*Mercury Retrogrades August 12, 2017 – Sept 5, 2017
Mercury retrogrades in Leo

THEME: This combination can also bring about huge changes in behind the scenes deals in business, banking, the black markets, and we will likely see some more hacking of bitcoin accounts during this time, or the creation of some dastardly computer virus or schemes.  Rahu with Mercury can be very unstable, and focused on personal gain – so the hedge fund world, and those obsessed with money will be in full force, as well as money laundering schemes.

Your personal theme: See where you have been lying to yourself to make yourself look good.
Do you say that you do something, and then notice that you don’t do it as often as you imply?
Where can you shine the light of LOVE on a part of yourself or your inner child, so that there is not as much a need to show off or bend the truth.

You have over three weeks to uncover this and help bring the light to a part of how you communicate. Speaking the truth about an inner need will be the eventual blessing which can bring intimacy in an important relationship by the end of this retrograde.

On Monday August 28, 2016 a private LIVE (for Conscious Calendars Subscribers only) class with Kathleen on the effects of this Mercury Retrograde, how to pull the gift and lessons from this tumultuous and fiery cycle that can inspire some brilliant life changing ideas.

Welcome Year of the Fire Rooster!

Year of the FIRE ROOSTER only occurs once every 60 years and the entire Taoist Animal Calendar is actually 120 years, which matches the Vedic Planetary Cycles of life in each person’s birth horoscope.

Those born Jan 31 1957 – Feb 17 1958 and after Jan 28 this year, are Fire Roosters.

Famous people born in the year of the Fire Rooster are:
Vanna White, Fran Drescher, Ray Ramano, Spike Lee, Gloria Estefan, Donny Osmond, Russell Simmons, Steven Fry, Katie Couric, Caroline Kennedy, LeVar Burton, Steve Buscemi, Denis Leary, Mukesh Ambani as just a few examples.

Fire Roosters are keen observers, proud to be upright citizens and will tell you the truth so plainly that it sometimes stings a little. Roosters are dreamers even though they are incredibly pragmatic and practical. They are social, enjoy talking and devoted, and when in love can shower who they adore with generous gifts and care.

Fire Rooster 1897, 1957, 2017

Fire Rooster in a “1” Year can be like a meteor.

With Fire giving vim and vigor – this Rooster has fierce focus, is motivated toward the long term goal and can be a great leader, as long as you agree with how they want to lead.
The eclipses this year from the Vedic Astrology point of view simultaneously bring focus to leadership – and how a big vision can be lost if the details and understanding of the inner workings or moving parts are not understood.  The mis-match of Leo/Aquarius eclipses desiring to just say it and make it so and the detail oriented, make sure all the parts work together – ‘down in the trenches’ kind of ability that the Rooster brings could cause some friction between bosses and workers and the executive/visionary/leader and those who implement the plans and project managers.

The friction will be the greatest between boss and worker or visionary and project manager in February and August of 2017.

Fire Roosters will be able to act with precise power, be independent and will excel in their management skills. The negative side of the fire rooster could flare up as appearing to be melo-dramatic, thin-skinned, nervous and unstable temporarily.

Since success is such a driving force for the fire rooster, the single-minded ability to focus on what needs to get done to achieve new heights will fuel the fire. This kind of Rooster will cling to his/her views and seize control over their own fact-finding and feasibility studies. Since this Rooster remains fixed in their opinions, they will not be easily swayed by others input but will still be the ethical and professional that they are.

What the Rooster may lack in flexibility, they make up for it in that they are contributing to noble causes and are steadfast in supporting good causes and being an upright citizen. When you receive a Fire Roosters support, you will succeed this year by applying their talents in all the right ways.

Chinese New Year always begins on a New Moon.

Chinese New Year is considered the greatest human migration in China.

For instance, Beijing is a city of 21.7 million currently and when the migrant workers of Beijing return home to their families in the country – it leaves a dent on the streets, since they leave by the millions.

