Paula's Vedic Astrology Blog

Saturn is moving into Pisces!

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 20:38:41 GMT

Where will Saturn's new operations impact your horoscope

Saturn is changing signs

Known as Slow-Goer, the planet Saturn is moving out of Aquarius and into Pisces on March 29 25 where he will stay (with a four-and-a-half-month break in 2027) until February 26 28.

This is very significant for everyone because in Vedic Astrology the signs correspond to the houses of the horoscope and the houses show specific personal domains in our life.

For example, house 7 is the domain of relationships and house 4 is the domain of home and family. When Saturn changes signs he shifts his influence to a different domain of our lives.

Why are Saturn transits such a big deal

Saturn takes about thirty years to circle the Sun and spends about two and a half years in a sign. Since we don’t work with the non-visible planets in Vedic astrology this makes his cycle the longest. (We don’t ignore them. They do come into play. But because their cycles are so long, we short lived humans don’t have the ability to reign them in.) In comparison, Jupiter, the next visible planet in line, takes only twelve years to circle the Sun, while spending approximately a year in a sign.

Saturn’s taking a lot longer in a sign and house than the other (visible) planets corresponds to how deeply Saturn penetrates it. His energy goes low and slow, and his heaviness gives him the ability to push his agenda.

So, it behooves us humans to figure out how to get on board with the new area of life in which Saturn wants us to go deep.

What does Saturn want from us

Above all Saturn is a planet with an agenda for social betterment. His 29-year cycle corresponds with the consciousness and capacity to plan, to strategically organize systems and yes, hierarchies, for the preservation of humanity.

Hence Saturn is a realist. He knows truth and death. He knows sorrow and scarcity. Saturn conserves for the benefit of all. Saturn’s energy is the opposite of immediate need gratification and from this we know suffering. Saturn does not align well with our selfish impulses. He teaches discipline.

Saturn gets easier

Saturn gets easier to work with as we get older. When we’re young Saturn tends to come at us as an external force of authority that is harsh, unsympathetic and demanding and does not care how we feel about what he wants out of us. As we age, we learn to internalize Saturn as a force that helps us to know our limits, which in turn helps us develop the discipline we need, to for example, finish the novel we set out to write, or train ourselves to complete the marathon.

Saturn is about service to humanity, and we can only bring it into alignment with the needs of the self when the needs of the self are in alignment with societal needs.

Sign shift

Because of Saturn’s nature his shift into a new sign can start out feeling like a new anxiety or stress or a new burden to suffer. The area of life affected depends on the house or domain Saturn is transiting in your horoscope. Since Saturn has the power to throw aspects to other parts of the horoscope those areas can also be affected.

A Saturn transit

For example, a friend who received Saturn’s recent transit of Aquarius in their 9th house of higher philosophy, took on the responsibility for caring for an ill brother, which pertained to transiting Saturn’s opposition to their 3rd house, the house of siblings.

Interestingly enough, my friend will find that the hardship or challenge they bore, and learned (with limits!) to take responsibility for during the transit, lifts or resolves when Saturn moves into Pisces and determines to put his pressure on another area of their life.

Saturn teaches us to clarify our goals and, in that context, develop limits and say “no” a lot. Over the course of the past two and half years my friend has learned to say “no” to what they cannot give.

As far as the 9th house influence of Saturn goes, my friend has said they would not have managed the stress of caring for and finding outside social and familial support for their brother without a rigorous and realistic overhaul of their philosophy.

The gift of Saturn is that by drawing in their boundaries from infringement my friend found self definition. By pulling in and cultivating detachment they’ve become more self potentized.

In the extreme Saturn matters can become chronic and cannot be resolved. While Saturn is an indicator of longevity, he is also an indicator of death and brings with him the awareness that all things will end.

More specifically, Saturn’s new operations

In our personal horoscopes Saturn is moving into influencing a new area of our life.

For those with dual signs rising - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces

Saturn in Pisces is transiting through the angles of the horoscope. The angles are the active areas or the power zones of the horoscope. Saturn’s arrival can be the most daunting in this position as we initially feel pressure to take actions or make decisions that we may not feel quite ready for. Once we determine we have a good foundation from the adjustments made in transiting Saturn’s previous position in the dual houses, our connection to the deeper duty or task or project Saturn has in mind for us, kicks in. We get organized and find support for our longer-term projects. Commitment comes more easily because our goals feel more tangible.

For those with fixed signs rising – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius

Saturn in Pisces is transiting through the fixed or maintaining houses. The fixed houses are where we build on what we previously set in motion when Saturn transited our active house. We amplify and/or find ways to be loyal to or uphold the decisions we made and actions we’ve taken. We commit some more. This can bring creative or fresh energy to the cause. Saturn likes working in the fixed modality. His favourite sign is the fixed sign Aquarius which is the most humanitarian and innovative of the signs.

For those with active signs rising – Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

Saturn in Pisces is transiting through the dual or changeable houses. The dual houses are where we find flaws, break down problems and make adaptations. Saturn prefers to initiate and build but in the case of the changeable houses new conditions that were unexpected or not planned for must be faced. Complaining will occur. But these modifications are necessary and correspond to the philosophical or intellectual criteria upon which the following phase of action comes.

Saturn in Pisces for the world

Saturn builds forms and structures to support society. Pisces energy dissipates. Saturn rules the active sign Capricorn and the fixed sign Aquarius and is exalted in the active sign Libra. Saturn works well in these modalities, active and fixed, which connect to building and maintaining what is built. Saturn is more challenged dealing with crumbling buildings or societies for that matter while he’s transiting Pisces, making him more prone to his negatively expressed characteristics like authoritarianism and cruelty.

Saturn turns stationary direct on November 15

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:18:34 GMT

Saturn is the indicator of wisdom born of experience

On Nov 15 24 Saturn will station and turn direct at 18.29 Aquarius. For the past four and a half months, since Jun 29 24, Saturn has been traveling in a retrograde motion.

Saturn is the slow-moving planet that takes 29 years to go around the Sun. Correspondingly our Saturn energy is low and slow. We tap into our Saturn energy when we do our morning exercises that help with our low back pain. Which doesn’t work if we don’t do it every day! We tap into our Saturn energy when we find and maintain our commitment to our most certain aspirations.

Saturn spends a third of the year in its retrograde motion, representing how much inwardness and seeming lack of progress comes as part of the package when we work with Saturn. Saturn delays.

Saturn is known as the equal opportunity oppressor.

Saturn’s turn from retrograde to direct lessens Saturn’s oppression. That’s as good as the good news gets with Saturn!

However, for some Saturn’s return to direct motion won’t come immediately.

Changes of planetary direction always come with a stationary period. Presently Saturn’s movement is so slow it appears to be standing still, remaining precisely at 18.29 degrees Aquarius for over a week from Nov 13 to Nov 20. More widely Saturn stay in the 18th degree of Aquarius lasts from Oct 23 to Dec 10.

For those born with planets or points near to this degree the pressure of Saturn can feel unrelentingly intense and crushing!

As is often the astrological case, the most helpful news about a difficult transit to a planet or point in our horoscope is knowing that an end to the period of pressure.

