The Joseph Yoga Blog

This is the month of manifestation! Enjoy the blessings and learn to work
with people and see the bigger picture. Do you really believe in global
peace? Dream big!

The Night's Sun

Welcome to the new month of Cancer. The energy of these 30 days are
connected to the consciousness of the Moon. The sign Cancer is the only
sign connected to the celestial body of the Moon. What does this mean?
Well this period can be very dark just like the Moon can be very dark. The
Moon is forever changing and its connection to the Sun is fleeting, being full
of its light only once every 30 days. We know this as a “full moon”. The
Moon is a vessel. The Sun is the “stuff” that fills the vessel. The problem is
during these days of Cancer, we are really gonna have to earn any light that
comes to us. It won’t be for “free”. The Moons connection to the Sun is
always changing, there isn’t a constant connection. Imagine if you are
watching a movie in the theatre and the film kept going on and off. It would
be terrible. Sometimes the film would be off for 20 minutes, then on for 10.
This would ruin the movie completely. This is our problem this month. We
need to find a steady connection. The secret to a steady connection is to
get out of ourselves and be more concerned with other people’s welfare.
Think of a pipe. If the end of the pipe is closed no new water can enter. If
the end of the pipe is open and flowing, more new water can come in.
When we think of other’s needs, we open that pipe and allow more water
(Light of the Sun) to enter us. This is the secret this month. The area of
your life that is most dark, is the area of life where you have not been
choosing to think of others (in this life or past life). Find the area of your life
where you are in the dark and there will be your jewel. There will be the
correction you need to make. Be like a pipe. Flow, give and share. The
Moon will shine forever when it can connect to the Sun.

Ready Set Go!

You hear right, Happy New Year. On Sunday, we began the real new year
– the astrological new year. On Sunday it was the first day of Aries! For
those of you who do not know, Aries is the head of the twelve zodiac
months: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio,
Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. At one time our calendar
was based on a 30 day cycle and each month was directly related to the
astrological sign. Through history, leaders and rulers manipulated the
calendar to how you see it today: January, February, March, ect. But
underneath this modern calendar, another calendar exists and hides. It is
the astrological calendar. So, we are now entering a month of new birth.
For the next 30 days, we will be graced with the energy of renewal, birth,
new things and the start of summer energy. This is the month where we are
prepared and ready to start new and excitement projects and self
discoveries. This month is ruled by the planet of war however: Mars. We
must however let go of our sword this month and surrender conflict. The
Ram, which represents Aries, is known for its aggressive headbuting and
we want no part of this as humans. This month on the full moon, on the
night of April 19th, we have a gift. It is the time when the energy of Aries is
at its peak. The energy of Aries is that of ego. Of all the signs, the Aries
sign contains the most ego. It is the sign that is influenced the most by
energies of receiving. But receiving is good, when used correctly.
Wanting to receive in life is what allows us to make things happen! We are
more willing to work and do whats necessary. Receiving is the most
important quality to have, because with it you can create anything you wish.
For the world to be in peace we have to want it. And if an Aries would
channel its energies towards wanting good things for the world like peace
and love then those things will happen. You can imagine what happens in a
world where people do not desire happiness, peace and love. Desire is
the most important quality to possess. “Our problem in this world isn’t that
we want too much, it is that we want too little,” Michael Berg reminds us in
Becoming Like God. We all are guilty of just being satisfied with a pizza
and a couch. And as we sit there full and lazy, children starve and people
anguish in pain worldwide. We have to want more! An the Aries can
desire like no other sign! However, all that desire to receive can also be
dangerous. You can manifest your desire to receive only for your own
benefit alone, and this is where the Aries can be quite toxic. On the full
moon this month, as mentioned before, we have the height of the energy of
Aries. Its during this time we need to meditate and remove our selfish
desires and foster new sharing and helpful desires for the world. When we
all want peace and love and community and happiness, we will have it!
Also, the first twelve days of Aries are seed levels for the entire next twelve
months. We should be conscious of how we behave the next 12 days so
we can plant positive seeds. Below is a chart for the next 12 days. Use it
to work hard to fight against the negative qualities of the sign and work
hard this month dreaming big and wanting more! Practice Sirsanana
(Head Balance) often this month. Sirsasana grounds your head and
grounds your ego. Good Luck!

Sunday April 6th Aries
Look to Complete Tasks

Monday April 7th Taurus
Avoid Being Comfortable

Tuesday April 8th Gemini
Focus and Commit

Wednesday April 9th Cancer
Let go of a False Sense of Security

Thursday April 10th Leo
Let go of Control

Friday April 11th Virgo
Beware of Being Critical of Yourself and Others

Saturday April 12th Libra
Make Decisions with Certainity

Sunday April 13th Scorpio
Love Yourself More and Be Jealous Less

Monday April 14th Sagittarius
Stand Up For Something You Believe In

Tuesday April 15th Capricorn
Trust When it isn’t Easy, Break Rules

Wednesday April 16th Aquarius
Try to Conform, Do What Others Do

Thursday April 17th Pisces
Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself

The real Green

Today is the full moon of Aquarius. People have said for many years that
the full moon is beset with many powers and influence. Tonight is no
exception. There is an ancient holiday known as the Festival of the Trees
and it occurs on the full moon of Aquarius. During the next 24 hours, all of
the trees and plant life in the entire world is given the power to grow
against gravity for the next 365 days. It’s a extraordinary holiday and it
influences you too, not just the trees.

There are only three things on the planet that go against the onslaught of
gravity: spring water, humans and trees! Everything else on earth is
bound by the slavery of gravity. But today for the next 24 hours (ending on
the evening of the 22nd) we are fortified with the strength to go against
gravity. What does it mean to go against gravity?

