projects started now will likely develop slowly over time. The talk that I gave on the planetary positions for the year ahead for the Temple of Kriya Yoga's Winter Solstice Festival is now on youtube: Professional Astrology Program
Speaking of new beginnings, The Temple of Kriya Yoga's Professional Astrology Course can be started any time. It's virtual learning - online and self-paced. Each lesson consists of audio recordings and writing from Goswami Kriyananda with supplementary material and guidance by Temple instructors. More information here. You can find me on:  The Solar Eclipse occurs on December 14, 10:26 a.m. CST in 23° Sagittarius, a sign that energizes both our enthusiasm for learning and our sense of adventure. It's a good time to think about what you would like to learn in the year ahead or what type of adventure you would like to take. My talk for the Temple of Kriya Yoga which will be posted on their webpage at noon this Sunday, December 13th, will talk about "Your Inward Adventure", which is more of a spiritual journey. The Solar Eclipse this Monday combines in an interesting way with the Winter Solstice and the Jupiter Saturn conjunction which both take place on December 21st. These are all points of new beginnings of larger cycles. A solar eclipse represents changes which can occur at the time of the eclipse or may develop into a major change over the course of one year. The winter solstice marks the beginning of a new quarter year. Because it falls close to the western calendar new year, many people look at the winter solstice as the start of a new one year cycle. The Jupiter Saturn conjunction begins an approximate 20 year cycle.  Van Gogh "The Sower" 1888  The way that I look at it is that these points of new beginnings are an excellent time to plant a seed of what you want to grow as these cycles develop. Some people plant seeds of a very high level purpose like "Love", "Wisdom", "Peace", "Happiness". Others make long term plans for personal or business goals.
You can plant a seed by writing down your intention, verbalizing your goal to others or simply taking a small action. Small actions can be reading a book that applies to your goal, putting money toward your goal in an envelope, or writing down your next step. I also like the practice of writing out or creating an illustration of what your finished goal or project will look like. Because Jupiter and Saturn will both be active at this time, it's important to remember that any big goals set or major projects started will likely develop slowly over time. Coming up: Sunday, December 14: "Your Inward Adventure", my noon meditation for the Temple of Kriya Yoga, will be posted online here. Sunday, December 21: "Winter Solstice Celebration" with music and chanting, an inspiration noon meditation with Swami Pharananda and my astrological talk on Planetary Positions for 2021. Watch here at noon on 12/21. Wishing you a joyful, healthy and safe holiday season. |
AuthorMarcia Sacks is an astrologer in the Kriya Yoga tradition. Archives
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