The Full Moon of December 2020 brings in its wake attention from Rahu and Mercury, the transit of Pluto into Capricorn where it joins conjunct Saturn and Jupiter. The effect of Pluto on this conjunction is considered, along with aspects of the two Rahu nakshatras which the Moon occupies in the Birth Chart and the Navamsha. Annapurna Jayanti (birth of the Goddess of Food) occurs on Full Moon day, also. As this is the time of the release of higher energies to the earth at the solstice, we give one Meditation at Uluru.
Ardra nakshatra, ruled by Rahu, is said to deliver terrible storms. We know that storms whip up a fury in Nature and mix things up, bringing the power of destruction and suggest a face to the world of Anger. Nature – and the weather – in fact mirror the emotions and tempests within the human. Sans humans, a storm on Earth would be no more than a gentle shower on a summer’s day. That’s a lot to think about. The other thing to think about is being ungrateful for the weather. We should give thanks to Source for the seasons, the heat and cold, the rain and snow. Being ungrateful creates extreme weather conditions.
Rudra, the deity of Ardra nakshatra is a god who howls and roars. He is terrible. He is tall and well-built. He has long braided hair. His body is brilliant and its colour merges with the colour of the gold ornaments he wears. He wields the thunderbolt, bow and arrow. He is the god of storms. Though he looks fierce and is armed with terrible weapons, he is always benevolent and merciful to humanity. He is the protector, the kind and loving father, protecting humanity against its enemies. He is extraordinarily intelligent and wise. He is an excellent physician. He has thousands of medicines with him which can cure all the diseases of humanity. Lord Shiva – in his terrible aspect – is often called Rudra. Whether Shiva and Rudra are one and the same God has been a matter of debate.
It would seem that while Rudra has a terrible aspect, a destructive aspect and is sometimes called Agni, the all consuming fire, we keep in mind that there is a gentle, nurturing, protective side to Rudra. Rudra is not all sharp and dreadful, thunderbolt and destruction. Rudra’s consort is Mahagauri, the fair one, who undertook thousand year austerity in order to win Rudra. Rudra’s effects in Ardra nakshatra very much depend on our innate character and attitude towards life and its vicissitudes, the ups and downs of life. Keep in mind that the planets can raise us up, they can tear us down; it is up to you how you utilise the planets. If you fear the worst and want to be afraid, you may experience that reality. If you want to take up true humanness and human flourishing, you take action, you may experience the upside of Rudra in Ardra nakshatra:
You may use the meditation below, or the stotram for the Moon:
To the Moon:
dadhi shankha tusharabham kshiro darnava sambhavam
namami shashinam somam sambhoor mukuta bhushanam
“I offer my obeisance to the Moon god, whose complexion resembles curds, the whiteness of conch shells, and snow. He is the ruling deity of the soma-rasa born from the Ocean of Milk, and he serves as the ornament on top of the head of Lord Shambo.”
Moon Gayatri Mantra:
Om Kshir putraye Vidmahe
Amrit Tattvaya Dheemahe
Tanno Chandra Prachodayat
Translation: “Om. Let us meditate on the glorious son of milk, the glowing Moon. May that Chandra, the essence of nectar, inspire and illumine our mind and understanding.”
Other aspects of this full moon period are
- Saturn and Jupiter conjunct within 1°
- Jupiter separating in Planetary war (graha yuddha) with Saturn
- Mercury beyond the declination of the Sun and so ‘Out of Bounds’ (referenced to the Sun at Solstice)
- Mercury may then act in a manner without boundaries, so communication breakdowns, invasion of personal boundaries, strong need to break free emotionally and mentally
- In the Navamsha, the Moon is in Shatabishak nakshatra, another Rahu nakshatra;
- Shatabishak can present with technological activity, activities related the seas, and is ruled by the God of water, Varuna;
- Varuna presents us with the vital connection between humanity and the Gods; again, a god of medicine (the hundred healers), the god who presents the healing herbs and flowers.
- The entrance of Pluto into Capricorn, called Yama Peyarchi:
Transit of Pluto – Yama Peyarchi
Most practitioners of Vedic astrology disregard the outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Literature of Vedic Astrology only uses the traditional nine grahas: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. However, Neo-Vedic or contemporary Vedic astrologers attend to the outer planets when they change signs, or perhaps, when they change nakshatra, or turn retrograde. There is no rulership, dignity nor debilitation assigned to the outer planets. They are known by their effects.
