The #star of #Chittra #Nakshatra is called #Spica. This is the brightest star in the constellation of #Virgo. The stars of Virgo form the reclining figure of a woman, with Spica as the left hand of the Virgin – this yoga practice deriving from the left hand path of Tantra.

Spica is most visible in the sky in the northern hemisphere, in the months March to July. The Spica star can be seen well in the triangle formed by the 3 bright stars of Arcturus, Spica and Regulus. The base of the triangle is made by Spica and Regulus.

Virgo is the biggest constellation in the zodiac. It is most visible after sunset in the month of May. As the largest zodiac constellation the Sun takes 44 days to pass through it, longer than for any other constellation. The constellation of Virgo is also notable as it has 20 stars with known planets, which is more than any other constellation.

The long transition of the sun through the Virgo constellation gives the jewel of the Spica star an extended period to harness the solar force. Chittra is an active Nakshatra of radiance, many thousands of times brighter than the sun.

#Mangala (planet #Mars) is the ruling planet of Chittra. Mars rules the solar-plexus Chakra as the active expression of its energy.

The Manipura chakra, as the solar-plexus is called, translates as the Jewel in the City. This is the fire in the belly that inclines us to action. The red planet of Mars is the fire of action that flows in the blood. The desire and impulse of action is put into creative use by the force of Chittra. Chittra is the second of the Mars ruled Nakshatras. All the Mars ruled Nakshatras deal with the skill of transforming and refining the elements of life.

How we use
and channel our life force
is the initiation
of the Mars ruled Nakshatras.

#Mrgasirsa is the first Mars ruled Nakshatra that gives the initiation of cultivation and gathering Shakti. Chittra comes next and gives the initiation of shaping the Jewel of life with the Shakti we have preserved through the first initiation. The final Mars ruled Nakshatra is #Dhanishta, which teaches us the further lesson of caring for the radiance of the jewel by honouring the law of rhythms.

These Nakshatra’s are dealt with in more detail in past blogs entries, which you may refer to here.
http://healinginthewillows.com/mrgasirsa/
http://healinginthewillows.com/dhanishta-nakshatra/

We can start to see how #Nakshatras fit together when we consider them as a group under their planetary rulership, in this case Mars. By considering them as a group, we may get a deeper insight into the lessons they present to us.

Chittra Nakshatra travels between Kanya (Virgo) and Tula (Libra) and brings the creative earthly juices of the Virgin to an awareness of the opposites. The balance of force is revealed by Tula, which means to weigh. When we consider our life force carefully, we become aware of the options we have. Creation is a process of weighing things up and applying the weight of our life force with consideration.

The creativity
that Chittra Nakshatra teaches us
is one of consideration,
calculation and implementation
of our energies.

Chittra is the careful cutting and shaping of the facets of the jewel. This is a detailed use of creative force, that has power in considering the formations and outcomes of applied life force.

We see that Chittra is oftentimes symbolised by a pearl in an oyster. Like the delicate work of faceting a jewel, the creation of the pearl is a slow and gradual process. It is the intelligent and sober application of force. Chittra brings us the awareness of the jewel of our life-force. It is the pearl of great price. Carefully looking at where we cast our pearls is the teaching that the rays of this Star shines upon us here on earth.

The Virgin in the Cave
The Tale of Persephone

We see that the Ancient Greeks put the celestial codes of the constellation of Virgo into the story of Persephone. Persephone was a beautiful Virgin. Her light spring-like nature was the opposite of the underworld god, known by the name of Hades.

Hades fell in love with Persephone and, one day, while Persephone was gaily picking flowers in a lush meadow he left his dark underworld kingdom and came to the earth to abduct her.

The earth became barren until Persephone found release from his cavernous clutches. But Persephone was bound to return to the underworld, upon account of a trick played on her by Hades.

Her return to earth corresponds to the months of abundance, when the Constellation of Virgo is most visible in the night sky. The season of spring occurs when the constellation of Virgo appears in the early evening above the horizon. When she’s no longer there, it is winter. That is when Persephone returns to the underworld. From the Northern Hemispheres perspective, Virgos absence from the evening sky is found in late autumn, winter and early spring. Virgo’s reappearance in the sky at nightfall comes again with the rising season of spring.

