This 2012 seem to me to be filled with endless astronomical phenomena of great planetary and stellar alignment. Yet another one is about to happen on sunday 20 th May 2012 and will be visible mostly in Usa and then Asia , in particular in China and Japan. The New Moon on that date will reach apogee ( its farthest point from Earth ) and will eclipse the Sun in a way to create a visible “Ring Of Fire”.  This is called annular eclispe , from the Latin  “annulus” or ring .

This event occurred last time 18 years ago on May 10, 1994, and the next one won’t come until October 14, 2023!

Moreover this time the path of the eclipse will hover above the upper part of the Pacific  tectonic plate called “the Ring Of Fire”. Yest another alignment into the alignement!! The Ring Of fire ( annular Eclipse ) will pass above the “Ring Of Fire ” ( Pacific Tectonic Plate) . Fire activating Fire! What to expect?

Whether this event has a tangible effect on the Earth Magnetic field is debatable. Nonetheless the visual impact of this occurrence on our consciousness is undeniable! The orb of the sun that is normally our reference source of light and life force for the planet will change into a Ring of Fire. This means that we will se a ring of flames around a black hole in a eerie black sky rather than the usual radiant orb of the Sun. Now even if that will last only a few minutes and not all of us will be able to experience i still believe that we will be affected by it.

If unable  to experience this solar eclipse in person we can still attune ourseves with this event in the sacred space of meditation. Personally i will be creating a space where i can offer to the temporary black hole in the sun all that needs reversal. It will be like a stop and restart opportunity if you want to make it so …otherwise just enjoy the magnificient sky show!

Namaste’

Alessandra

Beltane is one of the four great Fire Festivals ( in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius). In the ancient Celtic calendar, Beltane is celebrated to ushering in the light half of the year, a time of fertility and abundance. In the standard calendar, Beltane is May 1. Astronomically, Beltane is May 5. Celebrations include bonfires lit to honor the solar god Belos, rites of cleansing and purification for prosperity. Also going out in the woods ( in the olden times!) to collect flowers, symbol of the richness of Spring!

Here i include an image of the Maypole. During this festival boys and girls would dance in opposite directions holding the end of a coloured ribbon of the Maypole ( symbol of fertility) so weaving a multicoloured tapestry around the pole. Hope you will dance with your loved one(s!) and offer them flowers to honour this day of renewed abundance in Love!

Apart from the “Samudra Manthan “ ( the churning of the milky ocean from which both poison and nectar emerged – read article ” The Night of MahaShivaratri” MArch 2011) there are other popular stories that inspire the festival of the night dedicated to Lord Shiva.

One of the most popular legends of Maha Shivratri is that of the marriage of Shiva and Shakti. The day Lord Shiva got married to Parvati is celebrated as Shivratri – the Night of Lord Shiva. It tells us how Lord Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort. There is another version of the legend, according to which Goddess Parvati performed austerities and prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivratri, for the well being of her husband. Believing in this legend, married women began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Maha Shivratri, while, unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal partner.

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Where is the location and what is the physical counterpart of the elusive  Ajna and Sahasrara Chakras ( the two main head’s energetic centres )? And how do we access and stimulate them? Two extremely powerful yet simple Yoga techniques that help you locate the two upper chakras are Shambavi and Kechari Mudra. Both are described in two ancient treatises of Hatha Yoga, the Geranda Samhita and  Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The fact is that the language of the Seers was purposedly esoteric.

Bhudda's eyes in Shambavi Mudra. Swayambhunat stupa temple, Katmandu Nepal

With this and the next article I will try to map both Shambavi and Kechari Mudras from yogic into modern , tangible and scientific language. Let’s start with The Ajna Chakra – third eye – and Shambavi Mudra. Read the rest of this entry »

Winter Solstice, 21 December 2010,  is the festival of the “rebirth of the light”. This year on the 21 December Winter Solstice we see two other astronomical conjunctures: Full Lunar Eclipse and Full Moon!  Rebirth that is accompanied by a state of heightened awareness and connection with our emotions.

Winter Solstice Full moon Lunar eclipse

Winter Solstice is celebrated in many cultures as an important date as the Sun reaches its minimum in the Northern Emisphere and it’s the shortest day ( in terms of daylight ) of the year. As we get to solar minimum  we approach an important transition that is the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. It’s a time of stopping and restarting. Read the rest of this entry »

 Diwali, or Deepawali (literally translates as rows of diyas – clay lamps) is the Hindu festival representing the uplifting of spiritual darkness in the souls of people. It is a 5 days festival centred around the new moon phase of the auspicious month of Kartik, which is late October/November. Diwali falls 20 days after Dusshera (the last celebratory day of NAvarati) and this year Diwali is the 5^th November.

"Diyas" Clay Lamps . Photo Courtesy of Silvia Chance

Diwali also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and on this day Lord Ganesha, the auspicious elephant-headed Hindu god, is worshiped. Ganesha is the ruler of Mooladhara Chakra (energetic centre at the base of the spine) of the New Year! Read the rest of this entry »

My first encounter with a Mala ( Indian rosary) occurred over two decades ago, when i started my practice of Kriya Yoga. A  Kriya is a very specific breathing technique through which you uplift prana-shakti  ( life force )into sushumna nadi ( the main channel for subtle energy)  from the base of the spine to the top of your head.  Keeping count with the beads allows you to forget about the counting and immerse yourself into the practice ( performing  Kriyas or chanting Mantras for example ) .

From Top Left: Cherry Quartz, Fire Agate, Red Sustainable Coral, Fresh Water Pearl Malas. Photography by ELeonora Pecorella

A mala consists of 108 plus one bead call the SuMeru (literally translates as the central world mountain, or the axis around which everything else revolves!). Read the rest of this entry »

This month post is written by one of my students, Sybille Pouzet, a yoga teacher and amazing chef! It’s nice sometimes to know how the outer world perceive you!  Here we go…

SYBILLE:

When i moved East London about a year ago i was determined to find a yoga teacher that would suit me. Even though i love practicing yoga on my own in my room under the roof, i also love following a teacher and feeling the energy of a group class.

After trying several places and teachers, i went to Alessandra’s class at Yogahome . I can’t say i instantly loved it as i came from a different style of Yoga and found it quite hard. Something got me hooked though. Something in Alessandra made me want to jump on her “yoga train” as she said later to me. There was a sort of presence in her that i felt i should try to follow…

 As i entered Alessandra’s house i felt like going into her world. And her world at the moment is rather busy! Taking care of her son is her Sadhana (yoga Read the rest of this entry »

Kumbha Mela is a religious event that is organized on a grand scale in India every 4 years in a cycle of 12 years. Kumbha Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage that takes place at the following four locations of India:

Prayag, Allahabad (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three holy rivers – Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and Saraswati
Haridwar (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas
Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of shipra river
Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river. Read the rest of this entry »