Working With The Shadow Intentionally

Our darkness, our shadow parts, are mostly an undesirable topic, one that most choose to avoid.

Most people are good at speaking about their faults, personal issues and life problems, but this is not the same thing as willingly probing into your dark, murky, inner waters, your haunts, grief, fears and illusions. You may appear to be comfortable with your own darkness, and yet simultaneously, refuse to go deeper into it. In fact many people keep walking around and around the same darkness for years, lifetimes perhaps, with out making much change.

This refusal to go deep into your shadow parts and willingly face your deepest, darkest haunts and wounds, leaves you burdened with heavy loads that you never seem to be able to let go of or release. It's like blindly carrying an extra appendage with you. Oh how humans try to disguise this, cover it, deny its presence! And yet, this heavy, awkward limb is still attached, no matter how hard you try to pretend it doesn't exist.

Going into your shadows, requires a strong willingness, and a desire to go beyond your problems. It requires that you start asking "why is this happening to me?" over and over again. And then be courageous enough to seek the answers, the answers that are likely going to be painful, that will force you to change your life, that will expose your darkest secrets.

Just past the depth of your darkness, though, is the light. The gift. The gifts you so desperately seek. The gifts you long for are in fact hidden deep inside your shadow parts.

Most of humanity chooses to refuse their own darkness though, and deny that these parts of themselves are in fact alive within them. But just because one is unwilling to look at their own darkness, does not make it unreal, or keep it from controlling them. These shadow parts are still ruling your life whether you choose to face them or not.

Spiritual by-passing is a real concern and causing increasingly disastrous effects these days. The denial, negation or avoidance of one's shadow can be truly dire. The use of spiritual resources, tools and practices to negate the shadow, challenging emotions, old stories and one's personal mythology, is increasing in popularity. Affirmations, meditation, yoga, religious beliefs, even an addiction to connecting to the spirit world, rather then staying in one's body, are all common place spiritual-bypassing techniques that most people are completely oblivious of.

Whenever the darkness is not integrated and unified with the light, the effects will not be balanced or harmonious. The shadow always seeks the light and the light will always return to darkness. This is a Law of Nature- as they are one and the same. Ultimately, Rahu can not be denied, nor Ketu- his counterpart in karmic liberation. One's jyotish chart shows where the shadow is seeking light and how it will bring your awakening.

The blessing of your courageous efforts and your willingness, is finding that within the darkest and most disturbing parts of yourself, you will actually find the missing pieces you are desperately longing for; your whole and empowered life. If you are truly willing to courageously look into your own shadows you will undoubtedly find the very gifts you so desperately long to receive. Your shadows in fact hold the gifts you seek for wholeness, for your dharmic giving, your offerings to the world, and for a meaningful life.

As I continue to peel back the layers of my own shadow, my suffering, my darkness and my illusions, I find more and more pieces that affirm my dharmic gifts, and my offerings to the world. As I continue to face my grief, my struggles, pains and disappointments, I am finding more and more answers for my pain and illusions.

I’ve learned (and continue to learn), that when I quit resisting myself, there is immense awakening available to me. This comes through ideas, creativity, clarity, awareness, silence, peace and even joy. The moments when I release my grip, let go, and surrender, I find how much energy I’ve been using to resist my self, my own nature. This is my own resistance to my shadow parts and it takes immense energy to maintain this resistance.

We all have resistance. Finding the resistance within yourself and within your life, will point the way towards your own shadow parts. Remember that the energy you use to resist your own darkness takes incredible energy to maintain, and is a drain to the vital life force energy that could be put to good use elsewhere. Energy you could put into living your one precious life- actualizing your dreams, taking bold, fulfilling action steps!

We each have an attraction and repulsion dynamic within us; a push and a pull. This is expressed through the eleventh house of the Jyotish chart, the house of pluses and minuses. Aquarius is an expression of the 11th house and offers many of the same challenges and resources. This attraction repulsion dynamic is also the energy of Rahu, the north shadow node, as well as the role of Rahu and Ketu in our charts. Everyone has this drive, a pull towards what you want, which is also very intimately intertwined with what you are resisting or refusing in your life and in yourself simultaneously.

