starworlds: November 2012

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Vishakha and the November Eclipse Cycle

Full Solar Eclipse, Tuesday November 13, 2012, 2:10 pm pst
Partial Lunar Eclipse, Wednesday, November 28, 2012 6:46 am pst

This fall astrologers have been hard at work deciphering the meaning and potential outcome of some very intense astrological alignments: debilitated Sun combust exalted Saturn, Mercury-Rahu conjunction, Mercury square Neptune, Full Moon in Aries, Jupiter-Ketu-Moon conjunction, stationing Mercury retrograde on the day of the US Elections, all of which are followed by the final eclipse cycle on the Scorpio-Taurus axis. Everything from Market Crash, to an attack on Iran, to voter fraud were considered through the lenses of both tropical and sidereal systems. While many predicted an October Surprise that could upset the election process in the US, few expected that this chaotic event would present as Superstorm Sandy. Hurricane Sandy first made news on October 26, 2012 when Mercury joined Rahu in Scorpio. Mercury is a neutral planet, but can swing either way depending on its immediate company. In this case, the malefic Rahu may have amplified the winds, fear and drama associated with the monster storm, even inspiring the media, ruled by Mercury, to nickname it "Frankenstorm." As we approach the final eclipse period occurring along the Scorpio-Taurus axis we may see more stormy weather before things calm down at the still point of the winter solstice.

Because of their ability to swallow the Sun and the Moon during eclipse periods, Rahu and Ketu are associated and death and rebirth -- the prime indicators of karma. The glyphs for the nodes, which resemble horseshoe-shaped magnets, hint at their ability to attract fortune and/or misfortune, as well as their electromagnetic forces and polarizing tendencies. Although there is much debate over the rulership, debilitation, and exaltation signs of the nodes, I agree with Prash Trivedi's assessment that Gemini is the exaltation sign of Rahu, and Sagittarius is its sign of debilitation. As Rahu is a severed head, it is all about sensation and thought actions governed by the brain. Trivedi assigns Scorpio as the mulatrikona sign for Rahu as it resonates with Rahu's mysterious, intense, secretive, desirous, and poisonous nature. With a Scorpio mulatrikona, Rahu is poised to get what it wants through any means, be it aggressive, coercive, secretive or mystical. For the past seventeen months Rahu has been transiting backwards through the intense waters of Scorpio absorbing the shakti energy of each of its three powerful nakshatras (Jyeshtha, Anurada, and Vishakha) consuming the luminaries, and downloading the stars' messages to the Sun and Earth through its shadow and influence over the poles.

Mercator's celestial globe

For example, Rahu's entrance into Jyeshtha gave the power to rise, conquer and gain courage in battle (arohana shakti) heralding the highly politicized assassination of Osama Bin Lauden. Six months later during the fall 2011 eclipse cycle, violence escalated in the Middle East and another powerful October Superstorm hit the Northeast knocking out power to 1.5 million people. Rahu's entrance into Anuradha gave the power to worship (radhana shakti) and the Queen of England took full advantage of this adoration during her Diamond Jubilee which occurred during the last eclipse cycle last summer. On October 21 (mean)/September 28(true), 2012, Rahu slipped back back into the highly unpredictable fields of the sixteenth nakshatra, Vishakha whose power to achieve many and various fruits in life (vyapani shakti) will influence the consciousness of the masses during the U.S. Presidential elections, the winter holidays, and the final count down of the Mayan Calendar. As we shall see, this asterism, known as the 'star of purpose,' is the one to watch in November.

Vishakha is Sanskrit for "branched" or "forked," perhaps because it straddles two signs -- Scorpio and Libra. It is depicted as a large tree with forked and spreading branches that provide protection and produces fruit as it ripens with age. This cosmic tree also represents the process of reaching and attaining one's goals. The Tree of Life is a motif found in many cultures around the world representing a mystical concept of the interconnectedness of all life. In many illustrations, a giant tree connects the Earth to the Heavens through its branches, and to the Underworld through its roots -- the axis mundi where communication from lower realms may ascend to higher ones, and blessings from higher realms may descend to lower ones.

The deity associated with Vishakha is Indragni. While most astrologers divide the name and assign two deities, Indra and Agni, to the "forked" nakshatra, Vic Dicara cites two examples of Indragni being the name of a single being in both the Mahabharata and Rig Veda. Indragni is the god of ritual fire used to obtain blessings and boons.