The Celestial Architect
The Polarities of Creation

The God of Chittra Nakshatra is #Tvashta. He is the #celestial #Architect who transfers his inspiration and energy to us through his star Chittra.

Tvashta seems a bit multi-faceted himself. He appears complex at first glance. Tvashta has a dual form. One facet of Tvashta is Vishwakarma, who is the architect of the Devas.
We see, interestingly, that in regions of South India the crafters are known as the Vishwakarmas. The other facet of Tvashta, is Mayasur, who is the architect of the Asuras.

Both these faces of Tvashta deal with his skill in design, architecture, and crafting with creative force. As Vishwakarma, Tvashta creates forms that are diaphanous and creative. And as Mayasur he creates destructive forms coated in glamour and trickery. Tvashta, it can be seen, is the force and skill of the creative energy.

How is the creative force is wielded in our hands? As the life-force is released from the grip of unconsciousness, the range of possibility of creative force is liberated from limitation. The Tantric is a creative voyager who releases the skills of Tvashta by attempting to awaken from unconscious dreams.

One other noteworthy thing about Tvashta, is that he is one of the 12 Aditya’s. These are the deities that are assigned to each calendar month. The Aditya’s transport and give the teaching of the particular month that they rule over.

All the Aditya’s hold lotus flowers.

What is unique about Tvashta, is that his lotus flower, is the only one amongst the Aditya’s that is closed. This is a worthy symbol of meditation that reveals many meanings when pondered upon. Perhaps we might rather simply say that creativity requires a stage of introverting to gather force, before it is put to action. We see this principle at play in the creation of life in the womb.

When the introverted gathering of elixir is not honoured, then real creative force might very well de deficient. Creativity without elixir, might then come to be replaced by a predictable and creatively dead clock-work engine. When night falls, not only does a lotus close its petals, but it enters back into the waters from whence it came.

The stone and the Jewel
Channelling the Life-Force

Chittra Nakshatra is the star that brings us the teaching and blessing of channelling our life energies towards the creation of beauty. Someone who works with cutting and polishing diamonds is called a diamantaire. The skill of a diamantaire, encapsulates very much the quality that Chittra Nakshatra presents to us.

To become a diamantaire, requires long years of study into the science and art that is diamond polishing. Painstaking attention to detail and patience is required. The fine work of cutting and polishing is preceded by separating the diamond from the ore. Many hours are required to cut a diamond.

A diamond
can only be cut
by another diamond.

This fact is something worth pondering on, when considering the creative work of polishing the diamond of our lives. The diamantaire takes the rough diamond stone and with the magic of an alchemist, transforms of to a sparkling and mesmerising jewel.
Life energy can be used to launch a stone and create injury and destruction. But, the very same life force, can be channelled into the detailed work of artfully shaping the facets of a stone, and creating a jewel.

By the focus of our life energies, we can take a stone that was once a rough sharp object – perhaps able to cut the hand, and not particularly alluring – and shape it into a jewel of fascination and reflective beauty.

The word Chittra means radiant, shining, delicately-detailed, multi-layered, multi-faceted and lustrous. It is most appropriate that this star is symbolised by a Jewel.

Chittra also contains the word Chit, which means ‘pure awareness’ and could be seen as referring to the shining jewel of the soul. Chit is suffixed by Tra, in the name of this Nakshatra. Tra is derived from the Sanskrit word Tryate, and means to set free. So Chittra in this sense, translates as ‘the setting free of the jewel of pure awareness’.

A work of art, such as a painting, is referred to as Citr in Hindi. This is derived from the word Chittra. Again, this points to the principle of this star, to bring us the illumination to shape the jewel of our life. Chittra for this reason has come to be known as the star of carving the jewel.

What is the condition of our jewel? Is it in the workshop, with us sitting attentively at the desk? Or, has it fallen to the wayside, as we nurture concerns, other than the jewel of our life?

Chinnamasta
Pure Life-Force

Chinnamasta is the pure ruby red life force. She is the multifaceted jewel, that tells us of the possibilities of movements within the constellation of life. She shows us the options we have, of how to apply the life-force that we carry. She is the Vidya (wisdom) that meets us at the ‘tripple-crossroads’ of power.
In every movement of desire, we play either a passive or an active seat.