What you desperately long for and desire is the core of your shadow work and points the way to all the pieces of your darkness. What you deeply long for is seeking you in other words. And it's hidden beneath your shadows. This shadow, and working with one's darkness in order to awaken, is the juxtaposition of Rahu (shadow) and Ketu (light) in ones Jyotish chart, and why Rahu is both darkness and compulsions, as well as desires and insatiable needs. Let Rahu drive you towards your own wholeness. Let him show you what you long for, what you need the most in this life, and let him also show you what you are resisting simultaneously.

Wherever Rahu sits in your jyotish chart (the house, the sign, the planets he interacts with, the nakshatra he resides in etc.) points directly to the main theme of your personal life story. Rahu and Ketu are quite literally karma points and they show you why you have incarnated into this body, into this life, and what you are here to learn. The dance of shadow and light, Rahu and Ketu, fully express your ability and your willingness to grow and awaken in this life time. Will you continue to resist your shadows, your darkness (Rahu)? Or will the compulsion to emerge from the illusions be strong enough to force your awakening and crack you open (Ketu)?

The power within the shadow is two fold. When you resist your darkness, you refuse and resist the healing and the medicine that your life has to offer. You are essentially refusing and resisting awakening to your most essential gifts. These gifts always reveal your dharma, your life purpose, your reason for being alive, and thus there is an immense reward for your efforts- if you choose to take on the task fully. However, it is not the path of ease, numbness, ignorance and denial. In order to awaken, you must invite in your shadow parts, continue to go deeper into your darkness in unending cycles, to dive for pearls of truth tirelessly- as though your life depends on it. It does.

This is why aligning with one's dharma, one's true reason for being alive, is not for everyone, and is in fact evasive for most people. For those who thrive on transformation though, the gifts are unending and continue to unfold. Artists, healers, and those here to share wisdom with the world, thrive on these cycles of transformation, change and growth. For us, our most vital task is embarking on consistent cycles of confronting and identifying our shadows and yet not get addicted to these cycles of pain, struggle, and torture. For those consistently working with their own shadows rigorously, remember to work with and to heal the vow that says "I am broken and will remain so."

The shadows after all, hold your most potent power, and the wisdom you need for your life and your cycles of death and rebirth. The skill then becomes not just the willingness to go into your shadow, your darkness, but to also know when to let go of it, to release and shift into something new. Some will never walk into their shadows and bravely peel back the layers of their suffering and pain. For those willing to do this courageous work, you must also remember how to come up for air, to take a breath, to dance with both the darkness and the light, to heal and overcome the vow of brokenness, while continuing to bravely dance with your shadows cyclically.

Clients who come to me are walking this fine edge of wanting to awaken; there is a desire to know what their life means and how to overcome their biggest obstacles- and yet simultaneously there is a strong fear to look. This is the attraction/repulsion dynamic at play, a true expression of Rahu driving us towards answers, yet fearful of what we will find once we get there.

As I continue to work with the shadow more and more in my own self development process, and also in my work with clients, I am becoming acutely aware of the reality that fear is really all part of the grande illusion of the shadow. Perhaps Carl Jung put it best, "If there is a fear of falling, the only safety consists in deliberately jumping."


Rahu and Ketu: The Gifts of The Shadows

Rahu and Ketu are not planets at all, they are mathematical points on either side of the Moon with rather significant implications on our Self experience. The Moon is arguably the most influential part of the chart- indicating our experiences within the womb and our relationship with mother, as well as our inner nature. The Moon is our guide for emotional well being and our connection to our intuitive self. In fact, the Moon is so important to our life experience, the relationship the nodes have with the Moon indicates their impact on our emotional well being- among other things. Rahu and Ketu, the Moon and the rest of the chart, all create our own unique stories, mythologies and individual karmic dramas. Read more about the importance of the Moon.

