This lunar month begins at high noon Pacific time on Tuesday, May 11, with the sun exalted in Aries. The fire element  is very powerful this month, with the central fire of our solar system placed in a sign of fire.

The sun is in the lunar mansion of Krittika, whose deity is  Agni, deified fire. The sun rules this lunar mansion, making it an important time to work with the fire energy in our lives!

Agni is one of the most venerated deities in ancient Indian spiritual tradition. His quality of Tejas, radiant heat, is essential for spiritual awakening. Agni supports the ability to digest information, resulting in mental clarity and courage on the spiritual path.

This lunar mansion's shakti is the power to burn or purify, so using the element of fire in spiritual ceremonies can be very powerful at this time, for incinerating our karmic habits and tendencies.

The symbol of Krittika is a razor or sharp cutting blade, offering the potential to cut through obstacles and resistance. 

In terms of  health, Agni is the digestive fire which is the foundation of good health. Having a strong digestive fire can protect us from many ailments as we are able to absorb nutrients better, as well as get rid of toxic wastes.

My favorite everyday Agni medicine is ginger, which enhances digestion, and is also a powerful anti- inflammatory. Drinking warm ginger tea or adding ginger to soups is a great way to get its benefits.

The ayurvedic formula Triphala (three fruits) is also an excellent daily herbal supplement for supporting digestion. It nourishes, cleanses, and rejuvenates the whole body.

Fire is also associated with anger and aggression, so this is a good time to bring these tendencies into balance as well.
We can bring in the water element to balance hot emotions through prayer and devotional practices. Another approach is to find an outlet for strong fiery energies through exercise, sports or assertive activities. It is especially good to use the fire energy in a way that protects or benefits others.

In terms of the environment, it is already too hot and dry here in California, and we may be facing a challenging fire season. Preparing for evacuation and hardening our homes against fire is something that many of us need to do this month.
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There is a powerful, traditional Buddhist prayer for bringing elemental balance during dangers such as fire, floods, or tornados. It is a supplication to Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born. He is known as the second Buddha, and can powerfully tame the elements. If you would like a copy of this prayer, just reply to this email with a request.

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A new lunar month begins on Sunday, April 11, at 7:31PM Pacific time.
The moon is new in the sign of Pisces, represented by the ocean, and the vastness of spiritual consciousness. This is a good time for meditation, and enjoying the ocean, or other large bodies of water. It will also occupy the nourishing lunar mansion of Revati, associated with safe travels.
Revati indicates travel both physically and symbolically, representing the journey from this life to the next. Pushan, the lord of this lunar mansion, guides his flock by shining his golden light on the path, gently shepherding lost members of the flock back to the path of Truth (dharma).
This nurturing lunar mansion can be good for travel (though not so much during the pandemic!), caring for animals, death doula and hospice service, and  helping any being in  a transitional state.
Venus has recently moved into the lunar mansion of Ashwini, associated with healing and travel, fortifying the themes mentioned above.
This is the first new moon since the blessed movement of Jupiter into Aquarius on April 5. In India, this event is celebrated on a massive scale in the Kumbha Mela festival.
This festival one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, as devotees take a holy bath in the Ganges River to cleanse and purify karma.
With Jupiter in Aquarius until September 14, we can enjoy the great Guru Jupiter's blessings in the areas of friendship, humanitarian movements, and unconventional innovations to correct our course and heal the world. 
After spending just over two months back in Capricorn, Jupiter will return to Aquarius on November 20. That period in autumn with Jupiter back in debilitation may be somewhat challenging. 

Have a great month!

