2021, a #5 MERCURY Cycle

Art by Deborah Gillingham

We are an ancient sort of resilient.
Made for the falling and the rising.
Made for finding a new home in one another.
Made for the burning down and rebuilding from the ashes.
Made for the holy wonder of beginning again.

~ Zoe Quiney

2021, MERCURY! Traveling within and without. Determined by our intellect and integrated mental/emotional intelligence to date. A cycle that serves as a bridge of what has gone before and what you want to manifest now and see next. A cycle of hope and fresh possibilities. A cycle of aiming for Recalibration in every dimension. A time to practise mental ecology with vigilance. Every thought carries a vibration into the universal field. Be responsible!

Numerologically 2021 is a # 5 cycle, 2+0+2+1 = 5; Five is the Number of MERCURY. This implies that our main lesson and cosmic instruction for this cycle will be about Balance and Happiness. As the Moon number Two (2) still heavily weighs in, we are guaranteed more emotionalism than is good for us, also ongoing fragility with our respiratory system connected to the prana of the Earth, GAIA heavily sighing. The number Zero (0) always indicates a profound spiritual lesson on our evolutionary spiral. Zero also highlights the importance of understanding impermanence and detachment, attributes that were brought to our attention during the COVID crisis. The number One (1) at the end of the chain of 2 0 2 1,  the number of the soul, the Sun, points to the hope and happiness this cycle may deliver if we do our homework and step up to the challenge. No matter what unfolds, and as we will have learned during the Pandemic, nothing should surprise us or influence our mental health to such a degree that we come off balance and make irrational decisions without having examined all components from non-biased sources. This is why in the #5 cycle we will need to rely on our intellect, our capacity for analysis, our critical thinking and our well-honed discernment. These are all mercurial traits and if they are weak in our character and self-expression, this cycle will be our invitation to upgrade and or finetune our capacity to enlist them on a day to day ongoing basis. MERCURY rules the Mind and our thought processes.

MERCURY / Buddhi, meaning Intellect, is the ruling planet of people born on the 5th, 14th, 23rd of any month. It is a planet of a dualistic nature. In a horoscope it rules two houses, the Signs Gemini and Virgo, which gives him a prominent feature, and affirms the power of our intellect.  MERCURY has an additional Sanskrit name: Kumar, forever young. In the celestial pantheon he is identified as the Prince. MERCURY has a gentle heart and is forever learning, in fact wants to learn every minute. He appears curious and talkative, youthful, like an inquisitive child, full of enthusiasm, adolescent, not quite adult. MERCURY is always working on boosting his scholarly repertoire. MERCURY thirsts for knowledge and is informed on many diversified topics. A planet to have a conversation with, never a dull moment. Always questing, although MERCURY is the smallest planet in our solar system. He has a changeable character, is quick to respond to everything and has a formidable memory, yet loses interest fast as he is more inspired by NEW and DIFFERENT while galavanting about. He likes to take risks, thrives on quick shifts and gambles with the outcome. He rules our speech, based on his capacity to govern our intellect. He is fragile healthwise and easily afflicted with nervous disorders and respiratory vulnerability. When agitated he also manifests in skin disorders, rashes, eczema and the like. Overall he is considered a benefic and auspicious planet! He is not necessarily serious and can be experienced as cunning and deceitful. MERCURY natives are witty, fun to be with due to their agility and ever changing ideas and plans, their love of humour and entertainment. Anything new and novel, he is game. MERCURY natives are great "go to" persons if you want the latest cutting edge information on anything. They specialize in the field of Technology and gadgets of the most unimaginable kind as they are fond of gimmicks. Mercurial people have great dexterity in their hands and are commonly able to fix and repair things, as they have a little bit of knowledge of everything. They love to learn about themselves and, although too restless to go into any topic in depth, they are certainly in the loop, and have a superficial understanding of just about anything under the sun.

Meet me in the middle of your story when the soul is worn but wise.

~ Angie Weiland-Crosby

MERCURY is a mover and a shaker, traveller of all things resonant of communication and community. If MERCURY is your chart ruler, your Ascendant Lord, your psyche or destiny number, or you are running a MERCURY maha dasha (major cycle), or bhukti (minor subcycle), you will be more connected to the tempo and flavour of 2021 as there is lots to consider, think about and debate. MERCURY is a social planet. Someone to have at your party, as he can switch levels of conversation at a heartbeat and contributes by his agile, upbeat nature to any gathering as he loves to be in groups that are light hearted and entertaining. MERCURY, in his celestial essence, is neutral and will take on the frequency you most project. He is skillful at traveling at lightning speed backwards through 4,3,2,1 vibrations and or upward through 6,7,8,9 planetary frequencies, and will cover the whole terrain in this year long cycle. As he is in extra long retrograde motions in Earth Signs throughout the entire year, we will get plenty of opportunity to evaluate, mend and heal what has gone before and or been glossed over, inconvenient as it may seem. We are all pandemic fatigued, yet the show must go on and MERCURY, being a traveller, exudes very specific pointers as to what was missed en route. Engaging, instructive Communication will be the major focal point and here we all have to improve, become more precise and speak our truth in a neutral way, without blame, attack or cherished personal opinions. Too much at stake, no time to waste. We are what we think! Our thoughts and words shape and determine our personal and collective reality. To this extent we all need to do some major house cleaning and become more clear on what is really beneficial in our communication style and content. Most of all it will become self-evident that, without action, our words are merely surface babble, and this will be an unwise and inappropriate application of our Intellect. The intellect is like a knife, the sharper the better.  Hone your skills is his credo!

This cycle requires creative self-expression followed by Action! This is why we would be well advised to propitiate the Goddess SARASWATI to help guide us in our learning and further education. We will realize that unless we keep learning we will be left behind. The previous world model is dead. The pandemic saw to that. A new paradigm is coming to the foreground, based on communal intent and values. With all the preoccupation of the global pandemic we have neglected climate change which has never gone away and is more urgent than ever. Now we are each called to co-create something that offers a sustainable future. We can each do our part. Be creative! Discover and manifest one little thing that will be of benefit to the collective, you thereby included, and that you will actually do and see through! Communal and political activism are called for in a big way. Educate your local/provincial and national politicians and elected leaders to give priority and attention to what you deem would make a better world for all to co-exist and prosper in. Nobel laureate physical chemist Ilya Prigogine said "When you take a system far from equilibrium you increase the flow of information." It seems that if we are to learn to thrive in these new times, we must become a different kind of human.

THE YEAR AHEAD OF US

Here we are in 2021, a # 5 MERCURY cycle, ready to forget 2020 (we wish), and get focused on mercurial adventures and re-organizing the conversation. What a time it has been! And although we will, off and on, long be preoccupied with the Pandemic fall out, spelled Vaccines, we will also plan on viewing other vistas and find the depth of our personal creative self expression. To this end we are advised to enlist the Goddess Saraswati, patron of higher education and the fine, performing and healing arts for which we are starved by now. 2020 has sent us a lot of change, more than what makes most of us comfortable. The reality is that all the upheavals simply point out one of the golden rules of life and investing - "there is always something we do not know". Live with this golden rule. Work on keeping an open mind and look for that power - Truth - that has been used to establish a meaningful advance in human evolution. History is littered with new tactics and techniques that only endured for a short period of time, before they were found wanting and made obsolete. Maybe with vaccines and the inauguration of a new United States administration, for at least four years, the speed of transition will settle down. We can hope so, but we should not count too much on it.

