A Solar Eclipse & Mahalaya Amavasya Navigation

Hello Moonchild :)

On September 21/22 we experience a New Moon and a Solar Eclipse. This follows the Lunar Eclipse on September 7/8. However, it will not be visible in India as will happen after sunset. Therefore, no restrictions are prescribed. Irrespective of visibility, the eclipse season from the Lunar to the Solar eclipse impacts all, the effects noticeable days before and after. If you have not read the guidance for the last Full Moon Lunar Eclipse, please read that here.

Eclipses bring forth destined events that fuel much-needed transformations in life. The nature of the time is such that you are bound to react, read too much into things and blow them out of proportion. The invitation is to not do that, instead ride the wave consciously, in a grounded calm state, staying open and curious, so that what needs to be revealed to you as a direction will show up with clarity, sooner than later. The eclipse season is a catalyst for release and endings, which translates to wonderful new beginnings.

In short,

The Eclipse season is a powerful portal for tapping into your intuition, elevating consciousness, aligning yourself to what you are meant to do.

In an Indian context, this is the most auspicious of all dark moons. It is Mahalaya Amavasya and the beginning of Dussehra. Mahalaya amavasya is observed on the last of the Pitru Paksha, the ‘fortnight of the ancestors’ and is also the most significant day of this period - the last and 15th day of offering gratitude to our ancestors, because of whom we 'are'. Devi Paksha, marking the advent of Navrathri starts the next day. So these 15 days have also been intense preparation for the birthing of Shakti as extraordinary energy. For those of you who celebrate, you can contemplate on parallels between this and the much-needed tremendous shifts that the eclipse brings.

What can you do?

If you did the ritual for the Full Moon Lunar eclipse, you may have a few observations and experiences since then. The guidance was to rest the mind and just 'be', rather than 'do' or try to make sense of the time. While that approach can continue for the next few days, it is also time to reflect consciously on the last few days to start landing what the eclipse season is offering you.

PRACTICES/RITUALS

You will need: A quiet room, about 1/2 hour to one hour, journal/paper and pen. If you have a favourite deity or an altar, let these be part of the space you are practising in. For the ancestor ritual, I have given two options. For the requirements for the ritual shared by my teacher, Indu Arora, refer here. Otherwise keep some blank papers handy.

In India, you can do this anytime post noon on 21st and before 1PM on 22nd. Try not to take it too close to the night/your sleeping time.

(Those in other countries, please check Moonrise/Moonset timings, I use the My Moon Phase app. If the eclipse is visible in your location, avoid doing the ritual during that time.)

A) CENTERING

Sit in a meditative posture. Centre yourself by observing your connection with Mother Earth. Remember your Gurus and seek their blessings. Visualize a Dark Moon in your eyebrow centre. As you inhale and exhale a few times, ask the lunar energies to flow through you and guide you. Scan the body from bottom to top to check in on any discomfort/tension/tightness/aches/pains. Make movements that can help ease these areas, make sure you breathe well. You can even massage these parts if that aids release.

After this, if you feel that you need movement to ease the body, do a short, not too intense asana/any other movement practice.

B) HONOURING ANCESTORS

Option 1:

You can do this beautiful ritual shared by my teacher, Indu Arora.

Pinda Daan or food offering to ancestors at Jagannath Ghat

Option 2:

Think of your ancestors who have passed on and who you were connected with.

Write a letter to them thanking them for all that they added to your life.

You can later offer this letter to the earth (bury) or any flowing body of water whenever you have access to it.

C) BREATH PRACTICE - Alternate nostril breathing

- to enter a state of 'Samatvam' and experience deep silence

Sit cross-legged or on a chair with an erect spine. Observe the natural flow of your breath. Equalize your inhales and exhales to a comfortable count. Take 12 breaths.

Take Vishnu mudra in your right hand. Close the right nostril with the thumb, a little above the flare of the nostril. Inhale and exhale through the left nostril 6 times. Maintain equal duration of inhale and exhale. Release the palm and mudra. Breathe normally.

Then close the left nostril with the ring finger, a little above the flare of the nostril. Inhale and exhale through the right nostril 6 times. Maintain equal duration of inhale and exhale. Release the palm and mudra. Breathe normally.

