In this waning Moon cycle, creativity and its powerful force of awakening comes to the foreground. Will you change and grow with its magnanimous taunts, or will your critic downplay its sparkling imagery and colorful patterns? Align with your heart wisdom, compassion and let your creativity be of service and purpose. Unite these two forces and run towards the freedom of creative flow and its activation. It's a winning combination.

Mercury transits Leo until August 23rd- a whirlwind adventure for our minds through the kingly domain of the lion. As Mercury moves through this powerful sign of the Sun, it will conjunct Jupiter and retrograde Venus. Though Mercury and creative Venus are friendly to each other, Jupiter is not fond of these two. His purity and expansive ways need more stability and less worldly shenanigans. The trick in this cycle will be how to blend worlds. Integrate creative, imaginative and relationship needs with desires for spiritual, knowledge and wisdom. Can we unite these seemingly opposing forces? This is in fact where maximum creative potential can be found.

There are gifts and glory here if you can find the integration, the bridge, between spiritual and worldly. Find nourishment and wealth- not in force, but through languishing in soft landings, pauses and taking time for sacred moments of creativity to sink into your awareness. Pushing, rushing and forcing will be counter-productive, even violent and intrusive to the creative and creation process. Trust in letting go, slowing down and silence. Harvest the riches from stillness and moments of self care. Your mental body and imagination will thank you.

Venus continues its retrograde path, shifting back into Cancer just before the new Moon. On August 13th, Venus slides back into our chest, heart and emotional body center. The planet of feeling, creativity, relationships and all things beautiful and worldly will re-adjust to the high demands of the heart and emotions until September 30th. With Sun and debilitated Mars in this sign as well, our heart is in for an emotional ride. The valves are open for an influx of water, feelings, heightened emotions and all the challenges connected to these. Home, heart, land, vehicles, mother and all fourth house matters get amplified. How do you navigate the choppy waters? Will you sink, swim or learn to float? Can you attend to the moving tides and go with the flow?

New Moon in Cancer on August 14th, increases the inner emotional tides and keeps our focused attention within. This theme continues for the waxing Moon cycle to come. Keep Kleenex handy and watch for sudden emotional outbursts. Are you taking out your need for safety and security on others? Or are you asking for support and resources that align with deeper nourishment? Go slow and take ample pauses to check your inner landscape.  Do a four level check in for consistent tracking.

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*Pacific Time Zone is used for all planetary timing.


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The Moon swells and expands this week, asking us to respond to her increased flow. The most powerful full Moon of the year occurs late in the week and Saturn goes direct after four and half months of retrograde motion. Let out the exhale and find your release.

Monday is influenced by Mercury as the Moon moves through Jyeshtha nakshatra, Indras constellation. With Moon transiting its debilitation sign, Scorpio and in Jyeshtha, extreme sensitivity and overwhelm can occur easily. The sensorial level of our being is easily impacted as well as the mental and emotional bodies. The mental body is extra sensitive right now in general- as Mercury and Sun are combust with Ketu's gaze. Frazzled and fried? What can you do to turn down the heat and defrag the system? Hint: Less is more. Remove anything unnecessary from your plate.

August Jyotish Basics classes are open for enrollment. Early Bird price + special free gift is available for 48 hours only! Get the Details.

Just as Tuesday begins, Moon jumps into Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra. Nirrti, the dark goddess, arrives with her upheaval and removal tactics. Mars and Jupiter give their gaze, offering some clarity and tenacity to an otherwise delicate time. Can you get focused and clear? Aim high and meet your mark. Stay out of the chaos and overwhelm by landing and grounding as much as possible in the physical body. This will take courage but try to land on your feet. Mars moves to the edge of Gemini and is sandhi (in the gap). Soften your action steps and relax the mind. Meditation is an excellent use of your time today.

PurvaAshada nakshatra starts the day on Wednesday, sharing the powerful flow of Apas and her watery ways. Her strength can be a blessing or an overwhelming inundation. If you've been feeling the pressure, it's time to open the floodgates and find the release valve. This may come with emotions and tears, but let them flow and cleanse you. Mercury begins to separate from close conjunction with the Sun and our mind begins to get some relief as well. Feeling the frustration still? Mars is at the edge of Gemini, still tickling our mental body with red and reaction. What is underneath the agitation? Find the need and see what action steps need to be taken for greater ease. Today, uproot and pull up old, inner weeds.

