Every month, we celebrate some important astrological moments related to the different phases of the moon. In each phase of the moon exist certain energetic influences that will affect all of us, both individually and collectively. If we are aware of these specific moments and their peaks, we can adopt certain attitudes that will help us get the best out of them.

But what are these moments and their significance?

Shivaratri – The Night of Shiva

Let us first take a look at the moment of Shivaratri, also known as “The Night of Shiva”. Shivaratri is a very auspicious moment to start a spiritual practice, because our inner power works to fulfill the wishes of our heart. On this night, the energies are harmonious and completely aligned. This coherence of energies happens when the sun and the moon are together in the sky and it signifies the night of Shiva, when Shakti is the most united with him and nothing is covering him in any way. It is the peak moment of consciousness, a moment in which the masculine energy is predominant.

The sun is a visible symbol of consciousness. Everything that exists grows with the help of the energy of the sun, the eminent manifestation of consciousness. The second is the moon, which exerts a certain gravitational force upon the water due to its proximity to the earth. The Yin element – the feminine polarity – is therefore related to the moon. Moon and Sun, Yin and Yang, Shiva and Shakti get together and magnify each other’s resonance, influencing and supporting each other. The influence of the two planets is very strong, and especially during Shivaratri they have a huge impact on us and our energies.

Every year, in the night before the new moon of the Pisces period (which always falls into either February or March) we celebrate Maha Shivaratri, the “Great Night of Shiva”. It marks the end of one full astrological circle, the moment of the year in which transcendence is absolute. The Pisces zodiacal sign also signifies a deep orientation towards God and the Supreme.

As yogis we should always nourish thoughts that are pure and godly, to be in a continuous process of sublimation, achieving in this way the capacity to be a godly being. It is an auspicious moment to call upon God and ask for His presence and for His help to improve our ability to love unconditionally and to be useful for others with abnegation, or in other words, practicing Karma Yoga. These are two of the fundamental attitudes that will determine our spiritual evolution.

Recommendations for Shivaratri

• Purification techniques, such as Sank Praksalana, Vamana Dhauti or liver cleansing will be very efficient.
• The practice of Mauna (silence of speech) will amplify the resonance with Shiva especially during Shivaratri, due to the quietude of the mind. It is the easiest night to cut off attachments, possessiveness and any kind of other negative tendencies.
• It is also highly recommended to start a new sadhana (spiritual practice), especially if it is consecrated to Shiva.

Full Moon and the extraordinary moment of Tripura Sundari

By Bartha Zoltan

The full moon is the height of the influence of the moon on our planet. It’s that time the flow reaches the maximum; increased responsiveness and sensitivity of all living organisms is amplified. We must bear in mind that the lunar influence is manifested primarily on body fluids or on the psyche. Precisely because of this, the symbolism of the Full Moon is connected with the subconscious, water, sensitivity, responsiveness, adaptability, instinct.

Research undertaken during the Full Moon showed that most people tend towards instinctual behavior, which drastically affects decision-making power and discernment. This is one of the reasons why it is not recommended to make decisions during the full moon because they can be either hasty or the result of the influence of the environment or of the various people who interfere; or the recent events that have impressed (and still are at the “surface” in our subconscious).

The negative influence of the Full Moon is ± 18 hours from the moment of its maximum (peak). This period of influence is within ± 8 degrees of opposition aspect between the Sun and the Moon.

To better understand the influence of the Full Moon, it is necessary to look at the movement of the Moon as a cycle that has a minimum and maximum moment of impact. The minimum moment of impact is the New Moon period and the period of maximum influence is during the Full Moon.

We have shown that the growth phase (from New Moon to Full Moon) is a gradual accumulation stage, where the absorption processes are becoming more intense. Precisely because of this, the last stage of growth, which culminates with the full Moon, is a saturation point where there is the possibility for excess, where we can accumulate more than necessary, we eat more than we can digest, we assimilate more information than we can apply. As a very important conclusion, it is necessary to have a sense of proportion and balance especially in this phase of maximum influence of the moon. Traditionally it is said about food that it is important to leave space for digestion, not eating to satiety, but to stop just before.