“Chinese take more than three billion trips during this period, more than 200 million by rail, so just getting a ticket is a bit like winning the lottery.”…

“There is a saying in China: “Rich or poor; get home for the holiday” ( 有钱没钱，回家过年). It has become a bit of a cliché. But for Chinese, and Chinese migrants in particular, going home for the Lunar New Year, or Spring, festival is near mandatory and often the only time of the year they can be with their families.” (from CNN 2014)

A majority of Chinese travel home to be with family in time to celebrate the Lunar New Year together. It is like Christmas is celebrated in Western cultures. Everything shuts down on New Year in order to be with family and start the New Moon Year with a fresh start.

It is not just one day

Lunar New Year is not just celebrated on one day. It is celebrated for an entire month. I explain more below. On Lunar New Year, you are already half way through the celebration!

Things to do during the Month long celebration of Lunar New Year

Debts are paid, grievances forgiven, celebrations and firecrackers abound. The noise at Chinese New Year is to scare away the negative influences – which are different according to which animal year is being celebrated.

The celebration typically begins two weeks before the New Moon of Chinese New Year, and is celebrated for another two weeks beyond January 28, 2017 this year. The celebrations actually finish mid-February this year on Valentine’s Day; with the Full Moon.

Celebration is based on the Moon Calendar – from Full to New to Full Moon

The Full Moon on January 12th begins the celebration. Cleaning and clearing up to the New Moon are an important part to be ready for the new energy of the year.

The celebration is a month long really – starting at the Full Moon in January, culminating in the celebration just before and on the New Moon with a fresh new start to the year with private parties at home with family and friends.

The completion of the celebration within community and business relationships is on the Full Moon in February 2017.

Clear out the Old

Cleaning is typically a big part of preparation for Chinese New Year.

So, sweep out what is old and no longer working for you. Choose a new pair of shoes and clothes to wear as you step out into the world this Chinese New Year.

Forgive past grievances, and make good on your financial debts. This is all part of making the best of the New Year.

If we all did this every year, we all would be lighter in our hearts and minds.

So, what are you letting go of as the Moon wanes from Full to the quiet day just before the New Moon?

Some details about the solar-lunar calendar and Chinese New Year

Red day before New Moon

The RED day on the Conscious Calendar fell the day before Chinese New Year, because the RED day lands the day before the New Moon 90% of the time. The RED day for January is January 27, 2017.

The First Lunar Day begins in North America and the Canadas on Jan 28^th because the New Moon occurs there at 7:07 pm Eastern Standard Time, but it is the Sunrise on the first day with the New Moon which defines the Chinese New Year!

Nurture your Dreams

And then, what are you calling into your life with the fresh new start this spring? Let the Earth support your new projects like seeds well planted, watered and loved.

Grow your Health

May your dreams blossom, and health be with you in every breath, is my wish for you this New Year.

The Chinese New Year of the Year 2017 will be Saturday, January 28, 2017, year of the Fire Rooster.

Cultivate Intuition

Happy Birthday to anyone born on the 29th!

You are creative, intuitive, decisive, introspective and a closer.

Those born on the 29th ALSO have an exalted birth number according to Indian Numerology (like the last two days).

If you are born on the 29th then 29 = 2 as your psychic birth number and this relates to the Moon as your ‘planet’.

Ok, this Moon is not traditionally in Green Day territory because this kind of Moon can have a rough and tumble energy to it, and shake things up in our lives – but we happen to also have the beautiful Venus shining its light from Gemini and wise Jupiter sending rays of light to the Moon from Leo onto the Moon in Purva Ashada in Sagittarius today – finally.

The double positive energy gives this a Green Day stamp, plus the Moon is in a sign of Jupiter, Sagittarius.

This all adds up to a kind of wild Green Day!

Taurus and Cancer ascendants or Moon people might feel a bit off today, but everyone else will get stuff done, and move significant projects forward.

Purva Moons

All moons of this flavor (called Purva) have an intensity to them – so this is not a traditional Green Day with smoothness and ease.

Purva Ashada Moon in Sagittarius

Those born with this Moon are often famous because their name is fanned around quite a bit, but they are not wilting flowers either.  They often speak their mind, and speak a bit louder than average too; this adds to being noticed and remembered, if not in a positive way, they are remembered.  This contributes to their own unique form of fame.

To recap:
June 21 is a Green Day in the Conscious Calendars system.