Just before midnight, Moon shifts to UttaraAshada.

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Day of the guru, Jupiter, arrives as Moon transits UttaraAshada. As Thursday arrives, Moon moves to Capricorn mid-morning, receiving drishti (gaze) from five planets simultaneously. Sun, Mercury, Mars, Rahu and Saturn offer a recipe for overwhelm and intensity, yet the Vishvadevas offer their support  through resources and aligning with our truth. Look for flashes of insights and awareness regarding your gifts and inner wisdom. Listen carefully and align with your highest knowing. Trust your inner light to guide you. Catch yourself in the emotional extremism before you go down the rabbit hole. What do you need to do in order to ground and land in your body more fully?

As the waxing Moon peaks, another planetary shift occurs. Mars moves to its debilitation sign, Cancer, joining Mercury and Sun here. On July 30th at 13:14, the warrior, fire planet moves to the watery and emotive sign of Cancer and will be here until mid September. These two forces naturally oppose each other as Mars is reactive and action oriented and Cancer is connected to feelings and the emotional body. Mars is not a thinker or a feeler, he is a doer.

Conflicts between thoughts, feelings and actions occur in this cycle, however there is opportunity to bring light and greater awareness to our heart wisdom. If you feel irritation and anger, it's time to dig deeper. What are the needs underneath the outbursts? What expression needs to be released, rather than repressed? How can you tend to your emotional body wisdom with greater compassion and clarity?

Ask yourself "Where am I pushing too hard?" Matters with home, heart, mother, land and property feel the extra level of fire and complexity right now. Be gentle and soften your heart wherever possible. Find ways to balance your action and non-action, as there may be confusion with how to move forward in this cycle with rest and activity. For those with prominent placements or strong influences of Mars in your chart, this is somewhat of a rest cycle for you. Pushing too hard will be counterproductive. Make your heart and home the priority.

Moon is in the 15th tithi (purnima) and final phase of the waxing cycle as of the morning of July 30th. However, the fullest part of the Moon is not until Friday early in the morning. Late afternoon into late evening, Moon passes through the most sacred nakshatra of all, the little known 28th nakshatra, Abhijit. The domain of Abhijit is in between UttaraAshada and Sravana nakshatra- from 6 degrees 40 to 10 degrees 53. Use this time for meditation and sharing your intentions with the universe. As Moon shifts to Sravana late in the evening a more expansive sacredness arrives. Align with your intentions and seek clarity with your path.

I'll be offering a free Creative Ritual web class for Guru Purnima. Make sure you're on the list.

Friday begins with a sense of auspiciousness as Moon transits Sravana nakshatra. The fullest full Moon of the Vedic calendar, called Guru Purnima, is dedicated to gurus, teachers and honoring our spiritual lineage. The exact time of the full Moon is 03:42 am Pacific Time, while Moon is in Capricorn and Sravana nakshatra. This is the second full Moon of July and a powerful time to align with deep intention, sacredness and dharma. Attend to the wisdom within, honor your teachers and lineage, while using ritual to solidify your intentions. How can you clarify your path and commit to your purpose more fully?

Sravana is Vishnu's constellation and he brings an expansiveness that can be transcendental and awakening. Vishnu's purpose is to uphold dharma, which he does through sound. Open your mind and see what you find. Root through the feet and let your body wisdom help you listen.

Late evening, Moon shifts into Dhanishta nakshatra and the Vasu Devas come out to shine.

Saturday is the day of Saturn, but Moon moves through a Mars ruled constellation, Dhanishta. Moon shifts to Aquarius mid morning, a sign ruled by both Saturn and Rahu and gives a nod to the 11th house of gains and friendships. Moon receives gaze from Jupiter and Venus as well as Mars. Passion, anyone? There is also a certain bright and shining light shared with this nakshatra. Natives often have a very distinct glow which is a gift from the Vasu Devas. They support our ability to be seen, noticed and wealthy- through our action steps. They bring the jyoti, the light and love us to align and activate dharma. Take an action step towards your dharma today that will make the Vasu Devas proud! Let your heart wisdom and emotional body guide you.

