An article in Scientific American, A Happy Life May not Be a Meaningful life, cited a study in which happiness was strongly associated with seeing life as easy, pleasant, and free from difficult or troubling events, good health, plenty of money and feeling well most of the time. However, what the researchers found was that none of these things correlated with a greater sense of meaning and purpose.
A recent Yoga Journal article asked the question “Is Yoga a Religion”? During the closing ceremony of Yoga into the 21st century conference in NYC the renowned Yoga teacher T.K.V. Desikachar told the audience that Yoga is not a religion and should not affiliate with any religion.
While I agree that Yoga need not be associated with any religion, I am more curious to explore the premise of the question itself, which I think keeps Yoga from unleashing its full potential in our lives.
Read MoreJupiter’s sidereal transit into Pisces on April 13, 2022, is the best cosmic thing that has happened to us in a long while. Jupiter is the planet that represents mentors, guides, spirituality, and unity consciousness. When he arrives in Pisces, his abode and favorite 12th sign of the Zodiac it represents an end a cycle of the Hero’s Journey and the end of the battles our ego has been waging in the last eleven signs.
On Sept 22, Joe Biden will start his Saturn Dasha. After a 17 year Jupiter Dasha that is supportive of all our endeavors and in which providence seems to be a prominent theme, Saturn Dasha feels dreary, bleak. and unwelcomed. The beginning of the Dasha is particularly thorny as we experience a rude awakening after 17 years of Jupiter’s slumber.
Eclipses play an important role in Vedic astrology, both in our natal chart (i.e., if we were born during an eclipse) and world events. In Vedic astrology, eclipses not only block out the light of the luminaries (Sun and Moon), but also bring the influence of the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. These nodes twist and obstruct the creative energies and clarity of our Sun—the atman— and our Moon, the mind that creates a unique subjective experience for each earthbound soul.
Have you ever wondered why so many gurus and spiritual teachers fall from grace?
And why do we blame Mercury retrograde for all the havoc and confusion in our life?
To see the connection between these two seemingly unrelated topics let’s turn to an excerpt from my book, Before Your Future. In this Vedic myth, a notorious love affair and scandal in the celestial circles between Jupiter (Guru/Ideals) and his student Moon (emotional impulses) gives birth to Mercury who doesn’t want to be like either of his parents.
In my book Before your Future, I lay out a step-by-step process to help you predict the potential outcome of each Dasha and how to optimize each state. Certainly, there are some Dashas that can be brutal and often out of our control. However, in the vast majority of cases, there are no “bad” Dashas or states. Most of our suffering is created by our resistance to, or superficial embrace of, a Planet, Zodiac Sign, or House.
By intersecting the Vimshottari Dasha with Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s journey and introducing examples from Vedic mythology as well as familiar stories like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, my goal in writing this book was to help you find your own answers and pathways to becoming.
This is one of my favorite stories from the very end of the Mahabharata. In my book, Before Your Future, I use this story to illustrate how challenging the end of the Hero’s Journey can be, as seen in Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, and the final twelfth house.
I also use this story to illustrate the importance of harmonizing all the five elements and as a result all the planets, signs, and houses (see guided meditation).
I too had to do a double-take when I first came across this recent study: Mindfulness and Meditation can increase selfishness and reduce generosity. Given the proven benefits of these practices, such as reduced stress and a decrease in symptoms of depression, what could possibly be the downside?
The researchers at the University of Buffalo wondered how culture and context would influence the results of these practices. Primarily, the Asian culture of interdependence where they originated, and the Western culture which is guided by independence
In Sanskrit, the Sun is called shura, or “hero.” We all need a good Sun in the horoscope to handle the challenges life brings. In the horoscope, the Sun shows the type of energy that sustains us and allows us to stay focused and keep moving forward despite the odds. Dopamine is our main motivation neurotransmitter that wires us for heroism. The body is designed to fire dopamine neurons when we complete a task or achieve a goal, which gives us a surge of pleasure. As the Sun is the main indicator of enthusiasm, motivation, and goal-driven action, it can be likened to the dopamine in our physiology.
