New Beginnings or Regressions?

Namaste, Radiant Divinities (Ātmā Svarupāņi)

There have been some interesting developments in world affairs of late. Of note, the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the USA is significant. Some people are for it, others are against it. Personally, I do not care for politics and prefer to be neutral, as it has been demonstrated previously, and to date, that politicians tend towards corruption, this being evident with our own country, and who promote their own interests at the expense of those whom they should be serving. Will this choice herald a time of improved relations between countries and their leaders, or is it the harbinger of a greater regression that will come inevitably. I am thinking of the Yogis including my gurudeva Paramhansa Yogananda Giri who predicted that a great tribulation or revolution (mahakranti) would befall the world presaged by increased tensions between the USA, Russia and Europe. Is President Trump the trigger I wonder? Only time will tell, but I do not have a good feeling about this state of affairs.

Moving into an awareness of the astrological configurations in early November 2024, and bare in mind that Vedic Astrology (Jyotisha) is a precise science, to the degree, due to the accurate placement of the celestial phenomena. On 8 November, the Moon will transit into the sign of Capricorn and will enter Shravana Nakshatra whose symbol is the ear and, therefore, pertains to listening. The Moon recently exited an intense Mars and Pluto opposition, however, the prevalent energies continue acute in due course of events as these two planets are still “in orb” and synchronise with what has just occurred in the political world. As I understand it, this a time of reflection and listening to that inner voice, our conscience, which we tend to suppress and ignore. Saturn, relative to the Moon, transits into the second house which pertains to finances, accumulated wealth, “values, ethics and personal resources”, therefore, be cognisant of how you spend your money and reassess your life during this time. This is also a good time to give thanks for what we have and spare a thought for the Power that guides sustains us. Meditation on the lumbar cakra, opposite the naval, with accompanying visualisation of the colour yellow is valuable, and can be practiced together with the agni mudra to augment its effects. This will also balance the fire element in the system and negate irrational spending and behaviour. Venus, relative to the Moon, enters the twelfth house known as the “house of loss, liberation, isolation and decline” (Vyaya Bhava), which “represents our subconscious or hidden nature”, so expect that “hidden agendas” will surface during this time. The masks that we wear in our day-to-day interactions with people are part of the way we try to project the ideal version of ourselves so that we appear more acceptable to those with whom we interact, whether at home, during work or play, often with great discomfort, and how we deceive ourselves summarily. These may suddenly slip off causing embarrassing situations; perhaps you are embarrassing and it is time to experience this embarrassment, to get rid of the mask of self-deception, to be yourself. Jupiter, relative to the Moon, will enter the fifth house which pertains to “creativity, romance and children”, so get creative and tune into the energies of the sacral cakra which represents these things. If there are mental and energetic blocks to your creativity or your ability to open yourself to the possibility of a romantic relationship, within reason, this would also be a good time to explore what it is that is hindering you on a deeper level. Meditation on the sacral cakra opposite the generative organs, with accompanying visualisation of the colour orange, may help to balance your emotions and unleash your creativity. Meditation on the dorsal cakra, opposite the heart, with accompanying visualisation of the colour green, will balance the air element within the system and assist in healing and opening the heart. Further, practice of the granthita mudra will help to release the psychic knots of age-old attachment which hinder your development as a human being on a profound level. Take a break from work, and spend time with your children to strengthen the bond between you, during this time. Jupiter will aspect Mercury, so this an ideal time to communicate, network, meet interesting people, exchange ideas and so forth. If you are struggling to communicate for any reason, are susceptible to colds and flu, or do not know what you want to do with your life, meditate on the cervical cakra, opposite the throat, with accompanying visualisation of the colour blue. The Sun will enter the tenth house known as Karma Sthana or Karma Bhava which pertains to “career, profession, reputation and social status”, as well as action, and this links with what has already been mentioned regarding interpersonal relationships and creative expression, but, again, be especially attentive to your financial circumstances during this time. On 9 November, the Moon will transit into the sign of Aquarius, but, due to its proximity to Saturn, a “heaviness” will prevail on this day. The Moon will also enter Danishta Nakshatra which pertains to “timing” as well as wealth and prosperity. It is about being at the “right place at the right time”, so, make full use of whatever comes your way. Venus will square Neptune. The effects could be damaging potentially especially as regards love and romance because, Neptune represents illusion and as it is aspected by Venus, your judgment in matters of love and romance may be prejudiced on this day. Mars will enter the sixth house which pertains to “obstacles, hostilities, challenges, debt” and so forth, so expect that there may be some challenges in the workplace, at home, with health and so on. Mercury will be positioned at 150 of Scorpio which in turn is conjunct with the fixed star Antares, so expect tensions to escalate and be careful about how you express yourself verbally. An antidote to a troubled mind is Hatha Yoga asana sadhana. Get out of your head and diffuse the emotional bomb you harbour. Recourse to the practice of pranayama techniques such as shitali and shitakari to quell the blustering emotions is recommended. Meditate on the lumbar cakra, as aforesaid. On 10 November, the Moon will continue to be stationed in the sign of Aquarius, but will transit into Shatabhisha Nakshatra or the “one-hundred physicians or doctors”, and because this nakshatra is ruled by Rahu, the northern lunar node, expect a time of intensification as regards responsibilities, with an accompanying sense of melancholy and heaviness, which can be negated by the judicious practice of bhastrika pranayama, and meditation. Jupiter, relative to the Moon, will transit into the fourth house which pertains to family (including pets) as well as general interpersonal relationships, so, if you haven’t visited or spoken to your family members or friends for a long time, this would be the ideal time to do so. Creating safe nurturing spaces in the home e.g. a little meditation room with some pictures of saints, incense, crystals and so forth, which is private and where you can foster spiritual practices and marshal your energies after a long day’s work or in troubled times, also pertains to the fourth house. This is also an ideal time to renovate the home to improve its circumambient environs and energy flows.

In closing, please take note that the Hiranya Mandala School of Yoga Integration and Meditation will be closing on 20 December and will reopen on 6 January 2025. I will be available for private yoga lessons for those who are interested in starting or continuing with their practices. Please be reminded that the 200-hr and 500-hr ISHTA Yoga Teacher Training Courses will commence promptly in February 2025, so, if you are interested in deepening your understanding and working knowledge of Yoga, you are welcome to contact me to discuss the matter at length. I will e-mail my 2025 Prospectus very soon which contains all of the information regarding the various courses. Further, the online Bhagavad Gita study will restart on Monday when the school reopens next year, and I welcome any questions that you may have in this regard. I also intend to introduce Vedic chanting classes next year, as an extension of the Sanskrit offering at the school which is really exciting.

Until next time, keep up with your yoga practices.

Hari OM,

Yogacharya George