Unlike Western, or Tropical astrology, Jyotish, or the Sidereal approach to astrology, does not place the most importance on the Sun sign. The rising sign is actually considered the most important piece of the overall chart, as it organizes the placement of the all the planets, the karmas, and the intimate details of the chart as a whole. Jyotish is actually soli-lunar based, meaning that equal importance is given to the Sun and the Moon. I will share more about the Moon sign in my next article, but for now I will focus on the Sun sign and its role.

In Jyotish, the Sun represents father and masculine energy. His attributes are likened to the king. He shares rank and position, power and authority, as well as respect and ruler-ship. The Sun will give us our dharma, the proper path to follow for our enlightenment. Traditionally, the father is supposed to help guide the child on their path of dharma. It is the father who is responsible for instilling self-esteem and ultimately gives the spark of life via his sperm.

The Sun is also responsible for illuminating the Moon, as well as the other planets. The Moon directly reflects the Sun's light and shares this filtered light- which is nourishing, supportive and doesn't burn. In fact the glow of the Moon is said to offer soma, or divine, healing nectar. Together, Sun and Moon represent God and Goddess, who together create life and our experience of reality. Read more about the importance of the Sun.

The Sun is our father energy, the part of our being and our karma that was given to us from our father and his lineage. This of course plays a vital role in our human experience as well as how we use our power in life. The masculine is the container that supports the expansiveness of the feminine. We need the power of the masculine to take action, to be seen for our gifts and to share our gifts with others. Our father energy plays a very important role in how we shine and share ourselves with the world.

How do you shine? How do you show up for yourself and others? Do you allow yourself to be seen? In what ways? Your jyotish chart is a powerful resource for exploring your Sun energy, your masculine self, as well as uncovering the birth karma you acquired from your father.

Use my previous step by step articles to explore the basics of your birth chart. Step one here and step two here.

The Sun sign shares how your light is able to shine and what its purpose is for shining. Remember that the Sun sign shares the gifts of your father- for better or worse. Ultimately, the challenges we face are also resources, so thank the positives and negatives!

Your Sun sign is a powerful resource for unlocking the mystery of your inner power. Let's take a deeper look at your father energy and the light of the soul shining within you.

Step #1:

Identify Your Sun. First, notice where the Sun is located in your chart. The abbreviation is likely SU.
What sign is it in?

Step #2:

Who Rules Over Your Sun? The planetary influence upon the sign is a vital piece of information. What is the planetary ruler of your Sun sign? Mars acts very differently than Saturn. What can you determine about your Sun sign based on its planetary ruler?

Step #3

Where Does Your Sun Light Shine? Next, determine what house (or bhava in Sanskrit) your Sun is placed in. The house of your Sun shows how it will share its solar energy- and in what capacity. Each house has very specific meanings, so use this to refine your understanding of how your light shines and what is important for you to share with the world in this lifetime.

1st House: Sense of self, worldly house, being seen, ego, appearance, intelligence.
2nd House: Nourishment, wealth, support, gems, speaking, voice.
3rd House: Communication, writing, courage, the arts, creativity, self expression, using the hands.
4th House: Home, land, mother, emotions, spirituality and moksha.
5th House: Children, creativity, romance, intuition, knowledge.
6th House: Enemies, bad habits, healing, disease, legal issues, competition, debt.
7th House: Relationships, others, partner, sexuality, desire, travel, trade.
8th House: Death, disease, transformation, transcendence, vulnerability, mysticism.
9th House: Dharma, guru, wisdom, education, foreign travels, fortune, religion.
10th House: Career, achievement, success, father, action, fame, social status.
11th House: Gains, wealth, income, friends, desires, fulfillment of desire.
12th House: Endings, loss, liberation, marriage, retreat, foreign lands, alone time.

Step #4

Putting it all together. It's time to combine all the layers now and derive some meaning from it all. What can you determine about your Sun sign based on the previous steps? How does your light shine? What parts of your father support this self expression? What power are you here to share? Where do you need more power and strength? Use the resources below to further explore these questions in relation to your Sun sign.

Aries: Mesha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the ram. Qualities are leadership, pioneering. Need to work on flexibility, anger issues, “hitting one’s head against the wall”. Body parts are head, brain and nerves. Odd, Male, ruled by Mars. Pitta. Correlates to the number 1 in the chart.