Moon shifts to Satabisha nakshatra early evening. Just before 22:00, Saturn goes direct. I'll be doing cartwheels!! What about you?! This ends over four months of slow, intensified returns that have kicked up grief, sadness, loss and fears. Let out your breath, sigh with relief, notice where you've been holding on and seek release. Structure, focus, movement and stability begin to move in a forward direction. Find a new dance, step wisely, acknowledge your path and the road you have traveled. Find a place within where you can cultivate some new joy. Read more about Saturn in Scorpio.

Sunday is ruled by Rahu and Varuna as the Moon transits through Satabisha nakshatra. Moon is waning and enters the 3rd tithi today, called tritiya, a Vishnu ruled Moon phase. Satabhisha and Varuna guard Natural Law, the laws of the universe. Nothing gets past Varuna's gaze and scrutiny. There is a certain healing and sacredness with this nakshatra, as well as harshness and an intensified critic. Can you dance with the devil but find your own drum beat?

Moon shifts to the first half of Bhadrapada late afternoon. Keep dancing, even if it feels impossible. Let Ajaikapada help you balance overwhelm, uncertainty and upheaval. Stomp and kick up some dust. Count your steps and work your way through Monday with PurvaBhadrapada and Lord of the Dance.

Moon waxing and transits Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces and into Aries. Full Moon on 9.19 at 06:13 CDT. Full Moon is in Pisces in PurvaBhadrapada nakshatra. Key words for the Full Moon and waning cycle ahead: tapas, purification, Shiva, creative movement, changes and shifts, balancing act, endings, renewal. Just in time for fall equinox on 9.22.

The moon has become a dancer at this festival of love. ~Rumi

The week starts with Sun sandhi (in the gap) moving into Virgo at 13:08 CDT on 9.16, joining exalted Mercury there. Watch for heated thoughts, spiced mental activity and acuity as well as mental growth.

It's the tight conjunction of Rahu, Saturn and Venus in Libra that is causing a lot of changes, calamities, wild swings between extremes and a dance of balance- literally. This week Rahu and Saturn are within a degree a part and Venus crosses Saturn directly on 9.18. The pressure and storms of Rudra are increasing.

Storm season is in full effect- especially with water and its natural movement. Rahu and Saturn's conjunction in Libra with Venus (who is jala/water) are connected to Rudra- the storm god. All three planets are also in Swati nakshatra (ruled by the wind god Vayu and planet Rahu), creating storms, movement with water and ultimately intense house cleaning. With Mars still debilitated in the water sign of Cancer (and aspecting Libra), this heightens issues with water. Ketu is also in Bharani nakshatra ruled by Venus- so a lot of water is present in the planets right now; water that is ultimately clearing and purifying.

The winds of Vayu can disrupt Vata dosha. There is a tendency towards constipation, gas, pranic disturbances, water retention etc. as well as issues with reproductive and digestive organs. Be especially conscious of your consumption of drugs, alcohol, excess sugar and stimulants right now.

All of this water element present in the planets may be quite uncomfortable, so have a life vest handy. We are witnessing Nature express these storms (Rudra) externally through rains/flooding in CO etc. But on the internal landscape, many of us are feeling the emotional weather effects as well. Water and emotions are one and the same so one can predict clouds, floods, rains, thunder and lightening internally also. As my mentor put it "the Saturn/Rahu/Venus conjunction is creating a stellar opportunity to face demons [rakshasas]...the strong winds are cracking stuff loose in the most positive way and Lakshmi's broom is sweeping it away."

We can see that this is necessary movement and change (albeit uncomfortable), clearing and cleaning- both internally and externally. This is a time to use your sharpest, most effective tools. Yagyas, energy work, meditation, good routine, dance/yoga, appeasing Saturn, creating with art etc. will all go a long way to help you weather the storms. If we can see the cleansing as positive and ultimately useful, it will help transform our attitude towards the effects, but don't be complacent.

