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Tattwa: A foundation of Indian Philosophy

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“Detached from the outer show, he sees the inner essence and recognizes that life is merely the spontaneous acting out of the roll consciousness has assumed in the drama of universal manifestation.” — Aphorisms of Shiva; Dyczkowski

When we look into this philosophical or metaphysical questions of, “who am I?” or “what is knowledge?” and “How do I know what I know?,” or “What is reality?” we often turn towards categories to understand. We break the problem down and we look at ourselves from different perspectives. We see the typical parts of the self that we identify with: I am this body, these emotions, this intellect, this vital force, I am this breath; to say nothing of the host of external identifiers by family, nation, race, religion. Certainly we are all of these things and many more; but we’re much more even than that.

The tattva are a central component of the traditional sciences and philosophies of India. They are mentioned in the Yoga Suttras & the Bhagavad Gita, and one of the core differences between Tantra and Vedanta is the inclusion of 11 extra tattva in the former. It’s also a core concept for ayurvedic or jyotisha understanding of reality.

The tattva are components of reality and show us the course thru which each of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) follows though our lives to unfold reality through each of our senses and inner faculties of the mind. The tattvas represent both subject and object as well as all of the elements that lie between the subject and object. In short, the tattva are the elements of existence.

Different schools of philosophy have different perspectives of how the tattva fit together and relate with each other but ultimately they all agree that there is a subject, and object, and something that connects the two, and that the tattva make up the basic components of that three part reality.

Two of the most popular grouping of tattva suggest that there are either 25 or 36 tattva though quite often they also refer to the five mahabhuta (earth, water, fire, air, ether)primary elements alone as the tattva.

From these five, they also list the organs of knowledge (the abilities of the senses) as well the elements of the senses. Hearing and sound, touch and feeling, seeing and form, tasting and flavour, smelling and odour. Each of these represent a certain aspect of reality. They also list five ways that our body interacts with the world are also considered elements of our existence: speaking, grabbing or holding, moving in space, procreating and excreting waste.

Raising our awareness to more subtle heights we find our sense of individuality and uniqueness (ahamkara), we can witness our mind weighing options as an indeterminate knower. Its from here that our sense typically reach out to the world in order to determine and define knowledge and our individuality. Many modern people call this “excersising our free will.”

It’s at this level of existence where we find out minds fluxuating, vibrating, moving and changing. The manas and the ahamkara are the areas Patanjali brings our awareness to. For meditation, and to still the vibtations of the mind we are advised to follow the inward course of the tattva rather than the normal outward course thru the senses.

As we continue moving our awarness inward we will come to the buddhi the highest faculty of knowledge that just seems to know things. This is the silent knower who doesn’t argue because it doesn’t have to; the buddhi just knows. The buddhi is always endowed with truth; not necessarily the highest truth, but certainly what is true for the individual soul.This is one of the key differences between the buddhi and the manas. The manas is always seeking truth, usually from the outside world, while the buddhi silently knows the truth emanating from the individual soul.

The individual soul is essentially a combination of the purusha and prakriti. The individual soul, purusha, differs from the individual ego, ahamkara, in that it recognizes the connection between our “thisness” (idam) and that’s “thatness” (aham). The individual ego is that which disconnects our thisness from thats thatness. So, as we continue on our inward journey we do not loose ourselves but rather reconnect to that greater self and the universal purpose for our existence.

However, even when we are living from our ego, blind to the inherent interconnectedness, we are none the less also completing our universal soul quest; nothing can ever knock us from this path. The difference being that the ego has to struggle greatly with the vibrations of the mind always seeking knowedge but never gaining satisfaction. The mind is just vibrating from one thing to the next, from subject to object and back again without finding the source from which both of these emanate.

Once we know we are connected, once we realize our true nature, there is no question, no vibration between this and that; there is just the free and natural flow of karma without trying to hold onto this karma or rejecting that karma.

You will find a list of the tattva with explanations below

36 Tattvas of Tantra
Macrocosmic Universe: ParamaShiva: the great ultimate is said to be beyond the tattva. Tantra specifically, and most other branches of Indian thought usually have some little bit left over in their accounting of reality. There is always some residue which cannot be explained; something which is beyond explanation.

36. Shiva tattva: This is the entire universe in the form of illumination. In the process of manifestation of the world, Shiva performs five crutial functions. Since Shiva tattva is the tread that connects all the tattva, we could say that Shiva performs these five functions thru each tattva as well as to the whole system. Shiva is often identified as Prakash, the light of consciousness while Shakti is Vimarsha, cognitive awareness

  1. Nigraha: the act of self limitation or contraction. Concealment of his true nature.
  2. Srsti: Creation. The act of self manifestation as the world.
  3. Sthiti: Preservation of the manifest world.
  4. Samhara: Destruction, absorption or withdrawal of worldly manifestation
  5. Anugraha: Grace; revelation of his true nature

Pure Elements: the next four elements are elements of the Tantric goddess Usma, who is the embodiment of the internal heating and swelling of creativity.

35. Shakti: Shivas power which is not different from Shiva. This is Shivas power to conceal himself from himself. Shiva is the one who emanates and shakti is what is emanated; the being and the becoming. Shakti has 5 primary modes of expression. The first two are said to be his nature while the following three are the powers thru which he makes his nature known or manifest. Shakti has the experience of aham (thatness).

  1. Cit-shakti: conscious force
  2. Ananda-shakti: power as bliss
  3. Iccha-shakti: power as will
  4. Jnana-shakti: power as knowledge
  5. Kriya-shakti: spontaneous action as power

34. Sadashiva: the universe laying submerged and void within the self experience of the experiencer. Experience of aham (thatness)-idam (thisness)

33. Ishvara: self experience as “I” (aham) and an experience of the universe as a separate object with “thisness” (idam) shining unequally distinct within the self experience. Experience of idam-idam

32. Sadavidya: experience of aham-aham/idam-idam

Vidya Tattvas: these are the tattvas which bind us to our bodily existence.

31. Maya:
Three kinds of defilements:

  1. Aanava mala (mula mala: root impurity): The impurity of individuality, occurring at the first moment of manifestation of the universe as Shiva begins to contract. Shiva’s true power becomes “obscured by the notions of existence and non-existence…” (Aphorisms p15) This impurity begins to take hold as soon as he descends to sadashiva tattva. Two kinds of anavamala: a) veils knowledge of divine awareness, but freedom of action remains intact (for those existents which exist below prakriti) b) leaves knowledge of divine awareness, but veils ability to act freely (those staying above maya tattva).
  2. Maayiiya mala: maya and the five kanchukas. Makes oblivious to real nature. Robs all sign of divinity. Veils only those below Prakriti.
  3. Karma mala: Provides us with physical body. Collective residual impressions from past lives. Once karma mala defiles Shiva in his descent, embodies individuals are created, known as sakalas. There are four kinds of karma: a) Sanchita: accumulated over many lifetimes. b) Prarabha: Created in this current life c) Kriyamana: freedom to change our current life situation. d) Agama: free will to set an intention for future action.

Five Kanchukas:

The kanchukas are sometimes called the five sisters of Mayadevi are like five cloaks worn by Shiva in order to mask his true nature from himself. It’s essentially thru the kanchukas that the all powerful is capable of making a stone so large that even he cannot lift it. He does this by masking his true nature from himself. Once conscious force individualizes itself thru anavamala and maya, it takes on five more cloaks in order to transform each of the five divine powers into five limited individual powers belonging to the individual soul. From this perspective we could say that maya is actually the core of our innermost individual micro-soul; from her we seek out our mega-soul for redemption.

