The Wood Gatherer by Jules Bastian LePage

Our investigation of the four Purusharthas, or aims of life in the Vedic tradition, concludes with Moksha, which means release, liberation or self-realization. The harmonious interactions of the first three aims, Dharma, Artha and Kama, are the essential steps that lead to Moksha. Moksha is the inner realization that the individual is the same as the Higher Self that dwells in all. The balanced expression of the four Purusharthas creates a deep fulfillment of purpose for any individual lifetime.

Paramhansa Yogananda taught that, “You must long for freedom as the drowning man longs for air.” But freedom from what? Ideally, we long for freedom from our own ignorance, fear, anger, doubt, confusion and attachments. With effort we overcome obstacles, the slavery of the senses, the bondage of karma, and the illusory nature of the world. The ultimate goal is to cease to seek happiness outside of ourselves.

According to Vedic Astrology, three houses are Moksha houses. In an individual birth chart the fourth house is the house of home. Influences on this house will show how one experiences the place within where true inner peace dwells. The eighth house is the house of change. Here we can see how unforeseen challenges and catastrophe become fodder for self-transformation. The twelfth and final house is the house of loss. The ease with which an individual can surrender and let go can be seen here. Painfully few actually reach the state of enlightenment, but we can all aspire to make progress with the time we have left here on Earth.

Running Along the Beach by Joaquin Sorolla

As our investigation of the Purusharthas continues, we come to the third aim, Kama, which means longing, wish, or desire. Kama pertains to the enjoyment of life and needs to be in balance with Dharma (duty) and Artha (means) if we are to experience the final aim, Moksha or liberation. It should not be the central focus of life. Proper expression of pleasure of the senses occurs when it is in harmony with the mind and spirit. The goal is to satisfy our desires and be freed from them, rather than to become increasingly snarled up in indulgence.

The Noble Truths, however, state that desire is the cause of all suffering. We can evaluate which desires cause pain and why, after which we can attempt to use the strong force of desire productively. With the help of contemplation and skillful action, we watch our desires evolve into something that supports dharma, artha and our spiritual practice in general. As we transform, so do our desires. We become capable of seeing the beauty and joy in everything, even hardship. Eventually we mature and wish to be of service to others.

According to Vedic Astrology, three houses correspond to Kama. The third house of ego and personal interests shows where self-will grows into skillful action. The seventh house of relationships with others demonstrates how codependency evolves into cooperation. Finally, the eleventh house of gains indicates how blind ambition becomes service to others. Influences on these houses in an individual birth chart reveal how much self-created misery we might experience before we bring awareness to it.

Next time we will consider the final aim, Moksha.

In Yogic philosophy, when the intention of the heart and intention of the mind merge with resolve and determination in search of Truth, we have what is called Sankalpa in Sanskrit, or solemn vow.   “Kalpa” means vow and “san” means truth.  It refers to the vow we take that supports the discovery of the inextinguishable Light within us.  Here the heart and mind are harnessed with willpower turned inward to do what is right for our sadhana, or spiritual practice.  With this directed energy that is always available whether we realize it or not, we become a disciplined yogi.

According to Jyotish , sacred Astronomy, Mars is the General of the planetary army and the defender of dharma or duty.  He is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who sustains the Universe and is the aspect of consciousness that allows for strength, courage, determination, and willpower.  Mars, Kuja in Sanskrit, provides the octane for sankalpa.  His relative strength by transit in the sky will affect the ease with which we might follow through on our vow.  On Jan 16^th of this year, 2018, Mars entered Scorpio (a sign it rules) and it will be the strongest planet in the sky for 10 months, as it then passes through Sagittarius (a fire sign) and then Capricorn (its exalted or strongest placement).  We have now the opportunity to be supported by the Vedic sky to, with determined effort, first face emotional weaknesses, then find inspired initiative, and finally do the hard work necessary for our spiritual evolution.  Consider that which makes you weak.  Fear, confusion, attachment, anger, pain, loneliness, depression and addiction lead the pack for most of us.  2018 could be a supremely productive year for those who are willing to take action to do what is right and for those who are willing to be changed at depth.

Fire, or Agni in Sanskrit, is one of the five basic elements of creation. It dominates the Pitta dosha of Ayurveda. Agni allows for heat, light, color and vision and is essential for combustion, cooking and our ability to digest food. When the element of fire within us is unsupervised, it will lead to mental frustration and irritability. Anger, aggression, fury, and rage can easily follow. It is the root cause of most combativeness. Agni also expresses as enthusiasm and desire. Its power can be used to satisfy one’s own needs and wants, or it can be used for the benefit of all. In its highest expression, however, Agni is the source of self-discipline, purification and transformation.