Saturn energy is organizing and controlling. Saturn is the planet of mastery. Saturn is the indicator of wisdom born of experience. Of death, suffering, truth, longevity, sorrow, responsibility, humility, humiliation, integrity, discipline, restriction, loss. Order, hierarchy, authority. Organization.

The perspective I encourage for those receiving a transiting planetary station on a natal planet or point, especially one as strong as Saturn, is to focus on the attributes of Saturn that are beneficial and to consider the energy to be medicinal. Saturn energy brings to light our limitations, for example our mortality. This is why Saturn is an indicator of aging. Saturn shows us what we need to cut out in order to accomplish what’s most important to us. Saturn energy is realistic energy.

Above all Saturn is a social planet. It is the planet of democracy. Saturn is indicative of the evolution of the masses. Saturn is productive. Saturn stabilizes. Saturn commits. Saturn perseveres.

Jupiter Shifts to Taurus

Sat, 04 May 2024 19:08:47 GMT

Jupiter expands, Taurus brings peace

Jupiter, the planet of expansion, of inspiration and of seeking higher purpose changed signs on May 1. Jupiter stays in a sign approximately a year and is actually the planet that corresponds with your Chinese animal sign. Which is to say that Jupiter’s sign position also shows the ideal nature of our peer or social energy in any given year.

Jupiter’s shift is from fire sign Aries to earth sign Taurus.

Jupiter’s home signs are fire sign Sagittarius and water sign Pisces. Jupiter is exalted in water sign Cancer. Jupiter likes fire and water the best. These elements provide him the space he loves to grow and expand.

Jupiter is idealistic, often religious, and highly philosophical. Jupiter seeks higher knowledge through higher education. Jupiter is generous and gregarious. What he wants for himself he wants for everyone.

Jupiter’s shift into Taurus the densest of the earth signs slows down his proclivity for expansion.

On a mundane astrology level, I can’t help but notice that Jupiter’s stay in fire sign Aries, the sign of war, corresponds to the campus protests built on high philosophical ideals in the U.S. and Canada. Of further note is that the crescendo of energy around this social activism occurred in the week leading up to and the week after April 20, the date corresponding to Jupiter’s aligning with Uranus the planet of revolution. And that subsequent to May 1, the date of Jupiter’s entry into Taurus, most of the news is about the quelling of the protests.

While it’s true for Jupiter’s purposes, to expand, to grow, to learn, to be devoted, that shifting into earth sign Taurus is a comedown for his aspirations. Still, Jupiter, the planet of luck and good fortune, of sacred knowledge and charitable acts, of mantra and meditation, of morality, is still idealistic Jupiter and will still continue to affect the world for good.

Personally, as someone born under an earth sign Jupiter, I’m kind of relieved! Where fire signs are idealistic, earth signs are practical and realistic. In Taurus Jupiter slows down and takes time to attend to, amend and build on the foundation that the heady ideals Jupiter’s transit of Aries started. Taurus is hand’s on, and the sign associated to the arts. I wonder what hard-headed manifestos might arise in the aftermath of the past year. Taurus is ruled by Venus, the planet of love, and of empathy to others. Taurus is also the energy most connected with agriculture and feeding the people.

Jupiter connects us to our upliftment and our higher purpose. If peace is a priority, slow, steady, stubborn Jupiter in Taurus for the next year is a good placement for our times.

The Shadow Planets Move to a New House

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 19:21:32 GMT

Let's let go strategically

In Vedic Astrology November 29, 2023, was the first day of Rahu and Ketu’s transit into the Virgo-Pisces axis where they will stay a year and a half to May 29, 2025. Rahu is the planet of attachment and materialization. Ketu is the planet of detachment and dissolution.

I have been obsessing about this shift, which is appropriate as Rahu and Ketu, otherwise known as the North and South Nodes of the Moon, can be obsessive. Intoxicating is the word my teacher Dennis Flaherty uses to describe their energy.

I like Vedic Astrology for its accurate predictive powers, but I struggle when those predictions are too dark or negative, too fixed, too fatalistic. Even while loving Vedic astrology’s rigorous framework, at the same time I am always tinkering with the symbolism, trying to work the energies of the planets for their best possible results.

Along these lines if we consider that Ketu is the planet that detaches, that lets go, and in its purest form, is the energy that carries us off out of the earthly realm and back to the Godhead. And we consider that Rahu is the energy that materializes us, that brings us down into the earthly realm, then consumes what comes before it ravenously, then…

This suggests if we want to work well with these two energies as they transit new areas of our horoscopes, we should consider focusing on the purer-minded detaching, letting-go-of-things energy of Ketu. That way our detachment will balance with the materializing Rahu side so that what we materialize comes from a better place, one that is in keeping with our highest spiritual aspirations.

See how Western and exploitative my thinking is???

Another useful approach when working with the transiting energies of the nodal axis, is to keep the idea of balancing the two opposing energies in mind. My suggestion above to focus on the more spiritual side of the axis in Ketu ignores that Ketu’s detaching energies often easily lead us into fantasy and illusion. Most of us are not spiritually evolved gurus that have figured out how to work well with Ketu.

Rahu and Ketu are not actual planets but two opposite points that the Moon crosses when it orbits the earth. The points mark where the Moon ascends above and descends below the ecliptic (path of the Sun). They’re not distant planets with their own cycles and perspectives. Their scope is rather limited. Similarly, Rahu and Ketu have no powers of rulership. They have no dominion over any separate realm.

This means that what Rahu and Ketu are good at is bringing tremendous, focused intensity to the zone where they are transiting. At their best both Rahu and Ketu are healers. Ketu’s detachment gives perspective since it is our attachments that limit our ability to see. This is great for diagnosis. Rahu’s attachment to outcome helps him persist by any means necessary. Rahu is a rebel who follows no traditions. He finds avenues for cures that convention prevents us from finding.

Below I’ve written a few snappy possible avenues of exploration for the various transiting Rahu-Ketu house placements according to rising sign. This presentation pertains to Vedic Astrology which is based on the actual position of the stars and constellations in the sky and not Western Astrology which is based on the first day of spring representing 0 Aries.

Since presently the Vedic horoscope wheel is running about 24 degrees behind the Western wheel, to translate your Western horoscope Ascendant to Vedic, simply minus the 24 degrees. For example, if your Ascendant is 20 degrees Libra in Western Astrology, your Ascendant would go back 24 degrees to 26 degrees Virgo in Vedic Astrology.

Vedic Astrology uses a whole house system. Virgo, from 0 to 30 degrees, would be your Ascendant or 1st house. Ketu would be transiting your 1st house, Rahu your 7th.

About five out of six of us will see our Western Astrology rising sign move to the previous sign.

Aries Rising: Ketu transiting 6. Rahu transiting 12. Ketu – exploring alternative health, allowing work to be meaningful. Rahu – mental health is real. Exposing hidden problems and working on them.

Taurus Rising: Ketu transiting 5. Rahu transiting 11. Ketu – softening expectations of what we love, of children. Rahu – solidifying reputation, being known.

Gemini Rising: Ketu transiting 4. Rahu transiting 10. Ketu – letting go of foundational ideologies. Loss of homeland, mother. Rahu – fulfilling ambitions, desire to let the world know who you are.

Cancer Rising: Ketu transiting 3. Rahu transiting 9. Ketu – letting go of developmental notions regarding competition, new conceptions of how to be consistent. Rahu – attachment to higher understanding, philosophy. A great time study or to finish that post-secondary degree.

