Saraswati Dharma Coaching
  • Home
  • About Swati
  • Dharma Blog
  • Why Jyotish Astrology?
  • Privacy Policy

New Moon {Solstice} Wisdom + Creative Ritual ~ for the Waxing Moon Cycle

12/17/2014

0 Comments

 

The new Moon is on Sunday, December 21st, Winter Solstice, at 19:36 CST. Moon is in Sagittarius and Mula Nakshatra at this time, joining Sun in this same position. Sun and Moon conjunct Mercury and Venus, who are both in PurvaAshada nakshatra. This is a particularly unsteady new Moon, with a lot of movement, shift and restructuring potential. It is also a particularly dark, inward and demanding empty Moon- which will ask us to dive deeply into our beings, let go and release from a very core level. The release is necessary in order to increase flow and fluidity, change and movement in the coming cycle. In order for deeper nourishment to arrive in the coming weeks and months, we must be willing to deeply release and let go of any parts of ourselves we have been clinging to. This is a time to be re-tracing our steps, enliven our deepest needs, and awaken our innate truths.

This new Moon is also intensified by Winter Solstice, the darkest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, and is marked by a natural turning inward, towards our depth and darkness. The need for this turning inward, touching the depth of our darkness, is as natural as turning towards the light. Nature reminds us with her cycles and rhythms, the potency, power and necessity of both light and dark, and our dance with both. This is an ideal time to be working very intentionally with our shadows, our own darkness.


Please join me for my free online class this Sunday, Resourcing From Your Shadow on December 21st at 6pm CST.


The coming waxing Moon cycle will continue to stir our deepest longings, truths and inner wisdom, while digging up some dirt in the process. As we expand our depths and our darkness, we also expand our container and capacity to hold truth and light. The willingness you have to explore your depths and dive deep, will determine the gifts and awakenings you will be able to enliven and hold in the coming cycles. Your efforts are not futile. Working consciously with your shadows is not for nothing. Strengthen your ability to dance with both your light and your dark parts with more awareness and life will expand in all forms.

Creative Ritual for the Waxing Moon Cycle

Expanding our container, our capacity to hold and to release, can physically and metaphorically be done  through the breath. Jupiter's retrograde motion through Cancer, is allowing us to retrace steps within our heart, work intentionally with our emotional body, our capacity to feel, while also giving us new opportunities to work with healthy boundaries. The open and close dynamic of boundary work (yes and no) is signified by our inhale and exhale. Below is a breath dance, designed to enliven and maximize your breath awareness and your container for sensing and feeling.

1. Breath Dance. Begin standing, lying down or sitting. Bring your awareness to your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Filling and letting go, opening and releasing, like waves moving in and out of the body. Track the movements and sensations in the body and let these guide you. The sensations will guide you into the physical body impulses, the messages of the body. As you continue to breathe and become more and more aware of the movements of the ribcase, let these movements exaggerate. These exaggerated movements are the making of your "breath dance".

Continue to move from and with the movements of the ribcase as you breath. Explore, expand and develop your breath dance for at least 10 minutes. Let it evolve and as it does, continue to self track, noticing the body parts most alive and awake as you explore your body part sensations present. As you bring your breath dance to a close, ask yourself these questions: I sense, I feel, I imagine.

2. Create an image of your ribcase. What colors, textures, shapes and images arrive on the page as you draw your ribcase? I encourage you to get your hands involved in this process whether it be through painting directly with your hands, or smudging the craypas with your fingers. Let the hands be sensitized through the process. Get messy. Let the hands and fingers fully engage in this image. (Working with clay may be an alternate medium to work with). Title your image. Take at least 15 minutes for this.

3. Harvesting. When your image is complete, use it to harvest with further inquiry by asking it these questions:

Ask your image if it has anything it would like to share with you: If your image could speak, what would it say?

I am
I want
I need


What am I opening to? What am I closing to?



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

Plan your week in tune with nature. Never miss a planetary update. Sign up for my weekly newsletter.

Was this post helpful? Please share it with a friend! Thank you.
0 Comments

Creative Ritual for the Waxing Moon Cycle {April 29th to May 14th}

4/28/2014

0 Comments

 
Expansion and Contraction: The Ribcase

The planets are charged, poised and ready for take off during this next waxing cycle. Can you feel the expansion taking place within you and your life? In your relationships and desires? This is a perfect opportunity to work with the rib case and our experience of expansion and contraction.

