by Somya Devi | Jan 25, 2017 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Eclipses, Events, Planets Changing Signs, Retrograde
Title Photo Credit: “Gorgeous Planets” by Victoria White, C.C. License 2.0
New Moon in Capricorn and Some Big Changes
The new lunar cycle begins on Friday, January 27th, with a New Moon in Capricorn and some big changes on the horizon. The exact time of the Dark Moon is at 4:07 pm PST on Friday, and from there we enter the new waxing cycle. The coming month brings forward the energy of Capricorn, where we feel the weight of Saturn pressuring us to reflect inwardly on our limitations and fears, and commit to taking responsibility for ourselves.
Saturn
Saturn’s force may feel especially dense right now because he is at the juncture of two signs, sidereal Scorpio and Sagittarius. This particular juncture between signs is one of the three places in the Vedic zodiac considered gandanta, the end of a knot. It is a very evolutionary place in the zodiac, where we are working with some deep-seated and tightly-bound karma. Saturn is the planet that makes us look at our long-term goals, fears, and responsibilities, and forces us to learn patience, perseverance, and commitment.
Click for more on Saturn in Sagittarius
Saturn officially changes signs, from Scorpio to Sagittarius, on January 26th, 2017 (see full Saturn in Sagittarius article), beginning a major three-year transit that will bring his influence to new areas of our lives. This transit will compel us to look deeply at our philosophies and how we stand and act behind them, and it will help us to commit to more inspired action to support what we believe in most.
At the moment, however, Saturn is still at zero degrees and in the process of settling into Sagittarius, now under Jupiter’s rulership. We are currently feeling the intensity of his gandanta position and facing some deep karma. This time offers the potential for doing a lot of maturing and unraveling our internal knots, particularly during the Capricorn cycle, during which we turn Saturn’s forces inward, by the feminine nature of this sign.
Sravana
This month is a good time to look deeply at our fears and what brings us the most pressure in life, and work on bringing some wisdom and internal strength forward to endure those challenges. The lunar cycle begins in Sravana nakshatra, a Vedic constellation within Capricorn that has to do with the ear and deeply listening. We can make great strides through listening deeply this month–perhaps through our own meditation practice, but also through paying attention to oral traditions (like astrology). Traveling, listening to music, and studying languages and other forms of communication can offer us a lot during this cycle. Lord Vishnu resides over this nakshatra, and inspires us to step up and align our internal structures in a way that supports our long-term goals.
Venus
Venus is also making a major transit this month, on January 27th, the same day as the new Moon cycle begins. Venus is entering Pisces where he will be exalted for the next four months (through May 30th). This means that we have the opportunity to find more intelligence in our relationships and in our pursuit of happiness, as we attempt to align our Venusian desires with our higher beliefs and philosophy (under Jupiter’s ruling influence on Pisces). There is also the potential to get carried away and romanticize everything or go overboard in escapism and indulgences, depending on the strength of Venus in our natal chart.
Jupiter
A few days after the new Moon begins, Jupiter will start his retrograde motion, on February 5th. This will last through June 9th, and during this time we will take a closer look at our philosophies and beliefs, as well as our higher education and teachers. It may be time to refine where we choose to put our energy, where and how we study, and who our teachers are.
Eclipses
Last but not least, we are most definitely in the orb of the eclipse cycle right now. There are solar and lunar eclipses coming on February 10th and 26th. These eclipses are the third set occurring with Rahu and Ketu, the lunar nodes, on the sidereal Leo-Aquarius axis (since January 2016). This transit has helped us to uncover our shadows in the dichotomy between personal empowerment and universal service. It has stirred the pot very particularly in the areas of life indicated by Leo and Aquarius in your chart. Now is the time to really harvest some of the lessons that have been offered over the last year, and see how and where you need to integrate changes into your life for the duration of their transit here (through August of this year.)
