by Somya Devi | Aug 29, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Eclipses
On September 1st at 2:03 am (P.D.T.) we will have a New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Leo. The Sun and the Moon converge in the middle of sidereal Leo, in close conjunction with the shadow planet Rahu. This will cause a solar eclipse, visible from most of Africa, Madagascar, and the southern Indian Ocean (maximum eclipse at 9:06 U.T.).
The Nodes
Rahu is known as the “north node” of the Moon in western astrology (and the ascending node in astronomical terms). There is no actual planetary body here. Rather, Rahu is located at the point where the path of the Sun and the path of the Moon (as viewed from earth) intersect. He is not a visible planet, but when the Sun and the Moon align with one of the nodes, we do see a shadow that becomes visible for a short period of time. The lunar nodes are therefore known as shadow planets.
They are designated grahas (“grabbers”) in Vedic Astrology, just like the other planets, because their energy grabs us and drives our karma in a similar way (or even more strongly). Rahu and Ketu indicate where we have some of our most deep-seated psychological karma, where we are least mature and where we have done a lot of work already. Because of their shadowy nature, we are often confused about the areas of life that they affect, but it is here that we can do a lot of inner work. Rahu is dark, meddling, and childish, but also deeply psychic, radically original, and hungry for spiritual growth.
Wherever Rahu and Ketu are when we have eclipses (e.g. sidereal Leo and Aquarius at the moment), these areas of your life will be particularly affected. Since their transit into these signs at the beginning of this year, we have been working on examining our shadows around how we relate to personal power and service to others. If we tend to go to extremes in either of these areas, or have any hang-ups that need work, the eclipses of this year are giving us a great opportunity to view these subconscious patterns, when the shadows literally become visible. Download the Free 2016 Rahu-Ketu Forecast for Your Sign To See How you Are Affected
Feeling Eclipsed
Whichever area of your life is indicated by Leo in your Vedic birth-chart, this is where you will be feeling the most profound influence of the eclipse this week. It will be an interesting contrast to the general mood of this year, wherein we felt more power and drive than usual in this area of life. Rahu’s presence in Leo (who also joined with Jupiter there all year, until recently) exaggerated our quest for personal empowerment, especially around the karma indicated by Leo in your chart (e.g. relationships for Aquarius rising, home-life for Taurus rising, career for Scorpio rising). You may have come up against some confusing bumps in the road here this year.
At the time of the eclipse, however, as the shadow obscures the Sun, we may feel cut off from our power momentarily. The Sun is the graha that helps us to feel our power most fully. As the source of all life, he illuminates things so that we can feel our own inherent divinity and our connection to source. He is the ruler of Leo, and the planet that gives us the confidence to take charge in our lives, follow our dharma, and take responsibility.
With Rahu in Leo, this drive to purify and be responsible may have become somewhat distorted this year. Maybe our quest for power became aimed at selfish motives, whereas the Sun’s power is truly best used selflessly. Maybe we faced perplexing challenges that appeared to come out of nowhere, as the shadow energy hindered our path towards purification and illumination. Rahu’s presence here may have darkened our feeling of inherent potency and our ability to feel self-love.
This week, don’t be discouraged if you suddenly feel your inner fire diminish. It is possible to feel a bit fatigued around a solar eclipse. It is likely that this eclipse will give you the opportunity to see how you can better support your internal strength and your connection to source. Health and vitality are indicated by the Sun, so this is a good opportunity to see where you can improve on self-care and self-love. It is also a good time to examine how you are using your power–whether you are being responsible and selfless, and doing the work to purify your own being, or just acting like a little bossy-pants.
Practice
Meditation, introspection, and journal-writing are some of the best ways to help you truly explore the shadows that are arising for you. In thinking about these themes, write about whatever comes up for you. Then examine it to see if it is true, and something that needs work, or a limiting belief that you are ready to discard. The lunar eclipse in a few weeks is a great time to cut cords with what is no longer needed.
