New Moon Solar Eclipse in Uttaraphalgunī: The Star Of Patronage

SOLAR ECLIPSE

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SOLAR ECLIPSE सूर्य ग्रहण 

Eclipse season culminates with the new moon (amāvásyā) and a partial solar eclipse (Sūrya Grahaṇam) in the Vedic Lunar mansion of Uttaraphalgunī उत्तरफल्गुनी (Virgo), the star of Patronage.

This new moon is also known as Sarvapitṛ Amāvāsyā which concludes Pitṛ Pakṣa (fortnight of the ancestors), also called Mahalaya Amāvāsyā, when oblations can be offered to all ancestors (sarva-pitṛ), especially for those who may have been forgotten or for whom individual śrāddha has not been performed.

Solar eclipses are omens for the energies to come. Track what has been trying to make itself known to you in the past few weeks. They expose what is hidden and set the tone for the next six months. A spiritual culmination unfolds, signaling transformative endings and the potential for new beginnings.

Right now, we’re in a time outside of time, where things aren’t what they seem. 

The eclipse portal has delivered confrontation with the unknown as promised and continues to bring old patterns to the surface for transmutation. Don’t touch what’s coming up.

Uttaraphalgunī calls us to build authentic connections through acts of service, generosity, and mutual support. As the patron of contracts and agreements, this asterism, steeped in the qualities of hospitality and protection, encourages us to honor our commitments and nurture relationships that foster both personal and collective growth.

Holding the energy and śakti of prosperity and the accumulation of wealth through partnership, this is a powerful window for collaboration that ignites a fresh perspective and creative growth. 

With the responsibility of breathing life into new architecture, we become most in need of balance. The fine tuning point between self and other — anchoring into and committing fully to self sovereignty, while practicing the grace of presence and participation within this co-created dream.

You can only change and work on yourself. No matter how deeply you feel the need to hold on or piece together something that is unraveling, you may not be able to. Allow yourself to be surprised. This is an opportunity for profound growth—don’t bypass it simply because it’s uncomfortable. Observe what is unfolding and step powerfully into taking responsibility for your own spiritual evolution.

Accelerated spiritual growth awaits if we allow introspection. Some pattern has been attempting to reveal itself for completion and healing. What would it take for you to stop resisting that which you don’t prefer? Welcome it all—the beauty, the terror, the rapture, and the turbulence. Be with it and let it go. It may not be comfortable or easy, but it will undoubtedly be worth it.

Eclipses stir duality to initiate purification, a necessary process through which self-knowledge is deepened and stabilized. The turbulence you may feel is part of the alchemy drawing you deeper into your own psyche.

Know there is light at the end of the tunnel—keep going. Do yourself a favor and create space to delve deeper into what you may have been resisting. Release what you desire and realign with what is in right relationship and highest alignment.

In this phase of heightened impulsivity, keep life simple, stay grounded, and rest. Reflect on what’s being revealed and what needs untangling. Expect the unexpected.

The ancients taught that any practice undertaken during an eclipse bears fruit a thousandfold. In this sacred window, they consumed less—physically and mentally—to keep their channels clear. With the Sun and Moon—our sources of prāṇa—obscured, this becomes a potent time for:

• Mantra chanting

• Meditation & breathwork

• Prayer & fasting

• Turning inward, rather than outward

It is also recommended to bathe before and after the eclipse to cleanse both body and mind, allowing for a smoother energetic transition.

Trust that this cycle serves as an initiation, sowing the seeds of transformation that will blossom in divine timing, guiding you into the next phase of your journey. Take your time to process things and allow the story to continue unfolding.

Those in a dasha or sub-period of Saturn, or with natal planets (Sun, Moon, Rising) in Uttaraphalgunī, will experience this transit’s transformative energy even more profoundly….

All My Relations 🦚

We will be diving deeper together in our monthly Vidyā & Chai: Group meditation and Sacred Storytelling

September, 22nd 1:30pm pst 🦢☽☼

Partial Solar Eclipse: New Moon in Uttaraphalgunī (Virgo)

Sept 21st 2025 12:54 PM PST | Sept 22nd 1:24 am IST

Eclipse Timing:

Sept 21st 10:29 am PST - Sept 21st 14:53 pm PST

Sept 21st 22:59 pm IST - Sept 22nd 3:23 am IST

Holi, Mahā Lakṣmī Jayantī & Gaura Pūrṇimā

Holi, Mahā Lakṣmī Jayantī & Gaura Pūrṇimā

Artwork: Pinterest

This full moon marks the occasion of several auspicious Vedic festivals—Holi, Mahā Lakṣmī Jayantī, and Gaura Pūrṇimā—each marking a unique spiritual significance.

