By Vedic Astro-Palmist Guylaine Vallée

 

March is a beautiful month as it holds a lot of hope with the end of winter and the return of Spring. But in addition to a shift in season, March is a mystical month full of profound events supercharged with spiritual energy. It begins on March 7th with the Mahasamadhi of Paramahansa followed with Shivaratri, the day of veneration for Lord Shiva, which this year falls on the 8th, and the Mahasamadhi of Sri Yukteswar on the 9th. On the 17th we celebrate the Day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and the 19th marks the feast day of St. Joseph, patron of workers and the promise of a peaceful death.

Then on Good Friday, March 29th there is the Mahasamadhi of Jesus, followed by the celebration of His resurrection on Easter Sunday, which this year falls on March 31st.

Mahasamadhi is when a God‑illumined master makes a conscious exit from the body at the time of physical death. What is so auspicious about this month is we can all benefit from these powerful moments. Paramahansa explains that whenever a Great One leaves the planet through Mahasamadhi, he (or she) creates a spiritual portal we all can access and through which we can raise our consciousness and feel tremendous peace, bliss and joy especially on that day.

So, while experiencing transcendent feelings of joy may seem like a pipe dream or something only saints enjoy, we can all experience this profound state of peace in this lifetime through deep and dedicated meditation. So, take advantage of these mystical March portals by setting aside some quiet time to meditate.

Of course, when you first sit down to meditate your mind runs wild in all directions. You think it is impossible to go deep. But if you sit still and persist long enough, you will travel inward and begin to feel that wonderful silence of peace in which we find great happiness beyond any of the worries of the world.

This deeply rewarding process can be challenging at first, which is why Ghanshyam always suggested his clients begin by reading Paramahansa’s Autobiography of a Yogi, and then to follow up by studying Paramahansa’s meditation techniques that are available through the Self-Realization Fellowship in California. Paramahansa founded the SRF nearly a century ago. We encourage you to explore what the SRF lessons have  to offer by clicking here.

If you would like to meet an SRF monk, several will be visiting Montreal in mid-April. For more information, contact Michel at the Montreal SRF center by email: [email protected],or by phone at 438-225-7122.

 

Take a Big Step toward Peace and Joy with The 90-Day Life Line Challenge

To assist you on your journey toward the joy of self-realization, we also encourage you to take our 90-Day Life Line Challenge: Rejuvenate Yourself in Body, Mind and Soul. This special program will help you achieve deeper states of meditation and experience Ananda, the joy of being alive. Over the course of 90 days, you will learn how to free your Life Force Energy (prana) by mastering simple yogic exercises and techniques that will help you declutter your mind, shed bad habits and de-stress your life.

You will be introduced to the lost art of natural breathing, which will harmonize the three aspects of your being—body, mind and heart. Practicing proper breathing will ignite your chakras, the spiritual energy centers along the spine, enhancing your immune system and electrifying your physical body with untapped reserves of energy, stamina and vigor while simultaneously lifting your awareness to higher realms of consciousness, creativity, passion and purpose. Take a closer look at what The Life Line Challenge has to offer by clicking here.

By Vedic Palmist Guylaine Vallée

Excerpt from The Mars Program

 

It is easy to get bogged down obsessing over the actions of others, especially when we perceive they are treating us unfairly or with hostility and aggression. However, we should not absorb that negativity but instead let it roll off us. By remaining calm and pursuing our goals and dreams with focus, kindness and poise, our karma is free to play out; we recognize that everyone evolves at their own pace and learn from their own mistakes. In other words, if someone is not behaving well, it is their problem not ours—a problem that they will have to deal with, in this life or the next. No matter what others may do or think, we must always endeavor to remain calm, centered and to use our energy to create peace within us and around us. We must also quietly pray for those who would harm us or who would distract us from calmly pursuing our purpose in life.

It can require super-human strength and willpower to remain objective, impersonal and nonreactive in the face of insult, aggravation or aggression. Any of these can trigger us to react in a knee-jerk fashion that can escalate the situation and cost us our health and peace of mind. But it doesn't have to be like this, we can tame our volatile Mars energy by following Jesus' advice and turning the other cheek. However, this does not mean we should be passive or allow ourselves to be treated like doormats. But it does demand us to gain mastery over our emotions and instinctual responses. This is something we can achieve by mastering our Mars energy and using it as a noble warrior to create peace instead of chaos.

