Yoga by the Stars: Practices and Meditations Inspired by the Zodiac

About the Author

Jilly Shipway is a writer and a qualified yoga teacher. She is the author of Yoga Through the Year: A Seasonal Approach to Your Practice.

Jilly has more than twenty-five years of teaching experience. Over her long teaching career, she has enthused hundreds of students with her love of yoga, and many of them have continued to study with her for many years and up to the present day. She has tutored foundation level, pre-diploma yoga study courses for the British Wheel of Yoga. She was very fortunate to have discovered yoga in her early teens and so has had a lifetime of studying and practicing yoga. Mindfulness is an integral part of her own yoga practice and her teaching.

As well as teaching general yoga classes, she also has many years of experience teaching specialist yoga classes to adults recovering from mental health problems. She trained at King’s College London as a motivational interviewing coach, coaching people caring for someone with an eating disorder, and worked under the supervision of Professor Janet Treasure and her team.

Jilly’s original motivation to write was a curiosity about the mystery of women’s involvement (and apparent absence) in the historical evolution of yoga. It was her research into this subject that led her, in a roundabout way, to develop a seasonal approach to yoga and to study astrology. For the past ten years, Jilly has been studying the zodiac wheel and creating zodiac-inspired yoga practices, as well as teaching popular Zodiac Yoga courses. She has a BA (Hons) in fine art and believes passionately that yoga and mindfulness can really enhance creativity.

Jilly regularly contributes to various magazines and yoga publications. When she is not teaching, writing about, or doing yoga, she loves walking in town and country and, of course, gazing at the night sky. She lives in the UK in a small Welsh border town, surrounded by hills. She is married and has one grown-up daughter.

Visit her websites at www.yogabythestars.com or www.yogathroughtheyear.com.

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Yoga by the Stars: Practices and Meditations Inspired by the Zodiac © 2020 by Jilly Shipway.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

As the purchaser of this e-book, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. The text may not be otherwise reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, or recorded on any other storage device in any form or by any means.

Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the author’s copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

First e-book edition ©2020

E-book ISBN: 9780738764252

Cover design by Shannon McKuhen

Interior yoga illustrations by Llewellyn Art Department, based on art by Jilly Shipway

Chakra illustration on page 29 © Mary Ann Zapalac

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Shipway, Jilly, author.

Title: Yoga by the stars : practices and meditations inspired by the zodiac

/ Jilly Shipway.

Description: First edition. | Woodbury, Minnesota : Llewellyn Publications,

[2020] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: "A yearlong

series of yoga practices inspired by the zodiac and each sign’s

symbolism"— Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020034202 (print) | LCCN 2020034203 (ebook) | ISBN

9780738763866 (paperback) | ISBN 9780738764252 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Yoga. | Zodiac—Health aspects. | Self-consciousness

(Awareness) | Self-actualization (Psychology)

Classification: LCC RA781.67 .S47 2020 (print) | LCC RA781.67 (ebook) |

DDC 613.7/046—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020034202

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020034203

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publisher’s website for links to current author websites.

Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

For Margaret Hone, my stellar guide

For Simon, my willow

Disclaimer

Before beginning any new exercise program, it is recommended that you seek medical advice from your healthcare provider. You have full responsibility for your safety and should know your limits. Before practicing asana poses as described in this book, be sure that you are well informed of proper practice and do not take risks beyond your experience and comfort levels. The publisher and the author assume no liability for any injuries caused to the reader that may result from the reader’s use of the content contained herein and recommend common sense when contemplating the practices described in the work.

Contents

List of Exercises

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Yoga Inspired by the Stars

Part 1: The Yoga by the Stars Approach

Chapter 1: The Yoga by the Stars Practice

Chapter 2: Yoga and the Wheel of the Zodiac

Chapter 3: The Sun, the Moon, Yoga, and You

Part 2: Yoga and the Zodiac Signs

Chapter 4: Empower Your Inner Warrior (Aries)

Chapter 5: Fulfill Your Potential (Taurus)

Chapter 6: Yoga Takes You Higher (Gemini)

Chapter 7: Creating Your Sanctuary (Cancer)

Chapter 8: Develop Fierce Confidence (Leo)