Leo Rising: Ketu transiting 2, Rahu transiting 8. Ketu – Dematerializing the material. Letting go of what money has meant to you. Allowing the values you believe in drive your consumerism. Rahu – Deep bonding with significant other. Learning what can’t be controlled.

Virgo Rising: Ketu transiting 1, Rahu transiting 7. Ketu – Letting go of parts of your self image that no longer serve you. Rediscovering your kinetic self. Rahu `– Solidifying relationship connection. Keeping your public self real.

Libra Rising: Ketu transiting 12. Rahu transiting 6. Ketu – going inward. Spiritual retreat. Being soft. Rahu – work, work, work and enjoying work. Digging in. Miracle cures.

Scorpio Rising: Ketu transiting 11. Rahu transiting 5. Ketu – what is the point of social gains. How can one’s being recognized be used more altruistically. Rahu – good time to create that masterpiece or manifesto.

Sagittarius Rising: Ketu transiting 10. Rahu transiting 4. Ketu – feeling open to all possibilities. Upliftment. Rahu – strong attachment to land, home, mother.

Capricorn Rising: Ketu transiting 9. Rahu transiting 3. Ketu – openness to prayer, to wisdom, to freedom. Rahu – knowing your competition. Strategic abilities.

Aquarius Rising: Ketu transiting 8. Rahu transiting 2. Ketu – loss. Letting go. Intimacy. Psychological intensity. Rahu – capacity to manipulate matter. Sensuality.

Pisces Rising: Ketu transiting 7. Rahu transiting 1. Ketu – allowing partner to be who they are, feeling more open publicly. Rahu – getting real about yourself. Feeling your body.

The Purpose Planets

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 21:53:38 GMT

Feeling good

The best planets in your horoscope are the planets that rule the houses of purpose. When you begin to understand the nature of the planets in your horoscope connected to your purpose and learn to hold onto them as your focus, you start feeling pretty good about what you’re doing.

The ruler of your 1st house, the house of self, is the planet that shows your agency.

The ruler of your 5th house, the house of creativity, shows how you need to play.

The ruler of your 9th house, the house of philosophy, shows how you are free.

Even when the rulers of the purpose houses are seen to be thwarted, the most uplifting opportunities come to us when we begin working with their energies.

What is the story of the three purpose planets in your horoscope? In what areas of your life do they hold sway?

Feeling dull? Too much work and suffering on the agenda for today? Connecting to your purpose planets is enlivening. The tediousness and doldrums just slip away.

Be sure to ask for more details about your purpose planets when you pursue an astrology consultation.

The Transit of the Serpent Planets Rahu and Ketu

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 17:26:15 GMT

Heads and Tails

In Vedic Astrology news, the shadow planets Rahu and Ketu are moving into new signs on November 29 where they will stay for the next year and a half. Otherwise known as the North and South Node of the Moon, Rahu and Ketu are not actual planets, but two opposite points along the ecliptic where every month the Moon travels above (north of) and below (south of) the ecliptic. It’s during the times of year the Sun and Moon travel over these nodal points that eclipses to occur.

Rahu and Ketu’s movement is backwards through the zodiac. Instead of entering a sign at 0 degrees they enter at 30 degrees. In this way you could say their approach is from the back door and they operate on us in a more unconscious manner.

Rahu and Ketu’s backward approach also makes me think of when I was a kid in school. Since my last name started with the letter P which was about two thirds of the way through the alphabet, my predictable teachers would seldom call on me until two thirds of the kids had gone first, leading to my developing a two thirds comfort zone. Rahu and Ketu transits do not follow the predictable order. They surprise us.

In Vedic mythology the North Node or Rahu is the head of the dragon or serpent, and the South Node or Rahu is the tail. Rahu, or the head, is associated with engulfing and eating and materialization. Ketu, the tail is associated with expelling or ridding oneself of or freeing oneself from materiality.

Rahu and Ketu’s origin story has a Promethean flavour. A character named Svarbhanu manages to get at some divine nectar which gives immortality that the gods are keeping for themselves. Just as he is taking a sip, Lord Vishnu catches and beheads him with his divine discus. But the divine nectar (Amrit) has already taken effect and Svarbhanu, now Rahu and Ketu, possesses immortality.

Hence there is an intense survival imperative with Rahu especially but also with Ketu. Rahu’s survival is of this world. Rahu will go to any length and by using any radical creative means for survival. This extends to family as in a sense our family is our earthly access to immortality. Ketu survival mechanism is to detach to cope with abuse, be it physical or mental, and in that way endure to live another day. (PTSD)

On November 29 Rahu will leave action-oriented fire sign Aries, and move into water sign Pisces, the sign connected to receptivity and big picture perspective.

Ketu moves out of Libra the air sign of balance and fairness to earth sign Virgo, the analyst and critic.

Since Vedic Astrology uses a whole house system, for each of us when a planet moves into a new sign it also shifts into a new house or life domain. Rahu, the materializer, and Ketu the planet of detaching and letting go, are moving into entirely new areas of our lives.

Since for myself the Nodal axis is moving into a cardinal or action-oriented part of my horoscope I’m preparing to find my self pushed out into the world more than I have been for the past three years. Since planets operating in cardinal houses put out so much, they often find support. Which I am totally fine with!

Ketu is often linked to loss. To work best with Ketu. I believe a helpful approach is to be proactive in your consideration of what it is you are ready to or want to let go of. This works hand in hand with Rahu, which can be obsessive in its desire to consume, or take in.

The Path of the Moon

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:49:50 GMT

The Moon and inner growth

I am constantly thinking about different ways to approach my Vedic Astrology consultations with people. Below I discuss the Vimshottari Dasha sequence as a focus. The word Vimshottari by the way is derived from the Sanskrit words that mean “one hundred” and “twenty” referring to the 120-year cycle of the dasha system.

The Moon represents the mind in Vedic astrology. The Vimshottari Dasha sequence is Vedic Astrology’s main predictive tool and its starting point for each of us is based on where the Moon was when we were born.

I can’t say the Moon’s symbolizing the mind registered with me much when I began my Vedic astrology studies. I think this is because “the mind” isn’t something we think about much in Western culture.

The Moon is the measurer. We can think of it especially in connection to our original relationship with mother and nurturing. The Moon’s way of measuring is entirely innocent and connected to growth, but not necessarily our human embodied growth. Rather a good way to locate this part of us, especially as we age, is that classic moment of looking in the mirror and seeing an old person, but still feeling our inside selves to be young. We see the same eyes looking back at us that we saw when we were unselfconscious little kids discovering ourselves in the mirror.

This part of us that is the measuring Moon, and the growing mind gets revealed to us when we learn about what planet we were born under in the Vimshottari sequence, what planet we suffered under when we went through that difficult period and by what planet is illuminating where we are in the now.

Learning about ourselves though the Vimshottari Dasha sequence shows us the story of our mind’s growth. Fascinatingly a planet that brings auspicious times for one person won’t for another. It’s wonderful to know when we’re going through a period where we easily find purpose and support and it’s also helpful to be able to put into context the difficult times.

Working with the energies of Vedic astrology is teaching me that its important to keep this inner innocent Moon self growing. As a bonus, doing so supports aging well.