However, in my view it is also insightful to look at the two separate deities to understand why they may be inseparable. Although revered as a demi-god and dragon slayer, Indra is a complex archetype whose obsessions were not always wholesome. Vishakha is associated with his more indulgent pursuits. Agni is the god of fire who gives passion and determination to this goal-oriented nakshatra. They represent the two conflicting impulses of Vishakha: material versus spiritual. As Komilla Sutton writes:

Agni, the sacred fire represents penance and Indra sensuous enjoyments, so these two can cause much conflict in the mind of Vishakha. Thus Rahu's transit of Vishakha presents a dissatisfaction with both the material and spiritual sides of life. The soul is still committed to materialistic enjoyment yet stands at the door of spiritual development.

Vishakha literally presents the "fork in the road" threshold. Furthermore, both of its deities are associated with natural forces. Indra is the thunder to Agni's brilliant forks of lightening. Together they bring the storms that clear the air and release nourishing rain which feeds all of life. Like the 16th Trump card of the Tarot, The Tower, the 16th nakshatra may direct an unexpected bolt out of the blue signaling the release of stagnation, or an old way of life suddenly coming to an end.

Haindl Tarot

Hanson-Roberts Tarot

In the Tarot, The Tower symbolizes an arrogant technology that constantly desires more and bigger monuments to represent its conquest of nature. It is a modern image of the Tower of Babel, an archetypal edifice of false belief. The falling figures are those beliefs themselves, the false thoughts projected by the personal ego for its own use. The lightening represents the power of light to bring insight and expose the erroneous beliefs for what they truly are. Like The Tower, an eclipse in Vishakha may provide a wake-up call urging us to contact our inner Mars and direct its considerable power in another direction. The late degrees of Vishakha enhance Rahu's already obsessive nature making it become more fixated on its goals under the fixed water sign of Scorpio. Yet the 16th nakshatra also has a branch extending into Libra, ruled by Venus, which promises to soften any aggressive tendencies absorbed by Rahu in Scorpio, while still remaining focused on acquiring what it desires. Unfortunately Rahu's transit through Vishakha may make it more difficult to release outworn or false beliefs because Rahu's nature is to obscure. For example, disgruntled voters may not gratiously concede to political winners because they may be stuck in their misguided beliefs. Luckily an exalted Saturn in Libra will be awaiting the north node in late December, providing strong boundaries and ensuring high principles will be maintained for the common good of society.

In addition to the world tree, there are two other symbols for Vishakha: the triumphal archway or gate adorned with leaves, often associated with marriage ceremonies, and a potter's wheel, associated with creation and the cycles of time needed to build and perfect it. According to Prash Trivedi, the gateway marks the first rite of passage on the way to reaching a goal:

Most of Vishakha lies in the sign governing marriage, Libra. In ancient times this gateway was symbolic of triumph. It symbolized the ending or attainment of a goal and the beginning of a new one. It was a reminder of the fact that challenges don't end once you pass through the gateway, after achieving your goal. The challenges begin when one enters the gateway, just like the marriage ceremony is the precursor of the challenges to come in married life.

To me a gate is structure that can be swung open or drawn shut. It is a portal that may act as an entrance or an exit. I have noticed that many of the unexplained cosmic phenomenon that have intrigued mystically minded folks, such as the Norway Spiral, have occurred under the influence of Vishakha. Therefore, I also associate Vishakha's triumphal arch with inter-dimensional portals, stargates, and wormholes. Many ancient traditions predict a shift in world ages and evolution of consciousness, which the modern Ascension movement describes as the creation of a new Earth in the 5th dimension. As mankind undergoes a process of evolving into a non-corporal entity, it will shift or jump to a higher plane of existence. For example, Dolores Cannon describes a new Earth that is splitting off, or branching into this higher dimension evoking the forked descriptions of Vishakha. Others believe that we have already passed through this threshold and are now taking on the challenges of this new world.

Norway Spiral 12/9/09

The potter's wheel as metaphor for the creation of the spinning cosmos is the most intriguing of Vishakha's symbols as it also hints at the evolution of manifestation. The spiral is one of the oldest symbols recorded in the ancient Neolithic world and has been used across time and cultures to depict the universal pattern of growth and evolution seen in nature. From the swirling arms of galaxies, to the whirling winds of hurricanes, and the twisting double helix of DNA, the mathematical hand of God, the potter, may be expressed in Phi and the Fibonacci sequence of the spiral.

