Moon Journal — January 14, 2022
Today, all across India and surrounding areas, Hindus celebrate Makara Sankrati, the annual festival to Surya — the Sun. The festival coincides with the Sun’s movement into Capricorn, home of Saturn, who is the Son of the Sun in Vedic mythology.
Many in the west who practice spiritual yoga will be familiar with the Gayatri Mantra, a beautiful, benefic hymn from the Rig Veda. Crowds of devotees gather today to chant this powerful blessing.
The hymn and a phonetic translation follow. The power however is in the sound, not the meaning of the words. A web search will help you find many excellent recordings.
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt
– Rigveda 3.62.10
Om – Para Brahman (entire universe); Bhur – Bhuloka (Physical Plane); Bhuvah – Antariksha (space); Svah – Svarga Loka (Heaven); Tat – Paramatma (Supreme Soul); Savitur – Isvara (Surya) (Sun god); Varenyam – Fit to be worshipped; Bhargo – Remover of sins and ignorance; Devasya – Glory (Jnana Svaroopa ie Feminine/Female); Dheemahi – We meditate; Dhiyo – Buddhi (Intellect); Yo – Which; Nah – Our; Prachodayat – Enlighten.
In addition to the festival, Mercury begins a retrograde period today, also in Capricorn, that lasts until February 4th. And Venus remains retrograde in Sagittarius until January 29. The effects of all this energy in a small sextile of the Zodiac, opposite a nearly full Moon, are too much for this space, but all of us are advised to be guided by self-reflection, experience, and deliberate choice rather than impulsive or reactionary moods during this period.
The Moon is in Mars-ruled Mrigashira, the searching star. For the remainder of today and through Saturday morning, expect to become easily restless and bored. Finding tasks that demand focus will help develop discipline to handle such periods in the future, but be sure to finish what you start today or you will likely create chaos that upends your plans for far longer than simply finishing the job now will.
Moon is waxing gibbous at 91%. I definitely feel restless and jittery, even before my second coffee!
Om Sum Surya Ya Namahah!
American Vedic Astrology 