30. Kalaa: Contracted kriya shakti. Limits Shiva’s power and creative abilities so that one cannot do everything. Limits omnipotence and the power of agency.

29. Vidya: Contracted jnana shakti. Limits Shiva’s knowledge so that one cannot know everything. Limits omniscience.

28. Raga: Contracted iccha shakti. Limits Shiva’s sense of fullness and gives craving, desire and attachment.

27. Kaala: Contracted ananda shakti. Limits Shiva in time and space making us subject to change, death and decay.

26. Niyati: Contracted cit shakti. Limits Shiva thru cause and effect, the necessity that one thing follows another.

As Shiva makes himself into an individual in order to express his freedom, he scales back, contracts, or limits his universal power thru maya and the five kanchukas (Mayadevi and her five sisters). This leads to two main kinds of impurity (mala).

1. Paurusa ajnana: innate ignorance regarding the self. We dont know who we really are.

2. Bauddha ajnana: Ignorance of buddhi. We don’t even don’t know that this knowledge is actually inside of ourselves.

Asuddha vikalpas are the ideas, thought constructs, irrational psychological responses that make us think we are this body. Replacing ajnana (incorrect knowledge) with jnana (pure knowledge) is one of the main goals of Kashmiri Shaivism & philosophical and spiritual practice generally.

Atma Tattvas: The microcosmic mirror of the subtle macrocosm described above begins here. What follows are the traits of individuals with limited powers who are distinct from other individuals with limited powers.

25. Purusha: This is the individual soul; the individual subject mirroring the universal subject.

24. Prakriti: Prakriti provides Purusha with everything he needs for enjoyment. The physical body, karmendriyas, jnanaindriyas and the rest of the next 23 tattva. The three gunas (sattvic, tamas, rajas) constitute prakriti. Possessing gunas is a property of being the object of experience which depends on an experiencer. Three modes of activity of shakti are mirrored in prakriti in their limited form: will, knowledge & activity (iccha, governed by rajas; jnana, governed by sattva; and kriya, governed by tamas).
Instruments of cognition:

Also called the Antarkarana/Inner Instrument or Chitta/consciousness of the individual

23. Buddhi – Intelligence/Discrimination. Sattvic
Buddhi is the abode of prana-shakti. From here it flows thru the different parts of the body via the nadis. Locus of every experience. It is considered the contracted power of jnana shakti and thus it’s a sattvic element. Righteousness is said to reside here in the form of our conscious

Five kinds of pranavayu: 1. Prana (moves outward as do the sense organs) 2. Aapana (moves downward as with elimination) 3. Udaana (upwards as with speech) 4. Vyaana (expansion in all directions as does the movement of our limbs), 5. Samaana: (Inwards as when we meditation turning our awareness inward to a center point).

22. Ahamkara – Ego/ I-maker. Rajas.

This is where the ego connects with objective activity attributing the source of thoughts and actions to oneself (ones own limited being). This is the principle of individuality cut off from the higher tattva

21. Manas – Mind. Tamas. This is the place where thoughts are created and weighed against each other. Instrument of rationality. Supervises and controls the karmindriya, jnanendriyas, and tanmatras.
Jnana Indriyas 16 – 20: the sense faculties for knowledge. Representing the sattvic functions of the mind (manas).

20. Sense of hearing: function of the ear.

19. Sense of touch: function of the skin.

18. Sense of seeing: function of the eyes.

17. Sense of taste: Function of the tongue.

16. Sense of smell: Function of the nose.
Karma Indriyas 11 – 15: Organs of action. Representing the rajasic functions of the mind (manas).

15. Power of speech: Functions thru the mouth and vocal cords

14. Power to grasp objects: Functions thru the hands, arms and fingers

13. Locomotion: functions thru the legs and feet.

12. Power of procreation: functions thru internal and external sex organs.

11. Excretion: functions thru the excretory organs of the pelvic bowl especially the anus.
Tanmatras 6 – 10: the five subtle elements. Representing the tamasic functions of the mind (manas).

These are the objects of the sense. The sound itself. The feel of what is touched, the form of what is seen, the flavor of what is tasted, and the odour that is smelled. Tantra suggests that sounds evolves from hearing, and form evolves from sight. This is how the world is projected from within.

10. Sound:

9. Touch/Feel

8. Form

7. Taste/Flavour

6. Odour
Mahabhuta 1 – 5: the primary elements

5. Ether: Expansive, space, emptiness, vacuum. This tattva is not itself manifest, but is the supports the other tattva by providing space for their existence. Symbolized the unseeable, unknowable spirit which both transcends reality and is immanent in reality; permeating every aspect of all that is knowable and not. Relates with the vissudhi chakra.

4. Air: Movement and mobility, dry subtle, rising. It can easily penetrate everywhere (filling the void of space). We recognize it most distinctly in our breath and it is the vehicle for prana, vital energy. Relates with the Anahata chakra.

3. Fire: Transformation, hot, sharp, dynamic. Represents the masculine principle of dynamism, extroversion, passion and aggression. Also relates to the digestive fire and the intellectual fire. Relates with the Manipura chakra and thus with prakash, divine illumination.

2. Water: Fluid, liquid, cool. Represents the feminine principle and is passive and can assume any form. Water purifies and dissolves, and it relates with sexuality and birth. Relates to Svadhisthana chakra and thus represents the flow of linear time.

1. Earth: All of the tattva are fully manifest in earth. It is the most dense, the heaviest, the most solid and grounded of the tattva. Related with Mother Earth principle of patience, creativity, sustenance; as well as the lunar principle of progression, rhythm and change. It’s often said that Shiva loves this tattva the most because this is the limit of his contraction. In it’s relationship with muladhara chakra this is the residence of kundalini.

The connection between the primary elements and the tattva looks something like this.

Ether – Sound – Speech – Hearing — Jupiter — Prana — HAM — Crystal Clear disk — Eyebrows to top of head — Cit — Om hraum sadashivaya akashadhipataye shantyateetakalatmane, hum fhut swaha

Air – Touch – Grasping – Touch — Saturn –– Apana — YAM — Six sided/six circles smokey grey or grey blue — Heart to Eyebrows — Ananda — Om hraim ishanaya vayuvydhipataye shantikalatmane, hum fhut swaha

Fire – Form – Locomotion – Sight — Mars — Vyana — RAM — Red Triangle — Navel to Heart — Iccha — Om hrum rudrya tejodhipataye vidyakalatmane, hum fhut swaha

Water – Taste – Procreation – Taste — Venus — Udana –– VAM — White Crescent moon — knees to navel — Jnana — Om hrim vishnave jaladhipataye pratisthakalatmane, hum fhut swaha

Earth – Odour – Excretion – Smell — Mercury — Samana — Anus — Dhananjaaya: remains in the corpse until it’s burned — LAM — Yellow Square — Feet to knees — Kriya — Om hraum brahmane prithvidhipataye nivrittikalatmane, hum fhut swaha

Photo from Tantra Illuminated by Christopher Wallis

The Shaivist conception of these tattva has Shiva constantly evolving and devolving thru the tattva. Shiva is the eternal subject, the first illuminator, the first enjoyer. His movement thru the tattva an expression of his joy. This movement has many names (spanda, wave, force and it shows his movement from Shiva tattva to earth and back to Shiva tattva. The process of creation and destruction going on continually. But even this is not as it seems. Most of us would assume destruction is happening as Shiva makes his way back to himself, but actually earth will be the first to die. Being fully manifest puts us most solidly in the world of death, sorrow and suffering. This is where all this fire and brimstone of kali and Shiva’s burning ghats comes from.

