Astrological View of a Stressed Endocrine System, pt. 2

This material is copyrighted by M. Kirby Moore. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Thank you for reading and please enjoy your stay.

This post is a continuation of a previous article posted by the same title. Just scroll down or look in the Spiritual Astrology category on the right to find it.

Also, when I mention that an endocrine system is stressed, I am referring to the subtle energy. This could be the chi, the jing, (to use Chinese medicine terms) or it could be elemental energy that is out of balance. But either way, I believe our bodies are fairly resolute and fortified, so despite being stressed or depleted, we can continue to function fairly well in our lives. But if we know and recognize signs of stress, then it might be a good time to practice self-care.

Now to continue this thread. What transits and progressions can indicate a challenged kidney and adrenal (endocrine gland on the kidneys – responsible for adrenaline and other “fight or flight or freeze,” stress-response chemicals)?

First, what planets are in Libra or Aries? Is there any Natal pattern of sensitized kidneys? Saturn conjunct any personal planet (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus or Mars) in Libra / Aries would say yes. Perhaps Pluto and Uranus as well. Simply having a single planet in Aries or Libra may not indicate much in the Natal chart, but if there is ever a time of heightened transit activity to that planet, then it might be good to watch for over-working and exhaustion.

Second, do Mars and Saturn make a challenging aspect in the Natal chart? If so, this could indicate sensitive adrenals. Then, if this is the case, whenever this aspect is transited or contacted by a progressed planet (or Ascendant / Midheaven), it could reflect a time of heightened stress in one’s life.

Finally, what aspects do Mercury and Uranus make? Are they pleasant or trying? This will show how the nervous system of the individual is geared naturally. Do they react in fear (aspect to Saturn perhaps)? Do they have faith in life (Mercury in Gemini making positive aspects or Uranus in Aquarius / Scorpio making positive aspects or positive Jupiter aspects)? You’d need to take the house placements into account for this as well. This can also give a fascinating glimpse into how a person deals with stress.

Now to show some examples. And actually, if you don’t mind, I will use some examples from my Natal Chart, as I started out the initial post by saying that my system is taxed, strained, exhausted beyond description. I am feeling like resting down for a month solid, and maybe that would be enough to convalesce.

Here’s my personal recipe for a stressed adrenal system:
Tr. Venus conjunct Mercury in Aries
Tr. Pluto square Mercury in Aries
Pr. Mars conjunct Mercury in Aries
Pr. Asc opposite Mars (which is opposite Saturn in my Natal Chart)
Pr. MC square Saturn (and soon to square Mars)

So my Mercury is a singleton in Aries, barely aspecting anything else (which may makes its manifestations more eccentric and unusual). The important thing for this example is that it is in Aries (the reciprocal of Libra). And look at all those intense Mercury hits – only the Tr. Venus passed over it quickly, moving on to later degrees of Aries with a rapid pace. Tr. Pluto will be squaring Mercury for at least a couple years (off and on in terms of its strength). And then Pr. Mars will be sitting on Mercury for a solid three years (!!!) – ooph! Remember, Mars in conjunction with Mercury leads to driving swiftly (think Aries), and driving fast leads to stressing the kidneys and adrenals as well. So now is a good time to purposely drive slower and more mindfully.

Then I have in my Natal Chart, Saturn in Virgo opposite Mars in Pisces, which is presently getting activated by the two Progressed Angles of the Ascendant and the Midheaven. So having Saturn opposite Mars in a chart can mean different things on various levels – personality effects, health implications, psychological issues which need to be cleaned up etc. And of course the house placement and other aspects to this opposition need to be looked at. But, if nothing else, we can easily assume that Mars opposite Saturn will have some kind of effect on the individual’s ability to handle stress.

As I mentioned earlier, having Mars and Saturn in a hard (challenging) aspect, which includes the opposition, indicates a pattern of easily stressed adrenals. Think about this in a very basic way: Mars is the gas (pedal or throttle) and Saturn is the brakes (limitation and restriction). What happens when we hit the gas and the brake at the same time? The vehicle gets very confused, upset even! Likewise, Mars and Saturn are not the best bed fellows.

So, even after doing years of personal growth work (therapeutic) as well as somatic processing work (bringing the therapy into the body), there could still be an old pattern of stress that could be re-triggered if given the right conditions. And sure enough – when we are stressed at work (for someone else), and if we are trying to juggle a new relationship, if we are simultaneously processing health issues and attempting to keep a part-time self-employed job going… Well you get the drift!

