The reflections of the Sun and Moon on Our Nervous System

by:  Leonid Sinichkin

When viewed from the Earth, the Sun is the brightest and closest star to us. Our solar system revolves around the Sun and thus, our astrological sign is determined according to the position of the Sun. Even though it is rarely emphasized, we also have a Moon sign that is of great importance to us. At times the Moon could even be positioned stronger than the Sun in our chart.

In a birth chart, the Sun sign symbolizes the Self, Consciousness and Spirit while the Moon shows the Supraconscious, memory, our automated reactions and the Mother archetype. The Moon displays its characteristics according to the sign and house it is in and according to its angles to other planets. According to astrology, the Moon also represents the mother quality or womanhood in general. While the Sun creates our identity as seen from outside and our ego, the Moon gives shape to our inner nature and our hidden aspects. It governs aspects of our character that are known only by those who are close to us.

The founder of Sahaja Yoga technique, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi explains that our subtle system has three energy channels. These channels are the Left Channel (Ida Nadi) , the Right Channel (Pingala Nadi) and the Central Channel (Sushumna Nadi) that correspond to our left and right sympathetic nervous systems and our parasympathetic nervous system respectively. The last one runs through the center of our body. The left channel is home to our bconscious, past, instincts and desires and is symbolized by the Moon. The right channel has to do with our ego, identity, future and our outward nature and is represented by the Sun, which rules our consciousness.

The position of the Sun and the Moon in our horoscope and their correlations with other planets affect our mental, emotional and spiritual being. If we were born under the strong effect of the Moon, we are probably more inclined to use the qualities of our left sympathetic system, in other words our left (feminine) energy channel. If we were born under the strong effect of the Sun, we are probably more inclined to use the qualities of our right sympathetic system, in other words our right (masculine) energy channel, thus demonstrating a more active, rational and stronger personality.

We might be bearing not only the positive but the negative influences of the Moon and Sun as well. For instance, our left energy channel could run out of energy if we over emphasize emotion and the past, which are governed by the Moon. This means we could be living in the past , over sensitive, easily offended and hurt, dependent on others and could be vulnerable to psychological diseases. On the other hand, if we use the Sun channel too much, we can become too active, dry, angry, egoistical.

However, the aim of a birth chart and of life is to attain balance by harmonizing the effects of planets within us and with the cosmos. We can attain this balance if we know how to harmoniously use the subconscious and conscious, emotions and mind, masculine and feminine qualities, instinct and the mind which all exist in our left and right channels. This is achieved through the parasympathetic nervous system, which corresponds to the central channel in the yogic traditions. The hidden energy called in yoga as Kundalini, which lies dormant in every human being since birth, can rise through the central channel and connect us to the universal consciousness. This process is called self realization and the new state that is attained is termed Yoga, or union.

Having being awakened, the Kundalini balances our energy channels (i.e., the right and left sympathetic nervous system) and brings our attention to the central channel, where a new state of consciousness called "thoughtless awareness" is established. As a result, one finds harmony within as well as with the Cosmos, and the effects of the planets in one's birth chart become neutralized. In one sense, our birth chart completes its purpose and loses its effect on us. The positive qualities and potential skills that were in our birth chart but which we didn't even know that existed within us manifest themselves more visibly while the negative traits and weaknesses are eliminated. That is, one reaches the state of complete inner balance and self knowledge, which is the final point that both astrology and yoga try to bring us to.

About the Author:

Leonid Sinichkin studied yoga in India and has been giving yoga classes since over 15 years. Learn more about Sahaja Yoga at http://www.sahajayoga.org . More information about the relation between yoga and astrology can be found at http://www.sahajayogaportal.org/UstMenu1/Astroloji.aspx (in Turkish)

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