Using this theme of expansion and contraction, we will work specifically with the ribcase in this Creative Ritual. The ribcase provides protection for the body's vital organs- heart and lungs specifically. Every breath we take is connected to opening and expansion as well as letting go, releasing and contracting. The breath is the greatest metaphor for boundaries, and it's no mistake that the lungs literally provide us with the ability to live and "take in life" as well. Our ribcase is the protective case that houses these sacred physical tools of the body that allow us to expand and contract our life. When we work with the ribcase, we can explore these themes more intentionally, while letting the body direct our experience.

Start standing or lying down. Begin by bringing your attention to your breath. What is the quality of your breath on the inhale and exhale. Do you feel the breath staying in your chest or moving into your belly? Don't try to force this to change. We are just being a witness to "what is" right now. Continue this focus for a few minutes, then add another body part to this open and close momentum that starts in your chest. As you expand on the inhale, let another body part become involved. As you exhale let the body relax and surrender to a neutral. Rise and fall. Open and close. Expand contract. Continue working with these expressions and notice what other body parts naturally join. Let the body move like a wave in harmony with the breath. Use a time frame of 20 minutes for this ribcase/breath exploration.

Then come to your drawing pad and do a 10 minute sketch of your experience. A "snap shot" of your embodiment process. What colors arrive? What textures? What types of lines and shape? Give a title to this piece then answer the harvesting questions below.

Harvesting Questions:

If my ribcase could speak, what would it say to me?
What am I opening to?
What am I closing to?
What am I expanding towards?
Where am I contracting?
Where am I letting in life force?
Where am I resisting life force?
What does my ribcase need?


Never miss a Creative Ritual, sign up for my weekly newsletter.

Want more Creative Rituals? See my current virtual workshop offerings here.
0 Comments

Creative Engagement for the Week of 1.13

1/13/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
{Movement Explorations} -SJM

So much movement within the planets this week. As Jupiter moves back into Ardra nakshatra, Rudra energy will be enlivened. This is a powerful and forceful energy that brings movement and changes with it. Destruction and chaos as well as emotions and anger. The symbols of Ardra are a tear drop and perspiration- the internal waters flowing; inner tides moving and offering changes. Change requires that there is an ending but also a beginning.

This week we will play with the image of "stepping into something new" and the movement and changes that come as a result of this forward momentum. Feet bring stability and grounding. They offer us the ability to "step forward" both physically and metaphorically in our lives. We sense and connect to the earth (the ultimate support system) through the souls of our feet which helps us find our overall balance, nourishment and resiliency. It's a new year and the time of Makar Sankranti in the Vedic calendar. Time to step forward with momentum and spring into new actions in order to harvest new growth, wisdom and abundance.

Use the feet as a starting point for your movement exploration, but let this be a starting point only. Spine (flexibility and support) as well as chest (expand/contract and open/close) can also be important resources for self tracking this theme. Move through space starting with your feet awareness. Wake them up! Call upon them for activation! Let them move you forward! Let your feet speak to you! Then let that wisdom rise up through the rest of your body.

Harvesting:

What am I stepping towards?
What am I moving away from?
As I move forward, what do I need/want?
As I close old doors, what do I need/want?

What are my actions steps for growth and change? This week? This month? This year?


As you think about your 2014 intentions/goals that you created last week, what image comes to you? Put this image on paper using a medium that connects to your theme. Example: water color for fluidity and change, oil pastels for commitments, collage for healing old wounds.



0 Comments

Creative Engagement Activity for 12.16

12/17/2013

0 Comments

 
The ribcase houses our heart and is both expandable and able to contract. Its movement is vital for breath, reaching, rolling, folding and bending. The physical connection to expansion and contraction correlates to these experiences on the mental and emotional levels as well. When we breathe in, it symbolizes our taking in of life/life force, while our exhales offer a letting go/release experience. The ribcase is literally like a door to our heart space, offering opportunity for both opening and closing. Especially important right now as Venus is about to go retrograde and we begin to re-evaluate our relationships and our relation to others in a more exact way.

Begin by walking and rolling your shoulders, noticing the connection to chest and ribcase. Roll your shoulders forward and collapse the chest while you exhale. Inhale, roll the shoulders back, open the chest. Repeat several more times until you make some new connections. How do you feel as you open? How do you feel as you close and collapse? Notice the differences and continue to check in with your breath. Try this simple awareness activity for at least 5-10 minutes. Then rest on your back with eyes closed to integrate.

Come to your drawing pad and capture any images that came to you. What are you opening to? What are you closing to? Who and what is invited in and who and what is uninvited? When you have completed your image, answer these base line statements :::

I am___
I want___
I need___

Circle at least three key words. Then write a haiku with your harvesting.



