Astrology – the science of predicting the future, is one fascinating subject.

Millions are allured by its promise of a better tomorrow.

No one goes to read a horoscope, for news of gloom and doom, people want good news.

They want to be told that even if things are not okay now, they will be fine.

It gives them hope, but astrology in itself is not real.

At best, it is cheap therapy.

If you want someone to tell you that even if things are not looking good today, tomorrow will be better, then go read a horoscope. But don’t let your life depend on it.

The truth is, no one can predict your life. All they can do is make assumptions based on what you tell them, or come up with some generic easily believable mumbo jumbo.

People reading horoscopes believe in them, because they want to, not because it is true.

It is kind of a flattery, that even if no one else takes me seriously, at least the cosmos does.

Someone out there is busy designing my life, and ensuring everything is in right order.

Ain’t that a bunch of baloney?

There is something more unreal, and fake than astrology, and you better find out about it, before it is too late.

I will cover this in my next post.

Be sure to watch out for it 😉

I have completed over 40 days of Isha Kriya.

If you’re unaware of what Isha Kriya is, it is a yogic practice, designed by Sadhguru.

It is a tool to release one’s identification with the body and the mind.

Almost all problems at a psychological level are caused due to wrong identification.

Through this practice, one can become untangled, and free from the blockages caused due to identification with the body and mind.

Note: I had attempted Isha Kriya earlier, but had problems sticking with it.

This time, I’ve taken a more disciplined approach.

Here’s What I Experienced

It is based on a practice period of 50 days and counting.

I started the practice, by first doing the Yoga Yoga Yogeshwaraya chant. This was recommended by Sadhguru to boost immunity.

I then followed it by Isha Kriya, a 12 minute practice.

The first day itself I noticed a shift in my energy, and mental clarity. I noticed I wasn’t much clogged up in my thoughts, and even felt more stable with my emotions.

There were occasions though where my mind felt unsettled, even overwhelmed.

I did not let that keep me from doing the practice. Even when it got difficult.

When you do Isha Kriya, the mind may throw some tantrums, to keep you from further doing it, to which the best response is to ignore it.

It took around two weeks for me to feel grounded, and more established with the practice.

I noticed that my meditations were more deep, hardly any thoughts or images would crop up, and all that was left was a tranquil dark blank space.

In terms of emotions, I was able to rise above them quickly, for I was no longer strongly identified with them. It’s a huge step, because a lot of energy gets wasted in trying to fix things, that need to be left alone.

In a way, you become a master of your senses, and not their slave.

I will continue doing this kriya at least once every day.

As you can see by now, there are several benefits of doing this kriya, and I would highly recommend you try it.

Just don’t do it with much expectations, and certainly, do not expect your experience to be similar to mine.

Each person is at a different stage in their life, and will respond differently to yogic practices.

This is a basic practice, suitable from beginner to expert yoga practitioners.

Feel free to try it, and get in touch with me should you need any inputs.

Resources:

1. Click here for Isha Kriya
2. Click here for Yoga Yogeshwaraya Chant

Update:

In this era where human consciousness is being challenged to seek something higher than oneself, it is easy to run into some kind of a leader, or spiritual guru.

With so many different varieties of gurus out there, how do you know, who to trust, and who to ignore?

If you ever wondered what could be a litmus test for someone to be recognized as a real leader, the following tips might come in handy.

1. Fake leaders are serious all the time, whereas real leaders, take it easy, almost all the time.
2. Fake leaders will try to impress you with miracles, true leaders never care about impressing you.
3. Fake leaders like to show off how much they know, while real leaders find it easy to say, “I don’t know.”
4. Fake leaders sell dreams, while their eyes are on your pocket. Real leaders help you drop foolish desires, so you can be at peace just as you are.
5. Last but not the least, the true test of a leader is whether he is calm and pleasant or easily irritated. A true master enjoys himself and is calm and composed in every situation.

The one thing I look for in a leader is not how much he knows, or judge whether it is right or wrong. I simply see if he appears happy, especially in a crisis.

Because if a person can be happy in a crisis, then that is it. You need to look no further. Because anyone can be happy in pleasant circumstances, but only a true master knows how to be calm in tense situations, which is a quality worth emulating.