So, when we turn our attention, thus identifying with the body (the earth), we will surely only know suffering, change, confusion and lack of control. When we turn our attention, and thus our personal identification inwards we limit that suffering step by step. Getting past the mind and the emotional being is one of the greatest hurdles. Only matched by the struggle a young yogi will go thru to get past their ego (ahamkara).

The ego is an important topic for discussion in tantra. Shiva is essentially a supreme egoity; the self of all selves. The purusha is ones individual soul; this is certainly a big part of who we are. And then we have the ahamkara which is who we think we are. These are like three levels of ego: The ahamkara is the ego which is cut off from inner truths; it only sees what is on the surface. The purusha is that ego which understands our connection to the universal. People who strongly identify with their individual soul approach life as an instrument of the divine. This is the beginning of saintliness. But only one who has fully realized their divine nature as all of this whole universe will experience Shiva’s true freedom (svatantriya).

This is a little like saying that there is more than one truth, though they might each seem to be incompatible with the other truths. A big part of our job as yogis is to assimilate such contradictory truths and ultimately experience the illumination of this world thru each lens. It’s not that the world of this body and these sensual desires is not true, but it represents a limited truth; a tamasic, impure truth. The truth of our individual soul is quite another level of truth which represents a rajasic truth, which manages to be both pure and impure. Only the highest truth is truly pure and sattvic, but this does not negate the others. Shiva is fully present in each of the tattva. His illumination shines from everywhere. From whichever perspective we take, we can recognize Shiva and realize ourselves as that infinite being of all being.

Short Bibliography

The Advaita Saiva Philosophy of Kashmir, by Debarata Sensharma

The Philosophical and Practical Aspects of Kashmiri Saivism, By Pandit

Tantra Illuminated, by Christopher Wallis

Aphorisms of Shiva, translated by Mark Dyczkowski

Tattwa Shuddhi, by S. Saraswati (Bihar School)

Vedic Remedies in Astrology, Sanjay Rath

Painting of “Sri Yantra” by Tania Satori (used with permission) see tania_vaculty on Instagram.

Alternative Health & Yoga, Vedic Astrology

Astrology of the Endocrine System

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Astrology & the Endocrine System

A cursory look at the available literature in published books and on-line contradicts each other about most glands though there are threads of agreement here running through it all. But the more we trie to match it up with myth, philosophy, ayurveda, the chakras, the elements, medical science, planetary rulerships and even western astrology, the more convoluted it seems to get. There is agreement in some areas, and experience and research shows that some theories are working in practice, but even then one has to ask why?

Take the thyroid gland for example. Most literature and Astrologers seem to agrees that the thyroid is ruled by Mercury and the third house. If these areas are too hot or too wet or too windy it can show a thyroid problem. Moon, Venus and 2nd house are also likely to be involved.

Diabetes is typically seen thru Jupiter and Venus. When we consider that the pancreas metabolizes sugars with insulin and fat with glucagon then is seem reasonable that these two sweet lovers would be involved with diabetes. Venus rules over sugar (especially white sugar) and Jupiter rules over the fat on the body. The second house will tell us about a persons basic diet and flavour preferences.  

Jupiter also rules over the liver which is also affected by poor diet: saturated fats and too much heat and toxin like alcohol, coffee, natural and pharmaceutical drugs and tobacco. Poor sign placement and heavy afflictions to Jupiter in the 5th, 6th, 8th 12th has the potential to harm the liver. Jupiter in the 5th brings an excess to the fifth that can be good for intelligence, creativity and productivity, but not good for children (especially in a woman’s chart), or the liver; even if there is slight affliction. 

Venus rules over male fertility from the testes and Mars rules over female fertility, the ovaries and menstrual cycle. Venus’ popular name in Hindi is Shurkr, which literally means male sperm. It’s common to look to Venus for any erectile dysfunction, inopportune ejaculation, or sperm count issues. Saturn in the 5th and well ad his effect in Venus is to reduce the sperm count. Jupiter aspects to 5th house, Venus and Moon will increase fertility and make children more likely. 

Due to his rulership of blood and bed boiled cells Mars is said to rule over the menstrual cycle. Afflictions to Mars affect the way we bleed. Saturn’s effect on Mars usually brings about some heavy metals or toxins in the blood which may cause delays, dryness, blood clotting. The angle between mars and moon can also be important. Moon rules over the plasma or liquid in the blood, and the hormonal tides and cycles of the body. When the Moon is conjunct Mars the period may may run hot and fast, they whole cycle sped up. If they are also affecting the 5th house there is likely to be difficulty in conception.

The adrenal glands seem to be mostly ruled by Mars: adrenaline and our ‘fight or flight’ response. Mars certainly rules cortisol and relates with the stress hormones in general. But natural opioids, motivation enhancers like dopamine that lead to and enforce addictive behaviour, are fully the domain of Venus. When we mix Mars with Venus we increase the risk of addiction but also typically get more active enjoyment in life, there is a strong tendency to engage with the opposite sex, and take other pleasure risks. The relationship  between the adrenal glands & the reproductive glands (ovaries & testes) can be suggested by the angular relationship betweenVenus & Mars. The adrenal glands also sit on top of the kidneys which are ruled by Venus (Kidneys, bladder, urinary tract).

The thymus, most notable for immunity must be ruled by the Sun. But in some ways, the Sun, along with Moon, rules over the whole immune system as well. The Sun rules over calcification, the minerals of the body and the bones. Glandular problems are quite often caused by a build up of calcification on top of which a tumour growths (growths and tumours are rules by Jupiter) which disrupts the function of the gland and thus the entire endocrine system. 

The thyroid, as I mentioned earlier is ruled by Mercury and the 3rd house. Rahu usually relates with “hyper-“ conditions, while Ketu usually has some relation with “hypo-“ conditions. Mars speeds things up while Saturn slows things down. It should be noted that thyroid problems are just as likely to be causes by problems that start with the pituitary. 

The Parathyroid is the farmer of the endocrine system. It mostly deals with blood clotting using calcium which is stored in the bones. Sun & Saturn rule over the bones of the body. The sun rules over the minerals while Saturn rules over bone density. Osteoporosis is a kicks this gland into hyperdrive causing reduced bone density and inappropriate blood clotting. 

This leaves us with the glands in the head: the pineal, pituitary, hypothalamus. These three are a little more complex since they essentially control the entire endocrine system plus most of the major functions of the body. This is where the Sun and Moon certainly play a stronger role, but we must also begin looking in tat the fictions played by the individual hormones secretes by these glands.

The pineal gland uses serotonin to make melatonin. The primary function is to control our circadian rhythms and sleep cycles. It connects us to the daily and seasonal rhythms of light and dark. This is the gland they also call the seat of the soul giving us much psychedelic experience by connecting us to our ancient reptilian ancestry: Rahu & Ketu, through perhaps most specifically: Ketu. The functions of the pineal are perhaps the most mysterious of all the glands. Sun, Ketu and Mars along with 1st house and Aries must be checked

The pituitary does not get much easier to understand. It can quite logically be divided in between a masculine and feminine expression by the different functions of the anterior and posterior sides of this gland.