0 Comments

    The Dharma Blog

    Browse Articles

    The Dharma Circle FB Group

    Join the FB Group

    Podcasts


    Navaratri: Dancing with the Divine Mothers

    How to Find Your Soul's
    True Path

    How Grief can Give you
    More Joy

    Healing Grief and Trauma from a Jyotish Perspective

    I'm Horrible At This + 4 Simple Steps to Get Your Needs Met

    Soma In A Cup {Simple Ayurvedic Recipe for Rejuvenation}

    Why Isn't the Money Flowing?!

    Read Your Jyotish Chart in Five Easy Steps

    Archives

    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All
    3 Level Check In
    4 Level Check In
    4 Level Check-in
    8th-house
    Abhijit
    Adhar
    Adharma
    Aditi
    Aditya
    Agni
    Ahirbudhnya
    Ajaikapada
    Akasha
    Akshaya Tritiya
    Alps
    Amavasya
    Anant Chaturdashi
    Ancestors
    Announcements
    Anuradha
    Apas
    Aquarius
    Arda
    Ardra
    Aries
    Articles
    Art Projects
    Aryaman
    Ashlesha
    Ashtami
    Ashvini Kumara
    Ashvini-kumara
    Ashwini
    Astrology.com
    Asuras
    Asvini Kumara
    Asvini-kumara
    Atma
    Atma Karaka
    Ayurveda
    Baseline Statements
    Be You Media
    Bhaga
    Bhagavati
    Bhakti
    Bharani
    Body Centered Expressive Art Therapy
    Body Parts
    Body Wisdom
    Boundaries
    Brahma
    Breath
    Bright Half
    Brihaspati
    Buddha Jayanti
    Buddhapurnima
    Cancer
    Capricorn
    Celebrations
    Chakras
    Chandra
    Charnel Ground
    Chipatis
    Chitra
    Clients
    Combustion
    Conflict
    Cosmic-and-creative-self
    Courage
    Creative Engagement
    Creative Ritual
    Creativity
    Criticvictimeb701f2c8e
    Dance
    Daria Halprin
    Dark
    Dasami
    Dashami
    Debilitated Mars
    Debilitated Mercury
    Debilitated-mercury
    Debilitated Moon
    Debilitated-saturn
    Debilitated Sun
    Debilitated Venus
    Debilitated-venus
    Debt
    Devas
    Devatas
    Dhanishta
    Dhanvantari
    Dharma
    Divine Feminine
    Diwali
    Durga
    Eclipse
    Eclipse Portal
    EFT
    Elephant Journal
    Embodiment
    Emotional Body
    Emotional Body Literacy
    Empowerment
    Exalted Jupiter
    Exalted Mars
    Exalted Mercury
    Exalted Moon
    Exalted Saturn
    Exalted Sun
    Exalted Venus
    Fall Equinox
    Father
    Feet
    Fire
    First Chakra
    Foot
    Full Moon
    Full Moon In Libra
    Full Moon In Virgo
    Full Moon Wisdom
    Gandanta
    Ganesha
    Ganesha Chaturthi
    Ganga
    Ganga Dashahara
    Gayatri Mantra
    Gemini
    Gifts
    Goals
    Goddess
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Guru
    Guru Purnima
    Gut
    Gutbelly6f2d9eb2da
    Haiku
    Hands And Arms
    Hanuman
    Hanuman-jayanti
    Hasta
    Healing
    Heart Wisdom
    Heyam Dukham Anagatam
    Holi
    Horoscopes
    Houses
    Illusions
    Indra
    Indragni
    Jala
    June Yagyas
    Jupiter
    Jupiter Direct
    Jupiter-in-cancer
    Jupiter-in-cancer
    Jupiter In Gemini
    Jupiter In Leo
    Jupiter In Virgo
    Jupiter Retrograde
    Jyeshta
    Jyestha
    Jyotish Basics
    Kala Sarpa Yoga
    Kali
    Kali Yuga
    Karma
    Kartik Purnima
    Ketu
    Ketu In Pisces
    Kitchari
    Knees
    Krishna
    Krishna Janmashtami
    Krishna Paksha
    Krittika
    Kundalini
    Lagna
    Lakshmi
    Landscape
    Legs
    Leo
    Libra
    Light
    Lord Rama
    Love
    Lunar Eclipse
    Ma
    Magha
    Magic
    Mahishasura
    Makar Sankranti
    Makar-sankranti
    Mandala
    Manifestation
    Mars
    Mars In Aries
    Mars In Cancer
    Mars In Leo
    Mars In Libra
    Mars In Scorpio
    Mars In Virgo
    Mars Retro
    Mask Work
    Mental Body
    Mercury
    Mercury Direct
    Mercury In Aries
    Mercury In Cancer
    Mercury In Capricorn
    Mercury In Gemini
    Mercury In Leo
