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Capricorn 07/Dec. 10th-Jan. 7th 2008

Finding the Root
Monday January 7th/29th of Capricorn

On the first day of Capricorn, we discussed the power the Capricorn has and how
because of this power the Capricorn tends to feel that they are the sole creators of
their life. And we discussed the need to appreciate that although we do make
amazing things in this world with "our hands", we do not make our hands. We were
giving the ability to create and we should remember that we are co-creators -- not
sole creators.

The blessings we see here in our lives on earth is liken to the way a shadow works.
We make a shape with our hands and the shadow appears on the floor or wall. We
make a new shape with our hands and a new shape appears in the shadow. If we
want to change the shadow we can in no way go up to the shadow on the wall
and try to change it directly. The only way to change the shadow is at the root:
the hands! This metaphor shows us how life works. Do we think our physical lives
are shadows or are hands? Are the blessings we see here on earth the result of a
greater movement above? And conversely, are the disasters on our planet a result
of above mechanisms? How do you see your life? Is life random? Or is there
order? Does a blessing just suddenly appear? Does a storm just suddenly appear?
Does a tree just suddenly appear in the back yard? Or was there a seed? A seed
that was planted years ago. A seed that was responsible for what we see today.

This world is a shadow of the upper worlds. As above so below. What is in
control? Is it this earth? Who or what is controlling what happens here in your life
and on this earth? Where is the root of blessings and curses?   Why can we change
some things and cannot change others? Our life is a reflection of a higher order.
We live in the shadow of an upper world. We however, are not just mere
puppets victimized by the tug of a string. We have influence on this upper world
and we can make any shadow move and change! It's as simple as moving our
hands and changing the shadow's shape on the wall.

We can no longer ignore the fact there is a root cause to how our life is manifesting.
Today remove from your vocabulary the following words: BLAME. VICTIM.
SUDDENLY. UNFAIR. ACCIDENT. COINCIDENCE. RANDOM.   Know
that there is a root. You can change things. And nothing just comes out of the blue.
The universe is wise, compassionate and there is great order.

Posted at 119AM

Comfortably Numb
Thursday January 3rd/26th of Capricorn

Yesterday, we spoke about withdrawing from the senses and today we speak about
why we even want to connect to the senses in the first place. In Gary Zukav's book
The Seat of the Soul, he speaks candidly about the essence of an addiction. What
Zukav reveals is at the heart of an addiction is the mode of powerlessness. And
this mode of powerlessness is the root cause behind our desire to have an
imbalanced connection to the senses.

When a new yoga student begins his or her practice, they are just beginning to feel
their bodies and just beginning to develop a connection with the body and the mind.
Yoga does not expect a new student to be able to feel at what degree the sacrum is
tilt at or where the energy flow of a particular body part is during the first stages of
the practice. It is simply too sensitive of a request. Nor I am going to suggest the
next time we reach out for a drink, for an outburst of anger, for a sexual affair, for a
line of gossip or for an extra piece of cake that we are going to be able to feel that
in that moment we are indeed feeling powerlessness and are attempting to be filled
by something outside of ourselves -- but this is precisely what we are doing. Zukav
reminds us that every time we choose ourselves over the addiction, we make
ourselves more powerful and the addiction less powerful.

Through meditation (yoga practice) you can begin to lift layers of novocation and
begin to feel what's really going on. The next time you reach out to feel good, and
living in 2008 there are many many ways to feel good, take a moment and see what
are you really feeling? If you do, you may find a wound you've been ignoring.

Posted at 530pm

Anger
Wednesday January 2nd/25th of Capricorn

We learn in yoga the importance of withdrawing from the senses, like the turtle who
goes into itself and withdraws from the world, we withdraw from our attachment to
our senses of gratification. This is the work of yoga. If you have been practicing
yoga for many years and have been focused on your postures more than this basic
concept then you are perhaps practicing gymnastics instead.

Of all the sensory withdraws, the need to eliminate anger is the most important.
Anger is the most devastating blow to the energy structure. It causes the
practitioner to behave in ways he would never normal behave. It is said that during
anger, another soul leaps into our body and that we shouldn't even look into the
eyes of an angry person.

I have a note reminding me each day the following: I will not let my ego get me
to argue and battle with my brothers and sisters today.