Happy new moon! The moon is new this evening (Tuesday) at 8:38 PM Pacific time, so this is a great time to reflect on recent events and set intentions for the upcoming lunar month. I know this is an intense time for all of us, with political unrest on top of the pandemic.
This new moon takes place in the sign of Sagittarius, representing  truth, knowledge, justice, and freedom. It is also the ascendant of the United States.
This  yearly transit of Sun through Sagittarius is a supportive one for the United States, and for the values and ideals that this country is supposed to embody, however imperfectly implemented.
 Venus, representing love and harmony, is with the sun and moon  in Sagittarius as well. This looks very positive for some restoration of justice and harmony this month, especially through the efforts of women, as the two female planets are together here.  
Venus may bring some improvement in what sustains us, such as pandemic stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, or other economically supportive developments.
 Sagittarius is unafflicted, but there are challenging planets on each side, showing restrictions, regulations, and clamping down (Saturn in Capricorn) and the threat of violence/power struggle (Ketu in Scorpio).
Although not generally used in Vedic astrology, Pluto, representing subversive elements of society and the breaking down and rebuilding of structures is very close to the sun and moon at the time of the new moon, emphasizing this month’s theme of buried forces arising, and resultant transition and change.
Sun and Moon are in the lunar mansion of Uttarashada, which gives the power of unstoppable victory. It is represented by an elephant tusk and Ganesha and is associated with breaking through obstacles. This can show some progress in the area of justice and truth. Saturn, though in a different sign, is in this lunar mansion as well, emphasizing the opportunity for breakthrough through persistence and discipline.
However, there is a Kala sarpa yoga in the chart, which means that all the planets are contained between the north and south nodes, Rahu and Ketu, the karmic control/shadow planets.
 Kala sarpa yoga, tends to cause our karmas to arise fast and furiously. We have been seeing this happen since last week,  as forces that were once shadowy and more hidden (like Rahu and Ketu) are coming out in full force. 
This can indicate strong, direct, swift, and forceful action in the direction of healing. This may bring progress in treatments for the pandemic, including vaccines, which are very Ketu/Mars-like  with the use of needles and the emphasis on the defense/immune system.
Mars and Venus become more relevant as they rule the signs of the Kala Sarpa yoga. Ketu is in a sign of Mars, and Mars is currently very strong in its own sign of Aries, in the healing lunar mansion of Ashwini.
On a final note, I will share the advice of my Guru: Don’t worry – pray! Let us all pray that the turmoil and suffering of the past year result in a better era of living in harmony with the earth and each other. We can all do our part through prayers and aspirations to make this happen.olicy/restrictions (Saturn).
 Ketu is like an extra intense Mars, and can contribute to eruptions of violence, While Mars may bring intervention by police and military.
Rahu is in a sign of Venus, which is in Sagittarius as mentioned earlier, bringing truth, justice, and harmony with universal law and principles.
The lunar mansion of Venus is  Mula, which means the root, and can represent getting to the root, the dark side, the hidden side of things,  perhaps with some destruction involved. It has an energy similar to Pluto in some ways.
 This is like a boil which has been festering finally coming to the surface and erupting. Facing the smoldering side of ourselves and our society  needs to happen for healing to occur,  though it isn’t comfortable.
Both lunar mansions Ashwini and Mula are ruled by Ketu, which is  in the lunar mansion of Jyestha, ruled by Indra, king of the Gods, with the power to conquer or overcome. This shows the power struggles taking place at this time being a primary force in our society during the Kala sarpa yoga.
 Jyestha is also the lunar mansion of  our current president's moon, which can only be seen as an affliction for Trump,  as Ketu represents letting go and  destruction. In general, this indicates continued challenges in mental stability, but also misfortune and fall from power.
In the chart of the US, we are in a Rahu-Saturn-Saturn period from Nov. 1 of 2020 through April 15 of 2021. Saturn is in the 10th house of the government in the US chart, so leadership is likely to be more disciplined and strong during this time.
As Saturn represents restriction, rules, limits, pressures, and disease, this may be a time when we are dealing more directly with the pandemic. Saturn’s lunar mansion, Chitra,  represents design, innovation, and architecture.
During this time, a well thought out plan may emerge to deal with the pandemic and our social problems, which could involve new policies, rules, laws, and public health restrictions. The structure of Saturn the 10th house may be very reassuring in these tumultuous times.
In general, since Jupiter is moving away from the challenging conjunction we experienced at the solstice, and towards the US  moon, representing healing, the earth, and sentient beings, we should  see some slow improvement in the pandemic situation though medicines (Mars in Ashwini) and policy/restrictions (Saturn).
I also anticipate that the Saturn sub period we have entered will bring more accountability and responsibility on the part of our government, which may be just what we need for the climate crises, along with the pandemic crises and the social crises.
The inauguration chart also looks very powerful for both healing and strong action with Mars and moon  in healing Ashwini in the Ascendant, and Saturn and four other planets in the practical sign of Capricorn the 10th house of government
On a final note, I will share the advice of my Guru: Don’t worry – pray! Let us all pray that the turmoil and suffering of the past year results in a better era of living in harmony with the earth and each other. We can all do our part through prayers and aspirations to make this happen.
I hope you and your family stay safe and healthy at this time. You can contact me for a personal reading to look at what the stars show for you.