Water = creativity/creation energy. This week: Turn on your faucet and create, create, create!!

Tap into your creative impulses and uncap the emotional/mental/physical storms through my Jyoti/Expressive Art Therapy Creative Engagement Activities. Creative Engagement Activity for the week of 9.16.

*Horoscopes are based on your Vedic rising sign. You can also check your Moon and Sun signs for further insight. Do the same with your Navamsa signs for further clarity. Do not use these horoscopes with your “Western Sign” as there is likely no correlation. These horoscopes are meant to be used as a broad overview of the current transits and obviously do not address the specifics of an individual’s unique chart.

Aries: A circle is closing this week. Maybe some healing you didn't even know you needed will help bring clarity and insights. Business is booming, just remember not all of your relationships are business related. Remember your soft side and let your guard down sometimes. Shift out of neutral and/or overdrive and put it into reverse. Temper greed and bad habits.

Taurus: Work on healing and restoring balance with friendships and enemies. Pay attention to your gut and digestion. Insights will come from the unknown- spend time alone for deeper awareness. Brave emotional work is necessary at this time. Gain comfort from high level conversation. Belly massage can be helpful.

Gemini: Your job is growth and expansion, opening to new possibilities and ideas. Using the emotional discomfort for creative activation is crucial, though likely you are experiencing stomach upset and acid reflux from it. Trust this transformational process, but ask gurus, guides, and teachers for support and get wisdom from higher knowledge. Doors from the past are opening.

Cancer: The rivers and currents are moving and flowing within. Structures, patterns and shapes are shifting, causing change. Do you move with the tides or are you resisting? Transformation will be easier if you build a life raft and float with the water. Notice where you have built dams. This week is about release and letting go- from your depths.

Leo: Seek royal comforts and communication with the hidden and unknown realms. New insights come from gurus, guides and higher knowledge. Courageous creation and excavation of the emotional currents is necessary for progress. Get a foot massage.

Virgo: Your soul is emerging this week out of darkness and the Sun begins a new cycle for you. You attract more light now, but shining this light into the dark places is both valuable and important. Relationships are giving comfort and cravings as well as confusion and disruption. Your efforts and work are best spent on you and your growth. Bring awareness to your desires and cravings.

Libra: You are feeling the pressure head on. Bad relationship habits, struggles with food and toxic behaviors may be surfacing. This is a time to reach out for support from trusted sources- don't go at it alone. Issues from the past are coming to light and the process is likely uncomfortable. Remember, all you have to lose is your ego. Get a head massage and mind your gut.

Scorpio: Old, outworn patterns are ending. Support from unknown realms and mystics arrive. Soul excavation and exorcism are top priority for necessary change. Who and what is invited to stay? Who and what is being forced to leave? Gains from friends, older siblings and career desires are possible.

Sagittarius: Emotional depths are moving you and cause discomfort. It takes courage to surrender to the currents. Some old desires are strong. Be courageous in tending and attending to them. Self care is non-negotiable. Put your health and well being first even if career demands your full focus. You are all you've got.

Capricorn: Changes and movement are strong in your house of career. There may be some comfort and support, though likely you don't feel like you can trust it. Part of you is reaching a boiling point- are you overdoing it as usual? Stop. Drop. And roll. Communicating your needs effectively will go a long way with relationships. Protect your knees and stay flexible.

Aquarius: Communicate with other realms- outer and inner. Courageously work with the unknown. Ask for help with your dharma. Communicate your needs more effectively with gurus, teachers and father. Tackle bad habits related to lack of emotional perception. Don't try to philosophize your way out- feel your way out instead.

Pisces: The portals of the past are flung wide open. Support may feel unavailable or unreliable. There is some unmasking work to do around your many personas. Remember, your work does not define who you are. Do you know who you are without all the labels? This requires a new level of expression and way of relating to others. Strip off the old.

New Moon Mandala
{Growing a fertility flower in the pit of my despair}
by, SJM.

