Full Moon in Cancer, and then some...

Full Moon in Cancer, Lunar Eclipse and it's a Blue Moon, on New Year's Eve... Hello 2010. This is going to be a strong one... 
Cancer moon is looking for balance with Venus and Pluto and in conflict with Saturn.  Venus highlights areas of love, money, and values. Pluto points out major transformations that need to happen and Saturn brings challenge by reminding us of our obligations to reality. 

The lunar eclipse is in Cancer/Capricorn. These two signs represent the divine feminine/divine masculine or yin/yang. Finding the balance of opposites within and in our external environment. With a lunar eclipse comes endings and climaxes. What ever may be ending and/or just beginning for you right now is definitely in favor of your highest self.  A Lunar eclipse on the last day of 2009 seems so appropriate because it aids in the releasing of what is old and no longer serves- enabling us to step into the new year with room for amazing growth, openness and freshness. 

Cancer in this lunar eclipse brings even more opportunities to release old emotional patterns and energy, old relationships and attachments that hold us back from where we know we need to be going. Cancer's water element will heighten emotions this New Year's Eve. It will be important to honor our emotions without overdoing it. Release all this emotional energy by being active tonight. 
The Capricorn/Cancer energy opens a connection between the ego (conscious self) and the unconscious emotions. Venus being in line with the sun brings more yin (female) energy to surface during the eclipse. Forcing us to deal with emotions: security issues, body/heart connection, and the internal balance of masculine/female. We will also be able to find more depth, and passion this evening. Something to watch out for is opening up doorways for manipulation and power/control dynamics.

To top it all off... Mercury is in retrograde making conversations and communication a big one- note that communication doesn't have to be external. Mars is also in retrograde pushing for energy to draw inwards. 

Tonight is a great time to tune into your highest self for some introspection.  Use this intense energy for transformation and rebirth instead of getting overwhelmed by it. 

The Taste of Morning

Time's knife slides from the sheath,

as a fish from where it swims.


Being closer and closer is the desire
of the body. Don't wish for union!


There's a closeness beyond that. Why
would God want a second God? Fall in


love in such a way that it frees you
from any connecting. Love is the soul's


light, the taste of morning, no me, no
we, no claim of being. These words


are the smoke the fire gives off as it
absolves its defects, as eyes in silence,


tears, face. Love cannot be said.

-RUMI 

Self Help: Yamas and Niyamas

Yamas and Niyamas are the first two limbs of the eight limbed Ashtanga Yoga system ( asana, pranayama, pratyahara (see post below), dharana, dhyana, and samadhi are the other six).  These principals are helpful in asana practice and in our everyday lives. Ask yourself if your choices/situation holds true to these principals, what changes can be made, what feels right?  In times of confusion, chaos, or fear, the Yamas and Niyamas are a great place to come for advice! 

Yamas: ethical disciplines



1- ahimsa, non harming

Ahimsa pratishthayam tat sannidhou vairatyagah.

Upon being established in non-hurtfulness, there is a relinquishing of

 hostility in the presence of that (ahimsa). -YS 2.35

2- satya, truthfulness

Satya pratishthayam kriya phala shrayatvam.

Upon being established in truth there is surety in the result of actions. -YS 2.36

3- asteya, non stealing

Asteya pratishthayam savaratna upathanam.

Upon being established in non-stealing, there occurs the attainment of all prosperity.- YS 2.37

4- bramacharya, moderation

Brahmacharya pratishthayam virya labhah.

Upon being established in bramacharya, there is attainment of vital energy. -YS 2.38

5- aprigraha, non hoarding

Aprigraha sthairya janma kathamta sambodha.

Upon a foundation of non possessiveness, there arises full 

understanding of the wherefore of birth.- YS 2.39

Niyamas: individual disciplines


1- saucha, purity

Shauchat swanga jugupsa parair asamsargah.

Owing to purity, there is a desire to protect one's own body, being the non-contact 

with whatever is adverse to that- YS 2.40

2- santosha, contentment

Santoshad anuttama sukha labhah.

owing to contentment there is an unexcelled attainment of happiness.- YS 2.42

3- tapas, self discipline

Kayendriyasiddhirashuddhikasyah tapasah.

The perfection of the body and sense organs due to intensity in spiritual practice,

being the elimination of impurities.-YS 2.43

4- svadyaha, self study

Swadhyayad ishtadevata samprayogah.

