What Color is Your Mat?

I casually drive along Main Street in Santa Monica enjoying the colorful scenery as the Pacific Ocean breeze dances through the air. Boutiques, cafes, restaurants, parks, and yoga studios devour the street.

I'm headed to one of my favorite cafes to dive into writing when at a stoplight a laughter catches my attention. I notice a yoga class just let out and a couple students are leaving. Their mats are slung over their shoulders as they swing a leg over their bike, kick up there kick stand and hang out for a minute to chat. A girl walks across the street in front of my car holding her yoga mat, wearing red Tods as her eyes gaze up at the sky with a blissful expression on her face. Another student drenched in sweat seems to have the same look on his face as he rolls up his yoga mat on the sidewalk.

The light turns green, I drive off still staring at the yogis. I smile to myself, my insides feel a bit more at peace, like I just finished a yoga class.

I park my car and walk into the coffee shop. Scene: "Hollywood hippie writers." I look for the table that seems to always be reserved for me. It's a blue-tiled french iron table with two mismatched cushioned chairs that stand nestled next to the window. As I settle in, I gaze at all the wired writers with their eyes fixated on their Mac screen hoping to perfect that one sentence which will turn their piece of work into success. Faces here look the same too, but with a slightly different "good" energy then the faces of the yoga students have. A sense of intensity but, peace. Excitement but, humbled. Their eyes are beaming with passion, I embrace this energy too.

After an hour, I get stuck on my own sentence. I decide to take a break and focus on the staff in the coffee shop. The baristas seem to be having fun making lattes as the busboys quietly interact with the customers. The manager looks on with peace.

I realize that today, I encountered yoga students, writers, and a staff who all seem to individually hold some good energy. Through their energy I captured good energy. Or was it that my environment which I created brought these kinds of souls to me. Either way does it really matter? The color of my mat, intentionally today was bright....

So, how are you going to leave your house today? When people drive by and see you, what will your expression look like? Will your interaction with the barista change his negative thoughts into a smile? You never know who you will touch in a day. Even with no contact.

So, what colors are you going to bring out into your world today?

Vedic Astrology News Astrological Weather for September

At the start of the month, Venus enters Libra (its own sign) from September 1, 2010 until January 2, 2011 (this is a long time for Venus to be Libra, but it will be going retrograde in October). Your artistic sensibilities may increase, as you desire more beauty and peace around you. Libra is a sign of balance, so with this transit, you learn to harmonize well with others and life's situations. Engaging in healing modalities to balance the body and mind is helpful. Performing spiritual practices (yoga, meditation, mantras), or performing charitable acts or service is also favored. Venus in Libra is good for diplomatic skills and helpful in mediation. Venus in Libra is also elegant and has a romantic view of love, but also be cautious of becoming too idealistic or overindulgent in relationship, which takes you out of balance with love.

Mars leaves the sign of Virgo on September 6, 2010, where it has been transiting with Saturn since July 21, 2010. This is a welcome relief as these two enemy planets separate now, which had created tensions. You have been learning to be responsible for your actions! Now Mars transits the sign of Libra (moving closely with Venus) until October 2, 2010. Mars and Venus together can give passion and spontaneity, but also can also promote minor agitation and irritation, so it is important to channel this energy into appropriate avenues.

Mercury goes direct September 12, 2010, having being retrograde since August 20, 2010. Now is the time to start moving forward with any plans you have considered since mid-August. Communications should gradually improve.

The Sun moves into the sign of Virgo on September 16, 2010, until October 17, 2010. The Sun will now be transiting with Saturn, and these two planets conjunct on September 30 and October 1. Saturn and the Sun are not friendly to each other, and could indicate the need for order and hard work. Challenges may surface around the issues of who is in charge, or who is the final authority on a matter. The qualities of efficiency and precision, and staying on task will be rewarded at this time.

And finally, this is the month of one of the most popular Hindu celebrations called Ganesha Chaturthi, which this year falls on September 11th. This is the festival that honors the birth of Lord Ganesha, the deity of wisdom, good fortune, and protection (and the deity of Vedic astrology). It is said that nothing can be achieved without the grace and blessing of Lord Ganesha.

Debra Infante, Vedic astrologer, can be reached at (928) 639-0623 for astrological consultations, either in person or by phone.