Chinnamasta is the seat between the two familiar ways. She is the teacher of transmitting and transmuting our life-force into sacred and spiritually potent action. Her jewel shines with the secret lustre of the union of two forces. Her Jewel is the meeting of polarities, and transmits the wisdom of sacred equilibrium. Her Jewel is the place where opposites and opposition are magically fused together.

When we hear the word equilibrium we might be prone to think of peace and wellbeing. But the equilibrium that Chinnamasta transports to us is a double sided balance and integrity, between the forces of rapturous chaos and poised awareness. She tears her head from her body, but she drinks of the middle stream of equilibrium force, without spilling a single drop from of the jewel coloured elixir of her life blood.
https://healinginthewillows.com/chittra-nakshatra/

The #Deer #Star of #Seeking
Tomorrow night’s Matangi’s Jayanti, the day and night during which Tantrics honour the Mahavidya Goddess Matangi, will happen under the auspices of the #Mrgasirsa #Nakshatra (lunar house). Mrgasirsa translates as the head of the deer and is symbolised by a Deer searching and scouring the land for nourishment.

It is formed of a cluster of 4 stars in the constellation of Orion, the brightest star of this Nakshatra is Bellatrix. These stars form the shape of a Deer head.

This #Mangala ( #Mars) Ruled Nakshatra traverses both Taurus and Gemini. Mangala being the ruling planet of this Nakshatra, gives the force to search and quest. This is the quality of enthusiasm that is the fountain of youth, ever seeking and searching to know and to find.

Right Under the Nose
Uniting Opposites
The desire to unite disparate parts is the wanderlust of the Tantric voyager. Opposite poles mysteriously magnetize and attract each other, while simultaneously also having the force of repelling or de-magnetizing each other.

We find that all the Mars ruled Nakshatra’s are possessed of the adventurous spirit. We see that all the Mars ruled Nakshatra’s sit between two zodiac constellations, they are half in one sign and half in another, giving them the quality that inspires the quest of searching to unify opposites.

In the case of Mrgasirsa the bridge is between Vrishabha (Taurus) and Mithuna (Gemini). Taurus is an earthly sign of heart that is ruled by Venus. It is concerned with the immediate earthly sensorial territory.

Gemini is Mercurial etheric sign of the metaphysical mind. It is concerned with travel and movement in the metaphysical spheres. We can see these opposites at play clearly in Mrgasirsa, we could call it the joinery between the head and the heart.

When the head and the heart move in harmony with each other, then we have a great level of practical wisdom. When they are out of sync with each other, then we have abstractive irrelevance in the earthly sense and overly emotional indulgence in matters of the heart.

The Deer is a most practical creature of heart, infact it is the animal that symbolizes the Heart-Chakta for Tantrics. The Deer possess the eyes of a lover and has the swift movements of the air ruled Heart-Chakra.

When we look at pictures of the Nebula of Orion, we very interestingly even see that it presents a heart shaped form to us.

The Deer beautifully brings the qualities of the heart and the head together. It is a measured creature that is in touch with the mysteries inherent in its environment. It is not a chancer that that looks for wonderment far afield, but rather discovers the delights that are right under its nose.

The Deer is known famously for having the musk gland. This gland produces a substance that has been widely prized in perfumery. The gland contains pheromones that strongly attract and affect the heart of those who catch the scent. It is a scent that Deers attract mates by.

All creatures have such glands that incite and allure. The musk of the deer has been recognised as exerting a particularly powerful impact upon the heart. This has made of it a much sought after commodity. The paradox is that the harvesting of this gland might be anything but heart-full in the exploitation of the Deer.

The Deity of Mrgasirsa is #Soma, Soma is the lunarly Elixir of life. Soma is the fountain of eternal youth and steady energy.

When Soma flows smoothly, the energy and the emotions are rhythmic and regular. Soma does not blow hot and cold, nor does it have drops and dips between energy and depletion. Soma is not a quality of excitement and restless stimulation, it is rather a smooth creamy continuity that brings life.

When Soma flows, then Prana (breath power) Tejas (psychic fire) and Ojas (watery essence) is abundant. Soma is the Elixir that the Yogins are careful to preserve. Without Soma, the waters of life run dry.

The Deer is a reminder of the cultivation and preservation of Soma. It is a creature that measures its capacities and knows its capabilities well. It is familiar with what its environment brings and has to offer. It equally knows dry well, what it’s environment does not have to offer. The deer is a teacher of the sacred heart that is practical to that which is right under its nose. It does not waste its essence in far off pursuits, but brings the vision of magic to the pursuit right under its nose.