The posterior pituitary only stores hormones without producing any of its own. It does secrete anti-diuretic hormone controlling he water balance on the body, and oxytocin which influences uterine contraction and lactation. Moon is obviously influential here. Oxytocin is also the hormone of affection, love and belonging; it’s sometimes called the bonding hormone; all functions of the moon. It’s a natural inflammatory, cooling the system, lowering blood pressure, decreasing blood pressure and cortisol levels in the body; all of which bring about a sense of security and deep relaxation. Moon, moon, moon….

The anterior pituitary is the masculine, productive side of the pituitary. The anterior pituitary produces hormones that regulate the entire endocrine system. Human growth hormone is one of the main hormones coming from here to regulate all areas of growth in the body, including hair, skin, nails, muscles mass, and the size of our body as we grow from foetus to adult. The depletion of this hormone in old age tilts the balance in the opposite direction. Other hormones regulate the thyroid (TSH), growth and health of the hair on the body (FSH), stress (ACTH), fat reserves (lipotropin), hair/eyes/skin pigmentation (melanocyte), the reproductive organs and the libido (luteinzing regulates testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, ovulation) as well as bone density, memory, loco-motor activity and slow wave sleep (all of which are partly regulated by osteocalcin and cortistatin)).

From this list we get a strong sense of Jupiter energy ruling growth, fat on the body, intelligence as well as contributing to reproduction. Mars certainly plays a role in libido, stress and motor activity. Sun and the Moon seem to both be at work here. Many of these hormones must passes thru a kind of incubation period in the posterior pituitary before moving on to their destination gland.

This leaves on the hypothalamus, known as the adviser of the pituitary; these two glands rule over the entire endocrine system. They also call this gland “the seat of prana” as it controls the breathing and the bodily movements that affect breath. It is also considered the seat of emotions as it gives emotional response to sense stimulus (taste, smell, touch, laughter, smiling, frowning, thoughts). I once heard this gland described as a shiva lingam (Jupiter and Cancer). Jupiter is known as the lord of the vital airs; the five pranas, and moon and cancer relate with our emotions. This might also be why Gaj Keshari yoga (Jupiter in 4th, 7th or 10th from moon (some include Jupiter moon conjunction) might be considered to be so beneficial since it brings some emotional balance into ones life.

We must also take into account the location of the gland in our body. This suggests that the first eight houses (and signs) rule over all of our glands. It also highlights the importance of first house (and Aries) and those most influential glands that reside in the head (in the brain). The thyroid, located at the level of the adams apple resides on the boundary of Taurus and Gemini. The thymus in the heart centre which open up the debate between 4th and 5th house for so many health conditions related to the chest and heart. The pancreas fits reasonably well with 6th house (Virgo) which is known to have a strong influence on the stomach and metabolism, but one is tempted to apply the 6th & 7th house to the pancreas and the adrenals. Which leaves the 7th & 8th houses (Libra and Scorpio) with control over the testes and ovaries.

Chart 1 summaries my findings for house and planetary rulerships of the endocrine system. Chart 2 provides a summary of the available astrological literature on the glands, and Chart 3 assumes a link between the glands and the chakras (though it should be noted that Tantric scholars suggest that any similarity of function between the chakras and the glands in merely incidental; they are actually working on different kloshas of the body offering different truths for different realms of reality.)

Chart 1: Summary of Planetary Rulers of the Glands

Gland

Planet

House

Pineal

Sun, Ketu, Mars

1st house & Aries

Hypothalamus

Moon (Jupiter in Cancer)

(angle between Moon & Jupiter)

1st & 2nd house 

Aries & Taurus

Anterior Pituitary

Jupiter, Mars, Sun & Moon

Posterior Pituitary

Moon

Thyroid

Mercury

2nd & 3rd house

Taurus & Gemini

Thymus

Sun (moon & mars)

(angle between Sun & Mars)

4th & 5th house

Cancer & Leo

Pancreas

Jupiter & Venus

6th house & Virgo

Adrenals

Mars & Venus

6th & 7th house

Virgo & Libra

Ovaries

Mars 

(angle between Moon & Mars)

7th and 8th house

Libra and Scorpio

Testes

Venus

7th and 8th house

Libra and Scorpio

Chart 2: Summary of the available literature. 

Gland

Western Astrology

Dr SS Chatterji

Pineal

Neptune

Moon

Hypothalamus

Moon

Anterior Pituitary

Saturn

Sun

Posterior Pituitary

Jupiter

Moon & Mars

Thyroid

Mercury

Jupiter & Sun

Parathyroid

Venus

Saturn & Mercury

Thymus

Sun & Neptune

Moon

Pancreas

Moon & Venus

Mars

Adrenals

Mars

Mars, Jupiter & Venus

Gonads

Uranus

Venus & Moon

Ovaries

Mars

Testes

Pluto

Venus

Chart 3: Shows some of the conflict we come to when we try to equate chakras and glandular function. 

Gland

Chakra

Bepin Behari & Frawley

Sanjay Rath & T. Subba Rao

Pineal

Sahashtra – Crown

Sun

Sun

Hypothalamus & Pituitary

Ajna – Third Eye

Moon

Jupiter

Thyroid

Visshidhi – Throat

Mercury

Saturn

Thymus

Anahata – Heart

Venus

Moon

Pancreas

Manipura – Navel

Mars

Mars

Adrenals

Swatisthana – Sex

Jupiter

Venus

Sex/Reproductive

Muladhara – Root

Saturn

Mercury
Alternative Health & Yoga, Philosophy

Out of Bounds

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Boundary issues are everywhere. How we define our boundaries is one thing; how we defend them is quite another. In this modern age we are seeking to break the boundaries that keep us from living in space. In this world, we find all kind of political turmoil over national boundaries, border disputes, and of course Trump’s Wall. The movement of people displaced by violence has the whole world questioning their cultural boundaries.

Those of us on a spiritual path (a healing path) also have to face this question of boundaries as we work with our students and teachers; and most importantly, with ourselves. Every social interaction faces this question of boundaries.

We typically think of strong boundaries as way to keep people from getting in, but they keep us from getting out. The boundary we put up defines the relationship we have with the other.

As Yogis we are often coached to look in the space between two things. We often call this space “the relationship,” but we could just as easily call it the boundary. I have my boundaries and you have your boundaries; the type and quality of relationship we have depends on how open or closed our boundaries are, as well as on how we approach or cross each other boundaries and the behaviour we exhibit once someone lets us in.

When we speak of boundaries in the healing community we typically use words and phrases like “surrender,” “let go,” “let yourself be vulnerable,” “be open to what the universe has to give;” in other words: “drop all your boundaries!”

From the other side we are told that we are boundless, we should forget everything we think we know and just follow our heart. There is often the assumption that acting like an idiot is acceptable if we are following our hearts (or “living in the moment” as we say). Since it was the divine voice of God commanded, go forth and act like an idiot, we expect to be absolved of personal responsibility.

Modern Tantra is especially vocal about dropping boundaries and the beauty of living spontaneously. It’s also known to be very dangerous since the mix of openness and spontaneity on one persons part is an opportunity for the other to conquer new territory unimpeded and later say that is way given to me them.

This is how the CIA and George Soros “make democracy” and spheres of influence and ultimately destroy countries, cultures and peoples lives. Even when they are preaching peace, love and belonging they are really only looking out for themselves.

It’s not so different from the toxic addictions that seem to alleviate our suffering but really only cast us more deeply into it.

We hear similar stories of toxic healers, Yogis and others who use their position and their skill to drop peoples boundaries so that they can manipulate them for their own benefit.