Now, a Green Day usually brings ease, tasks easily completed and some form of luck and happiness to the day.
This Green Day is a bit different since connects with Venus behind the Sun, and the planet Jupiter in Leo, but this day’s moon is in Purva Ashada, a place of intensity.

So this wild Green Day will be blessed but is a bit less stable than most Green Days.
Use it to your advantage still, since this is the second of ONLY two Green Days in June 2016.

Conscious Calendars

To learn more about Conscious Calendars, sign up for your free Calendar and try it out.  Test in your life and see what you think of the Green, Yellow and Red days. There is a key that comes with the calendar and videos to help guide you through the system – but it is REALLY SIMPLE – Red means pause and lay low or stop, look and listen; Yellow means look out for complications and be aware, and Green means all systems GO!

The full moon screams fullness since it coincides with the longest day of the year on June solstice, but the theme of this particular full moon connects with editing and pruning according to the Vedic myths and meaning of this Moon.

This full Moon is in Mula – translated from Sanskrit as ‘the root’.

spiral galaxy milky way

The FULL MOON in June is aligned with the CENTER OF OUR GALAXY

Whoa – think about that, our solar system’s Sun will have the full moon between it and the center of our galaxy.

The first few degrees of Sagittarius where the Moon will be full is smack dab in line with our Sun and the center of the Galaxy.

THAT MEANS THAT AS YOU LOOK AT THE RISING FULL MOON ON JUNE 20TH, YOU WILL BE LOOKING IN THE DIRECTION OF GALACTIC CENTER.

SUPER CHARGE YOUR JETS

It is like the centers of our solar system and galaxy are charging this full moon from both sides.

(The center of the galaxy is a super massive black hole, which is surrounded by young star factories throwing millions of degree winds that get flung into the galaxy suburbs. For instance, one spot near galactic center produces Xrays from SagittariusB1 that is surrounded by a halo of gas that is 5,000 times more massive than the Sun. from CXC Chandra x-ray Center).

That is some massive light bathing the Moon from both sides.

Let the Light heal you

Let the light of the Sun shower healing upon you in the reflection of the Moon, knowing that the dark side of the moon is receiving rays from the center of the galaxy, as you stand aligned with the rising full Moon.

Have a harmonic convergence with friends and family, as you watch the Moon rise on Solstice.

The region of sky in early Sagittarius is called the root in Sanskrit, and planets or the Moon aligned here bring deep, intense spiritual lessons.

That is why this Solstice Full Moon is like the Yin Yang symbol – not only is this Solstice the turning point of summer or winter where you live, it is also a time to let go when we are filled with light and the fullness of hope.

Letting Go

Oddly enough, this will bring more peace than we can ever imagine, if when we are in the fullness of celebration, when we are with loved ones, or receiving a prize or accomplishing something – if we can relinquish any sense that “I” did this or that “I” have a beautiful family and friends, but in that moment wish for others and all of the world that everyone else experience such joy, accomplishment, and diminished pain.

We are reminded that joy and pain are both temporary too. The fleeting celebration at solstice makes it more able to be cherished since you know this brightness will not last.

Healthy Fruit by Wise Pruning

This particular Full Moon means we can have healthy fruit of our efforts from this June and great growth this year if we listen to our waking dreams at the beginning of the month – and if we prune, edit or purge something in our project or life around the full energy of the month.

Strength from Pruning

A bonsai is strong because of the pruning it receives. It concentrates its energy in the remaining branches.

It’s like you are an orchard; you can prune the weak branches in your life to shore up strength while fertilizing and fortifying the many parts of yourself with rest, fun, showering in the light and replenishment.

See why I needed three posts to share three THEMES with you?

Align with cosmic rhythms

Even if life seems to be moving fast right now – even just pausing and watching your breath at sunset somewhere between June 19 – 22 will help align you with your natural cosmic rhythms.

To drinking-in the light together this June.

Here is the SECOND theme of Solstice highlight to help you use the energy of this season.

~ Full Moon in a place of Pruning ~
You already know that Solstice on June 20 this year coincides with a full moon, which is somewhat RARE.
Now, here are the flavors of the these two important days this month in this and the next blog post
June 20 & June 21.