The nodes, as Rahu and Ketu are referred to, are mischievous in nature. They present our karmas to us in this incarnation. Without them, and their very valuable life lessons, we would not have incarnated into a human body. They are essential to this lila, this play of life, that we are involved with in this dimension. Both Rahu and Ketu have their own unique array of offerings, but because they are shadow "planets" they often evade prediction. Their nature is to deceive, mystify, to be illusive, and to blind us from our true nature. They represent forces that can't be seen and are the parts of ourselves that go unnoticed and unrecognized. When, and if, the shadow or veil of illusion is removed, and we do see what has been hidden from us, it is often extremely painful. Rahu and Ketu request that we ask ourselves: What am I not seeing or what am I not willing to see? What am I clinging to and unable to let go of?

In order to understand the nature of Rahu and Ketu, it helps to have a little background on how they came to be. In Vedic lore, Rahu (north node) and Ketu (south node) came into being during the famous story of the churning of the ocean of milk (the Milky Way). As the devas (gods) were creating this great churning, amrita, the nectar of immortality arose (think churning milk into butter). The devas, however, needed the asuras (demons) to help them with this task and they had to work together to get the job done. As the immortal nectar was created and obtained from this "great churning", Vishnu made certain that it was only given to the devas. However, one asura named Svarbhanu, outsmarted Vishnu and the other devas. He disguised himself as a deva and got in line to have a drop of the sacred nectar given to him. The story goes that he hid between the Sun and the Moon so no one would notice him.

Just as Vishnu poured a drop of nectar into Svarbhanu's mouth, the Sun and Moon recognized that he was actually an asura! Vishnu chopped him in half, but it was too late. A drop of the immortal nectar was already in his mouth! Thus the two halves, Rahu and Ketu were born. The head of the asura who ingested the immortal nectar became Rahu and the lower half, the body of the asura, became Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are the head and tail of the demon, often referred to as the serpent. A lunar eclipse is connected to Rahu- this happens when he tries to eat the Moon, but it falls right out of him. Ketu is connected to the Solar eclipse. 

This epic story is truly metaphoric on so many levels of life. It expresses the interplay of light and dark and how interdependent they both are on each other. These two facets of life are of course alive and well within our own nature and thus the play of shadow and light becomes our dance in life as well.

Rahu is the head of the serpent and has an insatiable appetite for the material world (his cravings for obtaining the nectar) and intoxicants of all kinds. He brings shock and the dark side of life and he can bring sudden changes, upheavals, even quick boons. Where Saturn brings sorrow, sadness and grief- the natural darkness that is life- Rahu brings an intensified demented version of this darkness; he manipulates and obscures everything he touches. Addictions and confusion are Rahu's domain as well as disturbances and trauma. He does not allow us to think clearly and brings deceit and dishonesty with him. That said, there are worldly benefits that come with him as well. He can give money, profits and excesses from the material world. He loves the foreign and unusual, which can offer great learning and awareness as a result. Enjoyable and exotic travels can also come with Rahu. Professions that require lying, cheating and stealing (politicians for example) will get benefits from Rahu.

Where Rahu may give, Ketu takes away, and is responsible for "cutting the ties that bind us to the material world". If we are attached to it, Ketu can and will cut those attachments loose- eventually. That is his job- to help us realize intimately the impermanence of this life. He is highly spiritual and not interested in the material realms at all. He will either grant access to spiritual advancement or deny it; Ketu is connected to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Since Ketu is just a body (no head) he literally has no mind. He can either show madness and complete craziness like schizophrenia, or certain zen states of no-mind which are more spiritual in experience. Ketu is a moksha planet, connected to liberation, letting go and deep surrender. Rahu and Ketu are always seven houses away from each other. They are always looking directly at each other, thus, whatever Rahu gives, Ketu will be sure to take it away.

The nodes are always moving against the direction of the other planets, in retrograde fashion. All the planets retrograde periodically (except for Sun and Moon) and when they do, they are said to be acting like Rahu and Ketu as a result. Our cravings, desires and fears are all connected to Rahu and Ketu. They instigate our pains, sorrows and drive us to take actions or no actions. They are our shadowed sides and will indicate what we are moving towards and away from in this life time. Thanks to Rahu and Ketu, we are guaranteed to grow in this life, but it may not be the enjoyable kind of growth.