Chapter 9: Discover Your Radiant Authentic Self (Virgo)

Chapter 10: Creating Balance in Your Life (Libra)

Chapter 11: Face Fear and Find Freedom (Scorpio)

Chapter 12: The Power of Clear Intention (Sagittarius)

Chapter 13: Transcend Limitations and Find Liberation (Capricorn)

Chapter 14: Drawing from the Wellspring of Love (Aquarius)

Chapter 15: Diving Deep to Find Self-Knowledge (Pisces)

Conclusion: Our Pilgrimage around the Zodiac Wheel Continues

Bibliography

Recommended Resources

Exercises

Yoga Practices

Chapter 1

Universal Warm-Up Routine

Universal Wind-Down Routine

Chapter 3

Salute to the Sun (Surya Namaskar)

Sun Yoga Practice

Chapter 4

Aries-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 5

Taurus-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 6

Gemini-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 7

Cancer-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 8

Leo-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 9

Virgo-Inspired Yoga Practicee

Chapter 10

Libra-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 11

Scorpio-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 12

Sagittarius-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 13

Capricorn-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 14

Aquarius-Inspired Yoga Practice

Chapter 15

Pisces-Inspired Yoga Practice

Meditations and Visualizations

Chapter 2

Chakra Seed Mantra Meditation

Chapter 3

Moon through the Trees Visualization

Attune to the Moon Exercise

Mindfulness of the Night Sky

Chapter 4

Where Am I? Meditation

Chapter 5

Om Mani Padme Hum, Plus Lotus Flower Visualization

Chapter 6

Sun and Moon Meditation

Chapter 7

Become Your Own Best Friend Meditation

Chapter 8

Create Your Own Solar Mandala Meditation

Chapter 9

Pure World Visualization

Chapter 10

Heart-Centered Balancing MeditationMeditation

Chapter 11

The Circulation of Light Visualization

Chapter 12

Breathe and SmileMeditation

Chapter 13

Door to Freedom Chakra Meditation Meditation

Chapter 14

Wavelike Breathing

Chapter 15

The Simply Being Deep Relaxation Relaxation

Meditation Questions

Chapter 4

Aries-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 5

Taurus-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 6

Gemini-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 7

Gemini-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 8

Leo-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 9

Virgo-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 10

Libra-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 11

Scorpio-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 12

Sagittarius-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 13

Capricorn-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 14

Aquarius-Inspired Meditation Questions

Chapter 15

Pisces-Inspired Meditation Questions

Acknowledgments

A huge thank-you to the team at Llewellyn, who have worked on this book and made it the best that it can be. Thank you to my editor, Angela Wix, for steering the book in the best possible direction. I have benefited so much from her unerringly good judgment and experience. Thanks go to my production editor, Lauryn Heineman, for her warmth, patience, and always pertinent corrections to my work. Thanks also to Lynne Menturweck for sensitively interpreting and reproducing my hand-drawn yoga pin people; to the book’s designer, Donna Burch-Brown; to Kat Sanborn and Anna Levine for their wonderful work on behalf of the book; and to Shannon McKuhen for bringing the book to life with such a beautiful cover.

Thanks to my daughter, Kay, for all the inspiring conversations we’ve had about yoga and astrology over the years, as well as for all the fun, laughter, and happiness you bring to my life.

Thanks to my husband, Simon, for lightening my load and freeing me up to write this book. Thanks for hugs, hot drinks, delicious meals, stargazing, and all the laughter and love we share together.

Thanks so much to my family and friends—sorry not to mention you all by name, but your love and friendship mean a lot to me. During the long process of writing this book, it has been such a tonic to go out for country walks with you, share meals, swap texts, share jokes, and have fun together.

Thanks to all the yoga students who have attended my Zodiac Yoga courses; your feedback and enthusiasm have really helped me shape the ideas presented in this book. Thanks also to my many loyal, local students who have studied with me over many years. Your enthusiasm for yoga inspires me and makes teaching a joy.

I’m grateful for the friendship and support of the yoga community, both locally and, thanks to the internet, all over the world. Thanks to Judy Brenan for always going the extra mile. I continue to draw inspiration from teachers such as Sandra Sabatini, Donna Farhi, Sarah Powers, Judith Lasater, and the late Vanda Scaravelli.