To assist in reconnecting with the dharmic and illuminating power of the Sun (Surya), make an effort to practice some Sun salutations at the beginning of each day. You can augment this practice by reciting mantras for the Sun, either silently along with your breath throughout your practice, or in a sitting posture. You can even make an altar to the Sun, or make some sun tea with rejuvenative herbs. We can directly invoke the Sun through repeating the mantra “Om Suryaya Namaha,” or through the powerful Gayatri Mantra, “Om bhur, bhuvah, svaha, tat savitur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.”
Like all New Moon times, September 1st also commences a new month-long lunar cycle, where we will be really exploring the energy of Leo. This is a time to examine what inner power means, and how we express it in our lives. This Leo cycle will be especially potent and transformative because of the added effects of the eclipses. At the time of the full Moon and lunar eclipse on the 16th, we will deeply explore the apparent contrast between personal power (Leo) and universal service (Aquarius). Seeing our shadows here and cutting off any negative attachments, we will work on harmonizing these two aspects of our lives.
The Sun and Moon are also receiving added pressure at the time of this eclipse, as Saturn casts his glance (aspect) at them from Scorpio, still joined with Mars there. With three planets in Virgo (Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus), we will be feeling a strong drive to become more practical and organized this month. Watch out for retrograde Mercury, however, and debilitated Venus this month. Be sure to follow my page to get more updates on how this will affect you!
*You will feel this eclipse very deeply if you are Leo or Aquarius rising, or have any planets in Leo in your Vedic Astrology chart. For each planet that you have in Leo, this eclipse will affect up to three major areas of your life. *Book a personal eclipse reading here to find out how.*
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by Somya Devi | Aug 15, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Eclipses, Planets Changing Signs, Uncategorized
The Moon will reach his fullest at 2:27 am Pacific time this Thursday, August 18, 2016. That means that Wednesday night is the time to go out, hoot and holler, play your drums and feel the fullest potential of this lunar cycle. This Full Moon falls across the Vedic nakshatra Dhanishta, “the wealthy” star, which is related to the musical drum. Of course, you might be feeling a little moody, because the Moon is also joining south node Ketu in sidereal Aquarius. It’s not quite a lunar eclipse because the earth’s shadow won’t cover the Moon, but this alignment can bring feelings of disconnection and discontent with your heart and your community.
This full Moon fully launches us into the “eclipse cycle” energy, which you may have been feeling already. We are approaching a solar eclipse on September 1st and a lunar eclipse on September 16th. This is the second eclipse cycle this year with the lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu, transiting the sidereal Leo-Aquarius axis. This elevates awareness around the internal struggle between self-empowerment and universal service.
What does it look like for you to feel empowered, responsible for your own home, family and creative pursuits? How can you also be generous with that power? How do you balance your personal duties with service to your friends, community and society at large, offering your energy out into the world? We must find a healthy balance between self-love and universal love, and the eclipses help us to see our shadows around these Leonian and Aquarian themes.
These issues have arisen many times throughout the year, especially in March during the last set of eclipses on this axis. We all face this challenge to find balance in a particular area of life, depending on what Leo and Aquarius indicate in your natal Vedic astrology chart (and what other planets are influenced there). At the time of this full Moon, we strive to feel a connection to friends, community and society. Because Ketu is joining the Moon, however, we might feel some resistance or criticism as we open our hearts out into the world.
The Sun illuminates this full Moon from Leo, where he will have just entered. The Sun in Leo helps us to feel more connection to source and our natural divine power. Rahu’s presence here intensifies this, but the shadow planet can also bring illusion and confusion to our quest. We may face many interpersonal struggles this month, as people in general really want their desires and words to dominate at the moment, as Venus and Mercury also join Sun and Rahu in Leo.
This cluster of planets is receiving an aspect from Saturn, joined with Mars, in Scorpio, which adds a lot of pressure to the situation. The Moon also receives an aspect, from Mars, adding fire to our hearts. Saturn (now direct) and Mars are coming closer and closer, and will reach exact conjunction on August 24th. The internal heat and pressure are building fiercely, and we may feel tempted to explode during this portion of the month. Stay cool, and connect with the earth and water elements whenever possible. This alignment also brings a great opportunity to transform, if we channel this energy into perseverance and courage, and reflect it onto ourselves.
