On
March 11, 2013 at 3:51 p.m. the New Moon takes place in the sidereal degree
(Lahiri Ayanamsha) of 27°21' Aquarius. The Nakshatras must be used with
sidereal zodiac positions because they are observed against the backdrop of
stars. You can still use nakshatras if you work with planets in the tropical
zodiac positions. Just be sure you pull the sideral position to have the
correct nakshatra.
Purva Bhadrapada at a Glance:
Zodical Degrees: 20:00 Aquarius - 3:20 Pisces
Translation: Early or proceeding (Purva) happy, blessed, fortunate (Bhadra) feet (pada).
Symbols: front legs of a couch; sword
Fixed Stars: Markeb & Scheat of Pegasus
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Ruling Deity: Aja Ekapada
Guna: sattvic (spiritual harmony) with rajasic undertones (activity)
Purushartha: artha (goal directed activity)
Disposition: fierce
Gender: Male
Gana: Manusha (human)
Animal: lion
Direction: west
Keynote: sacrifice, spiritual fire
Shakti: Yajamana (sacrifice, ceremony, worship) Udyamana (elevation); universal perspective from fire of purification
Indications of Purva Bhadrapada:
Purva Bhadrapada is a visionary nakshatra with a focus on the future, especially universal goals that uplift humanity and provide purification. It has an eccentric and mystical quality to it. It is associated with those who march to the beat of their own drum, are good speakers with good business skills who are good at making money, and are opinionated, passionate, and independent. It can bestow either an intelligent, philosophical, and witty nature, or an impulsive, high strung, coercive nature, and often times a combination of both. Careers associated with this nakshatra are Astrologers, priests, ascetics, occultists, researchers, statisticians, and administrative planners.
To fully grasp the depth of a Nakshatra, it is
important to understand it's ruling deity.
Aja Ekapada is the one footed goat who
represents unborn, transcendent energy; a form of Shiva and the vehicle of Agni
(fire) but not the fire itself. In the Vedas he is considered as infinity, a
deity without motion or speech, the un-polarized latent creative energy that
produces different levels of existence. Aja Ekapada represents the stage of
cosmic evolution where the fire energy of creation is still latent, but the
area of creation is defined. Yet the outward impulse of motion toward creation
itself is still.
The New Moon in Purva Bhadrapada
With
the seed moment of this lunar month sewn in Purva Bhadrapada it is a good month
to sacrifice anything that is getting in the way of your goals or yourself in
general. This can be an actual thing or a false belief. It is also a good month
to start or return to your spiritual practice, to do rituals, worship or pujas
that help you to get rid of lower selfish qualities of your nature and reach
toward your higher nature. It is also about the creative vision, a vision that
reaches beyond you and out to humanity. It is about embracing the stillness and
discovering your latent creative potential. You are probably aware of what you
are being pulled or called to create. How to do it in your own unique way that
brings out the highest good is what is to be discovered this month.
In
addition to Purva Bhadrapada having connections with the spiritual fire (both
literally and metaphorically) and universal goals, there are Moon Yogas in the
New Moon chart that exemplify this theme as well. Both Mars & Uranus are in
the 2nd house from the New Moon creating a Sunapha Yoga of acquisition. Planets 2nd from the moon
indicate the manner in which things are acquired. Mars & Uranus are in
Pisces in the sidereal zodiac which can translate to spiritual fire or warrior
& spiritual awakening or compassionate humanitarian. This gives added oomph
to the meaning already inherent in Purva Bhadrapada alone. Obviously if these planets are second from
the New Moon, they are also second from the Sun. This creates a Vesi Yoga which indicates energies we
need to learn to use.
Both
Mars & Uranus are in sidereal Pisces in the Nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapada
(latter or posterior, happy, blessed, fortunate feet). Together these nakshatras are the scorching
or burning pair. Ahir Budhyna is the
ruling diety of Uttara Bhadrapada. He is the dragon of the deep sea related to
Ahir Vritra the dragon of primordial ignorance, concealed in primitive darkness.
Together both Bhadrapada nakshatras represent dual principals of darkness and
light that are in eternal conflict. Both ruling deities are aspects of Shiva.
Uttara Bhadrapada merges itself with the great deep that is the source of all
creative energy, the impulse of passivity from which creation emerges. Dragon
is also associated with wisdom and the comprehension of concealed knowledge. As
the second half of the cot, it represents stability & poise in preparation
for the end of attachments to bring the soul toward liberation and the divine
plan. It’s the dissolution of physical attachments reabsorbed in the spiritual cause.
Where
the New Moon calls us to set an intention this month to embark on a spiritual
journey to discover our inner stillness, latent creativity and reach toward our
higher nature with humanitarian vision, the Sunapha & Vesi Yogas that Mars
& Uranus form with the New Moon give us this spiritual warrior awakener
quality to delve into the depths of our being and gain a deeper wisdom. Through
this deeper wisdom we can see through the illusion of our attachments and shed
light on where we need to cultivate spiritual awareness.
Additionally
Jupiter is 4th from the New Moon creating a Gaja Kesari Yoga (elephant lion). This yoga is about great
presence. Jupiter is the ruling planet of Purva Bhadrapada, the New Moon’s
nakshatra. Jupiter is in sidereal Taurus
in the Nakshatra Rohini which is ruled by the Moon. The Moon and Jupiter are in
each other’s Nakshtaras. This is a form of Parivrtana
Yoga (mutual reception) because the Nakshatra Lords are exchanging. Rohini
is the star of ascent and is about growth. This month cultivating great spiritual
presence can bring a tremendous amount of personal growth.
This
month set an intention to devote a few minutes each day to a meditation practice
where you can connect with your inner spiritual energy. If you already do this, keep it up. If you
don’t know how to begin a meditation practice or if you have trouble sticking
to it, it is quite synchronous that Deepak Chopra is starting another of his
“21 Day Meditation Challenges” on March 11th. I’ve done these in the past and I’ve signed
up to do it again. It’s FREE! Check it
out here and decide for yourself if you want to try it.
Namaste,
Julene