Venus Transits Virgo

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 18:05:50 GMT

Sweet Venus in Cranky Virgo

Venus, the planet of love and desire, of equal relationships and of the arts is in Virgo, the sign of its Fall from Nov 2 2023 to Nov 29 2023. Virgo is the sign ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication and of measuring the value of things. Virgo is both an earth sign and a mutable or adaptable sign. It is particular and detail oriented and quite critical.

It makes sense therefore that when Venus transits through cranky, particular, critical Virgo, it forgets its higher - sometimes manifesting artistically, sometimes manifesting through committed love – intentions.

Although on another level I have always thought it strange that Venus is in its detriment in Virgo, since in Vedic astrology, Venus and Mercury are both benefic planets and for that matter are friends. (In Vedic astrology there are two camps of planets, the Devas and the Asuras and Venus and Mercury are in the same camp) Usually when a planet is transiting a sign that is ruled by a planetary friend, its energies play out productively and quite well.

Alas, it is tremendously self-evident that Venus in Virgo is a case where the practical results overwhelm the theoretical. Venus’ visionary largesse truly is cramped in critical Virgo. During this period, while Venus transits Virgo, especially in our relationships we forget about our partner’s glow. We notice the spittle at the corner of their mouth and how their absentmindedness makes them ask the same question they forgot your answer to twice. And in our Virgo relationship state of mind, we’re eager to correct them for their follies, when usually we’re less concerned and/or don’t even notice these things. Furthermore, our lovely criticism annoys our people! Their backs get up. They criticize back.

Venus transiting in Virgo is also self critical. I think Venus in Virgo works better on this level. It is a good time to get at all those details of life, making appointments, painting the chipped windowsill, sorting the spices, finessing the final details of your masterpiece that you just couldn’t find your way to before.

Also, along these lines, with regards to the problem of knee jerk picking at your loved ones to ill effect, I believe that if we work at it that on a personal level, the current Venus in Virgo period can help us take that extra self-critical step to remember the greater reasons we’re with our loved ones, and remind ourselves in that connection, we don’t need to blurt out every interesting critical fact about what it is they’re doing incorrectly that is annoying us. At least we can try to work at it. We can try to work at it while also knowing Virgo’s temperament is on our side, because another thing picky Virgo loves to do is work at things.

Monday (Moon Day) moon is Shravana

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 17:39:45 GMT

Shravana is the Star of Learning

Today is Monday or Moon Day. The Nakshatra sign of the Moon today is Shravana, the star of learning. Shravana runs from 10 Capricorn to 23.20 Capricorn.

Shravana is a hearing, listening, teaching Nakshatra. The reason Shravana is associated with teaching is because ancient teachings were done orally. To learn you had to possess listen skills.

Shravana is a Deva or high or pure Nakshatra. It is ruled by the Moon. (So that’s a double Moon whammy, it’s Monday or Moon Day, and the Moon today is in a Moon ruled Nakshatra)

Shravana lets us hear the subtle etheric realm, the cosmic sounds of Krishna’s flute. It sees perceives through illusion.

Shravana’s shakti or power is providing connection. Shravana brings people together by connecting them to their appropriate paths.

Those with natal Shravana planetary placements are writers and teachers, travelers and truth seekers. They love to learn, have large libraries and need solitude and alone time. Their listening powers can give musical ability.

Today’s Moon is opposite Venus which brings sweetness in relationship. It is in a Gaja Kesari yoga which is when Jupiter is in an angle from the Moon which brings exuberance and braveness. It is in a Sunapha yoga with Saturn suggesting a sober, cautious approach or way of giving.

Today is also Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, for Jewish people. I think today’s Moon is a good one for atoning, a mode that does well to listen hard for truths.

The Days of the Week

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:36:14 GMT

Working with the planetary energies of the days of the week is easy

The idea of working with astrological energies is so strange to us. It seems like we’re submitting to some weird religion and by submitting to it we brainwash ourselves into believing something is happening that isn’t or possibly only is, because we’ve let the idea in and it’s taking us over.

But what if working with planetary energies proved helpful?

Did you know the planetary energies can be accessed through working with the days of the week?

Did you know that the days of the week are based on the five visible planets and the Sun and the Moon?

Yes, the days of the week, are actually already governed by the planets you don’t believe in!

Monday is Moon Day, the day of the Moon. In Vedic Astrology the Moon is connected to the mind, to perception, to mother, to nurturing our mind’s growth and to nurturing others.

Tuesday is Mars’ Day. Mars is the planet of self assertion, of putting ourselves out there competitively. Mars is the planet of action and doing.

Wednesday is Mercury’s Day. Mercury is the measurer, the merchandizer, the planet of evaluation and judgment. Mercury is the communicator.

Thursday is Jupiter’s Day. Jupiter is the great benefic, the philosopher and universal expounder.

Friday is Venus’ Day. Venus is the planet of love, relationship, the arts.

Saturday is Saturn’s Day. Saturn is the planet of organization and control.

Sunday is the Sun’s Day. The nature of the Sun is to shine. The Sun is connected to vitality, to self respect (and getting respect) and the heart.

It’s easy to work with the planetary energies of the days of the week.

First off, you already do. You already have your own feelings about the different days of the week based on your experience of them. Second, see if your feelings connect in any way to the symbolism of their planetary rulers as described above. Third, try on doing something connected with the planetary energy of a day and observe if the thing you’re doing gets enhanced. Fourth, keep trying and experimenting. It’s fun!

Sun in Leo

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 19:35:49 GMT

Know the condition of the planet ruling the house where the Sun is transiting

In Vedic Astrology the Sun is fully a degree into its own sign Leo today. Prevailing wisdom about days when the Sun is transitioning between signs is to not ask too much of them since the new energy hasn’t settled into itself yet. This is an interesting idea and I’ve been paying attention but with nothing to report back yet. I should clarify the Sun moves about a degree a day and the mixed energy applies to the last degree of the previous sign and the first degree of the new sign which means it takes a couple of days.

Speaking of unfocussed I do find for myself that each year, during the month the Sun travels through Cancer, the sign we just moved out of, my ambition gets away from me and my energies tend to dissipate and become disorganized.

For me since working with astrology means working with the available energy around me, I had to wonder about this annual tendency, and it occurred to me to simply consider the movement of the Sun. The Sun’s movement through the 360 degrees of the zodiac is one of most easily tracked astrology patterns there is.

I do think that even though the sign Cancer occupies my 11th house, a good house, a house of being recognized and of friends, that working with the condition of my Moon, the ruler of my 11th house, is the place to start to get this time of year going better for me.

That said I am looking forward to this month, the month of the Sun traversing Leo, despite Leo occupying my 12th house, and the 12th house being a house of withdrawal and turning within. The 12th house is classified as a dusthana or bad house and is associated with loss. Technically it’s not a great place for the attention loving Sun.

The 12th house is also associated with healing and with moksha which is defined as freedom from the endless cycle of transmigration into a state of bliss. The reason the 12th house is considered a bad house is because it takes us away from earthly considerations like getting rich and/or famous for example.

Since my Sun and some of my other planets oppose the 12th house it’s actually a pretty emphasized house for me.

