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The Dhammapada - Panditavagga: The Wise 76-89

76. Should one find a man who points out faults and who reproves, let him follow such a wise and sagacious person as one would a guide to hidden treasure. It is always better, and never worse, to cultivate such an association.

77. Let him admonish, instruct and shield one from wrong; he, indeed, is dear to the good and detestable to the evil.


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The Dhammapada - Balavagga: The Fool 60 - 75

60. Long is the night to the sleepless; long is the league to the weary. Long is worldly existence to fools who know not the Sublime Truth.

61. Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let him resolutely pursue a solitary course; there is no fellowship with the fool.


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Astrology Forecast for May 2013 – General Tendencies for All Sun Signs

by Janet (Sparrow) Moon

May will have typical up and down days, but it will also include two eclipses and a climatic battle between the slow and powerful outer planets, Uranus and Pluto. Unexpected problems, and possibly even tragedies, could arise personally and globally. The whole month won’t be bad, but it is likely there will be a few “crappy” days. Most will be over after Memorial day, and we can look forward to a very pleasant ending to this month of chaos.

May should begin on a positive note, with the Sun and Pluto encouraging us to make a few changes in our routines. The weekend of May 3rd could also be very pleasant. We may be in the mood to get organized and clear away clutter with Mars and Pluto out to transform our environments. Mercury and Saturn will be at an opposition, and this could bring confusion with legal contracts. Save any important decisions until Monday.



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Three Eclipses in a Row – April and May 2013

by Janet (Sparrow) Moon


Eclipses usually come in pairs, and they usually happen twice a year. But, occasionally we get three eclipses in a row, like we have coming this Spring 2013. Eclipses always occur on the new and full moons, and our upcoming eclipses will be: a lunar (full moon), a solar (new moon), and then another lunar in April and May 2013.

Eclipses bring changes, and most of us find change uncomfortable, to say the least. When the Sun and Moon line up exactly with respect to the Earth, their gravitational pull is going to be stronger. Many new age experts say an eclipse has ten times the power of a normal New or Full Moon. Eclipses can stimulate relationship breakups, business failures, sudden accidents, babies to be born, and the elderly to pass over. They can also bring positive changes like new love and promotions at work, but most of us find extra challenges in our paths during eclipse events.

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Astrology Forecast for April 2013 – General Tendencies for All Sun Signs

by Janet (Sparrow) Moon

March’s nightmare will end instantly on April Fools’ Day. Mercury’s retrograde and all those planetary battles from March will quickly become ancient history, and we will settle down to a more comfortable pace. There could be a disturbance around April 12th, but outside of those few days, life could actually become so easy, that the eclipse on April 25th will catch us off guard. Get busy and make the most of April’s fair stars, because the tides will turn sooner than we think.

April Fools’ Day, April 1st, could begin quite blissfully. The April Fools’ jokes will mostly be taken with a light heart and an open mind, so plan your best! The rest of the week should be uneventful with nothing but lunar events in the sky. We may find we get some extra work done and even come up with new ideas to make our work easier.


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Astrology Forecast for March 2013 – General Tendencies for All Sun Signs

Astrologically, March will be coming in like a lamb and going out like a lion. Even though Mercury is in retrograde, life could be exceptionally positive over the first ten days of March, but by the time Mercury turns direct on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, there could be unexpected accidents (especially on the highways) and a general feeling of unease. The last week of March could be especially difficult with the outer and the inner planets lining up for a major battle. Take time to enjoy the last few weeks of Winter, because by the time Spring begins the challenges will be upon us once again.

March begins on a Friday with the Sun, Saturn, and Pluto singing in harmony and the Moon in passionate Scorpio. Its going to be a great weekend for progress in groups or alone. Our determination and will power will be high, our troubleshooting insight will be off the scale, and conversations with authority figures will go better than expected.


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Astrology Forecast for February 2013 – General Tendencies for All Sun Signs

By Janet(Sparrow)Moon

If you think January was nice, just wait for February. We may have one difficult weekend, and the Full Moon could bring a challenge. But, most of the month should be smooth sailing, and there could even be extra blessings. In fact, I am forecasting that Valentine’s Day 2013 will be the best Valentines day we’ve had this century with lots of steamy romance and sex! Mars is going to be busy energizing some of the outer planets this month, and by Presidents’ Day, we may find a project or situation has been transformed.