Technology

We will have our hands full with topics like the efficacy and safety of the now rolled out vaccines, and the electromagnetic frequencies, EMF's and 5G, detrimental effects on our health. The toxic residue of all this polluted electrical field has already damaged our adrenal glands and rendered us more anxious. Remember speed kills! There is bio-warfare to consider and the unsavory occurrences of orbital weaponry. There will be ongoing Surveillance issues that need to be examined and possibly resisted, as MERCURY rules technology, and not all that is being developed is harmless. Technocracy is a mercurial buzzword and here to stay!

Technocracy, the brainchild of scientists and engineers, makes use of massive data mining and behavioral surveillance in order to produce the social engineering necessary to keep the system working and under control. Many new programs that came out in recent years refer to technocracy under a different name. Examples include Agenda 21, the 2030 Agenda, the New Urban Agenda, and the Paris Climate Agreement. Other terms that are synonymous with technocracy include the Great Reset and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

A common thread is that these technocratic movements do point to real and pressing situations, such as the persistence of poverty and hunger; the economic, social and technological inequalities across countries and within societies; the degradation of the planet through selfish, greedy, unsustainable consumption and runaway growth; the depletion of natural resources including forests, rivers, oceans and species extinction; and an accelerating climate change crisis. The solution offered by the technocracy is a coordination of top-down initiatives driven by a small global elite that has the control of financial resources and technological know-how to implement computer-driven solutions that will ultimately dictate the lives of everyone. What they all lack, is a democratic and inclusive mechanism where human beings can use their agency to collectively build a harmonious future for our shared home, the Earth. The end game seems to be a not so subtle, ultimate form of totalitarianism, with the elimination of personal freedom and privacy, in the name of an elite-defined "greater good".

Art by Doctorda

A topic that will be at the forefront are Digital Human Rights, and our personal agency with Data, Information and Privacy. It seems that everyday now there are new anti-trust lawsuits against the Big Tech companies - particularly Google and Facebook, yet Apple and Amazon are not far behind - for their exploitative practices of collecting users personal data, and most  importantly - behavioral data - and making it into a predictive business, where they try to shape "outcomes" to achieve certainty. It is all in the name of Capitalism's greed, for better advertisement results, yet, in the process, these companies "filter, distort, and shape" what we see, and most importantly, what we do not see - in our social media timelines and search results. Shoshana Zuboff - with her master work "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" opened the gates - and now the European Union, the European Parliament, the US Federal Trade Commission, and the majority of US States are moving on several lawsuits against Google and Facebook (among others).

Consider this point by activist Alison McDowell - "Many researchers understand this and have spoken in depth on the nature of the bio-sensors, surveillance, and the shift to digital currency. What needs more discussion are the ways in which these technologies are going to be used to create global markets trading in human capital futures, framed as ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investment, and "pay for success" finance, tied to outcome-based government contracts. The biometric health passports being rolled out by the Commons Project in response to Covid, are the key to unlocking these markets, which will run on data extracted from what the World Economic Forum (WEF) calls "The Internet of Bodies." Essentially the world's billionaires hope to get us to code into the reality of a global open-air prison run by satellite constellation and 5/6G where we can be risk-profiled and geo-fenced, in real time, in relation to behavioral programs framed out by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Primary points of data extraction for the human capital bond markets are education/training; smart housing; and health, including behavioral health. Wearable and internal bio-sensors are central to this program in which investors will place bets on our compliance to imposed "self improvement" programs framed as "preventative care."

The next big issue is that we will all need to UPgrade our personal and corporate technology, again, ruled by MERCURY, the great communicator. By now, after a year of working from home, it has become obvious that we are married to the Internet and saturated with online options, not about to disappear. Technology will be our language for 2021 and you can co create with the universe how artistic, original, and inviting you want to engage at a new level. Everyone will be forced to learn more comprehensively and in non consumer oriented ways. Less buying, more innovating and sharing. We will need to aim our purchases at locally sourced goods and stop supporting the suffocating plastic industry. In fact, on account of climate change, we best cultivate a minimalist attitude when it comes to buying, and if needed, support strictly local merchants. 2020 tested our resilience, forcing the world to change on the fly, regarding how it lives and works. As we are now in 2021, with the tenuous promise of a suite of vaccines, we face a new test: we will need to decide what kind of post-pandemic world we want to build, for ourselves and for future generations. So every thought and action will matter. The responsibility is ours, of each individual breathing and living on GAIA, Mother Earth, our ultimate Teacher!

Hacking of security systems world wide will be the norm as the techno savvy thieves and state actors will become ever more clever to access all and anything. Cyber assaults will be more common and we will need to evolve from our simple password protected little domains. Clearly there may be a negative impact to all this hyperactivity in the new, and ever more deeply entrenched tech dimension, until we have adapted to yet another learning curve. However being a MERCURY cycle we are prone to learn more quickly and think it to be more fun.  There will also be infinite tutorials and online courses to get us up to speed. Policy Analysts, Foresight experts and Futurist way showers will keep us hopping as all the new, post pandemic, trends are studied and examined, much of these are already underway. Be very conscious of each act of creation you participate in, and appreciate that if you want positive evolutionary change, and be an agent of the same, you will need to roll up your sleeves and perform the action. Fully, totally, committedly get and be engaged.

Teachers are everywhere  -
learners are everywhere -
Is there anything new to teach?
Is there anything new to learn?

Don't grasp everything
you are given.
That is what
a beggar does.
Don't wait for someone
to tell you whether you
need to go east or west.
Go where there are
no road maps -
Get lost to find
yourself again.

Whatever you see,
see with true eyes.
Truth is not hidden -
it is not complicated either.
It is hiding behind
your thinking.

Drop everything
you have learned.
Until no veil is left
Until you feel like
an infant again.

Art by Tomás Sánchez

Our Environment

Vaccines will be the buzzword of 2021, so be educated. We cannot afford to be guinea pigs in this biowarfare experimentation. Get real! Big Pharma will follow the money and does not care about the long term effects on your life. MERCURY, Buddhi, being a Eunuch, is not partial and just wants to be effective. Is your intellect to date producing effective results? What are you doing daily to keep your mental slate clean, fresh, creative and open to intuitive impulses based on your sadhana, spiritual practise, and inquisitive research? This is a daily task! We are accountable to the Great Mystery, the bigger picture, the collective theme, the karmic flow of the universe. Be the artist on the global canvas that helps to bring in the Aquarian manifestation of a sustainable community, all One. One Love! Climate change needs a lot of attention and is begging for collective awareness before so many aspects become irreversible. If need be, study the mission and movement by GRETA THUNBERG or JANE FONDA, who at 82 entered into actual civil disobedience, going to prison, by becoming an activist for "The Green New Deal". Be inspired, stop at Nothing. The Mind is very powerful. Remember we foremost exist in the Mind. And if we have a global identity our intellect will function for everyone's well being. We will no longer act out of individual ambition but out of a larger, more compassionate vision for all life forms. This is an inclusive, communal process; no one will succeed by functioning in an isolated strategy approach.

