SHINING LOTUS™ METAPHYSICAL BOOKSTORE NEWSLETTER

 

The Original Metaphysical Bookstore, since 1972

JANUARY 2013

2178 South Colorado Blvd, Denver Colorado 80222

303-758-9113

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in this issue

JANUARY ASTROLOGICAL UPDATE by Marci McCaffery

PLANETARY ENERGIES AND THE MAJOR ARCANA by Bruce Johnson

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Welcome to the New Year. This seems a perfectly natural time for taking stock of our present reality. We aren’t always really good at knowing our own reality. Often we lose touch with our inner world when the external world is not going the way we would wish…or could it be that the outer world isn’t going so well because we’ve lost touch with the inner one?

We might take this opportunity to look at our own present reality with more compassionate eyes, looking deep within our own hearts, beneath the outer shell of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ behavior.  Thank you, anyway, for being a part of our reality, and allowing us to be part of yours.

Shining Lotus™ Metaphysical Bookstore, The Original Metaphysical Bookstore, founded in 1972, has been Denver’s best source for metaphysical books and supplies for over 40 years.

Shining Lotus™ Metaphysical Bookstore is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day of the week.

Sincerely, Tim Johnson & Justin Swanstrom

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JANUARY ASTROLOGICAL UPDATE

by Marci McCaffery

Happy New Year, May we ring in the year 2013 with great Love, Compassion and Gratitude.

We have outgrown the past, pressured to create something new. Yet we don’t know what that is. We have moments of clarity, countered by moments of confusion. We are learning to trust our hearts over our busy minds. We realize there is no turning back… but what lies ahead?

Humanity, as a collective whole, is being called to stand as a witness for planetary adventures into new energies, new possibilities, and new levels of human consciousness.

The sacred teachings of the legendary past have predicted a period of human challenge and Earth upheavals, giving way to a time of peace, love and oneness with all life. Last month’s 12.21.12 date, prophesized by the Mayans as the end date, actually marked the end of a 25,920 year cycle on Earth. The Earth has now made its galactic return to a new planetary cycle. A New Earth, calibrated to a fifth dimensional reality, is preparing us for ascension. We can’t see it, understand it or figure it out yet we are called to transcend the old paradigms of a confined third-dimensional reality. We are in transition, as we adjust to the fluidity of an expansive fifth-dimensional reality. Author, Eckhart Tolle writes about this in his book, The Power of Now. “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” Radical shifts in consciousness, spiritual awakenings and more empowered ways of using our mind are underway as we move through this evolutionary process.

The New Year begins with a series of transformational shifts, as the transiting Sun moves out of visionary Sagittarius, into pragmatic, hardworking Capricorn.  An expansive Mars-Jupiter trine on the 4th combines an exuberant blend of passion and vision.

On the 6th, a challenging Mercury/Pluto combination, in early degrees of Capricorn, produces weighty issues of thought and communication. Avoid confrontations on differing views. On January 7th, a Mars/Saturn square creates frustration when we attempt to push past our blocks. Use this energy to focus and plan. On that same day, Venus enters Capricorn as it moves into alignment with Pluto on the 16th. Somber attitudes towards love and money are generated.

The Capricorn New Moon, on January 11th joins five other planets in Capricorn (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Pluto, and Venus.) We are challenged to release old structures and embrace new realities.  This is an excellent time to begin new initiatives while the moon is still waxing.  Mercury enters Aquarius on the 19th moving into a favorable trine with Jupiter on the 22nd.  Our thoughts are expanded to a broader view as we introduce new and inventive ideas into the mix.

A difficult Moon/Mars square sparks emotional intensity on January 20th, the day of the presidential inauguration. The high-spirited Full Moon on the 26th at 8 degrees Leo reflects the attributes of love, leadership and generosity. Creative self-expression and opportunities to showcase our uniqueness are highlighted. Jupiter ends its retrograde journey on the 30th providing increased optimism, and confidence as we move forward.

Join my complimentary talk on 2013 and Beyond, held on Sunday, January 20th 2013 and again on Saturday, Feb 16th 2013 both from 2-3PM at the Shining Lotus Bookstore. Gain insightful overviews about 2013 from a planetary and numerological perspective. Discover what’s in store for this New Year.

Thank you for your love, your wisdom and continued support. Peace and Blessings for the upcoming New Year!

