Mars Retrograde
June 26 - August 27, 2018
Mercury Retrograde
July 26 - August 18, 2018
Mercury will begin its retrograde phase on July 26th at 29 degrees of Cancer, in the last degree of Ashlesha Nakshatra. Ashlesha's desire is "the desire to defeat my enemies".
It is a nakshatra who's shakti is "the power of poison". Mercury retrograde is normally makes the communication process more complicated, but this period may be especially prone to arguments and disagreements.
This is a perfect time for doing your psychological homework. The best way to avoid arguments and disharmony is to re-frame your experience by trying to see things from the other person's perspective. When you realize that everyone is just trying their best to be happy, however misguided their means might be, it makes it easier to have compassion for them.
If you are walking on the street and you pass by a person who is out of his mind on drugs and also mentally ill, and if he hurls four letter insults at you in the most disgusting language you have ever heard, what do you do? Do you resent him or get angry at him? Do you go up to him and confront him and say, "Look here buster, you can't talk to me like that. If you continue, I'm gonna give you a fat lip?" Or do you just quietly cross the street and get out of his way. After all, he's crazy and out of his mind. He is just trying to be happy like everyone else, but he doesn't know how to do it. So why waste your time and energy arguing with him, fighting with him, or trying to change him? Just wish him well and get on with having a nice day.
Total Lunar Eclipse
July 27, 2018
10 degrees, Capricorn
Shravana Nakshatra
July 27, 2018
10 degrees, Capricorn
Shravana Nakshatra
| Event | UTC Time | Time in New York* | Visible in New York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penumbral Eclipse begins | Jul 27 at 17:14:47 | Jul 27 at 1:14:47 pm | No, below the horizon |
| Partial Eclipse begins | Jul 27 at 18:24:27 | Jul 27 at 2:24:27 pm | No, below the horizon |
| Full Eclipse begins | Jul 27 at 19:30:15 | Jul 27 at 3:30:15 pm | No, below the horizon |
| Maximum Eclipse | Jul 27 at 20:21:44 | Jul 27 at 4:21:44 pm | No, below the horizon |
| Full Eclipse ends | Jul 27 at 21:13:11 | Jul 27 at 5:13:11 pm | No, below the horizon |
| Partial Eclipse ends | Jul 27 at 22:19:00 | Jul 27 at 6:19:00 pm | No, below the horizon |
| Penumbral Eclipse ends | Jul 27 at 23:28:38 | Jul 27 at 7:28:38 pm | No, below the horizon |
* The Moon is below the horizon during this eclipse, so it is not possible to view it in New York.
On Friday July 27th there will be a total Lunar Eclipse in Shravana nakshatra. During the eclipse, the moon will be conjunct retrograde Mars and opposite retrograde Mercury. This will also be the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century! (103 minutes) It will start at 1:14 EST, peak at 4:21pm EST and finish at 7:28pm EST.
Due to the length of the eclpse and the conjunction with retrograde Mars, this eclipse will be particularly significant.
Shravana nakshatra is associated with the art of listening. In modern astronomy, Shravana is represented by the three bright stars in the constellation known as Aquila in the zodiac sign of Capricorn. This is often compared to the three foot steps taken by Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar to defeat Bali and return the heaven to the Gods.
The Story of Vamana and Mahabali
The Bhagavata Purana describes that Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the authority of Indra over the heavens, as it had been taken over by a benevolent Asura King Mahabali (or simply called Bali). Vamana, as a dwarf Brahmin carrying a wooden umbrella, went to the king to request for land that he could set his foot upon for three paces. Mahabali consented, against the warning of his guru, Sukracharya thinking of the limitations of the space of his foot. Vamana then enlarged to gigantic proportions to stride over the three worlds. He stepped from heaven to earth with the first step, from the earth to the netherworld with the second. King Mahabali, unable to fulfill his promise, offered his head for the third. Vamana then placed his foot and gave the king immortality for his humility and gave the lordship of the netherworld to Bali.
The Inner Meaning and Significance
The mantra for this eclipse is Om Shri Shravana Nakshatra Devataye Namah.
Few things that can help you sail through and make the best of this eclipse
- Do not jump into anything new without careful consideration of the future consequences.
- Avoid beginning new projects 3 days prior to the eclipse and 3 days after that.
- Meditation, Mantra Chanting and other spiritual rituals will give you multifold results when done during this period.
- Listen to or Chant the Ganapathi Atharvasirsha as many times as you can especially during the eclipse time.
- Avoid eating and other indulgences during the eclipse.
- Listen intently. There is a difference between “hearing” and “listening”. Avoid jumping to conclusions based on your own perception. Pick your battles.
- If you are driving – start your journey by listening to some spiritual chant or mantra. Avoid intense discussions while driving.
- Spend time listening to spiritual discourses by Gurus.
- Just like Lord Vamana who kicked the demon out, it is time for us to look within and clear out the demon within us. This is the perfect time to let go of negativity and things that are not life supporting. You can also use this time to declutter your home, office etc.
- Take a shower after the eclipse
- Listen to or recite The Hanuman Chalisa
- Listen to Vishnu Sahasranama
- Read the Bhagavad Purnana (especially about the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu)
- Apply turmeric or Chandan on your forehead and navel center.
- Keep yourself hydrated as Mars and Ketu are both fiery planets.
- Chant Aum Namah Shivaya and The Gayatri Mantra as many times as possible but at least a minimum of 108 times.
The Eclipses trigger events globally and personally as well based on our own unique birth chart. Look for the house where Capricorn is placed in your chart and that will give you some clues as to what areas of life may come to light during this time.
Eclipses are excellent for people like you and me because their gravitational effects multiply the effect of our sadhana. If you do one hundred repetitions of your mantra during an eclipse it is like doing one hundred thousand repetitions on an ordinary day. If you offer one oblation into the fire it is like a thousand oblations. And nothing beats this time for offering prayers and performing rites for your deceased ancestors."
Even in locales where the eclipse will not be visible, including North America, any efforts at meditating, reciting, offering, or otherwise worshiping during the duration of totality will be rewarded with a boost by this cosmic phenomenon, an effect that will this year be further enhanced by the fact that this full moon will be 2018’s Guru Purnima, when the guru is to be worshipped.
Guru Purnima offers each of us the opportunity to connect directly, meaningfully, and juicily with the Ultimate, either directly or via a living personal guru, should we have one. This is the perfect day to rededicate ourselves to the spiritual path, and the ideal day to salute and revere everyone and everything that has every acted as a teacher for us.
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah!
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