On the path of the Deer, we are asked to measure our resources.

To go beyond what our resources actually are, is not the path of devotion, it is rather the opposite path that goes against the sacred heart.

On the path of the Deer, we are asked to look closely at the promises and searchings of chasing rainbows to the detriment of our Soma life fluid.

On the Path of the Deer, we are asked to look at, make use of and appreciate the particular shade of the green of our grass.

Way of the Deer
This Deer-driven star of Soma, shines the energy of searching and seeking. The spirit of the quest, and the wonderlust towards innocent discovery is reflected in the eyes of the Deer.

The wonderlust of ever looking, searching and being on the eternal quest for the magical Elixir, may far outdo the need to find and obtain the certain treasure when seen through the vision of a Deer.

The vision that looks deep into that which is below the nose, is the path of efficiency, functionality and appreciation.

If the vision of ever looking into the wonders that are hidden in our midst is not with us, then all love, appreciation and gratitude are thrown out of the window.

The Deer vision is the wonderment and devotion in each and every little thing that is in our path. The deer spirit, is the spirit that is attuned to catch the voice of the flowers and the scent of the Moon.

Mrgasirsa is made of two words, Mrga implies Deer and other related species, such as antelope and gazelle, and Sirsa, which implies the head.

This points towards the power of this star to shine down upon our highest point ‘the head’, and turn us towards the search of deep mysteries.

The symbol of this star is the inclined head of the focused deer, sniffing out it’s path. The ritual journey taken under this star is one of inclining our head to look into the basis nourishment of our spirit.

This concerns things that are very close at hand, so close as to be right under our nose. The deer is an animal that is a wanderer within its familiar territory. It is a very practical creature that is in deep contact with its immediate surroundings. It could be said that the Deer is the seeker of adventure in the familiar.

This quality of knowing, studying and appreciating it’s territory, makes the Deer incredibly adaptable to new conditions, perhaps like no other creature.

Sometimes we might live in a cycle of achieving things. We naturally may have to strive under a schedule of duties and fulfilling tasks. When things become monotonous, we might see it as an indication of a needed change. The change that the Deer eyed vision of Mrgasirsa brings to us, is a change of our vision, to deepen our focus into the magic that is around us and learn to look for the unfamiliar in the very midst of the familiar.

The wonder that is brought to us by the Deer-eyed gaze of this star is to keep the journey of-the-sparkling, ever with us.

When we aim for a distant star, we risk losing the closer scent of the magical things around us. By slowing down the frequency of our sniff, the scents of magic that are right-up-close to us come under our nose.

This star brings us to question things such as excessive movement, striving and speed.

The Search For What is There
Searching is a word that is redefined by this Star. The search for the magical Deer-eyed vision is what is implied by the wisdom of this Star.

A search that goes pushing and rushing along in pursuit of the treasure, blindly misses daisy secrets that only the Deer-eye catches.

It might one day arrive at the treasure, only to find a mirror that reflects back the dried up loss of power that such a blind journey created.

The vision of the Deer is one that catches the sparkles along its way. The Deer vision gathers the treasure in its very gaze. Learning the secrets of the Deer is the path of learning to honour the Deer-eyed-gaze.

The way back to the magical gaze of the Deer, might be an arduous path. A path where we come to question our internal power of soul. We may come to see parts in ourselves, where we have thrown out precious nourishing things from our heart in exchange for inedible dirt.

Exotic perfumes in distant lands sweep the heart into magical fantasy it could be said. But discovering the scent of the home we are in, the one right under-our-nose, unfolds a fantastical reality that we might be bypassing… or by-sniffing and missing the essential treasure of being.

We might miss the rainbow in search of the pot of gold if we lose the lesson of the Deer. We might have taken influence from some place, and feel that wonder is far away from where we are. Maybe wonder is so close that it’s in the very gaze that we see things with. In the gaze of the Deer

Mrgasirsa brings us its blessing if we tune in and listen to the frequency of its starbeams. This Star makes us Deer-eyed and Deer-nosed. It teaches us to be able to beam the focus of our psychic forces right to the fundament of where we are in each and every gaze and sniff.