There is currently a great shift on the Planet - the dying of the old growth trees and forests, daily losses that are not reported, not seen, not honored. These times are so emotionally tumultuous on the Earth, everything is changing so fast, that we are being asked to focus on other things (e.g. Covid, the economy), while Nature, the living, ancient, non-human wisdom, is not given reverence in mainstream culture. If we had learned to be more conscious around Nature, we would not be all so willing to allow certain losses to continue taking place, we would not find it to be too "inconvenient" to take the actions that need to be taken. We are still gridlocked with power-hungry political battles, yet these will slowly start to fall apart, being exposed and hopefully dismantled. It will take a few more years. Some of the feeling of loss we collectively feel is not only the loss of human lives, but also the loss of the trees and indigenous nature, even if we are not fully aware of it. This MERCURY cycle will start shifting that perception, and there will be the beginning of a stronger reverence for trees, not because people will have a spiritual awakening, but because of the emerging data and information, that will bring the necessary wisdom to face Climate Change and the Climate Crisis. Over the next decade, we will see a growing understanding of the importance of WHY and HOW we could start to bring balance in NATURE back to the planet in a different way. Reforestation will be a major theme worldwide. We will understand the environment as the "Economy of Life''. The changes brought about by Covid, that are affecting everybody on the planet, will eventually prompt a Revolution, not in the streets, but one that is already taking place, as a growing Awareness, Consciousness and Actions from us, the individuals, suffering too long already from the destruction of the natural worlds. The more this movement grows, the more we will be mindful of the loss of the trees, at first by bearing witness to this loss, and then by being a voice for this loss and demonstrative prevention from future loss. We will want healing renewal and renewed connection with all sentient beings. All One, ONE LOVE!

Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is. Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.

~ on Selflessness

A huge concern will be the expense and quality of food and water. FOOD SECURITY issues will be upon us. 2021 will see food shortages and food fraud. The cost, production and delivery of goods to our grocery shelves will have us quivering and change our outlook and diet. Local garden communities, co-ops and communal meals will no longer be novel, but a welcome necessity after a year of social starvation. The way we interact has to change, we have become alienated from one another and in a larger sense from the Earth, our Mother, benevolently trying to sustain us and increase our awakening to our interdependence. The food fraud could result in food contaminations, and yet another fearful outbreak amongst the populus, as our trust in purchased food may be undermined. It could easily be, as everyone is trying to cut corners, that what is labeled organic will not be true to promise, and what we consider as fair trade sources origins, is also not the truth. The labels will not tell the true story. Issues like mold and harmful pesticides in our food supply will be world wide as the big agro businesses will resist disclosing every ingredient that actually is in our food. This will result in different kinds of stressors from Covid, and the poisons will be noticed as endocrine disruptors, adrenal fatigue, allergies and autoimmune disorders of various degrees. Your mind needs to be on alert and aware that supply chains are breaking down and the quality of available food is being compromised. With Merchants still wanting to make their money, especially after the economic devastation of 2020 and ongoing, you may be duped by mislabeling, and countries of origin may also not be too stringent with their ingredient controls. This is a real issue, so stay awake. Best you garden and or buy from farmers you get to know, support local markets, and even there, not all may be as you romantically envision. Pesticides and Fertilizers are often disguised and you will deal with a weakening immune system thereafter. Your Mind needs to be clear and objective at all times. Our public waters are heavily sanitized and also contain traces of pesticides and discarded pharmaceuticals. Ask your public water facility for a breakdown, a paper report, so you can examine the minerals, trace minerals and other, potentially dangerous substances, your water contains. Pure Drinking water in our wells needs to be guarded, and Artesian springs cherished. Drinking water, if you have any doubts, should adviseably come to you in the form of molecularly clustered water, which you can obtain in the form of a Water ionizer producing an alkaline pH, or a water system that is based on Hydrogen. Research! This information is widely available and has been used for over a decade. Myself included. And consume your water less frivolously, do we really need to shower for half an hour and or do laundry every day? Be conscious of the fact that millions of people do not have the privilege of clean drinking water and often have to haul the same for miles in buckets. Still! Whatever obstacles you may encounter, remember to choose a neutral approach, the middle path, and not to become obsessive, critical or too contracted. Solutions abound. Your active involvement is needed. Now! Use Logic and reason, not emotionality in your dealings. You may have to change your lifestyle, and start cooking, purify your drinking water, and or join in communal meals and definitely in food shares. Packaged and processed foods of dubious origin are becoming a thing of the past. Too many strange ingredients or additives with obscure words ought to have our attention. And, perhaps eating less and more high quality, safe foods, sustainably sourced, will nourish us deeper. Integrity will be a key issue and MERCURY's nature is to get a good deal, and being a trickster, can easily mislead us in our dealings with others. We need to remain alert to our Objectives here, focus on Balance.

The more sincerity is developed, the greater the share of truth you will have. And however much sincerity a person may have, there is always a gap to fill, for we live in the midst of falsehood, and we are always apt to be carried away by this world of falsehood. Therefore we must never think we are sincere enough, and we must always be on our guard against influences which may carry us away from that sincerity which is the bridge between ourselves and our ideal. No study, no meditation is more helpful than sincerity itself. Practise makes perfect!

~ Hazrat Inayat Khan

MERCURY, also called Quicksilver in folklore, being like the mercury of a thermometer, is fast moving and flexible, always looking out for advantage to be gained. Be careful that you do not develop a tendency to become a cheater or you will be cheated. Mercury is a great storyteller and you may end up believing your own story if you keep spinning the tale. 2020 certainly taught us the amount of deceit and corruption that exists in the human psyche and that almost no one or nothing could be relied upon for the truth and nothing but the truth. So be in TRUTH at all times and you will glean insights into your own mercurial nature, embedded in your character, and recognize it in those around you. I cannot over overemphasize the importance of clearing your mind screen daily, like a refresh button in your software. It is essential to clear the slate so you may start out each encounter and project with a fresh mindset. The toxicity that has made itself known during the ruthless 2020 #4 RAHU cycle and the previous decade of greed and selfishness, now needs a filter at all times, so we do not perpetuate this destructive tendency that took root in the world we share. Any transgression will result in a weakening immune system and a detrimental, anxious vibe within and without. At this time we are all so in need of elevation, and yet unless we understand that no one will save us if we do not change our intentions, vocabulary and intelligent, communally oriented actions, this year 2021 will be harder than necessary. We have tremendous freedom to shapeshift in the MERCURY cycle! The endowment of the trickster, and MERCURY being very youthful, could encourage a deliberate enthusiasm and young, innocently fresh approach, to all and everything. A potentially new conversation worldwide. There is a certain excitement to be discovered once we are past the traumatic fall out of the pandemic and its ramifications globally. We can come together in communal efforts, in truth telling circles, in joining forces to get the governments to respond to our true needs of this time. MERCURY wants to advance, based on intellectual prowess, strong analysis and critical thinking. So sharpen your brain cells and bring all of your heart to the negotiating table. Enter the ZEITGEIST of this era fully, be committed to the evolutionary burn! We are all needed here. Be an agent of change in the capacity in which you feel you can serve. Just do it! Most of all be willing to learn every second. Everyone and everything is our teacher! Embrace this with good cheer, you will make more friends this way. Remember the Universe has big ears and is present everywhere and at all times. So every thought wave is on record. Learn about the brain, its chemistry and components of wired connection. Neuroscience is the way to go. MERCURY rules the intellectual Mind, so that is where the work is. We are creating a symphony together, a new world vision on an energetic level like never before. We might have been ignorant or lazy or indifferent. Now, thanks to the pandemic, we realize our interconnectedness as it is essential to our survival. This is real, this is now, this is us. BE HERE NOW respecting and loving the planet. MERCURY is not an aggressive planet, yet appreciates being highly informed, moving within the orb of various options with adaptability, all the while you go about spiritualizing your life, while consciously regulating your mind through your breath, and more awakened awareness of how you perceive and respond.

Art by Morgan Mandala

World Economy

This is indeed the cycle of the GREAT RESET, individually and collectively, as with much conscious discernment we will effort to partake in the evolutionary opportunities of this time. Throughout history, global chaos (RAHU) has always been used as a precursor to big changes on our planet. Sometimes many of these changes are promoted under the guise of good will, where the initiators of these measures claim they are doing it for humanity's best interests. Yet, true to MERCURY, the great Trickster, nothing is at it seems, and we need to be mindful of the control mechanism undermining our basic rights and natural living. This is also a common theme expressed by many when it comes to what is called "The Great Reset." The controversy to tackle in our habituated minds is, that MERCURY, ruling the intellect, will want to stretch and explore a deeper elasticity to consider all its options. MERCURY is a great negotiator and loves to organize and strategize information to arrive at what he considers "the best deal going", which he (being a Merchant), and like a used car salesman, would like to sell you for the bargain of your lifetime. So watch what is being promoted and sold by the media these days. Also be conscious of your embedded drama and craving for excitement!