Thanks to Zanna Frearson for a wonderfully timely reading list for Jung’s studies in astrology and for so generously arranging for the books to be sent to me!

Thank you to Margaret E. Hone, the astrologer, for shining a light onto the twelve signs of the zodiac and revealing them to me in all their rainbow colors.

It is impossible to affirm with assurance why these twelfths of the Zodiac

seem to be like twelve different colored windows

through which a shining white light is unmistakably varied.

—Margaret E. Hone, The Modern Text-Book of Astrology

_____

Whatever is born or done this moment of time

has the quality of this moment of time.

—Carl G. Jung

Introduction

Yoga Inspired by the Stars

The earth and her changing seasons provided the inspiration for my first book, Yoga Through the Year: A Seasonal Approach to Your Practice . At the same time as I was researching and writing that book, I was also creating yoga practices that were inspired by looking up at the stars.

Since ancient times women and men have felt a sense of wonder when they looked up at the night sky. Joining the dots of a group of stars fired up their imagination, and they envisioned them as animal shapes and mystical objects. They told stories about these constellations, and these became myths that were handed down through time. Across the globe, over millennia, the learning that has been garnered by stargazing has been formulated into zodiacal systems. When we tap into these systems, we gain access to an ancient wisdom and mythology. It is this celestial wisdom, its stories, and its symbols that I have drawn upon as inspiration for the yoga practices and meditations in this book.

Yoga by the Stars Is for Everyone

I discovered yoga in my early teens, and so I’ve had a lifetime of studying and practicing yoga. I’ve been teaching yoga for more than twenty-five years, and for more than ten years I have been studying astrology and integrating the richness of the symbolism contained within the zodiac wheel into my own yoga practice and teaching. I have found that delving into the zodiac treasure chest has taken me on a magical journey that has deepened and enriched my life and my understanding of yoga. The many students I have worked with over the years report back that their experience of working in this way has been transformative too.

Whereas some astrologers use astrology to predict character and destiny, my own interest lies more in viewing the twelve zodiac signs as twelve archetypal personalities who are universally recognized and resonate with something deep in our psyche. By connecting with these twelve archetypal characters, we are connecting to an ancient lore and wisdom. Consequently, my approach to astrology means that the star-inspired yoga practices and meditations in this book can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of their views on astrology.

Over my years of study, practice, and teaching of yoga and astrology, I have developed a method of creating yoga practices that are inspired by a specific zodiac sign but are not designed exclusively to be used by those who happen to be born under that sign. In turn this means that the twelve Zodiac Yoga practices in this book are suitable for everyone, regardless of what sign they are. My intention is to make the healing power of these zodiac-inspired yoga practices available to all regardless of their birth sign or belief system.

Study the zodiac signs and you will see aspects of your own personality reflected in all the signs. When you combine this astrological study with yoga, the result is an increased self-awareness and self-knowledge. Yoga and your zodiac exploration will enable you to shine the light of awareness into the depths of your unconscious and bring into the light your strengths, weaknesses, hidden complexes, and compulsions, as well as reveal any hidden forces that are exerting a gravitational pull upon you and skewing your natural path of orbit. Once out in the light, you have a chance to find ways of resolving these difficulties. You can untie and untangle the knots of your complexes and remove the boulders that are strewn along your way. In turn this will lead you onto the path of healing, transformation, and freedom.

The Healing Power of the Zodiac

The zodiac-inspired yoga practices that I have created for this book have the potential to bring healing and transformation into your life regardless of your own Sun sign. Consequently, you can use all the practices as spiritual medicine to help you to balance and retune your lunar and solar energies.

Below is a guide to the healing potential offered by each of the zodiac signs. The signs will be described in more detail later in the zodiac chapters of this book:

Aries: Empower your inner warrior, reignite your fiery energy, and reconnect with your assertive, courageous and confident self.

Taurus: Fulfill your potential, live with passion, bring beauty and sensual enjoyment into your life, and uncover hidden talents—blossom!

Gemini: Transcend limitations, ignite your spark of genius, reconcile opposing parts of yourself, unite your heaven and earth energies, and let your spirit fly higher!

