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In This Issue

Astrology in the Sierras 2016

Remedial Measures

Schedule

This is a 2-hour slide show presentation that is designed to help you tune in to Saturn and make the most of what this Amazing planet offers.

Click here to find out more.

Path of Light Vol. 1
By James Kelleher

This book has all of the symbology about signs, planets, houses and nakshatras that can help you understand your chart better. Even if you are not a student of Vedic astrology, it can help to get a deeper feeling for the astrological influences in your life..

Click here to read more about it or to order.

Rahu and Ketu

A two hour slide show presentation on Rahu and Ketu. Find out how you can tune in to the Shadow-Planets. Click here to find out more or purchase the class.

Beginners Class

Jyotish Fundamentals

Recorded Class

Click here for details.

February, 2016

World Predictions 2016

Recording Available for Download

On January 30th I gave my World Predictions 2016 talk at the

East West Bookshop in Mountainview, CA. If you would like to download this two-hour presentation, which is all about where we are headed globally, in the next several years, click here to order

New York

April 2 - 8, 2016

I will be in New York from April 2 - 8, doing readngs by appointment. If you would like to book a reading, contact me at 530-265-8410 or james@jameskelleher.com.

Magnificent Mars

A Webinar for Everyone about the Planet of Energy, Ambition, and Desire

Tuesday, March 15th

Two optional times:

11 a.m. PST

7 p.m. PST

On February 19th, Mars will enter Scorpio. There it will join Saturn, which is already transiting Scorpio, to form a conjunction that will last until September. This conjunction will have an impact on each of us as well as an impact on the world in general. I will be writing more about it in the March newsletter, but it will undoubtedly raise the level of tension in various hot-spots throughout the world.

In the mean time, I will be giving a class designed to help you understand and work with your Mars in your horoscope. This class is appropriate for everyone. You don't need to have any special understanding of Vedic astrology to benefit from it. It will not only help you navigate the Mars/Saturn conjunction period, but it will also help you to understand all of your "Mars issues".

Mars rules over desire, and the ability to get your desires fulfilled. It is also the planet of energy, ambition, and assertiveness. When you get angry, that's your Mars talking!

Anyway, this is your chance to learn everything you ever wanted to know about Mars in astrology. Click here if you would like to read more or would like to sign up for the webinar.

Ketu In Aquarius

January 9, 2016 - September 9, 2017

(True Node)

Last month I talked about Rahu's Transit through the sign of Leo. I gave a description of what you might expect in your own life during the next eighteen months. This month, I will be focusing on Ketu's transit through Aquarius from January 9, 2016 to September 9. 2017.

Ketu and Rahu are counterparts. They are the South and North nodes of the Moon, respectively. Mythologically, you might remember that Rahu was a demon who tried to get the amrita, the nectar that makes the gods immortal. He dressed up like a god and sat down between the Sun and the Moon while the nectar was being doled out by Vishnu. When the nectar came around, he took a sip. Unfortunately for him, the Sun and the Moon saw through his disguise and turned him in. Vishnu threw his discus and cut off Rahu's head. The head without the body became Rahu, and the body without the head became Ketu.

Astronomically, Rahu and Ketu are points of intersection where the orbit of the Moon around the earth intersects with the plane of the ecliptic. They are involved in creating the shadows that produce eclipses.

All of this symbolism, based both on mythology and astronomy, can help to understand these two shadow planets. For example, in the case of Ketu, his story is about not having a head. So Ketu can't see where he is going. That is why in a Ketu period, or when Ketu is transiting through a particular house, we sometimes feel like we don't know where we are headed with that domain of life.

Having no head is also symbolic of dropping the mind and experiencing life intuitively, moment to moment. So Ketu is the planet of moksha or spiritual freedom. Whatever area of life Ketu is affecting will be an area where we are being challenged to drop our planning and controlling and just take things as they come.

In this respect, Ketu is like a hitchhiker. Hitchhikers are good at taking the ride that comes their way, and going with the flow. A good hitchhiker, one that understands the rules of hitchhiking, doesn't try to control his experience. He sticks out his thumb, and then takes whatever ride is offered. If it doesn't take him to his exact destination, he doesn't worry. He just takes the ride as far as it goes and then sticks out his thumb again and gets another ride. He's free, and that freedom comes along with infinite possibilities for new experiences.

