Saturn Retrograde in Pūrva Bhādrapadā: The Scorching Star

June 27, 2024 Julia Bagnoli

Saturn Retrograde

वक्री शनि

Śani, the venerable son of Surya Dev (Sun), takes his place as a shadowy figure astride a crow. He is the planet of restraint and duty, the essence of patience, the measured one, the bestower of longevity, and the guardian of time itself.

Please note there’s a potent window for remedies and bestowing of blessings as Śani becomes stambhi (stationary), a few days before and after he stations retrograde (26/6-3/7).

From June 29/30th to November 14/15th, Saturn begins its annual retrograde motion (vakrī) in the constellation of Pūrva Bhādrapadā पूर्वभाद्रपदा (Aquarius), the Scorching Star.

Pūrva Bhādrapadā

Pūrva Bhādrapadā desires to bridge heaven and earth and holds the power to elevate through sacrifice. This sacrifice contains the energy to produce and draw down spiritual energy through tapasya (austerity). This energy elevates to melt the hidden moon in our brain, gracing us and raining down blessings.

Retrograde Power

When planets become retrograde, they are said to increase in power. This cycle beckons metamorphosis as this asterism is all about life and death, rebirth, tapas (penance), perseverance, and transformative fires. Confronting energies are motivating change.

Reassessing Goals

Artwork by: Jahnavi Lucas (Samadhi Collective)

During Saturn retrograde, we are encouraged to reassess our long-term goals connected to the house where Aquarius falls in our birth chart. Aligned with Aquarius ruling the natural 11th house, it prompts us to refine our social networks and connections. Embrace those who light you up, foster genuine connections, and share like-mindedness. Surround yourself with individuals who encourage, welcome, and support your authentic self and personal growth. Simultaneously, this period may unveil the necessity of releasing toxic connections that no longer serve your well-being.

Personal Guidance

For more personalized guidance on this long, impactful transit, know that I am here to support you and do offer one-on-one Vedic Astrology readings, which you can book at the link in my bio.

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"I believe in all that has never yet been spoken. I want to free what waits within me so that what no one has dared to wish for may for once spring clear without my contriving.

If this is arrogant, God, forgive me, but this is what I need to say. May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children. Then in these swelling and ebbing currents, these deepening tides moving out, returning, I will sing you as no one ever has, streaming through widening channels into the open sea." ~ Rilke

The Practical Wisdom of Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra: Insights into the Sādhana-pāda

June 21, 2024 Julia Bagnoli

The Practical Wisdom of Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra: Insights into the Sādhana-pāda

Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra is an ancient text that has guided spiritual seekers for over 5000 years. It is a comprehensive guide to the philosophy and practice of yoga, divided into four sections (Pādas). The second section, Sādhana-pāda, is particularly significant as it outlines the means of spiritual attainment. In this blog, we will delve into the key aspects of Sādhana-pāda, focusing on the practice of Kriyāyoga.

Understanding the Sādhana-pāda

The Sādhana-pāda consists of 55 aphorisms, offering practical advice for achieving spiritual goals. It builds upon the theoretical framework established in the first section, Samādhi-pāda, which defines the state of Samādhi (total absorption or transcendental consciousness).

Kriyāyoga: The Path of Action

The first few verses of Sādhana-pāda introduce Kriyāyoga, a practice aimed at cultivating Samādhi and minimizing kleśas (afflictions). The key components of Kriyāyoga are:

Tapas (austerity, purification, or self-discipline—mental, moral, and physical)
Svādhyāya (study of the Self through mantra repetition, study of sacred literature, reflection, and meditation)
Īśvarapraṇidhāna (complete surrender/devotion to Isvara - God)

अथ साधनपादः ।

तपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः ॥ २.१ ॥

atha sādhanapādaḥ । tapaḥsvādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni kriyāyogaḥ || 2.1 ||

The objective of Kriyāyoga is clearly outlined by Patañjali:

Preparation for Samādhi: Kriyāyoga prepares the citta (mind-stuff) for entering Samādhi.

Reduction of Kleśas: Kleśas are the root causes of pain and sorrow and the drivers of evil actions. By practicing Kriyāyoga, these afflictions are weakened, paving the way for the higher stages of aṣṭāṅgayoga (the eightfold path of yoga).

In a nutshell, like any metal is purified by burning it in fire, tapas is a process of purification for the senses and mind. Practices like āsana (posture), prāṇāyāma (breath control), ṣaṭkarma (cleansing techniques), and fasting are all part of this purification process.

Tapas: The Ultimate Purification

prāṇāyāmaḥ paramaṃ tapaḥ

"Prāṇāyāma is the supreme tapas."

Tapas is not about restricting desires. Suppression of desires can lead to perverted behavior. Instead, desires are to be sublimated, transformed into higher aspirations.

Svādhyāya: Transforming the Self

Svādhyāya is crucial because it transforms the psychology of the practitioner. By engaging in self-study and reflection, one gains a deeper understanding of the Self, leading to greater self-awareness and spiritual growth.