Owing to the learning and application of personal mantras, 

there is union with one's desired deity.- YS 2.44

5- ishvara pranidhana, dedication to God...aka: your highest self

Samadhi Siddih Ishwaraprandidhanat

The perfection of samadhi is due to the perfect alignment of attention with the omniscient seer within-YS 2.45

Pratyahara on the Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice happens when the earth's axis is tilted as far away from the sun as possible, making it the shortest day of the year, and marks the beginning of winter and a new solar year. Themes of reflection, rising out of darkness, preparing for a "rebirth", and strengthening ties with family and friends are present at this time. 

The practice of pulling the senses inward toward their source in preparation for concentration and mediation is called pratyahara. This is the fifth limb of Patanjali's eight limbed Ashtanga Yoga system.

Our five senses can only take us so far when we are extending them outward and abusing them: giving into unnecessary desires, living in excess, only seeking pleasure, accepting distractions...etc. By redirecting our senses inwards we learn how to control the senses, and detatch from the often temptuos world of the senses, which is the first step to finding a deep inner practice. 

Pratyahara can be practiced trough bhakti (devotion), and nada yoga (deep inner listening). 

नमः सिवाय गुरवे Namah Sivaya Gurave

नाडा बिंदु कालात्मने Nada-Bindu-Kalatmane

नीराजना पदम् यति Niranjna-Padam Yati

नित्यं यात्रा प्रयानाह Nityam Yatra Prayanah

Salutations to the Nadam, which is the inner guide and the inner life, the dispenser of happiness to all! It is the inner guru appearing as nada (sound), bindu (the point of immortality), and kala (time). One who is devoted to the inner guru, the nada, the inner music, obtains the highest bliss.  (translation by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati)

- Hatha Yoga Pradipika IV:I

The essence of all beings is earth,

The essence of all earth is water,

The essence of water is plants,

The essence of plants is man,

The essence of man is speech,

The essence of speech is sacred knowledge,

The essence of sacred knowledge is word and sound,

The essence of word and sound is OM.

-Chandogya Upanishad

The fourth kind of pranayama that occurs during concentration on an internal or external object (YS 2.51)

As its result the veil over the inner light is destroyed (YS 2.52)

And the mind becomes fit for concentration (YS 2.53)

When the senses withdraw themselves from the objects and imitate, as it were, the nature of the mind-stuff, that is pratyahara  (YS 2.54)

Then follows supreme mastery over the senses (YS 2.55)

The Sunrise Ruby

In the early morning hour,

just before dawn, lover and beloved wake

and take a drink of water.

She asks, "Do you love me or yourself more?
Really, tell the absolute truth."

He says, "There is nothing left of me.
I’m like a ruby held up to the sunrise.
Is it still a stone, or a world
made of redness? It has no resistance
to sunlight."

This is how Hallaj said, I am God,
and told the truth!

The ruby and the sunrise are one.
Be courageous and discipline yourself.

Completely become hearing and ear,
and wear this sun-ruby as an earring.

Work. Keep digging your well.
Don’t think about getting off from work.
Water is there somewhere.

Submit to a daily practice.
Your loyalty to that
is a ring on the door.

Keep knocking, and the joy inside
will eventually open a window
and look out to see who’s there.

-RUMI 

This morning I experienced my first yoga class with Nicki Doane (her and Eddie are on Maui doing drop in classes until Jan 10th!). It was a strong and fun class- deep into alignment and building strength- "box pose" and variations of uttanasana simulating down dog, utthita hasta padangustasana, utthita trikonasana, and 1min handstand holds four times...all at the wall!  Nikki read this Rumi poem during Savasana, it was blissful as rain fell outside their beautiful Huelo studio. 
AHUM.

New Moon in Sagittarius

The astrological sign Sagittarius represents higher learning and wisdom. A new moon in Sagittarius is a time for optimism and dreams- the moon seeks knowledge now. This sign also emphasizes adventure, expending horizons, opening pathways of deep meaning, finding faith and hope in the truth of the cosmic laws of life. Feel reborn with a stronger connection to your authentic truth- What are your ideals and how do you express them? Where can you add growth and adventure into your life? Are your passions being fed? Starting now through the winter solscitce (Dec 21st) will be mystical, opening, and ideal for the rapid development of things that were previously set in motion. Only when we go deep within can our wildest dreams manifest themselves.

"The devotee longs only to love more and more, to enjoy eternally the lover/beloved relationship. Those who follow the path of devotion become purified through the intensity of their longing for God in whatever form appeals to them most."

-Krishna Das