Prāpti – acquisition 

«Through the perfection of prāpti one acquires whatever one desires, and through prākāmya-siddhi one experiences any enjoyable object, either in this world or the next.» (Śrīmad-bhāgavatam, 11.15.4-5).

Prāpti is a siddhi, or one of the powers of the yogis. It is the faculty of obtaining all that you desire, in fact the term prāpti translates as “attainment” or “acquisition”. The yogin’s unconscious, mind and actions are aligned and coordinated. He knows himself, knows what he needs and behaves accordingly. This is only possible after a long investigation into oneself. Unfortunately, most people cannot complete this evolution process and are always dissatisfied, dreaming of getting something they don’t really need and complaining about shortcomings.

Astrology constitutes a sort of psychological map of our inner evolution. Think of the wise men of millennia ago that, like the sailors, used the sky as a reference to monitor the changes that took place in themselves and in the people around them. Certain changes are inevitable, something is lost, but “every loss is always compensated by an acquisition,” writes one of my colleagues in her yoga book for the elderly (http://www.magnanelli.it/Estratti/TCM_PicchioniYogaAnniArgento.htm). Reflect on acquisitions instead of losses, Cancer!

IN PRACTICE  

Ājnā kriyā, purification of the third eye.

Rotate the thumb with a very light touch on the point between the eyebrows. Be aware of your mental state. It will help you calm down and clear the mind. Do it at least three times a day, for about twenty rotations.

Awareness exercise:

Every day observe your wishes from the most trivial (eg “I want an ice cream”) to the deepest. Ask yourself every time what is behind that desire, whether a physical need, an emotional need, a need for fulfillment.

Mantra of the month:

“My acquisitions”.