To calmly hold our ground and choose not to meet violence with violence is a true display of self-control and self-awareness. And it is a judicious use of Mars energy. If we have to fight, we undertake our battles with discernment and as part of our duty to protect others. We stand up for what is right and use our energy to serve and uplift others—the true expression of a noble Mars warrior.

By Vedic Astro-Palmist Guylaine Vallée

 

 

In his masterpiece, The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar tells us that, as we evolve toward the expression of perfect love, we must progress through “Five States of the Heart.” Successfully passing through each state brings us a step closer to our goal of perfect love, a step closer to clearing the clouds from our heart, and a step closer to the power of the infinite within us. Sri Yukteswar writes: ‘If we are able to cultivate this powerful ruling force of love implanted in our heart, we will be free of the unhappiness from the pain and pleasure cycles that are a part of life.’

Understanding the steps described by Sri Yukteswar—these five states of the heart—has helped many of my clients find love and has helped me so greatly in my own life. I really believe this will give you a deeper insight into the evolution of the heart, will inspire you as much as it has inspired me, and will help us immeasurably in our quest to expand our heart and create a love-filled life!

 

The Dark State of the Heart

When we are in the Dark State of the Heart, we are oblivious to our soul’s intuitive instinct to embrace and express love. We identify with, and become overwhelmed by, the external events that surround us. There are many traps through which the Dark State of the Heart can ensnare our consciousness: Ignorance, heartache, negative attitudes and emotions, bad habits, substance abuse or psychological and emotional trauma, to name a few. These emotions can plunge us into this darkness.

 

The Propelled State of the Heart

We enter the Propelled State of the Heart when our experience of the world leaves us feeling empty, when we grow dissatisfied with the shallow pleasures of the senses, the hollow rewards of material pursuits—when the after-effects of rampant emotion, uncontrolled passion and possessiveness have dragged us into a state of desperation and despair. It is then that our heart begins to yearn for greater meaning—a deeper truth that propels us toward a higher form of love. This seeking of love and truth stretches our heart and lengthens our heart line.

In the Propelled State of the Heart, we are more open and receptive to wisdom, creating a magnetism that will draw wise teachers, inspiring guides and supportive friends into our lives. In essence, we are sending out a sincere request to the universe to enlighten us, and the universe will never ignore such a request. It doesn’t matter how jaded we are or how set in our ways we have become, once our heart propels us to search for truth, we will not be deterred from finding it, and will be ready if it finds us first. An enlightened sage once said, “a saint is a sinner who doesn’t give up.” So, don’t worry about any missteps we may have made in the past—we learn from our mistakes; it is often the flaws and faults in our character that bring us to the most profound revelations, and the deepest desire to do good in the world.

 

The Steady State of the Heart

The propelled heart leads us to great personal growth, but our next challenge is learning to maintain that growth and build upon it—to be steady in our resolve to be more loving. Once we have mastered the Propelled State of the Heart and freed ourselves from the distractions and restless attachments to the world around us, we are inspired to seek a constant state of self-control, inner calm, and a consistency in our expression of love. This allows us to anchor our hearts to a deep conviction that we should love and bring happiness to others. We set aside personal feelings and do not react to the hurtful actions, or perceived slights of others. This does not mean we are shutting ourselves off from others, but simply not giving in to our personal feelings in support of a larger good. For example, a friend is in a foul mood and snapping at us because they had a bad day at the office. We don’t respond angrily to their cutting words because we are their friend, and refuse to take their words personally, even though they are aimed right at us. We learn to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, so to speak, and take everything in stride. There is a great sense of freedom to be found in this state; we are no longer reliant on external events or the moods or deeds of other people to make us happy or to express our love.

Consequently, others come to rely on our serene nature and the consistency of our love, care and concern—we can be counted on to always be a true friend, especially to those in need. And we can count on ourselves to remain calm and focused on any storm life blows our way. This gives us a deep, unshakable sense of well-being.

 

The Devoted State of The Heart

The fourth state of the heart, the devoted state, is all about oneness, about achieving unity between our heart, head and soul. We reach this state by maintaining our detachment to external circumstances; being steadfast in our quest for a more spiritual awareness and expansive expression of love; and by connecting our heart and our intuition—establishing a deep sense of unity with everything and everyone.

