In a recent discussion the subject of “curses” came up.

Here is what I said.

In truth, I am not a big fan of the whole “curse” approach to astrology.

It is a very charged word that takes astrology too close to a superstitious, disempowering model.

This is not a condemnation of anyone else’s ideas or approaches, just my personal take on it.

Just reading charts and the planetary energies influencing have lead me to clarity and allowed me to help others as well. I do not know of anyone who has gotten a reading from me or who studies astrology that wants to hear that a planet has placed a curse on them / on another planet.

A long time ago when i was in my early twenties, and doing a lot of meditation and reading I came acroos one of the most powerful things i have ever heard. It is important for me to this day astrologically.

Remain with the known.

Stay with what you know and do not stray from that. Speak the truth you can be sure of.

When i hear astrologers proclaim a curse as a fact, I do not feel like I am hearing someone speaking about their experiences. How can someone know for sure that in another’s past life they cursed a Brahmin and so now Jupiter has a curse on it from Rahu.. Oh yes, because it has been read in BPHS or another scripture.. well sorry but that is not truth to me.

Not because I doubt the integrity of the Rshis that brought Vedic Astrology to us, but I do not blindly accept that everything in BPHS or other books are straight from the Rishi.

When i read certain passages it is clearly from A rishi, and i try to stay close to those things.

other passages I am not so sure.

Even if i thought it was from a Rishi, i am not sure i would make a big point of it.

I am not so sure that the reason we are here (on Earth in these bodies) is to make sure we get our marriages and careers and not let those “planetary curses” hold us back.

I mean whose to say what the results are of a curse.

Accepting what the divine Grahas are giving you (curse and all) OR spending your life (your EGO’s Life) trying to defeat the curse and fulfill your desire..

But I still see astrology (especially vedic astrology) used as a way to try to fulfill desires, not grow into our full selves. Not to say that these things are mutually exclusive, but I do not hear people talking the divine qualities of having these challenges / curses.

I am not of the opinion that the planets do negative things to us to punish us and that we need to fight against.. “curses” and the lot, just seems to deepen our attachment to maya and the notion of the ego “defeating” the big bad astrology chart.

I do not want offend anyone of their approaches and practices. I respect and honor all of them. These are just my views. I know they are not very conventional.

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For Example: The seat of the Kundalini is at the point where Capricorn and Aquarius meet in the root Chakra, Opposite that are the Signs Leo and Cancer – the Ajna (third eye) Chakra. This meeting point is the exaltation point of Mars, who also rules that Nakshtra (Star) – 23:20 Capricorn – 6:40 Aquarius – Mars is the son of the Earth, the fire in the earth. Exalted at the places of Saturn (form and Structure). The courage and power of Mars must overcome the fear of Saturn – thereby creating a structure for our higher development, not just our worldy development. All Vedic literature supports astrology and its connection to mysticism.

The Nodal axis is the activating point of the Kundalini – North Node the bottom (Root Chakra) and the South Node the top (Crown Chakra)

This is why the Nodes are related to the fascinating dance of the Goddess Maya (illusion of separateness) that has us enchanted here on Earth. The Kundalini awakening is the Goddess revealing the true nature of life,.. But that serpent can bite you too if the Goddess is stirred through impure means. One can have kundalini experiences through drugs and other impure methods or other forceful, accelerated and riskier Tantric practices (VamaMarga – The Left Handed Path) .

That is why consciousness and love (maturity) must accompany experience and things like Yoga (Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana) are given as we develop.

Love is the best Yoga and will awaken the kundalini naturally. (Real Love, devotional love – not our typical ego-centric love)

There needs to be a balance between honoring the technical mastery of Indian Yoga (because these cowboy approaches are dangerous and fraught with confusion and illusion) and modernizing the practices in a way that all cultures can relate to.

Yoga and these other esoteric practices do not just belong to India, but the technical mastery and beauty exists there like no other.

In my (very experienced) opinion.

I have been doing Yoga and Tantra for more than 25 years, but I am an American.

