by Somya Devi | Jun 21, 2017 | Astrology, Planets Changing Signs
Saturn is transiting back into sidereal Scorpio tomorrow, June 22nd. The coming months will be Saturn’s last visit to Scorpio for the next 27 years. The last three years, during his transit here, have been a pivotal junction for many, and have helped us to orient ourselves towards new goals and commitments. We are now more clear where we are willing to put our effort, which parts of our life deserve our perseverance, and where we are willing to face the fear, pressures, and challenges that come along the path. We have particularly resolved to take responsibility for our own internal development, as Saturn in Scorpio compelled us to face our deepest emotional vulnerability.
Saturn (Lord Shani) has been doing his dance around the edges of Scorpio and Sagittarius throughout this year. He first entered sidereal Sagittarius on January 26th. He slowed to a stop and began retrograde motion on April 5th. For some time now, he has been at the cusp of these two signs, which is known as a gandanta zone — a knot — representing a place in the zodiac that brings up a lot of our most tightly-wound karma and inner struggles. As the planet of career, commitment, pressure, and maturity, Saturn’s visit to this part of the sky causes us to look at some of our most resistant blockages around these concepts.
On June 22nd Shani officially crosses from Sagittarius back into Scorpio, but we will continue to feel the pressure of his gandanta position for a few more weeks. Astrologers calculate the breadth of the gandanta zone differently; some would say that Saturn’s gandanta transit is lasting for roughly the month of June, while others would mark it as lasting from May through November of this year.
Shani will continue his retrograde motion until August 25th, when he’ll turn direct and continue through Scorpio until late October. The retrograde motion of Saturn in general helps us to slow down and become more introspective about our commitments, our long-term goals, and how we handle pressure and hard work. It also helps us to look at some of our deeper fears, and areas where we hold back because of an innate inner feeling of restriction.
As Saturn passes through Scorpio, we are re-evaluating our goals most specifically in the areas of life indicated by Scorpio’s house in our natal chart. This retrograde trip through Scorpio lasts from now through October, and is the last portion of Saturn’s 3-year transit here, during which time we adjusted our goals and commitments in one particular area of life.*
Those with natal Saturn in Scorpio are just finishing their Saturn’s return, while those with natal Saturn in Sagittarius have just begun it. Those with natal Moon in Libra are just finishing the Sade Sati period (7.5 year influence of Saturn), while those with natal Moon in Capricorn have just begun. Those with natal Moon in Scorpio or Sagittarius are well into the middle of Sade Sati.
Now is a good time to reflect on the work you’ve been doing over the last three years, in terms of your work and your commitments, particularly in the “house” marked by Scorpio in your natal chart. Saturn’s transit of Scorpio has forced us to step up and face our fears, especially in regards to our internal transformation. He has helped us to commit to our own self-development and become more gracious in accepting the challenging work of acknowledging our own inner vulnerability. During the next few months, reflects on the lessons you have been learning along this line, and take one last chance to affirm your commitment to developing strength from within your sensitive internal waters.
*If you are already on my mailing list, you should have received the Saturn Retrograde Guide with Saturn-in-Scorpio forecast for your sign, either in April 2016 or when you joined the list, whichever is more recent. (Search your inbox for it if you’re already on the list!) If you’ve not yet joined the list, you can get the Saturn Retrograde Guide by signing up here, for free!
by Somya Devi | Jun 9, 2017 | Astrology, Planets Changing Signs
Jupiter has been in retrograde motion since February 5th, and comes to a stop today before beginning direct motion again for the rest of the year. Over the last few months his apparent backwards motion has made us rethink our values and philosophy, as well as our educational course and relationships with gurus and teachers. After today, that inward reflection will turn into more direct action again, and we will find opportunities opening up around higher learning as well as inspiration.
You may have felt particularly slowed down or inwardly-turned if you are ruled by Jupiter — either Sagittarius or Pisces as your Vedic rising sign — or if you have Jupiter on your ascendant or joined your Moon or ruling planet. If Jupiter is a raja yoga (auspicious) or dhana yoga (wealth) planet for you, it’s likely that things will start picking up for you again.
If you’ve been reconsidering your educational direction or thinking about going back to school over the last few months, Jupiter’s direct motion helps to open up those opportunities. This summer will be a good time to enroll (in general, but always take your personal natal chart into consideration) and begin new educational pursuits or seminars.
Over these last months Jupiter has had rulership over both Venus and Saturn, who were transiting Pisces and Sagittarius, as well as Mercury, Sun and Mars, who passed through Pisces for about a month each. Jupiter is the planet of hope and optimism, so his backwards motion may have dried up our enthusiasm and positive outlook a bit. Now is a great time to come back into alignment with your faith and your trust in the universe.
