I truly honor all of us who have had to go through some seriously traumatic experiences.

And I do NOT ever recommend giving anyone unsolicited opinions about their own karma. (Really, it’s a terrible idea!)

And yet, if karma is one of our lenses into truth… into what’s so… into capital “R” Reality… does it really empower us to jettison it so we can feel better?

I actually don’t think it’s empowering or makes us feel good to imagine that none of our actions have any effect.

By rejecting the concept of karma we are literally saying, “I don’t believe in cause and effect.”

We are saying, “My actions have no fruit.”

We are saying, “It does not matter what I think or do today, I will die and be reborn and none of my spiritual development, transformation or effort will accompany me.”

In rejecting the notion that our NEGATIVE energy will follow us, we throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater because none of our POSITIVE energy would be able to come either.

We can’t have it both ways.

Either life is a meaningless, temporary adventure that ends when we die, or we are eternal beings who carry with us memories, imprints and soul trajectories.

As someone who reads Vedic Astrology charts (aka karma maps) all day long, and has the trippy experience of being able to accurately name what happened to someone in the past, with only a birth time to go off of, I can personally say: I believe we have a destiny.

I can see that there are predictable events that happen to us throughout our lives.

I can see that they aren’t always things we caused in this lifetime.

And I feel empowered by the idea that the choices I make today – the seeds that I plant – can ripple out into my life, other people’s lives, and future lifetimes.

I can’t tell you how many times an astrology client of mine has felt deep relief in knowing that a traumatic event was predestined from previous lifetimes.

That it wasn’t their fault.

That they couldn’t have changed anything.

That the karma has been done and that event is now in the past.

They feel validated, emboldened and renewed — not shamed, blamed or shut down.

Karma doesn’t mean “an eye for an eye.”

It doesn’t mean that if we were violated, we must have done the exact same thing to that person (or someone else).

It just means that we were somehow involved in causing another’s pain, and that this energy is returning to us to be completed.

It means there is an opportunity to close the loop, complete the circuit, and heal… forever.

To me, this knowledge is a profound gift of true seeing, not one to be tossed in the trash as a self protection mechanism.

I will never stop talking about karma, because it’s my lens into Truth, so please know that if you continue to follow me, that’s what will continue to flow through me.

And next time someone admonishes you for using the word karma to understand life, perhaps this explanation will help.

And yet, we should never weaponize karma or talk about it lightly. It’s serious business that causes people to feel all sorts of things, and by throwing it around carelessly, we will create more of our own negative karma.

I recommend discussing other people’s specific karma only in a formal, permission based container like a Vedic Astrology reading or other type of professionally guided session, in our domain of expertise.

The post Is talking about karma “victim blaming?” appeared first on Visionary Readings.

While these creations do not have self awareness, they do transmit our consciousness anytime someone interacts with them. They are doling out energy on our behalf, even if we are not aware of it.

This means that our creations can create karma for us, since karma is created in both the energy we put out, but also the response that we generate.

If someone develops anger toward us because of our photos, those photos are creating a karmic bond between us and that person, whether we know it or not, or whether or not it is reasonable for them to feel that way.

Because of this, in many ancient spiritual traditions, fame is often regarded as more of a curse than a blessing.

All sorts of people put their attention on celebrities, and in all kinds of ways. One may be an adoring fan, but another may be obsessive or be projecting unwanted energy. No personal interactions are necessary to create these energetic bonds.

Most people aren’t equipped or trained to handle this much energy coming at them and it takes an accomplished yogi or shaman to transmute and channel it in a good way (an ability that was most likely acquired via diligent practice in many past lives).

The energy of other people’s thoughts about us is powerful, en masse, and can knock us off balance if we aren’t prepared.

This is why so many famous people fall apart and wind up having extremely challenging lives, despite their success and appearance of “having it all” from the outside.

We now live in a world where social media is King, and we are all aspiring celebrities in our own hall of mirrors.

There are no longer any geographical barriers to limit the number of people we enmesh with, and the amount of karma we can create in one lifetime is practically infinite.

We are in a cultural fishbowl where we don’t realize how embedded this desire to be seen is becoming in each of us. To be seen by as many people as possible is now entwined with our very survival. This will only deepen as time goes on.

The archetype that represents this new, barely-understood world is Rahu.

Rahu is the ever-moving point where the orbital path of the Sun and the Moon intersect, and is a key player in eclipses.

Rahu is a Hungry Ghost who always wants more but never feels satisfied. Rahu represents compulsive ambition, self-serving fame, ingenuity, imposters, subterfuge, unsolvable riddles, and things that are simply not what they seem.

The United States is in a Rahu “chapter” for the next 15 years and our President is basically the human embodiment of Rahu. We don’t have the birth time of this iteration of Humanity, but it seems we are collectively in a Rahu period as the epidemic of compulsively desiring fame is global.

So what do we do with this realization?

We stay awake, grounded and aware.

We tune into the frequencies of gratitude and anonymous service.

We surround ourselves with wise beings who can give us accurate and personal reflections.

We carefully consider what we are putting out there online and take time to understand and prepare for what it means to be seen and judged by many.

