Metaphysics
Divination And The Element Of Air
Various ancient cultures, metaphysical traditions and mystical teachings identify five elements that constitute the world we live in. In Western occult traditions, these elements are typically arranged in the hierarchical order of spirit (aether), fire, air, water, and earth.
Spirit or aether is the nonphysical element (or ‘fifth element’) that serves as a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical realms. Spirit is the bridge between the body and soul.
Fire is the masculine element representing inner strength, transformative power, courage, protection, purification, and assertive action.
Air is the element associated with creativity, knowledge, learning, mental intention and the universal life force.
Water is the feminine element of emotion, intuition, inner reflection and the subconscious.
Earth represents grounding, stability, fertility, family roots, and the cycles of death and rebirth.
Air is my favorite element in spiritual practice, as is associated with ideas, concepts, inspiration, and innovative thinking. It is also the element of wisdom and divination.
Working with the air element sharpens ideas, enhances experiments, and paves the way for new inventions. Musicians and artists are typically inspired by the element of air. Air is however a fickle element as it can come as a gale-force hurricane, or a calm, soothing breeze…just like our thoughts.
Astrology Forecast November 14 – 20, 2022
Leo Moon energy has us in high gear for the first three days of this week, encouraging us to be more assertive and proactive in reaching for our dreams.
If you commute to work, be on the lookout for potential road ragers or aggressive people on public transport when you make your way home Tuesday afternoon, as the Leo Moon square with Uranus in Taurus could cause people to become extremely moody, irritable and unstable. Also avoid getting into an argument with your partner or spouse, as things could turn really nasty very quickly! The Leo Moon opposition with Saturn in Aquarius Tuesday night may add even more fuel to this fire, so it may be a good idea to avoid unnecessary drama at home by going to bed early.
Venus will move into Sagittarius on Wednesday, bringing out our light-hearted side as we begin to prepare for the holidays. Creativity will be heightened for the next six weeks, encouraging us to invent new traditions, create home-made gifts, and find innovative ways to celebrate the Christmas season that lies ahead.
Mercury will join Venus in Sagittarius on Thursday, adding even more fuel to the fire, as we let our imagination soar!
Thursday and Friday’s Virgo Moon will bring out our organizing side, encouraging us to start putting a detailed plan together for the weeks ahead. This Moon is also ideal for attending to important health and financial matters that need to be addressed.
A lovely Libra Moon transits this weekend, reminding us to embrace the beauty in our world and embrace an attitude of gratitude. It will be a good time to regroup, rebalance and relax.
The Truth About Spiritual Growth
One increasingly sees social media influencers and self-appointed gurus preaching personal growth and development online. It has become a fad to sell such growth courses, services and products. But do these offerings represent and promote true spiritual growth?
Material growth can indeed be achieved with some discipline, determination, further education, hard work and proper use of one’s mental faculties. However, spiritual growth is a different matter. It cannot be bought, learned, or achieved with temporary efforts, for it is an organic, lifelong growth process. Always seeking with sincerity, patience and humility is to grow spiritually.
Our spiritual growth is something we are solely responsible for, and it is a process in which you alone can be your worst enemy, or best ally. This is the kind of growth where the reality of what you have been attracting into your life is exposed over time. Regardless of your choices, the only one who bears the responsibility and consequences is you.
Spiritual evolution is highly personal and individual. Other people and external situations cannot secure your spiritual expansion in this lifetime. It may be that the people and circumstances in your life are currently not resonating with you. If you want to grow spiritually and attract more of what you want, instead of what you do not want, trying to force situations or change other people is pointless.
The true spiritual seeker must also take care not to become caught up in a ‘savior mentality’ of thinking you need to save or open the minds of everyone around you. The spiritual choices of another is not your duty or responsibility. Your only responsibility is to personally evolve and inspire others by example through your own attitude and achievement.
The Supreme Source Of All Healing
Spiritual practice is unique for every individual. I have been drinking from the well of wisdom in the Vedas for the past 35 years, especially the Srimad-Bhagavatam, also known as the Bhagavata Purana, one of Hinduism’s eighteen great puranas.
The Vedas are the original Sanskrit texts of India’s ancient spiritual culture featuring a vast body of wisdom in every field of human life, to help the soul navigate this world and reach the ultimate destination beyond.
This ancient manual of life was compiled by Srila Vyasadeva, who is revered by great saints and seers as a literary incarnation of God. In Sanskrit, he is called a saktyavesa-avatara, which means one who is empowered with energy of Divinity to fulfill a distinct purpose. In the case of Vyasa, his Divine purpose was the writing of everything that humans need to know to fulfill their aims and completely awaken spiritually.