Monday 9. 9 begins the birthday celebration of Lord Ganesha {Ganesha Chaturthi}. The festivities start during sukla chaturthi (4th tithi of waxing moon) during the Vedic month of Bhadrapada. This 10-15 day celebration will end on the 17th for us here in the U.S. and on the 18th in India (Anant Chaturdashi). This is a time when the son of Shiva and goddess Parvati and the known "remover of obstacles" is celebrated and honored. As we move closer to Navaratri (first week of October), we near the sandhi time of the season- the gap- when the veils thin, the spiritual realm becomes more tangible, and Natural Law comes alive. May all obstacles be removed on your Path to self-realization. Jai Ganesha!

Moon is waxing (bright half) and transits Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn. Moon is debilitated in Scorpio from 9.10 to 9.12.

As mentioned in last week's post, Saturn and Rahu will be in very close degrees, crossing each other, and then moving towards separation over the next few weeks. This week begins their "too close for comfort" dance- in case you haven't already been feeling the effects. By mid week, Rahu and Saturn will be within two degrees of each other and by the end of the week, just over a degree a part. They will be moving closer and closer until exact conjunction on 9.25 and then will begin to move a part.

Many of the indications mentioned in my Rahu/Saturn in Libra articles will feel pressing, intensified, hitting their climax. Saturn, the slowest moving planet, has the ability to create pressure, anxiety, worries, self-doubt, disappointment, discouragement and depression. Rahu intensifies these indications, as the two planets together create a "Rudra effect" (essentially, "storm energy").

When Rahu and Saturn are together, it will likely bring up issue with family lineage as well. You may be noticing extra resentment towards family for your current "predicaments", noticing familial patterns you are acting out consciously or unconsciously, and/or having specific familial issues come to light at this time. This is all par for the course!

This is a time of cleanup, where Saturn forces change, growth and ultimately our enlightenment. The Rudra energy here, as well as having both planets currently in Swati nakshatra, naturally bring currents of change, movement and momentum.

Right now, slow and steady will win the race. Self care rituals, meditation, routine, goal setting and a "one foot in front of the other" mentality are best practice. I also highly recommend these ancestor and Sama Veda yagyas being offered by Puja.net as a shield and as an appeasement offering. 

Last week's New Moon Mandala and Pelvis work can be found via my last week's horoscopes. A continuation of this mandala work for the waxing Moon and further details about this "creating my life" assignment can be found here: Creative Engagement Activity using Expressive Art Therapy for the week of 9.9.

"And all the colors I am on the inside have not been invented yet." ~Shel Silverstein


*Horoscopes are based on your Vedic rising sign. You can also check your Moon and Sun signs for further insight. Do the same with your Navamsa signs for further clarity. Do not use these horoscopes with your “Western Sign” as there is likely no correlation. These horoscopes are meant to be used as a broad overview of the current transits and obviously do not address the specifics of an individual’s unique chart.

Aries: This is a week to be especially mindful of relationships- friends, older siblings, partners and business associates. The mind is hot and "fired up". The home front may feel chaotic; make mental healing a priority. Finding some time for inner balance will go a long way to create outer balance. Work on creating and building alliances that feel supportive, nurturing and sustainable.

Taurus: This is a time of sifting the weeds from the garden. Careful of friends/situations who are not supportive or nurturing (frenemies) and watch your response to them. Complacence? Confrontation? What are you refusing to digest and discard? Is the ego getting the best of you? Use your intelligence and gut responses to navigate choppy waters with career, hired help and bad habits. Meanwhile, home and heart can be the much needed sanctuaries.

Gemini: Unifying head and heart will help you maximize this time. You are in a powerful time of creative advancement. And though speaking from the heart and finding comfort may feel difficult, you have the ability to learn and grow right now in ways that bring lasting benefit.
Be bold with your efforts and stay on a structured routine with yoga/mediation for keeping the mental storms at bay. Keep tabs on your digestion this week and mind the intuition.

Cancer: Looking for a home? Striving for what continuously feels fleeting, vague, foreign? You are working with so much of the hidden, that life may feel completely confusing and disheartening. Seeking a permanent home requires diligent work on the Self, mental effort, and time away from the current reality in order for perspective. Seek comfort: Seek and you shall find, but be aware that it will require curiosity, creativity and cultivating space for the new.