Isn’t it incredible how insidious stress can be? We don’t notice all the little things stacking up until we are saddled with many little responsibilities. Then the body will start to show signs of being exhausted. In my next post in this series, I will review (some of these things I have already mentioned) some techniques, activities and supplements I take to rest down and calm down.

Thank you kindly for reading.

*** Remember, Kirby Moore is not a licensed medical professional. He does not claim to be one and as a result he does not claim to be an expert on any of the above material (take it all with a grain of salt please). This is presented for educational or entertainment purposes only. If you have a medical problem, consult a licensed health care practitioner as soon as possible.

Astrological View of a Stressed Endocrine System

This material is copyrighted by M. Kirby Moore. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Thank you for visiting.

Just for the record, what I am about to discuss can be a very complicated subject. I assume the reader has some knowledge of astrology, but please keep in mind that each idea posed here could be expounded on further.

Recently, I recalled reading somewhere, I believe it was in an astrology book, about a very creative friend of the author who said, as the friend was lounging for hours on his couch, “You know, I have burned out every synapse, stressed every sinew and exhausted all my reserves. I am pooped beyond description and all I can do, in response, is to lie here on this couch.” The author apparently had a different opinion, but the exhausted-couch-guy eventually (I think it was six weeks) got out of his cycle of needing rest and got on with what was to be a productive life.

And now I know how that guy was feeling. I wrote at least six months ago, something along these lines, but as I told a friend of mine earlier today, “my baseline, on an anxiety scale from one to ten, is an eight.” That is my resting baseline. Imagine what happens if I skip a meal, or have a stressful encounter with someone (or get sucked into someone’s drama at work). So now, more than ever, my kidneys and adrenals need to rest.

Now, how can I tell this is the case from my Natal Chart? Where do we start to look to see how the kidneys are doing? Oh, and I want to mention for the record that I am talking about subtle energy here. Yes, the physical kidney might be stressed, but it is still functioning well – purifying the blood, removing toxins, supporting the heart and liver, etc. So it is the subtle energy in / around the kidneys that can get stressed or challenged.

To get a glimpse at how the kidneys and adrenal system are doing from astrology, we look in several parts of the zodiac and the chart. First, any competent astrologer would tell you that the sign of Libra rules the kidneys (Libra is balance, harmony and purification through relationships – just as the kidneys purify the body of toxins and excess minerals, etc). I happen to agree with this conclusion. But there is more. Whenever we mention one sign, we must always think of its opposite – the reciprocal sign of Libra, is Aries.

Libra rules the kidneys and the lumbar back region around them. While Aries rules the head – specifically the forehead, the crown, the upper cortices and other brain structures. How, if at all, are these related? Well, when our kidney subtle energy (jing in Chinese medicine) is stressed and depleted, we tend to get headaches. Just as we can get headaches if we get dehydrated, which also affects the kidneys, we see that these signs have some connection – which all reciprocal (opposite) signs do.

But what else may indicate a stressed endocrine system? Well what planets rule the adrenal glands? What planet(s) rule the nervous system? What aspects can indicate a proclivity toward a stressed sympathetic nervous system response?

First, Saturn and Mars rule different parts of the adrenal glands respectively. The adrenals sit on top (ad-) of the kidneys (renal system). So any challenging aspects between Saturn and Mars can indicate a pattern of a stressed endocrine system (specifically referring to the adrenals). What else? Well Mercury and Uranus rule the central nervous system respectively. And then, any planet that tenants Libra or Aries may indicate or reflect a sensitive renal or adrenal system.

We could look at houses, other planets and other aspects, but for the sake of brevity, let’s stop here. So we have Libra ruling the kidneys, Aries possibly having a reciprocal effect on them, Mars and Saturn have direct rulership of the adrenal glands, Uranus and Mercury rule the central nervous system (and our mental dexterity and responses) and finally any other planet in Libra and Aries might have an effect on the renal system as well.

So what are some aspects to look at to see if / when these innate proclivities will be triggered? In other words, are there certain transits or progressions which indicate a time of sensitized kidneys? I say, “Yes!”

In terms of transits, we look at the slower moving planets first, as they stay on or near a certain degree (and therefore near a planet) for much longer. For instance, Pluto moves an average of about two degrees per year. That means it will “sit” on or near a planet for up to three years. Neptune is also a slow mover, then Uranus will usually only effect an aspect for about a year or so. Saturn and Jupiter move faster, but due to Saturn’s retrograde motion of approximately 20 degrees forward and then 8 degrees back, it tends to contact planets and aspects them for up to a year off and on.

