Sun enters Mula Nakshatra for 13 days and sidereal Sagittarius (Lahiri) for one month on December 15, 2018 at 10:40 pm EST. Keeping with the theme of this lunation cycle for personal evolution and growth by accessing the deeper spiritual dimensions of our self, and the spiritual practice we have been working on for a week now, the Sun in Mula takes us to the root of it all. Mula or Moola means “root.” Mula Nakshatra is presided over by Nirriti, an aspect of Kali as goddess of calamity who lives in the realm of the dead. It has the Shakti Power “to damage or destroy” typically to “destroy the root to create.” The Galactic Center, root of our galaxy, passes through Mula Nakshatra. The black hole at the center of the galaxy provides an image of Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer engaged in the dance of destruction and creation. This cosmic dance destroys illusions and ego attachments often through external calamities, misfortunes and losses that cause us to look deeper into the meaning of the unfortunate circumstance and seek a higher power. But we don’t need external problems to access the Shakti of Mula. As we meditate, we can become aware of the negative thought patterns and illusions arising in our mind. As we go through our day, we can become conscious of how our lower egoic forces play out. Mula’s shakti power to damage or destroy has the evolutionary attributes of dispelling illusions and detaching from the egoic false self in order to transform the experience in a way that creates spiritual realization and enlightenment. There is profound cosmic spiritual wisdom in this Nakshatra that springs forth from the navel of Vishnu, the center of the galaxy. The Sun, the natural karaka or indicator for Atman in Mula asks us to delve into the center of our being, into the depths of our connection to All That Is, and to engage in our own metaphorical cosmic dance to destroy the lower forces of the physical senses, ego, and attachments in order to consciously attune with the spiritual unfolding of our True, Sacred, Divine Self.
Mercury conjoins Jupiter on December 21, 2018 at 12:37 p.m. EST Once again, Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Anuradha (the previous time, beginning their synodic cycle with Mercury retrograde was on Nov 27th). Regarding the Seed Moment of the Mercury-Jupiter from 3 weeks ago, I wrote that it relates to “intellectual expansion through teachings and growth related to commerce for the next 13 months. […] a new Mercury-Jupiter cycle of speaking our Truth.” This is a good time to check in with that and do any course correcting along those lines moving forward. Anuradha translates to “disciple of the divine spark” and has the Shakti power of worship and devotion. Thus, as these planets conjoin again in Anuradha, it is a good time to take the next step to increase your spiritual practice of Bhakti or devotion and expand your mind by reading spiritual books or listening to spiritual teachings. It is a good time to engage in philosophical conversations that are constructive, mind-expanding, and allow different perspectives – in other words not dogmatic, destructive conversations where someone’s ego thinks their false-self is an authority on Truth and sets their mind to convince.
Venus enters Vishaka Nakshatra on December 21, 2018 at 5:59 pm EST for 14 days. The planet of the five senses, desires, love, beauty, and happiness enters Vishaka where it passes through the gateway represented by the stars Zuben Elgenubi & Zuben Eschmali. At the external level, this gateway is into the unknown is about new experiences, discovery and achievement. At the internal level, this gateway is into the deeper spiritual dimensions of ourselves. Vishaka is a star of purpose and has the Shakti Power “to achieve many goals.”
Keeping in context with the theme of this lunation cycle for personal evolution and conquering the lower forces that get in the way of our spiritual progress, Venus in Vishaka speaks of passing through a gateway of new discoveries about our innermost Self, new achievements related to self-love, new happiness through spiritual practices. This comes just before the Full Moon where the cycle culminates. Now that it’s been 2 weeks since the New Moon began this lunation and the Mars-Neptune conjunction began their cycle, and we have been working on a daily spiritual practice, Venus invites us to step through this decorated gateway and enjoy our achievements thus far, allowing a moment to revel in the pleasures of our happiness with our progress just long enough for the inspiration to keep achieving our spiritual goals.
While this can be related to external achievements too, remember Venus can bind us to the pleasures of our physical senses and form attachments to achievements. It is best to seek out achievements where we are not attached to the result. Bear in mind the poem by William Blake that captures the non-attachment of Eastern philosophies “He who binds to himself a joy, does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies, lives in eternity’s sun rise.” Imagine Venus passing through a gateway leaving attachments of past and future behind and embracing the eternal presence of non-attachment.