"COVID-19: The Great Reset", aka a precursor to a 'New World Order?' You can refer to the book by Klaus Schwab and Thierry Malleret if interested, as it presents a much deeper discussion on the topic. Encourage people to ask themselves why controversial topics are always presented as a "conspiracy theory" and never really discussed or addressed properly by mainstream media. It is time to truly begin having serious conversations about controversial topics and learning to empathize with differing positions on them. The need for collective sensemaking is at an all-time high, and if we are constantly divided and unable to perceive reality from the perspective of anybody else, we are going to struggle to create meaningful change. This is both a time to consume/discern information, and to develop ourselves personally to become effective changemakers.

When you run after your thoughts,
you are like a dog chasing a stick:
every time a stick is thrown,
you run after it.

Instead, be like a lion who,
rather than chasing after the stick,
turns to face the thrower.
One only throws a stick at a lion once.

~ Milarepa

All eyes have been focused on the pandemic event, and the thinking is that once the pandemic is "over", the crisis will be over and everything will go back to normal. But, as the globalists have been telling us since the outbreak began, the world "will never go back to normal again". It is not because of the pandemic, mind you, it's because THEY will not allow things to go back to normal. The "Great Reset", as the World Economic Forum calls it, is meant to go on for many years. And seemingly the globalists intend that every aspect of our lives be changed into something almost unrecognizable. First I want to make it clear that I do not expect the reset agenda to be successful. The globalists have reached too far too fast and exposed themselves, and millions upon millions of people around the world and in America, are questioning the pandemic narrative. But here is the problem; the pandemic is a distraction from a much greater threat, namely the economic collapse that is developing right now. The financial downturn has been created by international banks and central banks through massive debt creation and inflationary stimulus measures. The initial spark for the wildfire took place in 2008 with the Great Financial Crisis, yet the economic threat has been in plain view of the public for quite some time. Now, however, the establishment has some perfect scapegoats, including the passing Trump Administration as well as the Coronavirus. The globalists are hoping that people will become so mesmerized by the pandemic crisis and the election outcome, that they will rest all blame for the collapse on those two ready-made targets. Make no mistake, the economy was put on life support long before Trump ever entered office and long before anyone ever heard of COVID-19. The globalists are simply pulling the plug right now and letting the old industrial economy die. Of course, stock markets remain high, but the stock market does NOT represent the economy. It does not reflect financial health or the stability on Main Street. The stock market is an artificially propped up Pavlovian bell designed to make the public salivate every time the tickers go green. A majority of people tend to associate stock prices with economic improvement. The extent of their research is 15 minutes of mainstream news a day, along with 30-second reports on the Dow rising or falling. A rising Dow is enough to keep a large percentage of the population believing that things are going to get better. Eventually stocks will crash along with almost everything else, just as they did in the hyperinflated markets of Weimar Germany in the early 1930s. What the public should be focused on is small business closures, the change in retail spending while stimulus is cut off, eviction notices, rising food costs, and related developments. This will tell what the actual story is behind the economy. There are certain events that could also expedite the downturn, and we must be wary of "black swans" right now. The financial system has been made so fragile over the past decade that any single major shock could bring it down. Let us not mistake stimulus for resilience. As Nassim Taleb suggests - "we need an economic life closer to our biological environment: smaller firms, a richer ecology, no speculative leverage." The money printing simply cannot go on, and it is naive and irresponsible on our part to keep wanting the government to bail us out. Stimulus has its limits and we might be hitting those limits as we enter 2021.

UPAYAS

MERCURY is the daylord of Wednesday - the middle of the week - , his color is aquamarine, his gemstone is an unblemished Emerald, which is a big investment, and should only be purchased with the consulting advice of a seasoned Astrologer and reputable Gem dealer.

The mantras to practise are:
AUM BUM BUDDHAYE NAMAH AUM

and for the Goddess Saraswati empowering our learning:
AUM EIM SARASWATAYE NAMAHA AUM

A precise, hand painted yantra, as shown above the opening paragraph, is a hugely supportive visual tool to attune you to the divine message MERCURY has to offer, and is the esoteric home of the planetary frequency called MERCURY.

Fasting on Wednesdays with the intent to please MERCURY in our own psyche and conduct, is effective, while reciting the MERCURY mantra ceaselessly. Helping slow learners or any disenfranchised youth on Wednesday, is an appropriate offering of a remedial measure.

With repeated meditation practice
the expanse of the visible universe
with all its qualities dissolves
to nothing, to where there is
only health and great joy.

~ Lalla, 14th Century mystic

PONDERANCE

Karma means that whatever we do, with our bodies, speech, or minds, will have a corresponding result. Each action, even the smallest, is pregnant with its consequences. It is said by the masters that even a little poison can cause death, and even a tiny seed can become a huge tree. And as Buddha said: "Do not overlook negative actions merely because they are small; however small a spark may be, it can burn down a haystack as big as a mountain."

Similarly he said: "Do not overlook tiny good actions, thinking they are of no benefit. Even tiny drops of water in the end will fill a huge vessel."

Karma does not decay like external things, or ever become inoperative. It cannot be destroyed "by time, fire, or water." Its power will never disappear, until it is ripened.

~ Remember The View

Every action we take and even our thoughts have a vibration, which is why my work is not limited to crisis counselling or symptom intervention, but expands to the vast world of vibration and frequency - and most importantly, how you can inspire your body's healing mechanisms by using your natal chart, your cosmic anatomy, to navigate the appropriate adjustments and explore a more discerning, focussed path, manifesting in a chosen reality.

Knowing that every word we say and every phrase is a vibration that carries far into the universe, today, our words need to become an affirmation to the glory of the universe and our living an ongoing Prayer and Thank You to the Earth, our Mother.

Visualizing us all aiming for Balance and Happiness so we exude the highest, finest vibration, celebrating the Life we were given and becoming responsible stewards by honoring the Earth and all sentient beings of our integrated statement of maturing, humility, loving kindness and evolutionary truth.

Be strong and be worthy
~ Seneca

MAJOR ASTROLOGICAL DATES for 2021

Mercury Retrogrades

• January 30th to February 20th, Capricorn
• May 29th to June 22nd, Taurus
• September 27th to October 18th, Virgo

Other Retrogrades

• Mars, no retrograde in 2021
• Jupiter, June 20th to Oct 18th, Aquarius/Capricorn
• Venus, December 19th, 2021 to January 29th, 2022, Capricorn/Sagittarius
• Saturn, May 23rd to October 10th, Capricorn

Eclipses

• May 26th, total LUNAR Eclipse
• June 10th, annular SOLAR Eclipse
• November 19th, partial LUNAR Eclipse
• December 4th, total SOLAR Eclipse

Key Astrological Events

• Stellium in Capricorn, February 4th to 12th
• Saturn in Capricorn, January 2020 to January 2023
• Jupiter in Capricorn, November 2020 to April 3rd; September 14th to November 20th
• Jupiter in Aquarius, April 4th to September 14th; November 20th to April 2022
• Akshaya Tritiya, May 14th, 2021
• Rahu/Ketu in Taurus/Scorpio, September 19th, 2020 to March 16th, 2022

RETROGRADES for 2021

Art by Léa Roche

A planet going retrograde in motion, as seen from Earth, represents an area of life that comes into magnified focus. The part of the sky where a planet retrogrades, can tell what themes will become prominent during the retrograde phase. In retrograde motion a planet will be re-visiting and re-evaluating, until finally it comes along to a stationary position for a few days and resumes normal forward movement, bringing to completion and integration the lessons and insights of that period.