This doesn’t mean we should hide in a cave- we are inherently creative beings, and life is meant to be lived – but with this awareness, we can consciously choose what energies we are inviting into our field and the level we wish to play at.

The post Fame, Social Media and Karma appeared first on Visionary Readings.

When the Moon is waning, especially in the second week, she rises in the middle of the night, so most of us are asleep during the hours when the moonlight is visible. This makes it feel like the Moon is dark for much longer than a couple of days.

I’m always relieved when the Moon becomes totally dark, because I know the light is finally returning to the night sky, and that my own energy is about to get brighter. I feel delight when the crescent Moon is first visible near the horizon just after Sunset when the waxing cycle begins.

Some of us are more deeply affected by the lunar cycles than others, depending on the Moon’s location in our birth chart.

I’ve found that tracking the cycles of the Moon has made it much easier to predict my own energy flow. My energy is inward and darker during the last week of the waning moon, and more outward and optimistic as soon as the waxing cycle begins.

Once I began observing this, by intentionally viewing the Moon and taking the moonlight in through my eyes, my physical Moon cycle became perfectly aligned with the actual Moon, making my energy even more predictable. (This is also true when I sleep near a window where the moonlight is visible).

The Spring equinox is in just a few days which means the most intense phase of the waxing Sun is also from now until Solstice. The waxing Sun/waxing Moon weeks are my favorite time of year because this is when we experience the most light overall. I’m celebrating the beginning of these precious 3 months of abundant light!

>>> Visionary Art By R. Blume <<<

The post It’s Always Darkest Before Dawn appeared first on Visionary Readings.

Or that moment when something you *were* a full “yes” to starts to feel “off,” but your mind insists it’s fine, and you don’t want to rock the boat, so you just go along with it?

These moments are seeds of wisdom, asking to be watered with our deep listening, so that they can germinate and take root, growing us into our true, aligned path.

This is our inner compass of integrity, telling us that we are out of alignment.

When we ignore these whispers from reality, our lives get overtaken by a field of invasive weeds. And it takes a heroic amount of effort to clear a field of full-grown weeds!

There are so many times I have disregarded these subtle promptings from reality until they turned into loud, flashing sirens that led to all sorts of painful consequences.

Looking back, all I had to do was take the slightly bitter pill of truth – as soon as the symptoms showed up – to avoid getting the full-blown disease.

This has been especially important with romantic partnerships, business partnerships, new clients, new jobs, new hires, houses, housemates, and other investments of time, money and emotional energy.

When we fail to pay attention to our inner guidance, we create a mess.

When we are living inside of a “no,” we start exhibiting unconscious protest behavior. We may avoid, numb out, withdraw, procrastinate or fail to keep our word.

Or we might get triggered, speak unkindly, or do something passive-aggressive.

We wind up hurting ourselves and other people in ways that are hard to clean up.

This drains our vital energy.

It is very difficult to access our highest vibration when we are unwittingly lying to ourselves and others.

If we feel depressed, flat, anxious, perpetually angry or sick, it’s a sign that we are living a lie.

Usually we are perpetuating this self deception in order to “keep the peace,” avoid upsetting someone, or get around having an uncomfortable conversation, but it always has the opposite effect.

When we finally deal with the situation and get honest with everyone involved, it feels like a massive dam of energy is released and we can experience joy once again.

Looking back we wonder, “Why did I wait so long?”

It is so helpful to have someone who can be our loving mirror in these moments so we can see our blind spots and return to our truth.

I love doing this for others in my Vedic astrology readings and coaching. And I’ve been blessed with people who do this for me.

NB: Do not ever be this mirror for someone without their consent. It doesn’t work. 😉

The Full Lunar eclipse is on Wednesday and it’s an ideal time to peek under the thinning veil of illusion and identify our delusions. Inner vision will be strong with the Full Moon in Cancer.

It is NOT a good time to take new actions as emotions will be amplified and new insights may need time to marinate so we can be sure of what’s real and unreal. (Wait until 2 days after the Solar Eclipse on the 15th if you can!)

I’ll include a link to more information about the meaning of Eclipses in Vedic Astrology in the comments.

~ A huge heaping cauldron of gratitude for my dear friend and mentor, Giovanni Cavalieri, for being the first one to teach me how to read my inner compass, and for reflecting the above to me recently when I needed a reminder). ~

The post The Little Nagging Voice Of Truth That Tries To Warn Us Before It’s Too Late ~ Total Lunar Eclipse In Cancer appeared first on Visionary Readings.

When Venus is the morning star, and shows up just before sunrise, most of us aren’t awake to see her beauty. She is the brightest object in the sky, which is one reason why she represents Beauty.

Fun fact: Venus is never far from the Sun, so if you spot a bright star in the late evening or middle of the night, it’s not Venus.

Enjoy your sunset Venus sightings until October!

The post Venus Becomes The Evening Star appeared first on Visionary Readings.

Psychic powers, ESP and intuition are extremely heightened, which means that those who are empathic will be feeling even more than usual. Visions will be stronger, more vivid, and may even seem to be at odds with reality. It’s best to sit with these visions before sharing or interpreting them, as they may be emanations of the collective consciousness (or the mind) versus pure transmissions of truth.