There are two types of hitchhikers. First, there is the hitchhiker who comes to the road with a strict agenda. He thinks, "I need to be picked up no later than 10 a.m., and delivered to my desired destination by 11:45 am. I should be picked up in a luxury car, by an intelligent, articulate, good looking person, who doesn't smell funny." I call this type of hitchhiker "The Unhappy Hitchhiker". Needless to say, he doesn't understand the rules of hitchhiking, and he is setting himself up for disappointment.

On the other hand, there is "The Happy Hitchhiker". He begins his journey with no expectation. He only knows his general destination, and is willing to take any ride that goes in that general direction. He is flexible and grateful for any ride that is offered. He doesn't mind discomfort. He doesn't worry about not getting to ride in a BMW or a Lexus. He's happy to ride in the back of a pickup if necessary. And if many cars pass him by, he is happy to wait. After all, it's a nice day, the birds are chirping. The Sun is out. He enjoys every moment. He is the embodiment of Ketu.

In 1981 I met a famous Spiritual Teacher in Bombay. His name was Nisarga Datta. He was a teacher of what is called Non Dualism. Anyway, Nisarga Datta once put it this way. "In the West (and I would argue all other directions as well!) they have it backwards. Everyone wants what they don't have. Nobody wants what they do have. That's backwards. Instead, you should want what you have and not want what you don't have. You will be happy!"

In other words, be in the moment and love what is. This is Ketu's message and Ketu's challenge. As it passes the sign of Aquarius, you will be challenged to let go of attachments and expectations in the area of the life ruled by the house signified by Aquarius in your chart. This can be either a liberating experience that gives you the sense of freedom and infinite new possibilities, or it can be a disappointing experience. It all depends on whether you are a happy or an unhappy hitchhiker.

The following is a description of what you might expect in the period from 1/9/2016 - 9/9/2017, during Ketu's transit of Aquarius. It is based on the house in which Ketu is transiting, relative to your Sun Sign. Please be sure to check the birth dates carefully, because, as you know, in Vedic astrology we use a different zodiac. If you happen to know your Lagna (rising sign) or your Moon sign, you can read the predictions given for those signs as well.

April 13- May 13 (Aries) During this period you might be attracted to friends or groups that are more spiritually inclined. You might feel disappointed with friends who behave in less than ideal ways, and feel that you want to connect to your community or circle of friends on a more idealistic level. This could also be a period of "hitchhiking" with respect to your future goals. Stay open. Try something new or something out of your comfort zone.

May 14 - June 13 (Taurus) This period may produce a desire to let go of mundane work in order to do something that you feel more connected to on an intuitive or inspirational level. On the negative side, you might feel some dissatisfaction with your job or your boss. On the other hand, this is the perfect opportunity to "hitchhike" with regards to your work. This period favors freelancing, trying new projects, and using your creative ability. This is also a good time for taking some time off from work.

June 14 - July 15 (Gemini) This is a great period for spiritual progress. It favors involvement with spiritual traditions that emphasize detachment, like Buddhism. This is also a great period to travel, especially to exotic places.

July 16 - August 15 (Cancer) During this period you might feel some uncertainty regarding joint finances, the partners finances, or finances that come from sources other than a paycheck. On the other hand, this period is good for getting involved in alternative therapeutic modalities like yoga, Thai Chi or body work.

August 16 - September 15 (Leo) Ketu's transit in Aquarius could produce a sense of detachment in relationship. You might feel like you need time to yourself. This can be positive or negative depending on how well you can embrace "the Happy Hitchhiker. On the positive level, it can give you a day at a time approach to relationships, marriage or partnerships. If you seek certainty or have a strong set of expectations in the area of relationship, on the other hand, this period could produce disappointment or make you feel dissatisfied with one or more people in your life. The key here is to love what is. Accept your partners or friends as they are, and let go of the need to make them adhere to fussy expectations and rules.

On the positive side, this can be a great period for spiritualizing relationships and feeling an unbelievable sense of happiness as you extend compassion and unconditional love towards the people in your life.