In Vedic astrology, the Sign and nakshatra where the retrograde takes place, as well any other conjunctions happening simultaneously during the retrograde phase of a given planet provide clues to the themes that will be important during that period.

In 2021, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn will have retrograde periods.

What can we expect from the RETROGRADE periods in 2021?

• Mercury, a new understanding of our relationship with our planet Earth
• Jupiter, a vision for a new way of life that brings together humanity and Nature
• Venus, a rediscovery of the joy of life, through social and artistic connection
• Saturn, a sustainable, democratic and equitable societal organization
  
  

MERCURY retrograde

Mercury will retrograde three times in 2021: February, June and October

Notable points for the Mercury retrograde:

• Mercury will retrograde in Earth signs (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo). This is a year of learning to appreciate the planet we live on. It will come through a crisis-redemption process, where we will develop a deeper understanding and renewed reverence for the Earth and its resources, including water, food, forests and all sentient beings. Mercury will retrograde most of the time in nakshatras ruled by the Moon (Sravana, Rohini, Hasta) and Mars (Dhanishta, Mrigashira, Chitra). Moon naskhatras tend to bring a connection with real prosperity, one that nurtures and provides deep satisfaction. While Mars nakshatras can bring a dynamic quality, creative breakthroughs, exploring new ways of living and co-creating with the universe harmoniously, aiming for a higher level of systems organization in our collective and personal lives.

Dates for MERCURY retrograde

30-Jan to 20-Feb, Aquarius 2 deg to Capricorn 16 deg

• In Dhanishta, 30-Jan to 10-Feb
• In Sravana, 10-Feb to 20-Feb
• A time to think big, and set great intent/resolve for what we want to achieve during the year. The retrograde starts in Dhanishta nakshatra, which will provide great inspiration (as in the artistic Muses), to examine all we dreamed of doing in 2020, and narrowing it down to what is priority and sensible to actualize in 2021. There will be a great sense of purpose and practicality, as the retrograde happens mostly in Capricorn. The second part of the retrograde is in Sravana nakshatra, a universal asterism with social orientation, and thus our goals need to in some part benefit others, society as a whole, and not only ourselves. Mercury (our intellect), will be fortified by the powerful Stellium when five other planets will be in Capricorn at the same time. We will put our ducks in a row, and feel quite empowered with a can-do attitude. Actually DOING it will be the test!

29-May to 22-Jun, Gemini 0 deg to Taurus 21 deg

• In Mrigashira, 29-May to 16-Jun
• In Rohini, 16-Jun to 22-Jun
• A time that will be critical for humanity. Mercury will mostly retrograde in Taurus, the Sign of material wealth. The retrograde starts with a conjunction of Mercury-Venus at 0 deg. of Gemini, and soon after it forms a Parivartana Yoga (exchange of Signs) with Mercury in Taurus, and Venus in Gemini. This will be detrimental to the world, raising obstacles to cooperation between countries, and lack of harmony between people. Mercury will be disturbed the whole time by the presence of Rahu in Taurus, what will influence the Intellect to take selfish and ruthless actions. The first part of the retrograde happens in Mrigashira nakshatra, whose symbol is a deer/doe, and finding our path through the woods of samsara (illusion). In this case, it will lead us (the world), to lose ourselves in the maze of miscommunications, bad data and faulty analysis. The second part of the retrograde happens in Rohini nakshatra, that represents the Earth's bountiful resources and nurturing ability. This time however, the long exploitation of the Earth due to unbounded greed (Rahu), might devolve into a global crisis, potentially related to food in its various aspects, from crops to supply chains to grocers. We should be attentive to our food origins, preferring known, local and or organic, versus processed and imported.

27-Sep to 18-Oct, Libra 1 deg to Virgo 15 deg

• In Chitra, 27-Sep to 8-Oct
• In Hasta, 8-Oct to 18-Oct
• A time when the world finally starts to regain its Balance and Harmony, after what will most likely be a tumultuous late Spring-Summer. The retrograde period starts in Chitra nakshatra, that relates to higher organization of systems, such as in architectural structures. We might see the emergence of a new organization for world food production, that will be truly evolutionary. This will be in contrast to the January/February retrograde, when Mercury was under the influence of technocratic Capricorn. The top-down solutions driven by governments and large corporations will have proved short lived and found wanting. Now in September-October, Mercury will be in Virgo, its sign of exaltation, deeply connected to the Earth and a lover of Ecology and Efficiency. The second part of the retrograde happens in Hasta nakshatra, that will empower handiwork, repurposing items instead of discarding them, gardening and crafts, such as in a more locally visible production. The seeds we plant in this period, will be the real leading lights for the decade ahead. On a personal level, it might prompt us to develop and adapt to good, healthy habits that are respectful of the environment, and start contributing actively to our local community, as the new world takes shape.

JUPITER retrograde

20-Jun to 18-Oct, Aquarius 8 deg to Capricorn 28 deg

• In Shatabhisha, 20-Jun to 20-Jul
• In Dhanishta, 20-Jul to 18-Oct
• Ingress Capricorn 14-Sep
• A time of re-visiting our Ideas and Beliefs. Jupiter (dharma lord) and Saturn (karma lord), will be retrograde during the Summer and early Fall. The Jupiter-Saturn grand conjunction of December 21st, 2020 (Winter Solstice) - announced the beginning of a new Aquarian age, Earth element centered. This new era can only be birthed when humanity collectively comes to a realization and understanding of our connectedness and interdependence with Nature. Jupiter will transit Shatabisha nakshatra, related to protection, healing and the karmic circle of life - as in creation / maintenance / dissolution, and Dhanishta nakshatra, a creative and congenial energy that gives the ability to manifest a new reality into existence. The world might be going through a crisis during the Summer, and it will be the energy of Jupiter that will bring the clarity, the wisdom of how to properly identify the issues and address the situation. Jupiter is debilitated in Capricorn, and there might have been a lack of morals and ethics from the guides of society (governments, industry leaders, scientists), during the first part of the year. Now the same leaders, faced with a situation they cannot wish away, will have to be, and will be, truthful about the facts. The energy of Shatabisha will be key, as it will provide the real healing, that will come not only through pharmaceutical drugs (i.e. chemically derived vaccines), but through an understanding of the circular nature of energy, as in Earth ecosystems, forests and oceans. It will be this insight about the "Economy of Life", that will motivate and support and show humanity a way forward.

VENUS retrograde

19-Dec, 2021 to 29-Jan, 2022, Capricorn 2 deg to Sagittarius 17 deg

• In Uttara Ashada, 19-Dec-2021 to 05-Jan-2022
• Ingress Sagittarius 29-Dec-2021
• In Purva Ashada, 05-Jan to 29-Jan, 2022
• A time of optimism and setting of new vistas for humanity. Coming at the end of the transformational period of 2020-2021, Venus in Sagittarius will bring an infusion of life at its most joyous. We will find again the delight and heart fulfillment of being together in groups, of social interactions, of music and art shared, and travelling. Venus is a planet of stamina, of joie de vivre, and of a generative creative force, that will set forth the tone for a new era for humanity. This will be a time of discovering new principles, a new set of philosophies and beliefs to take us collectively to the next level of beauty, loving kindness and its resulting happiness. However, instead of the self-righteous attitudes that led us into the global crisis, we will discover a new generous, truth-loving, optimistic and interdependent way of living and sharing and honoring our Home, this planet Earth.
  