Then, regarding progressions (secondary), we look at the inner planets, because when we do the secondary progressions, we are basically taking a day past our birthday for every year we are alive. In other words, to see what our progressed chart will look like when we are twenty years old, we simply look at twenty days past our day of birth (using the same birth time). Therefore, only the inner planets make any significant movement in a lifetime in a progressed chart. So we are most interested, with regard to progressions, in the Progressed Moon, Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars, plus the Progressed Angles – the Ascendant and Progressed Midheaven – play very critical roles in what is “up” for us at any given time.

I will go further on this subject in my next post. Same title, part 2.

*** Kirby Moore is not a licensed medical professional. He does not claim to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any disease. All information posted here is for educational or entertainment purposes only. If you suspect that you have a medical condition, please consult a licensed practitioner.

Green light for Astrology

Hello Dear Readers,

First, I realize I need a website. And that project is next on my plate. I have started a Weebly account and will begin progress on a site shortly. However, until that is complete (and very professional / presentable), I will continue to post new developments here.

So work has been slowing down. That is, working for someone else in a job which is difficult on my body. It is a job which requires skillful charm and requisite patience and frankly, I am tired of it (it is waiting tables in an upscale golf-resort / fine dining restaurant). It was enjoyable in December when we were so busy the days just flew by, and the paychecks reflected that busy-ness, but no longer. Hence I intend to be of benefit to many people in a job that I enjoy, which is healthy for my body and which I can sustain with ease and grace.

As many of you may know by now, I have been working closely with the I Ching for the past three plus years, taking time to explore various interpretations of the Book of Changes and to develop a reliable relationship with it. By the way, when I throw the I Ching, I visualize my heart teachers (Tibetan Lamas) and wisdom beings (wisdom deities) present in front and above me, then I picture my question and then I throw the coins. Therefore, I hope that the advice I receive is actually a reflection of what is. I seek to penetrate through pretense and to get underneath what I want (deluded desire) to see the raw truth (sometimes uncomfortable) in that specific situation.

With that said, recently the I Ching gave me the green light to offer Astrology Interpretations to a larger audience. It said that this is a fruitful time for it, and that fruitful times also pass, so get started.

So here is what I am offering in regards to Astrology:
(please visit the Spiritual Astrology category and look at previous posts which describe what the following topics are)

For $125, I offer the following:

Full Natal Astrology Interpretation (90 minutes recorded interpretation) or

Complete Two Year Timing Aspects (90 minutes recorded conversation about the chart’s Transits, Progressions and Solar Arc Directions) or

Full Medical Astrology Interpretation with Medical Astrology Timing Aspects (90 minutes recorded interpretation)

Keep in mind, that while I have been studying Medical Astrology for six years, while also focusing on learning and providing healing facilitation through process-oriented bodywork; I am neither a doctor nor a licensed medical practitioner, so I do not claim to cure, treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. The Medical Astrology interpretation is for educational purposes only.

Relationship Astrology interpretation (90 minutes recorded interpretation) this includes the Chart Synnastry and a detailed explanation of the Composite Chart of two individuals.

For $90, I offer the following:

Relocation Astrology – Astro-carto-graphy and Local Space Astrology (one hour recorded interpretation)

Rectifying the Birth Chart – if the birth time is unknown, we use the process of Rectifying the Birth Time to work backwards using major events in a person’s life to match it up with the proper birth time. (one hour conversation to discern the correct birth time)

Finally I offer individual tutoring in Spiritual Astrology at the rate of $40 per half hour or $65 per hour. Learn how to discern a chart’s basic drives and patterns, look below the surface to see what a chart’s evolutionary background is and look to see how these traits are progressing through the individual’s life with timing aspects.

Again, please visit the Spiritual Astrology category on the right to see previous posts describing each of these areas of what I offer in detail. Also, if these rates are too high, I can compromise to find a good rate for both of us. Do keep in mind however that most of these offerings require three to four hours of my time – counting preparing the charts, reviewing them and then doing the actual recorded in-person or over-the-phone interpretation.

To contact me to set up an interpretation, call me at four three four (area code) four six five zero six zero three. Thank you.

While I have been trained in everything that I mention above, working with several astrologers and mentors over the past seven years, I feel that I excel in a few areas of astrological interpretation. Natal Astrology is the basis of all branches of Western (Spiritual) Astrology, so I feel very confident discussing the intricacies of an individual’s Birth Chart. Then I have spent the most time focusing on the Timing Aspects – the Transits, Progressions and Solar Arc Directions and I am good in the art of predictive astrology (within the bounds of Frequency-Based, Choice-centered Astrology).

