Log 08: Reviewing 2012: Dragon Year.

Happy New Year, 2013! Today's 1st Jan, 2013. Rather than the usual "may your coming year be.." this and that, I want to pause for a moment and retrospect about 2012. A year full of events, shifts, ruptures, evolutions, movement, eccentricities, etc for me. I'm in Chinese Zodiac: OX (1973). See link: My OX self in Dragon year 2012. THERE was a lot of Breathless action. SO MUCH ruptures and movements. Dragon's a combination of Uranus+ Pluto + Rahu energies, 2012 year. So obviously, my Neptune type energy got razzzled!! We shifted out of our 7 year long stay at GK 2, to move to Vasant Kunj. Then shifting house again within ONE month. Father in laws cancer treatment, continous trips in and out of hospital. Long stays. Then I moved to Guwahati for a loong time. Worked with IIT students Snehal Ghag on my first graphic series on Rahu Ketu. Movie festivals. And full of events, movements, travels, etc. Then AGAIN I returned to Delhi, and we RETURNED to our former place of Seven years residence. sangeeta quit her job, started her own practice. then again, return to Gwhy after shifting, to take take back our adolscent maid, who was going crazy n Delhi. Then again a long stay in Guwahati, roaming with Lueit to Tura, shillong many trips. Then formation of Gravity activity centre. fathers winemaking workshop. Finally AGAIn back to Delhi in Nov, for father in laws treatment. Then staying in New House, converted SUDDENLy into an office. Movement after limitless movement. So that was the year of the Dragon for me. I quote: "2012, Year Of The Water Dragon: Dragon years occur every 12 years but Water Dragon years only occur every 60 years.  The last Water Dragon year was in 1952.  Dragon years are characterized as dramatic, full of lavish and unpredictable events". Very DRAMATIC. Now this year's of the Snake, much better suited for "ox' sign like me. That way, 2013, the year of the Snake is better predicted for me: My OX prediction in Snake year. Cheers to all of you. Neptune is the planet that enables us to dissolves our boundaries, structure in order to access wider insight/ inputs. So I'm being able to understand my past year BEYOND the defined structure of my Vedic astrology calculations. Cos, Neptune's a solvent. Neptune dissolves boundaries! Happy new year, 2013!  Cheers!

Log 07: High Drama vs crawls pace

FINALLY Rahu in Scorpio - and Ketu in Taurus over.  After 1.5 years. Rahu in scorpio and Ketu in taurus was rupturous for me, man!!!! today. Yesterday, Sunday, night 9:40 pm, 23rd Dec, 2012, old cycle ends, and a new begins.  For next 1.5 years Rahu in Libra and Ketu in Aries. The next cycle of 18 months. A new wave. Doomsday etc is bullshit. It such imperceptible planetary transits that bring Changes. And the differences. Last Log/ Post I wrote about the spectacular boring non-event of "Doomsday". We merely hype up events to FILL UP the VOID inside. We crave drama in our empty insides. In our routine, mundane  empty lives. Looking "forward" to some fantastic imaginary cosmic event as "doomsday". Because we love DRAMA and  Hype. We are in AWE of dramatic changes. Yesterday at the very moment of Rahu Ketu transit into Libra Aries such high drama. Uranian rupture, Plutonian upheaval:
Yesterdays Headlines: DELHI PROTESTS take Violent Turn. 150 injured, policeman critical. Massive Demonstration in India Gate over Bus gangrape of young 23 yr old girl a week ago. Conflict between police and protesters. Hooligans join mob. Teargas, stone pelting, PCr vans , DTc buses damaged. Heart of the capital.  I was out with contractor , helping him purchase a Tablet PC in Lajpat Nagar. Far from the throbbing crowd, lathi charging police, tear gas, and violence and the uproar. I was in my fringe Neptune crawlspace.  Neptunian changes are crawling slow. They creep upon us. Like cancer.  Every morning after heavy food, late nights, especially winters, I have blood residues in my morning spit. Is it cancer? Why am I too lazy to find out. Satisifed with my ayurvedic doc's advice, that its a sign of intestinal irritation. I'm procrasinating. Hiding my head in the sand. Neptunian escapism. But one day, I wake up. I'll finally realise. Once it's too late. All the rupturous high drama and protest over the brutal gangrape of 23 year old, I feel, like other Indian dramas will be soon FORGOTTEN by the public. Public memory is chillingly short. But blood residue in my spit will continue. Until one day its too late. The temporary/ illusory rush of high drama VERSUS the cold, critical permance of crawling reality.. The latter wins....