To help you make sense of these major astrological events, I am offering individual readings to look at Saturn, Venus, and the Eclipses, or you can request a 2017 Reading to talk about the effects of all three.
by Somya Devi | Jan 24, 2017 | Astrology, Events, Planets Changing Signs
Saturn in Sagittarius
Jan. 26, 2017 – January 23, 2020
On January 26th, 2017, Saturn transited from sidereal Scorpio into Sagittarius, beginning a three-year journey here. His influence here will compel us to work hard for our highest beliefs, and commit to standing behind them through inspired actions. He will put the pressure on for us to take responsibility for what we believe in, and act on it. We’ll feel the pressure to step up and work hard very specifically in the area of life that Sagittarius indicates in our personal Vedic birth chart.
Wherever Saturn, or Lord Shani, visits, his weighty influence forces us to re-evaluate our long-term goals and the path we are walking to get there. We feel the need to reforge our commitments and become more mature in the area that he influences. Sagittarius is a sattvic, masculine, fire sign, ruled by Jupiter, the planet who inspires our beliefs, principles, and philosophy. Saturn here will cause us to look at our principles and how we go about putting them into actions and structures of lasting value. The sattvic and firey natures of Sagittarius inspire us to purify ourselves, our work, and our commitments.
By grace, this will be a period where we are really able to sort through our belief systems and commit only to the highest elements within them. It will be a three-year process of re-evaluating our long term goals and values, and how we approach hard work and responsibility in regards to our beliefs, and to the area of life indicated by Sagittarius in our natal chart.
Saturn, or Lord Shani, is the slowest-moving planet in the Vedic system, visiting each sign for almost three years at a time, and taking a full 30 years to move all the way through the zodiac. Because of this he compels us to think about the bigger picture and the long term results of things. His grinding pace impels the need for patience and endurance, some of the greatest lessons he has to teach us. Wherever Saturn influences our chart, we become a bit more serious there, because we’re thinking about the long-term affects of our actions and how they relate to our ultimate goals over the course of time.
Saturn’s Return
This is why we often hear about people “growing up” or getting more serious about life around the “Saturn’s return.” This refers to when Saturn returns to the sign he was in at the time of your birth. When this happens, you become acutely aware of the passing of time and its consequences, and begin to think more seriously about the future. This happens for the first time around age 27-30, but people often forget that around age 56-59 we experience a second Saturn’s return. You will be experiencing a Saturn’s return period over the next three years if you were born between:
• December 16, 1987 – March 19, 1990
• June 20, 1990 – December 13, 1990
• February 7, 1958 – May 31, 1958
• November 7, 1958 – January 31, 1961
There’s even a third Saturn’s return happening for those elders born between
• December 24, 1928 – April 11, 1931
• May 25, 1931 – December 24, 1931
Sade Sati
Saturn’s influence can be so heavy that it is said it feels like he sits on your head when he visits your Moon sign (as explained in the well-known tale about Saturn and Hanuman). This story refers to the Sade Sati period, a 7.5-year interval during which Shani transits the sign before your Moon, your Moon sign, and the sign after your Moon. You are now in Sade Sati period if your Vedic Moon sign is Capricorn, Sagittarius, or Scorpio. He will also cast a heavy influence if one of these is your Vedic rising sign. This time can bring a lot of pressures in life, especially mentally and emotionally, but it is not necessarily all bad either. It can help you to mature and become more responsible in your life as well. The way you experience this transit depends on many influences in your Vedic birth chart.
Retrograde Saturn
Saturn goes into retrograde motion fairly often, and he was retrograde this year from April 5th through August 25th. This may have caused things to slow down in the areas of life ruled by Saturn in our birth charts. It also is a time to be very introspective regarding the process of maturation initiated by his transit into Sagittarius.
Shani actually transited back into Scorpio during his retrograde motion. This gave us one final chance to really get clear on how we approach and commit to our personal transformation, AND the area of life indicated by Scorpio in our natal chart. We were doing a lot of work in this area for the last three years, and reflecting on it deeply during Saturn’s retrograde motion periods. Saturn was in Scorpio again from June 22nd through October 26th, 2017.