In the Devoted State of the Heart, we no longer feel torn between following what others want us to do, what we think we should do, and what our soul is intuitively telling us is the right thing to do. External circumstances will no longer confuse or drive us; we are freed from the dual nature of life and, in all things, act from a singular motivation, which is love.

 

Pure State of the Heart

As we enter the Pure State of the Heart, our connection to the spirit of pure love within us deepens and our defense mechanisms, blockages and sense of separation from others melt away. The personal needs and desires that have distanced us from our heart will simply evaporate, allowing our heart center to fully open.

Sri Yukteswarji also refers to the pure state as the Clean State of the Heart, for we have cleansed our heart of all that has held us back from the complete expression of unconditional love. In this state, we feel a complete union with God, the universe and every other human heart. We understand with absolute certainty that we are all connected—we are not an individual wave in the sea, but an integral part of the vast ocean of humanity, and that humanity is an integral part of the infinite Cosmos.

We realize what Vedic philosophy has always asserted, and what quantum physics has only recently discovered—that all matter is an illusion. The only thing in our lives that is eternal is the energy of which we are comprised, which continually changes from one form to another, and carries our consciousness beyond space and time. In essence, reality is not what we see, but a great endless oneness of being through which all life is interwoven.


As Joni Mitchell sang in the 1960s, We are stardust . . .  we are billion-year-old carbon. So, within this carbon-based human body, our consciousness—our soul—is boundless, infinite and eternal. We embrace this truth in the Pure State of the Heart, where we experience a perfect, loving communion with all other souls.

Of course, the Pure State of the Heart is one not easily achieved by us mere mortals. Loving perfectly is a process—it is a journey we are on throughout our lifetime, and likely, throughout many lifetimes. But it is the only journey that really matters.

by Vedic astro-palmist Guylaine Vallée

As you are probably aware, the 12 signs of the zodiac form a 360-degree wheel that encircles our planet. Each sign represents 30 degrees of that circle and each planet in the astrological chart travels through all 12 signs at its own pace.

The planet Uranus has been travelling through Aries since 2016 and has now reached the 29th degree, which is the very edge of a sign. The 29th degree is referred to as “Sandhi”, which means “connecting place”, as it marks the transition zone between two different signs and the houses they occupy.

Sandhi is where these different and sometimes contrasting cosmic energies converge. Hence, it can be a challenging transit as it forces us to adapt to and work with unique energies that are not necessarily in harmony with each other. Indeed, during a Sandhi transit, we are straddling two signs simultaneously, which can give us a disquieting sense of being “neither here nor there” that can leave us feeling on edge. This can make us apprehensive; we are uncertain of what’s in store for us and what the future holds. Hence, it is important to manage the dual energies of Sandhi carefully.

Currently, in our personal lives and in the world at large, we are experiencing the Sandhi effect of Uranus. It has taken 7 years for Uranus to travel through Aries, which is ruled by the warrior planet Mars. Now, as Uranus prepares to leave Aries and take up residence in Taurus for 7 years, we are on the threshold of rebuilding our lives along new lines and from a new perspective.

Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury, the planet of communication. It denotes inventive genius and opens new frontiers in thought and healing. However, the energy of Uranus can be sudden, erratic and unpredictable. When Uranus is in its Sandhi degree, that energy can bring earth-shaking changes that cause uncertainty and insecurity. Therefore, it is more important than ever for everyone to remain calm, patient and understanding in order for us to get the most from Uranus and use the energy to heal ourselves and to heal our world.

Until May 8th, 2024, Uranus will stay in the sign of Aries, as it moves back and forth from its Sandhi degree. In May, it moves into the neighboring sign of Taurus, in the constellation of Algol, which we will talk about at a later date.

By Vedic Astro-Palmist Guylaine Vallée

 

Few astronomical phenomena are as impressive as an eclipse. Eclipses can be very potent symbols of world events and astrologers have always placed great meaning upon them.

An annular solar eclipse will occur Saturday, October 14th, beginning at 11:03 am and ending at 4:55 pm EDT.

An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers the center of the Sun, leaving the visible outer edges to form a “ring of fire”, or annulus, around the Moon. Both the sun and moon will be together in the same sign of Virgo in the intense nakshatra Chitra ruled by Mars, suggesting the importance of remaining Zen, especially around this time.