Minutes after midnight (MDT) on August 18th, Rahu moves to Cancer and Ketu shifts to Capricorn for the coming 1.5 years- until March 7th, 2019. This transit requires a deep emotional dive. Learning how to navigate the emotional body and becoming more emotionally literate in the cycle to come will be essential. Working with the shadow side of feelings and using them as resources, rather than suppressing them, will be vital at this time. For some the by-passing will intensify until it is intolerable. For those who are consciously ready to deepen nourishment in their life, there will be a natural gravitation to leaning in, listening and honoring feelings and emotional body wisdom. Are you showing up? Are you listening within? Or are you by-passing the emotional body intelligence that lives within you.

Look at your jyotish chart and notice where Rahu and Ketu are now transiting. Rahu will be in Cancer (#4) and Ketu is moving through Capricorn (#10). What themes emerge from the houses they are moving through? What will you be compelled to move towards (Rahu)? What will you be releasing and cutting attachments with (Ketu)? Use this to help you identify their positions.

Cancer is ruled by water and Rahu's transit through the sign of the crab requires a new awareness of your inner waters. Learning how to trust yourself in new ways surfaces in this cycle. Working with fear of your emotions and your reactions to fear will be essential. Rahu compels one to look more closely, though usually due to force, discomfort, challenges or fears and anxieties. He is the North Shadow Node which drives obsessions, darkness, illusion and delusion. With out him, however, you would not be able to awaken from your karmic burdens, nor evolve in this life time. He supports one's awakening as you lean into your shadow, your own darkness. In your natal chart, he will tell you what is compelling you in this life time- in order for your greatest awakening. What illusions must you awaken from? What traumas are keeping you stuck, lost and confused?

This cycle of Rahu in Cancer supports awakening through emotional body intelligence. Lean closer to your feelings, emotions and inner waves. Track your cycles and the wisdom of your inner waters. Notice where you resist your emotions and make yourself wrong or bad for feeling what you feel. Your emotions are not the problem, but the mental body illusions are likely causing you to suffer. Break the cycle between overly thinking and resisting as well as avoiding your emotions. It's time to befriend your feelings and work with more emotional body literacy. Understanding your emotional body intelligence supports increased creativity and self expression. Gather new resources and skills to support this process of creative and artistic expression. Upgrade your offerings and artistic practices.

Ketu traversing Capricorn in the coming 19 months requires dharmic awakening. Challenges come with misalignment or refusal to make dharmic changes and choices. The South Shadow Node will not allow resistance any longer. Face your fear and illusions- that which is keeping you from your power and purpose- or feel your pain and struggles intensify. Will you be willing to crack open your illusions and challenges, in order to awaken, heal and grow? Balance begins to arrive for those who seek stability and grounding, as well as movement and change. Find your offering and allow yourself to flourish and shine. The southern trauma node requires that you lean into your fears, anxieties and denial. Where are you pushing and forcing for outcomes that don't serve you or nourish you completely? This is a powerful time of transformation and awakening. Put into practice your biggest dreams and desires. Don't play small. Ask for what you truly want and take action to make it happen. Your consistent action steps pay off with time and continual effort.

August 18th, 2017 to April 27th, 2018: Rahu in Ashlesha Nakshatra

This is a time of releasing, shedding and confronting illusions, deceptions and mental body stories that keep you in lack. Use resources with a solid legacy, rather than new, unreliable sources. The older the knowledge the more trust worthy it will be. Don't get caught up in quick fixes or spiritual by-passing. Lean closer to your shadow and get familiar with how it shows up. How do you respond to your fear, uncertainty and confusion? How does this impact your choices? Ashlesha is ruled by Sarpa, a serpent that can awaken you from illusions and deceptions, but often by intensifying the same. Be mindful of deceptions, cheating and excess shadow at this time. Are you in right-relationship with your integrity? Are you being honest with your self and others? Be clear, stay focused and don't neglect your health or spiritual practices.