Taurus: Vrshabha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the bull. Qualities are strength and stability. Need to work on issues with being “bull headed”, stubborn and going beyond the material realms. Body part is neck, face and parts therein. Even, Female, ruled by Venus. Kapha. Correlates to the number 2 in the chart.

Gemini: Mithuna in Sanskrit, symbolized by a couple holding a mace and a lute. Translates as couple (male and female) or copulation, companion. Qualities are extremely creativity, communication and artistry. Need to work on issues of mental body and taking effective action steps. Body parts are arms and hands. Odd, Male, ruled by Mercury. Vata. Correlates to the number 3 in a chart.

Cancer: Karka translates as female crab in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well. Qualities are sensing and feeling, with depth and compassion, heart centered. Need to work directly with emotional body awareness, co-dependency issues, mother issues. Body parts are heart, breasts, chest. Even, Female, ruled by Moon. Kapha-vata. Correlates to the number 4 in a chart.

Leo: Simha translates as lion in Sanskrit, the symbol of Leo. Qualities are leadership, dominance, authority and power. Need to work on ego issues, needing authority and power, as well as father issues and ancestral issues. Body parts are stomach and abdomen. Odd, Male, ruled by the Sun. Pitta. Correlates to the number 5 in a chart.

Virgo: Kanya means a girl, a virgin or daughter in Sanskrit. It is symbolized by a woman in a boat holding grains and fire in her hands. Qualities are purity, cleanliness and perfection, creative, entrepreneurial. Need to work on the critic and inner judge, overly puritanical beliefs. Body parts are hips, loins, buttocks. Even, female, ruled by Mercury. Vata-kapha. Correlates to the number 6 in a chart.

Libra: Tula means the balancing scales in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well. Qualities are ability to see both sides of situations, good business skills, able to weigh and measure options, able to work with equality issues. Need to work with decisiveness, clarity and not swinging to extremes, going beyond the surface, as well as finding one’s own beliefs and ideals. Body parts are lower abdomen. Odd, Male, ruled by Venus. Vata-Kapha. Correlates to the number 7 in a chart.

Scorpio: Vrschika means Scorpion in Sanskrit which is also its symbol. Qualities are depth, going beyond the surface, occult and mystical knowledge, passion. Need to work with emotional body awareness, polarities and extremes, mother issues, one’s darkness and shadows. Body parts are genitals and anus. Even, Female, ruled by Mars and Ketu. Kapha-pitta. Correlates to the number 8 in a chart.

Sagittarius: Dhanu means bow in Sanskrit. The symbol of Sagittarius is a man holding a bow and arrow, the lower part of his body being that of a horse. Qualities are oriented towards seeking knowledge, wisdom and growth as well as spirituality. Need to work with being overly dogmatic, taking effective action steps, working with depth on the mental/emotional levels. Body part is thighs. Odd, Male, ruled by Jupiter. Pitta- Kapha. Correlates to the number 9 in a chart.

Capricorn: Makara translates as sea monster in Sanskrit which has a head of a deer or goat and the body of a crocodile, which is also its symbol. Qualities are hardworking, persevering, steady. Need to work with “doing less accomplishing more”, self care, not pushing so hard to get an outcome. Body part is knees. Even, Female, ruled by Saturn. Vata-kapha. Correlates to the number 10 in a chart.

Aquarius: Kumbha translates from Sanskrit as a vessel that holds water, a water pot. The symbol here is a man holding a pot. Qualities are ingenuity, out of the box approach to life, oriented towards gaining and acquiring. Need to work with balancing both shadow and light, working with shadow parts, finding the silver lining and excessive drive to acquire. Body part is calves. Odd, Male, Saturn and Rahu. Vata. Correlates to the number 11 in a chart.

Pisces: Mina translates from Sanskrit as relating to the ocean and large expanses of water. The symbol here is two fish tied together with their heads and tails in opposite directions. Qualities are expansiveness, universality and deep compassion for others with strong spiritual inclinations. Need to work on emotional body issues, grounding expansiveness into clear goals and action steps, actualizing dreams. Body part is feet. Even, Female, ruled by Jupiter. Kapha. Correlates to the number 12 in a chart.