While the fundamental nature of the people we fell in love with will remain constant, their desires, goals, health, interests, and passions change dramatically over time as we and our partners cycle through the different planetary dashas.
One of the reasons people approach astrologers is to ask, “What’s my life purpose?” From the Vedic perspective, it is best to begin this inquiry with two questions: “How can I live a purpose-filled life? How can I be present for my life’s journey?” As a result, the passion, purpose, drive, and action that we all seek are more likely to follow.
Vedic astrology is also based on nature’s cycles. Each moment of time contains a unique energy and destiny based on what the Sun, Moon, and the planets are expressing in nature. For example, in any given year there will be twelve full moons and twelve new moons, each producing their own unique destiny. Whether we are born on a new moon or a full moon matters, because our consciousness is stamped by that condition of nature at the time of our birth.
Sadhguru an Indian yogi, mystic, and guru of a worldwide spiritual movement. McConaughey a Hollywood superstar and self-described “anthropologist, folk philosopher and truth-seeking street poet”. Two “godmen” from such different worlds talking about their recent books on McConaughey’s youtube channel was unexpected but fascinating.
Looking through the astrological matrix, a powerful Mars, the planet of audacity, courage, and winning, dominates their Vedic horoscopes. Sadhguru’s Mars in Leo gains tenacity and confidence from the Sun. McConaughey’s exalted Mars in Capricorn gains ambition and focus from Saturn.
Their message––we are masters of our destiny.
Their Kuta points or compatibility score is just 17.5 points, which is below average (you need roughly 21 out of 36 points ). Specifically, two compatibility measurements, Bha Kuta and Mahendra, do not meet the requirements. Both of these relate to the couple’s relationship with the outside world. In other words, you might have a great one-one relationship, but if you don’t share the family culture, society, values, cultural background, etc. it often puts too much strain on the marriage and many relationships break under the pressure.
Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon by any means––our minds are wired to find comfort in hidden meaning and motive to events and people when life becomes uncertain and unpredictable. But how do conspiracy theories fit into the astrological matrix and how does that relate to the present and potential future of the USA?
Within every Mahadasha ( main planetary period) there are also Bhukti’s or Antar Dasha (sub planetary periods), where the other planets in the horoscope get to exert their influence. On June 18, 2018, the US horoscope changed Bhukti from Rahu Rahu to Rahu Jupiter. Jupiter is an idealistic planet, he pertains to divine laws that cannot be negotiated or altered
As natural and necessary as it is for humans to relate, few of the fundamental rules of maintaining a long term relationship seem to be inborn. Add to this the freedom and perils of modern day online dating, with its illusion of infinite partnership potentials, couples today have little knowledge, guidance, or role models for finding a compatible mate, as well as sustaining lasting relationships.
Unfortunately, oversimplified remedies keep Vedic Astrology a fringe healing modality, rather than the “Eyes of the Vedas”, as it was named by the Vedic seers and sages. All Yogic sciences, including Yoga, Mantra, Chakras, Ayurveda, Vedanta and Vedic Astrology, have the same foundational principles in dealing with hardships and overcoming fate.
The transit of Ketu into Mula and Rahu in Ardra detonated Covid in the life and consciousness of people worldwide. This transit occurs once only every 18.5 years and has historically proven to be extremely explosive for the world. In recent history, events include 9/11 in 2001 and the beginning of the aids epidemic in 1982.
The head (Rahu) is the doorway to this world. When our heads fall off in Ketu dasha planetary periods, the lines blur between the physical and metaphysical world, as do the blocks (Rahu) that keep past-life memories and experiences (Ketu) from spilling over and merging into the current life. Ketu planetary periods are most inexplicable and indescribable because we no longer know where the present life begins and the past life ends. As the boundaries between the physical and spiritual world disappear, there is much confusion and anxiety, but also a potential for total freedom.