Knowing which house the Sun is transiting in your horoscope and knowing the condition of the house and the planet that rules it can tell you a lot about the nature of 1/12th of your year.

Vedic Astrology's 120-year Planetary Cycle

Fri, 12 May 2023 20:33:25 GMT

People should want to know what Maha Dasha they’re in!

In Vedic Astrology we work with a one-hundred-and-twenty-year planetary cycle called the Vimshottari Dasha sequence. Where you commence your personal 120-year cycle and what planetary energy you start under, is based on the position of your Moon when you are born.

Different planetary cycles have different priorities and powers. They run different lengths of time. When we shift from one planetary cycle to the next it’s like we enter an entirely new part of ourselves. The new cycle brings a different emotional energy into us, circling around and driving us. It becomes our new emotional frequency.

People should want to know what Maha Dasha they’re in!

Vedic astrologers judge what the planetary cycles you’re in or shifting into are good for based on where the planet is placed in your horoscope. You may be completing a cycle that brought you before the public and into a leadership role and are shifting into one that puts you in the background in service to others. Or vice versa.

Alas our Western, free-will-oriented minds balk at the idea of shifting into a period of life that won’t be good for our Western aspirations and ambitions. Okay, our Western minds already resisted the idea of astrology in the first place! To assuage our tender sensibilities, I will therefore talk about the cycle of Rahu, the most ambitious and materialistic planetary period.

Personally, I’m fascinated by Rahu. Rahu is a demon and a malefic and his energy is base. At the same time, he is incredibly fertile like fresh volcanic soil. He is a force of both adaptation to and manipulation of the world around him. Rahu will survive by any means necessary. Rahu’s cycle is one of the longer ones, lasting 18 years.

Here follows a mostly descriptive sequence on the symbolism of Rahu. Since the Vimshottari Dasha sequence takes 120 years some of us won’t run his cycle in our lifetimes. Rahu has his favourite signs and houses where he’s better able to sate his appetite which won’t come up in this post.

Rahu is an iconoclast, a rebel, a non-conformist, a heretic. Rahu is the foreigner, the alien, the other.

In Western astrology Rahu is the North Node of the Moon. There is a South Node of the Moon as well, called Ketu in Vedic Astrology. These are the two points along which the orbit of the Moon intersects with the ecliptic. It is along these points that eclipses of the Sun and Moon occur.

This is why Rahu is known as the engulfer. It is because of his power to engulf the Sun that Rahu is said to be more powerful than the Sun. Rahu is known as the dragon’s head and Ketu as the dragon’s tail. Rahu is associated with the material world/the real while Ketu is connected to spiritual or mystical or otherworldliness.

Rahu is political. Of high intelligence. Disturbs. Is adaptive. Is manipulative. Is experimental. Is extroverted, materialistic. Rahu is psychologically astute. Rahu is future oriented.

Rahu is savvy. Rahu is untrusting. Rahu is prone to reality-based paranoia.

Rahu inflates. Rahu engulfs. Rahu consumes.

Rahu’s cycle brings ambition to improve your position in the world.

Rahu is materiality/ the stuff of the world. Rahu’s cycle gives you the potential to materialize/to manifest what it is you want.

Rahu is associated with political agendas and plans for going after and getting it.

Rahu is a thinker, a calculator, a conniver. Rahu is good at PR.

Rahu is the planet of acquisition. He is connected to the foreign and to foreign opportunities.

Rahu is politically upwardly mobile. Rahu likes to travel especially to foreign countries.

Rahu is the outcast. Rahu represents the process of involution and the descent of spirit into matter. Rahu is an indictor of material wealth and worldly recognition.

Rahu is also associated with healing.

Rahu’s cycle is one of ambition and improving one’s stature in the world. Rahu likes to do so in a subverting the status-quo kind of way.

Saturn through the houses

Sat, 06 May 2023 18:25:17 GMT

Saturn is tough on the young

I was thinking about the planet Saturn and about how my teacher Dennis Flaherty says Saturn is hard on the young. He says even if Saturn is a good planet for a person’s horoscope, it will still give hard knocks until it matures. Saturn, like every other planet, has a maturation age. As you might have guessed, when a planet matures it’s you who matures. You mature into being able to express the kind of energy the planet represents.

Saturn’s energy is organized, responsible, disciplined, realistic. It’s grown-up energy! Saturn is the planet of mastery, and you need to have experience to gain mastery which is another way of getting at why he is so hard on the young.

Saturn delays and preserves. Have ambition, work hard and what Saturn takes from you when you’re young he gives back to you later in life, by which I mean after you turn 35. Saturn doesn’t mature until age 35!

In keeping with these thoughts on Saturn, I have broken down by house placement, what Saturn took away from you when you were growing up. The house Saturn is in in your horoscope shows what you lacked, what you never imagined you deserved, the area of life you experienced restrictions and limitations.

Another way to look at this is to consider Saturn’s placement in your horoscope as the area in your life that you look around at your peers and think, why do they get to have this normal thing that I don’t get to have?

After 35 a person can build back into their life those qualities they lacked growing up, but it won’t come naturally!

Saturn, what you felt a lack of growing up.

House 1

A sense of self. An identity.

House 2

Money! The feeling of deserving to feel supported. Family happiness.

House 3

Siblings. Creativity. Competitiveness.

House 4

Home. Family. A mother.

House 5

Getting to be a child.

House 6

Having a job. Being able to compete.

House 7

A serious relationship. A partner.

House 8

Sex and love. Passion.

House 9

A philosophy of life. A father. A teacher.

House 10

Getting to have a career. Social status.

House 11

Being socially recognized/accepted.

House 12

Having a religion. Deserving spiritual truths.

February 5 2023 Full Moon

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 17:25:48 GMT

Ashlesha is known as the Clinging Star

Today’s Full Moon is in Ashlesha Nakshatra who is known as the clinging star and is symbolized by a coiled serpent or female water snake. It has a desire to embrace or entangle the object upon which it is focused. Its Shakti or power is to inflict with poisonous venom. It has a forked tongue. One fork gives poison, one amrita (healing).

Ashlesha is a circle of 6 stars in the constellation of Hydra and runs from 16.4 Cancer to 0 Leo.

As one might expect with the kind of power it possesses, Ashlesha is a polarizing Nakshatra with a bad reputation. But it depends upon what it seizes upon how its power plays out. People born under this asterism can make great therapists or great con artists.

I’m a bit obsessed with Jennifer Coolidge of White Lotus fame and observe this Full Moon falls within a degree of her Ashlesha Mars, the planet of action and passion. All that entangling and clinging makes Ashlesha types sexy people. We certainly see the quality of pausing and suddenly seizing upon the object of her desire in the characters Coolidge portrays. (Of course, there was never any question she would master the “Bend and Snap” in Legally Blonde)

This Ashlesha full Moon receives a trine from the great benefic Jupiter who in his own sign Pisces is in great form to share his high-minded philosophical generous ways.

For this serpent Nakshatra Full Moon, let us therefore call upon benefic Jupiter’s influence to seize upon the truth and consequently dose ourselves and the objects of our desires correctly with amrita for potent healing and not with poison!