Also, on a personal level, I have been seeking a romantic partner who inspires me to be a better human being, one with which I can have a co-creating, provocatively-transformative and an aligned-with-a-potent-spiritual-intention relationship. As a result, I have spent a lot of time looking at relationship astrology charts – primarily for clients professionally, and in my spare time. Therefore I particularly enjoy working with clients for Relationship Astrology interpretations.

And finally, as I have been studying multiple modalities of healing facilitation, such as Reiki Energetic Healing, Craniosacral Biodynamics and Visceral Manipulation, I am also intrigued with Medical Astrology. I find the human body to be a fascinating mystery, which when viewed through the lens of Medical Astrology, begins to be understood in new, dynamic ways. And as a result, I am very happy to do these interpretations with individuals.

The Astrology of Embodiment, Introduced

This material is copyrighted by M. Kirby Moore. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. I am writing off the top of my head, so this could either be very good or an enormous flop! Thanks for sticking with me either way.

I believe the astrological chart (the Natal Chart, the Birth Horoscope, etc) to be a snapshot of our gross karmas, at least in a nutshell. What do I mean? If you believe in reincarnation, great, if not, can you just pretend for a second? So we have past lives. Say there is unfinished business with other people, animals, enemies, locations, etc. And there is unfinished business with regard to our strong habits and predispositions. There may also be unfinished business with regard to certain cultures and belief systems. This all shows up in the birth chart. We reincarnate to clean up these various situations and strong inclinations, if they need to be cleaned up of course. If not, then we reincarnate to benefit others, which is not such a bad thing.

For the most part, especially here in the West, just about all of us share one massive shortcoming in common. We are stuck up in our heads. Meaning we are not in our bodies – it takes effort to be aware of our tummies, to be aware of our breath. We have to purposely slow down to get in touch with our body’s needs. Why is this the case? I’m not saying we are all suffering from this affliction. Luckily, there are teachers and sublime beings who lead others back home into their bodies. But for the most part, especially in less-than-conscious families and industries, people are just running around being aware from the neck up.

Well, as babies, we emulate those around us. Studies on mirror neurons shows that kids (0 – 7 especially) do what their caretakers do. (This is why it is vital for parents to walk their talk – no saying one thing and doing another and expecting their kids to honor their words! Getting off that soapbox now…) It is natural – we want to learn from our parents and become functioning teenagers and adults. Unfortunately, if the adults we are learning from have no clue what it is to be embodied… if they are just in their heads, out of touch with their hearts and bellies, well then what chance do we have as babies?

As babies, we seek to be as safe and comfortable as possible. To do so, we emulate our parents. If our parents are living a stressed, tight, rat-race-oriented lifestyle, then as babies we learn to lock up certain parts of our body. I mean, what is the point of having an open heart if it is just going to get hurt and wounded everyday? So we start to close certain parts of our breath, we tighten our shoulders, in a sense creating a natural defense around our tender, vulnerable areas. But is this really necessary? Well, at that young impressionable age, yes. As conscious adults with choices about how we carry ourselves, how we use our tools of consciousness and awareness, NO!

In this series of posts, I intend to go into the shadow side of each planet. What does it mean to have a challenged Mercury and how does that affect embodiment? Or Mars? Or Jupiter, etc?

I will ponder this subject for a few days and then post the next article in this series.

Thanks for reading.

Awareness of Head, Heart and Pelvis in relationships

This material is copyrighted by M. Kirby Moore. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Thank you for reading.

I got this information first from Julie Henderson’s body of work – with Zapchen Somatics; but it has also been reinforced by years of giving and receiving process-oriented bodywork (Craniosacral Biodynamics, Reiki Energetic Healing and Visceral Manipulation among other potent modalities). This information is very precious. It is also very potent, so kindly treat it accordingly.

In Buddhism, there are the three doors through which we encounter the world (and receive the precious Dharma) – body, speech and mind. In the body, the three doors are represented by the body at the forehead, the speech at the throat and the mind at the heart. This is very important – the heart has more to do with the mind (subtle consciousness) than the brain does. With that said, let’s push ahead into a more fully embodied dynamic.

In Zapchen Somatics, a modality created by Julie Henderson, PhD., the three main centers are the Head (representing the brain, wisdom and clarity), the Heart (representing the heart, compassion and kindness) and the Pelvis (representing the pelvis and potency). Without awareness of all three, we are out of balance. Because a kind heart which is not informed by discerning clarity becomes very foolish. Likewise, a potent being who has neither kindness nor clarity quickly becomes a monster and loses many of their friends in the process.