In addition to these explanations, some subtle acknowledgments allow us to understand the negative influence of the Full Moon better. These explanations are based on various observations on the changes that occur in human beings especially during the full moon. I remind you that this period enhances receptivity and sensitivity, both physical and mentally, but we must understand that a major factor in this is precisely the influence of the environment with which we interfere mostly. This applies not only to the social environment in which we live but especially in the context of the existing global environment on our planet.

Full Moon processes increase the assimilation of the vibration from the environment regardless of their nature. Thus, if the vibration environment is beneficial, will be stored in our subconscious energies with an elevated frequency of vibration, causing a predisposition to higher states of consciousness. But if the vibrations from the environment are hostile, or contain a predominance of materialism, our subconscious energies will be saturated with low-frequency vibration, resulting in a predisposition to violent behavior, mental agitation, inner restlessness, animal, instinctual action.

It is not necessary to consider statistics to realize the predominant orientation of people in today’s society. Unfortunately, the materialistic vision and instinctual tendencies toward survival are still dominant. Precisely for this reason, it is so important to protect ourselves during the full moon. We must avoid taking important decisions because our judgment can be affected by adverse influences of this period. It is also important to avoid: unnecessary discussions, to start a new action, traveling (if not possible, it is imperative to be very careful and invoke divine protection both before and during the journey), implementation of projects, promises, risky actions. We need to eliminate from our diet every toxin, or artificial food and is VERY IMPORTANT to postpone surgery, vaccination, etc.

The full Moon will amplify our negative states such as pride, anger, selfishness, domineering tendencies, etc. and because of this it is very important to cultivate, especially in this period, common sense, detachment, humility, simplicity, kindness, gratitude and last but not least, faith in God. This is why it is forbidden to make love during the negative influence of the Full Moon. During lovemaking, due to the merger and deep auric expansion of the two lovers, there is a great chance to take in unconsciously, the negative vibrations which exist in the environment. It was found that those couples who do not comply with this prohibition, are more often faced with embarrassing problems and tensions that often have no motivation or emphasizes the manifestation of jealousy, possessive tendencies, claims and sometimes states of verbal violence, mental or physical.

It is important to note that several millennia ago, when the vibration of our planet had a higher frequency (the frequency of vibration is generated by the overall level of consciousness, aspirations, thoughts, and feelings of people), rituals initiations were made at the time of the full moon, because then, on the maximum influence of the Full Moon, an increased receptivity to higher vibrations was existing in the Earth aura (we recommend to read in this direction the book by Elisabeth Hach, “Initiation”).

Due to the influence on the psyche, many people in the period of full moon face agitation, fear, anxiety, or problems during sleep. Of course, this influence varies from person to person and depends heavily on mental health, mental balance, the main aspirations, self-confidence, harmonious solarity. It is important to avoid calming drugs because they will be quickly absorbed into the body, and the probability of poisoning or the manifestation of adverse side effects is much higher. It is recommended in these situations to use herbs with a calming effect in the form of a cold soak or ingesting them sublingually (powder) – for example, sage, wolf’s mouth, lime, valerian, melilotus.

The moment of Tripura Sundari

In the Lunar cycle there is a very important moment, particularly evident in eastern astrological tradition, showing that two days before full Moon, its influence is particularly beneficial for our planet. It is a privileged day called the period of beauty and universal harmony (Tripura Sundari, symbolizing the Great Cosmic Power of beauty and divine love). This is the day when the sense of proportion and harmony, common sense, are more easily accessible to every human being. It is the day when we can temper our selfish ambitions by realizing our true aspirations; it is a day when it is good to devote ourselves to love, art, beauty, and fully dedicated actions.

The observations show that this period is the time for us to engage in effective actions of a large, which are in harmony with our spiritual aspirations. It is a day to remedy existing problems in our relationships, a day of increased creativity, artistic inspirations, feelings and emotions. A day ideal to evoke the magical moment of the beginning of a relationship, to be inspired by our heart, to follow our intuitions, to overcome mental pragmatism – which is often an important obstacle in the spiritual harmonization of couple relationships).