Saturn and the New Year 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:58:15 GMT

Saturn likes Aquarius a lot

I’ve been thinking a lot about Saturn’s imminent ingress into Aquarius which will occur on January 17, 2023. It occurred to me posting about it on New Year’s Day would be especially sensible since it’s the one time of year ordinary people behave the most like astrologers by thinking about time. What was last year like? How do we want next year to be? What about today?

Saturn takes the longest of the visible planets to transit through a sign, usually about two and a half years, and for this reason is called the slow goer. To get a feeling for Saturn’s scale, be aware Saturn won’t return to Capricorn, the sign its leaving, until 2049. No surprise if 2049 made you think about mortality. Saturn is the indicator of death and longevity. It is for good reason Saturn is the most feared planet.

Saturn rules mining, hard work, teeth, labour, gemstones, steel, rock, and bones. Did I mention teeth? Saturn rules teeth. Saturn is mean. Saturn rules the dirt from which new life springs. Saturn is your standard Grinch, but Saturn is also the planet of democracy and of humanity.

The day Saturn made its last ingress into Capricorn on January 25, 2020, was the same day the city of Wuhan China locked down and marked the beginning of the large-scale repercussions induced by the Covid-19 pandemic. Two months later it was the world. The people that could stayed home. People stayed away from people. Saturn is the planet of withdrawal and separation.

Yet, given all the suffering we’ve been through during these Covid years, Saturn likes and has an affinity to and does well in Capricorn. Saturn rules Capricorn! Saturn also rules Aquarius. Saturn is the only planet that rules two consecutive signs which testifies to its building nature. Long, hard, and slow, Saturn picks up momentum as it moves into Aquarius. Hence, naturally Saturn prefers Aquarius to Capricorn which is called its Moola Trikona sign. We can understand Saturn’s preference for Aquarius based on element and modality as well. Aquarius is a fixed air sign while Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign.

As cardinal, Capricorn is active or initiating energy. As earth, Capricorn operates practically and cautiously. In cardinal mode there is tremendous pressure to get things right in real time. In the earth element there is density and little room for error. There is enormous responsibility. Failure is imminent and when it occurs it’s immediately evident.

Aquarius’ fixed mode holds onto what Capricorn initiated. As such Saturn in Aquarius maintains and builds upon what was built in Capricorn. The air element allows for abstraction and experiment. Saturn in Aquarius while still a serious character, doesn’t suffer the torturous responsibility of Saturn in Capricorn.

Saturn’s shift into Aquarius will not put all of humanity’s problems into the rear-view mirror. While Aquarius is the sign of genius and scientific breakthroughs, Saturn’s success is necessarily contingent upon what was built during the Saturn in Capricorn years.

Turning to the personal level, the upcoming two years of Saturn in Aquarius will test what we’ve built while braving these Covid years. If the foundation is good, we will be able to develop and explore and plan in a way we haven’t been able to the past three years. Saturn in Aquarius has a nice high tone to it that makes you want to do its bidding. Answering to its call feels less like work. It feels supercharged and less burdensomely physical. If the foundation isn’t good Saturn in Aquarius is not prone to ego. It can admit when the experiment isn’t working. Saturn in Aquarius doesn’t suffer consequences like Saturn in Capricorn. He can go back to the drawing board or if he prefers, can join another experiment not of his own creation, one with a better foundation.

In Vedic astrology when a planet moves into a new sign it also moves into a new house or domain in your personal horoscope. (This is because Vedic astrology utilizes a whole house system) It comes as a relief when Saturn leaves the area of your life he’s been withholding from. Gone are the delays and obstructions he’s been dealing you. Saturn is not a planet that rewards. But the removal of the pressure of Saturn becomes reward all by itself.

Although I have said much about Saturn’s improved characteristics in Aquarius, especially on a social level, and have mentioned how nice it feels when he leaves a domain of your horoscope, he’s still here. He hasn’t moved away to a new solar system! Pinpointing where Saturn is transiting in your personal horoscope can be so very helpful. Please click the consultation button to arrange a consultation with me! I have a reasonable set fee but will consider trade or PWYC.

Watching the Moon and waiting for a new baby in the family

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:20:47 GMT

The Moon is an indicator of the mind

Since the July 28 New Moon, I have been especially attentive to the Moon’s passage through the sky, knowing that sometime during its cycle my stepson Elijah and his partner Sabrina’s baby boy, due August 24, would be born.

The Moon is an indicator of the mind in Vedic astrology. The place the baby’s Moon slowly clicks to a stop like the flapper on a wheel of fortune, describes the quality of his mind. More than anything the Moon needs connection. Through connection the mind manifests itself. Otherwise, it feels disengaged and can only observe. These connections are seen by planetary aspects to the Moon and by Chandra or Moon yogas which are patterns the planets make in relationship to the Moon. The planetary connections show how the child’s mind is impressed by early environmental experiences and how he sees and looks at things.

The planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have been easy to spot in the night sky this summer. Luckily, for the pleasure of this observer, the Moon just so happened to be passing through the area of the sky populated by these planets as the baby’s due date approached.

On August 3 came the first rumblings as the moon passed over his father’s natal moon position. This turned out to be a false alarm but there was a chance the baby might need to be induced on August 11, the day of the full Moon.

A full Moon birth is auspicious in Vedic astrology. The brighter the Moon, the better. Since the Moon symbolizes the mind, a bright Moon brings a more aware, open, or conscious mind. An individual born under a bright Moon sees opportunities that those born under dimmer moons simply don’t see.

That said, the planet Saturn was closely conjunct this full Moon’s position. Saturn is the planet of limitations and restrictions. Saturn is cold and detached and is not the planet one wants inhabiting the same sign as the sensitive and emotional Moon. It brings heavy responsibility. Since the Moon also symbolizes the mother, the Moon with Saturn indicates the child experiences the mother as cool and unresponsive.

My hope was that if the baby must be induced it would wait to be born until the Moon had cleared the sign of Capricorn and moved onto Aquarius. Of course, I didn’t mention this to Sabrina who might not like the idea of an extra nine hours of labour, the amount of time it would take for the full Moon at 25 degrees Capricorn to move forward five degrees.

The baby did not need to be induced. The Moon continued forward in its motion. It passed through Aquarius and onto Pisces, which is the position of the planet Jupiter these days. Jupiter is known as the great benefic and in Pisces Jupiter is in its own sign, so its benefic powers are amplified. When the Moon is in the same sign as Jupiter it forms a Chandra Yoga called a Gaja Kesari Yoga.

This is a lovely Yoga showing a person who feels supported, has a fortified ego, and gets recognition from benevolent Jupiter types of people such as saints and sages. Gaja Kesari people meet important people. They get noticed.

The baby did not opt in for the Gaja Kesari Yoga. The Moon moved through Aries which holds Rahu otherwise known as the North Node of the lunar nodal axis. The Nodes are the points in the sky where eclipses occur. It is a place of great turbulation. The Moon carried on. It entered Taurus the Moon’s sign of exaltation and joined Mars at 5 degrees Taurus the morning of August 19th.

Sabrina’s labour commenced. She arrived at the hospital the morning of August 20. It was a long arduous labour matching the energy of Moon with Mars in Taurus. Taurus is an earth sign that proceeds slowly, realistically, and incrementally. The weather was rainy and even stormy in Toronto but here in Gagetown, NB it was clear. Just after midnight we watched Mars come up a bright red point above the eastern horizon. A little more than an hour later we saw the Moon rise, a large orange waning crescent. It was the baby’s Moon we saw. Thaïs was born a few hours later. With his Moon at 27 Taurus and Mars at 6 Taurus, the two form a Chandra Mangala yoga or Moon-Mars yoga. This yoga combines the energy of Mars and with the mind that is the Moon to produce a strong minded, discerning, brave disposition.