The year long transit of Jupiter in its sign of exaltation, Cancer, is ending on July 14th. However, like most major transits of this kind, it actually begins weeks in advance. As Jupiter nears the edge of Cancer, becoming sandhi the first week of July, the transitions and changes start. Pay close attention at this time to themes that connect to Leo, the 5th house and the Sun. Simultaneously any final lessons and understandings from the Jupiter in Cancer transit will be intensifying. This is a time of crystalization, where the final offerings of the Cancer cycle are being shared with us. Read more about Jupiter's transit through Cancer.

Interestingly, Cancer is ruled by the Moon and directly connects to the mother, home, grounding and the emotional body. Leo is ruled by the Sun and correlates to the father, our sense of power, the ego and the solar plexus. There is a divine integration being shared with us, as the planet of wisdom, Jupiter, moves from the sign of "the mother" to the sign representing "the father". Be aware of stories, patterns and threads of insight that emerge as Jupiter changes signs. What parental wounds can be transformed and healed through wisdom and deeper understanding?

Jupiter: The Planet of Wisdom

As Jupiter arrives into Leo on July 14th, a new cycle begins for our inner guru. Jupiter is the planet of wisdom and in Sanskrit referred to as, guru, the teacher. The expansion and deepening heart wisdom of the previous cycle is replaced by an expansion and growth with our power. The balancing effect of Jupiter giving his gaze to Saturn in Scorpio ends, but Saturn continues to share his contractive, focused energy to Jupiter. The tables turn and Saturn's effects will be felt in a more intensified way in the coming months. We will feel these effects on our sense of power and our ability to shine and be seen. What is holding you back from standing in your power? Challenges and obstructions are Saturn's way of helping us transform and change. What are your challenges teaching you?

Jupiter provides expansion, growth, wisdom, knowledge and is considered the most benefic planet of the nine because he mostly gives positive results. Sometimes his results may not seem positive at the outset, but often he provides a silver lining or some protection ultimately in the long run. I like to think of Jupiter as a provider- the planet who offers us support and some sense of ultimate comfort because he gives us awareness and expanded thought. Awareness and personal expansion are powerful tools if used properly. His satva (purity) is a sustaining force that brings happiness, grace and peace with him.

In Jyotish, we see the Sun as the maha (great) soul of all, but Jupiter is actually considered the support to the soul. He is our guru (teacher) and guide, the adviser who gives us knowledge and wisdom, growth and expansion, and connects us to our dharma (purpose). He removes darkness, ignorance, and aligns us with the higher realms, the positive tendencies of the mind and emotions. He connects us to the divine intelligence which is all pervasive. The extent to which we can perceive this divine existence directly speaks to our relationship with the guru, Jupiter. If Jupiter is able to share his balance in the jyotish chart, then he brings harmony. If he imbalanced we see laziness and lethargy, missed opportunities for life and living, or a lack of nourishment and support in life.

It takes Jupiter one year generally to transit through each of the signs of the zodiac. He is heavy and Kapha in nature (the elements of earth and water) and thus slow to move. He will be transiting through Leo until August 11th 2016, at which point he moves to Virgo.

Jupiter and the Sun Converge: Soul Expansion

The planet of wisdom and expansion (Jupiter) will be transiting Leo, a sign ruled by the Sun and intimately connected to our inner light. The Sun, or Surya in Sanskrit, is responsible for giving light and energy so that all things can grow and prosper. Too much light, however, and the Sun burns and scorches. He reminds us that too much of a good thing can also be harmful. Sun represents resources and the things we need to survive. As the Sun brings light, it shows us truth, satya, while offering clarity, focus and removal of darkness.

In Jyotish, the Sun represents father and masculine energy. His attributes are like the king and he shares rank and position, power and authority, as well as respect and ruler-ship. The Sun will give us our dharma, the proper path to follow for our enlightenment. Traditionally, the father is supposed to help guide the child on their path of dharma. It is the father who is responsible for instilling self-esteem and inner strength in us. Sun also represents the soul, our spiritual body, and will show us our relationship to spirituality in this life. Essentially, the Sun is the light of the soul. It is the light within us that guides our lives. The soul is what insures there is life; if the soul is not happy, the body grows sick and dies. On a psycho-spiritual level, the Sun in an expression of our spiritual body, the house of the soul. By extension, there is a connection to the physical body and the well-being of our physical structure.