While many Western astronomers are excited at the chance to witnesses a solar eclipse, Vedic astrologers have a more cautious approach. In Vedic astrology eclipses are regarded as powerful (often tumultuous or even earth-shattering) portents of both personal and world events. The illuminating light of the Sun is obscured by the passage of the Moon, indicating on a psychological level the potential of casting a shadow across our awareness. Consequently, most Vedic astrologers advise against beginning any major project, signing contracts, entering or ending a romance, or making any other significant life decisions in the days leading up to, during, and following an eclipse, be it lunar or solar—the energy is just too unpredictable and potentially unstable!

According to Vedic astrology, it is not recommended to look at the Sun during an eclipse, suggesting instead the best course of action is to look inward, centering and calming our energy through meditation and peaceful self-reflection. As this is eclipse season, in two weeks’ time, on October 28th, there will be a partial lunar eclipse, which we will tell you more about at that time.

An excerpt from the The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge

By Guylaine Vallée, Vedic Palmist-Astrologer

 

There is no greater source of energy than our heart and its capacity to love. The study of the heart line is our guide to understanding and developing this powerful force. Studying the heart line allows us to see how our feelings influence our personal happiness and the happiness and harmony of those around us. By understanding and monitoring the development of the heart line, we will learn about our personal approach to love, how we can grow and improve it, and how we can make it last.

Let us begin with a brief overview of the significance of the heart line in our daily life. On a physical level, the heart line indicates the actual organic strength of the heart. In a psychological sense, the heart line gives us information about our temperament, as expressed through our feelings, moods, and emotional responses as well as our emotional and sexual stability.

The heart line also indicates the degree to which we can absorb emotionally shocking experiences and psychological traumas, and our capacity to recover from them. Furthermore, the timing of significant events throughout our lives can be deduced from the heart line, including major and minor emotional influences—both positive and negative.

On a spiritual level, the heart line indicates our willingness and our potential to sacrifice for others. An open heart center expands our self-awareness, which will foster and encourage the growth of our most noble attributes, such as sincerity, generosity, compassion, forgiveness and our ability to experience the joy and bliss associated with the expression of divine love.

When it comes to connecting with others, the heart line reflects our potential to develop and maintain successful and meaningful human relationships. Connecting with our heart enables us to develop deep spiritual roots. Our heart line can then become a deep reservoir of emotional strength that allows us to love and support others.

 

Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life

Neuroscience has proven that by changing our thoughts and attitudes we can physically change the neural pathways in our brain. By adjusting our thoughts, we can reprogram and fine-tune our own emotions in search of happier, more productive lives. Palmistry allows us to do exactly the same thing, but the real beauty of palmistry is that these changes are measurable and verifiable—when we change our thoughts and attitudes the lines in our hand will change accordingly! We can actually see this change occur by taking our handprints at regular intervals—such as at the beginning and end of The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge.

By changing our thoughts and attitudes toward ourselves and others, we will change our heart line, open our heart center, and change our lives forever. In time, (in as little as 90 days) we can literally turn our lives around by reprogramming our thoughts.

I would like to end this article with one of my favorite sayings of Mother Teresa, a beautiful saint that I had the great privilege and blessing to meet in Calcutta. Mother Teresa said, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”  This is what we strive for in The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge.

 


TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR INCREDIBLE SUMMER OFFER:

30% OFF ON THE HEART LINE CHALLENGE!

Added Bonus: Enjoy a live 20-minute free consultation on ZOOM with Astro-Palmist Denise Parisé

Denise will be delighted to guide and support you on your Heart Line journey. Make sure before you book your session with Denise to order your free Do-It-Yourself Handprint Kit containing two sets of acetates to take your "Before" handprints at the beginning of the program and your "After" prints at the end of the program. Denise can check your Before handprints and set you on a course of action where you would like to see yourself by the end of the Program.

Start your journey toward a more love-filled and happier life today!

After registering to the Heart Line Challenge, call Denise Parisé toll-free at 866-428-3799 to book your session.