Manipulation is an ugly word, but it’s not the problem. We stay alive thru this manipulation. Just think of the baby screaming to make momma change the diaper or give some food. That’s emotional manipulation at its finest. The problem is when one acts for their own benefit without consideration or concern for how it will truly affect the other.

Manipulation is just an ugly way of talking about the diplomacy and negotiation that is on going between people and our numerous light bodies; each with their own boundaries and border controls. These boundaries maybe undergoing subtle changes moment to moment; person to person. Mostly we don’t notice this going on, it all happens fairly naturally and most people respect each other’s boundaries. But of course it’s not a perfect world.

Most of us are still fighting battles with this world, blaming others, pointing always at the other as a source of our misery when it’s our personal patterns, habits, mental narratives, and expectations that are the root causes of our suffering. All of these little things build up and define our boundaries.

Boundaries in themselves are not bad. Healthy boundaries actually empower us; it’s the unhealthy, unconscious, unrealistic boundaries that cause problems in our lives that leads us to seek healing.

Almost every human what’s more from life somehow. We want to expand our boundaries to include more land (more material prosperity), as well as our emotional boundaries to feel more vividly this life, and spiritual boundaries to feel more connected to the universe.

The key to such expansion is awareness. First we have to be aware of who we are. This will take us towards our innermost core. It’s a journey that takes us thru the fields of numerous personal identities. As we stare out the train window we see so many selves passing by: I am this, I am that, this I am, I am until we get to that “I” without a second.

After we have merged with the ultimate (or gone as deep as we can) we come back to a personal identity which has been reborn from a spiritual seed. Every breath cycle is an opportunity to realize such merger with the absolute followed by the rebirth of the individual.

Both sides of this coin represent truth, beauty and an expression of the divine. This is why Tantra says that liberation (moksha) is not a separate matter from enjoyment. Our enjoyment should be liberating in itself and liberation itself should be enjoyable. This does not mean decadent. It means that we want all parts of our universal self to enjoy equally. It means that nothing is isolated.

This is where boundaries get tricky. If the truth is that I am one with the universe; completely unbound then any harm at all that I cause to any part of nature will cause direct harm to myself. This is a spiritual truth suggest a greater degree of personal responsibility rather than the sort of careless way we treat objects and that are easily replaceable.

Such a grand sense of spiritual wonder actually suggest that we respect the boundaries between ourselves and the other to an even greater degree, as a way of respecting ourselves.

When we objectify our external experience, we typically see ourselves in this same way. We typically find some version of the conflicted mental narrative that sets man against nature. This boundary is an illusion and sows the seeds of war, pollution and toxicity. This war has been unleashed against the women of society as much as against Mother Nature herself.

Part 2

Truth and reality represent a similar energy applies to different experiences. You could say that both are representative of the absolute. Truth is The expression of transcendental experience and reality is an expression of immanent experience.

To experience transcendence we must realize ourselves as without boundaries. To experience reality we must realize the individual experience that necessarily occurs within the boundaries of time and space; the individual soul, the human body and the body of nature.

We need to know ourselves both ways: we are timeless, but we have also chosen to experience time by thru various limitations.

Being aware of different ways that we perceive time will help us to understand our limitations and who we are in this life and what is our path.

The linear experience of time allows us to logically understand our life: where we came from and where we are going. This allows us to make sense of our experience, and set expectations. When our expectations are too high we find much disappointment; when they are too low, we sabotage our own growth. We should work hard to find the balance in this so that what happens in the future in pretty much what we expect. This sort of time we experience in short duration. Today I have one story about who I am and tomorrow that story has changed, even just a little bit. The experience of time on this level is not absolute truth, but it should be more or less in accord with reality. This works thru our short term. This is one way of knowing the self.

We also experience time thru timeless emotional impressions. This is just the opposite of the mundane stories we are constantly changing and revising and telling ourselves in order to understand reality. These emotional impression have a very strong influence on our linear understanding of ourselves but the impression is often from a different time, maybe a different life-time. Mostly we recognize this thru our subtle gestures we make with our body (the way we hold ourselves) as well as thru the emotional boundaries and defensive (or offensive) strategies that shapes the story of who we are (linear time).

This is where much most deep transformative healing arts work. We seek to tap into that timeless side of ourselves to find the impressions affecting our present life that are holding us back or are simply inappropriate in some way. Typically it’s merely an inappropriate response to some particular subject. Physically we feel it as allergy; emotionally we feel it as trauma. In either case, the reaction is disproportionate with action; the trigger.

This kind of healing is very delicate since to access this memory with awareness and direct intention we need to drop all our guards despite the feeling of impending threat. We need to do this in a safe environment where there is no actual threat. One needs to follow a deep sense of trust and have that trust reinforced.

Just talking or thinking about a traumatic memory will take us into the past, and despite being no actual stimulus being present the nervous system along with the endocrine system will react to trigger some kind of inappropriate stress response (which brings all of our resources to defend against an enemy from another time).

Talking about these traumas and sharing stories, understanding it all as a part of our story is necessary, but as things fade into the past, we also have to be open to changing the story of who we are. It’s not that we lie, but for simple understanding a single traumatic event is lumped into a broader time frame in life thru which we faced learned from the trauma.

When fire burns us it does no good to try to put our every fire. We learn to place certain boundaries between fire and ourselves so that we can still enjoy the warmth and light of fire without getting burnt.

Many people actually find their life paths thru their traumas by turning them into wisdom. This is transformation; turning poison into nectar.

We also experience time thru change. This is where we measure time and our boundaries are measured by resources: life force, energy levels, moods, physical form, the seasons and all these thing we can see changing from day to day; year to year. We might even measure this time by how for we’ve walked or how much we’ve completed. If we are following our life path, we are typically comfortable here as we focus and meditate thru our work. If we love what we won’t actually think of the time here; we will only see time when we look back at the change or are considering some future actions.

A very important concept of time actually combines our awareness of change with a kind of timelessness that we cannot imagine. When we recognize that we are connected to a whole lineage of universal archetypes going back to some unimaginable beginning of time and stretching into some unimaginable future. Here, we find ourselves repeating the the same archetypical patters expressing themselves in a new time and place. Though this sense of time is eternal here, we are capable of making a plan to change the future. This is where we understand ourselves in our connection with the whole. This is our dharma, our truth, our path in life; that path we have be on since the beginning of time; our universal purpose and how we employ that in society.

This is where we need meditation, silence, deep relaxation and contemplation because nobody can tell us who we are or what is our purpose; we can only feel it and know it for ourselves.

This bring me to the final concept it time. Present time; just being here and now. For this we have to be capable of dropping all other concepts of time. We have to have great trust in God in nature. No thought of the past or the future perfectly at peace until some spontaneous activity is provoked. To reach this state we have to know who we are, what our purpose is and have the necessary skills and health to complete our destiny.

We are beings bound by time. By understanding our place in time and how each concept of time binds is in a different way forming different relationships with each other we can then begin a focused course in self realization that will allow us to empower us with healthy boundaries rather than victimizing us they our subconscious patterns.

Alternative Health & Yoga, Philosophy

I am Shiva this world is Shakti

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When we say that our true self is Shiva, we are not talking about this self that is body, mind; limiter and ceaselessly changing. This I who is Shiva is the unchanging universal soul which is being expressed not just in this body, but in all bodies as an individual soul. This “I” is the eternal subject. We cannot change what is not subject to change; we cannot purify that which is already pure. There is light, we can see, we are and we exist; this is only subject to acceptance, not change. This topic is hardly even amenable to contemplation. If we can’t even imagine it, it’s best we don’t even consider changing it.