A Fire for virtual offerings from Kathleen Whalen on Vimeo.

June 20, 2016 Full Moon in Sagittarius

2. A Whole New You
Use the virtual fire above for an easy ritual:
Write down ONE thing that you want to let go, release or be “done” with; or ONE obstacle which seems to be in your way to complete a project and then burn that piece of paper in a fire, or in a small crucible of metal or candle holder, sometime from June 19 – 22.

Make sure the fire is contained, as you release your attachment to the issue and see the obstacles, known and unknown dissolving.  Or use the fire above to throw what you are letting go into the fire. This way we are all joined together in acts of letting go.  No need to wait – just mentally throw what you want to release into this fire and say it out loud. Have some fun releasing!

See and feel that issue being finished, but most importantly feel the release and freedom. The feeling is the most important part of these kind of rituals, it is the special ingredient to embodying this new place, this new you, this now.

How does it feel or would it feel to be free of this one thing? Allow the feeling to wash over you and go about your day, you will probably feel lighter and move a little easier.

When we add drops of quiet or slowness in the FULLEST week of the year, we compound the effect of building qi and prana and cultivate restoration that ripple deep within us.

Photo of the night sky featuring a Moon Corona or Halo on a winter’s night.

Sharing a Moonbow with a June full moon to help you celebrate the light.

June 20th is almost a mild Green Day in the Conscious Calendars system, but the theme of the full moon is not about planting seeds, it is about clearing that develops spiritual strength.  Read more below.  

June 20 at 11:02 UTC The Moon is Full in Sagittarius and  on June 20 at 22:35 UTC it is also Summer Solstice.

The longest day of the Year in the northern hemisphere = celebration, community gathering and a time of letting the energy flow through you.

(It is also the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere).

Friday June 17 – temporary shift reducing anger, intensity, random cuts, hitting heads & accidents

There is SO much happening this next week, that I have plucked three important lessons to help you make a difference in your life.

Did you know that the Full Moon and Solstice are on the same day this year on June 20?

The energy of the Sun has reached its peak length of light in our lives for the year, since the days literally begin to shorten the day after summer solstice.  See the post with the video to teach you more about this special event of the full moon and solstice occurring on the same day in June 2016.

Brought to you by Smithsonian, we can now see the entire ancient city of Angkor Wat.
It is much larger and more organized than ever thought before.

“LIDAR sends out a million laser points to create a digital outline of the land’s surface. Scientists are using these high-tech renderings to uncover the secrets of Angkor Wat and the original metropolis that once surrounded it.” Smithsonian

Ancient city of Angkor Wat

The ancient practice of Vasthu was used to plan temples, and entire civilizations to be in harmony with the geo-cosmic forces of the Earth.

What are Geo-Cosmic Forces? What is Vasthu?

The two main forces that affect all living things on Earth and relate to where and how we live are:
prana or life force which comes from the East with the rising sun each day, and
the geo-cosmic energy which runs generally North-South under our feet through the Earth.

These two forces set up a trajectory of energy which infuses every location on the planet, and affect the harmony, vitality and peace or dissonance, angst and disruption at every site.

Each city has its own energetic fingerprint.  For instance, a Vasthu expert I know, Mangal Joshi mentioned that the Vasthu of the Nepal land will foster deep spirituality and faith, but the nation will always be poor because the Himalyas are to the North – the direction of prosperity is blocked, and thus abundance by typical Western standards will be blocked.  But this is a sacred land which has preserved sacred information for many thousands of years.  They may not be rich according to Vasthu, but Nepal has other great resources which has made it the interest of the surrounding countries.  The land informs the history and energy of a place.

The ancient practice of Vasthu used this knowledge to set up sacred, flowing, safe, harmonious, prosperous, peace inducing temples and eventually cities and civilizations.  The city of Angkor Wat is but one example of Vasthu design.  Vasthu is sacred architecture which inspires vitality and harmony in those who live and visit these places.

Now, with Lidar we are able to see just how organized and enormous the civilization of Angkor Wat was and how Vasthu played a vital role in the establishment of such a vast metropolis.
What is even more mind blowing is to know that this huge city-state existed over 900 years ago.  It is time to change our history books in the West.