Within relationships, we are attracted to someone for a number of reasons, but ideally, we want a balance of these three centers pervading that attraction. Let me elaborate: when we are young, and we don’t know ourselves well, and we have bucket-loads of hormones coursing through our bodies, then it makes sense that we have a Pelvic-oriented attraction toward someone. If we have not explored a lot intellectually, we do not know our mind well, and we don’t know who we want to be with intellectually. And if we have many unresolved wounds and misunderstandings, then we will not really be in our hearts, and as a result, there might merely be a lot of bumping of pelvises. But, for those of us with experience in intimate sexual relationships, we know that a relationship based solely on sexual attraction can wax and wane, and eventually burn out.

Therefore, it is good to get to know yourself. Do some work to come into your body – receive bodywork, do yoga, do meditation, go for soothing hikes in the woods, and above all else – SLOW DOWN! In Julie’s work, it requires years of time to fully come down out of our heads – seriously. Think about our culture – our time is limited and pressured, most people live in a rat race, barely making ends meet, and if we have a family to care for, we can’t count our spare time on our thumbs! Therefore, it is good to take time while you can, when it is appropriate to get to know yourself. Once you start to get to know your proclivities and predispositions, you can work to start changing any that don’t lead toward happiness and well-being.

Then once you start to work on yourself, then you will slowly start to come down out of your head and into your heart. As you come down into your heart, your pace of life and your kindness toward yourself will improve, slowing down and resting down with more ease. But it takes time! I cannot stress this enough. I have bodywork clients who I have seen off and on for five years who are just starting to be in their bodies. And they may have years to go before it is an easy, stable embodiment.

But once you start to come down into your heart, you will still have moments when you lose your balance – because a heart that is not supported by a conscious pelvis can easily start to suffocate and retract. There is potency in the pelvis – and depending on our wounding, we might have more or less access to that potency from the get go. But without awareness of our patterns, that potency might manifest in strange, distorted ways. That is why it can take 20 years to fully embody – say we pop one strong habit or pattern every few years… Well it will take a while to get there 🙂 But with slow, stable, diligent effort, we will get there!

And once you start to get there, you will notice when you are in alignment. You will notice when you start to fall out of balance. And hopefully you will have worked with a coach or healer or spiritual teacher who can authentically teach you tools for quality self-care – how to come back into alignment with ease and grace. And how to not beat yourself up (be kind!) when you do stumble, because we are human beings and we make mistakes – it’s not an “if,” but a “when.”

So when we start to embody more fully, when we are in touch with our innate potency, which is guided by both compassionate kindness and wise clarity, then we will start to be a ruby among garnets, a polished gem. Then people will feel comfortable around us naturally without our saying anything special or doing anything out of the ordinary. They will sense the ease in our field and they may (or may not) notice the way in which we gracefully move our embodied form. But most importantly, they will feel at ease because we are in our hearts, which is supported by our potency – so we can kind when appropriate, or fierce if need be, but it will be a wise wrath.

As such, I recommend taking time for self-introspection before falling into a relationship. If you feel a strong connection with someone, take the time to check in – do we laugh a lot together? Do we connect on intellectual subjects? Meaning, can we be together without constantly needing to be thinking about sex? Is there an empathic connection – meaning a heart connection? Are they able to be kind to me and to themselves? And of course, without the pelvic connection, you don’t have easy sexual relations… So go for all three if possible. But that requires you to be in your heart, in your body, comfortably and in alignment.

So be careful what you ask for – because if we pray with diligence for a potent, transformative, healthy relationship, eventually we will get it. If we pray for a partner that we ourselves are not, then expect to be called on your stuff. And acknowledge the areas that you need to change. Be flexible and fluid if possible. And then you will be able to navigate through the many obstacles which can arise when practicing relationship yoga.

(It also helps to have a reliable, authentic spiritual practice to dedicate yourself too – then you are buoyed and supported by a lineage of healthy wisdom, and you have a spiritual family to fall back upon in case those obstacles become too heavy. See my other posts for more on this subject of authentic spiritual practice – especially the Dharma category.)

Thank you for visiting and if you have the desire, visit my Chipin page to see how you can support my blogging and travel adventures:

http://kirbymoore.chipin.com/pilgrimage-to-nepal

Astrological Venus: a measure of desire

This material is copyrighted by M. Kirby Moore. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Thank you for reading and enjoy your visit.