August 18th, 2017 to December 21st, 2017: Ketu in Dhanishta Nakshatra

Ketu in Dhanishta nakshatra supports your awakening, your desire to rise and shine, to be seen, heard and recognized. Are you taking action steps to step into your power and purpose more fully? Where are you playing small and not utilizing your life light? The Vasu Devas rule this domain of Capricorn and they are responsible for bringing light and shining to those touched by their jyoti (light). They support manifestation on the material plane of existence- especially through dharmic deeds. Those who desire wealth on all levels of life, worship the Vasu Devas. Dhanishta brings wealth and prosperity through desires manifesting into form but you must understand how the mechanics of creation work. This requires being in alignment with your creative intelligence. What needs more awareness and light in order for you to get clarity and certainty? Where are you refusing to see the truth of your own wisdom? What parts of you are stuck in the dark and refusing to see the light? Where do you need to get brutally honest with yourself, in order to release, transform, heal and change? Release what is no longer serving you so you have space for more nourishment and abundance. Step boldly towards your passion, purpose and life offering!

PART 2 coming soon!

More transit and Nakshatra wisdom + Horoscopes will be posted shortly.

The August full Moon coincides with a Partial Lunar Eclipse, opening a two week eclipse portal that awakens dharma, right action and purpose.

Are you aligned or misaligned?

On August 7th at 12:10 pm Mountain time, the Capricorn full Moon arrives as Moon transits Sravana nakshatra, the domain of Vishnu. The Partial lunar eclipse begins at 09:50 am Mountain time with the maximum eclipse at 12:20 pm Mountain time, and ending at 14:50 mountain time. During a lunar eclipse, Sun, Earth and Moon align and the Earth casts its shadow on the Moon. Because this is a partial lunar eclipse, the shadow of the Earth will only cover a portion of the Moon.

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 kicks 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.

As the lunar eclipse and full Moon arrive on Monday, an emphasis on dharma and right action awakens. The full Moon in Capricorn and Sravana invite in Vishnu's powerful sustaining energy. He is responsible for maintaining dharma, lineage, wisdom and right-action. When you are aligned with your purpose fully, there is ease, support, and progress. When you are going against dharma and right action, there is challenge, calamity and misfortune. However, even with challenge, there is opportunity for learning, growth and transformation. Do you know what it feels like to be aligned with your dharmic path?

This full Moon and eclipse portal requests balance, integration and alignment. Right action is a focus and priority. Use action with awareness and wisdom. Take consistent steps towards goals and intentions. Build momentum based on your previous actions and choices. What moves you closer to your dharmic truth and life purpose? What moves you away from it?

Rahu and Ketu are currently transiting the gaps between Leo and Aquarius, preparing to transit into new signs on August 18th, just prior to the total solar eclipse. Rahu and Ketu are eclipse points, the shadow nodes. They show us our biggest karma in this life time as well as where trauma and disconnection lives within the body. As Rahu prepares to move to Cancer and Ketu shifts to Capricorn for the coming 1.5 years, we are all feeling the impact of shifting karma. Look for a special article about the impact of this transit in the coming days. Are you on my newsletter list?

Though the eclipse portal is not the time to start new projects and endeavors, it is a time to work directly with your shadow, wounds and challenges. You may notice more confrontation with your own darkness and mirrors from others. What do you notice about your shadow work? Are you leaning closer or pushing past it? Are you listening to the messages or avoiding them?

Look at your jyotish chart and notice where Rahu and Ketu sit in your natal chart. What themes do they enliven in the houses and signs they sit in? What other planets and houses do they impact from their positions? These themes will be enlivened during the eclipse portal so pay attention to what shows up. Rahu and Ketu also impact our dharma and life purpose as they show why we have incarnated in this life time. What do they tell you about your life path?

Sun and Mars transit Cancer at the time of the full Moon and lunar eclipse, setting the tone for the eclipse portal. As they move through Ashlesha nakshatra, Sarpa energy is enlivened. Sarpa is a mischievous serpent energy that can bring darkness and deception as well as mysticism and occult knowledge. It is time to shed and release your old skin. Where are you still clinging to parts of yourself that aren't serving you? Where are you stuck in your own darkness and illusion? Where are you by-passing and avoiding your grief, pain and heart ache? Move into right-relationship with your shadow and seek balance with light and dark forces.

Use the resources below to confront and identify your path and purpose more directly. Use this time to set intentions and goals. What big life goals have yet to bear fruit? What actions and choices need to be taken so you can be in alignment with your path more fully? What support and resources do you need in order to move forward?

 
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.

Listen to my Dharma Awakening Series NOW


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.