SATURN retrograde

23-May to 10-Oct, Capricorn 19 deg to 12 deg 

• In Sravana, 23-May to 10-Oct
• The first part of the year January-February will have had the majority of the planets transiting Sravana nakshatra (see Stellium in Capricorn). However, that concentration of planets will force a narrow approach to the rebuilding post Pandemic, with a single focus on the hierarchical, top-down, technocratic ways of Capricorn. This movement will not succeed, as it will have ignored the true underlying root cause of humanity's current problems - namely our separation from Nature and the greedy exploitation of the resources of our planet Earth, indifferent to the suffering of the non-human living beings, and to the growing inequality between people, societies and countries. Saturn, the karma lord, will retrace the steps, revisit and reexamine all the deeds, words and actions done by governments and corporations as they tried to "bring the economy back to normal", and bring all the facts to the foreground for examination. This time there will be no obfuscation by the media or government mouthpieces - as we, the whole world, will be experiencing an unprecedented situation that cannot be denied or explained away. People will demand accountability from the rulers and elites, and Saturn represents power to the people! Difficult as this period may be, it will produce a lasting benefit, as humanity will emerge from it with a new humanistic view for our global societies, with a newfound respect for Nature, the benevolent patient provider of Life.

ECLIPSES in 2021

The two eclipse cycles in 2021 will be in May-June and November-December. Each cycle has a sequence of solar and lunar eclipses. The 2021 eclipse cycles occur in the Taurus-Scorpio axis.

Eclipses are times of powerful psychological transformation, where the planets representing the soul (Sun) and the mind (Moon), the two luminaries, have their light briefly obscured. The dimming of the light outside, invites us to explore the source of light within.

Solar Eclipse - art by Sue Halstenberg

What can we expect from the ECLIPSE cycles in 2021?

• May-June eclipses, a time of potential crisis worldwide and breakdown of narrative
• November-December eclipses, a time of new confidence and optimism

May 26th, 7:18 am ET - Total LUNAR Eclipse

• Eclipse in Scorpio, Full Moon
• Moon at 11deg Scorpio
• Anuradha nakshatra
• The first eclipse of 2021 brings strong emotions to the surface. This will be a total LUNAR Eclipse in Scorpio, a sign of deep feeling, that can be critical, sensitive and negative. There are power-games, from demanding strong allegiances, to a more personal dynamic, as Anuradha nakshatra can be highly sensual/sexual. Anuradha can be unorthodox, and go against the social sensibilities du jour, and on a higher yearning expression, rebelling against outdated ways of thinking and being. Anuradha also has the ability to see through the reality behind all the fake media propaganda on social, economic and political levels. This eclipse will make people worldwide question the whole narrative that has been presented since the start of the pandemic. And the questioning will come from the fact that the world will be experiencing a series of unprecedented events (see Mercury retrograde in Rohini in May/June ) that cannot be downplayed, as each one of us will be experiencing its effects first hand. The Moon is debilitated in Scorpio, and during the Eclipse it will be alone, and conjunct with Ketu. This will bring a deep emotion and  feeling of lacking support, as literally there is no planetary support for the Moon. It will trigger demands from people wanting accountability for what is transpiring. Being just the beginning of the Summer, it might signal an intense season of social protests worldwide. The eclipse happens during a Full Moon, and will be visible in Western US and Canada, Chile, all the Pacific islands, Australia, Japan, Korea and Eastern China and Russia. People living in these areas will experience the eclipse with the greatest intensity.

June 10th, 6:41 am ET - Annular SOLAR Eclipse

• Eclipse in Taurus, New Moon
• Sun and Moon at 25deg Taurus
• Mrigashira nakshatra
• This solar eclipse takes place in Taurus, Mrigashira nakshatra, during a New Moon. It signals what is probably the ending of the first phase of a crisis that has grown during April-May. At the outset, there will be strong denial and coverups, as all the focus will be on the post Pandemic economic rebuilding and "getting back to normal". The 2021 crisis likely will come out of the left field, and be both unexpected and unprecedented. After the Anuradha Lunar Eclipse burst the situation (and secrets) out in the open, undeniably, the Mrigrashira Solar Eclipse will have us seeking for solutions. Mrigashira is a nakshatra of trails and pathways, finding a way through, or out of the woods. Mercury will be tightly conjunct with the Sun and Moon, representing that the powers of our Intellect will be put to use in alignment with our soul and emotional highest calling. It will represent not the solution, but the beginning of finding a solution to the crisis. The first step will be taken, and that is stopping the distraction games and facing the situation head on. The Eclipse will be visible on the northern latitudes, including Eastern Canada, northeastern US and Russia.

November 19th, 4:03 am ET - Partial LUNAR Eclipse

• Eclipse in Taurus, Full Moon
• Moon at 3deg Taurus
• Krittika nakshatra
• Eclipses can have positive outcomes, and this Lunar Eclipse in Taurus signals positive developments. The Moon will be at its maximum exaltation, at 3 deg of Taurus, in Krittika nakshatra. Krittika is creative, one pointed and fiery in its action. The Moon here will not be denied its emotional richness. We will get to the root of the situation, and the fire of Krittika is a caring, nurturing and maternal warmth, the one that cooks our food and warms us up on a cold day. This is also the fire of purification of will-power, bringing a life-sustaining element to our social sphere, when we are committed enough to manifest our will into reality. Krittika will point humanity into a new beginning, and this Eclipse will start a season of auspicious astrological events, including the long stay of Venus in Sagittarius, Jupiter in Shatabisha/Aquarius and later in 2022 Jupiter in Pisces and Venus exalted. A time for the world to start rejoicing again.

December 4th, 2:33 am ET - Total SOLAR Eclipse>

• Eclipse in Scorpio, New Moon
• Sun and Moon at 18deg Scorpio
• Jyeshta nakshatra
• The final eclipse of 2021 happens in Jyeshta naskhatra. The intensity is lessened by it being in a wide orb from Ketu, the South Node causing the eclipse. This will bring the best aspect of Jyeshta, that is a kingly nakshatra, related to Indra (king of gods in Vedic mythology). The goodness of Jyeshta lies in the ability to be protective towards the  weak, helpless and underprivileged. On the other hand, it likely will also represent the governments of the world regaining control of the narrative, after the humbling experienced during the Summer crisis, and a brief stint of openness during the Fall. This in any case will be well received by the people, as everyone will be finally getting over the 2020-2021 cycle of transformation and traumatic upheaval. 2022 will come soon, and with it a decade of potentially great prosperity and new pathways for humanity. This eclipse will only be visible in Antarctica.

KEY Astrological EVENTS in 2021

The whole of planet Earth
is a sacred site.
All people are the chosen people,
and the purpose of our lives
is a spiritual one.

May we care for each other,
and for the Earth, for everything
relates to everything else.

Feeling this oneness,
may we radiate the light of love
and kindness that all may live
in unity and peace.