Gandanta Transition
Your work life and the other themes ruled by Saturn in your chart may seem a bit unsteady right now, and over the next couple of weeks while Saturn is on the cusp of two signs and not fully settled into Sagittarius. The cusp of these two signs is considred the gandanta zone (a “knot”), in Vedic astrology, and can be a particularly difficult placement, especially with Saturn there, who can make us feel stuck anyway. As he moves further into Sagittarius we will feel his influence more strongly, and get a bit more energy for making commitments and handling responsibilities. I’ll be sending out a Saturn in Sagittarius Forecast for each rising sign, so be sure to join my mailing list to stay up-to-date.
Om Sham Shanayai Namaha
For an in-depth look at how this transit will affect you personally, you can receive a Saturn in Sagittarius Personal Reading.
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by Somya Devi | Dec 26, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Events, Retrograde
New Moon of Cosmic Waters Begins the New Year
The New Moon cycle begins on the night of December 28th, at 10:53 p.m. PST. Sun and Moon coincide in sidereal Sagittarius in Purva Ashada nakshatra, joining a retrograde Mercury. Purva Ashada is a Vedic constellation that translates as the “invincible one” or the “undefeated.” There is a powerful energy of victory associated with this star-sign, which falls in the middle of the powerful sign of Sagittarius.
The Sagittarius cycle brings an energy of optimism, as this sign is the outward expression of the planet Jupiter. Jupiter guides our philosophy and beliefs, as well as hope and optimism, so in Sagittarius we feel inspired to put our values into actions. This can inspire a lot of charitable work and humanitarian efforts. Sagittarius is also a fire sign, so we can get incredibly passionate about working for our beliefs here.
Purva Ashada nakshatra represents the middle of the Sagittarius constellation, and is associated with both power and fluidity. The deity for this star is Apas, the deification of water. The energy of this New Moon of the cosmic waters begins the new year for us a few days later.
In 2016 we experienced a wide-scale rising of struggles for water rights even here in the “first-world” United States. Scientists and spiritual leaders alike have told us that wars will be waged over this vital natural resource, and sadly we have reached the point where that is a reality. On the Dark Moon night of December 28th may we go inward and deeply contemplate our relationship with this elemental life-giver. Connect with Apas as the living embodiment of water if this helps you to strengthen your connection and prayers.
This could be a tough month for relationships as well as societal power struggles, because Venus, Mars, and Ketu now all join in Aquarius, opposite from Rahu in Leo. Ketu brings forth a lot of shadow energy and the combination of Ketu and Mars can be explosive. The affect of these two together with Venus could take a toll on our relationships, bringing up a lot of latent unspoken grievances and arguments about them. This is a time for self-scrutiny, as we are now approaching the last set of eclipses with Rahu and Ketu on the Leo-Aquarius axis. These eclipses will be coming in February.
Personal shadow work may be arising now, especially as we are in the middle of the last kala sarpa yoga cycle that we will experience until late next year. A kala sarpa alignment is indicated when all of the planets are on one side of the nodal axis (Rahu and Ketu are always opposite each other, forming this axis). This alignment usually brings a lot of intensity and upheaval, especially on the inner scale.
There is a range of interpretation as to whether a kala sarpa yoga occurs only when the planets are in between the nodes and not in the same sign as them, or also when they are in between the nodes and joining them within the same sign. That is to say, the current alignment may be considered a looser kala sarpa by some, or not at all by others, because Venus and Mars are in the same sign as Ketu, and Mars will soon be passing Ketu. Nevertheless, the strong proximity and association with the nodes still make for the “heavy times” energy that a kala sarpa yoga tends to bring.
This New Moon joins the Sun along with a retrograde Mercury in Sagittarius. Mercury will be retrograde until January 8th. If you’re making any travel arrangements or other plans during this period, leave yourself extra time for unexpected delays and schedule changes. It’s also a good time to go back and finish conversations that were previously unresolved.
All in all, this is a time where self-awareness is very important, largely because of the strong influence of Ketu. Ketu is one of the planets of the subconscious, so a lot of the energy arising now, in our actions, arguments, and relationships, is from a place that we do not completely understand. There is much wisdom to be gained here, however. The dark Moon time is a great time to meditate and listen to your own inner voice.Remember also to honor the water element, within and without.