Take Vishnu mudra again. Close the right nostril with the thumb. Inhale through the left nostril. Close the left nostril with the ring finger, open the right nostril and exhale through the right. Finish exhaling, and inhale through the right nostril again. Close the right nostril, open the left and exhale through the left nostril. Maintain equal duration of inhale and exhale. This is one round. Do 12 rounds. Keep your breath steady, quiet, smooth and even. Once you establish a rhythm in the practice, also become aware of the tiny spaces between the breaths.

End the practice by releasing the mudra, sitting still with palms on the knees and witnessing the effects of the practice.

D) BECOMING A WITNESS, TOUCHING SILENCE, ALLOWING INTUITION TO FLOW

Sit in a meditative posture with your spine erect (use props if needed).

Scan the body and allow it to settle into a relaxed yet alert position,

Rest your palms on the knees, palms facing up, fingers relaxed.

Focus on your breath and witness it flowing into and out of the heart space, without altering the natural pace of the breath.

Locate that space deep inside the heart where your inhale ends and exhale begins.

Keep your awareness here as you inhale and exhale.

Continue till the breath becomes something that is happening in the background as you simply, effortlessly, dwell in this space of silence and stillness for a while.

When you are ready, gradually make some gentle movements and open your eyes.

Reach out for your journal and pen and start writing using the prompt:

The last few days have shown me...

Write continuously, without taking pen off the paper for 10 minutes.

Then write using this second prompt:

I am being guided to...

Once done, read what you have written, observing whatever surfaces within you as you do so.

Close eyes and allow the experience to settle into you.

Simply accept what you have written without judgements and without trying to think of next steps.

E) AFFIRMATION

Read the following affirmation and hold it in your heart space. Repeat it silently 3 times.

I trust the flow of the time. I release expectations and any tendency to control what is unfolding within me and around me. I allow myself to be guided. Clarity and wisdom will come to me.

Close the ritual by offering gratitude to your ancestors, Gurus, the Moon and Mother Earth.

What is your way forward?

1.Sit with your writing for a day or two or more. Let it process and clarify. Add things as they occur to you.

2. Keep referring to what that you have written down and keep it in a place that you see often.

3. Start observing the waxing Moon everyday as a reminder to staying aware of your journey. You can do a Moon gazing or Trataka as a meditation daily. Gaze at the Moon softly and close your eyes maintaining the image in your eyebrow centre. Keep eyes closed till the image disappears. Then open your eyes and repeat. Maintain a calm slow breath throughout. Do this for a few minutes.

4. Stay open to insights-they may come to you in meditation or when you wake up or through people you interact with or even as dreams. Take action mindfully (it could also mean consciously not taking action) and be prepared to go with the flow. The path may not be a bed of roses, but will be strewn with tests that are meant to bring out the best in you.

Apart from these, I would encourage you to carry forward some of the practices I had mentioned in the last blog to bring in grounding, calm, clarity, avoid overthinking, and to raise your frequency. In fact, you can carry these forward for life :)

• Move the body for half hour to one hour everyday - Asana practice, Walks, Dance or any other form of movement.

• When you find yourself overthinking or notice yourself getting fearful/anxious, focus on your breath. Breathe in through the nose and exhale/blow out slowly through pursed lips, visualizing the body and mind relaxing and thoughts getting released with the out breaths.

• As soon as you wake up, before you open your eyes, sit up and observe your breath. Rest your awareness in that silent space between the inhale and the exhale, in the upper torso, for a few seconds. Only then open your eyes and get on with the day.

• Keep alarms for 10AM, 2PM and 6PM - important transition times as per ayurveda. Each of these times, wherever you are, close eyes for a few seconds, clasp your palms together interlacing your fingers and watch the breath flowing into and out of the heart space. Do this for 12 breaths. Do this just before you go to sleep too.

Be open and curious to the new! May the eclipse season reveal it's magic to you!

With lots of love, sending you healing energies...

Gratitude

Sheetal

Image: Partial Solar eclipse (Photo by Easswar Kalyan)