Holi, the Festival of Colors, occurs on the Pūrṇimā (पूर्णिमा) day of the month of Phālguṇa. It is deeply intertwined with the theme of the eternal and divine love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (the 8th avatāra of Lord Viṣṇu), symbolized by the playful act of adorning each other's faces with vibrant colors. 

This festival not only marks the arrival of Spring but also signifies the triumph of dharma over adharma—good over evil—and the ascendancy of sattva (the creative, harmonious force) over tamas (ignorance and destruction).

The night before Holi, known as Holikā Dahan, commemorates the legend of Prahlāda and his aunt, Holikā. Enraged by the young devotee’s unwavering faith in Viṣṇu, his father, the tyrant Hiraṇyakaśipu, conspired to destroy him. Holikā, who possessed a boon rendering her immune to fire, attempted to burn Prahlāda by carrying him into the flames. Yet, her protection failed, and she perished, while Prahlāda emerged unscathed, shielded by his devotion. 

This night stands as a powerful testament to the supremacy of bhakti (devotion) and the inevitable downfall of arrogance and tyranny, setting the stage for Holi’s jubilant celebration of love, renewal, and divine play.

More than just its mythological roots, Holi stands as a celebration of love, unity, and renewal. It is a time for relationships to be reaffirmed, for healing fractured bonds, and for fostering harmony within communities. Holi's spirit of shared joy bridges social divides, creating a vivid tapestry of collective togetherness that celebrates humanity’s interconnectedness.

Artwork: Pinterest

Mahā Lakṣmī Jayantī honors the divine manifestation of Goddess Lakṣmī during the Samudra Manthan, a pivotal episode in Hindu mythology. The churning of the Ocean of Milk by the Devas and Asuras to obtain Amṛta (the nectar of immortality) signifies a profound spiritual endeavor, revealing treasures and divine beings, including Goddess Lakṣmī. 

 When Mahā Lakṣmī emerged from the ocean, she immediately took residence in Lord Viṣṇu’s (The Preserver, Protector of the Universe) heart. Her appearance bestows eightfold blessings, embodying abundance, grace, and devotion, guiding devotees toward both prosperity and spiritual well-being.

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय | ॐ श्रीं महा लक्ष्म्यै नमः

Artwork: Anonymous

Gaura Pūrṇimā commemorates the birth of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, a pivotal figure in the spiritual traditions of India. Born during a Lunar Eclipse in West Bengal, Mahāprabhu is considered a combined incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa  and His beloved devotee, Śrīmati Rādhārāṇī. His divine purpose was twofold: to experience the profound love that Śrīmati Rādhārāṇī holds for Him and to show the path of complete surrender and love for Kṛṣṇa during our eath walk.

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण, कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे
हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे

“Mind becomes absorbed in the mantra, and then the mantra becomes absorbed in the mind.” — Ramana Maharshi

Mercury Retrograde in Uttara Phālgunī

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde in Uttara Phālgunī

August 23 - September 14

In the current celestial landscape, Mercury, the harbinger of communication and intelligence, enters a retrograde phase that takes place within the nurturing boundaries of Uttara Phālgunī (sidereal Leo). This alignment imbues our quicksilver mental faculties with a slowed cadence, beckoning us into a state of refined contemplation.

Uttara Phālgunī is known as the 'Star of Patronage,' a celestial body deeply associated with benevolence, guardianship, and mutual care. These retrograde periods are less an obstacle course and more an invitation to reflection and action. Under its auspices, Mercury's retrograde provides an opportune frame for re-evaluating the dimensions of our commitments and responsibilities.

Within this cosmic environment, the rapid-fire faculties governed by Mercury—communication, trade, intellectual pursuits—take a measured pace. It's a temporal sphere where haste is less regarded than the quality of deliberation, giving us pause to think not just about the messages we send, but also the underlying ethics of our intentions and actions.

This period calls for a nuanced understanding of interdependence, a foundational principle and core tenet associated with the influence of Uttara Phālgunī. It encourages us to recalibrate the scales of give and take, to assess whether our personal and professional patronages are aligned with our deepest convictions. Through this churning, Mercury subtly instructs us in the virtues of a balanced, neutral perspective.

Given the reflective mood set by this celestial alignment, now would also be a propitious time to dust off old projects and rekindle efforts that align with these patronly virtues, revisiting them with a newly balanced perspective.

During this retrograde phase, one would do well to engage in a focused introspection to refine one's roles and responsibilities as both benefactor and beneficiary. The goal is to emerge with a matured sense of stewardship, capable of navigating life's complexities with equanimity and grace.

David Loy // “One meaning of freedom is the opportunity to act out the story I identify with. Another freedom is the ability to change stories and my role within them.”