Also, as an aside, Thaïs’ Moon closely conjoins his mother’s Ascendant which brings ease of connection in their personal relationship.

It’s been too cloudy here the past few days to get to see the Moon approaching Venus in the wee morning hours. It’s the last planet in line before the next New Moon on August 27. Venus is the other great benefic and getting to see it alongside the Moon would sure be a sweet way to complete the watching of the Moon cycle of Thaïs’ birth. We have one more chance tomorrow morning just before sunrise. After which it will be some other family’s turn to wait and watch as the Moon waxes from new to full and wanes back to new again, wondering when and where their new baby’s Moon will land. At least for sure they’d do that if they read this blog post!

Primer on Mars' extended stay in Taurus

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 17:40:54 GMT

Mars in Taurus brings material and/or financial gains

Mars takes two years to circle the Sun, hence it usually spends about two months going through each sign. Once during that two-year period Mars goes into a retrograde motion and stays longer. This time around the sign it’s staying in extra long is Taurus. Mars entered Taurus on Aug 10, 2022 and will stay there, other than for a month off in Gemini from Oct 15 to Nov 14, until Mar 12, 2023.

Mars is the action or self-assertion planet. He learns through confrontation. He wants what he wants and is goal oriented, decisive and a risk taker in connection to what he wants.

Mars needs to be reigned in more than the other planets or his passion can lead to violence. Mars is a hot or pitta planet. Mars sometimes finds himself saying to himself, “well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Entering Taurus, a highly stable materialistic earth sign, Mars finds himself slowed down which can lead to frustration and fits of pique. The only way for Mars to heat things up in an earth sign is through conduction, which is to say heat or energy is only transferred through direct physical contact.

Since Taurus is a fixed sign and fixed signs hold on, or sustain, with Mars spending eight months in Taurus he will, in time, make progress. If you let him!

As well as employing astrological knowledge to become aware of and then utilize Mars’ slow steady, often frustrating, energy expression for the upcoming months, we can take it further by observing in which house of the horoscope our Taurus resides.

In my case Taurus is in my 9th house. The 9th house is the house of philosophy, spirituality, the father, opportunity, dissemination of knowledge, travel. It’s common to see the natal horoscopes of people in academia with emphasized 9th houses.

The 9th house is considered a fabulous house in Vedic astrology. It is even considered to be the best house with the 5th house vying for top ranking. Lucky me!

Astrology suggests there is some good stubborn slow burn energy available for me to actively employ in this realm for the next half a year or so. In my case the energy segues with my goal to expand my astrology business by piquing people’s curiosity and expanding their understanding of the value of Vedic Astrology through regular blog posting.

Best wishes to all for a productive extended Taurus in Mars period!

Not another five months of Saturn in Capricorn!

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 17:23:15 GMT

Saturn is the Slow Goer

Larry and I recently hit the two-and-a-half-year milestone of living in New Brunswick. While there’s nothing about the quantity of two and a half that suggests milestone, neither of us could deny feeling a new substantialness to our new existences in our new province. Up until two and a half, I’m not sure either of us quite believed we were here or that our being here was real.

Naturally an astrological measure came to mind that corresponds to the feeling. It’s a Saturn thing. Saturn spends approximately two and a half years in each of the twelve signs on its just under thirty-year circle of the Sun. Known as the slow goer especially in comparison to fellow gas ball Jupiter, which takes only one year to traverse a sign, Saturn’s tortoise like pace means he has sufficient time to observe every superficial paint job when it starts to peel. Saturn is the planet of the real.

Coincidentally the day Larry and I moved into our new home was the day Saturn entered into a fresh new sign. Also, coincidentally, it was the day Wuhan China shut down with the first cases of Covid-19. Even us astrologers don’t expect the day a planet makes its ingress into a new sign to mark the start of a pandemic or for it to correspond to the day two city folks unlock the door to a new rural house in a new province. Although one of them being an astrologer might be counted as a contributing influence.

And now, two and a half years later Saturn has moved into a new sign. Well, sort of. Back on January 25, 2020, Saturn moved into Capricorn. At which point he did not tarry. Saturn stayed in Capricorn and got on with business. Whereas for this ingress, while Saturn moved into Aquarius on April 30, 2022, he subsequently turned retrograde returning to Capricorn on July 13, 2022, where he’ll stay until January 18, 2023.

It so happens Saturn rules both Capricorn and Aquarius. Despite being heavy, responsibility and reality oriented, slow and no fun, Saturn functions at his best in his own signs. Capricorn is an active sign and an earth sign. Saturn in Capricorn lays the foundations. He makes all the plans. He grinds and takes care of business and puts the people in the places they need to be to get the job done. Which suits the slow plodder fine.

But even curmudgeonly Saturn likes to feel himself lifted which is how he feels in Aquarius. Aquarius is an air sign and a fixed sign. Fixed signs sustain. In Aquarius Saturn may just feel himself imperceptibly floating. He discovers himself to be less the pragmatist and more the humanitarian, a believer in people.

But it’s August and Saturn has returned to Capricorn with a taste of Aquarius on his lips. While Saturn did fine for his two and a half year stay in Capricorn, taking care of business, organizing humanity under plague conditions, putting foundations in place so humans can get on with some less fraught aspirations, no doubt he’s experiencing one of his characteristic feelings about his demotion to Capricorn, depressed!

Ever the realist, the moral of this story is that like the groundhog finding or not finding his shadow on Groundhog Day, there is always more winter. Five more months of Saturn in Capricorn means five more months to put those Capricorn underpinnings in place until Saturn enters Aquarius and gets to experience that slightest of lifts.

The July 28 New Moon

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 21:46:43 GMT

The Moon is a Benefic and uplifts

I have an astrologer friend to thank for initiating my working with the energies of the New and Full Moon every month since it’s a big part of their practice.

It’s my third summer living on the St John/Wolastoq River. As a common interest the river is bringing my swimmer self and astrologer self into conversation with each other. Swimming in a tidal river, I feel the power of the Moon, which is especially obvious when the tide comes in. The tide caused by the Moon is uplifting. Astrologically, upliftment is the power of benefic planets of which the Moon is one.

My biggest take-away when I work with Vedic astrology for both myself and for clients is to figure out how to work with the uplifting power of the benefic planets. I repeat, the Moon and its cycle are benefic.

The standout characteristic of this month’s July 28 New Moon horoscope is that Ketu, the South Node, is in its Libra Ascendant. Ketu is the planet of the psychic, mystical and otherworldly. The Ascendant is the self and so for this lunar month for those in AST and EST time zones, which includes both Ottawa and Washington DC’s reflected national horoscopes, there is an inner or otherworldly filter. Pragmaticism is so last month.

Contrastingly the strongest planet in the New Moon horoscope is Mars. Mars is the planet of action. It is strong because it is in its own (fire) sign Aries. It is also conjunct Rahu, the North Node of the Moon, and Uranus. Whatever Rahu touches it exaggerates, making Mars even stronger. Likewise, Rahu exaggerates Uranus which is the planet of sudden change and of revolutionary acts.

