An Invitation to Simplify
I’m Pennie Nichols, a Vedic astrologer local to Birmingham using ancient Yogic wisdom to support us in living meaningful and joyous lives in this modern reality. I’d like to share insights with you about an important astrological event happening now and how you can best use this time to grow and evolve.
First, it’s important to understand that the energy of the planets are not something to be feared, they don’t “make” us do anything, and they aren’t even something that is separate from us. The 9 Grahas (sanskrit term that can loosely be translated into planets) are memory keepers for us. Their movement through our galaxy in relation to our position here on earth offer us unique opportunities of growth and transformation during very specific times of our life.
As the slowest moving and outer most planet in the Vedic system, Shani (Saturn’s sanskrit name) holds great importance for us - both personally and collectively. Shani began his retrograde period on Saturday, June 29th and will continue until Friday, November 15th.
Retrograde is when a planet appears to be moving backwards in our sky in relation to Earth. Symbolically, this is an opportunity to “retrace our steps” as Shani traverses the same area of the sky he just moved through. The grahas (planets) even appear bigger and brighter to us during their retrograde period.
When a graha is retrograde, it’s energy intensifies. Shani is pretty intense under normal circumstances, so in a retrograde period, it is a great time to pause.
The invitation during Shani’s retrograde period is to simplify life. To find simple, innocent ways to invite the experience of joy and wonder into your daily life. As Shani is the keeper of karma, his impact on our life can feel somewhat harsh, creating big shifts in a short amount of time.
Shani will be retrograding for 4.5 months. You may notice that this retrograde period is occurring throughout the lead up to and ends right after our presidential election. This along with our upcoming eclipse season this fall indicates it’s bound to get crazy out there.
So, what’s the best way to support yourself in times of chaos? Simplify. Here’s some guidance and tools I personally find supportive:
Use this time to establish structure and consistency in sacred rituals that support a balanced nervous system and exploration of your inner reality. Put away your screens and devices, and turn your awareness within.
Clear away excess - got an overflowing closet or drawer? Take an afternoon to go through it, only keep what brings you joy and has a purpose - donate everything else.
Finding consistency in a daily meditation practice, prioritizing conscious rest practices of pranayama or yoga nidra, and establishing healthy sleep patterns are all ways to support yourself during this time.
By doing this, you support the stabilization of our collective consciousness. As you anchor into the Truth of your Being, this impacts the field around you, everyone you interact with, your family, friends, clients and community. This is how positive change is made.
For those interested in personalized support, I have a few Vedic Counseling sessions left available this summer.
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Thank you for taking time to read. May it support you in your journey through this season. Remember, choose simplicity and anchor yourself in the stillness within during what will be a great period of instability and restructuring in our collective.