Our sense of self, ahamkara, is also represented by the Sun. On a mundane, human level, the ego is also represented by the Sun. The ego is our shadowed self, the part of ourselves that identifies with the material, transitory, changing reality of life. Having a healthy relationship with the ego, the sense of self, is vital for being a well-rounded human being. This must be a conscious practice- one that is invited into our human experience, while not negating the interplay of our spirit and ego. Deepening our relationship with the Sun and studying its expression in our jyotish chart can help us awaken to our karmas around power. There is a necessity to understand the dance between the spiritual and human dynamics at play within the Jyotish chart.

The Sun is the most consistent planet and it sets the pace of time through rising and setting daily. As a result we experience days, seasons and bio-rhythms. In fact, life itself is structured around the Sun as a light source. He is the rhythm of nature and thus represented through the rhythm of music and dance.

Leo and Fifth House Matters

Leo, or Simha, in Sanskrit is symbolized by a lion and connected to the fifth house in the jyotish chart. The qualities expressed by this sign are likened to its ruler, the Sun, and being seen in big, bold ways. Goddess Durga is often depicted riding a lion or tiger and is connected to strength, health, power and overcoming challenges. Her power is an invitation to strengthen ourselves during this cycle. Other themes arrive around leadership, dominance, authority and power. Leos often have to work with ego issues, their relationship with authority and power, as well as father issues and ancestral issues. The important body parts connected to Leo and the fifth house are stomach and abdomen, the seat of the solar plexus, our power center.

The fifth house is directly connected to our power and passionate- just like the energy of a Leo. It is also the house of children, creativity and creative life force energy, and the potency of procreation. Romance and lovers are also strong as a result of this energy. Since the stomach, or upper gut, is intimately associated with our instincts, this house combines with intelligence and intellect or buddhi, as well as the intuition. By extension, education and learning are fifth house mattersas well as intelligence we gain through life experience- which can sometimes be formal, but not necessarily.

As Jupiter moves through the sign of Leo, many of these themes connected to power, creativity, romance, passion and being seen, will expand for us. Look for deepening awareness, wisdom and visibility with these areas of life as a result of this transit. The personal effects of this transit will be determined by your own Jyotish chart and how well Jupiter is able to express himself in your chart. Now is an ideal time to prepare for the upcoming transit with extra guidance and support, as well as having a Jupiter yagya for a smoother transition.

Need some extra guidance and clarity? Schedule a jyotish astrology coaching session with me.

Shadowed Power

Jupiter speeds through Leo in just over six months. As Jupiter nears the edge of Leo, he retrogrades, on January 7th. Jupiter is retrograde until May 9th, 2016. Multiple planets will also be joining him in retrograde during this lengthy backwards dance. No doubt this cycle will bring a powerful opportunity for self-development and self awareness. Retrograde planets act like the nodes, Rahu and Ketu, and invite us to work with our shadows very intentionally.

As Rahu and Ketu move into Leo and Aquarius on January 29th, 2016, a conjunction of Jupiter's purity collides with Rahu's shadow and confusion. Rahu has an intense appetite for worldly gains, has strong desires and won't take no for an answer. Jupiter's nature is one of gentle strength, expanding wisdom and pure intentions. Their energies oppose and negate each other. Wherever Jupiter is in one's jyotish chart, he enhances and supports the other grahas (planets) and the house where he is placed. He is after all a strong support and ally. Rahu, however, will ruin Jupiter’s satvic (pure) nature and destroys that which Jupiter values most. Jupiter may be able to soften Rahu, but Rahu’s nature taints Jupiter’s benefic, spiritual qualities.

With Saturn giving his gaze to Leo from his position in Scorpio, he gives his pressure to Jupiter and now Rahu in Leo as well. We get increased pressure, stress and tension with all matters of Leo as a result. The collision of Saturn and Rahu's energy in this powerful and dynamic sign will bring increased strength and potential, while simultaneously offering intensified storms and power issues.

This will be a time to temper one's worldly cravings, as they will likely be stronger and more excessive. We may notice an intense strength increase within us, while we also struggle with our sense of power and identity simultaneously. There may be extra challenges with authority figures, our fathers and those in support roles as a result. If we are in these roles, we may experience challenges and obstructions with regard to sharing our power, strength and passion- depending on the placement of these planets in one's natal chart.

