The August new Moon occurs on Monday the 21st at 12:31pm Mountain Time while Moon transits Leo and Magha nakshatra. This new Moon coincides with a total Solar eclipse which begins 09:46 am MDT and ending at 03:04pm MDT. The maximum eclipse will be at 12:25pm MDT. The total solar eclipse marks the closing of the two week long eclipse portal.

Lunar and solar eclipses happen in pairs. A lunar eclipse always occurs about 2 weeks before or after a solar eclipse. On some occasions, a lunar eclipse can be both preceded and followed by a solar eclipse. This lunar eclipse kicked off a two week eclipse portal that closes with a full Solar eclipse on the new Moon August 21st.

The upcoming solar eclipse is particularly important for the United States as it will shadow the majority of the USA. It is the first total solar eclipse in 99 years to cross coast-to-coast and the first to pass through any part of the lower 48 states in 38 years.

Though the solar eclipse is an astonishing astrological event and an extremely rare occurrence, the Vedic perspective does not advise looking directly at the eclipse or being outside during the eclipse.

From a Vedic perspective, it is never advised to be outside during an eclipse, or to look at it directly. If you must be outside, make sure your head is covered. Essentially you are absorbing shadow when you look at or are out during the eclipse- especially if it is visible in your location. It is like taking on more Rahu, or serpent energy, and is thought to bring more calamity and "shadowed awareness" into ones life.

The lunar eclipse also marks a delicate two week gap between lunar and solar eclipses. It is not advised to start new projects at this time, nor make big decisions. Best to lay low, attend to spiritual pursuits, get extra rest and work with your inner shadow very consciously. This eclipse portal ends on the 21st of August.

This Leo new Moon incites ancestral power and wisdom as Moon and Sun collide in Magha nakshatra, the magnanimous star of power, force and aggression. Symbolized by a throne room or palanquin, suggesting royalty, privilege and elitism. Magha likes to be treated well, as special, and ego can often get in the way of empathy and compassion. Excessive masculinity and force must be tempered and balanced with kindness, listening skills and understanding of others' needs. 

The desire for swift movement and change emerges in this waxing cycle. Temper it with caution, slow, steady steps and leaning into the emotional body. Relationships come to the forefront as well as the need for balance, integration and harmony. Extremes and polarities are heightened, so finding balance between opposing forces is paramount. Chip away at the heart and release past traumas, pains and illusions that keep you from being nourished, loved and fed by life. Reach, extend and dream big!

As strong as the desires are, go slow and be methodical. Rushing, pushing and forcing outcomes will result in long term struggle and heart break. Go slow, lean in and acknowledge your desires. What is the underlying need? Gains come in this cycle with visibility, reaching out to new people and relationships, asking for your needs to be met as well as through new resources, guidance and support. New resources yield new results. Be mindful of your powerful voice. Use it for awakening, but don't hurt others with the storm in your mouth.

Be aware of deception and illusion as well as fears that cloud judgement. Look closer at this fear and how it impacts the ego. Only by honoring and acknowledging the needs of your fear can you open new pathways of nourishment and life force energy. Inner and outer dynamics may feel imbalanced. Seek support for greater balance and harmony. The gateway is your emotional body and the wisdom it holds. Don't negate its messages. Go slowly so you can hear and acknowledge what it has to share with you. Dig in, lean closer and let your inner waves guide you towards new resources as well as self inquiry. What does your emotional body tell you it needs? What is missing? What is the nourishment you seek?

There is growth, strength and movement towards dharma in the days and weeks ahead. Align your steps with your path and purpose. Release and let go of choices and behaviors that keep you from highest passion and joy. Ask the ancestors to help you with this process. Let them know you need the right resources to get clarity. What mental body illusions and deceptions are keeping you in the dark? The mental body stories that keep you playing small and pretending you're powerless to change your circumstances? This is the root of what needs to change. Determine the mental body stories that are adharmic (against your dharma) and begin to change, transform and release these painful attachments once and for all.

 
This is a powerful time to align with your dharma, your soul's purpose, as the eclipse portal awakens dharma and purpose. The full Moon and coming cycle supports a deeper listening of your heart wisdom, your inner truth. Lean in closer and use my dharmic resources below to align with your highest potential.

Use the resources below to activate and align with your dharmic path. These resources are From my Dharma Foundations Course and only available for a short time.