*Personal 2017 Readings are available now and are being scheduled throughout the month of January. Be sure to join my mailing list to stay up-to-date with the latest 2017 forecasts
by Somya Devi | Dec 20, 2016 | Astrology, Events, Retrograde
Solstice Silence
Mercury retrograde has begun again as we approach the darkest day of the year on the winter solstice tomorrow (northern hemisphere bias). It’s natural to feel more inwardly drawn than usual during these days, so take it easy on yourself if you feel like hanging back from the party or social atmosphere. We’re getting the smallest dose of the Sun’s energy right now, who is responsible for our feelings of connection with divine strength, power, and inspiration. We’re in the most yin time of year, so the sensitive receptivity of the divine feminine is highly perceptible.
Take some time to be quiet and sit in the stillness, reveling in the amazing potency of the moment between the exhale and the inhale (on a solar scale). It’s a moment to feel our roots reaching deep into the earth, into the depths of the inner abyss. (Incidentally, the Sun is in Moola nakshatra at the moment, “the root” constellation in the center of the galaxy. The goddess Nirriti presides here, a fierce version of Kali who wields her powers of death and destruction.)
The winter solstice represents death on many levels, as we have reached the end of the annual solar life cycle. Now is a time for letting go. Release all that has happened in the last year and let the candle blow out where need be. It’s also a time to give thanks for all that’s come and gone, to celebrate it with gratitude, and acknowledge its place in the eternal timeline. We can then allow our vessel to empty in preparation for the new energy that is to come.
Following some days of darkness, the return of the light of Surya (the Sun) is coming soon. He will once again infuse the world with his solar breath. The new solar cycle gives us the opportunity for another year of growth, and recession, expansion, and contraction.
If you’re in the southern hemisphere, jump for joy and celebrate the peak of Surya’s cycle towards you! Revel in the ecstatic moment between the inhale and the exhale. Give thanks for the energy that has filled your cup thus far this year, and prepare for the germination process now that your seeds have been planted. The wheel of time is the only constant backdrop to our existence here.
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Kali Ma
Om Suryaya Namaha
Personal 2017 Readings are available now, scheduling throughout January.
by Somya Devi | Oct 26, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Events, Holy Days
New Moon in Swati
Be careful not to become scattered this New Moon in Swati, on the dark night of Saturday, October 29th (*Times given for North America).
The Sun and Moon will coincide in this Vedic star-sign ruled by Vayu, the Lord of Wind, to kick off the next lunar cycle. The exact conjunction will be Sunday morning (at 10:38 a.m. PDT), with the darkest Moon phase on Saturday night. It will also coincide with a Venus-Saturn planetary war (exact conjunction), so we may feel a conflict between temporary pleasures and long-term goals (October 28-30). Thankfully, this dark Moon night also marks the time for celebrating Diwali (or Deepawali), the festival of light, wherein we celebrate prosperity and light prevailing over darkness! So it’s a great time to shine some light and turn our minds and hearts toward devotional practice.
Potential Depletion
There are a few factors creating the potential to feel scattered at this time, but there’s also a great opportunity to ground ourselves and steady our minds through focus and worship. In addition to Vayu’s influence, we in the Northern Hemisphere have been experiencing the cold winds increasing in the external atmosphere. As we go deeper into autumn, the vata dosha (comprised of air and ether elements) is increasing all around us. With the leaves falling and the weather changing, the process of decrease and sparsity in nature becomes evident. This results in an increase of vata energy, which can cause us to feel restless, anxious, spacey, dry, or depleted. It is extra important to do grounding and nourishing practices during this season, and to eat warm, moist, and heavier foods.***
What’s more, this lunar cycle begins with the Sun and Moon in Libra, where Sun is considered debilitated (not able to express strongly). Sun represents our vitality, energy, physical strength, and also our feeling of spiritual strength and connection with universal source. Not surprisingly, the time of year when he becomes “debilitated,” passing through Libra, is the same time we experience increased vata in the atmosphere and lessened immunity in our systems. It’s the time when we are most likely to catch a cold and begin to feel “spread thin” or “dried out.” While the Sun is in Libra, self-care is extra important. Take some time on this New Moon night to set intentions for how you will care for yourself during the coming cycle.