 

Click here to find out more or to register to the The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge

An excerpt from the The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge

By Guylaine Vallée, Vedic Palmist-Astrologer

 

We are all born with the capacity to love perfectly, but life and ego often get in our way and trip us up. Fear, panic and loneliness can drive us to make poor choices, to start or stay in unhealthy relationships, to endure abuse and suffer indignities—and prevent us from opening our hearts to others. To find true love we must first be in touch with our true selves—we must get back to basics, to who we are at the core of our being, which is pure soul. How do we do that? Well, in the same way Michelangelo created his divine masterpiece, David, from an unattractive slab of rough marble. When asked how he did it, he replied that David had been in the rock all along, all he did was simply chisel away everything that was preventing the world from seeing David’s eternal, inspiring and divine beauty.

Our David, our own personal masterpiece, is our capacity to love fully and purely, which is hidden within us. That capacity is found in our heart center, which Eastern yogis refer to as our heart chakra, located in the upper region of the spine, between the shoulder blades and opposite the heart. Opening the heart chakra, or heart center, takes a bit of work. It is the primary and most important challenge we will encounter in The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge as it forces us to evolve as people, which can sometimes be painful because it means letting go of mindsets we have held onto for years because they have made us feel safe or comfortable, even if they have been bad for us. But when we take that daring step, when we dare to open our heart center and evolve in our capacity to love, we will tap into a power beyond our reckoning.

We will tap into the very power that created and drives the universe—a power that the ancient sages of India called Sat, that physicists call The Field and that I refer to simply as the Power of Love.

When accessing this universal power, which resides within the heart center of each and every one us, we will reap emotional riches and spiritual rewards that are truly unimaginable—we will gain the wisdom and inner strength to reshape our lives. They say that the truth will set you free, well, getting to know your true self, your true heart, will free you to experience love in all its glorious forms and in complete abundance.

In The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge, we look at the connection between our heart center and our heart line and how, in real and practical steps, we can change one to change and improve the other. Vedic Palmistry is a 5,000-year-old science that comes down to us from the teachings of the ancient Indian Vedas—the most sacred source of inspired wisdom in existence. But the real beauty of palmistry is that these changes are measurable and verifiable—when we change our thoughts and attitudes, the lines in our hand will change accordingly! We can actually see this change occur by taking our handprints at regular intervals—such as at the beginning and end of The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge.

 

Take advantage of our fantastic Special and order your free Do-It-Yourself Hand printing Kit so you can take your handprints at the beginning of the Challenge and witness the changes in your hands at the end of the Challenge. Start your journey toward a more love-filled and happier life today!

 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR INCREDIBLE FALL OFFER:

30% OFF ON THE HEART LINE CHALLENGE

Added Bonus: Enjoy a live 20-minute free consultation on ZOOM with astro-palmist Denise Parisé

 

After registering to the Heart Line Challenge, call Denise Parisé toll-free at 866-428-3799 to book your free 20-minute consultation.

Denise will check your “Before” handprints in order to set yourself on a course of action where you would like to see yourself at the end of the Program. Denise will be delighted to guide and support you.

 

Click here to find out more or to register to the The 90-Day Heart Line Challenge
by Vedic astro-palmist Guylaine Vallée

 

It’s been a long cold winter, but the Cosmos has a springtime conjunction lined up that is sure to warm your heart, put a twinkle in your eye and maybe even give you a new lease on life! Venus and Rahu will be joined together in Aries between March 18th and 22nd. No combination of planets guarantees fame and fortune like a positive Venus-Rahu conjunction can.

The Venus-Rahu conjunction has always been considered a sign of tremendous wealth, and not just the private yacht and country club kind of wealth.

Howard Hughes, Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey are three very different people with three striking things in common—they all became wildly rich and successful, all three were generous philanthropists and they were all born with Venus-Rahu conjunct in their natal charts. But it wasn’t fate that propelled them to wealth or drew wealth to them—their millions were earned, and their names will be remembered, because they made the most of the attributes, talents and inclinations bestowed upon them by a fortunate Venus-Rahu conjunction.

So just what are these attributes, talents and inclinations?

To begin with, Venus desires comfort, pleasure and beauty, and possesses a passionate desire to reach the top. Rahu, the planet of amplification, provides Venus the insightfulness to plan stratagems to achieve those goals and the courage to carry them out. Secondly, Venus—in its ideal form—represents unconditional love and empathy—so it is predisposed to share its wealth with those in need. Rahu motivates Venus to use its bounty and wisdom liberally and effectively for the betterment of humankind. This is why during the Venus-Rahu transit all of us can reach new levels of success and get a lot accomplished.

