Tuesday, May 10th

After a three and a half week retrograde and a two and a half week “shadow phase”, Mercury has finally returned to the same position where it went retrograde on March 30^th. Mercury, in Sanskrit, is called Buddha, the “enlightened one”, and is associated with the faculty called Buddhi, the “awakened mind”, or intelligence. In yoga philosophy the citta (mind stuff) is described as being composed of three elements—Manas (sensory mind), Ahamkara (literally “I maker”, or ego) and Buddhi. Both the Manas and the Ahamkara are based in and highly conditioned by past experience. This is the part of the mind that causes us to see the world as “we” are rather than as “it” is. Buddhi, on the other hand, is rooted in present moment awareness, clearly seeing what is. That’s what makes it so intelligent.

In the Jyotish, or Vedic system of astrology, everything shifts back 23 degrees from the Western, or Tropical Zodiac. That puts Mercury at 1 degree Aries. Joining Mercury here are the planets Venus and Jupiter. On Wednesday May 11^th we have a triple conjunction of Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. These are all considered to be benefic planets, and they all come together at the very beginning of the Jyotish Zodiac in the sign of Aries—a fire sign of initiative and assertiveness. Now is a particularly auspicious time to embark on new adventures and let go of outmoded ways of being that are keeping us stuck in the old paradigm of samsara (the cycle of conditioned existence). It’s a great time for yoga practice, to channel that fiery energy into the sacred fire of Tapas, to purify and penetrate with courage and enthusiasm. Through Tapas we generate Tejas, the essential fire element that gives us strength, bravery, and penetrating insight.

Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter all working together combine to bestow intelligence (Mercury), charm (Venus), and expansiveness and optimism (Jupiter). The fire element has the power to transmute matter into spirit through the alchemy of our Sadhana. As we embrace the sacred fire we purge the body and mind of Tamas, the Guna of inertia, heaviness, density, darkness and toxicity. We also cultivate all the aspects of Agni—the inner fire that helps us digest food, prana, and mental and emotional experience.

Commenting on the subject of Saucha, purity of body and mind, Patanjali says, “Sattva suddhi saumanasya ekagrya indriya jaya atma darsana yogyatvani ca.” (Through the cultivation of physical and mental cleanliness one becomes fit for clarity and purity of mind, cheerfulness, one pointedness, victory over the sense organs, and perception of the soul).

This week presents us with a rare opportunity for breakthroughs in our Sadhana and in our lives in general. Surf’s up yogis, so grab your mat and get ready—there’s a big set coming in!

-Tim Miller