The world is made up of three spiritual colors: Red, White and Green.
Red denotes judgement. White denotes mercy. And Green is the
balance of mercy and judgement. The best way to grapple this concept is
in disciplining a child. If the child behaves badly one should not apply all
judgement (Red) to him or her. We should not abuse the child or
punishment him with a severe punishment. On the other hand, we are to
not apply only mercy either (White). We should not ignore the child’s
misbehaving or reward it. What is the best solution? A mixture of mercy
and judgement. We discipline the child with love. We discipline with
heart. This is the balance and this is the color Green. What color is plant
life? What color are trees? Green. Trees represent the balance of
judgement and mercy. And when we find this balance we can go against
gravity like the trees do. For us, going against gravity or being “green”
can be obtained when we “share”. It’s that simple. Our nature is to be
selfish, egotistical (Red). We are never all sharing (White). Who is
completely devoid of any selfish thought or action? No one. It’s an
unobtainable goal to be all mercy (White). But we do have the power to
put on the breaks, and go from Red to Green. Meaning, we have the
power to practice the art of being more loving and sharing, bringing us to
the Green lush life that has been described as the Garden of Eden for
thousands of years. When we are more loving and sharing we obtain the
power to against our nature and gravity to new amazing heights. Those
beautiful trees grow so high, and of all things on earth, trees are the
closest thing to Heaven. Grow today. Share. Give. And DEFY
GRAVITY! And remember, it’s not easy being green. Sharing is hard
work, but tonight we get the power to soar!

The Water Bearer

Happy New Month of Aquarius! The new moon of Aquarius began this
morning at 722am. It’s going to be a great month of manifestations!
Have you ever noticed on your electronic devises that little “I” and “0″
symbol on the power buttons? They are everywhere, coffee makers,
phones, computers, anything with a power button. I is for on, while 0 is for
off. It is said that the whole world is just made up of that simple equation.
When the I joins the 0 you get power. Think of the male and female
plugs on a cable. The “male” is the I and the “female” is the 0. When that
connection is made magic happens. This is the energy of this month:
Connection. The common symbol for Aquarius is the water bearer —
water pouring and landing on earth. This is the I and 0 connection! The
water is the I while the 0 is the earth. This month energy helps us find
connection to blessings. Things will come more easily this month, so be
excited and be prepared! To help further along your “connections” this
month, remember that life is a paradox. What is big is small, what is
small is big. What we need to remember this month is the importance of
knowing that if we really want to be free we need to have structure. How
can this be? Well, use traffic as an example. Today, note how free you
are to, after finishing reading this blog, leave your home and go to the
grocery store to purchase some food. You can get into your car, turn on a
certain road here, turn there, maybe a left here, a right there and then you
would arrive at the store. You have freedom to do that. But within that
freedom there was structure. Red Lights. Stop Signs. Speed Limits. No
U-Turns signs. No Lefts Turns signs. Many restrictions. But without
these restrictions, can you imagine what would happen? The entire road
system would be in complete chaos and no one would have the freedom
to go anywhere! Structure created Freedom. A small bit of structure
gave way to a huge portion of Freedom. Thats what we need to
remember this month. True Freedom isn’t doing whatever the hell you
wish to do — this is slavery at then end. Help further along the water the
bears on you this month by identifying where you need to put structure into
your life. Is it daily yoga practice at a certain time? Is it stopping
gossiping and negative talk by structuring the words that come out of your
mouth? Is it committing to volunteering at your favorite charity each
week? And can you see what huge freedoms you can gain from this
structure? Health and peace of mind. Deeper friendships. Recognizing
your purpose. Yogic philosophy says that the truth of life can be found in
the reflection of a tree in a lake. Meaning the truth of life is life inverted
(Adho Mukha Vrksasana/Dowward Facing Tree: Handstand Pose).
Nothing is what it appears. That what we think brings us happiness
ultimately will not That when you share you get. Have a good month. I
wish you many connections, manifestations and freedom in the truest
sense.

Climb vertically not horizontally

Today is the first day of Capricorn — a tremendously powerful day!
Capricorn, according to astrology, is the sign of the highest potential. It
is during this month we are all (not just Capricorns) given the extra power
to reach the highest potentials of souls. It is said that a Capricorn on a
spiritual path is unmatchable! I once looked up someones chart and I
found out he had a Capricorn rising, moon and sun in Capricorn. I told
him, “Work. Work. Work. I bet that’s all you do!” And he then opened up
his daily planner and showed me at the top of his day book the words
“Work. Work. Work.” We both were surprised. But this is the mind set of
the Capricorn — work. But there is a trick here. Spirituality does not
dictate for us to work like field hands. This is what many Capricorns fail
to see. Our work isn’t outside of us — but inside of us — It’s about inner
transformative work! The Capricorn goat takes his time climbing the
mountain, one step at a time. Never quiting, never resting. Just one step
after another until he reaches the top of the mountain when he then basks
in his accomplishment. This month work and take action. It’s all about
action this month! But focus your energy on spiritual work! Your spiritual
work will bring everything you wanted — including the money that
Capricorns and we all like so much. If we just focus just on the physical
work we can achieve great physical things, and there are many famous
Capricorn business people to prove this, but that is all we will get — no
peace, love, happiness. But if we turn our Capricorn work ethic towards
our spiritual work then we can have it all — peace, love, happiness and the
physical things!

One last point, once the goat reaches the top of the mountain he likes to
say to himself, “Look what I have done. I made this alone. You can too. I
will not share this because you should do it yourself.” There is pride in his
accomplishment. Which leaves him thinking he is the creator. But what
that Capricorn must see is that yes he did create many great things with
his hands, except for one thing — his hands. There was another Creator
above him that gave him his hands so he could create. And with this the
Capricorn is humbled and he is then able to share what he has made.
Have a good month and work, work, work!