Six Steps to Awaken Your Soul's Purpose:

 Step #1: Planting Seeds
 
Step #2: Gathering Resources

Step #3: Overcoming Your Challenges 

Step #4: Transforming Struggles

Step #5: Creating Your Vision

Step #6: Making Your Dharma Real


Ready for even more Dharmic Support?

Don't miss these *free* Dharma Awakening Resources!

- Understand what your jyotish chart says about your life path and purpose.

- Gather resources for overcoming obstacles and set backs on you path.

- Discover what's holding you back from making money doing what you love.

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When your voice isn't heard, when your gifts are never shared, when your power is never fully activated....where does your soul's purpose go?

What happens when your dharma is never offered to this world? When it is never fully awakened within you? When you refuse to change, heal and transform, so that you can rise and shine? When you never even step onto your dharmic path!

This is called Adharma (that which is against dharma). It is the root cause of all suffering in this world. It is pain that is self-induced. Don't neglect your path. Don't avoid your inner wisdom. Don't negate your power, purpose and passion.

With all three gandantas open right now and three retrograde planets, it feels like we are traversing the netherworlds!

You may be asking yourself: Has anything really changed since last year? It feels like the same old ground. Lots of foggy uncertainty, not sure what is real, or how to move forward.
You may be questioning since the Aries new Moon: How can I shift and change the challenges that are re-emerging right now?!

What are you noticing?! What is returning?! How does it feel?!

Moon is transiting Gemini until Monday, May 1st. This is Mercury's sign and will invite in more mental body returns. What stories and connections are showing up as reminders?! These are places where you might need to do more mental body clean up.

All three gandantas are open once again- now that Mercury has retrograded back into Ashwini nakshatra. Gandantas are points in the zodiac between water signs and fire signs (Pisces/Aries, Cancer/Leo, Scorpio/Sagittarius). These points are notorious for causing immense upheaval, as deeply rooted knots within your being get released.

Ashwini, Mula and Magha are nakshatras situated in these powerful gaps that trigger immense change processes to take place. These nakshatras are also ruled by Ketu, a non planet notorious for sudden release, forced letting go and remarkable changes. His goal is to support your moksha, liberation, to release you from your attachments.

Mercury is currently retrograde moving through Ashwini. This is impacting the mental body. Clean up the mind, restore and harmonize. Rejuvenate and spend time in nature. Meditation and health resources such as Ayurveda will be especially important for this transit. The mind is getting uprooted, retracing old stories, and overheated as it conjuncts with exalted Sun. Mercury goes direct on May 3rd but will continue to transit Ashwini until May 23rd, which keeps the gandanta propped open most of the month.

Saturn is retrograde in Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra. Mula nakshatra is ruled by the dark goddess, Nirrti, responsible for adharmic activity- that which is against dharma. She is notorious for causing chaos, calamity and misfortune, while also pulling you from your dharmic path. There is a risk in this year of losing your path, getting stuck in the storm of uncertainty, confusion and misalignment.

If you find yourself lacking clarity about your life purpose, or confusion seems to increase, it's time to seek support and guidance. Resources, guidance and support will be even more important at this time because it will be so easy to fall into the chaos and confusion that Nirrti provokes. With great diligence however, this can also be a time of strengthening your determination, focus and alignment with dharma. Do not lose hope. Do not get lost in Nirrti's perfect storm. Stay connected and aligned with your dreams, desires, goals and passions. These are important resources to help you honor your dharmic path.

Rahu is always moving in reverse and is currently in the gandanta situated in Leo and Magha nakshatra. This transit is bringing ancestral karma to the surface, intensifying shadows and woundology that is connected to the masculine and father. Old karmas, lineage karmas, karmas related to the masculine, are asking you to look more closely, clear and release. The spiritual body is impacted by this transit as Magha closely relates to the ancestors.

What challenges are you noticing with these planetary themes?

Gandantas are door openers. They are portals of the in-between. Neither here nor there. Due to their nature of uprooting, they can cause a sense of ungroundedness and sudden, painful loss. You may be noticing a lack of footing, clarity and purpose. Much uncertainty is arriving right now- mentally, spiritually and physically. You may be feeling uncertainty in the spiritual, mental and physical bodies as a result.

Stay as close to your body and its wisdom as you can right now. More inner resourcing is important, and in many ways can be easier to do as a result of the liminality of these gandantas and the current transits moving through them.

What are you noticing- spiritually, mentally and physically?