MARCIA SACKS

The aspects coming up in these first weeks of January are very intense.  There is some similarity to the first two weeks in January of 2019. It's wise to reflect on what happened then, how you handled the people and situations at that time, what you learned and what skills you gained. This will benefit you in the weeks ahead.

The Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse is this Friday, January 10th in 20° Cancer. The Moon is exactly opposite the Sun at 20° Capricorn (forming the Full Moon), Mercury at 20° Capricorn, plus Saturn and Pluto at 22° Capricorn (exactly conjunct on January 12). This means the emotional sensitivity of the Moon are combined with the Saturn pressures to conform versus the Pluto pressure to transform. It is very much of a volcano aspect - if the pressure is not vented a huge explosion can occur. Sometimes one word (Mercury) can put the match to the fuse, so carefully choose what you say and how you say it.
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Think of how a volcano vents steam to prevent a mountain from blowing its top. We can vent by taking a walk, doing yoga or other balancing movement practices, chanting or singing, or just pulling back from a bad situation. A genuine gentle or caring word to another person may help them vent or defuse. 

For this coming two weeks forecast, I've been talking to my clients (and myself) about moving consciously and carefully. Uranus brings a general type of accident-proneness. I remember one time trying to get something done quickly in the kitchen and deciding (unwisely) to reach up into a cupboard one-handed to try to get one of my glass measuring cups out of the stack. In the blink of an eye, the largest cup fell from above my head to the edge of the sink and onto the kitchen floor shattering into thousands of tiny pieces. By the grace of God, I wasn't hurt. But I felt stupid. What was I thinking? Not much you can do at that point but sweep up. However, I was still finding teeny shards in corners of my kitchen weeks later. Try to take this story symbolically. For the two weeks move slowly and carefully, think before you speak, don’t try to rush whether at home, at work or driving.
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More on these early January aspects in my latest article for Yoga Chicago Magazine: http://yogachicago.com/2019/12/the-journey-from-mars-to-venus/

There's a lot going on astrologically over the next couple of weeks:

• Mercury Direct April 15, 4:21 a.m. CDT  in 4° Aries
• New Moon Sunday, April 15, 2018, 8:57 p.m. CDT in 26° Aries, conjunct Uranus 28°
• Saturn Retrograde on April 17 at 9° Capricorn
• Pluto Retrograde on April 22 at 21° Capricorn

With the New Moon conjunct Uranus,  for several days on either side of April 15, the energy is volatile and high voltage.  Situations change quickly.  As Mercury makes its station direct in Aries, once again the key to handling extreme people and uncertain situations is what you say and how you say it. Stay awake and aware of your environment.

Being mindful in general is always a good practice.  Here's a Zen story that I meditate on frequently.  Like the author of the blog, I am rarely successful in maintaining more than a few moments of real mindfulness at a time.  And like the author, I recommend the book Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps.  The same lightning strike energy of the new moon that can be so difficult to control may be the same energy that gives us those flashes of insight from Zen stories and koans.

The combination of the Saturn and Pluto station retrogrades both in Capricorn (with Mars contained between them) reminds me of two symbols from nature.  The earthquake and the volcano.  The ground shakes and trembles in an earthquake - the foundations of life and faith are called into question.  With the volcano, emotions that seethe below the surface are ready to erupt.  Self-control puts a temporary cap on the volcano but it creates a pressure that can explode for miles like Mount St. Helens or  Eyjafjallajökull.  

Plan ahead: if you experience the symbolic earthquake, what resources do you have that can sustain you through a challenging time?  If you are prone to being a volcano, what can you do to constructively to let off steam?  At the same time, perhaps it's best to avoid others that remind you of a volcano.

Used wisely the energy of Saturn and Pluto together can bring focus, concentration, self-discipline, and steadiness of purpose to build something that can transform your world.

​On Sunday April 29th, I will be giving a talk on "Astrology and Kriya Yoga: Predictions for Your Spiritual Path" as part of the Babaji Festival at The Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago. There will be music and chanting, talks by the temple swamis, and more.

For more information:

http://www.yogakriya.org
kriya@yogakriya.org

The new moon is on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 8:17 pm CST at 26° Capricorn. 

Whatever you do at a new moon will follow you for at least the following two weeks.  Capricorn is a sign of the earth element and the cardinal quality (a force of outgoing action).  Think about the power of the earth when it moves:  mud slides, avalanches etc.  Remember that a huge rock slide can start as a small stream of pebbles. These pebbles are the thoughts you think repeatedly and words that you choose to say.  They are also the small activities that you choose to apply toward your life goals.

There is also a lineup of six planets in the sign Capricorn.  Capricorn energy is all about your life responsibilities.  In general, people will feel that they are surrounded by life responsibilities at this time.  For those with steadiness of purpose this energy can be very productive.  However ….

The new moon is in a close square to Uranus (24° Aries) and a wide conjunction to Pluto (19° Capricorn).  The keywords of this aspect is "rebellion against responsibilities."  If you're looking at the pressure of responsibility and thinking "I quit!" this would be the time to take a deep breath and resolve to wait three or four days after the new moon and re-evaluate the situation.

There's also a tendency to give others an ultimatum in the sense of "If you don't do [this], [I quit] or [I'm leaving] or [get out]."  This will tend to provoke an immediate (but not usually positive) result.  My spiritual tradition asks us to use wisdom when we feel these types of overwhelming emotions arise.  Is it wise to speak at this time?  Can you wait a few days to have that conversation?

Sort things out and find inner peace through creative work:  draw, paint or write poems about your feelings and emotions. 
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Soothe the jagged edges with the mantra "Om shanti, shanti, shanti."  Om is the sound of the oneness of the universe and shanti is the Sanskrit word for peace.  You can use this affirmation which is one way to translate the mantra: "On every level of my being, let there be peace, peace, peace."