Self identity and self awareness will be very prominent themes for this Jupiter in Leo cycle. Finding increased growth, wisdom and nourishment for the ego will be a part of the transit as well. Children, relationships and romance will be important factors at play, as well as creativity and passion. However, the personal effects of this transit will be determine by your own Jyotish chart and how well Jupiter is able to express himself in your chart. The placement of the Sun, your 5th house and other factors in your natal chart will also play a role in the outcome of this year long cycle.

Read Part 2 of Jupiter in Leo. What will be the personal effects on your sign?

Now is an ideal time to prepare for the upcoming transit with extra jyotish astrology guidance and support, as well as having a Jupiter yagya for a smoother transition.

Need some extra guidance and clarity? Schedule a Jyotish Astrology coaching session with me.

The Sun, or Surya in Sanskrit, is responsible for giving light and energy so that all things can grow and prosper. Too much light, however, and the Sun burns and scorches. He reminds us that too much of a good thing can also be harmful. Sun represents resources and the things we need to survive. As the Sun brings light, it shows us truth, satya, while offering clarity, focus and removal of darkness.

In Jyotish, the Sun represents father and masculine energy. His attributes are like the king and he shares rank and position, power and authority, as well as respect and ruler-ship. The Sun will give us our dharma, the proper path to follow for our enlightenment. Traditionally, the father is supposed to help guide the child on their path of dharma. It is the father who is responsible for instilling self-esteem and ultimately gives the spark of life via his sperm. The Sun is also responsible for illuminating the Moon, as well as the other planets. The Moon directly reflects the Sun's light and shares this filtered light- which is nourishing, supportive and doesn't burn. In fact the glow of the Moon is said to offer soma, or divine, healing nectar. Together, Sun and Moon represent God and Goddess, who together create life and our experience of reality.

Sun represents the soul, our spiritual body, and will show us our relationship to spirituality in this life. Essentially, the Sun is the light of the soul. It is the light within us that guides our lives. The soul is what insures there is life; if the soul is not happy, the body grows sick and dies.

Our sense of self (ahamkara) is also represented by the Sun. On this mundane, human level, the ego is also represented by the Sun. The ego is our shadowed self, the part of ourselves that identifies with the material, transitory, changing reality of life. Having a healthy relationship with the ego, the sense of self, is vital to being a well-rounded human being. This must be a conscious practice- one that is invited into our human experience, while not negating the interplay of our spirit and ego. Deepening our relationship with the Sun and studying its expression in our jyotish chart can help us awaken to our karmas in this regard. There is a necessity to understand the dance between the spiritual and human dynamics at play within the Jyotish chart. I believe this is one of the unique gifts Jyotish provides. Read more about what makes Jyotish so special.

The Sun is the most consistent planet and it sets the pace of time through rising and setting daily. As a result we experience days, seasons and bio-rhythms. In fact, life itself is structured around the Sun as a light source. He is the rhythm of nature and thus represented through the rhythm of music and dance.

Summer Solstice this year is June 21st, which marks the beginning of summer in the Northern hemisphere, as well as the longest day of light in the year.

"The summer solstice occurs when the tilt of a planet's semi-axis, in either the northern or the southern hemisphere, is most inclined toward the star that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23° 26'. This happens twice each year, at which times the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the north or the south pole. The summer solstice occurs during a hemisphere's summer. This is the northern solstice in the northern hemisphere and the southern solstice in the southern hemisphere."  - Wikipedia

Solstice this year falls on a Sunday which is also Father's Day in the USA. It is a wonderful day to celebrate the Sun and the fathers in our lives, as well as all solar qualities.  Moon will be transiting Leo (ruled by Sun) on this day, in the nakshatra of Magha, which is dedicated to our ancestors and typically the father's lineage. Read more in my Moon Mind Calendar.