Jupiter and Mercury will also be coming head-to-head on the 22nd, in exact conjunction in Virgo, amplifying the struggle between philosophy and practicality. We will feel the need choose between putting beliefs first, or choosing something that makes more sense with our rational minds. Mercury is very strong in Virgo, and our pragmatic side may take charge and deflate our idealistic enthusiasm a bit. Use this energy to bring the light of discernment and impartiality to your beliefs, testing them against your intellect, and to add some inspiration to your life where you usually opt for the logical. At the end of the month, Venus and Jupiter coincide, followed by Venus and Mercury, challenging us with a lot of internal struggles and balancing acts.
All planets except Jupiter are also in fixed signs at the time of this Full Moon, similar to an alignment we experienced around March 8th. Our ability to adapt and be flexible is extremely limited right now. We may feel stuck in many areas of life, during this planetary gridlock. It’s very important to keep up with practices that help us to feel cool, centered and grounded. A disciplined yoga and meditation practice will help you to activate the positive energies of Mars and Saturn, like courage and dedication, and to avoid their more negative potentials, anger and fear.
Jupiter’s recent transit into Virgo offers SOME relief to most of us amidst this mega-lineup of intense, fixed, and shadowy energy. Until recently, Jupiter was also in Leo, amplifying the chaos brought on by Rahu, and magnifying the massive power-plays and ideological wars we felt throughout society. As Jupiter settles fully into Virgo, we will start to feel the the philosophical mood at large shift to a more practical, grounded, and conservative one. Though we may start to feel more Spock-like in general, it will probably be a welcomed relief compared to the firey passion we felt over our beliefs for so long this year with Rahu and Jupiter in Leo. For the next thirteen months as Jupiter transits Virgo, you will feel his expansive influence bring luck, grace, optimism, and flexibility to specific areas in your life. (Find out which areas in the full Jupiter in Virgo Forecast for Your Sign, Here.)
The prosperous nature of Dhanistha nakshatra, where this full Moon falls, does offer us the chance to call in some abundance right now. Some rising signs in particular will feel a boost in good fortune this year with Jupiter’s new position in Virgo. Under the heavy influence of Rahu and Ketu, however, there is a lot of subconscious and psychic energy being stirred by this eclipse cycle. Your opportunity for abundance may be best located in the energetic plane rather than the material. Spiritual practice will help to bring forth spiritual wealth. Service will be an especially useful method to tap into the energy of the Full Moon in Aquarius and fixed planetary energy this week.
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by Somya Devi | Aug 4, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Planets Changing Signs
Get ready for a shift from radical idealistic movements and power-struggles to more practical and reflective earth-based philosophies, both individually and throughout society at large.
Jupiter in Leo
Jupiter has been transiting sidereal Leo for a little over a year now. During this time, the planet of philosophy, luck, expansion, growth and beliefs has been in the sign of power. A masculine fire sign ruled by the Sun, Leo is where we tap into our inherent divinity and strength and learn how to wield it, whether selfishly or selflessly. The Sun wants us to find our connection to source, our strength and vitality, our power, and ultimately our dharma and generous sense of responsibility.
For the last year we have seen the struggle over power and beliefs in a very prominent light. Jupiter has expanded efforts to claim power and authority through ideology, especially in the realm of government. Throughout society, we have seen the expansion and importance of many principle-based movements coming to the forefront.
The Sun, Leo’s ruler, has offered energy to help us to purify our philosophies and hold them up to its illuminating power. We have watched some progressive beliefs gain more traction in the world, while at the same time a more orthodox conservatism took hold in other places. Since January of this year, Rahu has been joining Jupiter in Leo, adding a radical, confusing and shadowy energy to this quest for ideological dominance. We have experienced radical actions throughout society based on ideologies of all sorts.
