The man was Leonard Cohen and the year was 1988.

Three and a half decades later, I resort to those words yet again, to express my sentiment for what I see as happening to the world at large.  I do not understand anything.  But I don't need to.

As Charaka, the ancient Ayurvedic physician pointed out over and over in his treatise, there are numerous factors outside our control that determine our happiness or unhappiness, and our well-being or disease.  All we need to do is to be aware of them, so we can navigate accordingly.  It is what it is... Whatever will be, will be.

A significant parameter in Charaka's theories of what affects us as human beings, other than seasons and physical environment, happens to be the Moon, the Sun, the Planets and the Constellations.  He even accounts for these celestial bodies when it comes to administering medication.

Having said that, we are in for a ride!

Around March 21, meaning a couple of days before and a couple of days after, you might want to make Hallelujah your mantra. 

The Moon (aka our emotional mind) will be at odds with Uranus (our personal gauge of familiarity and freedom) while Mars (our potential for fight, flight or freeze) and Venus (our potential for attachment) are trapped in the middle.  I said Uranus.  :-)  Go ahead and laugh! Tim did!! :-)

To make matters even more exciting, Saturn, the planet of personal responsibility, discipline and time is in conflict with Uranus.  (Yes, you may laugh.  Tim did.  :-) )

In other words, the longer we refuse to embrace certain situations and adapt to them, the worse our condition will become.  Saturn is the teacher.  You have to keep re-taking the same exam until you perform good enough to move on to the next grade/course, whatever that may be.  It's like going to school.  At least like school used to be when Tim and I were growing up.  Times have changed since then.

Bringing Mars and Venus to the scene...

If you are too attached to your current situation (Venus influence out of balance) you will end up refusing Saturn's lessons and end up fighting, fleeing or freezing (Mars influence out of balance).  As a result, you will stay feeling trapped in the comfortable and the familiar (Uranus influence out of balance) using your emotional mind as an outlet (Moon influence out of balance) with possibly detrimental results in the short or long run.  I said Uranus again.  :-)  Go ahead and laugh!  Yes, Tim did laugh yet again!! :-)

The ultimate workaround...

Going back to last week's message in terms of what Charaka teaches about our mind we have options.  We are not hopeless, we are certainly not helpless.  We can use our rational mind as opposed to our emotional mind.  The moment we employ our rational mind, we take control over our emotions, we actually pull the reins on that horse.  All it takes is a momentary shift, it's like changing gears when driving a car.  At least like cars used to be.  I miss sticks shifts.  :-(

So around March 21, if we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, all we need to do is stop and shift gears.  I don't understand anything  Hallelujah!

As Leonard Cohen said: "The only time we win is that moment when we drop the battle and we affirm the whole situation with this embrace."