The astuteness and drive of Hughes, Jobs and Winfrey gave them fabulous wealth and luxurious lifestyles, but also allowed them to create charitable organizations that have helped and inspired millions.

So, let’s take full advantage of the current Venus-Rahu energy between March 18th and 22nd by striving to fulfill impossible dreams and achieving enormous success that we can share with everyone.

Want to learn more about Venus—the Planet of Love—and how to harness its magnificent energy? Sign up for our brand-new webinar series: The Venus Program: Embracing the Love, Beauty and Sweetness of Life, which starts on March 30 with your host, Vedic palmist Guylaine Vallée.

 

by astro-palmist Guylaine Vallée

 

Venus in Pisces: February 14th to March 10th

 

It may be the dead of winter, but a planetary transit will soon be warming our hearts!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Venus—the planet of love, harmony, relationships, creativity and beauty—entered the mystical water sign of Pisces on February 14th. This is a welcome transit as Venus in Pisces is considered most auspicious and may bring more peace until March 10th.

Venus is exalted in Pisces, which simply means that, in Pisces, Venus’ best qualities radiate most powerfully and impact us most beneficially. This Venus in Pisces transit provides a major boost to all forms of interpersonal relationships; it allows us to feel and express love and devotion with a greater degree of truth, depth and compassion. The positive emotional power generated by this celestial aspect makes it an ideal time for connecting with the people we care about, and those we would like to care about.

Venus in Pisces offers us a unique opportunity to make the world a better place by using its energy to practice love and compassion in all we do, and by being of service to others. When we act with love and kindness we inspire others to do the same.

This is an excellent time for expressing creativity in every field, whether we choose to do so by championing a worthwhile cause or by expressing ourselves artistically. If you have never been involved in the arts but have always wanted to be, now would be the time to act upon your creative impulses. Search for a project that excites you, find a mentor or sign up for a course in something that will connect you with your passion.

On a cautionary note, feelings of nostalgia can run high during a Venus in Pisces transit—so be careful not to waste this cosmic gift by drifting into fantasy, or escaping into dreamy expectations that might frustrate or crush you when reality kicks in. Make the most of every moment by connecting to what and who you love with both your heart and your eyes wide open. Make your feelings count by ensuring they are real and honest. As always, the surest way to achieve this is by communicating with your higher self (or higher power) through yoga and meditation. Emotion is always most authentic and long-lasting when rooted in devotion.

Develop all these qualities and so much more this March with The Venus Program: Embracing the Love, Beauty and Sweetness of Life with your host, astro-palmist Guylaine Vallée.

By Ghanshyam Singh Birla, Vedic Palmist-Astrologer

 

To help you better navigate the year ahead, Ghanshyam has drawn up a chart for the New Year trends that forecast what we can expect in 2023. So, let’s take a look at what 2023 has in store for us astrologically.

 

 

Astrologically speaking, as many of you are aware, when you have a reading, we draw up a hora chart. According to Indian astrology, a horoscope is prepared at the time of your consultation because depending on the time and the positioning of planets, each hour is of utmost importance giving information on which planets are working in our favor and which ones are detrimental. The word ‘Hora’ translates into ‘Hour’ which signifies the prominence of each hour. Consequently, we’ve drawn up a Hora Chart to pinpoint the placement of the planets at the stroke of midnight on January 1st. This special chart reveals a wealth of information about what to expect in 2023 and provides us with insights into its themes and trends.

In the chart of 2023, we see the sign Virgo in the 1st house. This is considered auspicious as its ruler, Mercury, provides us with knowledge and intelligence. What’s more Mercury is placed in the 5th house related to our intellect, love, creativity and children. Mercury is in the sign of a good friend, Capricorn, which awakens our creativity to express in any form that inspires us—creating children, books or art out of love and giving a sense of pleasure.

 

Need for Greater Discernment

Even though having Mercury in the 5th house stirs our heart to express and share our joy, Mercury is not alone in the house as it is sitting with three other planets: Venus, Saturn and Pluto. This has a mixed effect on Mercury as the combined planetary energies of this configuration can compromise our discernment, both personally and on the world stage. Consequently, there could be a lack of cooperation, slowing down progress in efforts to solve such pressing global issues as climate change, nuclear proliferation, poverty and hunger.