Jupiter in Virgo
On August 11th, Jupiter will be making his transition from Leo into Virgo.* After this time and for the coming year, we will experience a shift from big, bold, power-hungry philosophies to ones that are more practical and earthly. Virgo is a feminine earth sign ruled by Mercury, the planet of the intellect. Mercury is impartial, fact-oriented, playful and curious. For this reason, the proliferation of beliefs and social movements may begin to take a more rational, universal and intellectual tone.
The feminine nature of Virgo also means that Jupiter’s transit here will cause us to adopt a more self-reflective approach to our beliefs. As Virgo is a mutable sign, we may become much more flexible around ideas, compared to the dogmatic nature of beliefs we experienced with Jupiter in the fixed sign of Leo. With Jupiter moving from a fire sign to an earth sign, it’s time to take those big illuminated ideas and work out the details around how to move them from the visionary into the physical plane.
Jupiter is the planet of optimism, and Virgo is perhaps the most practical of all the signs, so it is possible that we may feel a slight deflation of our idealism as rationalist philosophies become more popular again. At least Jupiter is parting ways with Rahu, so we may actually welcome a little linear Virgoan thinking, after some of the radical ideological battles we have experienced recently.
Jupiter For You
In this coming year we will feel Jupiter’s expansive potential shift from one area of our lives to another, depending on each individual’s rising sign. Leo rising individuals have had Jupiter’s (Guru’s) grace over the last year, while Virgo rising folks may have actually experienced more loss and confusion as he transited their 12th house. Now Virgo ascendants will feel more of a sense of luck and expansion as the Gas Giant makes his way across their first house. For the next year, Jupiter’s influence will permeate four different areas of your life, those indicated by Virgo as well as Capricorn, Pisces, and Taurus in your Vedic chart, where he will now cast his aspect.
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*Jupiter is moving from Leo to Virgo according to the Vedic/sidereal zodiac, which correlates with how we see the stars and planets from Earth in real time. Just look up at night and you can see he is between Leo/Virgo now! According to the Western/tropical zodiac, based on the seasons, he is said to be in Virgo and moving to Libra soon.
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by Somya Devi | Jul 29, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Eclipses, Events, Planets Changing Signs, Uncategorized
Tuesday’s New Moon in sidereal Cancer brings on a new lunar cycle and a month of heavy astrological changes. With the Sun and Moon in the sign of the water snake, Ashlesha, this cycle kicks off with a dark Moon on August 2nd, 2016 at 1:45 pm PDT. Other happenings in August include Saturn finally going direct (after four long months), just in time for a head-on collision with Mars around the 24th. Jupiter is also having a major shift, transiting from sidereal Leo to Virgo, after a year in Leo (and six months joined with Rahu there!)
As the Sun and the Moon meet in the middle of sidereal Cancer we will strongly feel the emotional and feminine energy of Cancer heightened for the coming month. This area of the sky is also known as Aslesha, the Vedic nakshatra that elicits serpent energy and wisdom. Aslesha can be found within the constellation Hydra, the water snake. This month will bring on the energy that will help us to probe into the deep currents of our emotions in order to find what lies coiled within. Compassion and universal love can be found in the deep well-spring of Cancer.
The Vedic deities of Aslesha are the Nagas, the divine serpents of wisdom. This constellation relates to kundalini, and offers the opportunity for us to release some of our dormant potency. This is a great time to check in with your root (muladhara) and sacral (svadhistana) chakras. Feel into these centers, and ask yourself, what lies dormant that is ready to flow or reawaken? This constellation has the power to heighten our intuition and sexuality this month.
The Cancer cycle will also draw our yin energy more into our awareness. Cancer is a feminine water sign ruled by the Moon, and is an archetype for feminine divine energy. As we have begun the descending cycle of the Sun and the days slowly begin to shorten, we can reconnect to our intuitive and feeling nature through Cancer, awakening the wisdom that our receptive channel has to offer. The Dark Moon night of August 1st, in particular, is a great time to withdraw inwardly and nourish the lunar energies. Call on the Moon energy in whatever ways speak to you — a moonlit walk, bath, or meditation, moonstones and pearls, mantra, or an altar to the Moon or the water element. Connecting with the Moon and the water this cycle will help your emotions and intuition to flow, offering valuable insights and helping the heart to open.
