Venus is now in Cancer, and the Moon is joining Rahu and Jupiter in Leo for the next two days. With Venus in Cancer, we feel a lot of emotion about our desires. As we approach compromise, we may feel flooded with compassion, or maybe just flooded with emotion. It might be difficult to erect proper boundaries in both compromising and seeking to fulfill our desires. Keep an eye out for this over the next couple of weeks.
Now and for the next two days, the Moon is in the same sign as Jupiter and Rahu, which could add some intensity to our hearts and minds, especially around beliefs. As the Moon rules Cancer, this intensity could spill over into our desire and relationships, especially Friday night as the Moon is sandwiched between Rahu and Jupiter.
We enter the eye of the storm on the Gemini New Moon this July 4th. With Sun and Moon in Ardra nakshatra, the Dark Moon night of July 3rd offers an opportunity for cleansing and renewal. Ardra nakshatra is a stormy and transformational place in the zodiac. The new lunar cycle begins on July 4th at 4:01am PDT. Ardra (also called Arudra) is a Vedic star-sign known as “the moist one.”
Ardra is related to the deity Rudra, the fierce and destructive form of Shiva. Rudra is often depicted in a violent storm. When the clouds part, the time after intense rains is a period of renewal. The storm washes away the old and makes the ground fertile for something new to sprout.
A teardrop is another symbol related to Ardra nakshatra, signifying sorrow, but also the process of emotional purification. Tears can be very cleansing. Rudrakshas are the sacred seeds seen in malas (prayer beads) worn by Shiva. They are translated as “the tears of Rudra.” On this Dark Moon night, what calls you to shed your tears in order to clear a path and nourish the grounds for something new to grow?
Amidst the sorrow and destruction brought forth by this transformative deity, there remains a stillness at the center of the storm. Shiva is well known as the greatest of yogis, because of his ability to abide in peaceful meditation despite any chaos happening around him. He remains still in the midst of the ongoing destruction and renewal happening throughout the cosmos. By tuning into our own center, we can awaken pure consciousness, which helps us to weather any storm.
A third image relating to Ardra is the diamond, a clear and luminous gemstone formed after enduring intense heat and pressure. Like the diamond, Ardra reminds us that we are warriors who can withstand any austerity and challenge and come out clearer and more brilliant. This is definitely a warrior nakshatra. Ardra is related to Rahu, the planet who connects us to our deepest psychological shadows. By facing these, he helps us to grow and mature.
This New Moon initiates a lunar cycle abundant with Gemini energy. It begins on Monday with the Sun, Moon, Venus and Mercury all in sidereal Gemini. Gemini, ruled by Mercury, brings a playful and versatile energy to our lives. We begin this month in a collective energy of curiosity and flexibility. This is a great time to explore some new interests or skills. With Mercury in Gemini we are feeling very open-minded. We are ready to explore many different possibilities and look at life from a new angle. With Venus in Gemini, our desires are diverse as well, and we may seek satisfaction through many avenues.
One caveat to all this Gemini energy: be conscious of the elevated air element and vata dosha in the atmosphere. This can lead us to can easily feel overstimulated, in the mind, body, and nervous system. You may notice you have been hyperactive lately, which can quickly lead to exhaustion. Take time this month to connect with the earth and water elements. This will help to create balance with the prevalent air and fire elements. Six out of nine planets are in air signs at the time that this new lunar cycle begins, and Rahu and Jupiter remain in firey Leo. Also be aware that Mars turned direct on June 29th, and is now moving forward, giving us more fire-power, strength and courage.
The upcoming Full Moon of this cycle, on July 19th, is Guru Purnima. This is the traditional day for honoring our teachers, or gurus. The guru is literally the dispeller of darkness, and darkness is the cloak of ignorance. If we have been blessed to find someone who has helped to remove darkness or ignorance from our lives, today is a great day to offer our thanks to them.
Definitely take some time to sit on the ground and connect with the earth on this airy New Moon in Gemini. Find your heart center and call on the water element, letting the rains (or tears) wash over you in order to help you to purify and make fertile grounds for a new chapter of growth in your life. Gemini relates to the arms, shoulders and chest, so doing some heart- and shoulder-opening exercises or asanas will be helpful in this time. You can connect with Ardra’s deity, Rudra, and call in the consciousness and peace of Lord Shiva by chanting “Om Namah Shivaya.”