Īśvarapraṇidhāna: Diminishing the Ego

Devotion to God, or Īśvarapraṇidhāna, helps diminish the ego. This self-surrender is essential for the confluence of karma (action), jñāna (knowledge), and bhakti (devotion) in Kriyāyoga. It sets the right attitude of mind for achieving Samādhi and reducing kleśas.

Dr. I. K. Taimni (scholar) provides additional insights into the practical application of Kriyāyoga. He explains that:

Tapas involves practices like prāṇāyāma (breath control).

Svādhyāya includes praṇava japa (chanting of the sacred syllable OM) and the study of sacred texts.

Īśvarapraṇidhāna encompasses upāsanā (worship), gāyatrijapa (chanting of the Gāyatrī mantra), and sandhyā-vandanam (daily prayers).

According to Taimni, the objectives of Kriyāyoga are twofold:

Preparing the citta for Samādhi: This requires devotion to Īśvarapraṇidhāna throughout the yoga path.

Reducing Kleśas: Kleśas are the root causes of pain, sorrow, and evil actions. Kriyāyoga serves as a preparatory practice for aṣṭāṅgayoga.

Through the disciplined practice of Kriyāyoga, practitioners can purify their senses, transform their psychology, and diminish their ego, ultimately leading to spiritual liberation. Dr. Taimni's insights provide a valuable guide to understanding and implementing Kriyāyoga in daily life.

Stay tuned for more insights on the profound teachings of Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra.

योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचं मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन। योऽपाकरोत तं प्रवरं मुनिनां पतंजलिं प्रांजलिरानतोऽस्मि ॥ आबाहु पुरुषकारं शंखचक्रसि धारिणम्।

Full Moon in Mūla: The Foundation Star

June 19, 2024 Julia Bagnoli

FULL MOON

Pūrṇimā

6/21 18:08 PDT | 6/22 6:38 AM IST

There are certain stars in the night sky that awaken a wild, primordial energy within us. This power shifts our attention from the seen to the unseen, from the quest for material success to the initiation of the soul’s spiritual journey. The mysterious shakti within the soil that helps the seed bloom — this is the energy of the Dark Goddess.

June’s bright moon aligns with the Galactic Center, or Vedic lunar mansion of Mūla मूल (sidereal Sagittarius), the Foundation Star, which represents Tearing Energy. We’re being called to go deeper now.

Woven within the unseen architecture of our being lies the storehouse of all our experiences, karmic records, and imprints — a blueprint with a strong hold on us. Some aspects are ripe for us to experience and play out in this lifetime, ultimately orchestrating our likes, dislikes, habits, and routines.

Like the ruling deity of this constellation, Nirṛti (Kālī), whose fierce dance destroys ignorance and helps us see beyond the veil of illusion, Mūla holds the power to destroy and protect. This force is both feared and revered as sacred. Our ancestors have prayed to this Great Mystery since time immemorial, seeking to appease her and receive her divine blessings.

Mūla is the seat of real power and intelligence, that of the Dark Goddess — the one who decides our fate and protects the throne. Mūla is synonymous with the Milky Way (our galactic center), and desires to know its root place and origin point in creation. This constellation holds immense potential that must be tended with great care.

The throne has been gained here, whether in a material or spiritual sense. For the inward path, one becomes stationed in a state of experience, seeking protection from distraction at the nine gates (of the body). Just like the theoretical throne obtained by the king, one seeks favor from this shakti to protect and maintain their position.

As garden beds are turned over at the end of the season to prepare for the coming spring, this destruction is necessary. It taps into, loosens, and deconstructs, so something new can be birthed.

This moment can awaken a sincere intrigue to go deeper. Through devoted efforts and excavation into what is hidden, secret information and knowledge can be revealed. When utilized correctly, with dedication and effort, this energy can delete and rewrite those codes dictating much of what has played out in your life, allowing new habits and patterns to take root — so your operating system can receive an upgrade.

Perhaps the very things dismantling and unraveling in your life will seed what comes next. For that seed to take root and be strong, it must be well-nourished and watered. Be patient, control your impulses, preserve your life energy, and avoid distractions.

Stay inquisitive and willing to go against the grain. You have the capacity to rewrite the pre-determined codes that have brought you to this moment. Utilize pranayama and meditation practices to keep your nerves calm and replenished, and kriyas to excavate and break up your root impulses.

This lunation cycle began with the new moon in the fertile star of Rohiṇī (Taurus), with its desire to plant seeds and nurture our aspirations into manifestation. Now it culminates with the immense potential of the full moon in Mūla, invoking a primal and transformative force within the unseen realms of our experience.

This fortnight offers a powerful shift, ripe for expedited evolution — an opening that spurs investigation, symbolically unravelling the knots tied in our previous life to establish a strong foundation and reveal the tools necessary to navigate the current karma ripe for us to experience in this life.

To book a private Vedic Astrology consultation and discuss what the current planetary alignment means for YOU please visit Jyotish Consultations

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