After reaching enlightenment, the Buddha tried to teach what he had experienced. His first attempts were unsuccessful, since no one understood what he was saying. After seven weeks of meditation around Bodhgaya, Brahma and Indra, the worldly gods, begged Buddha to teach. At first, he taught mainly to five students: Kunshe, Kondeniya, Thathul, Lhangpa, Mingchen, and Zangden, as well as other beings of the 6 realms. When they experienced the teaching fully, he added a few more. Soon he had enough students so that when he taught a larger crowd, they could also experience what the Buddha was conveying. This process became the “Turning of the Dharma Wheel,” where all beings of all realms of existence were taught simultaneously in language understood in their realm. Understanding the merit of this accomplishment multiplies all activities on this day, whether positive or negative, 10 million times.
Astrology for 7/9/2024
7/9/2024 Tuesday by Wangmo
Theme: Mutable moments
With the Moon moving into the earth sign of Virgo today the focus turns to attending to your daily routine and health. As an earth sign Virgo draws our attention towards practical matters and being in the natural world including caring for small animals. It’s a naturally flexible or mutable sign. With the Sun in the water sign of Cancer there is a natural fit with the Moon in Virgo, so more harmony is evident over the next few days.
I am so often struck by the dangerous narcissism fostered by spiritual rhetoric that pays so much attention to individual self-improvement and so little to the practice of love within the context of community~bell hooks
Astrology for 7/8/2024
7/8/2024 Monday by Wangmo
Theme: Contemplating home
With the Sun in Cancer now is the time to tend to your home environment and strengthen your ties to those you consider family. Nurturing these ties provides a web of support for you. Mercury is sextile with Jupiter, and conjuncts the Moon today in Leo bringing a light, expansive touch to connecting and communicating with others. It’s also a learning opportunity about communicating in ways that uphold the dignity of others.
…to have the dharma just strikes me as being so extraordinary. I mean, what an extraordinary privilege to know that you have within you a refuge that nobody can ever touch.~Helen Tworkov
Sunday 7/7/24 by Miranda
Theme: Firing up the Grill
With the Moon moving into Leo and conjunct Mercury conversations could get heated or even inflamed. Moon is also opposite Pluto which can intensify emotions further and really expose the depth of any conflict you may be experiencing. Even though your encounters may feel verbally chaotic and overwhelming, Pluto always works on bringing to light what needs to be changed. Generally that doesn’t happen overnight.
“ It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
Charles Darwin
Saturday 7/6/24 by Miranda
Theme: Love
Moon and Venus flavor the day bringing ease and warmth through sharing time with friends and loved ones. Your heart is open and it’s easy to give and receive.
Enjoy a day of sharing an abundance of good food in the company of good women.
“ What if you could cultivate this understanding so deeply that, because of your realization, compassion and profound generosity become as much a reflex as breathing?”
Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo
The Moon is Void of Course today from 11.47pm until 11.56pm EDT. Do not make any big decisions during this time.
Friday 7/5/24 by Miranda
Theme: Fleeting moments
The Moon moves into Cancer and conjuncts the Sun creating the New Moon cycle. All lunar transits are fleeting by nature lasting only a couple of hours, but the influence of the New Moon can reset the body and mind for a month. It is a good time for new beginnings. The moon rules the feminine side of us and being in Cancer magnifies this energy also.
Sensitivity and nurturing are heightened, bringing maternal feelings to the fore.
Surgery is not favorable at this time.
“ It’s not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
Astrology for 7/4/2024
7/4/2024 Thursday by Wangmo
Theme: Preparation
With Mars inching towards Uranus, and exact on the 16th of July, physical energy builds that will need to find release. The challenge is to infuse this potent aspect with beneficial change, rather than unthinkingly responding to difficulty. The Sun and Venus in Cancer remind us that loving kindness and caring for others changes the environment we live in for the better. It’s also about setting boundaries that make environments safe and nurturing for others.
Some people can remain in the true nature all the time, some for a while, and others only briefly. But everyone has the potential to achieve permanent recognition.~Patrul Rinpoche
Astrology for 7/3/2024
7/3/2024 Wednesday by Wangmo
Theme: Expansion
With the Moon still in range of Jupiter you continue to have a lot on your plate today and tasks, more or less, gets accomplished. Mercury has moved into Leo firing up conversations. Mercury works best impartially and with its placement in Leo, and opposite Pluto, there is more likelihood of pride, and hidden agendas, causing rifts in communication. The antidote is giving dignity when communicating and aiming for transparency in communication.
Cultivating loving kindness stands as the profound essence of my spiritual path-the very heartbeat of my Dharma.~Namgay Dawa Rinpoche
Heart Advice for Degenerate Times
Jetsunma Ahkön Lhamo offers a concise teaching on Kaliyuga, or the time of Degeneration predicted by the Buddhas. During this time events become more condensed, more conflicted, and non-virtue increases. Jetsunma, recognized and enthroned as a reincarnate Teacher by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in 1988, offers practical advice on how to turn these circumstances into opportunities to practice. How to utilize not only Buddhist Practice by ordinary kindness and decency as an antidote to this trend. Jetsunma guides us on how to apply this antidote in our everyday lives, becoming a part of the solution rather than surrendering to the problems. Whether you are a Buddhist, interested in Buddhism or simply want to help make this troubled world a better place, Jetsunma offers practical wisdom to guide us.
Astrology for 7/2/2024
7/2/2024 Tuesday by Wangmo
Theme: Mercurial moments
The Moon is in Gemini speeding up interactions and lightening encounters with others. It’s a time for messages to be sent and received. As the Moon approaches Jupiter expect more on your plate, and an expanded understanding of the bigger picture. The Sun is approaching Venus calming ruffled feathers and highlighting the important role nurturing (of self and others) plays in our lives.
…we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.~Thich Nhat Hahn