We have an action packed week ahead of us, starting with the Winter Solstice (exact at 9:30pm PST) on Wednesday the 21st. This coincides with the beginning of Hannukkah and the annual Ursids meteor showers. The meteor showers happen between December 17th and 25th, with the best viewing on the 22nd and 23rd in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). The New Moon on Christmas Eve occurs in the Nakshatra called Mula (the root) at 10:06am PST. The location of Mula corresponds with the center of our galaxy. This is a very powerful Nakshatra related to the planets Ketu and Jupiter and the deity called Nritti, the Goddess of Dissolution. Mula represents the peak of material achievement and the beginning of the spiritual impulse. Ketu gives us access and insight into the invisible causes of visible things that can initiate a spiritual transformation. Jupiter’s influence means that these transformations are generally for the better. It is possible to get carried away with the strength and power conferred by Mula. Ravana, the demon king of the Ramayana , had his Sun in Mula and Adolph Hitler had his Jupiter and Ketu conjunct in Mula. Our role model for the correct use of this energy is Hanuman, born with Mula rising, who offers his strength and power in loving service to Rama.
On Christmas Day we will all get a nice gift from the cosmos. Jupiter, the Great Benefic, turns direct at 2:09pm PST on December 25th after being retrograde since August 30th. All of the introspection and internal transformation that has been fermenting for the past four months will finally come to fruition—Santa Claus is coming to town , bringing gifts of fun, optimism, personal growth, and prosperity. The big news for the Miller family is that we won’t have to make the annual drive up to Riverside to my parents’ house. My 92 year old mother has graciously consented to having my eldest brother, Rick, drive her down here to celebrate Christmas Day. My wife, Carol, and daughter, Leela, are ecstatic about this turn of events, as are my son, Eli, his wife, Jamie, and their daughter, Jade. I never really minded the drive that much. My wife claims that I’m just a creature of habit and can go on endlessly repeating the same rituals, no matter how boring they are. My Christmas shopping is almost finished and most of the presents are wrapped. I was having a hard time coming up with gift ideas for my wife. Today she came home from shopping and handed me a bag and said, “Here, you can wrap these for me.” Just like her—to make sure I got her the right thing, she picked it out herself.
I love this time of year. There is something very magical about the combination of first acknowledging and embracing the darkness, and then celebrating the return of the light with rituals and lights and festive meals and gifts with family and friends. My daughter Leela, who is ten, suggested yesterday that we do a meditation together. We lit a candle and sat down on pillows, beginning the meditation by remembering all the things we were grateful for. Our dog, Daisy decided to join the meditation. I opened my eyes and saw Daisy standing with her tail about half an inch from the candle flame. Leela quickly snuffed out the candle and we added one more thing to our list of what we are grateful for—we didn’t set the dog on fire. Whatever you are celebrating this week—the Solstice, Hanukkah, the Ursids meteor showers, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or the start of the NBA season—I wish you all good health, prosperity, peace, and most of all Love and Light.
12/20/2011
Tim Miller
"My goal as a teacher is to inspire a passion for practice. The practice itself, done consistently and accurately, is the real teacher."
Beautiful post! I'm grateful the dog is safe too. :) Have a wonderful holiday and I wish you and your family the best in the year to come. With love, Kyla
Posted by: Kyla Stinnett | 12/21/2011 at 10:53 AM