The Finest Steel Has To Go Through The Hottest Fire

For sometime now 'clickbait' has gone really crazy. Astrology videos blare titles of "Once in a 100 year transit!" "Things will never be the same again!" "You'll never see this transit again in your lifetime!"

Some of it maybe right. The time we are going through now, is spectacular in its uniqueness. An epoch era. A time that will define things to come, for a long time.

What's strange is how normal it feels. Like any other time. We've had a feeling of things being not quite right for a decade now. Probably since 2012, when the Mayan Calendar said the world came to an end.

But we are like those frogs that have sat in cold water pots, that were then placed on the stove. Degree by degree they've inched the heat up, and we don't realize we are becoming Indonesian Swikee. Or if you prefer, Cuisses de Grenouilles.

Have You Seen How Deep Roots Burrow?

Time is in constant flow. And we are not in control over the infinite things of the universe.

We can change ourselves. And we can improve our relationship with the infinite things around us.

We were discussing 'purpose' in our previous post.

To understand ourselves better, to get some idea of what our purpose could be, it's helpful to look at Indian philosophy and astrology.

Four Pillars

It's interesting to see how they thought about purpose in ancient philosophy.

Human beings are said to have Four Purposes. Purusharthas.

Everything a human does in their lives, fits into one of these purposes.

Dharma. Artha. Kama. Moksha.

Duty. Wealth. Desire. Liberation.

Some texts have Moksha added as a Purushartha. Some don't. Some people opt for Liberation, some don't.

Translating these four words is entering The Hall Of Mirrors. Everyone brings their own representation.

On The Kundali

In Astrology, houses are divided based on elements of Nature. Fire. Earth. Air. Water.

Of the 12 houses in a chart, four groups are made. Each group is assigned three houses. Each group is therefore called a Trine.

The Four Purposes are assigned to corresponding Trines.

Dharma, belongs to the Fire Trine.

Artha, to Earth.

Kama, to Air.

Moksha, to Water.

In our current scenario, purpose largely translates to work. But Karma/ work has no place in the Four Purposes. It's regarded as a means to something. Not a purpose all by itself.

That's going to disappoint people who simply like being busy. Being busy is not being purposeful.

It's good to ask yourself , why you are doing, what you are doing.

Dharma : What Could It Mean?

Dharma is largely considered to be religion. In several languages Dharma is the word for religion.

I prefer the Tamil word for religion. Matham. In Tamil, the word for intoxication is also Matham.

Taking Dharma to be religion is not a comprehensive view.

Dharma is also considered to be duty. Ever wondered what the word duty means?

It comes from the root 'debt'. Duty means to be in debt. It is the same in Tamil as well. Kadan means debt. Kadan also means duty.

In your role what do you owe to others? As a child, a parent, what are your responsibilities? In your organization how are you expected to show up for others? As a business owner what do you owe your customer?

Duty in Sanskrit is karma. Kartavya.

So Dharma must be something else then?

Words Hold Their Meanings

Dharma comes from the root 'dhar'....'to hold'.

The earth is called 'dhar-ti', She who holds us all.

What are we holding when we talk about Dharma?

It's not confined to religion.

It's not our action. But it informs all of our actions.

It Sets The Stage For Everything

What we hold at our core, is our Belief.

And that is what creates our experience of the world.

Do you believe in yourself?

Do you believe change is possible? Do you believe in making things better?

Do you believe that the world is not as scary as people make it out to be? Life is an adventure?

Do you believe that people should not dictate the duties of others?

Do you believe that working on something is wonderful? Taking time over a sentence....planting a seed....watering it....and watching it grow....

Do you believe in fun?

Do you believe that Time is infinite? Vast. Stretching wide.

Do you believe you remember, what people you love, believe?

Beliefs are not set in stone.

They Are Flames Of Love

Words are powerful. They create things.

Forming words in English, is called 'To Spell'. Creating magic is called "To Cast A Spell"

Pay close attention to the words you use. What beliefs are you creating?

Dharma, is a burnishing Fire. Over every cycle, every year, every season....what beliefs are you burning? What are you taking through?

Aries, the first Dharma house, comes right after Pisces. The lesson of Pisces is to remember how one fish is turned inwards. One fish out. The world is an illusion. Don't forget, you have roots that go deep into the Mystery. The Magic.

From that mystery, a voice is heard.

Keep Your Ears Welcoming

The greatest Dharma is to follow your voice.

Taoism's Virtue, is Dharma. It is to allow for the natural flow of yourself.

Dhar-a, is a stream.

Krishna said. You do you. It doesn't matter that you have to chop a few cousin's heads off. Slay a few teachers. You be you.

Sometimes it requires a great battle of that sort.

At other times it calls for a great acceptance.

Whoever you are, useful, useless...ordinary, magnificent....full of talents....not got a clue....just be you.

It is highly individualistic. Aries is the house of the individual. The more ease you have with yourself, the more easy it is with the world.

For this cycle, with Mars in Aries, why not accept yourself? Don't lay out ambitions to outshine others. Don't set rigid codes that are dictated by the world outside. Cultivate contentment with who you are.

At the same time, if you listened, you may uncover things you want to do. Give yourself a chance.

It could turn out that it is we who are being held.

Held by Love.

For now, that's good. Next week, let's look at Taurus.

The Week Ahead

Use this week to fortify yourself.

Transits ahead will be harbingers of great change.

The outer planets are in a tight dance. They perfect their degrees on July 13th. They will move the wheels of a jaggernaut.

July 14th Jupiter goes combust. Time to take a step back.

On the Summer Solstice, June 21, Mars moves into Taurus, and meet Uranus. That's a combination that usually throws caution to the winds.

Saturn will go retrograde at the end of July. I think this is good. A lot of rectifications will happen. Workers, in increasing numbers, are standing up for their rights. People will raise their voices.

Pluto goes Out Of Bounds. Protests will no longer be ignored. It is a sick system with megalomaniac leaders....who haven't read Ozymandias.

August has the crazy eclipses, that may flatten and pop market curves and bubbles.

For now however, the week ahead, is a cruise. On a lovely, blue bobbing boat.

Jupiter and Venus together. In the same house. Beautiful wisdom can peep at you from unexpected corners.

Sun and Uranus in the same house, can give you innovative solutions to niggling problems. It can also give you the chutzpah, to follow your heart.

Mercury in the mix, can open lovely conversations. Make you want to establish better routines. Stop the scroll. Read instead.

The Moon will travel through her own house. She will face Pluto. It is time to clear the clutter. Of your mind. Bring old wounds out into the light. And ask for healing.

She will then join Ketu. Best time for you to snip off the unnecessary.

And she ends the week, edging ever so close, to becoming a Full Moon.

A Blue Moon.

All this happening in the days that unfold.

I hope you are enjoying life. See you next week.

Following Aries, is Taurus. Let's look at that next week.

The Week Ahead