    Mercury In Libra
    Mercury In Pisces
    Mercury In Sagittarius
    Mercury In Scorpio
    Mercury In Taurus
    Mercury In Virgo
    Mercury Retro
    Mercury Retrograde
    Mercury Saturn Conjunction
    Mitra
    Money
    Moon
    Moon Diagnosis
    Moon In Virgo
    Moon Min
    Moon Mind
    Moon-mind
    Moon Mind Calendar
    Moon Wisdom
    Moon Wisdom Calendar
    Mother Divine
    Mrgashiras
    Mrigashirsha
    Mula
    Naga
    Nakshatra Assessment
    Nakshatras
    Navami
    Navaratri
    Navratri
    Neck
    New Moon
    New Moon Gemini
    New Moon Libra
    New Moon Wisdom
    New Year
    Nirrti
    Nritti
    Ocean Of Milk
    Online-events
    Parashara
    Passion
    Pelvis
    Penumbral Eclipse
    Pisces
    Pitr
    Planetary Transits
    Podcast
    Podcasts
    Poems
    Polarities
    Prajapati
    Prana
    Pujanetc7cedf5218
    Pulse Dance
    Punarvasu
    Purification
    Purnima
    PurvaAshada
    Purvabhadrapada
    Purvaphalguni
    Pushan
    Pushya
    Rahu
    Rahu-in-virgo
    Rahu-in-virgo
    Ram Navami
    Rasi
    Recipes
    Relationships
    Resiliency
    Resources
    Retrograde Jupiter
    Retrogradejupiter
    Retrograde Mars
    Retrograde-mars
    Retrograde Mercury
    Retrograde Venus
    Retrograde-venus
    Retrogradevenus
    Revati
    Ribcage
    Ribcase
    Rohini
    Rsvp
    Rudra
    Saas Fee
    Sagittarius
    Sandhi
    Saraswati
    Sarpa
    Satabhisha
    Satabisha
    Saturn
    Saturn Conjunct Mars
    Saturn In Sagittarius
    Saturn In Scorpio
    Saturn Rahu Conjunction
    Saturn Retrograde
    Savitr
    Scorpio
    Second Chakra
    Self Care
    Self Love
    Self Tracking
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Services And Offerings
    Servicesandofferings
    Sessions-consults
    Sessionsconsults
    Sessions Consults9659814dae
    Shadows
    Shakti
    Shiva
    Shivaratri
    Shukla Paksha
    Shuklapaksha
    Sidereal Astrology
    Signs
    Singing
    Sixth-house
    Solar Eclipse
    Soma
    Soul
    Spine
    Spiritual Bypassing
    Spring Equinox
    Spring-equinox
    Sravana
    Storms
    Suklanta
    Summer Solstice
    Sun
    Sun In Cancer
    Sun In Gemini
    Sun In Leo
    Sun In Pisces
    Sun In Sagittarius
    Sun In Scorpio
    Sun In Taurus
    Sun In Virgo
    Sun Mercury Conjunction
    Sun Sign
    Surya
    Swati
    Swati Jr Jewelry
    Tamalpa
    Tapas
    Taurus
    Tejas
    Testimonials
    The Critic
    The Emergent
    Three-steps
    Thriving
    Throat And Jaw
    Tithi 1
    Tithi-10
    Tithi 13
    Tithi 14
    Tithi 15
    Tithi15
    Tithi 2
    Tithi 3
    Tithi 4
    Tithi 5
    Tithi 7
    Tithi 8
    Tithi 9
    Transits
    Trayodashi
    Tropical Astrology
    Twelfth-house
    Upanishad
    Uttarabhadrapada
    Uttaraphalguni
    Uttarashada
    Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra
    Varuna
    Vasant-navaratri
    Vasu
    Vasudeva
    Vasu Devas
    Vayu
    Venus
    Venus In Aries
    Venus In Cancer
    Venus In Gemini
    Venus In Leo
    Venus In Libra
    Venus In Pisces
    Venus In Scorpio
    Venus In Taurus
    Vijayadashami
    Virgo
    Vishaka
    Vishnu
    Vishvadeva
    Vishvakarma
    Visvadeva
    Vulnerability
    Waning Moon
    Waningmoon
    Warrior
    Water
    Water Color
    Waxing Moon
    Waxingmoon
    Wealth
    Winter Solstice
    Winter-solstice
    Workshops
    Yagyas
    Yajur Veda
    Yama
    Yoga
    Zen

All content on this website is sole property of Saraswati Embodied Dharma Coaching  unless otherwise noted and may not be reproduced without permission or consent. Please be aware that legal action will be taken if content is used without permission or credit.
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Swati
  • Dharma Blog
  • Why Jyotish Astrology?
  • Privacy Policy