December, 2011: Readers, here are excerpts from a phone conversation with Diane Booth Gilliam, creatrix of Yogastrology, where “Yoga Meets Astrology.” She offers healthful tips for body and soul as we go into holiday time, Winter Solstice (Dec 22, 2011) and the New Moon Capricorn (Dec 24th).
In Part II, Kundalini, Shakti and Kali Yuga, she gives perspective on this time of great darkness and great opportunity to awaken in every way.
Planetary Stand-outs- Sun into Capricorn (traditional ruler of knees and skin) on Dec 22nd.
- New Moon in Capricorn on Dec 24th.
- Jupiter stations direct in Taurus on Dec. 25th.
- Mars Virgo ongoing to July 2012, forming grand trine with Jupiter-Pluto in March 2012.
Diane sees an opening here at the end of 2011, into the New Year, to heal from the drama and trauma of life. There is an opening, an opportunity, for anyone that chooses to take this opportunity to heal.
Kneeling & Surrender”I was in an Antique store, wandering about, and here was one of those confessionals with padding for the knees, I knew instantly what it was. So I got down and knelt on that, and many things came up, mostly how kneeling, being on your knees, is such a ritual in many cultures.”
“So I’m working on that in asana. Work with the knees, throughout the month of Capricorn. Do kneeling poses, and focus on surrender.
Surrender is the other side (of the Capricorn drive to) work, work, work. By surrendering and kneeling in gratitude, we bring ourselves to that place of opening that the (Winter) Solstice provides."
Healing Hands“Along with kneeling, take time to do self-massage. Focus on skin care. Use touch, and use natural organic edible oils, to massage your own skin or that of a loved one.
Nourish the skin -- the largest living organ with -- coconut or almond oil. Use any edible oil to nourish the skin.
Another simple healing technique is to place your palms on your heart or your forehead, then focus your breath there. It really works to calm the mind."
Simple Remedy for Fear”When I wake up filled with fear, (and many people are afraid these days), when we experience fear, place palms on body. Install a mantra through the hands, in contact with the body. It’s so simple that people don’t want to do it. It can be very hard to let go of all the drama. But truly the most powerful remedy is to put hand on body and breathe.“
A mantra is a resonant sound or word, that makes use of vocal vibrations through the body, like a tuning fork. Diane says it doesn’t have to be in the language used in yoga, Sanskrit. “How about Purrrrrrrrr?” she asks. “Do you like mmmmmmmm?
Mantra is a vibration. It’s repetitive and it works to calm the mind. My personal favorite is Aum,” she demonstrates, “Aummmmmm. It’s a way to still the mind through the vibration of Aummmmm.”
She continues, ”The universe is said to be the manifestation of the vibration of Aum. When we quiet ourselves, we pick up on that.”
Inner Mantra or Japa”I also think it’s worth mentioning that mantras don’t have to be audible. If you’re a bank teller, you can greet your customers, count money, whatever you do….japa mantra is an internal repetition of mantra.
We can be subversive in peace, we can continue in our normal lives. We don’t have to change those outer things, but we can always change the inner state, and the easiest way is through japa mantra. Nothing that can stop us from practicing japa."
Mars Virgo and Self-Healing” Mars Virgo is with us for a long time (to July 3rd 2012),for a lot of stirring up in the digestive area. It’s about letting go.”
”Mars Virgo will stir us up -- in the lower abdominal region the digestive tract. We can refocus that stirred-up energy into the japa mantra."