Jupiter will spend the next few months finishing his course through sidereal Virgo, before transiting into Libra in mid-September. If you missed the Jupiter in Virgo forecast for your sign, be sure to join my mailing list to download now. Keep an eye out for the new forecast for Jupiter in Libra, due out around September.
by Somya Devi | Jun 8, 2017 | Astrology, Retrograde
The Full Moon in Scorpio is coming on Friday! Fullest waxing Moon is tonight, as the purnima Moon phase culminates at 6:10am P.D.T. tomorrow, June 9th. I spent the week on retreat at my satguru’s ashram in northern California, and many of the lessons reflected the energy of this Scorpio full Moon. The Moon has been in Scorpio since early Wednesday, and the atmosphere has been ripe for transformation.
The Scorpio full Moon teaches us to embrace change, to be ready for anything, to be fearless in facing the things that scare us the most. This has been a big part of the message from my guru this week as well. Life will throw us curveballs and challenges that we never asked for and really don’t want … but this is unavoidable. The only thing we can do about it is adjust our own attitude. By thanking the universe for the lessons it offers, and looking at them as opportunities for self-growth, we can find happiness and peace in any situation. This idea is reflected strongly by the energy of Scorpio, a sign I like to think of as the spiritual warrior.
We need to be able to adapt and go with the flow of external changes, and we can do this by fortifying our inner strength through spiritual practices. The Scorpio full Moon comes in the middle of the Taurus cycle, as a reflective point that helps us to integrate two poles. The Taurus energy has inspired us to root down and connect with Mother Earth. It is where the beauty of life becomes reflected inwardly, allowing us a greater sense of internal peace and happiness.
Scorpio, the sign opposite from Taurus, is a sign where we more often encounter a lot of anxiety and instability. As the natural eighth sign, it ilicits the energy of change, loss, and transformation. As a deep and passionately inward sign, Scorpio shows us our most vulnerable sensitive areas that we keep hidden within. As these concepts are illuminated by the Scorpio full Moon, we learn to face the transient nature of things, and integrate this reality into our lives even as we are pursuing a Taurean sense of stability. Life calls on us both to create structures on the earthly plane, and at the same time to remain detached and ready to let go when changes arise. This is the harmonizing energy of the Scorpio full Moon.
Venus has now finished his four-month course through Pisces, and we are beginning to move forward with a lot of new perspectives on our relationships and our avenues towards happiness. He’s now transiting Aries, and Ashwini nakshatra, a location that primes us for new beginnings. Venus can be both passionate and headstrong in this position, so be aware of rushing into relationships over the next couple of weeks.
The full Moon falls in the nakshatra called Jyeshta, the star of seniority. This asterism is governed by Indra, the chief of the Gods, and carries the power to overcome obstacles. There is a sense of responsibility found here. Within Scorpio, and on this full Moon, we rise up and take responsibility for overcoming our own inner challenges, facing our vulnerability and fears, and stepping into a more “senior” role thereby. As with any position of authority, however, Indra reminds us of the potential for abuse of power, or self-aggrandizement, and it is important not to get carried away by one’s position. There is a particular temptation here to put too much emphasis on one’s appearance and recognition.
Jupiter turns direct just after the full Moon, so we can look forward to things picking up again in terms of education, inspiration, and those areas of life ruled by Jupiter in your chart. Saturn remains retrograde, so be aware of this especially if you are ruled by him. You may feel a bit more withdrawn and inward as things in your life have slowed down a bit externally. Saturn is backing up and will soon be in Scorpio again, from late June through October. This may be the last stretch of Sade Sati or Saturn’s return for some (depending on the position of your natal Moon and Saturn).
by Somya Devi | May 23, 2017 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Planets Changing Signs, Retrograde
It’s no surprise that Rohini is known as the Moon’s favorite nakshatra, it’s one of mine as well. This Thursday, May 25th, at 12:45 pm PDT, the exalted Moon will join the Sun in the middle of Taurus, in Rohini nakshatra. We can give thanks for a warmer and cheerier month ahead, as we begin the cycle with a more peaceful disposition in the mind and heart.
The Moon is the planet that affects our emotions, and sets the tone of our mental thought patterns. Moon is exalted in Taurus because of the stable (fixed) nature of this grounded earth sign, which is ruled by Venus, the planet of pleasure, beauty, and harmony. We all know what it feels like to have turmoil and too many waves of change in the mind and heart, and we feel happier when the Moon has a happy and solid place to rest, such as Taurus.
Within Taurus, this New Moon falls within the Vedic nakshatra (star-sign) called Rohini, “the reddish one” or “the growing one.” Of all the twenty-seven nakshatras visited by the Moon each month, he was said to linger longer here, treating Rohini as his favorite. (In Vedic lore, the nakshatras were said to be the wives of the Moon. Though we do think of the Moon and Venus as planets with feminine qualities, the deities of the planets are thought of as gods while the nakshatras are goddesses.)