Venus will enter Aquarius, and Mars will enter Pisces on the first day of February. We will probably be ready for a change. The Moon will be in passionate Scorpio on Groundhog Day, Saturday, February 2nd, and the groundhog may be very vehement expressing his fear of his shadow this year. (*wink*) Mars and Neptune will be partners in crime during the weekend of February 1st, and some will not be practical. Think twice, before you spend or commit yourself to a project. And, postpone any major purchases until Wednesday.

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The Dhammapada - Pupphavagga: Flowers 44 - 59

44. Who shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods? Who shall bring to perfection the well-taught path of wisdom as an expert garland-maker would his floral design?

45. A striver-on-the path shall overcome this earth, this realm of Yama and this sphere of men and gods. The striver-on-the-path shall bring to perfection the well-taught path of wisdom, as an expert garland-maker would his floral design.

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The Dhammapada - Cittavagga: The Mind 33 - 43

33. Just as a fletcher straightens an arrow shaft, even so the discerning man straightens his mind — so fickle and unsteady, so difficult to guard.

34. As a fish when pulled out of water and cast on land throbs and quivers, even so is this mind agitated. Hence should one abandon the realm of Mara.

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Mercury Retrograde in Pisces – Feeling Slippery

by Janet (Sparrow) Moon


Mercury Retrograde - February and March 2013

When Mercury is in Pisces, he stimulates our imaginations, and emotional events can be burned into our memories. But, reality can escape us. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac and rules the arts, psychic intuition, creative processes, and psychology. This Mercury retrograde may not be a good time to make any life changing decisions, but it will be an excellent time to finish up that book you were writing.

When Mercury is in retrograde, he comes between the Earth and the Sun, passing us on our solar racetrack. Mercury doesn’t actually reverse directions, he just appears that way against the backdrop of the universe. All of the planets in the solar system, except the Sun and the Moon, turn retrograde on occasion. In fact, some of the slow outer planets are in retrograde almost as much as they are moving forward. Mercury’s retrograde gets more attention than the others, because he turns retrograde 3 or 4 times a year. And, even though Mercury is a very small planet, he is a very dense planet, so he has a strong gravitational influence on the Earth.

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The Dhammapada - Appamadavagga: Heedfulness 21 - 32

21. Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful die not. The heedless are as if dead already.

22. Clearly understanding this excellence of heedfulness, the wise exult therein and enjoy the resort of the Noble Ones.

23. The wise ones, ever meditative and steadfastly persevering, alone experience Nibbana, the incomparable freedom from bondage.

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The Dhammapada - Yamakavagga: Pairs

1. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

2. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.

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Introduction to The Dhammapada

Preface

The Dhammapada is the best known and most widely esteemed text in the Pali Tipitaka, the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The work is included in the Khuddaka Nikaya ("Minor Collection") of the Sutta Pitaka, but its popularity has raised it far above the single niche it occupies in the scriptures to the ranks of a world religious classic. Composed in the ancient Pali language, this slim anthology of verses constitutes a perfect compendium of the Buddha's teaching, comprising between its covers all the essential principles elaborated at length in the forty-odd volumes of the Pali canon.


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Astrology Forecast for January 2013 – General Tendencies for All Sun Signs

By Janet(Sparrow)Moon

January is often thought of as a cold unproductive month. We sometimes look at it as a time of “hibernation,” but this year, January 2013, could surprise us. We will have only one planet in retrograde, Jupiter, and he will be turning direct. The inner planets, Mercury, Venus, and Mars will be on the opposite side of the Sun, which will make viewing them a bit difficult. But, their aspects and gravitational influence will also be minor. Even the Moons will be pleasant. Mercury will be lining up behind the Sun and the Moon on the Capricorn New Moon, encouraging problem solving and new ideas. The Full Moon will be in fun loving Leo while singing with Jupiter and Uranus. January will be a good month for business and for politics. There is a possibility that our governments and our corporations will come up with new ideas and stronger values.


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Astrology Forecast for December 2012 General Tendencies for All Sun Signs

By Janet Moon

December will bring a big improvement over November. Those nasty eclipses and Mercury's retro will be well behind us, and life should bring a return to normalcy. Most of December will have routine ups and downs. There could be an increase in holiday depression around the second half of the month with Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter creating a tight triangle. All will be better than fine by New Year's Eve. Conflicts should be at a minimum, and creativity will be at a maximum as we usher in 2013.

The weekend of December 1st may not ring so well with three planets, Venus, Mars, and the Sun, sending negative vibes toward Jupiter. Some will go to extremes, and exaggeration and wastefulness are probable. Take it easy with the holiday shopping, and think twice before making any decisions to incur more debt.

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