Chasing the Golden Deer
The Golden Deer that captivated Sita in the Ramayana epic, is what starts the whole story of her abduction and resultant rescue under the powers of Hanuman’s devotion to restore Love.

Sita, upon seeing the golden Deer was so captivated by it beauty, that she just had to have it.

The Deer shimmered like the golden sun and had silver moonlike spots that entranced Sita, so much as, as to forget where she was and what was around her. Her desire for the Deer, caused her to lose all ground.

A whole odyssey of separation and battle ensued as a result of seeking the golden Deer, who was infact a trickster.

The teaching inherent in this tale is clear when we consider the quality of the Deer as outlined above. The search for the Golden Deer carried consequences for all involved, but the paradox is that without the overstepping of ones territory, the path of Karma does not unfold. Straying is a necessary part of learning.

Playing it too safe can be the path of living death.

Much blood and Soma may spill in the pursuit of the golden Deer, but it becomes a deep teaching of the nature of overstepping the lines of reality.

By the teaching of this Star, we are brought to question and look at our own golden Deer pursuits.

Spirit of the Deer
The Yogins consider the animals as teachers and emissaries of particular qualities of the Spirit. A theoretical study of the habits of animals is certainly a very interesting way to get familiar with the qualities of the various creatures that live on earth. Tantric’s meditate upon the animals and evoke their particular spirit and quality within themselves. Observing the actual animal by meditation and tuning in to its energy has been a favorite pastime of Tantric’s, as a way to learn and attune to the animals secrets.

Observing how the coat of a Deer changes with the seasons communicates many mysteries to us if we open the receptive channels to its teaching. Mimicking the bark of the Deer is a way to comprehend where the energy of the deer is located in its body and spirit. The sound of the Deer engages the heart and the throat equally. This becomes poignant when we consider the Venus and Mercury aspects that the Deer Nakshatra stands between, as hilighted above in the ‘Uniting Opposites’ section.

The spirt of the Deer is a determined but innocent one that is more interested in the divine play than in the divine accomplishment.

When we look at the gods who have a deer with them, we get some pointers into the meaning of this Star.

Krishna is the player of the celestial game known as Lila.

Lila is the romantic play of the spirit with all phenomena. Krishna is often pictured with the deer, as we see here above.

Another deity who rises upon Deer back is Vayu.

Vayu is the deity of the wind who rides swiftly upon Deer-back and carries the jewel of Pranic breath power to us. The Heart is the transformer of the common air element, into the the life force of Prana that the Yogins honour and awaken.

Soma
Soma, the Moon deity, is another who also rides swiftly upon deer-back. He plays an important position here as he is the ruling deity of Mrgasirsa.

The parentage of Soma is of worthy note and points to secrets of lunar balance. The Moon rules the psychic movements by its ever changing rhythms. To balance the Moon energy of the psyche is open the secrets of Soma.

Soma is born of Bhanu and Nisha, Bhanu is the hot fiery father, Nisha is the mother who is cool, dark and moist. The first child of this couple was Agni, the second was Rohini and the third was Soma.

Agni is the fire god of the Nakshatra Krittika. Rohini is the most fertile red star woman. Rohini’s Nakshatra stands right between Krittika and Mrgasirsa. We have seen that Mrgasirsa is the cool star of Soma.

Rohini is brought to her fruitful power by standing in balance balance Agni and Soma. Heat and coolness in balanced measure is needed for her to thrive.

The lunarly journey of the Moon, travels through these three Nakshatras in the sequence in which they were born.

Soma is the Moon, but it is equally the Elixiral fluid of magic and wonder.

The force of this Star is to translate the fountain of eternal youth to us here on earth by shining them to us by the light of the Moons fourth waxing night.

Those places where inspiration and wonderlust are most unstable in us, are brought to life by this particular Moonshine.

A Woman of Heart
The Deer is the animal that is connected to the Heart-Chakra. The Heart-Chakra resonates with the Green colour spectrum.

This brings us to Matangi, the Green Goddess of tomorrow night. We shall meet for the ritual that Annually honours Matangi.

She is the Green Goddess of unconditional Love. Matangi lays no condition upon the form that love is offered to her in. Her green-eyed vision sees with the eye of the Heart-Chakra.

Matangi is the deep essence of motherhood. Like a true mother who is equal about handling warm milk or warm shit, Matangi’s hands fear not to touch all sides of love.