Video shares Angkor Wat History

This video shares a little more about the history, but is incorrect when it says that the temple is set up like a mandala – it is actually set up like a Yantra which is based in Sacred Geometry.  The temple and city center would have used sacred geometry and Vastu (which often used Yantra and sacred geometry as the blue print for sacred spaces).
And this video is also wrong in perpetrating that Hinduism was believed to only be in India – there has long been evidence and it is taught in many countries, in the UK for instance, that Hinduism has been found around the world, from Mohenjo-daro to Egypt to Minoan Greece.

Take this video with a grain of salt.   I just shared it because it has a few extra pieces of history added to it. Remember, this site was built in A.D. or what is called C.E. now.

The ancient cities of Mohen-daro on the other hand were built in 2,500 B.C.E. which is even more of a feat.

What do you think of these new discoveries?  Please share what you think with me.

Would like to know more about Vedic Astrology and how Vasthu? Go HERE for more on the history and how to use Vedic Astrology in your life.

If you would like to receive Vedic Astrology insights, health tips and general information on harmonious, healthy living – go HERE to sign up on Kathleen’s Veda Guide email list.

June 2016 Solstice and Full Moon Special Event from Kathleen Whalen on Vimeo.

Double the Light

That is double the light, double the vitality, double the energy to celebrate and connect with nature, family, friends and fun.
The last time this happened was 11 years ago!

Last time over 100 years ago

If you would like to stay in touch with weekly cosmic rhythm, join me over on Facebook page www.iLoveVedicAstrology.com

Beautiful Girl Jumping in the Air on a Mountain

New Moon theme: CREATIVITY IS WHISPERING IN YOUR EAR

The Moon brings great light to consciousness when it in this region of Taurus (called Rohini in Sanskrit, its mooltrikona). Since the Moon is new in this special place, it brings you the message as a secret gift is being sprinkled into your soul.

It is as if the night will come and whisper a secret into your ear while you are sleeping. You will remember what you need when the time comes.
Your dreams will bring you gifts!

This is a subtle message of creativity as hope arrives in the middle of a high energy time of summer (in the northern hemisphere) and brings the quietest energy of the year in mid-winter for those in the southern hemisphere.

This New Moon is connected with fertility, verdant growth, and deep creativity, but it is a new moon – which means the energy is still vulnerable, and not yet ready to be shared with the world. It is a time of beginnings, but of ideas and dreams that still need to be tended close to your heart.

For instance, I waited to plant strawberry starts I purchased 10 days ago until this first Lunar day on June 5th ~ to align with the seeding new energy and give the plants the best growing conditions.
It is the same growing conditions with ideas, hopes, home, community or work projects, conversations and starting anything new. This new moon supports organized and steady growth.
In the short term you will see these results through June 20, and in the long term seeds of actions planted from June 5 – June 20 will grow steadily for an entire year.

Listen to Your Dreams
This New Moon gives the energy to seed dreams, and my advice is to LISTEN TO YOUR EARLY MORNING DREAMS – LISTEN to what comes in your meditation or mantra practice from June 2 – June 9. It is not a time for acting large and bold on an idea – it is a time to harness the energy around an idea, around creativity and letting small dreams grow slowly and steadily through June 20th.

New Moon Activity:
From June 2 – 9, do ONE of the following each day.
• Wake Before Dawn and write down memories, impressions, images or scenes from your last dream of the morning.
• Journal after meditating or sitting quietly, any time in the day. Quiet will bring you answers, especially in this window of time. You will be able to look back in two weeks and see your answers plain as day.
• Take 10 – 20 minutes to allow yourself to be creative in any way. Try line drawing, coloring, painting, adding edible flowers to your salads, singing with your favorite songs out loud, dancing, or allowing your arms and body to sway in some free form way.
Dance as if no one is watching, since this truly helps unleash healthy stimulus to mind and soul and will balance your being in entirely new ways.

If you would like to stay on top of weekly planetary alignments and what it all means – and get guidance on how to act in alignment with the energy of the day, then join the Conscious Calendar community over on the free Facebook page.