The Vedic fire ceremony is an instrument that harnesses this sattvic quality of Agni. The Vedic fire ritual, known as Homa, Puja or Yajna, is considered sacred. This ancient ritual is performed at precise times depending on celestial events. Daily sunrises and sunsets, monthly lunation cycles or major planetary transits are used as guides for timing. In mundane life they are used in celebration of birth, marriage or death. A “kunda”, a square pit that faces all four directions, is used to contain the fire. Practitioners offer into it gifts of grains, ghee, herbs and seeds as specific mantras are repeated. The sacred fire coupled with prayerful intention removes fear, spreads joy, burns karma, purifies the environment and creates conditions for peace and prosperity. The fire ceremony is among the most powerful of spiritual practices because it beckons the burning up of the ignorance, delusion and obstacles that keep us from the success of knowing our own divinity.

In Vedic Astrology, Rahu and Ketu are the important Lunar Nodes. Unlike the seven visible planets, Grahas in Sanskrit, they are massless yet potent mathematical points in space, sometimes referred to as the shadow planets. Our solar system is structured such that it takes approximately 365 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun and approximately 28 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth. These two orbital paths are independent of one another. Twice a year, however, the paths intersect creating solar and lunar eclipses. For a short time, the Sun or Moon is overtaken by the darkness of one of the nodes. Rahu is the ascending point where the Moon’s orbit cuts through the Earth’s orbit. Ketu is the descending point. They are always opposite each other in the sky or birth chart, and the main force of karma and desire can be seen along its axis. Their function in Vedic Astrology is better understood if we familiarize ourselves with its associated myth.

The story is told in the ancient Puranic texts of the time before creation. After a long and horrible war, the gods and demons cooperated to churn the galactic material called the Milk Ocean. This activity created Amrita, a nectar of immortality intended for the gods alone. One of the demons, however, sitting between the Sun and Moon, managed to take a sip. Lord Vishnu, the sustainer of the Universe, quickly decapitated him. Rahu is the head of the serpent demon without the body. Ketu is the tail without the head. As they were now immortal, Lord Vishnu needed to find a spot for them, so he placed them in two specific points in the sky. By eclipsing the Sun and Moon twice a year they can create confusion and exact revenge.

The misunderstanding of our true nature allows us to exist under the illusion that we are separate from the universal law of creation. According to Vedic wisdom, each planet is an expression of our own divine consciousness. The nodes bring together Earth (body), Sun (soul) and Moon (mind), making them among the most influential in Astrology. In the planetary cabinet, Rahu is the advancing army. He has a voracious appetite without, however, the ability to digest. He is responsible for obsessions and desires that push us to our limits. Wherever Rahu is there is inexperience. Ketu is the occupying army. He governs things we have learned very well. He withdraws and leads us out. He can confer contempt or wisdom, then non-attachment, and ultimately moksha or liberation. In an individual birth chart or by transit in the sky, the Rahu/Ketu axis tells us what we absolutely must do so we may be freed from worldly desire. The nodal axis travels slowly, changing zodiac signs once every year and a half. But wherever they are, Rahu and Ketu create confusion. Rahu’s domain is the confusion of ignorance; Ketu’s territory is the confusion of certainty. The study and understanding of Vedic Astrology is itself a spiritual practice which naturally engenders reverence for its inherent guidance and wisdom.

Since ancient times Ayurveda and Jyotish have been practiced together. The five basic elements of creation (space, air, fire, water and earth) give rise to the doshas of Ayurveda–Kapha, Pitta and Vata. Disturbances in diet, weather and other factors create disturbances in the ayurvedic constitution of an individual and frequently result in ill-health. The planets and zodiac signs of Jyotish have associated doshas as well. Saturn and Gemini correspond to Vata, for example, and the Sun and Aires are classified as Pitta. Furthermore, each sign relates to a chakra and part of the body. An individual birth chart can reveal much about someone’s natural ayurvedic constitution. Planetary transits through the sky and planetary cycles can also create disturbances that affect an individual. As such, ayurvedic constitution and potential timing for health and disease can be gleaned through understanding Jyotish. Both disciplines offer helpful corrective measures and, in this way, Medicine and Astrology are linked. And, not surprisingly, some ayurvedic experts are also astrologers.