The 5th house representing the mind shows that all of us—from the working person to world leaders—are contemplating finding solutions. We want to rehabilitate our systems of governance by developing greater integrity, getting rid of corruption and finding methods to extend help to all members of society. And with regards to our personal outlook, Mercury in the 5th house shows a greater care and concern to share our love and empathy on a deeper level.

However, having Pluto in the 5th house is likely to disrupt that process by initiating major global changes. Pluto is similar to the Hindu god Shiva, the creator and destroyer breaking down structures then creating new ones in their place. Having Pluto sitting side-by-side with Mercury, Venus and Saturn in the same house can create political upheaval as well as cultural and social conflict. The general unrest will prompt international groups, corporations and entire nations to form new alliances, first as a matter of protection and self-preservation, and then later as means of self-enrichment. Indeed, greed is still an issue for the foreseeable future.

Sadly, it appears the current tensions engulfing our planet will not be resolved in 2023. In fact, indications are that peaceful days will elude us for another 10 to 15 years due to utter suffering being caused by war, lack of food, air pollution, contaminated water, emerging viruses, homelessness, etc. Meanwhile, Mother Nature will continue to revolt with weather systems becoming more violent and unpredictable as temperatures keep rising along with ocean levels—all of which will add to the already overwhelming refugee crisis.

 

Acts of Kindness

Although we may feel safe far away from conflict zones and displaced person’s camps, we are not immune to the fear, stress and anxiety being generated by the unstable global situation. This can create a sense of frustration in us because, as mentioned, there are a lot of good things happening in the 5th house that are urging us to spread kindness and love through our creativity, ideas and actions. Even the smallest act of kindness or selflessness can have a major impact on someone’s life and our simple gesture nudges us closer to a more peaceful, tolerant and caring world.

Hopefully people will use this time to focus on the positive aspects of the 5th house and engage in self-understanding practices, such as yoga and meditation, that heighten and enlighten our awareness. Indeed, self-reflection, the peaceful exchange of ideas and a shared desire for the common good will inspire people around the world to think more objectively and work together to help humanity. Greater awareness will allow us to set aside our differences and co-create policies and methodologies to eliminate the need for conflict, restore peace to the world and reduce all human suffering.

A positive aspect of 2023’s chart is the fact that Sun is in Sagittarius in the 4th house. The 4th house represents our deep comfort zone and is associated with the warmth of home, our mother and our native land. The 4th house provides us with a feeling of security and a deep sense of happiness that makes us want to stay in one place and put down roots—a desire that is intensified with the presence of Sun in Sagittarius. However, because the Sun is related to the sign Leo in the 12th house (the house of loss), there may be a struggle to maintain a sense of equilibrium due to an unsettled heart.

The Moon, relating to our perception and emotions, is in the sign Aries in the 8th house along with Rahu and Uranus. This suggests that throughout 2023 many countries will make unsuccessful efforts to restore peace, safety and security to the world. Rahu in Aries will keep offering advice and recommendations for ending strife and conflict that could end up being both divisive and fruitless.

Luckily, Scorpio is the natural sign of the 8th house, reflecting the cycles of death and rebirth. It is associated with the underground, and all that is not immediately apparent to the physical eye. This includes the physical world of hidden treasure; for example, the ability to discover ancient artefacts, precious gems, and so on. Scorpio and the 8th house also relate to the metaphysical underworld, the world of our psyche (psychotherapy and metaphysical sciences such as astrology and palmistry) and our infinite soul. Having the Moon placed in the 8th house in the 2023 Hora indicates a willingness to search for the truth no matter how painful the process, which will help us in our personal growth and spiritual transformation.

Indeed, we will gain the greatest planetary benefits in 2023 if we focus on the energies of the Moon as it has a relation with its sign Cancer placed in the 11th house associated with gains of all kinds. Doing so will deepen our consciousness and help us discover the greatest hidden treasure of all—our soul. In fact, the Hora strongly suggests we will be successful in this effort because Mars, the ruler of the 8th house, is sitting in the 9th house—the house of good karma, morality and spiritual values. Additionally, Mars is aspecting its own sign of Scorpio in the 3rd house of bravery. This tells us that, despite the chaos of the outside world, if we set our mind to raising our consciousness, we can bring greater peace and understanding into the world—rest assured, we can do it!

