MARCIA SACKS

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.
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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:

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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.  

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
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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:

• Facebook
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• Yoga Chicago Magazine
• Temple of Kriya Yoga

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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.

​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.
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There is a lunar eclipse on Monday, Nov 30 2020, at 3:29 am CST in 8° Gemini. With all eclipses there is a strong urge to make changes. In Gemini, the drive to change is in the area of communication. It can be helpful to reflect on the way you communicate with others, not only the way you speak but how you listen. There's a tendency over the next several days to get distracted from tasks and responsibilities by the daily news sources. The Sun is in the opposite sign of Sagittarius, making it possible to flip your thinking to underlying universal truths and life philosophy in order to calm a racing mind down.

Neptune is making a station point today as I write this on November 28, going direct at 18° Pisces. The effect is at least a week on either side of 11/28. Neptune's influence makes us spacey and forgetful. Write down your lists and journal your day so you don't forget who you are, where you're going, and where you've been. Neptune's strength is in creative efforts like painting, poetry, music and creative writing. It is also good for inputting positive affirmations especially through guided meditation and self-hypnosis techniques.
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Neptune, combined with a lunar eclipse in Gemini, you may find that people make promises they cannot fulfill. Usually that's not out of malice, more that there are unforeseen circumstances. One strategy with any promise you receive in the next few days is to make a back up plan, just in case.

Online:

My article "A Mindful Approach to Sorting Things Out" is in the Fall/Winter 2020 issue of Yoga Chicago Magazine.

Coming up:

I will be giving the Noon Meditation for the Temple of Kriya Yoga on Sunday, December 13. "Your Inward Adventure" will be posted here around noon on 12/13. I will talk about how the winter months are a good time to turn more deeply within. Reflection and contemplation on sacred texts can enhance this inward adventure. 

You can find me on:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Twitter
• Yoga Chicago Magazine
• Temple of Kriya Yoga

The New Moon is on Saturday, November 14, at 11:07 pm CST in 23° Scorpio.  Scorpio new moons are good for introspection, the study of psychology and our own internal processes. Scorpio is a water sign and is also one of the fixed signs. The symbol in nature is still water. Still water can be a stagnant pond or it can be a beautiful blue lake with water so clear you can see all the way to the depths. As we release from negative thinking and old resentments, our internal environment becomes purified, calm and peaceful.

Also on the day of the New Moon, Mars goes direct at 15° Aries. The stationary point can make you feel like you're spinning your wheels with things you want to get going on.  Find small steps toward your goal now. As Mars picks up the pace in its forward movement, your projects will be up and running, too. 

Today as I'm writing this, Jupiter is conjunct Pluto at 22° Capricorn. This is the second conjunction in the vast triple conjunction we've been experiencing over the past several years. The Saturn Pluto conjunction is separating now, lessening the frustrations of 2019 and 2020.  The Jupiter Pluto conjunction is seeming to manifest the healing energy of Jupiter, especially in terms of greater optimism for the future as news of possible Covid 19 vaccines are coming out.

At the same time Jupiter is expansion and at the time I write this, the virus cases are expanding each day. Jupiter can be exaggeration as well so we're seeing certain people expressing exaggerated claims about things like election fraud. Pluto is revolution so it is looking like people are more inclined at this time to hold extreme views about how their problems should be solved.

Our responsibility as spiritual seekers is to look at whatever turmoil is within our own selves and find ways to calm down, plus problem solve by the most helpful and skillful means possible.

The third conjunction in the triple conjunction is when Jupiter conjuncts Saturn on December 21 in 0° Aquarius which I wrote about in my article "A Mindful Approach to Sorting Things Out" in the new Fall/Winter 2020 issue of Yoga Chicago Magazine.

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If you would like to receive Astrology Update as an email newsletter, just message me through this website's contact form.