This is part 1 of my most recent Jyotish Astrology Mastermind Class.

In this class I discuss the dynamics of Rahu and Ketu and the meaning of their axis in your chart- for karma, life purpose and desires in this life time. Bring your charts and leave your questions below!

If you'd like to register for the final two months of this course,
Please use this link.


Saturn is now in the gap between Scorpio and Sagittarius, at 28 degrees, moving closer to the edge. Planets increase in power and strength as they leave a sign. The portal between water and fire is open, as is the gandanta (gap) that signifies challenges, chaos and uprooting is fully awakened. The coming year of Saturn in Sagittarius is upon us.
Read more about the impact of this delicate transit.

The week begins with an exalted Moon, which has newly entered Taurus. Emotional body tides will be high, feelings palpable. Use this awareness to cultivate presence. What do you need for deeper comfort and support? With the three planetary shifts of last week now behind us, a sense of grounding and landing is more possible now. Mars will shift late in the week to Scorpio, beginning a lengthy transit for him in this deep, transformational sign. Linger in your conscious footsteps for now. Activate and be proactive.

Monday, February 15th
Moon in 8th tithi

Moon transits Krittika nakshatra and moves through its mulitrikona degrees, while receiving gaze from Saturn (contraction) and Mars (dynamism). These energies provoke a certain emotional body frustration or confusion. There may be emotional build-up released. Find safe and comfortable ways to open the valves. As afternoon arrives, Moon moves to Rohini nakshatra and creativity is amplified. How can you channel the emotional body spikes through your creative power? Lord Brahma supports this process by turning the unmanifest into manifest form. Use sensation and enliven your sensuality through touch, taste, sight and sound. Relish in the uniquely human qualities of the feeling realms. Lord Krishna was said to have been born with Moon in the first house in Rohini. His beauty, charm and unyielding love expresses the devotional qualities of this star as well. Bhakti is the balm that can soothe challenge. Where can you surrender to divine devotion more consciously? Who and what are you inviting in to support you in this process?

Tuesday, February 16th
Moon in 9th and 10th tithi

Moon continues through Rohini until midday, moving through its mulitrikona degrees. Emotional body waves are expansive, swelling. Can you feel these tides? Drishti from Mars and Saturn can give rise to frustrations, passions and excess heat. Are you channeling this energy effectively or letting it rule you? Let Lord Brahma and his creative potency come alive through you. What are you manifesting? What are you creating for your one precious life? His consort goddess Saraswati is the essential Divine Feminine counter-part which Lord Brahma contains in order to bring our desires into manifest form. How does her artistic wisdom spark you? Seek balance within the masculine and feminine in order for maximum gains. As Moon shifts to Mrigashirsha nakshatra around 13:00 PST, your creative energy can begin to move and transform. Soma rules this constellation, offering nourishment and growth. Only by reaching, extending and broadening your reach, will you be able to gather new resources. Mrigashirsha ensures that your extension will be fruitful and will bring you nourishment. What are you reaching towards? What are you reaching away from? Who and what are you inviting in to support you in this process of growth?

Wednesday, February 17th
Moon in 10th and 11th tithi

Just as Wednesday arrives, Moon moves to Gemini, Receiving Ketu’s gaze. Shifts and changes take place in the mental and emotional bodies today. Sudden insights and awareness may occur as well as stronger spiritual connections. On the mundane level, there may be frustrations and emotional outbursts. How are you using your emotions today? Are you working with them or against? Keep reaching towards nourishment and gather new resources. What is working? What do you need to prune and let go of? After noon, Moon shifts to the emotionally harsh and powerful nakshatra, Ardra. Rudra brings his tenacity and strength to the Moon suddenly. Can you feel the shift from mild and tender to forceful and overwhelming? How can you channel this emotional potency with more diligence and awareness? It can be used for good or for evil, with consciousness or without. Your ability to channel the tenacity of Rudra will make you or break you. Wield this sword with care and caution.

Mars is now at the edge of Libra moving towards the 29 degree range. The doorway is opening between Libra and Scorpio, air and water. Fire planet Mars may feel conflict as it enters this new territory. Fortunately Scorpio is in his own sign, however the conjunction of Saturn can make for a rough ride. Can you harness the hot air for soaring?