 

Jupiter on Our Side

The best part of the New Year chart is having Jupiter in the 7th house, relating to our subconscious, the unseen 9/10th of an iceberg, our “better half” and our feelings toward our colleagues. Jupiter is the planet of spirituality, heightened awareness and wisdom. Being the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter is known for its ability to expand our minds, hearts, and souls. It is a teacher, eager to open us up to the endless opportunities in our lives and all possibilities our world has to offer us. Jupiter is all about reaching further and going beyond our boundaries.

What’s more, in the 2023 chart, Jupiter is in its own sign of Pisces, bringing out the best that Jupiter has to offer. It blesses us with an intuitive understanding of the spiritual dimension of life, helping us realize that human life is a precious gift given to us to fulfill an ennobling purpose. Ultimately, the mystical nature of Pisces may result in a state of joy, including a love for the divine within and for all humanity. Pisces relates to the potential of seeing the sacred in everything and, consequently, becoming the sign of the healer.

Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac and therefore represents boundlessness. Jupiter’s presence in Pisces helps to magnify this expansive way of living, helping us experience a depth of thought, emotion and understanding we otherwise would never «have dreamed possible. Further, Jupiter in Pisces in the 7th house relating to our subconscious reveals we all want peace. We are tired of facing insecurity and uncertainty, and are longing for a lifestyle that reflects more tranquillity free from any agitation, disputes and turmoil. Well, with 2023’s auspicious Jupiter-Pisces connection, we might just get it! How?

Jupiter in Pisces in the 7th house enriches everything it touches due to its positive attitude and commitment to goodness. Hence, we should do our best to embrace those qualities especially since Jupiter is also aspecting an exalted Cancer in the gains house. So, if our mind is open and our attitude is good, all kinds of success are awaiting us in the coming year. Nevertheless, we must remain strong and centered in ourselves—it is important not to dwell on any negativity or criticism and to maintain a unified feeling with others because, as the saying goes, “divided we fall”.

One challenge to maintaining our peace of mind is Jupiter’s placement with Neptune in the 7th house. Neptune has a duel nature; it is the planet of inspiration but also the planet of illusion and confusion. Nevertheless, it will support Jupiter as long as we follow our heart and listen to our intuition. Indeed, we will get ourselves into trouble if we fail to attune to the whispers of our intuition and instead use our mind to justify the reasons for the actions we take in order to get what we want. Consequently, we have to monitor our attitude and try to remain as objective and honest with ourselves regarding our motivations.

 

How To Benefit From The New Year's Chart

Even though the sign Cancer in the 11th house is exalted (at its strongest) by Jupiter’s aspect, it is also being bombarded by all the planets opposing it in the 5th house—Saturn, Pluto, Venus and Mercury—and not one of those planets is a friend of Cancer. In many ways, this scenario will make our journey through 2023 a bit like walking along a razor’s edge to ensure the goodness of Jupiter prevails and not the temptations, desires and tests coming from the opposing planets. Hence, we must make a conscious effort to follow the path set out for us by Jupiter in Pisces. How can we do this? By embracing the qualities of empathy, kindness and consideration for others. Boosting Jupiter qualities is of utmost importance as Jupiter, in the chart of 2023, is the only planet that can bring out the best of the 11th house, including prosperity and the fulfillment of our aspirations and desires.

Also, we must look to the 5th house—the house of the mind—and channel its creativity to deepen our understanding of the human condition; we must strive to love everyone in our lives, care for our children, protect the vulnerable and express kindness in our words and deeds. By practicing meditation, mantra recitation and pranayama on a regular basis, we will open our spiritual core and radiate peace.

As everyone is aware, all things in life must pass; neither the good nor the bad times last forever—they are evolutionary cycles our consciousness experiences on our journey through existence. As long as we are committed to wisdom, love and peace, our heart will remain settled in joy no matter what 2023 brings our way. Let’s make an effort to meditate together and wish eternal peace, happiness and joy to the world and one another.

 

God Bless you all!

 

Ghanshyam Singh Birla