Like the spiral, the potter's wheel is associated with creation cycles. According to Bepin Behari, the turmoil created by the conflict between the material and spiritual impulses of Vishakha is represented by the potter's wheel:

In a potter's wheel the central axis around which the wheel rotates is almost stationary. There is no apparent movement at that point. The greater the proximity to the center, the less movement. Tamas is what the center of the wheel represents. Remain wherever you are, whatever else happens, exert no will of your own. This is where the clay to be shaped is put. Harmony prevails by conforming to the will of God or by surrendering to the impulse generated by nature. The clay does not resist. The shape visualized in the potter's mind is gradually imprinted on the clay by the wheel, which works according to the potter's fingers.

I like the idea that the closer we get to the center, the more still the tumultuous forces become -- like the eye of a hurricane. Only by surrendering do we become a complete work of art, a reflection of the mind of God.

When the great cosmic potter spins its cosmic wheel, our planet, solar system, and galaxy spin with it, evolving a new perspective as each spiral returns to observe the previous passage.

It is an interesting coincidence that as we complete the final cycle of the Mayan calendar, the last eclipse cycle will occur with the Sun, Moon, and Rahu aligned with the stars of Vishakha. Might creative forces be ready to spin a new light vessel for the soul of man as proposed by modern shamans? Is December 21, 2012 truly the birthday of homo luminous as many researchers, such as Alberto Villoldo, believe? In his book The Four Insights, Villoldo writes:

According to the prophecies of the Maya, the Hopi and the Inka, we're at a turning point in human history, a period of great turmoil and upheaval in which a new species of human will give birth to itself. We're going to take a quantum leap into what we are becoming, moving from Homo sapiens to Homo luminous – that is, beings with the ability to perceive the vibration and light that make up the physical world at a much higher level.

It seems to me that the upcoming eclipse cycle with Rahu in Vishakha might indeed trigger an opportunity to not only cross the threshold to a new dimension or way of being, but also to surrender to the forces of nature allowing the hand of God to direct and reshape the container in which our spirits dwell. Another meaning of Vishakha is derived from the word which means "readiness." Are you ready to pass through the gateway and welcome the challenges of a commitment to a new Earth?

In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself. ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

Namaste!

Aum saraswateye vidmahe, bramputriye dhi-mahi, tanno sarawati prachodayat

Saraswati is the Goddess of leaming, knowledge, and wisdom. The Sanskrit word sara means "essence" and swa means "self." Thus Saraswati means "the essence of the self." Saraswati is represented in Hindu mythology as the divine consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator of the universe. Since knowledge is necessary for creation, Saraswati symbolizes the creative power of Brahma. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped by all persons interested in knowledge, especially students, teachers, scholars, and scientists.

What is the Difference between Vedic and Western Astrology: 23 Degrees, Nakshatras, and Sidereal

Twenty-three is my quick answer to the question: "what is the difference between Vedic Astrology and Western astrology?" I don't mean to be cryptic, but 23 degrees is literally the difference between the Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs. It is called the Ayanamsha -- in Sanskrit ayana meaning solstice and amsha meaning portion -- and it refers to the difference between Tropical and Sidereal zodiacs.

The zodiac is a ring of constellations often referred to as signs, such as Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio and Taurus. It is a cosmic clock around which our solar systems operates and how astrologers measure cycles of time. Most people do not realize that there are two distinct zodiacs. Vedic astrologers use the Sidereal zodiac and Western astrologers use the Tropical zodiac. The Sidereal zodiac is based on observations of planets lining up against the backdrop of the fixed stars. It is oriented to the center of the galaxy. On the other hand, the Tropical zodiac is based on the relationship between the sun and earth. It is oriented to the equinoxes. In Western astrology the spring equinox sets the beginning of the Tropical zodiac at 1 degree Aries, even though the sun is astronomically traveling in the light fields of Pisces. In other words, it does not correspond to observable position. Vedic astrology is called Jyotisha in Sanskrit, meaning the science of light, and Vedic astrology describes how the light emitted from the stars effects us. When Western astrology was in its early stages, the two zodiacs may have lined up; but over time the two moved apart approximately 50 seconds per year to the current 23 degrees of separation (even that number is debated, but the standard of India, the Lahiri ayanamsha is 23 degrees 10 seconds).

