The ultimate reality test has arrived. The hot air and bluster of 2017 is about to be punctured by the Lord of Karma. As I said at the start of the year, any bubbles inflated by the Jupiter Uranus opposition will burst now – if they haven’t already. Saturn is here to make sure you… Continue reading Saturn in Capricorn: Responsibility and Self-Mastery
Don’t be a fake is a reminder not to become egotistical about trying to transcend your ego. Mind training aims to free you from the tyranny of the ego and its fears, but there’s no need to turn that process into another ego trip. The original lojong slogan is: Change your attitude, but remain natural.… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t be a Fake
Last time we looked at the differences between mysticism and magic, as explained by Evelyn Underhill in Mysticism. In part two, we continue the extracts with a look at why mystics have such trouble expressing their experiences in words, and introduce the four characteristics of mysticism. Extract: “The greatest mystics, – Ruysbroeck, St. John of… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 2: Ineffable Reality and Symbolism
Neptune entered Pisces in 2011 and the world has been floundering in confusion and madness since. Along with Pluto’s transit through Capricorn, this is a profoundly important time in our collective evolution. If we get this wrong, we could spin off into a pretty dire future so it’s worth taking the time to understand what’s… Continue reading Neptune in Pisces: Disillusionment and Transcendence
Come back to basics is about making and keeping a commitment to your mind training and writing practice. It’s about overcoming the tendency to get sidetracked by your ego and developing self-mastery instead. The original lojong slogan is: Always abide by the three basic principles which are: to keep your promises, to not act outrageously,… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Come Back to Basics
In this series, we’ll look at the characteristics of mysticism as explained by Evelyn Underhill in her classic text Mysticism: A Study of the Nature and Development of Man’s Spiritual Consciousness. In part one, she explains the important differences between magic and mysticism. Extract: “The spiritual history of man reveals two distinct and fundamental attitudes… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 1: Magic and Mysticism
Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 and has been busy turning the world upside down since. There are several more years of this structural upheaval to get through, so what’s in store? And when will this madness end?! Pluto transits Capricorn from 2008 to 2024, with a few dips in and out: Entered Capricorn: 26th January… Continue reading Pluto in Capricorn: the Evolution of Power and Empire
Practice when you’re distracted is about remembering to be mindful of whatever is happening and not allowing yourself to get distracted. And when you do get distracted, to use the distractions as part of your practice. The original lojong slogan is: If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained. When you sit… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice When You’re Distracted
Last month Jupiter entered Scorpio for a thirteen month journey through the sign of transformation and secrets. Jupiter transits Scorpio from 10th October 2017 to 8th November 2018. In this post we’ll look at what that means and what we can expect over the coming months. Jupiter represents the search for meaning and the need… Continue reading Jupiter in Scorpio: Descent in search of Meaning
Always maintain a joyful mind is about not taking yourself too seriously and remembering that no matter what’s going on, you can have an optimistic approach to life. The original lojong slogan is more or less the same: Always maintain only a joyful mind. On the surface, it seems callous and simplistic to suggest that… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Always Maintain A Joyful Mind
If you’ve read the free chapters from The Shining Ones, you’ll know that Ethne has just made a dramatic escape across the ice sheet in Greenland on a sledge pulled by huskies. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s about to meet the owner of the sledge: Jorgen, a soldier with the Sirius Patrol. The… Continue reading Research Notes: Greenland Sirius Patrol
Previous: Chapter Nine Ethne stood in the darkness of the cave and held her breath. She was sure an attack was imminent; she had seen it clearly in her mind’s eye. Could she have imagined it? The others were irritable rather than scared. Voices called out for the generator to be fixed while people searched… Continue reading The Shining Ones: Chapter 10 – gravity fails and the sun comes unhinged…
Jessica Davidson 