Take, as an example, someone with a Gemini Ascendant. The rising sign in Jyotish indicates the physical body and Gemini is a vata sign. The ruling planet then is Mercury which is also classified as vata. If Mercury is found in Libra, another air sign, an astrologer can safely assume there will be a strong vatic influence on the ayurvedic constitution. Much needed balance might be found if the Moon (mind) is in Pisces, a water sign, and Sun (vision) is in Virgo, an earth sign. When Mars, a fire planet, transits Leo, a fire sign (as is the case in the sky right now) more influences develop. For a Gemini ascendant, Mars rules the 6th house of disease, in fact, and temporary pittic disturbances would be likely. Rashes, digestive trouble, bleeding and headaches could be expected and actions could be taken to ameliorate discomfort, or at least, not to aggravate it. Understanding Ayurveda and Jyotish together can help us take responsibility for ourselves, let go of useless tendencies and avoid settling into a rut of painful experiences. The Yoga Sutras remind us that “pain that is not yet manifested is to be avoided.”

Our Sun, Surya in Sanskrit, is the 4.5 billion year old yellow dwarf star at the center of our solar system. It is an almost perfect sphere of gas (mostly Hydrogen and Helium) 860,000 miles in diameter and 92,000,000 miles away from Earth. Its size /distance ratio is the sacred 108. Surya burns at an average 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit and its mass is 330,000 times that of Earth. Light emitted from the surface takes 8 minutes to travel to Earth and this energy allows for all life forms to exist on our planet. The other planets in our solar system can be seen only because they reflect the light of the Sun.

According to Vedic Astrology texts, the planets are the incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the sustainer. Surya is the Para Atman or the Supreme Self; it is the singular Inner Light or Spirit. He is the sattvic king of the planets and he rules Sundays and the zodiac sign of Leo. His associated color is red and gem is ruby. In so far as the inner and outer zodiac are inseparable, the Sun corresponds to the third eye chakra. Surya fortifies and vitalizes us, conferring self-confidence, consistent vision and dignity. His job is to purify anything that does not serve our highest Self. He is benevolent but firm.

Although the Earth revolves around the stationary Sun, from our vantage point Surya appears to move along the 360 degree path in the sky that is called the ecliptic and its strength, therefore, is always in relative flux. This also means that in an individual birth chart, the sacred mandala of karma, the possible combinations for positions of Surya and the sign of Leo are enormous. Knowledge of these locations assists in determining where and how much personal power lies within any of us. Even without this information, we can grasp the impact and miracle of the Sun. Deepening our sadhana by including Salute to the Sun into our daily hatha practice cannot fail us, nor can introducing the Sun mantra into our daily meditation. Om Sum Suryaya Namaha. We become aware of the simple truth: As above, so below.

2019 will include several major astronomical events.  Powerful eclipses, moments when the Sun (soul), Moon (mind), and Earth (body) line up in space, will happen on January 5th, January 20th, July 2nd, July 16th, and December 26th.  On March 7th the Lunar Nodes, Rahu the pioneer and Ketu the sage, will change signs and remain in Gemini and Sagittarius, respectively, for 18 months.  Benefic Jupiter, which confers blessings and mercy, will start a one year journey through Sagittarius on November 6th.  The list goes on. We will explore each of these events in detail as they arise month to month in our newsletter as well as on our Facebook page.

For those interested in self-discovery, analysis of the individual birth chart and current astronomical conditions is an invaluable tool. Knowledge of Jyotish greatly enhances success when deciding when and when not to perform certain activities. Supportive spiritual practices can be considered as well. Whether facing the unavoidable hardships or deserved joys of life, being prepared by understanding the sky under which we all live is certain to be helpful.

You can learn more about scheduling your own Vedic Birth Chart Reading HERE.

A concentration of energy occurs twice a year on average as the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up in space, creating solar and lunar eclipses. Solar eclipses take place on the New Moon and lunar eclipses on the Full Moon, always two weeks apart. They are events when the luminaries in the sky literally go into the dark shadow, compelling us to go inward for guidance. They are necessarily for our benefit.

The Sun, Surya, is the king of the solar system. According to Jyotish, this sattvic planet is the Para Atman and represents our non-individualized soul nature, the True Self. Shining continuously, he governs vision, self-confidence, and personal power. The Moon, Chandra, is the sattvic queen. She is the Jiva Atman and represents our individual heart/mind. Reflecting the light of the Sun, she governs motherhood, receptivity and connection to sentient beings. But we live out our physical life on planet Earth and it governs the physical body. Eclipses are important moments when body, mind and spirit line up in space; their effects can be felt for weeks.

On September 1st 2016 the Sun will be partially eclipsed in Leo, the sign of dominion that it rules. It will be a time for all of us to look inward to find our authentic centralized power. Anxiety usually rises as we struggle to do so. The Moon will be eclipsed on September 16th in Aquarius, the opposite sign of larger social groups. As the Moon darkens, a quiet mind will be needed to feel our connection to the rest of humanity. Depression is common. What advice do the great Jyotishi offer for an eclipse cycle? Prepare yourself so you don’t buckle under the pressure, witness yourself so you learn something, and wait for the return of the Light.