Matangi is a powerful ally for us in determining the value of the things that we receive in our lives. Sometimes the most bitter medicine is administered with the greatest love, this is something that Matangi makes us aware of and sober enough to see.

Alternatively, sometimes the sweetest things are backed with empty sentiment that does not nourish anything deeper than our surface fancies.

https://healinginthewillows.com/page/4/?s=nakshatra

#MRGASIRSA

Mrgasirsa translates as the head of the deer and is symbolised by a Deer searching and scouring the land for nourishment.

It is formed of a cluster of 4 stars in the constellation of Orion, the brightest star of this Nakshatra is Bellatrix. These stars form the shape of a Deer head.

This Mangala (Mars) Ruled Nakshatra traverses both Taurus and Gemini. Mangala being the ruling planet of this Nakshatra, gives the force to search and quest. This is the quality of enthusiasm that is the fountain of youth, ever seeking and searching to know and to find.

The desire to unite disparate parts is the wanderlust of the Tantric voyager. Opposite poles mysteriously magnetize and attract each other, while simultaneously also having the force of repelling or de-magnetizing each other.

We find that all the #Mars ruled #Nakshatra’s are possessed of the adventurous spirit. We see that all the Mars ruled Nakshatra’s sit between two zodiac constellations, they are half in one sign and half in another, giving them the quality that inspires the quest of searching to unify opposites.

In the case of Mrgasirsa the bridge is between Vrishabha (Taurus) and Mithuna (Gemini). Taurus is an earthly sign of heart that is ruled by Venus. It is concerned with the immediate earthly sensorial territory.

Gemini is Mercurial etheric sign of the metaphysical mind. It is concerned with travel and movement in the metaphysical spheres. We can see these opposites at play clearly in Mrgasirsa, we could call it the joinery between the head and the heart.

When the head and the heart move in harmony with each other, then we have a great level of practical wisdom. When they are out of sync with each other, then we have abstractive irrelevance in the earthly sense and overly emotional indulgence in matters of the heart.

The Deer is a most practical creature of heart, infact it is the animal that symbolizes the Heart-Chakta for Tantrics. The Deer possess the eyes of a lover and has the swift movements of the air ruled Heart-Chakra.

When we look at pictures of the Nebula of Orion, we very interestingly even see that it presents a heart shaped form to us.

The Deer beautifully brings the qualities of the heart and the head together. It is a measured creature that is in touch with the mysteries inherent in its environment. It is not a chancer that that looks for wonderment far afield, but rather discovers the delights that are right under its nose.

The Deer is known famously for having the musk gland. This gland produces a substance that has been widely prized in perfumery. The gland contains pheromones that strongly attract and affect the heart of those who catch the scent. It is a scent that Deers attract mates by.

All creatures have such glands that incite and allure. The musk of the deer has been recognised as exerting a particularly powerful impact upon the heart. This has made of it a much sought after commodity. The paradox is that the harvesting of this gland might be anything but heart-full in the exploitation of the Deer.

The Deity of Mrgasirsa is Soma, Soma is the #lunarly #Elixir of life. Soma is the fountain of eternal youth and steady energy.

When Soma flows smoothly, the energy and the emotions are rhythmic and regular. Soma does not blow hot and cold, nor does it have drops and dips between energy and depletion. Soma is not a quality of excitement and restless stimulation, it is rather a smooth creamy continuity that brings life.

When Soma flows, then Prana (breath power) Tejas (psychic fire) and Ojas (watery essence) is abundant. Soma is the Elixir that the Yogins are careful to preserve. Without Soma, the waters of life run dry.

The Deer is a reminder of the cultivation and preservation of Soma. It is a creature that measures its capacities and knows its capabilities well. It is familiar with what its environment brings and has to offer. It equally knows dry well, what it’s environment does not have to offer. The deer is a teacher of the sacred heart that is practical to that which is right under its nose. It does not waste its essence in far off pursuits, but brings the vision of magic to the pursuit right under its nose.

On the path of the Deer, we are asked to measure our resources.

To go beyond what our resources actually are, is not the path of devotion, it is rather the opposite path that goes against the sacred heart.

On the path of the Deer, we are asked to look closely at the promises and searchings of chasing rainbows to the detriment of our Soma life fluid.

On the Path of the Deer, we are asked to look at, make use of and appreciate the particular shade of the green of our grass.