Log 06: Doomsday Updates

10:30am, everyone's saying the world will end today, 21st Dec, 2012, the end of the Mayan calendr. As far as our Vedic astrology perspective, no such thing. All planets in their usual aspects. NO out of the ordinary scenario. BUT what compelled to think about Doomsday is from the synchronicity standpoint. Millions if not billions of people, all around the world, thanks to internet, social media, are going to focus on Doomsday today. They will think of today, 21st Dec, 2012, as the END of the world. COULD there be any effect of SO MANY people concentrating on ONE SINGLE TOPIC at the SAME TIME? God knows, And the writers of  ever popular "The Secret" will know. With their "thoughts become things" theory. And all those who believe in "creative visualisation". I'm writing on Doomsday is because I "accidentally" found the book James Redfield's "Celestine Prophecy" (very popular in our college days, mid '90's). In his book, Redfield talks about the end of the Mayan calendar signfying end of one level and beginning of a new level of consciousness for humanity. An era that signifies a evolution of human awareness, cognition, perspectives. For those who are attuned/ aware of SYNCHRONICITY,  meaningful coincidences in their lives. Even the popular Kung Fu Panda says "there are no accidents". True, since the 90's there has been an overall awareness of synchroncities, overall design, etc. Hence, for "accidentally"  having found my favourite college book, James Redfields "Celestine Prophecy" I am going to update LIVE on this post, on Doomsday, to see if  there is any rise in synchronicity/ coincidence levels on this Doomsday. New Delhi, 11:40 am.

1. Update 1: Only synchronicity in last few days: a lot of sci-fi book, especially short stories, with few mandatory stories on global catastrophes, worlds end landed in my lap. At friend Kareems bookshop, Nehru Place. Where I often paint together with him. Also finding Celestine Prophecy which made me write this post anyway. Reading scifi giving sense of global perspective.
2. Update 2: Was on facebook video chat with Neha, and other chats after a long time. Sharing my doomsday invite to people. Neha said 7.2 richter earthquake in san fransisco. lets check.
3. Update 3: Am on online video chat with a friend/ counselee. Teaching Ketu and Jupiter mantars. Wife's office employee hasn't come. SO had to wait. So on chat. Video too. It was HER destiny to learn on doomsday, on LIVE video chat for me. i wrote: " doctors/ healers/ service providers think that they r GREAT. wrong! its the NEED of the wounded/ ailing/ agonized that creates them. NO disease, NO doctor. today i understood that.its the patient that creates the skill in the doctor.. its the patient that creates hospitals etc etc, NOT the other way around.."
4. Update 4;  Evening, 8:53 pm. whole day went by in stagnation, brain fry, was "coincidentally" stuck at home. video chatting whole day. For a guy who doesnt even come online. Later domestic duties. couldn't have been a MORE duller day. One noticeable thing, Doomsday was really SPECTACULARLY BORING! Unimaginably boring. Atrophy in the brain. I just wanted to see for myself. so much for this STUPID HYPE about DOOMSDAY. Horse shit !!!! ***)(*&^%$#!!! ( curses, Tintin's Captain Haddock style). Only one thing, this will make good ironic mundane comedy later. This Neptune log updates. Quite a  lot of my friends are excited over 'doomsday'. But i knew it held NO vedic merit. Only the exit of Rahu Ketu from Scorpio, Taurus respectively, day after, late Sunday night, 23rd December,  can bring some changes. That too slowly and gradually. NO eureka, Uranian rapture/ ruptures for me. Only the mollass like, crawling, boring, super slow, Neptunian dissolution.  Too slow even to perceive. I thought of a new title to this blog: Neptune Logs: crawling like mollasses.. super slowness!! Ha ha!
5. Update 5. Actually its the same upate 4. Just wanted to put down something: Un- happening, non-Event like Neptune. So crawling slow, its NOT an event. Merely a regular mundane, ordinary day. boring to death. Crawl of Neptune. Doomsday: NON- event. SPECTACULARLY BORING!!!