When we think of Astrological Venus, whether or not we have much experience with astrology, we probably think what? That men are from Mars and women are from Venus? Yeah, and? Well… Venus is the female symbol. Yes. What else? Venus is one of the brightest “stars” in the sky, occasionally rising before the Sun (as Phosphorus) and sometimes setting after it (as Hesperus), the morning and evening star respectively. Venus is apparently a very hot, dry planet if you were able to peek through its thick cloud cover. But now let’s change gears and look at the esoteric interpretation of it’s symbol.

What is the symbol of Venus? We see a circle representing the spirit, the unborn and the unceasing over a cross of the material (form) realm. In Isabel Hickey’s book, Astrology: A Cosmic Science, she indicates that this symbol shows the ultimate power of unconditional loving-kindness and limitless compassion (the circle) to overcome anything worldly (the cross), which is Venus in its highest manifestation. I would happen to agree here, but I don’t think many of us encounter Venus in such a pure, ego-free manner.

Personally, I think of Venus as being similar to the concept of Yin (versus Yang which may be more aligned with Mars). Yin is an Eastern concept for the essence that is fertile, receptive, yielding and fluid. It is a very slippery dynamic, one that I believe must be felt, experienced, embraced before we can gain a fuller understanding of its machinations.

But, despite ancient Hellenistic astrologers calling Venus the Lesser Benefic, what happens when we have too much Venus in our charts? What happens when we have multiple transits and progressions activating Venus (or we have personal planets that GET activated by Venus)? At that point, we get the chance, if we are ready, and if conditions are ripe, to see how our mind deals with desire.

During these times, there might be a romantic, passionate tryst. There might be overindulgence in sensual pleasures such as wine or chocolate or furs or Ritz Carltons, etc. But what happens when we pause in the midst of this desire? What happens if we break up with someone during one of these heavy-Venus-laden times? What happens if Uranus gets involved and we lose everything (temporarily) in the midst of Venusian yearnings?

That is where the rubber meets the road my friends. That is the true chance to practice contemplation and introspection. And at this, you might say, “DUHH!!” And rightfully so. But what happens when we unpack those feelings? What happens when we sit with the raw element of an unpacked emotion – such as fear, or vulnerability, or shame? Allowing it to sweep over us, whether it takes three hours or three days? Have we ever allowed ourselves the time to feel something until it is completely exhausted?

No? Well neither have I. But I wonder what is hidden beneath those luxurious layers of Venus’ silkily sensual satisfactions. What pearls and gems await our discovery? What is our hectic, busy, discursive mind afraid of our discovering? Oh how I wonder.

What do I mean by seeing how our mind deals with desire? Well, if we have the positive karma for it, during times of heavy Venus (or Jupiter, the Greater Benefic, for that matter), we will be faced with abundance – possibly a poverty of riches (to borrow a phrase). What do we do at that point? Do we fall in head first, drunk with pleasure and constantly want more? Or do we stick with what we know, what is stable and steady (and what is actually Saturnian and disciplined)? How can we find a balance? This is the test actually.

This constant desire for more brings up an anecdote: there was once a monk who happened to come across a great treasure – an enormous, perfect sapphire. This monk said to himself, “I am going to give this perfect gem to the poorest person in the land, because they need it more than anyone else.” So do you know who he ended up giving that gem to? Well, to the King of course, the only man in the kingdom who had everything, and who still wanted more.

To conclude, I do not think of Venus or Jupiter for that matter, and not even Saturn, as challenging influences in the astrological chart. I feel that certain astrological dynamics will reflect various situations in our lives where we may have too much of a good thing (Venusian or Jovial abundance). Then we are tested – are we content? Can we let go and enjoy just a taste? Do we yearn for more, having tasted a little bliss, lusting ever further?

If you go back through my previous Spiritual Astrology posts, you will discover at least one post on the benefits of astrological Saturn. And here, I paint an abundantly-strained picture of what happens with too much of anything, even too much of a good thing. If and when you come across a really really good year (which probably has Venus and / or Jupiter functioning behind the scenes) what do you choose? Balance or excess indulgence? It is certainly possible, although for many of us, it can come as such a surprise that it catches us off guard. This is where a good coach or teacher can come in handy – reflecting our situations back to us, suggesting moderation and sticking with wise choices.

So yes, I suggest vigilance and mindful awareness even in the midst of positive transits. You might even say, especially in the midst of these blessed aspects. Keep alert to all the little tricks your discursive mind can play and then you will be on your way to equanimity and the middle way.