Cancer: Create your sanctuary, find respite from the fray of life, nurture and nourish yourself, attend to your inner child, and take time out for healing. Relax into the support that life can offer.

Leo: Develop fierce confidence and voice your truth with your lion’s roar! Own your expertise, connect with your powerful Sun-self, and radiate your light out into the world. Build powerful, cooperative connections with others.

Virgo: Discover your radiant, authentic self. Know yourself and bat away false assumptions made by others. Find purity by honoring who you truly are. Find healing through working for a pure planet for all to enjoy.

Libra: Open to the wisdom of your heart, restore peace to a troubled mind, and learn to live harmoniously and in a state of equilibrium. Reconcile pairs of opposites in your life so that healing may occur. Make judgments, take action, and create a more peaceful, harmonious world for all.

Scorpio: Face fear and find freedom and transformation. Learn to listen for the still, small voice of calm that will guide you through the storms of life. Shine the light of kind and loving attention to illuminate the dark spaces of the mind.

Sagittarius: Develop the power of clear intention to create miracles in your life. Learn to connect to a spacious, open, and expansive awareness by narrowing and focusing your attention. Take new paths, travel far, laugh, love, and live life to the fullest.

Capricorn: Transcend limitations and find liberation. Find new ways of working with and overcoming restrictions in your life. Discover the opportunities that lie dormant within your difficulties and open the door to self-discovery.

Aquarius: Draw from the wellspring of love. Learn the art of kind, compassionate detachment. Be rebellious, be generous, dance, and ride the waves of change. Combine science, creativity, and love to bring healing to the world.

Pisces: Dive deep to find self-knowledge. Peep behind the veil of the subconscious mind and free yourself from hidden influences and unwelcome gravitational pulls. Become the Sun at the center of your own life. Attune yourself to the circular flow of life and learn to welcome light and dark, waxing and waning, and come face to face with love.

The Treasures of the Zodiac Revealed

The zodiac signs provide a direct link to our ancestors, their world, and how they perceived the cosmos. Over millennia almost all cultures have projected their lives and concerns onto the stars. As they gazed up at the night sky, dramas were played out, reflecting the story of their own lives here on earth. Also, if you bear in mind the fact that we are literally made from the stuff of stars, then it follows that whatever we project onto the stars has its origin in the stars and consequently will potentially encapsulate universal, cosmological truths. Just as Western astrologers may quote the Hermetic axiom, As above, so below, the Tantric yogis put it the other way around: As in the body, so in the universe. ¹

In this book, Yoga by the Stars, we take a pilgrimage around the wheel of the zodiac. It’s a journey through space and time and an exploration of how the constellation of your personality, your world, and the cosmos interact with time, the seasons, and a constantly changing universe. The Irish poet Louis MacNeice, in his book Astrology, puts forward the theory that a pilgrimage around the zodiac is an evolution from the material to the spiritual, ending in the state of yoga: The first six signs, beginning with Aries … represent the achievement of full objective consciousness … and the latter (or homeward?) six represent ‘evolution into the subjective states, or yoga.’ The twelfth sign Pisces corresponds to the ascension into heaven. ²

To make the most of your journey around the zodiac, keep in mind the image of yourself as the sun at the center and the signs as the planets orbiting around you. The zodiac signs are your teachers, but it is your light that illuminates the lessons and provides the energy for change to occur.

The twelve zodiac chapters in this book are the fruit of my many years of pilgrimaging around the zodiac and finding inspiration therein to create zodiac-inspired yoga practices and meditations. They have been tried and tested over time by me and the many students who have attended my Zodiac Yoga courses. I believe that within each of the zodiac signs is a gift waiting to be unwrapped. There is a gift for everyone regardless of their beliefs about astrology. My quest has been to uncover the treasures of yoga, which are the gift to be found within each sign, and to share them with you in each of the chapters of this book. Yoga’s treasures are like an eternal spring, perpetual and forever being replenished and renewed. I am privileged to have been bestowed these gems to share with you.

How to Use This Book

This section will give you some tips on how to get the most out of this book and how to navigate your way around it. After you’ve read this section, move on to Chapter 1, The Yoga by the Stars Practice, where you’ll learn