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Diwali – Hindu Festival of Light

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 00:00 Risa D’Angeles Columns - Astrology
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RisaNewSIt’s good to understand all the world’s religious festivals. It creates religious unity. The day after Wednesday’s Scorpio new moon is Diwali, Hindu Festival of Lights. Autumn and winter festivals of light signify hope during a time of darkness. All religions time their festivals by the stars, planets, sun and moon. Diwali (Deepavali) begins in the dark half of the new moon and ends in the light half of the Scorpio new moon - a five-day autumn festival between mid October and mid November (Scorpio’s month). Celebrated when the moon passes out of Libra – accounts are balanced, the business year ends, and enters Scorpio – the new financial year begins. Libra and Venus rule money and social accounts.
Diwali is Sanskrit for “rows of lamps”—small clay oil lamps; when lit suggesting good over evil, light within darkness. Diwali, at the end of India’s harvest season, is a time of thanksgiving.
Bells and drums and Vedic hymns invoke blessings from Lakshmi, goddess of money, wealth, books and learning. Illumination and the light of knowledge are called forth “to dawn upon humanity.” In every Hindu household the clay lamps are lit for humanity’s enlightenment. There is a Hindu prayer we can recite from the Upanishads together: “Lead us, oh Lord, from darkness to Light, from the unreal to the real, from death to immortality, from chaos to beauty. Ohm.”

Esoteric Astrology as News for the week of Oct. 27–Nov. 2, 2011 For Sun and Rising Signs

ariesAries-March 21–April 20
It’s important to be scrupulous when handling other people’s money, possessions, when referring to their values and if responsible for investments. It’s most important if one holds another’s heart. Total trust is involved here and you cannot fall out of anyone’s trust. If investing scrutinize all angles. Before deciding study and consult with solari.com.

taurusTaurus April 21–May 21
It’s time to be with those you love, perhaps your one and only, or perhaps your closest friend, partner, business associate, someone who tugs a bit at your heart, someone you would enjoy being with for a long time, someone you’re relaxed with, who knows your secrets and doesn’t care, or perhaps knows no secrets about you and likes you anyway. You need to be together for a while. Don’t worry about tension or disharmony. Harmony’s on the way.

geminiGemini May 22–June 20
There’s a tremendous amount of work to be completed and it seems like forever and then new work appears and sometimes there are misunderstandings at work, especially now with Scorpio influences, and it could be with a work partner so be careful with communication and don’t leave anyone behind or think everyone or anyone understands you. Talk, communicate, listen, then talk some more until understanding appears.

cancerCancer June 21–July 20
You need to go out and about, you need friends to be with, you need to have fun. Think about choosing pleasure over work. You need to consider what creative sorts of events would relax you and make you laugh out loud. You need less restriction, less discipline, less worry and fretfulness. The world is the same whether we worry or not. Now what would be fun for you? Who can you share fun with?

leoLeo July 21–August 22
The home seems to be the focus once again during this new moon time, a time for clearing out, cleaning, eliminating, storing, redecorating or at least moving a few furniture pieces around to make your home feel different, more comfortable or clear. Do you need to remove dark drapes or objects? What does your home need? Also, are you bringing work home and is it interfering with private time? There’s still a secret there, somewhere.

virgoVirgo August 23–September 22
Are you still agitated, edgy, a bit impatient and restless? What in your town, village, community, neighborhood can you connect with, assist, serve and be available for? You are the right person, especially this month, to work with Transition Initiative. It’s time to meet new people you’ve never seen before and to bring forth all hidden aspects of self you’ve kept under wraps for protection and safeguarding. That’s over.

libraLibra September 23–October 22
Tend carefully to money, resources, bills, insurance, savings, investments. Shift your portfolio to a place of safety. It’s good for you (and Aries) to read everything every day on solari.com. Read about their investment opportunities. I write this because Scorpio, the planet of resources, is in your house of money. Is there a need to change how and where your money is spent? Do you need a budget?

scorpioScorpio October 23–November 21
All the planets have tumbled into your sign and sometimes that’s a relief and sometimes it’s too much scrutiny and too many feelings to cope with. Usually you follow strict routines to soothe the reality that life is one moment death and the next regeneration. New mental revelations will occur, releasing you from restrictions and presenting possibilities. A new sense of self emerges. Still mysterious, still deep, but ... different.

saggSagittarius November 22–December 20
You turn inward a bit more. There’s less striding about, chest out, seeking the social activities that provide you with insight. As you turn inward, spiritual realizations appear that could not have come forward before. Jupiter, your very own planet of expansiveness and sometimes of just too much of everything, is guiding you toward understanding others more. The result of this is compassion, the religion of the Dalai Lama. Autumn is here.

capricornCapricorn December 21–January 20
Perhaps surprisingly lots of friends, and those who want to be your friend, will show up or call or invite you over or think about you as a leader who shows compassion and kindness and as someone they would want to follow and have guidance from. It’s also possible that you realize you need a group to belong to, that allows opportunities for your gifts to emerge. Should you begin that group yourself?

aquariusAquarius January 21–February 18
Things you’ve only dreamed about concerning professional status, recognition (even if it’s self recognition) seem to come forth easily now and your originality is applauded along with your consistency, something very interesting for Aquarius, ruled by the rebel, Uranus. However, your roots are stable, traditions are important because you make those traditions up as you go. You are preparing for the future somehow?

piscesPisces February 19–March 20
Are you planning a journey? It’s a long and arduous healing journey, either in real time, dreamtime or future time. Something new is initiated. Something’s given. Something from the past ends. Be observant of these. A deeper intimacy happens between you and another, in real time, dreamtime or a future possible time. You are assisted by specific and special angels. Eat well. Have fun. Be happy.

Risa is Founder & Director of the Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute, a contemporary Wisdom School in Santa Cruz, CA.

More at nightlightnews.com. Risa's email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Facebook: Risa's Esoteric Astrology
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