The Sun has just moved to Gemini and will continue through this airy, creative sign until July 17th. The hot, fiery combination of Mars and Sun are conjunct during this transit of the Sun. Gemini is a Mercury ruled sign, known for connection and communication and represents the merging of energies. Represented by the number three, Gemini expresses the third energy that is created when two energies come together. Metaphorically, this connects to the energy of lovers joining, creating a "third energy" out of their unification. From an artistic perspective, Gemini can represent the artist and their medium, plus the arrival of a "third" energy- or the emerging transcendental experience. The creative energy of Gemini is unstoppable, changeable and always moving. Sun in Gemini brings light to our communications, connections and creative energy. What are you seeing with this new light? How can you channel it more consciously?

Moon moves through Pisces, Aries, Taurus and into Gemini.

New Moon will be exalted in Taurus on 6.8 at 10:56 CDT in Mrgashiras nakshatra, ruled by Soma, the divine nectar (and also another name for the Moon). Mrgashiras is also ruled by the planet Mars. Sun, Moon and Mars will all be in Taurus at this time and the Moon will have just crossed over the Sun. It will almost be in exact degrees with Sun at the time of the New Moon (23.58 degrees). Soli/Lunar energies will be highly connected with Mars at this time. Emotions will be sensitive, Soma may feel "burned", heat, passion, will be heightened, though all of this may be turned inward due to the nature of the New Moon.

Jupiter has newly entered Gemini (See my article on this transit) and gains strength this week as it moves to 2.12 degrees by the end of the week. This will help him offer some protection and more of his positive qualities. However, both Venus and Mercury are in Gemini with Jupiter currently- both in Ardra nakshatra this week.

Ardra, the Rudra/storm nakshatra, ruled by Rahu, can bring great movement, change and momentum as well as calamities, emotional upheaval and stress. Watch communications and relationships this week- especially with females. All three planets are also receiving drishti from Rahu currently. This can bring worldly offerings or confusion and shadowed energy with our awareness. A certain level of caution is advised. Watch the emotions this week and be especially aware of the mental/emotional bodies. Follow my daily Moon Mind posts for increased daily nakshatra/pranic/creative awareness.

I still have a few openings during the next few weeks for sessions before I leave for my summer travels to Europe. I will not be available for consults from June 19th- August 10th. Book a session by contacting me: swatijrjyotish@gmail.com

*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: You seem to be making some headway in feeling more comfort and support, but the mind may be agitated regardless. Use the week for cultivating self-care, cleaning and clearing out the old and working on emotions. Getting physical (out of the mental/emotional bodies) will serve a high purpose this week. Pay special attention to children, education, father, wealth/income, communication and female friends. Be mindful of mental confusion and forgetfulness. Work with your hands, write, draw, create. There is much to be gained from hand/eye coordination.

Taurus: Your heart lights up this week with some new insights. Memories of your father are on your mind. Honor him and give him proper celebration. You may be having flashbacks from childhood and not sure why. Right now you are digesting old stories and experiences so make sure you are fully assimilating them, not by-passing their desires for attention. Use these stories and memories and connect them with your digestive processes. Talking, singing, sharing these memories are the crucial link to getting them to digest and allows for proper elimination. You are intimately working with the mouth (portal) and the stomach (portal) right now and these mind/body connections. Study Vishaka and Indragni for more insights.

Gemini: You and your relationships are amping up. Your creativity is beginning to shine- or is that you that is beginning to shine more creatively? Either way, you are preparing to share your skills with others. Keep the doubts, fears and worries to a minimum by getting out of the mental/emotional bodies and into the physical. Can you use the body as a tool to sharpen your creative edge? Your creative pulse? It will require deep listening and somatic awareness as well as diligent awareness of your pause button. Ready. Set. Go.

Cancer: Endings lead to new beginnings and your mind is finally making the connections it has needed to make for a long time. Congratulations. Now the rest of you has to catch up and get on board. Your mantra for the week is: cut loose. What needs cutting? What needs a carefree expression? What needs to end? There are a few relationships that need pruning, some heart-clogging emotions that need to be snipped, some career overhauls that need to be attended to. Do a personal audit and make a clean sweep of the old files on your hard drive. It's never too late for spring cleaning. Use meditation to defrag your system as well as necessary alone time. No shortcuts.

Leo: Career pieces are coming together nicely and you are gaining awareness as a result. You may be getting extra support from friends and getting gains as well. Not too shabby. Just make sure you are going for high-level gains and experiences. Watch for miscommunications- especially with heart and mind. Give gratitude where gratitude is due- even if you don't know where it is coming from. Use this time to shine- inside and out. Unlikely you will be able to have a quiet weekend, but at least do something with purpose. Use this time for creative expansion- especially with hand/eye coordination.