Another reason Sun is considered debilitated in Libra is because Libra is a sign that is very much about relationships. Sun represents our individual strength, so with Sun in Libra, we are more likely to put more of our attention on others, and on relationships, than towards our own physical health. We may be relating to our own personal power through our relationships during this time, rather than approaching it as individuals. While you are offering your love and compassion to others, don’t forget to nourish the divine within yourself as well, or you may end up feeling depleted. It is also easy to become drained when we try too hard to balance everything, another temptation of Sun in Libra.
Swati Symbolism
Thankfully, the divine universe always seems to offer just the right opportunities for solving the same challenges it presents. We just need to be willing to do the work on ourselves. This new Moon is in the part of Libra known as Swati, “the independent one,” which reminds us of our independent nature, despite the strong emphasis we may be putting on relationships at the moment. This star-sign helps remind us to look for our own inherent power, shining forth like the inner Sun.
Vayu, the wind god, is the ruler of Swati, and can bring in a restless and scattered energy to this star. He is also the father of Lord Hanuman, who is known as the greatest devotee. One lesson we learn from Hanuman is that through loving devotion, even a restless monkey mind can be tamed. He had endless devotion for Lord Rama, which gave him invincible powers to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. Though we all have restless monkey minds at times, if we direct our attention toward love, light, or our chosen deity, we will be able to steady the mind and find immense strength within.
Practice Ideas
Some ways to still your mind through one-pointed focus include:
- Mantra recitation
- Asana practice
- Scriptural study
- Meditation on candlelight, a statue, or an image
Though a young sprout blowing in the wind (a symbol of Swati) may seem perilous, it is actually growing stronger so as to withstand the intense force of the outer circumstances. Eventually, it could grow into a tall redwood, cutting through the wind like a sword (another symbol of Swati). Swati is also related to the symbolism of a priest, which shows us the possibility for reclaiming both power and balance through devotional or spiritual practice.
Kala Saarpa Yoga
We may feel extra intensity seemingly out of nowhere, for the next two weeks during which the planets align in a Kala Saarpa yoga. This means that the seven major planets are all in between Rahu and Ketu, the two lunar nodes. This heavy alignment can bring up a lot of shadow work, so it is a good time to engage your toolbox for self-development. With Ketu in Shatabisha, the sign of the “hundred medicines,” alternative medicines and healing modalities can be useful towards this end.
Diwali
With all this energy in the atmosphere, enjoy the opportunity for worship offered by the advent of Diwali! This Hindu festival of light is celebrated for 6 or 7 days, with the main Diwali festival on the night of October 29th. Diwali, or Deepawali, comes from Deepa + avali, “a row of lights.”
Thursday (North America) is both Dhanvantari Tryodashi (or Dhanvantari Jayanti, the birth of Lord Dhanvantari), and Dhanteras (a part of the Diwali festival). It is the thirteenth day of the waning Moon in the Vedic month of Ashwayuja. Lord Dhanvantari is known as the “father of Ayurveda” and the “physician of the Gods.” (Ayurveda is the system of natural medicine from India that is a sister science to yoga and Jyotish.) If you practice any healing tradition, especially Ayurveda, this is a good day to give thanks and call in auspicious blessings to your healing path or practice.
Thursday also marks Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali festival (the Hindu festival of light). It commemorates the day that Lakshmi emerged from the milk ocean. In India, it is customary to purchase metals on this day — anything from jewelry to new statues to kitchenware (excluding iron), as a part of celebrating Lakshmi and calling in more prosperity. The metals can then be offered to your altar and will absorb and amplify the benefits of worship performed over the few days of Diwali.
It is customary to perform a puja to Lakshmi on the third night of Diwali (this Saturday in North America). Goddess Lakshmi represents wealth and prosperity (spiritual and material), as well as devotion, love, beauty, and happiness. Celebrating her on Diwali is a way to call these qualities into our lives.
It is also traditional to light candles throughout Diwali, to remind us of the divine light within. Diwali is also related to the story from the Ramayana about Lord Rama’s return from exile after fourteen years. It thus symbolizes light and goodness emerging from times of darkness. Lord Rama represents dharma, or doing our duty, as well as devotion, compassion, courage, and righteous leadership. Diwali celebrations often commemorate his and Sita’s return to the kingdom of Ayodhya after their exile.