This Deer-driven star of #Soma, shines the energy of searching and seeking. The spirit of the quest, and the wonderlust towards innocent discovery is reflected in the eyes of the Deer.

The wonderlust of ever looking, searching and being on the eternal quest for the magical Elixir, may far outdo the need to find and obtain the certain treasure when seen through the vision of a Deer.

The vision that looks deep into that which is below the nose, is the path of efficiency, functionality and appreciation.

If the vision of ever looking into the wonders that are hidden in our midst is not with us, then all love, appreciation and gratitude are thrown out of the window.

The Deer vision is the wonderment and devotion in each and every little thing that is in our path. The deer spirit, is the spirit that is attuned to catch the voice of the flowers and the scent of the Moon.

Mrgasirsa is made of two words, Mrga implies Deer and other related species, such as antelope and gazelle, and Sirsa, which implies the head.

This points towards the power of this star to shine down upon our highest point ‘the head’, and turn us towards the search of deep mysteries.

The symbol of this star is the inclined head of the focused deer, sniffing out it’s path. The ritual journey taken under this star is one of inclining our head to look into the basis nourishment of our spirit.

This concerns things that are very close at hand, so close as to be right under our nose. The deer is an animal that is a wanderer within its familiar territory. It is a very practical creature that is in deep contact with its immediate surroundings. It could be said that the Deer is the seeker of adventure in the familiar.

This quality of knowing, studying and appreciating it’s territory, makes the Deer incredibly adaptable to new conditions, perhaps like no other creature.

Sometimes we might live in a cycle of achieving things. We naturally may have to strive under a schedule of duties and fulfilling tasks. When things become monotonous, we might see it as an indication of a needed change. The change that the Deer eyed vision of Mrgasirsa brings to us, is a change of our vision, to deepen our focus into the magic that is around us and learn to look for the unfamiliar in the very midst of the familiar.

The wonder that is brought to us by the Deer-eyed gaze of this star is to keep the journey of-the-sparkling, ever with us.

When we aim for a distant star, we risk losing the closer scent of the magical things around us. By slowing down the frequency of our sniff, the scents of magic that are right-up-close to us come under our nose.

This star brings us to question things such as excessive movement, striving and speed.

#Searching is a word that is redefined by this Star. The search for the magical Deer-eyed vision is what is implied by the wisdom of this #Star.

A search that goes pushing and rushing along in pursuit of the treasure, blindly misses daisy secrets that only the Deer-eye catches.

It might one day arrive at the treasure, only to find a mirror that reflects back the dried up loss of power that such a blind journey created.

The vision of the Deer is one that catches the sparkles along its way. The Deer vision gathers the treasure in its very gaze. Learning the secrets of the Deer is the path of learning to honour the Deer-eyed-gaze.

The way back to the magical gaze of the Deer, might be an arduous path. A path where we come to question our internal power of soul. We may come to see parts in ourselves, where we have thrown out precious nourishing things from our heart in exchange for inedible dirt.

Exotic perfumes in distant lands sweep the heart into magical fantasy it could be said. But discovering the scent of the home we are in, the one right under-our-nose, unfolds a fantastical reality that we might be bypassing… or by-sniffing and missing the essential treasure of being.

We might miss the rainbow in search of the pot of gold if we lose the lesson of the Deer. We might have taken influence from some place, and feel that wonder is far away from where we are. Maybe wonder is so close that it’s in the very gaze that we see things with. In the gaze of the Deer

Mrgasirsa brings us its blessing if we tune in and listen to the frequency of its starbeams. This Star makes us Deer-eyed and Deer-nosed. It teaches us to be able to beam the focus of our psychic forces right to the fundament of where we are in each and every gaze and sniff.

The Golden Deer that captivated Sita in the Ramayana epic, is what starts the whole story of her abduction and resultant rescue under the powers of Hanuman’s devotion to restore Love.

Sita, upon seeing the golden Deer was so captivated by it beauty, that she just had to have it.

The Deer shimmered like the golden sun and had silver moonlike spots that entranced Sita, so much as, as to forget where she was and what was around her. Her desire for the Deer, caused her to lose all ground.

A whole odyssey of separation and battle ensued as a result of seeking the golden Deer, who was infact a trickster.