You can find me on:

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• Yoga Chicago Magazine

The Full Moon is on Saturday, October 31 at 9:49 a.m. CDT in 8° Taurus.  The high energy of the full moon is somewhat restrained by the practicality and responsibility of the earth sign Taurus.  Also, Saturday's full moon is conjunct Uranus which brings unexpected changes of plan. Can you be both stable and flexible? That's one of the lessons learned from hatha yoga and other physical practices like tai chi.  Even walking outside can be helpful, being aware of your feet being supported by the earth and your body limber and graceful. If you should get a lightning strike of hyper energy over the weekend, have a channel prepared for the lightning to follow i.e. a project you want to put some intensity into.

Note: Don't forget there's a time change this weekend in the US as we "fall back" an hour on November 1 @ 2 a.m.

​Mercury goes direct on November 3 at 26° Libra. At this stationary point, be very careful with what you say and how you say it.  There will likely be slowdowns and delays. Take provisions (and your mask!) for a long wait at the polls. Many astrologers and others predict that we won't know the full results of the US elections for several days.  For most of us, a few days after the Mercury direct projects and plans that have been hung up for the past few weeks will start to take off.

Online:

My article in Yoga Chicago magazine "A Mindful Approach to Sorting Things Out" in the new Fall/Winter 2020 issue, includes a meditation practice based on the upcoming Jupiter Saturn conjunction in December.

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:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Twitter
• Yoga Chicago Magazine

Mercury goes retrograde today, October 14, as I'm writing and posting this. The world doesn't stop when Mercury goes retrograde. Many people hardly notice it because we're so used to solving multiple problems per day. On the other hand, knowing Mercury is changing direction can give us the extra information we need to handle things more smoothly. 

Mercury has a few key areas that it rules: communication, transportation and the mind. That gives you a clue that over the next few days it's best to slow down and become more careful in what you say both spoken and written. 

With "transportation" you know you'll need to pay greater attention while driving or traveling in general. If you think "communication + transportation", you check your directions, calendar, reservations and so on. And triple-check that you've taken your wallet, phone, keys (and face mask!). If you think "communication + transportation + the mind", you realize there's always a chance that you'll space out and leave something important at home. If that does happen, retrograde yourself back to get it or have a plan B.

The new moon is Friday October 16 at 23° Libra. This places the Sun and Moon opposed to Mars in Aries and squared to Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn in Capricorn. Libra is partnerships (marriage, business and project work). That is likely to be the life area with the most stress right now.

​I thought we were done with the Saturn/Pluto volcano metaphor when Saturn went direct last month, but because Mercury is retrograde, I'm bringing it back. Watch your thoughts and emotions to see if a feeling of frustration or anger is building up (Mars and Pluto, the fire of the volcano from underground). Don't just hold it in with self-discipline (Saturn). That adds to the pressure (like earth on top of a volcano holding in the steam).

​You must find ways to vent (the steam of the volcano) which are not violent toward others or yourself. Walk outside or  do gentle hatha yoga. Sing along with your favorite music or mantra chanting. Journal your feelings. Watch something funny and laugh. Whatever works for you. If you don't trigger this new moon with a big argument or ultimatums, the volcano of emotions will settle down in a few days. 

Coming up:  

A new issue of Yoga Chicago magazine will be online in a few days. My article "Sorting Things Out with Mindfulness" will include some thoughts about the Saturn/Jupiter conjunction coming up in December.  If you haven't seen my previous articles you can find them here .

NORWAC 2021: Early registration for the Northwest Astrology Conference has begun. It will be virtual, May 27 - 31st, with many wonderful speakers from the US and around the world. https://norwac.net/
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The Professional Astrology Course: Reminding all astrology students that the Professional Astrology Course from the Temple of Kriya Yoga is still available. Virtual learning is so perfect for this time of social distancing. The course is self-paced so you can start anytime.  There are over 120 recordings by Goswami Kriyananda and lots of printed material.  As program leader, 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.

​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.