On Saturday night as we prepare to enter the next lunar cycle, light a candle! Turn your mind toward the divine so as to focus and ground, through the practices that work best for you. Set some intentions as to how you will practice self-care during this cycle (and be sure to find me on Facebook for a live chat with tips for how to do this!).
Ram Ram, Namaste
***Be sure to Follow me on Facebook so you can tune in for my upcoming Facebook Live talks about the New Moon AND Ayurvedic tips for how to stay balanced during the high vata season!
**Limited requests for personal Vedic Astrology readings before the New Year are now available Here.
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by Somya Devi | Sep 29, 2016 | Astrology, Conjunctions, Events, Holy Days, Planets Changing Signs
The New Moon in Virgo on September 30th offers us another chance to be still, go inward, let go, and step forth anew into the Virgo lunar cycle the next day. Saturday opens to the door to Navaratri, an important Hindu festival in which the Goddess is worshiped for nine nights and ten days.
Don’t miss the full details about Navaratri, the Goddess’s forms, and how to celebrate, Here!
The exact New Moon is at5:12 p.m. (PDT) on Friday, September 30, when Sun and Moon converge at 14° of sidereal Virgo, in the Vedic nakshatra called Hasta (“the hand”). This creative star-sign brings an energy of “handiness,” conducive for arts, crafts, music, as well as intellectual craftiness and skillfulness.
Now that we have passed the equinox and begun to descend into the darker months (in the northern hemisphere)*, this is a great time to return to things like arts and crafts as we begin spending more time at home and cultivating our inward practices. Winter is the “yin” part of the year, so if we are aligned with nature, we sense that it is time to slow down and turn inward. The yin season can offer a lot more opportunity for personal practices than the “yang” part of the year, when our long days are filled with more outward activity and movement.
This Virgo Moon cycle is also a great time to get organized and create new routines in our lives. Consider a “fall cleaning,” getting rid of the old clutter that has accumulated over the busy summer months. This will create more space in your sanctuary that you will want for your self-care, home yoga practice, crafting, meditation, or whatever it is that you do to rest and recharge. Because Jupiter is also joining this New Moon in Virgo, you’ll feel extra grace coming at you this month, which will help you to get in alignment with your principles and ideals. It’s a good opportunity to reconnect with higher teachings and teachers, as well as to solidify some healthy habits in your life.
Between the New Moon and the 13th we’ll be experiencing a Kala Sarpa yoga again, when all of the planets fall on one side of the nodal (Rahu-Ketu) axis. This can add some intensity to our experiences … all the better reason to channel that energy into spiritual practice, worship, and surrender by celebrating Navaratri!
On October 10th Jupiter and Mercury will come into exact alignment in Virgo, which could cause us to stress out over the details a bit. Remember that practice and progress can be better goals than perfection. If your ideals seem out of reach or unpractical, give it a few days and be easy on yourself.
On October 13th, Venus will join Saturn in Scorpio, putting on some pressure in the area of relationships. It might be time to make a big commitment, or to put in the hard work needed to take things to a deeper level. These two will be together in Scorpio for almost a month, so it will be a time to really look at our fears around relationships, the effort we need to put into them, and how they contribute to our personal growth and transformation. Scorpio helps to teach us the lesson of surrender, as we face our own vulnerabilities and learn to recognize what is beyond our control.
After the Full Moon on October 15th, the Sun will transition from Virgo into Libra on the 16th. With Sun in Libra, his sign of debilitation, self-care becomes extra important. We might feel less energy than usual or be more susceptible to seasonal illness. We can also become easily depleted, especially with all the work we are doing around relationships. Be sure to honor yourself with some self-nourishment–grounding and nourishing food, warm baths, hot tea, and time to rest.
*In the southern hemisphere, the September equinox opened the door to the ascending cycle, where you may find yourself coming out of the winter shell and beginning to go out more, start exercising again, and increase your activity. Nevertheless, you can channel the energy of Virgo into creating healthy habits that will help you to stay balanced through the summer.
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