Pluto went into Capricorn during February 2020, had a retrograde period and went back into Sagittarius, and on 31 December, moves forward to Capricorn where it joins Saturn and Jupiter, who are locked in an ongoing planetary war and conjunction.
Pluto changes signs on 31 December 2020 (day after full moon), moving from Sagittarius to Capricorn, in Uttara Ashadha nakshatra, and is vargottama in the Navamsha chart (vargottama: the planet moves into Capricorn in both the Birth Chart, and the Navamsha, the 9th harmonic).
Pluto in Capricorn
While Pluto is considered agency for control and manipulation, corruption, perversion, purging and cleansing; Capricorn is democratic and egalitarian; it does not have time for ego and autocracy – you will see many egos crushed during this period. Pluto is the active agent for catharsis and release; there is transformation and healing. Pluto can empower, intensify, regenerate and renew our purpose in life. On the other hand, Pluto can probe, pierce, purge and cleanse, expel and exterminate that which is not serving our life’ purpose, our soul contract.
We need to consider the presence of Pluto in the ongoing conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter. Pluto falls within the Orb of influence of both Saturn and Jupiter which is 9° … and these orbs remain in place until February 2020. In relation to Saturn (Shani), Yama (deity of Pluto) is Shani’s brother. Where Saturn calls for lawful fulfilment of duty, obligation and responsibility, Yama (Pluto) (empower, intensify, regenerate and renew) provides the upkeep of dharma, the right action, the righteousness that can flow and protect in fulfilment of the tasks demanded of us in the ups and downs of life. This is, if we follow dharma. Recall that the planets can raise us up, they can tear us down, as you can see
Pluto (Yama) and Jupiter (Brihaspati)
Jupiter (Guru, Brihaspati) is the ruler of the Gods. He is the teacher of teachers; the high-priest; the voice of Truth. His portfolio includes wisdom, ritual excellence, and joy.
Psychically, Guru indicates the native’s “permission” levels set at birth. Because we are in the sign of Saturn (Capricorn) there is a clear indication that we need to stay within the gifts given at birth. The permission levels, the talents, gifts, and privileges set down at birth must not be exceeded. The presence of Pluto (Yama) within the orb of Jupiter (9°) sets this parameter. If we go outside our affirmed and known skill, capacity, capabilities and office, we may experience the restrictions and chaos of Pluto-Yama. Capricorn, while a mysterious and spiritually inclined sign signifying democracy and proper freedoms of the human person (think human rights), it is still a sign under the aegis of Saturn, Yama’s brother, and so we must stay within the lawful bounds of what we know our skills, gifts and capabilities are. Recall Shakespeare, and vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself. Yama can deliver that, so take care, particularly in this time of Mercury being out of bounds.
Yama and Dharma
There is the Hindu deity Yama, mostly known – and feared – as the God of Death: Yama, the god who judges the souls at the end of life. His other name is Dharmaraja (King of Dharma, right conduct, righteousness), and he is called Lord of Justice, said to be rightly judging souls for their accumulated deeds on Earth. Said to be blue in colour, he rides a he-buffalo, and holds a rope and a stick (danda).
By the time of the Puranas, Yama is said to be the son of Surya and Sangya (who is the daughter of Vishwakarma), and is the brother of the planet Shani (Saturn). He is one of the eight guardians of directions, responsible for south. He is the lord of the dead, and all mortals go to his court to be judged. His scribe Chitragupta, keeps a record of all the deeds of men. Yama sentences the soul to either heaven or hell based on the balance of Karma. In his role as the judge, Yama is also referred to as Dharmaraja, the lord of justice. His knowledge of the scriptures is immense and and he is the ultimate arbiter of truth and falsehood.