Log 05: Outer planets- ALWAYS there within

My first blog ever, in 2007, when i began blogging, was titled: "At the fringes/ edges/ margins". Yesterday when I was updating this blog description, I used fringes, margins to describe the outer planets, namely,  Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. I realised that the influence of the Outer Planets have always been there deep within me. It is only I who took so long, so much effort, to merely find WHAT is it I was trying to describe. Even after dedicating my blog exclusively to Rahu Ketu, a blog on Lord Saturn, a blog on Karma, a blog exclusively on Ketu, i was still miles away from WHAT it was I had been trying to describe. The portfolio of the Outer Planets included disruptions, change, transformation, crisis, the very meta dynamics of Evolution and completely opposed to Structured systems. The realm of quantum uncertainties, fuzzy logic, lines of flight, ruptures, deviations. The very seeds of Mutation and Evolution. All those who love X Men series, superheroes, supernatural, odds and far out things would be so delighted by the workings/ transits of the Outer Planets. AND the vedic nodes Rahu Ketu.
But primarily, it's a great satisfaction to be reaching somewhere, which has always been there within me from the earliest childhood memory till date. And which topic is the only thing I'm naturally specialised to talk about. And especially Neptune. With its blurred edges, diffused boundaries, spilling margins. With its ambiguities, fuzziness, and slippery edges. Finally, I can talk about what I want. Within.

Log 04: Karmic lessons of Rahu transit thru Scorpio

In the last three years Rahu Ketu has been transiting thru their signs of debilitation in the Zodiac. For those of us with Rahu Ketu problems in our natal chart, these have been trying times. But also and opportunity to repay our Karmic debts. An opportunity for purification. This current Rahu transit thru Scorpio ( 6 jun 2011- 22nd Dec 2012) has its own challenges and indirect spiritual opportunities.

Scorpio being my 2nd house, I'm learning Karmic lessons regarding finances, close people, family, friends, cash flow, speech. If I have been unceremonious, hurtful, callous in my speech in past incarnations, this had been my time to learn what it feels like to be on the receiving end. If I had denied others cash flow in forgotten pasts, this has been my moment to feel the heat myself. Ultimately in the universe, we reap what WE HAVE sown in prior incarnations. No escape from Karmic Law. But its difficult to understand/ comprehend this WHEN we're going through a ROUGH time.
Usually, Ketu is associated with the "Sting in the Tail" but in this case for me it's been the reverse. Its Rahu which has brought its lethal sting in the tail in its current transit. In the last two months of its 18 month transit, I have begun feeling the FULL heat only in these past two months. From the beginning of November, the stings began. the stings to the heart, mind, body, soul, ego, pride, etc etc. Sharp stabs to jolt the carcass out of the skin. But then its Scorpio we're talking about. In these past two months, it's been difficult to imagine that stings/jolts/ stabs could come from so many directions. But Karmically, many smaller frequent stabs are better than  ONE singular backlash. So like my friend Bitu says, "installments are Far better than ONE single down payment.."! So I guess that's a Karmic lesson I had to learn in this current transit. Though rather difficult. At least some Karmic repayments are done with. Now two more weeks left, until this 18 month transit ends on 23rd Dec. Let's hope for the best, yet expect the worst!!  ;)