Everything outside of the scope of the Shiva soul is Shakti: our mind and body and all that can be perceived by the senses at any moment. This is the eternal other. Many of us would like to change this. We think we are the body and have control over our body and mind and seek to make changes here, but the truth is that we are all fools. This coming together of soul (Shiva), body and mind (Shakti) is the divine play that we are advised to approach as a witness. This is the field of karma; the interplay between subject and object. We have no freedom here.

But where are we free? Where can we affect change?

In our relationship between the subject and object; in the way we relate not only to the world, but to our own bodies. How do we use what we have to reach out to the world?! This starts with how we relate without own body, our own mind.

We are born from a mother and a father. We had and have no control over this time and place we find ourselves. Even our will is the will of god. If I trace back the origin of this yoga or astrology I practice, or even this writing I am doing now, it all comes back to a will, an innate propensity towards these things. In other words, I didn’t do anything to have any of this; it was freely given to me at birth (all the benefits and all the defects).

This is one of the primary mistakes that most western yogis are making. They think they are the yogi and they pat themselves on the back for the good job they are doing. They do not accept the gift of their body and physical conditioning; they think they are the architect. Small “i” with small minds; they have not even begun to imagine what truth might be. They go around saying how blessed they are without recognizing that every sentient being is equally blessed. They base their blessing on the ever changing material reality; their blessing is not likely to get them thru bad weather as they begin to ask why such a curse. ‘To be’ is to be blessed; to not recognize this is the curse.

When we focus on our relationships with things there is little outward change to be recognized, but inside we will feel it just like we feel anger or sadness or frustration; we will feel peace; we will feel the blessing of existence in every moment thru good times and bad. And this is the sort of change people are really looking for; this is the sort of change that changes everything.

 

 

Alternative Health & Yoga, Philosophy

Ideology

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4a1f5-dsc_1055-version2-2009-12-20at09-55-19The main project of yoga is to ground us in reality so that we might be aware of the experience of truth. The truth is now; in the present moment. There is not other reality. The past and the future are merely mirages in the distance. We cannot be sure of either, though on some level, everything that takes form in nature or in our minds has some level of truth to it. As yogis our task is to recognize the truth and keep our awareness fixed there.

This is one of the primary differences between what I would call authentic yoga and and inauthentic yoga; between modern branded yoga and traditional lineage yoga. This is the difference between idealism and reality. You cannot get to reality thru idealism; that’s the first thing that needs to be dropped. Ideology is the mask we hide behind; a popular belief we profess in order to avoid the real work of unmasking ourselves so that we might recognize reality. We cannot even begin to see ourselves thru ideology for it only reflects our fears.

Reality is here and now, naked and vulnerable; a lamb before god. Once one understands that we are always and everywhere at the mercy of time and space, then we can rise above the fear and trembling that keeps so many cowering and gasping to their ideals like a tattered security blanket unable to face the natural rhythms of life and death.

Alternative Health & Yoga, Vedic Astrology

Remedial measures, Meditation and the 12th house

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One of the most important things we have to keep in mind when we are offering remedies is: Will the client follow the remedy? No matter how good the medicine might work, it’s useless if the client will not follow it. But if we can find remedies that the client understands and has faith in, then they will be much better served, even by an inferior remedy.

I will discuss some of the common remedies and how we can make them suitable for the individual who is in front of us looking for ways to improve their life.

A complete practice of yoga, tantra and kriya with complete devotion in God (otherwise known as ones own infinite nature) is the best remedy for anyone to improve the quality and quantity of their life. However, not everyone is equally inclined and it would be a pretty boring world if we were. With such a wonderful diversity of humans wandering this earth, there is an equally diverse amount of remedial measures; none of which are created equally for everyone.

The secret to the efficacy of any remedy come from the the faith that it will work along with the dedication to following the prescribed activity (resonance). The faith comes from within; from our knowledge and beliefs and how well they match with with the remedy and/or the healer. Faith as understood here is not the blind faith of dogmatism; faith is rather built up thru clear discrimination & personal experience. Faith come only after we have done everything we can for ourselves. We give 100% of ourselves (the combined powers of the body, mind & spirit) and and in return we gain faith. Every spiritual path teaches that if we give everything we have as individuals, then we will be given this whole universe. This teaching does not refer to our material possessions, what we have on the outside, but rather to our internal reality. To receive such blessings we need to focus our will: 100%; focus our knowledge: 100% & focus our activity: 100%. If one is capable of such one-pointed focus then they have already learned that material wealth is actually immaterial.

This principle applies to all healing and all remedies, not just esoteric remedies of yoga and astrology. If you do not have faith and follow thru with your doctors prescription it is not likely to work for you any better than not doing your yoga practices. Research into surgery also suggests that the effectiveness of the procedure has as much to do with the individual on the operating table as it does with the technique the, surgeon or the surgery. Whatever remedy we are given we have to follow it correctly. In order to do this we have to have faith in the remedy, combined with the discrimination that allows us to have faith in the doctor or astrologer who is prescribing the remedy; to say nothing about having faith in our own ability to heal and to change.

Meditation

The Yoga Sutras by Patanjali are really more about what we call meditation and less to do with what most people recognize as yoga these days. Of course meditation should be a central part of the yoga practice all the way thru, but you wouldn’t know that by attending yoga classes in the west that might set aside a few minutes for meditation at the beginning or the end of class.

Meditation is the one thing that scientist and spiritualists can agree on to improve the quality and quantity of ones life. Of course there is not one correct way to meditate. Even within a single spiritual tradition there are numerous methods of meditation. Vijnana Bhairava list 112 different forms of meditation. These are the techniques that are typically accepted in Shaivist Tantra lineages. Buddhism has a whole lists of their own meditations, as does Christianity and Islam and the others.

With so many different forms of meditation going around, as Astrologers (Yoga teachers or Ayurvedic practitioners) we need to be able to offer our clients more direction than merely telling them to meditate. We have to be able to direct them along that path of meditation and suggest ways they might follow for the greatest success in their meditation practice. We might also give them some idea as to what they might expect and experience when they begin meditation practice. Of course, if they have a heavily afflicted 12th house they might want ensure that they have they proper support and atmosphere before beginning their meditation practice as they are sure to face difficulties.

Meditation and Charitable Remedies for the 12th House

The 12th house is the voice of our ancestors, our subconscious mind, our meditation and the kind of sanctuary or enclosure we are most comfortable. 12th house describes our sleep, our bedroom behaviour, how we are behind closed doors & and how we retreat from the world. This is were we de-materialize in order to connect with parallel worlds. We get loss, liberation & moksha in the 12th house.

When I write about meditation in the 12th house I am very specifically referring to that meditation which allows for spiritual liberation. Those who have a strong focus on material gain in life might find it easier to offer charity to these 12th house spirits & rulers. I have included advice on using charitable donations to ease the difficulties of the the 12th house.

Sun

Sun influencing the 12th house will bring ones personal creativity into the back room. Meditation can be very good for these people as the Sun in 12th often relates with lower self esteem in the public realm, but allows their creative intelligence to shine in private sanctuary spaces (in their bedroom; in the ashram). On the other hand, Sun in 12th suggest a diminished ego which can be beneficial for sequestered spiritual life (ashram life). If Sun is well placed here they can attain a central place in the ashram or monastery. They are best left alone for meditation; a super star in their own world. One the other hand, the Sun can cause one to feel some pressure to meditate which can disrupt the meditative experience. Meditation of the universal self or the universal egoity can be effective; trataka or other kinds of one pointed focus (especially on a candle flame or the Sun). One might also want to look into the morning ritual of agni-hotra. Sunrise sun salutations can also be very good. One should also be aware of their contact with the ground and push into it to stand tall or sit tall. Essentially we want our losses to go to the Sun in beneficial ways.