The benefit and genius of Yoga, Tantra and Indian systems is it takes this out of the “religious experience” and reveals the Science behind it.

Yoga is spiritual Science. There is an unfortunate false choice between the two now, where people mistake religion (based on belief, not experience) with spirituality (based on experience rather than a specific belief).

Those who are more religious (more belief oriented) tend to be narrow-minded. Those more spiritual (more experience oriented) tend to be more open-minded.

The reason the Indian system is so beautiful is that it is still preserved from the time when all cultures possessed this occult wisdom. In other cultures the teachings are fragmented, but in India we can still trace the roots back to its holistic origins and uncorrupted truth.

So, a kundalini awakening is something that can be done through the scientific methods of Yoga (and similar shamanic practices from other cultures). It is a spiritual/mystical experience, but totally under the control of a person. This experience changes the paradigm immediately in a person. Once you touch a deeper level of Self in you that you had not touched before, you never forget, but you do fall back – again and again – then aspire to opening higher and higher Chakras.

The Chakras open sequentially – giving the understanding of each element and lesson they rule.

First the knot is closed, protecting you from the energy and wisdom you cannot handle, control and have not earned through purification. This is protecting you. That is the state of people before the kundalini awakens. If you awaken through impure means, you may go crazy. When people become psychotic through drug use, etc.. this is what has happened to their energetic body from the Yogic perspective. They were trying to get powers that can only be earned through sacrifice, discipline, love and devotion. You cannot rape the Goddess. You must charm the snake. If you try to grab it by the throat it will bite you hard.

THE CHAKRAS OPEN LIKE THIS:

** Brahma Granthi – The Knot of Brahma (Creator) – (Closed Kundalini Channel) **

Muladhara – Root – Earth – Saturn – Give knowledge of form (You realize that you are not the body when that chakra opens)
Swadisthana – Sex – Water – Jupiter – Gives knowledge of feeling (You realize that you are not the emotions when that chakra opens)
Manipura – Will – Fire – Mars – Give knowledge of Action and Power (You realize that you are not your Self-Will when that chakra opens)

** Vishnu Granthi – The Knot of Vishnu (Love) **

Anahata – Heart – Air – Venus – Gives knowledge of Love (You realize that you are not just Love when that Chakra opens)
Visuddha – Throat – Ether – Mercury – Give knowledge of Awareness (You realize that you are not just awareness when that chakra opens)
Ajna – Third Eye – No Element – Sun / Moon – Gives knowledge of Self (You realize that you are not Self when that chakra opens)

** Rudra Granth – The Knot of Siva (Creation) **

Sahasrara Chakra – All perceptions of an individual Self have merged with All (in the Ajna Chakra). You are eternally established in oneness – merged with it like heat is merged with fire.

One thing to realize. Everything that you see represented in (what Westerners incorrectly call) “Hindiusm” is to support this awakening. All of the Deities represent aspects of this awakening. Astrology, Ayurveda, Yoga all refer to this truth (Called Santana Dharma – the eternal truth).

There are many meditations on Chakras and scientific ways to balance the wavering mind of duality. Many of them have to do with breath – right and left nostrils – Ida and Pingala Nadis. Once right and left is balanced, and the tossing of the mind controlled – the kundalini enters the central channel – and usually the first time it makes a hissing noise like a snake.

Scare Yo Ass Silly!

Seriously, entering this path is entering your own conscious death – the death of your ignorance and illusion around who you are. Most people never get anywhere close to actually opening the first Chakra.

The “Chakra opening” that is falsely talked about is not the same as the Chakra opening that happens when the Goddess Maya enters it through the kundalini.

yoga, astrology, kundalini, Chakras, horoscopes, vedic

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This full moon will happen in Gemini. The full moon is a time to let go of bad habits that may be holding you back. With the full moon in Gemini you can focus on not being so overstimulated and rather apply the skills and information you have learned and gathered.