Log 03: Tarpan Ritual at Shanti Kunj, Haridwar

I had written a earlier article on visiting Shanti Kunj ashram at Haridwar in May '12, as suggested by astrologer Savita Jain to perform pitra tarpan ritual. This time around, I went with friend architect Hemant. He had been suggested to do the ritual by Savita Ji. We're supposed to go Saturday evening, but postponed. Finally left suddenly without plan, on sunday afternoon at 3. I was already having cold, allergy, cough. But still Pitra Tarpan ritual is a great process. Not to be missed, if the the opportunity comes your way. especially for someone who has Pitra Dosh , like me, Saturn Ketu conjunction in the 9th house.
We reached at late evening, December cold. I was having gas, breathing problems and had forgotten to take my Asthalin along. They said we couldn't move out after 10pm, so no dinner. Indirect fasting. Night couldn't sleep due to gas, suffocation. Nightmarish torture as compared to the first time. Morning bath at 4am. Cold. Luckily gas powered geyser. Then, set out for medical shop to get Asthalin. None. Took Aciloc and Deriphylin for gas and severe acidity. Finally, sat in main hall with 23 others for Pitra Tarpan ritual. Through a topsy- turvy, serpentine trail, had somehow made it.
Ultimately a pilgrimage is about trail , tribulation, testing and NOT a tourism trip, or joyride. so, second time I could despite all obstacles, Pitra tarpan Ritual at Brhma muhurta, dawn. Whew! The Return journey was long , winding and a COMPLETE joyride. Thankfully! Neptune brings us unplanned events/ activities Outside structure. If we respond, great!!

Log 02: Comprehending Lord Varuna

(Rahu transit thru Scorpio : 6 jun 2011- 22nd Dec 2012. )

For me, Neptune reflects the UNDERLYING PICTURE, the visceral, emotional , psychological, subjective reflection of the planetary Transit I am currently going through. The current Rahu transit thru Scorpio is happening in the my 2nd house.. where Neptune is himself placed in my Natal/ Birth chart. This VERY current Rahu + Natal Neptune conjunction has led to the re-creation, renaming of this blog to Neptune Notes. What I thought was a voluntary/ objective/ wilful act of creation turned out to be merely a consequence/ reflection/ effect/ side effect of this current Rahu + Natal Neptune transit!!

Rahu exits Scorpio on 23rd Dec, another 4 weeks approx. The current 18 months have been strangely vicious, as my Neptune ruled persona, my Neptunian INADEQUACIES (impractical, mystical dreamer, non material, ungrounded, wastrel etc, etc) came into Strong Focus of sweet near and dear ones. And I came under heavy criticism from all quarters.  But it's this SAME painful transit that ended in the creation of this blog dedicated to narration of the Neptunian experience. And shedding invaluable light on Lord Varuna! I had been  worshipping The Vedic deity Varuna since long,  thinking him to be the Vedic astrology counterpart of Neptune. But in this very transit the TRUE Underlying picture of Lord Varuna's energies were revealed to me. He is a combination OF Neptune WITH Rahu energies. Lord Varuna is the perfect reflection of Rahu + Natal Neptune in my birthchart, in Rahu's current transit thru Scorpio. Each transitory planetary combination seems to have its specific deity!! And for me this current Rahu + Natal Neptune transit in my 2nd house, Scorpio was completely RULED by Lord Varuna!!!
Hence though this current 18 month Rahu transit thru my 2nd house has been catastrophic in terms of  finance, cash flow,  friendships, close people, harsh criticisms, etc(2nd house ruling topics), but ultimately it is this very  Rahu + Natal Neptune combination that revealed the true nature of Lord Varuna. As a mixture of Rahu and Neptune energies. And about the Role of Lord Varuna in my life: BOTH as a Severe Karmic taskmaster AND as a teacher of underwater/ underlying secrets. And also this transit also began this subjective, personal, Neptunian blog. 
Om Vam Varunai Namah!