Thursday, February 18th
Moon in 12th tithi

Ardra’s strength builds until just before 13:00 PST. Use the first half of the day for actions that require force, strength and momentum. You may notice that shadows are stronger and more amplified, causing painful illusions to surface. Do you work with this or against it? Lean in closer to allow the energy to dissipate. As Moon shifts into the final nakshatra of Gemini, Punarvasu, a dramatic shift on the level of feeling will arrive. Ruling deity, Aditi, is the Mother of All Goodness and loves to shower resources on those willing to receive her gifts. Her gifts may arrive as wisdom and nourishment through knowledge. She may also provide material support and assistance. Tap into the subtle realms to enliven her messages. What do you need to re-visit in order for deeper guidance and support? Perhaps old memories, ideas, visions and teachers can remind you. Use the imagination to provoke desire and clarify what you are manifesting. Ask and you shall receive.

Moon is swelling and moving towards Purnima, complete fullness. The emotional body is enlivened and maximized. Can you surf these tides with diligence? What are your emotions and feelings sharing with you? What do you need for greater support and stability?

Friday, February 19th
Moon in 13th tithi

Late morning, Moon moves to its own sign, Cancer, where it can find balance and integration. This is a place of harmony for the emotional body, where tide pools can be creative and enlivened, without turbulence and choppy waters. Put your feet in the water today and harvest the creative forces moving through you. What can these calm waters teach you about what you need and long for at your depths? The gaze of Mercury and Venus on the Moon provide creative activation. Use it! Enter your inner waters through the portal of the ribcase, chest and lungs, as well as the breath. Integration is found through your inhale and exhale. Circulate your prana. After noon, Moon moves to Pushya nakshatra, a star of nourishment and support, symbolized by the udder of a cow. Just as the mother feeds her calf, you can receive all the nourishment you need for growth, life and thriving. What are you opening to? What are you closing to? Use the breath of life to land in your truth. How can your heart center provide deeper wisdom as you unfold?

Mars moves closer to the edge of Libra, preparing to shift into Scorpio. Actions may feel soft, ungrounded and vulnerable. Change is arriving. Surrender to these new steps.

Saturday, February 20th
Moon in 14th tithi

At 02:19 PST, Mars jumps into its owns sign, Scorpio, joining Saturn here. Normally, Mars would be excited to land in his own, familiar territory, however, an intruder also occupies his home. Right now this enemy (Saturn) is in his enemy’s sign and uncomfortable digging up the depths and subconscious territory of Scorpio. Add a fiery warrior to the mix and it could make for an uncomfortable few months ahead. The opposing energies of Mars and Saturn don’t bode well for smooth sailing. Saturn is a slow, methodical, hard working old man that is set in his ways. Mars is a young “whipper snapper” that acts more than he thinks, causing mischief and havoc in his path as a result. Can your old and young energies align, integrate and find a new sense of harmony? What can your old self teach your younger self and vice versa? Seek alignment as they both need each other on some fundamental level. Can you find that need and help them find peace within you?

This transit- which lasts unusually long due to Mars retrograding- will spark some interesting capacity for depth and dharma. Saturn retrogrades on March 25th, strengthening his challenges and gifts. (Retrograde planets act like the nodes Rahu and Ketu who are notorious for intensification.) Mars retrogrades on April 15th for 2.5 months, provoking a powerful cycle of returns. During this transit Mercury will also be retrograde for several weeks and Jupiter will still be in retrograde motion as well. From April 28th to May 9th there will be four planets in retrograde motion, six- counting the always retrograde karmic planets, Rahu and Ketu. Many returns will take place simultaneously- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I’ll be sharing more details about the back to back retrograde planets as we approach this cycle.

As Mars retrogrades back through Scorpio, he ends up returning to Libra on June 17th. Once he goes direct on June 30th, he must travel back through Libra once again, which will take him until July 12th when he re-enters Scorpio. As Mars moves back to Scorpio, he rejoins Saturn here, this time until September 18th. In total, Mars will march through his own sign the majority of the year. Because he must contend with Saturn as well, there is ample opportunity in the coming months to truly integrate polarities that are causing you disconnections and disassociation.