This was written by Spiritual Astrology Kirby Moore, an ordinary human being whose mind continues to amaze and surprise him with its layers of attachment and aversion. Thanks for reading.

North Branch School memories

This material is copyrighted by M. Kirby Moore. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Please enjoy your visit!

Recently my mother was asked by the Director of Alumni Relations of North Branch School to write a paragraph about how the school in Afton has shaped our family. North Branch is a small alternative school (grades K-8) in Afton Virginia, but much has changed since I went through their ranks, more than 17 years ago…

About these changes, let me start by saying that I was apart of the school when it was still getting situated and stable. There were two people in my graduating class… Yeah, me and a female student. So the school has definitely grown and continued to attract great local teachers and students.

One of my most fond memories, believe it or not, is of being in the sixth grade and of tracking the stock market. This is an example of NBS’ dynamic mixture of life skills and academic subject matter. We were given a fake $1000 to “spend” in the stock market. In case you have not noticed, this was a part of math class. I recall that I was one of the few people who more than doubled my money by the end of the project! What fun! Of course, I may have only enjoyed it because I was making so much money… But nonetheless, it was a great learning experience.

I also recall running through the pine forests on the NBS land, playing various kids games such as capture the flag. Nature was an integral part of the curriculum at NBS, whether we were working to create the nature trail running behind the school, or gardening, or starting sprouts to later put in the garden, I was glad to be so in touch with the Earth.

And of course, who could mention NBS, having attended, and not think about their annual winter solstice play, “St. George and the Dragon.” In this play, the characters and plot mirror the dying year, and the bright Sun within St. George must die and then be reborn, reflecting the longest day of the year (which of course was later adopted by Christians to reflect the resurrection of Jesus, but let’s not get into that right now!). While I was attending NBS, I was a shy, reserved, and fun-loving child. I never wanted to be in the spot-light, so my parts in the annual play were always minor or peripheral. I think my culminating-eigth-grade-roll was Father Christmas, a beer and cheer loving character who acts as a narrator of sorts.

Anyway, I got to step into the limelight as it were, when, fifteen years after I had graduated, Charlotte, the Founder and Director of NBS, asked me to take part in the alumni version of the play. And I got to play the role of my childhood dreams – nope, I did not want to be the pure and chivalrous St. George, rather I wanted to get my hands dirty and to play with inner shadowy material. I chose the Dragon! What fun too. That alumni production was apparently a huge success, because when adults do the performance, we seem to bring a lot of feisty innuendo to the characters which middle schoolers are not capable of expressing.

I’d love to see the video of that performance, because while I was changing into my glittery-scales and shiny-claws, and not to mention the enormous Dragon head, I missed what was perhaps the best part of the performance – the two headed Giant who sounded like he was from deep within the Appalachian roots of West Virginia. The Giant of course is the first foe of St. George, before he must rescue a maiden from the terrifying dragon. Our Giant that year brought many waves of rolling laughter through the crowd.

Little did anyone know, but earlier in the day before the performance, I had been apart of a rare meditation group which was focusing on a very potent practice that particular day. (This group is no longer in existence btw.) Therefore, when the Dragon came out, he / I was breathing fire and ready to eat human flesh, preferably a virgin maiden; I was embodying it, feeling it in my core. Hopefully I did not scare too many audience members, but I suspect that was one of the most visceral Dragon-performances yet (and NBS is about to have its 30th anniversary). While the Giant elicited laughter, the Dragon elicited huge cheers when (he finally allowed) St. George (to) put him down. This performance was very cathartic for me, as I got to publicly express that shadowy material and I think many people were surprised when, at the end, all the alumni performers bowed, and there was a tall-grown-up-version-of-timid Kirby, in the Dragon suit… How incredible 🙂

My mom knew that I might have a little something to add to this aforementioned request, so she told me to send her my thoughts on how NBS shaped my life. For some reason, a muse was within reach and I hastily wrote this poem:

Earthy tones and lyrical notes descend,
Autumny Mother Dolly enters,
When fond memories of NBS opened,
Chummy Father X Mas sans antlers,
Piney boughs ‘n mistletoe too,
Lordly St. George appears anew,
Magical Rockfish, rolling hills we view,
Fiery Dragon, yummy yummy stew,
Rest down in nature’s embrace, allow vitality,
Blundering Doctor, knavely and boastful,
Offer your gifts, connect to community,
Chuckling Fools laughter, eternal revival.

North Branch School has a great blog at: http://www.north-branch-school.org/

I hope you enjoyed reading. Thank you for visiting!