The post Boundaries, Co-dependence And Psychic Powrs: Rahu in Cancer + New Moon In Capricorn = Get Creative! appeared first on Visionary Readings.

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The post The Meaning of Eclipses in Vedic Astrology appeared first on Visionary Readings.

The Sidereal zodiac, used by most Vedic Astrologers, reflects what’s in the sky now. Ancient Vedic seers and sages understood the wobble of the earth’s rotation and adjusted the zodiac mathematically for the precession of the Equinox, so that it always aligns with what we see.

The Tropical zodiac, used by most Western Astrologers, preserves the placement of the constellations from 2000+ years ago, ensuring that it always aligns with the solstices and equinoxes. However, it does not reflect what’s in the sky anymore due to the shifts that have naturally taken place.

Therefore, the Tropical zodiac is about 23 degrees ahead of the Sidereal zodiac and most planets wind up a full sign/constellation ahead (a sign is 30 degrees wide).

This means the Moon is in Pisces visually and Aries symbolically. Both systems have their own merits but I prefer the results of the Sidereal system and enjoy seeing it in real time as I stargaze.

Happy full moon!!!

The post Is The Full Moon In Pisces Or Aries: The Difference Between The Two Zodiacs appeared first on Visionary Readings.

At the beginning of the podcast the topic of “free will” comes up when Paul shares his belief that humans can alter their life path by making certain decisions. I explain that free will, more so the amount a person has, is a hot topic in the world of astrology. One of the interesting facets of Vedic Astrology is to help identify where a person has a lot of free will and to show areas where there might not be as much.

Later in the podcast I spend some time talking about my first experiences with astrology and how I decided to become a Vedic Astrologer. I also discussed the full moon and lunar eclipse and what effects might be taking place due to this specific alignment.

If you’ve been interested in learning more about astrology and are also working on being present in your life, then you will certainly enjoy this podcast:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-31-gaining-presence/id1111793359?i=1000381181306&mt=2

The post Are You Being Present? by The Presence Projects on iTunes appeared first on Visionary Readings.

From Scorpio To Sagittarius

Saturn’s energy, in many ways, is more closely aligned with Scorpio than Sagittarius. Scorpio is the 8th sign of the Natural Zodiac, and Saturn is associated with the 8th house, which deals with hidden things that lie beneath the surface. These are the kind of things that are buried and then resurface and surprise us in a seemingly sudden way, when in fact the situation has been brewing for a long time. Scorpio is not a friendly sign for Saturn, so this was not exactly a match made in heaven.

Now, Saturn will be making its home in Sagittarius, a fiery, feisty and expansive sign. These energies have nothing to do with Saturn’s cold, separative, contracted nature, which makes these two unlikely bedfellows.  They will create a interesting alchemy of these energies and the combination will be more pleasant than what we’ve been dealing with for the past couple years.

Changes And Challenges

More importantly, Saturn will be moving into a different house in your birth chart, which means that a completely different area of your life is going to get the “Saturn treatment.”

In Vedic Astrology, Saturn is known as the King of Dharma and he represents reality, as in impermanence. Wherever he goes you can bet your life there will be significant transitions. Ultimately these shifts are in service of clearing away what is no longer meant for us so that new blossoms can flower, but that philosophical perspective doesn’t make Saturn’s bitter pills any easier to swallow.

These changes are very often our biggest challenges until we learn to “roll” with them. Our maturing relationship to “letting go” is our truest evolution. Our capacity to flow and bend with whatever Saturn brings is at the very core of our spiritual growth.

Saturn will bring these new changes to everyone for the next few years. Many of us will be breathing a huge sigh of relief as seemingly endless challenges in one area of our life are finally resolved! And many of us will also be surprised by big shifts that we weren’t expecting in another area.

In particular, anyone who has Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini or Virgo rising is likely to experience the most intense changes in key areas like their core identity, home and happiness, relationships and career.

The lens of Vedic Astrology helps us understand what’s happening in our lives as we track the movements of Saturn, among other things. This allows us to see changes for what they truly are so that we can make the best of them instead of experiencing the profound pain of resistance.

A Word Of Caution About Saturn Retrograde

Make note of this: Saturn will go retrograde and head back into Scorpio on June 20, then make the final transit into Sagittarius on October 26. Don’t count on the effects of the changes Saturn brings until after this final transit!

Any last bits of karma that Saturn intended for us during its time in Scorpio will bear fruit during this window, and we won’t have a good sense of where things are truly headed until Saturn is completely out of Scorpio. You might want to deeply consider any long term commitments you make before October, since there may be elements of the situation yet to be revealed.

This is the end of one era and the beginning of another (for the next 2.5 years). May we all surrender with complete grace and ease to whatever Saturn brings and transform what’s misaligned into that which is Divinely Aligned.

Are you wondering how this transit will affect you personally in terms of your career, finances, love life, health or living situation? You can get a birth chart reading and find out what’s in store.

The post Saturn moves into Sagittarius appeared first on Visionary Readings.