With Mars in Sagittarius and in an angle – you can use more discipline toward those things. With mercury and Jupiter in the eighth house, and the sun in Capricorn you can deepen your commitment to the things you have already studied and the philosophies that are uplifting to you, rather than gathering more.

moon, astrology, vedic, yoga, mercury, venus, mars, gemini, sagittarius

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This first weekend intensive is about the four aims of life (the four purusarthas) and how consciousness develops in the order of dharma,  (truth) artha (form) , kama (happiness) and moksha (freedom). These stages progress first individually (first triplicity-tamas) collectively (second triplicity-rajas) and universally (third triplicity-sattwa) in the Zodiac.

We will explore elements, gunas and many other Vedic principles within the paradigm of The Four Purusarthas.

At this link is a button that says “4 Goals of Life through Jyotish” with more details
http://www.yogafarm.org/

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Beginners to Advanced Astrologers, Ayurvedic practitioners and Spiritual Aspirants of All Sort Will Benefit From This Week Long Intensive.

Untangling the Vedic principles that underpin Vedic astrology will be the focus of this week long intensive. Yin/yang, the Three Gunas, Five elements, Chakras, Castes, Planetary Cabinet and other principles – expressed through Planets, signs and houses – will be explored. This exploration will deepen your understanding of astrology and Vedic principles in general. These principles are universal. Learning them will not only benefit experienced astrologers and astrology students, but also yoga teachers, holistic health practitioners and spiritual aspirants of all sort.

These courses follow the normal ashram schedule with a few exceptions. Daily Yoga Classes, meditation and delicious vegetarian meals will also be on the program

Call the Sivananda Yoga Farm to Reserve a Limited Spot Now.
800-469-9642
yogafarm@sivananda.org

OR Call me Sam Geppi at 888.782.7108 for more details and information about the class.

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So, I said several weeks ago that there would be a conjunction of Venus, Mercury and Mars in Virgo — and it would last for a while.  And so it is,..  Lasting for a while.

Venus is debilitated which shows a general discontent with things, a lack of devotion, and a general sort of “bitchiness”.  Even if these things are not expressed externally, we are feeling them internally.

Venus is the energy in life that makes things enjoyable and pleasant, beautiful, et cetera.  In many ways these are the simple pleasures in life, other people, sensual pleasures, natural beauty, et cetera.  When Venus is in Virgo, like it is now, there are many details, reasons, excuses and problems that interrupt our capacity to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

Virgo is a “tamasic” sign, one oriented toward fixing problems and protecting ourselves.  In of itself this is not bad, but it has nothing to do with the part of life that Venus rules.  Venus is exalted in the opposite sign, the sign of Pisces – the sign where we have no conditions for the world.  Pisces is a sign where our individual nature most easily merges with the cosmic purpose.  Pisces is the sign where we can feel the pulse of the infinite and magnificent universe.  If a person has Venus in Pisces natally (in their birth chart) the thing that makes them happiest will be connecting to this mystical, abstract, universal energy.  Of course, this makes for a person who is quite spiritual, creative, loving.  Yet, they may have boundary issues or become disappointed easily in the world – preferring to escape into a nether land of fantasy.

But, that is not where we find ourselves right now, .. is it? No.  Not many “Netherworlds and fantasies” these days – except what may be fantasizing about when we will feel more lighthearted and loving again. Venus is in protective Virgo — joined Mars, a planet of protection, and Mercury planet who is very good managing and organizing all of these details.

In fact, Mercury is exalted in Virgo.  This is because Mercury is the part within us that is way too playful, not serious and somewhat distracted.  When you get Mercury in the sign of the Virgo, his skilled nature becomes focused on important things.  In fact, Mercury is the ruler of Virgo.  This rulership of Mercury to Virgo shows how we must handle these problems, issues and laborious details in life – playfully and with skill, humor and flexibility.

We have another few days, then Venus will be much happier — in her own sign of Libra.  Thursday, September 18 Venus will enter Libra – with balloons popping and aplomb.

venus virgo mars mercury horoscopes vedic yoga zodiac

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