Charity should be offered to leadership events and training, government sponsored programs, charitable events sponsored by ones boss, burn wards of the hospital.

Moon

Moon in 12th house can give occasional meditation, but their practice will be heavily influenced by the movement (waxing & waning) of the moon. Where the moon sits is where we are comfortable so these people are typically comfortable in an ashram setting, foreign place, or in some kind of seclusion. So even if they are not making meditation they will very likely be fairly reflective people and may go away from their family. They will likely have a longing for greater (emotional) connection with their subconscious mind, their ancestral past, and those activities which liberate. This can be quite a spiritual placement if other indications point that way. Meditation on or near water can be very good. One may wish to mediate upon the mother goddesses. Reflection upon ones own emotions can also be a beneficial meditation. It might be difficult to follow a single meditative practice as one will more likely follow their emotions in this area of their lives.

Charity by time or money should go toward orphanages (especially for young girls), parenting programs, cultural events, building wells or other methods of providing safe, clean drinking water as well as programs that focus on the removal or cleaning of wastewater (especially Moon in Scorpio in the 12th) or providing comfort to foreigners.

Mars

Mars is typically the last planet we think about when we think meditation. He’s energy can be difficult to work with in classical sitting meditations. Mars in the 12th house gets moksha thru movement and action and overcoming some challenge; not exactly what you think of when you think about meditation, but Mars can get very nice repose/liberation after conquering some inner battle or competition. Mars likes to feel like he’s risen to the challenge and overcome. Many of the Yogis I work with in Canada have some Mars influence on 12th house combining movement with meditation. His aspect on the 3rd house from here gives courage & on 6th house allows them to take action (especially exercise) to overcome their obstacles. Of course, Mars must be a beneficial planet in their chart.

Modern postural yoga isn’t the only way to meditate with Mars influencing the 12th house. Walking meditation in a scene set by the sign in the 12th house can also be very good. Jupiter’s aspect can help by giving Mars something to believe in, and in some conditions an aspect from the Moon can cool him. Moon and Mars in angles from each other are said to be very powerful spiritual placement. (Especially in women, but men too, Moon in 6th can give foreign husband and foreign lovers.)

Unless Saturn is involved somehow, Mars will not like to follow the same practice all the time which is why a Jupiter aspect can keep Mars from wasting too much time roaming; he likes both direct action (Aries) and in-direct action (Scorpio). He works best within a structured environment (Capricorn) to focus his drive.

Trekking in the areas indicated by rasi can be very beneficial as can retreat centres which offer various activities (determined by rasi, as well as aspecting and tenanting graha). If this Mars tenants the 12th or the 6th house, this person may appreciate the healing benefits of yoga and exercise. Mars in the 9th house aspects the 12th house which can make a spiritual warrior willing to fight for their beliefs. The 9th house will bring some influence of the wisdom culture into their action even in Jupiter is not involved.

Those with Mars in the 12th can connect to their sense of loss and their own subconscious motivations by offering time or money to charities involved with sports, blood banks, engineering projects; one might alos like to give their time cooking for charitable purposes and perhaps one will even come to manage charities. With a well placed Mars in the 12th house one can become very active in charitable events. One may offer their charitable time as a coach or offer donations to support coaches.

Mercury

Mercury is a communicator. If other things point towards meditation Mercury in the 12th house will talk (communicate) about meditation and alternative realities as the voice from the beyond, but the content of Mercury’s communication is based on the influences upon him rather than his own initiative. This Mercury typically has easy access to the subconscious mind which can be beneficial if those spirits from parallel lives are benefic; but if this is not the case and Mercury is experiencing heavy affliction here then one might just as likely go crazy. From a meditation perspective Mercury likes logical analysis, studying, reading, listening when he’s in the 12th house sanctuary space. Mantra meditation might be effective. Concentration, contemplation, or systematically going over the 4, 11, 25 or 36 tattva in ones mind will bring a strong 12th house Mercury great satisfaction, mental peace and moksha. Journaling can also be very freeing for this Mercury

Those with Mercury in the 12th house should offer much support for educational opportunities and to students; summer camps or other types of education which can be fun and games. One should also offer their time and money to literacy programs.

Jupiter

Jupiter’s influence on the 12th house will expand our mind and one will seek and gain wisdom thru meditation. This is an excellent placement for meditation and spiritual life. If this Jupiter is in the 8th house, aspecting the 12th, one may follow tantric techniques of meditation (or as a means to access parallel lives, alternate realities, or other dimensions or lokas). The native may undergo numerous changes in life as many different ancestor guides seek to support deep transformative healing. When Jupiter aspects the 12th house from the 4th house one gets abundant comforts including those of meditative sanctuary. They are likely to have a strong foundation of humanistic or spiritual education. A strong Jupiter in 12th can lead to wisdom priestly roles in the ashram. They will seek moksha thru wisdom, knowledge & expansion. As strong Jupiter here is not likely to need much direction for meditation as their sense of discrimination will be especially strong in this area of their lives.

Those with Jupiter in the 12th house are generally very charitable and have a natural affinity for ashrams, monasteries and those secluded places that emphasis higher spiritual knowledge. These people are often jnana yogis who use knowledge as their means of liberation. They should offer their time and money to support higher education, spiritual events, children, gurus. These people might like to give directly to a church or religious institution or anything that expands the horizons of young impressionable minds.

Venus

Venus in the 12th house will give us a great appreciation for all things foreign and meditative. They will like beautiful ashrams or quite often prefer more of a spa/resort style retreat. They will likely seek moksha thru enjoyment. For meditation it’s advised that one sets a very nicely decorated room set aside for this purpose. Quartz and crystal might also prove beneficial allowing the mind to find release, flowers fine silks and fine art will also bring a soothing influence to the 12th house sub-conscious mind influenced by Venus. Visualization of clear bright light, imaginative vision quests, practices of loving compassion surrounded by beautiful things and feeling oneself to be beautiful; perfumed and all of that. The key to the the 12th house is to give all of this to god and not seek to gain by it in any way. And by gain I mean not only money, but also attention to ourselves by doing these things publicly or talking about our 12th house experiences or sadhana. What happens when we talk the 12th house and seek gain or reputation thru them? We loose energy, vital force. We want to leave our losses behind us, the more we carry them with us the more we are lost to ourselves. But unless the 12th house owner is in the 12th house, we will carry those losses with us somewhere but this is quite another topic.

One with Venus influenceing the 12th house can connect to the depths of the house by offering time or money to organizations for the advancement of women’s rights, artistic ventures (especially music and harmony), family values, genetic research, language programs, negotiations, or any other mission which is to bring people together. Venus rules over the image we project and bringing harmony to the environment she influences. She will like it if we meditate on our senses to give us greater sensitivity and awareness to our experience of them

Saturn

A benefic Saturn influencing the 12th house will allow one to most smoothly burn their meditative karma in a cold, dry place; isolated and alone; sitting for long periods. Saturn’s influence on the 12th house can be very nice for meditation and long periods of silence and stillness. A more troublesome Saturn influencing the 12th house can restrict one from the sort of sanctuary one needs for meditation. They may not have adequate alone time for such practices. For example, Saturn in the 10th house aspecting the 12th house the native may stay up late working and may be the last one to leave the office.