Log 01: Neptune journey begins

Only after having renamed this blog (for the nth, 34th time), this time to Neptune Logs, am I having this indistinct feeling inside, that a I have finally done a true and honest thing. Under which, I can begin to testify, narrate, share, analyse my personal/ visceral/ astrological/ mystical/ Karmic experiences of things. Under the banner of Neptune, all the complex, half breed, half formed, hazy, cloudy, dissolved, diffused, nebulous, fringe, complex, intangible, layered EXPERIENCES that I often, usually, and frequently undergo, will finally find some platform of expression. For each one of us is primarily related to a specific Planetary Archetype. And after 10+ years of astrological research, occult studies, I conclude that I AM the Neptune archetype. Neptune IS the backwater of my mind, the Swamp of my soul, the layered haven of my spirit, the nature of my character, the quality of my disposition. Neptune archetype is who I am!! After a LIFETIME  of DENIAL and half a million short lived/ shoddy attempts to cover my INNER NATURE under more agreeable, practical, competent, respectable, flattering MASKS, I finally conclude the truth... of my being the complete Neptune archetype. Thus, at 39 years, 2 months, on this Saturday night of 24th November, 2012, I take off my other objective masks, phallocentric, ideological EXCUSES, and BEGIN this Neptunian narration, commence this Neptunian voyage, embark on this Neptunian journey of self discovery, contemplations, and revelations..

Karmic Debts 01: Karmic Strategies..

All of us are born with past life karma. Residues of a former incarnation that we are deemed to CLEAR in this life. KNOWING this fact,ACCEPTING this fact is half the battle. Everyone doesn't have the wisdom to understand this. It is a privilege. Wisdom is an uncommon occurrence. Often it comes after undergoing lot of trial and tribulation. For me, my past life Karma is broadly expressed in the form of Rahu in the 3rd house of my astro chart, debilitated in the sign of Saggitarius, in Moola nakshtra. This finds me coming across Karmic mountains, mountains of mammoth obstacles/ crisis and obstruction, time to time. Understanding the Karmic perspective to this repeating phenomenon helps me address in the proper manner. Whenever I face mammoth/ colossal/ mountainous obstacles and catastrophe, I try to remember and keep in mind THAT I'm merely bearing the Dark harvests of my own past misdeeds. I definitely must have caused untold chaos to others to be facing the same in this life. I have tried to adopt strategies and techniques which keep in mind this overall Karmic picture: 1. Since chaos is my birthright, I have adopted Vastu/ astrology/ healing/ counseling as my career. One way or other chaos WILL come my way, so better take a profession where you're helping others in their own chaos. An opportunity to earn some blessings. An opportunity to payback some of the Karmic Debts incurred in prior lives. Manta a times when I try to follow hardcore architecture with NO components of healing/ Vaastu, progressive suggestions, I often find terrible catastrophe plaguing that particular project. That's why, often if a hard core, Non- Vastu, "no nonsense" architectural/ interior project comes my way, I STRICTLY collaborate, team up with a fellow member/ friend of my own profession to see the project see the light of day. 2. I engage in astrology, astro counseling free/ pro Bono, engage a LOT of time in social service, helping others. This helps me reduce the wrath of the past Karma incurred in previous incarnations.

Karmic Debts 00: Introduction

Karmic Debts are debts we owe due to mistakes we had committed in earlier lives and which haunt us as chronic problems in our current life. This topic series explores the phenomenon of  Karmic Debts.

Many of the chronic problems that we face in our current life are because  of   unpaid Karmic Debts. These unpaid debts haunt us through various physical, mental afflictions. The first 30 years of my life I used to frequently be sick, almost all the time. Later as i explored astrology, Nadi palm leaf readings, especially the 11th chapter pertaining to past life karma, I came to know in detail about past riin (debts). Slowly as i began performing the therapies, the problems also reduced. Generally, in an horoscope, past life debts are indicated by the 6th, 8th and 12th house. The 12th house, the house of loss, is the chief indicator of Karmic Debts. Location of any planet indicates that, there is are Karmic debts to be paid.

Personal Observations:

In my horoscope, i have Sun and Mercury in my 12th house of Virgo. Hence I avoid too much Solaramd  Mercurial energies. I avoid having too much Wood element  (which is ruled by Mercury). I use green minimally in my surroundings. i use a lot of water element to balance the hot Sun energies, and airy Mercury element in my chart. Instead i focus more on the West direction ruled by Shanidev/ Saturn,  who is highly beneficial for me. I worship Varuna, the ruler of West, for his oceanic blessings. I opt to  be Chilled out..  ;)