Happy New Year!!
Based on the new year’s chart for 2021, I do think there will be some improvement this year, though it will be slow. Jupiter, the planet of good  fortune and well being, is aspecting the ascendant, which is helpful,  but still debilitated and afflicted by Saturn and Rahu, bringing continued challenge.


The moon, representing healing, and sentient beings in general, is strong in its own sign of Cancer, in the lunar mansion of Pushyami, symbolized by the udder of a cow. It gives the power of spiritual nourishment, so it is a very nurturing and healing lunar mansion.


However, it is aspected by two malefics, Saturn and Mars, which is an improvement over last year’s new years chart, where  the moon received the aspect of three malefics.


Saturn’s aspect on the moon can give poverty, as well as  continued illness and suffering, but hopefully  to a lesser degree, as the aspect of Rahu is blessedly absent this year. Jupiter, with its tendency to improve things  is also aspecting the moon, but unfortunately  is unable to help much due to its own afflictions.


Rahu can represent poisonous,  invisible things, which can be confusing, mysterious, and therefore difficult to treat. Covid has shown itself to be the ultimate Rahu, and Rahu strongly dominated the chart last year.


Due to its connection with Rahu, Covid  is not a simple respiratory illness like the flu, and its long term effects are only gradually becoming known. It is wonderful that Rahu is not afflicting the moon this year!


One of the malefics aspecting moon is Mars. This year, Mars  is in the lunar mansion of Ashwini, represented by twin doctors with horse heads who ride their chariot through the skies, bringing medicine to the Gods. It gives the power to reach things quickly, and is also associated with plant medicine.


Mars represents the immune system (defensive capacity of the body), so this relates to the lightening speed rollout of the vaccines, as well as the use of herbal immune boosters related to Mars, such as Echinacea and Elderberry.


Please note that these herbal immune boosters should not be used when one is actually sick with Covid, to avoid causing cytokine storm, but are helpful for preventing contagious illnesses if taken when possibly exposed. Herbal medicine in general may be found to be effective and helpful this year.


Due to other types of astrological analyses, I do expect the pandemic situation to improve when Jupiter moves out of debilitation temporarily  in April.


Venus, the ruler of the second house of the mouth, food, and speech, is  afflicted in the sensitive sign of Scorpio with an exact conjunction of Ketu (the south node) and an aspect from Mars.


Ketu, which is strong here in its own sign,  can represent viruses, violence, and destruction in its negative connotations. As Venus represents relationships as well, relationships of all kinds could sustain damage.
It would be good to be careful with what you put in your mouth (food) as well as what comes out of your mouth (speech and communication in general) this year.


Venus and Ketu are in the lunar mansion of Jyestha, ruled by Indra, king of the Gods, which gives the power to rise, overcome, and conquer. This can bring strife and power struggles in relationships between people and political entities. It also represents transactional relationships, where people or entities exchange favors with little or no love involved.


This challenged Venus may represent a lack of harmony between states, nations, and in the world in general, so promoting peace by avoiding unnecessary conflict in all areas of life during this year would be prudent. As there is already too much polarization in this world, try not to see things in black and white terms, and instead, it would be best cultivate the Venusian traits of harmony, love, and compassion as much as you can.


On a positive note, Jyestha also represents spiritual warriors, and Ketu represents renunciates, hermits, and spiritual people who put others first. This can give extra power and ability to people who are working with the current world situation on a spiritual level.