If Saturn is in the 6th house aspecting the 12th house, the worry and tension of life’s obstacles and limitations may keep one up at night and disturb their sleep. Saturn also aspects the 12th house from the 3rd house, which can be nice for group meditation. Saturn’s influence on a person’s 12th house can exert a bit of pressure as that inner voice repeats a narrative of scarcity and restriction. However, this 10th aspect on the 12th house can also make one feel like they have some responsibility for the groups meditative or retreat experience. If Saturn is in the 12th house aspecting the 6th, then one’s own inner voice tends to victimize the native to some degree. On the other hand, this energy can be very successfully to put to use in a ministry of service in foreign lands or isolated ashram or retreat centres for which the rasi, aspecting or tenanting graha will specify.

Saturn promotes renunciation, sacrifice for higher cause, stillness, patience, commitment. He likes his space to be simple and cool with dark blues and purples. He is cautious and slow to change and has an appreciation for structure, repetition like mantra and japa (some Venus influence on such a Saturn can give Hare-Krishna or other kirtan or bhajan paths that are harmonious structured & repetitive), repeat in the same practice over and over again. With positive Mars influence on Saturn you and everything well placed you can get a Ashtanga Yogi with a very structured and challenging practice. These two can become very mechanical; for better of worse.

Saturn generally likes a socially approved practice (Capricorn) or even taking retreat with large groups (Aquarius). If we consider those who have Pisces rising, this puts Aquarius in the 12th house. Pisces lagna may self identify with Pisces/12th house things, so when they go to their 12th house retreats and meditative sanctuaries they may do so in a way that connects them with a large interlocking network and they are likely to occasionally get together for special retreat events including meditation that allows that to harness the group intention and energy. They will seek moksha thru restriction, renunciation & cold harsh structure. Although sitting in meditation may come naturally; access to the subconscious mind will likely take time and technique. There may be many delays, restrictions and setback in ones meditative path; but commitment here will produce results.

Saturn in the 12th will give you a service or manual labour role at the ashram; gardening perhaps. Mars and Saturn together can give a craftsman of some kind, but it has to be a pretty special arrangement between these two to in the 12th house to bring you to an Ashram as they would more likely find less wholesome means of enjoying themselves behind closed doors.

One should offer charitable donations to the elderly, the crippled, labourers, race relations or those organizations whose mission relates with providing structure or administration.

Concluding Remarks

The 12th house can a be a difficult house to remedy because of the inherent loss of connection or control we feel here as our ancestral spirits seek to impose their agenda on us. We appear to be living in a particular time and place, but the deeper truth is that all times, places and dimensions are co-existing simultaneously and we can see the overlap most clearly thru the 12th house. The remedies for this house are therefore to help us feel empowered in those areas where our power (vital force) is being drained.

The Dussthana houses 6, 8 & 12 the areas where we need to be most diligent in releasing our expectations 1. to be appreciated for our activity (6th house), 2. that as individuals we are in control of our destiny (8th house), and 3. that material gain is meaningful (12th house). Every house, planet & sign in astrology is trying to show us the deeper reality of our spiritual nature. These three houses are the more difficult task-masters: loss of autonomy, loss of control, and loss of everything. So, we learn to assert ourselves in some way; we become drawn into looking more deeply into life allowing us to make changes that will allow us greater control over our destiny (9th house spirituality is the wealth of our 8th house research as we have to modify our beliefs to match that new knowledge). The 12th house, our meditative, subconscious mind is the creative expression of the 8th house research into the depths, as well as the place where are beliefs are most comfortable. Whenever we think we have nothing left to give the 12th house shows us where we did indeed still something left to give. In this way we realize the value of what we have gained in this life. Or to put it another way, the true value of all of our hopes and profits and network connections will be seen by how much we have to loose in the 12th house. The more we give of our time and energy and money and service, the more we will most certainly value what we have earned thru the 11th house.

We are our own greatest obstacle to change (the 1st house is 6th from 8th), but we (our 1st house body and personality) is the creative expression of our beliefs (5th from 9th). Our beliefs shine thru our 1st house; they take to the stage, they play. Life is but a play of our beliefs; a speculation of faith. In other words, this life is nothing but the play of Lord Shiva or which ever name or silence you give to God.

Alternative Health & Yoga, Personal, Philosophy

Healing from Within

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I was about 9 years old when I was walking thru a frozen forest, shouldered my pellet gun, and discovered the great transformative silence of death as a chickadee fell from the branch.  In 2003, my father was killed in a work accident. Later in life I came to live and practice in a holy place between the cremation grounds of Varanasi, India; the chosen abode of Lord Shiva. When my grandfather passed away, we shared our fear of death and brought peace to the whole family. That light and purity of a new born baby also shines in the eyes of those who burn for that final release from the wheels of time. All of our lives we seek the flavour that will quench our thirst, but eventually, we thirst for the most unthinkable mystery; death.

The movement of the breath is controlled by the Great Spirit in the Sky of Consciousness and it comes and goes; starts and stops only by that ultimate grace. The power of Great Spirit is raw and pure when we go thru the great transformations of birth and death. Between these two great moments lie all the smaller cycles of the breath and the days and the seasons and so much more that we can experience fully and deeply as we experience that great birth and death of the body. This is the experience of reality.

Yoga and spirituality suggest we can experience a deeper reality  if we look at life beyond our individual experience and experience life in relation to the universal expression of consciousness; of spirit; of spanda; Shiva’s self expression thru his powers; his Shaktis. We are so much more than these limited bodies and the experiences we have in this lifetime; we are intimately connected to the whole span of time and everything that has and will exist. We are not just a part of this universe, we are this universe. The truth is so mindbogglingly beautiful and wonderful that we can only experience it as that…… astonishing beauty, dazzling amazement and wonder. We’ve all felt this as some time in our lives. This is the experience of reality,

There is little difference between letting go of our egos so that we can transform ourselves in this life, or doing so so that we can prepare for the next life. In either case, we want to turn our awareness towards the truth of who we really are here and now releasing ourselves from the past and the future; releasing ourselves from our own stories. Each time we transform ourselves we seek to reach a higher consciousness; we want that positive growth which which will benefit not only ourselves, but our families and communities and the universe as a whole. It’s that universal connection and experience of non-difference that we seek, but which remains, for most of us, just out of reach. Like a shy damsel, ultimate reality casts only the most fleeting glimpse from the corner of her eye. And this is were we must also seek out that ultimate reality: in those dark corners of our mind and along the edges of our breath and our thoughts and between all things which seem distinct.

Between you and me is some chemistry which brings us into perfect and blissful union because it allows both of us to taste the ripened fruits of our individual karma while contributing, each in our own special way, to the collective karma that ties us all together. We call activity karma when we experience it a force of limitation that separates; but when we experience activity as a force of freedom and play arising and falling away from the same place, bringing everything together, activity is then called Kriya (the spontaneous activity of one who experiences life as universal agency (the actor) and preceiving subjectivity (the witness)).  This is the experience of life; reality; divinity.  ​

We are all on this path of healing together. Together we will grow and evolve; find the courage to face our fears and overcome the false limitations we put on ourselves. To do this we practice being open and honest to the reality of the moment while applying our most sincere efforts to whatever activity is at hand. This sincerity is especially important for healing and spirituality, since it provides us with the impulse and the will to gather the necessary knowledge and put it into a meaningful action. Tapping into this personal sincerity for healing is what we mean by healing from within.