Asana & Astrology: September 2005
by KittyTaurus
This month's theme: With the Sun in Virgo for most of the month as we transition from summer into autumn, consider focusing your practice on twisting postures. These poses stimulate the Virgo-ruled abdominal organs and help wring out toxins and stale energy, bringing in healthy, fresh prana or life force -- just as Virgo's energy encourages us to clear away our clutter, organize our lives, and detoxify our systems.
Thu 9/1 - Sun 9/4
Planetary Happening: Venus conjunct Jupiter in Libra, Pluto direct in Sagittarius, New Moon in Virgo, Mercury enters Virgo
The Vibe: Labor Day weekend kicks off with the perfect vibe for a giddy, spontaneous romantic adventure as Venus and Jupiter rendezvous in Libra, the zodiac's honeymoon suite. Savor the carefree, escapist pleasures of summer and spend as much time barefoot as possible; by weekend's end, the cluster of planets in Virgo has turned our thoughts to work, responsibility and getting back into a regular routine. Bye-bye, beach house; hello, closet cleaning.
Pose of the Moment: Twisted Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose (Parvritta Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana) is an assertive, exuberant, hey-check-me-out pose, befitting the expansive energy of big, bountiful Jupiter. In this splayed-out yet grounded posture, with one arm reaching to meet the big toe and the other arm outstretched in counterbalance, the body even resembles the astrological symbol of Jupiter, which looks like the numeral 4. The combination of standing balance with twist embodies the interplay between Libra and Virgo energies. Bring your attention to transitioning gracefully and calmly from the forward-facing version of the pose into the twist. Perhaps you can likewise transition between seasons with clear-headed ease.
Fri 9/9 - Mon 9/12
Planetary Happening: Mercury opposite Uranus, Saturn in Leo sesquiquadrate Pluto in Sagittarius, Venus enters Scorpio, Mars inconjunct Jupiter, Mercury inconjunct Neptune
The Vibe: Everyone's turned into Twitchy McNudgey all of a sudden, bursting with grand visions of what they're impatient to achieve. Remember that you can't force something to happen because of how badly you want it. Draw on the constructive, motivational power of your desire, but do your best to back off when it crosses a line to become grasping, clinging or overstepping a boundary to impose control.
Pose of the Moment:
Side Crow is a posture that no amount of huffing, puffing or muscling will get you into if you're not ready. Achieving the full pose takes a creative leap of faith, an open mind, and a belief that you're capable of doing it -- but that faith must be backed by patience and realism. Can you attempt the balance without feeling frustrated or incensed if you can't do it perfectly? Can you tap into your core strength without judging and condemning yourself over the results?
Namaste,
KittyTaurus
http://kitty.media-darling.com
Every person's yoga practice is as unique as his or her astrological chart. Please respect the limits of your body, and consult a professional yoga teacher if you have any questions or concerns about attempting the poses mentioned above. This column assumes familiarity with basic yoga postures; for online instructions on poses, please visit yogajournal.com or yogabasics.com.