We will always have a reason to argue. That's the trick about war: there will
always be all the right reasons to go to "war". The question is will you engage?
Will you be like a fighting dog? Is being right more important to you then peace?
Will it make you feel good to have "HE WAS RIGHT," etched in your headstone?
Today, think of your desire to argue, to defend, to cause separation, to yell, to
scream, to tell someone how right you are and how wrong they are, think of these
desires as real of a sensory pleasure as a thousand orgasms would be! Draw away.
Go into your shell. There you will find peace.

Posted at 527pm

So This is Christmas?
Thursday December 20th/11th of Capricorn -- Tuesday January 1st/24th of Capricorn

Happy Christmas Everyone! Here is some advice for us to contemplate for the next
week or so from our old friend John Lennon:

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

Posted 709pm

Hoarding
Wednesday Decemeber 19th/10th of Capricorn

There are five ethical principles in the yogic philosophy. One of which is something
called aparigraha -- it means non-coveting. Parigraha means hoarding or
collecting. And to be free from hoarding is aparigraha. At the root of hoarding you
will find the participant to be consumed with doubt. Doubt in life, God and him or
herself. We can clearly see how taking something that which doesn't belong to us is
stealing, but can we see how having things that one does not use when others can is
also stealing? Why hold on to things you haven't used in months and years? Yogic
philosophy reminds us at the root of hoarding is doubt in the Creator. Hoarding is
an attempt to manipulate the physical world to supply oneself with a feeling of
security. But real security doesn't come from things. Things actually cause a feeling
of insecurity. The more energy circuits you ground to physical things (idol worship)
the less energy that can go to connecting to the Creator -- the truest source of
power and security. Every unit of energy that is in your lawyer, your money, your
guns, your spouse or your home security system is one less unit that can be put
toward the energy that sustains the sun, the earth and all the hearts beating on the
planet. Today, let go of one thing you are idol-worshiping. Take your power back
and find security worth hoarding.

Posted 409PM

Road Less Traveled
Tuesday December 18th/10th of Capricorn

The monkey is forever restless, jumping from one activity to the next. And he has a
quick heart rate and short life span. The turtle, in contrast is quiet slow, taking it's
time, living in the moment. The turtle has a slow heart rate and a long life span. Are
acting like a monkey or a turtle? What will matter at the end?

Posted 726PM

Silent Partner
Sunday December 16th/8th of Capricorn

How do we bring blessings into our lives? How do we make a connection to a
reality of perfection and joy, where things go well and problems don't exist. Is there
a place like this at all? Yoga says that life is like the banyan tree. The banyan tree is
like an inverted tree. The branches appear to be at the bottom. Yogic philosophy
suggests life is like this banyan tree. If we over indulge in the senses we will find our
life filled with the chaotic entanglement of the banyan branches. However, if we
practice restriction from the senses, we then elevate above the chaotic branches
where peace and harmony and joy can be found.

Did you know that a light bulb works because of this concept? A current is slowed
down or restricted from flowing through a wire. This slowing down or restriction
causes the light bulb to glow. The current practices detachment. It isn't allowed
to have a complete connection. Yoga philosophy reminds us of the same principle.
If we restrict our attachment to the senses we will experiences more Light in our
lives. We connect to a world of blessings and good fortune. We connect to a
higher energy source that becomes our partner in life. Today, try an experiment.
Practice one act of restriction today. Withdraw from one sensory pleasure today
and see what happens. Trust that the same laws that cause a light bulb to glow,
surely can also operate for you.

Posted at 1122pm

Blockages (Shells)
Thursday December 13th/4th of Capricorn

What if what you ever wanted out of life is waiting for you right behind the action
you least want to take? What if the ultimate paradox existed? That the very thing
you think you want is the very thing that is holding you back? What if your truest
treasure is in the last place you'd ever go to find it? Caroline Myss reminds us that
life is a paradox: What is big is small, what is small is big. And Joseph Campbell
tells us that the jewel is always going to be in the cave. Today, look for your joy
in places you would never expect to find it. Look for what is drawing in your
attention and run from it, chances are your dream isn't going to found in the places
you are naturally drawn to. What a shame it would be to be distracted all your life
from what you really truly wanted and not ever know it.

Posted 1237am

Work, Work, Work
Monday December 10th/1st of Capricorn

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!

Posted at 159pm

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