Shravana Purnima
Honour Wholeness, Goodness and Ancient Knowledge
Full Moon Blessings (Monday 3rd August).
Moon is in the constellation of Shravana, the very auspicious star ruled by Vishnu, the Vedic God who sustains the universe with the power of Shakti, the feminine divine. Vishnu’s energy encourages us to preserve our own world, our life, our values and personal truth.
How connected are you with your life purpose? Do your daily actions reflect your core values, vision and mission? Reflect on these questions today!
Shravana is associated with ancient knowledge and tradition and today is ‘Sanskrit Diwas’ (World Sanskrit Day) the day of honouring this vibrational, nourishing and healing language. Debatably the earliest written form can be read in the Rig Veda, the grand origin narrative or scripture of the Sanatana Dharma.
Sanskrit is still widely used in Vedic rituals such as weddings and funerals and day-to-day offerings, it is also an official language in Uttarakhand, a state in northern India crossed by the Himalayas.
In interesting times where the shadow of racism is exposed in spaces like the wellness industry and cultural appropriation too now brought to the fore within western yoga culture — those of us who value wholeness, integrity and integration of our shadow parts, now have the awareness to interrogate truths about our wellness practices — to question the use of Sanskrit and matters of spiritual bypass and the bypassing of actual South Asian people for their culture.
These are important themes to investigate if we are to honour ancient knowledge and tradition on this full moon. Language is yoked to a specific culture and people, and harm is done when it is stolen, only for it to become commodified and distorted out of its context (the wrong use of ‘Namaste’ for example in western yoga classes) — issues to educate ourselves on and do shadow work around to decolonise our practices.
The moon nevertheless attains its expansive energy in Capricorn. In Vedic astrology, this sign is symbolised by a sea dragon bearing the features of a crocodile (‘Makara’ is its modern Hindi and astrological name). Its front body is able to function on land and is often pictured as a stag or elephant with other animal parts. It therefore has the dual natures of earth and water — representing our sense of stability and inner fluidity. This polarity points to the work that must be done on earth (our karmas) and how we must transform them through our deep spiritual work (represented by its tail half that has the ability to move in the depths of the seas.)
Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of hard work, grief and karmas.
He gives us a boon or reward if we work slowly, methodically, taking consistent action on our life path, doing ‘good’ work. As a signifier of Ayurveda and Yoga, he is appeased when we align with nature and treat our physical body with regular movement and use food for medicine and nourishment.
In other words, on Shravana Purnima, we can offer ourselves an audit to get in right relationship with ourselves and ensure our actions align with the greater dharma, the issues of truth, justice and righteousness in the outer world.
Because of Saturn’s stern energy, we may experience some emotional pain or grief — the experiences in life which show us the reality, however grim, by removing the illusions we cling on to.
Both Capricorn and Saturn value law, tradition, order, structure and self-discipline.
Does your life require more organisation? Do you need more stability and rooting in your daily life in order for you to flow and thrive?
We are called to deep listening and learning on this full moon.
Shravana is depicted as an ear, and shares with Saturn and Capricorn the qualities of being alone in silence and stillness, introspecting; being receptive to listen and learn from our inner wisdom. Showing reverence for knowledge that is rooted in ancient tradition is also a shared value between these energies.
Be patient and gentle with yourself as you navigate your powerful emotional body as Saturn is transiting his own sign of Capricorn right now, bringing some restriction here.
Are you listening carefully to your current needs?
Find safety in structure and good habits that support your inner well being — as this inevitably affects those around you.
Through self-reflective practices and guidance from your intuition, dismantle what is not in alignment with your self-truth to resolve your karmas, the shadow parts that exist within you.
Honour your divine wholeness.
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– Payal