Marci

Marcia McCaffery is an NCGR certified astrological counselor specializing in life purpose, career and relationship readings. She is also a Reiki master teacher, a spiritual advisor, and an accredited business/life direction coach with a private practice in the Denver area. She has a lifelong involvement with meditation, spiritual studies and the healing arts. She is a featured astrological consultant at Shining Lotus™ Metaphysical Bookstore To learn how these changes impact you personally, contact Marci at stardirection@comcast.net For free, valuable resources visit her web site at http://www.stardirectionastrology.com/

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JANUARY ASTROLOGY

by Tom Parks

New Moon: January 11, 2013(12:44 PM)

Sun Enters Aquarius: January 19, 2013 (2:51 PM)

Full Moon: January 26, 2013 (9:39 PM)

Jupiter goes direct: January 30, 2013 (4:37 AM)

All times MST

Happy New Year to all!

January starts off decisively and in a busy way. If you’re restarting everything because you’ve been off work, or have just slowed down for the holidays, now’s the time to jump into the higher level of activity.. This month may be the most uncomplicated of 2013, so enjoy it while it lasts. Strive to internalize and apply all the lessons which you learned in 2012, no matter what they were. Move on from the difficulties and sadness, as well as from the happiness and accomplishments. It is now time to feel how much more balanced and certain you are in terms of where you’d like to be this year. Realize that your dreams and aspirations can be turned into reality, and those hard times can be assimilated and transformed. Welcome the renewing, initiating energies on the 11th, helping you to communicate precisely. You may feel as if those issues which you aired out last week can be more closely examined, and may now be open to resolution. Use the finer grounding influences now to provide the necessary foundations for launching your new endeavors and adventures.

As the Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th, there is a change in the energies toward more thoughtful, contemplative or scholarly pursuits. Now is the time to expand upon what you’ve started; make any adjustments or course changes that may be necessary.Try not to micro-manage what you’ve set in motion, but rather allow for some flow and guidance from intuition and higher powers. Tackle technical work or other challenging projects, and get involved in community activities. Smooth things out with a boss, your partner or with authority figures. There’s freedom in the air – use it to explore, be creative or just play.

During the closing week of January, make time in your day to pamper yourself, taking time off to exercise, meditate, catch up in your journal, or just to sit and enjoy the sunshine. Remember that we’ve all been through a lot during the past year, and the down-time you have now can be spent internalizing the life passages you’ve survived. The time spent acknowledging how far you’ve come can be well spent in your journal as you give yourself credit for all your good work. Look forward to and avail yourself of the new opportunities in order to continue growing consciously.

Tom Parks is a full-time astrologer living in Denver. Individual sessions, on the phone or in person, can be scheduled by calling him at 303-692-9299.

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ZARATHUSTRA AND WORLD RELIGIONS

by Bruce Johnson

Zoroastrianism or Mazdaism, is an ancient religion that antecedes Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Aristotle taught that Zoroaster, who is the same as Zarathustra, lived 6000 years before Plato. Doctrine, symbols, and rituals from these Persian fire-worshipers are common to all three of these religions, as each of these theologies, like Mazdaism, is rooted in the Wisdom Religion early humanity.

The Avesta is the oldest of the Zoroastrian scriptures. It is based on the Laws of Manu, from the Hindu Vedas. Zarathustra and his followers lived in India and studied under Brahman gurus before they migrated to Persia. The Avesta refers to the savior Sosiosh who was born of a virgin and rode a white horse of the sun. The oneness of God was shown in Ahura-Mazda, the ruler of the universe and the supreme deity. Duality was symbolized through Ormazd as the god of light and goodness, and his struggles with Ahriman, the leader of the opposing force of darkness and evil.
Zoroastrian canon includes-six periods of creation, a Holy Trinity, sacred stones, immortality of the spirit, resurrection into eternal life, Ahriman and his devils being cast into a lake of molten metal, and a heaven with precious gems. The Jewish teachings on emanations are represented, along with rituals of fasting and purification, and ceremonies empowering birth and renewal. Mazdaism also rebukes idolatry, which is the worship of physical objects as gods.

The reproach of Sosiosh toward idolatry is based on the Mazdaism tenet that God was infinite and indescribable, having no face, form, or color. Worshiping idols was to confine, pervert, and degrade the true nature of God, who was incomprehensible to human intellect. This is similar to the Islamic tradition against the practice of idolatry. Mohammed demonstrated this when he cleansed the great Mosque at Mecca and the Caaba of its idols, and re-dedicated it to Allah, the one God.

Zoroaster is a generic name, and the subsequent   Zoroasters, including the instructor of Pythagoras, should not be confused with the original founder of Zoroastrianism. Treasure of the Magi: A Study in Modern Zoroastrianism, by James Hope Moulton, further explores these ancient sun-worshipers.

© Bruce Johnson 2012
Bruce Johnson has over 30 years of study in the fields of Ancient Wisdom and occultism. He has taught classes on a wide range of topics, from Atlantis to mediums to Zoroaster. He is also a spiritualist minister, with a background in spiritual astrology. He lives in Colorado with his wife and their cat.