It is very important to maintain a solid practice to increase clarity and heighten your perception and discernment this month. The movements of Saturn, Mars and Jupiter will all have some serious impact in mid-August (and that’s just a precursor to the turbulence being brought on by September’s eclipses, yikes!).
Saturn has been in retrograde motion since late March, in sidereal Scorpio, and causing us to do some major re-thinking of our long-term commitments. (If you didn’t yet receive your Free Saturn Retrograde Guide, Download it Here to see how Saturn has affected you this year.) After a grinding period of delay, confusion and hesitation, Saturn will finally be stationing and then going direct on August 13th. This motion offers us the potential to at last commit to one direction and forge ahead with dedication.
Saturn’s direct motion comes just days before Mars finally catches up with him, and the two join in a tight and potentially explosive conjunction in sidereal Scorpio around August 24th. Mars’ passion and impetuousness threaten to destroy whatever firm commitments we have made after Saturn’s retrograde period of uncertainty. Saturn is the planet that helps us to slow down and look at things in perspective of the long-term and the bigger picture, but Mars tells us to listen to our animal instinct and lunge towards wherever it points in the moment. The days surrounding this Mars-Saturn exact conjunction are a time to exercise a lot of patience and discernment, lest we destroy something in haste. This is when that Cancerian energy of compassion and receptivity will come in handy.
Mars can also offer us courage, however, and a warrior spirit, and these may be needed to propel us forward in facing our fears. We may have set some of our responsibilities on the back burner, but we are now ready to engage with Saturn moving direct. Mars in Scorpio offers us the energy of the spiritual warrior, the courage to confront our challenges, and the power to strengthen our emotions where we are the most vulnerable. Through mindful practice, we may be able to harness Mars’ energy for some powerful inner transformation.
The other major planetary shift we will experience this month is Jupiter’s transit into sidereal Virgo, on August 12th. Jupiter has been progressing through Leo for the past year, enlarging our sense of individual power and the power of our beliefs. He brightened our ideals and philosophies, illuminated new ideas, and expanded the area of life indicated by Leo in each person’s individual natal chart.
Since Rahu joined Jupiter there in January, we have seen philosophies and beliefs become radicalized, and often confused and violent, on a large scale throughout society. Though we may still experience this to some degree as long as Rahu remains in Leo (for the next year), the fact that Jupiter is moving on should diminish the intensity of the ideological power-plays at large. With Jupiter in Virgo, philosophy and belief structures will, on the whole, become more practical and grounded. You will also feel some expansion and grace for the next year in the area of your Vedic chart indicated by Virgo.
At the beginning of this lunar cycle, we experience a tight conjunction of Jupiter, Rahu, Mercury and Venus all in Leo. Leo is a powerful fire sign, ruled by the Sun, and is where we tap into our core power and sense of connection with source. Power can be used generously or selfishly, however, and we may feel different sides of ourselves and various people in our lives trying to assert dominance this month. This will be felt throughout August, wherein we will have up to five planets in Leo on any given day.
Call forth the compassionate, watery, and loving Moon energy of Cancer as we begin this new Moon cycle, and try to carry this with you throughout the month. Harness the intuitive potential of Aslesha nakshatra and let your insight guide you through the bumpy days ahead. Oh yeah … and don’t miss the beauty of the Perseid meteor showers, brightest around August 11-12!
May all beings find peace and happiness.
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by Somya Devi | Jul 14, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Retrograde
Next Tuesday brings Guru Purnima on the Full Moon in Capricorn. The peak of the full Moon will occur on July 19, 2016 at 3:57 pm PDT. Purnima is the full Moon phase of the month, and guru means remover of darkness, but is commonly translated as teacher. Guru Purnima is an auspicious time for celebrating our teachers. Under the light of the full Moon, we give thanks for the illumination and wisdom that they have brought into our lives. Guru is also the planetary name for Jupiter (in Sanskrit and Vedic astrology), who represents the principles of expansion and inspiration in our lives.