The misalignment may activate in charged, passionate and contentious ways, however, the healing that can take place within Scorpio’s territory is like no other. The nature of this sign is depth and transformation. If you are willing to lean into the hidden parts of your being and diligently dive into your subconscious and unconscious territory, you will harvest pearls undoubtedly. However, those who resist, avoid and continue to suppress their emotional body messages, will find their discomfort and challenges amplified. The soreness and pain is nothing more than a request to lean in closer, look, notice and allow the shadow to emerge. As your dark matter rises, it can find its natural way of release. Movement is the medicine. Remember that the majority of this Mars and Saturn conjunction in Scorpio, the conjunction of Jupiter and Rahu will be active as well. Your darkness is requesting more wisdom on multiple levels as a result.   

Themes for this coming Mars transit strongly include unifying polarities and extremes within your being. This may be through masculine and feminine forces, authority and subordinates, shadow and light. You may identify that your force versus surrender needs more integration. Strong themes of opening and closing will emerge in forceful and dramatic ways. Be prepared to let go. Clinging will only intensify the pain. Trust this process of release as it is moving you closer to your inner truth, the purpose of your life and path. Dharmic awakening is possible as old doors will close swiftly. Are you willing to open new doors? Reach for the knob even if you’re in the dark. Work with your power authentically and consciously. Be true to your needs and move towards your strength, but notice when you are misaligned with your empowerment. True power is the harmony of masculine and feminine forces. Can you feel this within your body? Let the spine be an integration point and notice the sensations that strengthen and support this understanding. Expand what you think is possible for yourself. What are you willing to risk, to let go of, in order to receive more nourishment, truth and power? Move towards the nourishment of balance. Can you find the simplicity in the complexity?

Saturday the 20th, Moon continues through its own sign, Cancer and Pushya nakshatra, deepening the ability to nourish and be nourished. Can you feel the wisdom of Brihaspati supporting your growth and inner resiliency? What messages are arriving? Let the breath lead you to the clarity. Find simplicity. This strength through balance continues until late afternoon when Moon shifts to Ashlesha nakshatra. Ruling deity, Sarpa, brings a certain depth and mysticism with him. How can the other side of wisdom provide you with resources as well? There is a different entry point available. What does it share about your transformation process? Use the imaginal and your creative vision to activate your potential. What stories arrive to resist these possibilities? Does it feel safe to expand what you think is possible for yourself and your life? Where are you resisting?

Sunday, February 21st
Moon in 14th and 15th tithi (Purnima)

Moon enters the final tithi of the waxing phase, moving out of its comfort zone (Cancer) and leaping into fire sign Leo later afternoon. Use the morning to ground and land within your heart center, with breath and intention. Connect with the physical body and let your breath cleanse and open your channels. Once Moon arrives in Leo, it lands in Magha nakshatra, the star of the ancestors. Moon joins Rahu and retrograde Jupiter here as well. Working with your power consciously will be important at this time. Spirit is available to move you towards your truth, your essential purpose. The power of this star emerges with magnanimous force, provoking those under its influence to be seen, noticed and treated with royal support. The shadow side of this energy can provoke a strong ego, a domineering masculine force and a lack of feminine receptivity. Calling in the support of your ancestors and spirit can help you use the power available here in life-supporting ways. Step into your power with consciousness. Align with your truth and higher purpose. Ask the ancestors to help you with this.

Monday, February 22nd
Moon in 15th (Purnima) and 1st tithi
 
Moon continues through Leo and Magha nakshatra today, igniting a new sense of purpose and power. The full Moon today amplifies this sense of strength and inner light. Full Moon is at 10:18 am PST while Moon is in Leo and Magha nakshatra. Moon is conjunct Rahu and retrograde Jupiter, provoking a necessary awareness about strength, power and the masculine. The Moon acts like a magnifying glass as it comes into contact with other planets. The dance of Jupiter and Rahu is creating a deeper integration of light and dark forces. The Moon will show you where you need to look closer. What is supportive? What is not? Where do you need to make some adjustments with the use of your power?


Read more in my Full Moon Wisdom + Creative Ritual