Vedic astrology is considered by scholars to pre-date Western astrology and is the only system that has accounted for the precession of the equinoxes. What is the precession of the equinoxes? The answer to that involves another occurrence of the number 23 (those familiar with the enigma of 23, like LOST and RAW fans, may find this amusing). Because Earth's axis is tilted 23° 27' in its orbit around the sun, its equatorial plane is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane, the plane created by Earth's orbit. These two intersecting planes create an intersecting line called the vernal axis that occurs on the first day of spring, or Vernal equinox. As the Earth spins on its axis, its axis wobbles (precesses 50.3 seconds of arc per year or 1 degree every 71.6 years) very slowly over a period of about 24,000 to 26,000 years. As this occurs, the pole of the Earth inscribes an arc in the heavens called the precessional arc. The Earth's pole aligns with different stars throughout the precessional period. The current pole star is Polaris. Approximately 13,000 year ago it was Vega, one of my favorite stars. Earth's precessional cycle is also referred to as Earth's Great Year in the alchemical tradition, World Ages, or Yugas in the Vedas. David Frawley describes it a one year in the life of humanity.

In Vedic astrology there is a line of thought that suggests this 24,000-26,000 cycle (and even wobble of the earth itself) maybe be generated by a grand cycle of our sun with a companion dark star. Modern astronomy is studying this possibility as well. The ancient Vedic seers divided up the cycle into four world ages: the Satya(Truth or Golden), Treta (Third or Silver), Dwapara (Third or Bronze) and Kali (first or Iron) Ages. Each age describes a stage of awareness for mankind in which consciousness ascends, descends, and ascends in unending cycles perhaps due to the influence of this yet to be discovered companion star. Although New Age philosophers have described humanity as entering the Age of Aquarius, astronomically speaking that will not happen for approximately 300-400 years.

According to Vedic thought, the cycles of ascending and descending consciousness are connected not only to our rotation around a companion star, but also our cycle around the galactic center. According to David Frawley, "Vedic astrology orients the zodiac to the galactic center, or the central galactic sun, whose influence comes to us through fixed stars of the constellation Sagittarius." The galactic center is like our cosmic belly button -- it is sometimes called Vishnunabhi, or the navel of Vishnu-- the point from which our galaxy grew and expanded. Many ancient cultures studied and recorded their observations about this area of the night sky, including the Mayans whose calendar marks an astronomical event of our winter solstice aligning with the galactic center in 2012. It's like the earth's pole or antenna will be aligned and open to receive message from the source itself. [H]ohm is calling.

One of the most brilliant developments of the ancient Vedic seers was to further divide the zodiac into more identifiable parts. They did this by creating the Nakshatra system. In Sanskrit Nakshatra means lunar mansion. As the moon travels through the entire zodiac in 27-28 days, the ancient seers ascribed a Nakshatra for each day simplifying its location. Although too vast a subject to go into in this post, it is interesting to point out that the name for the Nakstratra that marks the galactic center is Mula, meaning root or source.

Another difference between Western and Vedic astrology is the modern use of non-observable planets and asteroids. As a Neo-Vedic astrologer I do consider some of the outer planets when I look at a chart, but I tend to be more interested in the fixed stars and Nakshatras. I marvel at how Western astrologers bring in new astronomical discoveries to their chart interpretations. Basically I see Western charts as a map of the same terrain as a Vedic chart, but indicating different types or levels of information. It's like comparing a topological map with a road map. I don't need to know the difference of elevation between Broadway and 3rd Avenue, but I might like to know the street number of Benaroya Hall. It all depends on what type of information one is seeking. Vedic astrologers come from a tradition and philosophy that focuses on the four aims of life: dharma (purpose), arthra (attainment), kama (desire),and the most important moksha (liberation). Western astrology is enriched by many diverse traditions and the information gleaned from it may be quite extensive and more suited for the modern mind. But for me, I've always been drawn to the stars in the night sky and have felt them speak to me in the language of light. And as Jyotisha is the science of light, it is the tool and filter I use to translate this information.

For a good video overview on precession click here.