The teaching inherent in this tale is clear when we consider the quality of the Deer as outlined above. The search for the Golden Deer carried consequences for all involved, but the paradox is that without the overstepping of ones territory, the path of Karma does not unfold. Straying is a necessary part of learning.

Playing it too safe can be the path of living death.

Much blood and Soma may spill in the pursuit of the golden Deer, but it becomes a deep teaching of the nature of overstepping the lines of reality.

By the teaching of this Star, we are brought to question and look at our own golden Deer pursuits.

The Yogins consider the animals as teachers and emissaries of particular qualities of the Spirit. A theoretical study of the habits of animals is certainly a very interesting way to get familiar with the qualities of the various creatures that live on earth. Tantric’s meditate upon the animals and evoke their particular spirit and quality within themselves. Observing the actual animal by meditation and tuning in to its energy has been a favorite pastime of Tantric’s, as a way to learn and attune to the animals secrets.

Observing how the coat of a Deer changes with the seasons communicates many mysteries to us if we open the receptive channels to its teaching. Mimicking the bark of the Deer is a way to comprehend where the energy of the deer is located in its body and spirit. The sound of the Deer engages the heart and the throat equally. This becomes poignant when we consider the Venus and Mercury aspects that the Deer Nakshatra stands between, as hilighted above in the ‘Uniting Opposites’ section.

The spirt of the Deer is a determined but innocent one that is more interested in the divine play than in the divine accomplishment.

When we look at the gods who have a deer with them, we get some pointers into the meaning of this Star.

#Krishna is the player of the celestial game known as Lila.

Lila is the romantic play of the spirit with all phenomena. Krishna is often pictured with the deer, as we see here above.

Another deity who rises upon #Deer back is #Vayu.

Vayu is the deity of the wind who rides swiftly upon Deer-back and carries the jewel of Pranic breath power to us. The Heart is the transformer of the common air element, into the the life force of Prana that the Yogins honour and awaken.

#Soma, the Moon deity, is another who also rides swiftly upon deer-back. He plays an important position here as he is the ruling deity of Mrgasirsa.

The parentage of Soma is of worthy note and points to secrets of lunar balance. The Moon rules the psychic movements by its ever changing rhythms. To balance the Moon energy of the psyche is open the secrets of Soma.

Soma is born of Bhanu and Nisha, Bhanu is the hot fiery father, Nisha is the mother who is cool, dark and moist. The first child of this couple was Agni, the second was Rohini and the third was Soma.

Agni is the fire god of the Nakshatra Krittika. Rohini is the most fertile red star woman. Rohini’s Nakshatra stands right between Krittika and Mrgasirsa. We have seen that Mrgasirsa is the cool star of Soma.

Rohini is brought to her fruitful power by standing in balance balance Agni and Soma. Heat and coolness in balanced measure is needed for her to thrive.

The lunarly journey of the Moon, travels through these three Nakshatras in the sequence in which they were born.

Soma is the Moon, but it is equally the Elixiral fluid of magic and wonder.

The force of this Star is to translate the fountain of eternal youth to us here on earth by shining them to us by the light of the Moons fourth waxing night.

Those places where inspiration and wonderlust are most unstable in us, are brought to life by this particular Moonshine.
The Deer is the animal that is connected to the Heart-Chakra. The Heart-Chakra resonates with the Green colour spectrum.

This brings us to Matangi, the Green Goddess of tomorrow night. We shall meet for the ritual that Annually honours Matangi.

She is the Green Goddess of unconditional Love. Matangi lays no condition upon the form that love is offered to her in. Her green-eyed vision sees with the eye of the Heart-Chakra.

Matangi is the deep essence of motherhood. Like a true mother who is equal about handling warm milk or warm shit, Matangi’s hands fear not to touch all sides of love.

Matangi is a powerful ally for us in determining the value of the things that we receive in our lives. Sometimes the most bitter medicine is administered with the greatest love, this is something that Matangi makes us aware of and sober enough to see.

Alternatively, sometimes the sweetest things are backed with empty sentiment that does not nourish anything deeper than our surface fancies.

Matangi is the unseen side of wisdom. She makes us wise in opening our eyes to the view that might be far off the beaten track of the conditioned heart. She is the great outsider who has lays down no conditions other than the whole hearted condition of Heart. To read more about Matangi

https://www.ancient-tantra.com/mrgasirsa/