Whatever prayers or mantras you are doing during this extraordinary time of transformation, please keep doing them! Please make strong aspiration prayers that the current sufferings of this world lead to a new era where we live in harmony with the planet and each other. We need to make big changes so that our planet will survive, and we must do it now.


I lead online prayers and practices for compassion and healing from the Buddhist tradition on Monday and Thursday evenings at 6 PM Pacific time, so please contact me if you would like to join us, or would like more details.


You can also contact me to schedule a reading to understand more about how this year looks for you.

Astrologically, we are going through a very significant time for the whole world, starting in late November. This webinar explores the effect of the transits and eclipses happening around the solstice, and their effects on the US political system as well as the pandemic.

We are having an interesting astrological week with the full moon on Halloween occurring  in the lunar constellation of Bharani.
Bharani is represented by the female genitalia, representing birth, and is ruled by Yama, the Lord of Death. It is the doorway both into and out of our world.
As the Lord of Death, he is also Dharmaraj, the lord of justice, who judges the good and bad karmas we have accumulated in life during our after death experience, in the bardo of becoming.
This lunar transit is an excellent time to contemplate our life's journey between life and death, known in Buddhism as the bardo of this life, and to be our own Lord of Justice to  weigh our actions and sense of direction. It is also a fortunate time to recognize our own mortality.
By facing the uncomfortable truth of  our own inevitable death, we are able to ground more fully in the present moment, and cherish the blessings in our life that are with us right now.
As we face so many challenges in our lives these days, contemplation on death can help us to put current events into some perspective, and allow us to not get too embroiled in the turmoil.
Saturday's full moon is also supported by an aspect from Jupiter, powerful in its own sign of Sagittarius. This makes it an even stronger day to grow in wisdom and to resolve to stick to a path of dharma and justice with the time we have left on this earth.
Jupiter will be leaving Sagittarius and entering Capricorn, its sign of debilitation, on November 19. I will write more about this transit and its challenges as the time gets closer.

I hope you are keeping well. During this transformative and difficult time, we can look to the ancient science of Vedic astrology for insight and guidance.
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Jupiter is now direct in its own fiery sign of Sagittarius, where it will remain until November 19. As Sagittarius is the sign of wisdom and righteousness, and Jupiter is very strong there, it is a time that justice and goodness could make some advances in the world.

Sagittarius is the ascendant of the United States, so focusing energies on just causes in the U.S. could be fruitful during this time.

Mars is in its own fiery sign of Aries, where it remains until October 3. As it is retrograde, its already assertive and sometimes agitating energy is ramped up, causing fires, conflicts, and aggression.

On a personal level, this may be a good time to reduce your caffeine intake, get plenty of sleep, and make time for relaxation. You can also try to avoid hassles and arguments that go nowhere.

Instead, try to focus those intense energies towards positive change. Transformative and righteous change is possible due to Jupiter's aspect on Mars, which helps those energies to be used for just and noble causes, based on truth.

What we really need to face right now is the devastating climate emergency that is becoming more and more apparent . I pray we can use these intense energies available to us with these transits to make real changes to bring the earth back into balance.

This includes electing leaders who will take action, so that our children are left with a habitable planet. Please vote, and encourage others to vote, as if your very life, and life of your loved ones, depends on it -- because it does.

As there are other astrological factors which are challenging at this time, prayers and mantras that strengthen the crucial Jupiterian energy are needed, and important.

The Sanskrit word for Jupiter is Guru. Our own pristine nature is the inner Guru, and there are also outer Gurus. A powerful mantra for invoking inner and outer Gurus is the Vajra Guru mantra. Please contact me if you would like information on how to chant this mantra.

I will be in touch again soon about other profound transits that are affecting the whole world, culminating on the winter solstice.

 Sun, Mars, and Ketu, which all represent fiery energy,  are currently in the fire trines of the zodiac,  bringing fires, heat, lightning, and inner fire as well. This webinar explores meditations, mantra, and spiritual practices for working with these energies, and a special prayer for averting wildfire and bringing the elements into balance.