Dharma is ‘the vesture of the cosmos’; it has both a general and a personal application: the harmony of the world must be maintained, and an individual’s dharma must be fulfilled by adherence to the duties and obligations relating to each person’s inherent nature, profession, status and stage of life as laid down by the ancient lawgivers. The Gita teaches, ‘It is better to perform one’s own duties imperfectly than to master the duties of another.’ Dharma is that particular course of conduct which will produce maximum benefit both for the thing concerned and for the rest of the universe. The vedantic saying is ‘Dharmam moolam jagat’ – dharma is the basis of the Universe. Dharma sustains the world. It is not only divinely ordained but part of divinity itself: ‘Dhārayati iti dharma’ – that which sustains is dharma.
Annapurna Jayanti
Annapurna Jayanti is a festival dedicated to Goddess Annapurna – Hindu goddess of food and cooking. It is observed on the full moon day in the month of Margashirsha. In some regions, an Annapurna Fast is observed during the period. Goddess Annapurna is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. In 2020, Annapurna Jayanti date is December 30.
It is believed that those who worship Annapurna Mata and live as per Dharma without harming nature will always be blessed with good food and water.
Story of Annapurna Jayanti
Legend has it that once the food on earth was not replenished and soon the food started getting over. Living beings were in a danger of starving. Human beings prayed to Brahma and Vishnu and they together awoke Lord Shiva from his yoga nidra (sleep). He agreed to restore prosperity and food on earth.
It is believed that Parvati took the form of Goddess Annapurna. Shiva roamed around the earth and begged for rice from Annapurna and he distributed it among living beings.
It is also said that while Shiva is engaged in helping his devotees in attaining Moksha in Kashi, Goddess Annapurna looks after life and makes sure that food is available to all living beings that arrive at Kashi.
On Annapurna Jayanti, special prayers are held at temples dedicated to Goddess Annapurna. The day is of great significance in Kashi.
The Time of Full Moon
Full Moons are times when strong and plentiful energy floods the Earth. This energy, directed by the Full Moon – may be taken and used for benefit. Hence, the Hierarchy offer us the choice to harness this time of strong energy for planetary benefit by doing group meditation and directing energy in the form of love, light or healing, wherever there is a need.
The Hierarchy have advised us that the times of the Full Moon are times when energy is magnified, and multiplied. Groups – or individuals – sitting in meditation with peace, harmony, goodwill towards all have a manifold affect on the energies surrounding our planet when they do this on the Full Moon day. If it is not possible to do so on the actual day, then, we have been told, the day before or the day after will also serve as days of excellence in sending out positive harmony, peace and helpful energies to all places on our Earth.
Meditation at Uluru
The Angelic Realms advise that Uluru is the heart chakra of our planet and the abode of the oversighting spirit of the Indigenous Peoples of Australia – and our entire galaxy – Alcheringa. Alcheringa has let it be known that Uluru (along with other sacred places on Earth) exists in the higher dimensions (5th and 6th), and sacred places like Uluru should be visited, to receive the spiritual benefit, blessing, uplift. Alcheringa went on to say that if a sacred place could not be visited in the physical form, then one may travel in spirit. Valérie Barrow channelled Alcheringa on Ascension and visiting Sacred Places in December 2011. What follows is an excerpt from this channelled message:
Alcheringa: ”Indeed there is My Dear, I know that you have received messages about the ascended state of being … … and I would like to say that the ascended state of being already exists in Uluru and the surrounding areas. There are other places around the earth that are also in the uplifted frequency of Light and Love. When people visit these places, these sacred places, they experience the energy and it touches them… … it touches their heart … it touches every body cell, every part of their physical body and helps to lift.
Alcheringa: Everything has a consciousness … it may not be of a language that you would think … … but it has a consciousness. It is predestined for many things to grow … and to grow the same continuous way. And so it is for the earthling … but adjustments can be made at times to fit into certain situations … but sometimes the mind gets in the way and interferes with that growth … that ascended state.
So I would like to encourage everybody to visit sacred places if they can … and if they cannot physically actually go there … Then to sit quietly in a meditative state and gently roll their eyes towards the heavens and see themselves at a certain place that they have decided to go to in their mind.
For it is the consciousness of the soul that is taking them on the journey and it is equally as beneficial to the people to experience being there. It will be a sacred journey … it will be a blessing … and if they keep the brain away from that consciousness they will experience many things.
That will assist them in many ways. A knowing, but more than that a feeling will come upon them and then they will know. Without any explanation or words and this is what I mean when I say and I speak of consciousness in everything.