September 16 - October 15 (Virgo) This is a good time to be attentive to your health by utilizing alternative healing modalities like herbs, oriental medicine, energy work, yoga and intuitive healing. If you are employed, you might feel something is lacking in your job or feel the desire to take some time off.

October 16 -November 14 (Libra) - During this period you might feel a sense of uncertainty regarding children or education. On the other hand this is a good time for creative projects and it is also a good time for studying anything related to healing.

November 15 - December 14 (Scorpio) This period is a good time for doing something to improve the ambience of your home. For example, you might consider doing Feng Sui or Vastu, in order to create a better flow of energy. On the other hand, it could also be a time when you are feeling dissatisfied with where you live, and this could lead to a desire to move.

December 15 - January 12 (Sagittarius) During this period you might find your intuition improving. Ketu, the planet of intuition, is moving through the house of communication, making it more likely that you could unconsciously say or write things that just seem to work out for the best. On the other hand, this could also be a time when you are feeling a bit dissatisfied in the area of communications. Sometimes this transit can bring the tendency to occasionally avoid difficult conversations . But this is a great time to read or study any subjects related to spirituality or healing.

January 13 - February 11 (Capricorn) Ketu is transiting your house of money, speech, and food. Regarding money, this is a time when you might feel some sense of uncertainty about where you are headed. Try to take things a day at a time financially. Uncertainty is not necessarily a negative thing. It is good when you are freelancing, for example.

Regarding food, this is a time when you might have a desire to refine your diet, and let go of foods that aren't good for you.

For speech, try speaking less. As an experiment, try taking a weekend in silence. It's is amazing how much energy we spend distracting ourselves with talking. Go on a talking fast for a few days!

February 12 - March 13 (Aquarius) This is a good time for spiritual development. You might feel like you need more time to yourself. Take some time off. Learn to meditate. Take a trip. Go on a retreat. Don't let yourself feel unappreciated or invisible. Let go of the need for recognition by embracing blissful anonymity.

March 14 - April 12 (Pisces) This is a great period for travel, especially to exotic places or foreign countries. This is also a good time for learning to meditate if you don't already know how, or for increasing your meditation or yoga practice if you're are already involved in that sort of thing.

Astrology in the Sierras Retreat

Applying Jyotish Fundamentals

October 9 - 16, 2016

Join us for our annual retreat in the California Sierras. This is an opportunity to advance your astrological skills by spending a week entirely immersed in Jyotish. It also gives you the opportunity to connect with other Jyotishis who share your passion for astrology.

This year the class is called Applying Jyotish Fundamentals, and it will focus on chart analysis. We will hone our skills on lots of chart examples, covering a variety of subject areas.

For more information or to sign up for the class, click here

Remedial Measures Class

for intermediate to advanced astrologers

9 Wednesdays beginning April 20, 2016

This class will focus on remedial measures: I will show you how to use gemstones, mantras, yagyas, donations, and other remedial techniques in order to assist your clients in their own karmic healing process. In addition, I will show you how to bring these practices out of the realm of superstition, and use them in a manner that actually makes a connection for both you and your clients.

The goal of this aspect of the class is to help each student develop more confidence when recommending remedies, while at the same time learning to apply remedial techniques in a way that harmonizes with each individual client as well as with modern life.

As with all of my classes, the orientation of this class is towards doing actual readings. My philosophy of teaching is that you learn astrology by doing astrology, not by talking about astrology. The Sierra mountains will provide an excellent environment for a total-immersion experience in this ancient art.

Schedule

Magnificent Mars

Webinar

Tuesday, March 15

Two times:

12 noon pst

7 p.m. pst

New York

April 2 - 8, 2016

Readings in Manhattan by appointment

408-354-6719

james@jameskelleher.com

Vedic Astrology Conference

Grass Valley Yoga Farm

June 30 - July 5, 2016

14651 Ballantree Lane Grass Valley, CA 95949
530-272-9322 | (800)469-9642
email: yogafarmregistration@sivananda.org

Astrology in the Sierras

October 9 - 16, 2016

Expanding Light Retreat

Nevada City, CA

Namaste!

James