Inspiring Buddhist Tales, pt 2

Continuing the series from my earlier post, this is another tale I heard from the local (Charlottesville) yogi friend of mine. See the previous post for more info.

This story also comes from Wisconsin – Deer Park to be exact. It also involves Geshe Donyo. In a deity yoga retreat, usually the goal is to accumulate a certain amount of mantras. These retreats are not for anyone – one must have received authentic teachings, transmissions and instructions from an authentic teacher (typically a Tibetan Lama in this case).

So in one retreat, where the goal was to accumulate a million mantras as a group, one woman was brave enough to ask what was truly bugging her. She asked Geshe la, “Rinpoche, I love this particular practice, but my days are so busy. I have to care for my family and then go to work. I don’t normally have this kind of time, can I cut some of the practice off?”

Geshe la responded, “Sure you can cut some of it off. What part do you want to take out?”

She continued, “Oh marvelous… let’s see here… what if I don’t do the blessing mantras and the Vajrasattvas to begin with?”

Geshe la: “Well, if you cut out those mantras, then you will not completely purify your gross or subtle karmas.”

Questioner: “Oh… then how about cutting out the long lineage prayer? There is the short version of that.”

Geshe la: “Sure, if you don’t want the blessings of the lineage masters, you can cut that out.”

Questioner: “Uhhh… The torma takes some time to make. Do we have to do that practice?”

Geshe la: “Well the torma offering is apart of how we accumulate the siddhis. So if you don’t want, then you can cut that out.” [Siddhis are supernatural abilities which authentic practitioners eventually begin to gain access to as they progress on the path. But they are not the goal of the practice.]

By this point, the lady felt a little ashamed and stopped asking what else she could shorten the practices with. My yogi friend said, and I happen to agree on this point, that the practices have been passed down from truly magnificent spiritual masters, and they weeded out any unnecessary or trivial sections, leaving us with the juicy bits we need to gain authentic progress. So when doing practice – do the practice. 🙂

[Not that I am a good example of this. The lazy practitioner who authored this post is busy typing away on this blog instead of sitting on his cushion.]

Inspiring Buddhist Tales, pt 1

I am starting a new series on here. Over the past few years I have been speaking with an old yogi here in Charlottesville, who for obvious reasons will remain unnamed, and I have been collecting some of his many colorful stories. It is very incredible – despite not having ever left the United States, this yogi has met with some of the most respected Buddhist Masters of the past 50 years.

This particular story is about Geshe Donyo, who was teaching at Deer Park, near Madison Wisconsin. One day, Geshe la was teaching a full six hours on all the levels of vows – inner, outer, secret, the Pratimoksha, the root downfalls, the minor downfalls, etc. The only text this Geshe had in front of him, which he never turned a page of, was a very thin pecha (Tibetan scripture). Therefore a woman was curious about it.

At the end of the teaching, she asked Geshe la, “what text are you teaching from? Because you have been speaking today about dozens of topics and yet that text in front of you is so thin! Can you tell me which text it is?”

Geshe la looked down at the text in front of him. He picked it up, slowly analyzing it. Then he smiled at her, “Oh! This is a tantra (meaning it contained nothing of which he had been teaching). I feel it is auspicious to have a text in front of you when you teach the Dharma, so therefore, this morning, I just grabbed it off the top of the stack when I was coming to teach.” This meant that he had everything memorized from that six hour teaching and that the thin little text was just a spiritual support.

The yogi I spoke with believed that Geshes like Geshe Donyo may have tens of thousands of pages memorized… Wow! Actually, Geshe Donyo went on to become the Abbott of Sera Je monastery, and then Abbott of one of the Tantric Colleges at the Monastery (a highly respected, intellectually demanding post).

Pulling out the wrinkles, a poem

This material is copyrighted by M. Kirby Moore. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Thanks for visiting!

This poem arose as I was driving down to North Carolina to see friends old and new, and to attend a full weekend of Dharma teachings. I’d say it reflects my yearning to have someone special to share my life with. I’m not in a huge rush though, as the traits I am seeking in her are more important than settling for anything less.

Our eyes meet, briefly, curiosity beckons
You look away first,
Merely dipping your toe was enough
We pick up the next sheet
Me longing to connect, you, content
This is life at its finest
A tiny tug, a little shake
And the wrinkles come free
Folding, we draw closer, again
Our fingers momentarily brush; a spark dances up my spine
Did you feel it? Do I ask too much?
Maybe we will come together,
Two threads in a complex quilted pattern,
The wrinkles continue, constantly yearning for liberation