Although Vyasadeva was an avatar, and therefore not an ordinary person, he felt despondent after composing all the Vedas. His guru, Narada Muni, the great sage among the demigods, then appeared to him and explained that the cause of his despondency was that he had not yet fully glorified the personal feature of the Absolute Truth.
Taking this to heart, Vyasadeva then meditated deeply on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and wrote Srimad-Bhagavatam from his matured and purified realization.
In Vyasadeva’s own estimation, the most profound of all spiritual wisdom within the Vedas is found within the Srimad-Bhagavatam. And the cream of that cream he describes as bhakti, devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Astrology Forecast November 7 – 13, 2022
Tomorrow the Taurus Full Moon eclipse marks the second lunar eclipse in two weeks, setting us up for a major energy shift and a new focus for the next six months. Because it occurs in Taurus, it presents us with a golden opportunity to devise new plans, strategies or goals to improve our financial prosperity and our physical and mental health well into the first quarter of 2023. Be wise and make good use of this energy influence.
Today and tomorrow’s Taurus Moon make for a productive start to the week, allowing us to address anything that’s been on the back burner or at the bottom of our to-do list.
Wednesday through Friday we’ll be spending more time than usual on the information highway, as the Gemini Moon encourages us to do research, develop new ideas, and reach out to collaborate with others. There’s power in numbers, so join forces with others to make the most progress.
If you currently have unresolved conflict or tension with a loved one, friend or relative, then the Gemini Moon trine with Saturn in Aquarius this Wednesday evening provides the ideal opportunity to have that talk and settle the matter. This transit makes us feel mentally strong and helps us to better control our emotions. It will also be a good time to talk about money matters and make financial decisions.
An easy and flowing weekend awaits under the Cancer Moon, encouraging us to focus on self-care, restoring order to our surroundings, and immersing ourselves in creative and self-care activities.
Your Soul Also Needs Sleep!
Sleeping disorders are at an all-time high in this day and age. Not getting enough sleep is related to many health factors including, weight gain, heart disease, lethargy, headaches, memory loss and irritability. It also creates a dependency on caffeine, sugar and other stimulants.
Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Few people are actually getting that. Many are tossing and turning and not having quality sleep or enough REM (rapid eye movement sleep) time. I believe this time is when our soul leaves our body and spends time reconnecting to the spiritual realm. To me, this human respite and spiritual connection is just as important as the health effects quality sleep has on the body. We need time to dream and resolve our problems and conflicts. Even my dogs dream as they twitch and growl, finally getting to catch that pesky squirrel that keeps eluding them during their waking hours. Resolution!
Based on the Kundalini yoga and spiritual science philosophy I teach, there are changes that happen in the brain that create sleeping disorders. Yes, too much caffeine, too much radiation, and too much drama and television can create sleep disorders. But more often than not, it is our breathing patterns, that disturb our sleep.
Yes, our breathing affects our sleep. How? The right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body. Both are considered the yin, feminine, subconscious, intuitive, spiritual and creative side. The left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body. Both are considered the yang, masculine, active, analytical, methodical sides.
Astrology Forecast October 31 – November 6, 2022
Today may start off feeling like it will be a blue Monday, with the Capricorn Moon conjunction with Pluto casting a gloomy, dispirited shadow this morning. This transit is notorious for making us feel moody and even depressed. Also avoid discussing your taxes or money issues with your partner this morning, as it could lead to an explosive argument!
Aim to keep your cool until mid-morning when the Capricorn Moon sextile with Jupiter in Pisces will improve our mood and open up new energies for business opportunities and money-making possibilities.
The Moon shifts into Aquarius later today and transit this constellation for the first three days of this week. With this aspect we can count on some changes in direction and new ways of thinking. We’ll have to guard against moving in rash ways or making steadfast decisions under this influence. However, we’ll be presented with some unusual ideas and opportunities we can put into practice in the near future.
Thursday and Friday unfold under a Pisces Moon, where our intuition and spiritual practices take center stage. Even without all the facts, we can move with our hearts and trust that Spirit is directing the traffic.
The weekend will most likely be our most productive part of the week, as the Moon travels through action-oriented Aries and will have us prepping for the change of season, attending to household repairs, or joining others in fun adventures. Whatever activities we decide to fill our weekend with, being a couch potato should ideally not be one of them.