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Mars, the planet of our courage and will, is coming to a stop in his reverse motion today (as viewed from earth), and then will slowly begin moving forward again through the zodiac. Mars has been retrograde since mid-April, and since that time we may have been feeling confused about our strength and courage, or may not have been feeling as much vitality as usual (especially if you are a Mars-ruled person). Mars moving forward again will help us to regain some willpower and self-discipline, but could also put a bit of pressure on our relationships for the next couple of weeks while he remains in Libra. You’ll also feel some energy returning to whatever house Libra is in your chart, and whatever themes Mars rules for you.
In a couple of weeks the forward-moving Mars will re-enter sidereal Scorpio, joining retrograde Saturn once again. If you haven’t read your Saturn Retrograde Forecast yet, now is a good time to do it. The Mars-Saturn conjunction will up the pressure on the commitments you’ve been working on figuring out since March. You will have about one month left in Saturn retrograde when Mars, who governs our force and will, joins Saturn, who relates to our long-term goals and commitments. This will be the time to really decide what direction you are moving (especially in regards to Scorpio’s house in your chart), and take a firm stand before the Mars-Saturn war in late August.
Now is still a great time for a reading if you want to explore how the Mars and Saturn are triggering you around long-term goals and decisions.
Feeling a bit overstimulated? We now have Mercury, Sun and Venus in Gemini. This makes for an active mind and body, looking in many directions at once to satisfy curiosity and desire. This abundance of vata can lead to physical or mental fatigue. Consider connecting with the earth and water elements to create some balance, while we have 7 out of 9 planets in air & fire signs. This will feel especially soothing to the heart today as Moon transits Pisces and is aspected by Jupiter (joined Rahu in Leo).
Heads up! There could be some over-the-top intensity and chaos tomorrow (Friday), and over the next few days, as we experience a Rahu and Jupiter exact conjunction. Rahu, the powerful north node of the Moon, represents our dark shadow energy. Jupiter gives us our highest teachings, values, and principles. In mythology Rahu is the head of a demon and is obsessive and harsh by nature. Jupiter, the teacher of the gods, is expansive and optimistic.
Rahu and Jupiter have occupied the same sign (sidereal Leo) for a while now, but tomorrow is the day where they will be in exact conjunction. This means that they are in a straight line as measured from earth, and this combination could be explosive. Known as guru chandala yoga in sanskrit, this alignment can really amplify the confused and obsessive subconscious drives we experience due to Rahu’s influence.
With these two in Leo since January, we have seen people plying for power by brandishing radical, if irrational, beliefs. Because Rahu is the head of a demon with no body, he can never seem to consume enough, and doesn’t know when to stop. You may be feeling a bit like this right now. He brings out the part of us that seems to make the same mistakes over and over without understanding why. As he joins Jupiter, we might feel confused about our teachings and beliefs, yet driven to connect with them.
We’ll be feeling this compelling influence heavily on our emotional bodies as well. The Moon will be opposite from this Rahu-Jupiter conjunction tomorrow and this weekend, which could bring on anxiety. The Moon’s position relates with the mood of our hearts and minds. With Moon joining Ketu, we find it difficult to settle our emotions. We are probably feeling pretty vulnerable right now, and may be very self-critical.
We feel really passionate about our beliefs, but there is some disconnect happening. There is a sense of inner confusion in the current that is obscuring things and adding a deep level of frustration. There can be positive results too, depending on how these planets align with your chart, but still with an undertone of confusion to some degree.
The best course of action for today? I’m going with pray for peace. This will help us on both the collective and external levels and the individual and internal. You can chant “Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu” (May all beings everywhere be happy and free), or “Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti” (Om, Peace, peace, peace), or both! This will help to bring some personal centering and positive vibration that will also emanate outwards to all beings.
Om, Peace, Peace, Peace
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Whichever house this Rahu and Jupiter exact conjunction falls on in your chart is the area of life where you may feel especially challenged at the moment. We can discuss your personal chart in a reading.