Rohini image from Trivedi click for link
Rohini correlates with the star Aldebaran, one of the brightest stars in the sky. The warm and glowing nature of this star elicits a sense of abundance and feminine fertility, and it is no surprise that there is a strong association with agriculture here. The common symbol for Rohini is the ox-cart, representing an abundant harvest, commerce, and in general, a fulfilling material existence. There are strong associations with Lakshmi here, the goddess of prosperity. Rohini is also associated with Brahma, the creative force in existence, adding to the sensation of infinite possibilities here. Venus’s rulership over Taurus also adds a quality of luxury, enjoyment, and a strong presence of Mother Nature.
The shakti (power) of Rohini is the power to grow, and this is a great month to focus on growing your material projects this year. The potency to bring dreams into material existence is strong under the new Moon in Rohini, especially with Taurus’ ruler, Venus, still exalted in Pisces. Venus in Pisces helps us connect our desires with our highest potential, and in the 11th house from this New Moon, the potential of fulfilling our dreams and greatest ambitions is added.
The New Moon in Taurus is also joined by Mars, but Mars is past 29 degrees of Taurus at the moment, so not having too fiery of an influence on our minds. The warrior planet lacks some intensity when on the cusp of two signs. He is within Mrigashira nakshatra, however, his own star-sign, which adds some potency and should help to keep our energy balanced. He transits into Gemini on Friday where we’ll need to put more energy into communication and intellectual pursuits, through mid-July.
Venus is finishing his four-month exalted transit through Pisces on May 30th, when he moves into Aries. After sorting through our desires and deeply reflecting on our relationships through this time, we’ll now work on taking action around them. Passions could be elevated for the next month. The 9th of June will bring both the full Moon and the full stop of Jupiter, before he turns direct and begins finishing his transit of Virgo through the summer.
Enjoy the dark Moon night on May 24th, leading into a new cycle on the 25th, and plant the seeds of what you want to grow in the incredibly fertile grounds of the heart and mind this month!
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by Somya Devi | May 9, 2017 | Uncategorized
Tonight brings the fullest waxing Moon of this cycle! (The Moon actually reaches peak fullness tomorrow May 10th at 2:43 pm PDT, but by Wednesday night it will technically be waning.) This full Moon falls at the end of sidereal Libra, opposite the still-exalted Sun in Aries.
I love the energy of the Aries-Libra axis because it really helps us to learn about compromising, and expressing our individuality in a healthy way. The Aries cycle that began on April 26th brought about a great sense of vitality and individual strength, with the Sun in his sign of exaltation. The Sun in Aries shines brightly, and brings the time of year when we feel the most energetic, ready to fully come out of our winter shell and dive head-first into life. The warrior courage of Mars (ruling Aries) supports the Sun, who signifies our health, power, and divine radiance. We’re not afraid to shine our lights and channel them into powerful actions at this time of year.
Libra, where the Moon reaches fullness tonight and tomorrow, is the sign that is all about relationships, balance, and compromise. Though we have been feeling a surge of individual power and willfulness throughout this summer, we are now being reminded that life isn’t all about “me.” The Moon represents our emotional sensitivity, mind, and hearts, and as he becomes fully illuminated in Libra, we become much more aware of the reflective mirror of our relationships. We are able to see where our focus on personal goals or expression may be having an affect on those around us.
The full Moon in Libra is a time to tune into the balance and harmony that exists in our relationships. The beautiful opportunity of this time is that we learn to do this while still experiencing our own sense of power (due to Sun in Aries). It’s a time where we can learn to stand in our own right, and at the same time compromise the right amount to foster empathy and cooperation with others.
This particular Libra full Moon lies in the Vedic nakshatra of Vishaka. This powerful star bridges Libra and Scorpio and is represented by a triumphant gateway, showing the potential for success after trials. It is also known as “the forked one” and is often symbolized by a tree with spreading branches. This star-sign carries the energy of needing to choose between two directions… similar to the opposing but balancing scales of the Libra imagery. When presented with two choices, or two sets of opinions, how do we navigate the path towards victory? Libra teaches us that a degree of compromise between two parties is necessary for us to find individual as well as collective happiness.
The relational awareness brought on by this full Moon in Libra is enhanced by exalted Venus, Libra’s ruler, still making his way through Pisces. This full Moon may even be experienced as the culmination of the Venus lessons that we have been learning for the last several months, with Venus’s journey through exaltation and retrograde motion ensuing since late January. Relationships have really been in the forefront of our karmic exploration lately, and the full Moon in Libra highlights our potential to reach a compromise, one that harmonizes both parties’ happiness and values without sacrificing individual strength and courage. It is perhaps the courage offered by the Aries Sun that allows us to find humility towards more peaceful and enlightened relations. (Be careful though — Mercury in Aries can quicken our speech, so it’s really important to slow down and be a good listener.)
Saturn and Jupiter also continue their retrograde motion, so be aware of work and education slowing down, as well as whatever areas of life these planets rule in your individual natal chart. Those ruled by Saturn or Jupiter (Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces rising signs) may also feel more introverted or stuck during these retrograde transits.