Leo: Shine on, but don't neglect your relations. There are shadows effecting your ability to relate as well as who and what relationships are effecting you. There's a storm within your courage and creativity which is likely effecting your career choices. What are you not seeing here? Necessary emotional work is essential right now. Mind and ego are running the show. Meditate, take necessary alone time and surrender to the losses. Our pain is directly proportional to our attachments.

Virgo: There's a certain mental acuity available right now- use it for an inner to outer growth spurt. Discomfort is mixed with comfort which may be causing some confusion. Complacency, rather than using your courage, presents itself as a long-standing bad habit and one that needs to be addressed more firmly. Take an action step this week towards emotional ease. Expand your work and your focus. You may get lucky, but it requires some effort.

Libra: You are in the midst of storm season! Striving for balance is likely a full time job. Creative efforts and working on healthy relationship building are the best use of your time right now. The mind is likely feeling chaotic and pulled in too many directions. Find supportive teachers and knowledge that foster the spark of creativity within you. Work with gentle spinal twists this week and your digestion.

Scorpio: It may feel like you've been working in the dark and you are fumbling for the light switch. This is not a great time to take center stage, but you are likely working on your "solo act" nonetheless. Keep diligently plugging away at your work (from bed perhaps?) Aim and promote your Self, even if it feels like you are getting no where. Don't neglect meditation and your silent, creative efforts- they are effective even if you don't see your efforts paying off immediately. Don't forget to dance- this is nonnegotiable.

Sagittarius: Gains may feel like a mixed bag right now. Career is likely on point and offering some uplifting momentum. However, courage and effort may feel confused and erratic. Emotions are likely lost, hidden and causing anger to manifest. These can be great tools for you if used properly. Seek dharmic action at this time- knowledge and wisdom that feeds your soul. Focus on your achievements and gains. Keep an ongoing list of your goals. This is target practice.

Capricorn: There's a dharmic buzz happening in your life right now. Or is that a dharmic storm? The mind is finding more brilliance, fabulous new ideas and ample drive to achieve, and yet the emotions are a can of worms- especially in regard to relationships. How can these two bodies be harmonized- especially when the head is hotter than normal? How can your vulnerability be a blessing and not a curse? This week requires you to skillfully navigate the Self. Make sure you take quality time for it. 

Aquarius:  Who is teaching who here? There's a lot going on for you right now- on every level. You can learn, maximize, and grow from every encounter. Your biggest enemy is your emotional work- or lack thereof. Denying emotions and their existence will get you no where. The lila of life incorporates all aspects of the drama into it. There's no good or bad. This week, look for your dharmic sweet spot and seek comfort in speaking your truths.

Pisces: You are working with so many hidden realms, it's hard to know where and how to start with you. The portals of the past, are open. The ancestors are moving through you and with you. Awareness of your bad habits are coming to light. Lineage patterns present themselves in new ways and you realize how this is impacting your life, relationships and intuition. This week is epic for growth, but will likely go unnoticed by anyone else. Keep making strides.

Moon Mind :::

Thursday, 9.5

New Moon was early this morning in Leo at 6:37 CDT. Sun is currently there as well in its own sign. Moon is in Purvaphalguni nakshatra until 20:56 CDT this evening when it moves to Uttarphalguni nakshatra. We might be feeling some upliftment, a general easing, and a willingness to step out and shine because of the Sun and Jupiter influences on the day.

Venus and Mercury are both Sandhi as they change signs today and are heading into more positive houses. Fast moving Mercury moves to its exaltation position (Virgo) at 14:10 CDT today and will be there with Venus for a few hours until Venus moves to Libra (its own sign) at 21:50 this evening where it joins Saturn and Rahu there.

The focus for today as well as for the new Moon is on relationships, the feminine (including divine feminine), creativity, passion and all things related to Venus as well as the emotional correlation to these. Use this time for self-expansion, but do it with an inward focus.  There is some vulnerability with this new Moon so be careful with the aforementioned indications as well as with travel and cars/driving, at this time.

Cultivating your creativity is time well spent today. Find this Week's Creative Engagement New Moon activity via my horoscopes ::: http://www.swatijrjyotish.com/1/post/2013/09/horoscopes-for-the-week-of-92.html