~ Radha Sahar

STELLIUM in CAPRICORN

February 4th to 12th, 2021

The Stellium is a celestial configuration where three or more planets are crossing the same section of the sky. Five planets - Sun (soul, leaders), Mercury (intellect, commerce), Venus (diplomacy, relationships), Jupiter (laws, dharma) and Saturn (karma, longevity) - will be in the Sign of Capricorn for eight consecutive days starting February 4th, and joined by the Moon (mind and emotions) on February 9th. The Stellium continues till February 12th. The majority of the time the planets will be in Sravana nakshatra. This will be a time when the world will seem to be getting back to normal, where the organizational ability of Capricorn, empowered by the attributes of each planet, brings order to the material world. The focus will be on the social order, its various interdependencies across economic, societal, political and technological realms, and there will be a collaborative approach between world governments, with the intent of rebuilding public trust. It will coincide with the post-Inauguration period of the new US government, and good will is expected both domestically and internationally. There is a connection with both listening and speech, and that might manifest as a great media campaign around the vaccinations, with such a focused effort, that it can become single-minded. This will be a balancing act, as it can lead to unique ethical collaborations, in the name of achieving the goal. Overall, a time for the world to rejoice and rebuild, yet its fruits will be known over the Spring/Summer, depending on whether the intentions set are truly for universal good or still for selfish benefits with hidden agendas concealed. Time will tell!

On a personal level this will be a time to commit to what we want to achieve in 2021, by doing it wholeheartedly. The weeklong duration of the Stellium will allow for repeated affirmation of our sankalpa/resolve, and we will achieve success if there is commitment and clarity in our intentions, speech and congruent actions.

SATURN in CAPRICORN (Own Sign)

January 24th, 2020 to January 16th, 2023 (except May-July 2022 in Aquarius)

The 3-year period 2020-2022 will be an exceptional opportunity to manifest our aspirations in the real world. Saturn is the power of what we are focused on, of what we make a commitment to. And Capricorn is where we commit to the hard work that needs to be done. We will feel inspired to persevere through any difficulties, and even though we might experience the "stress" of action in an imperfect world, we will also be shown what we can accomplish when we persevere and see things through. Saturn reflects what is truly important to us, after all the talk has been done - Saturn demands the walk. He provides a very practical assessment of what we are doing, and makes sure the expenditure of energy is worth it. The work done in this stage will set the tone for the decade ahead - affecting our political, societal, technological and environmental realities. We are living in a shifting world, that is setting new directions, new ways of thinking, new generations of people taking over. Can we collectively move forward, even without a "feel good factor" catalyst? The answer will show the maturity we achieved.

On a personal level, we can expect big changes in priorities for everyone. Saturn in Capricorn is where "the rubber meets the road" - and it will ask us to be clear not only about what we say we *want* to do, but rather what we are ready to *commit* doing, and get busy honoring this!

JUPITER in CAPRICORN (Debilitated)

November 2020 to April 5th, 2021 - September 14th to November 20th, 2021

Jupiter in Capricorn will have two distinct periods. The first period running into April 4th, will have Jupiter transiting mostly through Sravana nakshatra. This will support Jupiter's natural significators of prosperity and optimism, combined with the practical and hard working Capricorn. It will be the time of "Build Back Better", where society will be hopeful of getting the heights of the 2020 pandemic in the rear view mirror. However, because Jupiter is debilitated, it might be lacking its usual wisdom and high ethics, and there will be plenty of cutting corners by governments and corporations, as they try to get the economy back on track. This might lead to unforeseen consequences that will come to fruition during Spring/Summer, that might be related to the world's food supply (see Mercury retrograde in May/June). The second and final period, from mid-September to mid-November, will have Jupiter transiting Dhanishta nakshatra, first retrograde, then direct. Dhanishta can bring breakthroughs and great inspiration, and will provide the impetus for Jupiter to take its mission of evolving humanity to a higher level in Aquarius.

JUPITER in AQUARIUS

April 4th to September 14th, 2021; November 20th, 2021 to April 2022

Jupiter in Aquarius will be a key moment for the world. It announces the beginning of the Aquarian Age, and a new cycle focused on the Earth Element. The themes of humanitarian collaboration will be central to this next evolutionary phase, and Jupiter will bring its helpful and knowledgeable contribution, adding a wise and socially oriented direction to the collective. Aquarius has an element of sacrifice and martyr, and in 2021 there will be a period of crisis, and then a period of redemption. The crisis will be during the Spring-Summer months, where unintended consequences of the accelerated deployment of vaccines, and the cutting corners that governments and corporations took during the winter period, will show up as problems, likely with the food supply chain and ecological systems that provide our sustenance, including waters and forests. During the April-September first foray in Aquarius, Jupiter will be out of debilitation, and finally the voice of the wise - including scientists, activists and social revolutionaries, will start to be heard again, after being drowned by the media and government propaganda. The crisis might finally prompt the world to do "the right thing", and to address the root of the problems, that is the environmental catastrophe, pollution, habitat loss, species extinction, and climate change, by re-examining and re-thinking our whole growth-oriented economic model. When Jupiter comes back to Aquarius for a long stay from November through April 2022, it will be a real quantum leap of evolution, where the world will adopt a new way of relating with Nature. This will actually be sustainable, as the understanding of the "Economy of Life" will come from comprehending at a deeper level the interconnectedness of all life forms. A real respect for Nature will develop, and the world governments, prompted by us - the collective humanity - will adopt a new, sustainable, regenerative economic model.

AKSHAYA TRITIYA

May 14th, 2021

This is known as the "indestructible day", where everything started on this date will turn out to be auspicious. It is the one day in the year where both the Sun (Aries) and the Moon (Taurus) are in their signs of exaltation. In ancient times, it was common to buy gold on this day, looking to have the wealth effect multiply. In these modern times, a wiser investment is to seed good actions, such as donations, charitable work, helping a friend or elder. Supporting dharma, we will support ourselves and all beings. In 2021, due to the Vedic Hindu soli lunar calendar having an extra month, Akshaya Tritiya will be commemorated in May (instead of April), when the northern hemisphere will be celebrating Spring and flowers blooming. It will take place on a #5 day (the 14th) on a Friday (related to Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth). Any meritorious actions taken on this day, will produce auspicious fruits many times over.

LUNAR NODES axis in TAURUS-SCORPIO

The lunar nodes are astronomical points in the sky that keep moving over time. These are points where the orbit of the Moon intersects the plane of the Sun (as viewed from the Earth). When this intersection happens, the three bodies are aligned, Sun, Moon and Earth. If the Moon happens to be in front of the Sun viewed from the Earth, the North Node, there is a solar eclipse, i.e. it appears that the disc of the Sun is covered for the duration of the Eclipse. If the Moon happens to be behind the Earth during the alignment, the South Node, there is a lunar eclipse, always on the Full Moon. In the lunar eclipse, it appears that the full Moon disc is covered for the duration of the Eclipse.

In Vedic Astrology, these lunar nodes are named Rahu (North Node) and Ketu (South Node). They have an energetic status equal to the other planets of the solar system and are considered chaya (shadowy) grahas. They are both related to the karmic stream that propels us from lifetime to lifetime. Rahu represents the new karma or actions we want to take. Ketu represents our past life karma. The way it manifests in one's astrological chart, Rahu indicates areas of life where there is a strong, primal interest in this current incarnation. Sometimes to the point of obsession. Rahu goes about pursuing these areas with much gusto, but usually with a certain inexperience and ruthlessness, as these areas of life were not fully explored before. By a combination of greed, short-sightedness and a certain naiveté, Rahu tends to get us into trouble. Ketu on the other hand, is related to the experiences we had in past lives, to the point where we have had enough of them. This leads Ketu to create a certain distance in the areas of life it affects, either through outright rejection of those areas, or trying to spiritualize those subjects.

Rahu and Ketu moving through the signs Taurus and Scorpio, in combination with the other key astrological events in 2021, signals an axis of transformation of karma. It does not necessarily mean it will be tragic, however most people are asleep, i.e. unaware of the many dynamics – social, political, economic, technological in our world. This might cause a shock, if we are caught unprepared, ungrounded and distracted – as the world around us quickly changes and we cannot adapt accordingly.