This full Moon falls at 3 degrees of sidereal Capricorn, highlighting our quest for structure to support to our feminine, yin essence. Capricorn is a feminine earth sign and is ruled by Saturn, the planet that drives our focus towards the bigger picture. Saturn makes us remember the eternal nature of our soul, and through Capricorn, he inspires practical action in the earth realm to help us to protect and support our soul’s evolution. This full Moon will help us to remember to rise to meet our responsibilities and persevere through any difficulties we are facing.
This Capricorn energy offers a great time to tap into your spiritual practices. It’s time to bring them into the earthly realm, rather than just thinking about them. Capricorn is practical, and that means it’s time to practice. Sit down on the ground and connect with your crystals, cards, malas, or instruments. Practice also includes doing your duty as well as selfless service. Service that upholds the teachings of your gurus can be a special offering you make on this day.
In the Vedic calendar this full Moon and Guru Purnima fall on the nakshatra of Uttara Ashadha. This star-sign is ruled by the Vishvadevas, the 10 lords of dharma. Dharma refers to our duty in life, both earthly and spiritual. These will both be illuminated for us on this full Moon. Uttara Ashadha constellation bridges Sagittarius and Capricorn, signs ruled by Jupiter and Saturn. Its energy supports holding high ideals, and the commitment needed to support them. In remembering our teachers we will also remember our highest values and our purpose. It is said that in addition to each individual’s unique purpose in this life, we all share the higher purpose of attaining self-realization.
At the time of the full Moon, the Sun will be opposite Capricorn, in sidereal Cancer. We are at the point in the cycle where we need to harmonize the energy of these two signs, balancing our watery emotional nature with our practical earthy side. With the Sun in Cancer, we find our strength through the heart and our intuition. The Moon in Capricorn balances this by bringing our focus towards the earth realm and the bigger picture, while our emotional sensitivity and intuition is heightened.
The bigger picture and our long-term goals and commitments are definitely on our minds right now because of Saturn’s influence. This Full Moon is receiving an aspect from retrograde Saturn in sidereal Scorpio. Since March, Saturn has appeared to move backwards in retrograde motion, causing us to backtrack and reconsider our long-term commitments in a few specific areas of life. (The areas of life indicated by Scorpio, Capricorn and Aquarius in your Vedic chart have been under scrutinization, or may have just felt stuck.)
There is one month left during Saturn retrograde. This is our time to really go inward, finding our truth, facing our fears, and determining the long-term direction we want to pursue. We feel a lot of pressure here now because Mars is once again joining Saturn in Scorpio, and will be for the next two months. The two will come head-to-head in late August (within one degree of each other), and we will need to really stay centered to maintain balance amidst this energy.
Jupiter is also getting ready to move signs in about one month, transiting fully from sidereal Leo to Virgo. For the last year he has been in sidereal Leo, and personal beliefs and self-empowerment have been getting a lot of attention. Since January, the shadow planet Rahu has also been joining him there, inciting some very radical ideas and power-struggles. When Jupiter transits into Virgo in mid-August, we will feel a shift towards more grounded philosophies, at large, and more trends towards practical thinking. This transit will also have profound effects for each individual based on where Virgo lies in your chart. You will feel a boost of energy for the next year in this area of life. (Be sure to sign up for free updates at my site to receive your personal Jupiter in Virgo forecast, coming soon to your inbox).
As my guru says, “May we all become lamps spreading light to the world, and may grace help us to achieve this.” This Guru Purnima on the full Moon in Capricorn, connect with your teachers and that which inspires you most.
With the upcoming shifts of Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter, now is a great time to book a personal reading to see what will be changing for you. Be sure to sign up here to receive your free personal forecasts and Vedic Astrology news.
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The Nodes