Virgo: An intense focus on career and offering is providing some fruits and possible expansion. Think in terms of unlimited growth, untapped potential and giving your dreams wings to fly. Use emotional creativity, the creative spark, your rich, inner awareness, to move mountains and reach for the stars. Work with father energy, gurus, dharma and lineage for clues this week. Continue to work towards comfort and support in all aspects of life. Move and sing. Better yet, dance and move while singing.

Libra: Be mindful of mental confusion and emotional storms. Take care of your father, guru, higher learning, dharma, artistic pursuits and take a leap of faith if necessary. Watch your words and feelings of anger. What is the source of these emotions? Some old, hidden stories are working their magic on you. Stay alert and be aware of the shadow this week. Using your hands, working with paints, writing and the arts will help move some of the old woundology.

Scorpio: Relationships (personal, business and otherwise) get your much needed focus this week. There may be some big news and expansion as well as necessary mental transformations in order to support the changes. You are focused on income, career/offerings, father, teacher, gains, wisdom and family/lineage. You continue to attract- like a bright shiny object. Allow for the ogling. This week is a good time for story work. Write them, draw them, share them, dance them.

Sagittarius: You and your relationships are requiring your full focus. There's a lot of energy being spent on your interactions and most of this energy is unnecessary. It is essential that you take time for your self- alone- for meditation and recharging your batteries. Don't give all your power away- especially to your "enemies". Right now, you need to be especially aware of your pause button and get really familiar with when and how to use it. This will spare some of the grief and suffering. Getting into the physical body is essential right now. Mind your manners.

Capricorn: The winds of change are blowing. Are you caught in the current, the tides? Is your ship lost at sea? You are working on digesting some really big stuff right now. The stories, the memories, the mental chatter. You are working on endings, letting things go, digestion and elimination, gut reactions. Some of this is connected to your father. Luckily there is some support coming to you- from seen and unseen realms. Listen to your inner voices and re-create the old tapes that have been playing. Sing new songs and tell new stories. Once you are intimately aware of the bad habits, you can re-work them, re-master them, into a fabulous new mixed tape. Surrender to the waves so you can make some.

Aquarius: Your heart and home are passionate places. Work your soil, tend your hearth. Find gains through personal effort. Knowledge, wisdom and awareness are expanding and give insights that help you make some new connections; we can call it creative intelligence. Your synapses are firing extra quickly these days, but don't let the mind take you over. Right now, emotions are key. How can you work them into your career offerings? Use your relationships as your teacher right now, your mirror into self and ego. There is promise of great reward through looking at the "other".

Pisces: Knowledge of the unknown and the mysteries of life continue to grow and push you around. By now, you are practically immersed in these rich offerings and insights. There is more to come. For now, continue to use creativity, artistry and the hands as a means to create from the emotional level. Can you tie your creative endeavors into your work with the emotional body, the heart and the senses? Where and how do they connect? What is the offering here? Bring it home and find its core. There's moksha in it for you. 

Moon Mindfulness ::: Mind Your Moon
03.24.13
Moon has entered Leo and is transiting Magha nakshatra, ruled by Pitr, the ancestral star. This lunar constellation can relate directly to the father and the father's lineage (Pitr shares linguistic roots with the word paternal) and also the ancestors in general. Connected to karma and authority, Magha is also ruled by Ketu, so we must include elements of moksha, cutting, destruction, illumination and also Ganesha (removing obstacles) into the cosmic mix. Ketu's current placement dictates that there may be insights into one's lineage today- as it affects you individually. You may feel endings, destruction, dishonesty, or gratitude, appreciation and upliftment for your family and father. Look for kernels of gratitude even amidst the rubble of life.

We are affected by the seven generations of ancestors that came before us. We affect seven generations to come. What is the legacy you have been gifted with because of their struggles and hardships, desires and dreams? What are you gifting your family line for generations to come? Light a candle on your altar today in remembrance for the light within, the eternal flame that continues to burn. You are because of all that has come before. You are awakening your lineage. You will pass this torch of brightness on. Give a special thank you to your father today.