RAHU-KETU in Taurus-Scorpio

September 19th, 2020 to March 16th, 2022

Rahu and Ketu will be in their Signs of exaltation, where their intrinsic nature aligns with the Sign significations, and tend to produce good results.

Rahu has great interest and desire for material success, to the point of obsession. In Taurus it will find a proper outlet for its sensual interests, luxury and gadgets. Rahu is also connected to technology innovation, particularly disruptions, and we will see a great shift in 2020-2021, starting with the widespread adoption of 5G and AI, that will affect our daily routines in ways unforeseen (as the smartphone and social media did a decade ago).

Ketu has a mystic nature with spiritual inclinations, and finds itself at home in Scorpio. Ketu's intuitive abilities will lead to interest in psychology and may accelerate the current movement of mainstream acceptance of high consciousness research, including meditation, botanical medicine and shamanic ceremonies. Ketu in Scorpio can have a negative influence on privacy, when governments and corporations might accelerate using personal information, in secrecy, for a variety of applications - from facial recognition to social score tracking.

On a personal level, establishing a personal sadhana (practice) that grounds us and clears our minds, is the best way to attune to the power of Rahu-Ketu. These are primal energies, that are best understood through deep Meditation and intuition, and cannot be grasped through intellectual analysis. Meditate every day for mental ecology and overall integral balance.

PROJECTING INTO THE FUTURE

How will it look for each Number

Calculating your birthday and year cycle # for 2021 use the following method. Add together:

• the number of the month
• day of birth
• year for which prediction is made (21) using the last 2 digits only
• day of the week your birthday falls on (check below).

SUNDAY = 1 SUN
MONDAY = 2 MOON
TUESDAY = 9 MARS
WEDNESDAY = 5 MERCURY
THURSDAY = 3 JUPITER
FRIDAY = 6 VENUS
SATURDAY = 8 SATURN

Add all of this together and the number that results from this addition becomes the number of the projected year.

NOTE: As this summary is very general it can only provide an overall idea of what is to come. For more precise possibilities one should consider having one’s personalized chart done and consult a competent numerologist or astrologer, experienced and gifted in such matters.

YEAR CYCLE #1, RULED BY THE SUN

Important year of significant changes. Difficulties and problems that have existed for many years will vanish. One develops a new outlook. One hones down to the essentials and shines bright like a sun. One will feel lucky, special and receives help from people, especially people in authority and the government. One feels more healthy, robust and progressive about all one’s involvements. There will be easier success in business if one gets focused, organized and plans ahead as it is a cycle of new beginnings, so sowing seeds. One will meet interesting people that provide impetus for new directions. One will be less fearful, anxious or insecure. One will work hard however experience less stress.  One will achieve name and fame, especially in competitions. This is also an excellent cycle for buying something new, starting a new venture or investment scheme. For artists/musicians this will be a superb year to make a significant societal contribution and or composition.

YEAR CYCLE #2 RULED BY THE MOON

This cycle will bring an increase in personal happiness, richer magnetism, and feeling attractive to others. As well as new friends, who will be helpful in the future. Overall there will be less worry and stress, yet deeper emotionality superseded by more practicality. One will experience benefit from real estate and find a new house/home/apartment and an overall improved living situation through patience and good planning. One will experience profound changes in the way one thinks and perceives. The most important factor will be to observe the necessity of worrying and hurrying less and thereby becoming more conscious of each moment.

YEAR CYCLE # 3 RULED BY JUPITER

This will bring more knowledge and practical everyday wisdom. It will be a time to complete old projects and get ready for a major shift and life transformation during the year. One will meet new acquaintances that will become friends. Overall an auspicious year as it brings financial gain, name and honor in society if one efforts to express oneself clearly. This is a meaningful cycle for writers and orators. These people should be careful as the influence of Jupiter can make them exaggerate the truth and make them frank and fearless that could get them into trouble. It is a very good cycle for planning the next venue and or getting a job promotion. Not good for lawsuits however and also a time to tests one’s new friends before trusting them completely.

YEAR CYCLE #4 RULED BY RAHU

This year will bring success with difficulties. There will be strength, undisturbed by unforeseen troubles and obstacles. There is alertness, hard work, and calm. There are also financial gains, increased sources of income, and financial stability. You will experience new ventures, such as a new house or apartment. This year will also be auspicious, for one may get married, but if one does not want to marry officially, one gets a life partner. Married people with no children get a child. This year is good for relationships with friends and life partners. It is not successful for love affairs and romance. It will be good for relations with government officials and men of authority. This year will be good for traveling, spiritual pursuits and religious activities.

YEAR CYCLE #5 RULED BY MERCURY

This year will be a year of success and financial stability. It brings an increase in one's circle of friends. It is also good for business and businessmen. It will be good for traveling and for going abroad on business or for enjoyment. It will be good for partnership in business. It is a time to be conscious while talking, and also to be conscious while signing a deal or a contract. It is good for those employed in the media and communications business: writers, poets, actors, entertainers, radio artists, and journalists. It will be good for appearing in competitions and taking risks. It will be a memorable year.

YEAR CYCLE #6 RULED BY VENUS

Year number 6 is good for family relationships, free from the problems of household affairs. It is also good for romance and conceiving a child. It is good for interior decorators, actors, musicians, poets, and painters as well as for filmmakers, theatre people, and those involved in show business. Good for jewelers and people involved in the perfume business. It will be good for spending on decoration, entertainment, and enjoyment. It is a time to get employment, for those who are unemployed. It is a time to deal with items of beauty, sensual enjoyment, worldly pleasure, and gifts. This year also brings the chance of getting unexpected wealth and a raise in salary.

YEAR CYCLE #7 RULED BY KETU

This year will hold misunderstandings and difficulties. There will be difficulties in business: more work, less profit. Success in such things as court cases and law suits. It will also be a year to test friends and helpers and to avoid unnecessary discussion. Devote energy to the healing arts, astrology, practice of Tantra, magic, and hypnosis. Take fewer risks and be conscious in love affairs and romance; there are chances of getting a bad name. Remain optimistic and undisturbed if one desires success in jobs undertaken. A patient and optimistic attitude will solve problems and remove obstacles. The difficulties are only a test. This will also be a good year for healers, astrologers, and those involved in occult sciences.

YEAR CYCLE #8 RULED BY SATURN

This year will be good for politicians, social workers, and people involved in the iron and steel industry. It brings the opportunity to start a new venture. It will be poor in the area of health. Precautions are needed; for example, avoid stress, excitement, and anxiety. Use more juices and spices, which clean the blood and strengthen the heart. Use pearl powder (mukta pishti) and powdered blue sapphire (neelam pishti). It is a time to gain success in worldly matters; one should use one' energy to become more creative. The right use of energy will bring good luck. It is good for gaining victory over enemies, and in lawsuits. It is a time to become independent, to rely on one's own resources and judgment. It is good for social work.

YEAR CYCLE #9 RULED MARS

This year will be a year of completion, success, and good fortune. It is a time for fulfillment of desires, for organizing oneself and a year of gaining favors from men of authority and government officials. It will also bring slight disagreements - a harmful exchange of harsh words with an officer is possible. There will be success in combat and competitions and honor by society. There is a chance of unexpected financial gains, through a lottery, inheritance, or other source. During this year, one should also avoid doubting and perfectionism. By devoting more energy to spiritual pursuits, the year will bring good results.

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Art by Autumn Skye

Once you recognize that everyday reality is merely a reflection of some deeper truth that's close at hand but hidden from view, you've embarked on a search that you can never really abandon, no matter how far you seem to stray.

~ Stephan Bodian

2021 ASTRO FORECAST AND DAILY MOON AND NAKSHATRA CALENDAR

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