These are some intensely outgoing energies! In this New Moon horoscope, the placement of this Mars-Rahu-Uranus conjunction lands in the relationship house. So, with Ketu in the 1st house our sense of self is diffuse whereas our inclination in relationships leans to feisty, hard and scrappy.

The New and Full Moon horoscope cycle puts people on the same page. We all experience these energies. Which means it’s a way for us to work together. This struck me especially regarding the aspect Mars in the relationship house throws to the Sun-Moon conjunction of the New Moon in Cancer in the 10th house, which is the career and social status house.

Mars is a malefic planet in Vedic astrology and can easily do harm especially in the relationship house. The relationship house likes peace and equanimity. It does not like aggressive energy!

Mars’ aspect to the 10th house is the needed redirection. It helps a lot. Especially if we think we’re in this together and that the 10th house isn’t solely about our personal career accomplishments. The 10th house is at the highest point of the horoscope. It shows the best of who we can be. Cancer being the 10th house sign for this New Moon horoscope, agrees. After all Cancer is the Moon’s sign. It is the sign of nurturance.

Another consideration regarding working with an intensely energized Mars is that Mars likes to see results immediately. Mars loves its rewards. This does not jive with Ketu, the dreamy one, in the Ascendant. Ketu in the Ascendant slows down time, making us want to include our deepest perceptual selves in all the action. Results are less imminent. My suggestion is to treat Mars like a professional athlete in training for a big sporting event next month. I think Mars has so much energy to give this month he can handle some delayed gratification.

One final word; with Ketu on the Ascendant this is a great month for breakthrough conversations with your cat (or lizard or dog or chicken). Another final word; Ketu in the Ascendant is a great month to book a consultation with your astrologer!

Jupiter is the Karaka/Indicator of children

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 18:44:21 GMT

Jupiter and childhood moral development

One of the players on my ball team brought her three children, ages 3, 7 and 10, with her to the game the other night. There was a big problem. There was one bike and two children of the belief that they had proprietary ownership over it.

There was arguing. There was contention. There were earnest calculated pleas to the poor beleaguered mother who explained and admonished and tried to keep her kids in line.

I think it was the sweetness of the summer evening that took me into the perspective of the children. Usually, I relate more easily to the parent position in these situations. Oh, the injustice of childhood, I said to the person next to me on the bench, who was putting on their ball gloves preparing to go up to bat.

It got me thinking how fitting it is that in Vedic astrology the planet Jupiter is the karaka/indicator of children. The significations of Jupiter include religion, philosophy, spirituality, knowledge, and morality. Jupiter people are gurus (or teachers), magistrates, leaders, and lawyers. As piercingly annoying as her children’s squabbling voices were, I heard the Jupiter in them. Their thrust was righteous. Their arguments were moral. This was a fight about right and wrong.

One child had been given the bike originally and while it had been handed down to the next child due to the presentation of a new more fitting bike, that bike was unavailable, and therefore the bike originally given to him was still his bike. The other child contended since the bike had been given to her and was now hers, it came with all the privileges of ownership. Which included not having to share it even if she wasn’t using it. It was hers!

Like lawyers in the making these two exuberantly offered complex nuanced positions with vital healthy lungs. They were vociferous and no shirkers. As their audience, in another part of the Jupiter equation, they demanded their mother take on the Jupiter role of magistrate, leader, guru or teacher. They yearned for a perfect judicious outcome.

Meanwhile on another Jupiter level, their mother was out at the ballpark running around, playing a game, being free, socializing, trying to get a small break from her 24/7 role of judge and matriarch.

Jupiter’s cycle runs 12 years, the age that is the height of and perfection of childhood. At 12 a child has a full Jupiter cycle’s worth of comprehension of life. Knowledge is received clearly, unencumbered by the irrationality of incoming puberty hormones.

All planets mature, which is to say they come into power at different ages. Jupiter matures at age 16. It is the youngest maturation date of any of the planets which befits its relationship to childhood. This is the age that social friendship dynamics shift as young people begin asserting the philosophical/moral conclusions they established arguing with their peers (and siblings) about who the only bike, brought to the ballpark one fine summer evening, belongs to.

Uranus returns – My mother is 84!

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 18:37:09 GMT

My mother turned 84 yesterday!

84 years old is a particularly interesting astrological milestone because 84 years is the length of time it takes the planet Uranus to circle the Sun. In Uranian years my mother is a 1-year-old baby! Happy birthday to my mother’s baby Uranian self.

I grew up a huge Kurt Vonnegut fan. His writing style was offbeat and quirky. Cat’s Cradle was my favourite. I loved his idea of prescribed social groupings that people belonged to whether they knew it or not, that couldn’t be helped. These ideas were consoling to my socially aware yet awkward teenage self.

In Western astrology Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius, giving it characteristics of quirkiness and innovation and of society working at its best in support of the most individualistic parts of our selves. Although not an Aquarian himself the planet Uranus was in Vonnegut’s 7th house snugly opposed to his Ascendant, which is the mainstay of one’s identity.

Since Vonnegut was such a Uranian person I remember thinking how fitting it was that he died at the age of 84 (in 2007), as if it was all part of his plan to cease human operations upon completion of a full Uranus cycle. Which is another word associated with Uranus/Aquarius, human. Or humanity.

On the Vedic astrology front, even though Uranus is a non-visible planet and only used by some Vedic astrologers, I can’t help but think of the Uranus cycle as representative of a human life span. A lot of people don’t make it to 84. At the same time, it’s hard to balance the idea of a slowed-down, white-haired 84-year-old person, with the Uranian symbolism of lightening strikes, sudden change and eureka moments of genius. On another level, Uranus is connected to the circulatory system and the symbolism of suddenness does speak to the higher potential in 84-year-olds for precipitous cardiac events.

My mother has Uranus in her 10th house, the house of social stature. When planets fall in any of the four angular houses, 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th, it’s like we wear them on our sleeve. We find support for their expression in the world.

On the ‘60s suburban street where I grew up in London Ontario, almost all the moms stayed home and looked after their kids. When her kids were all in school, my mother struck out independently. She opened a unique independent bookstore (The Country Mouse) and hosted exciting Canadian writers for book launches when book launches were hardly a thing. She was intellectually present and funny and easily made friends with them.

She struck out independently again and moved from small town London to Toronto. And then again later, she moved to the west coast, to Victoria BC, where she opened another bookstore. (Painted Words)

I’m so proud of my Uranian mother who returned to Ontario several years back, to Cobourg, to accommodate her partner’s need to be closer to family. Times are hard for her right now, her partner has health issues, leaving much weight of responsibility to my mother.

Astrologers talk of the Saturn return which takes place between the ages of 28 and 30 as the time of truly growing up and becoming an adult. I don’t know of fast astrological takes on the significance of the Uranus return. I have always thought of Uranus as having the power to trump responsible, steadfast, bringer-of-suffering Saturn.

In my mother’s case, with her 10th house Uranus, I feel certain this will be the case. I look forward to continuing to be a fan of my mother’s amazing Uranian life.

Life begins at 60

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 18:52:50 GMT

Jupiter and Saturn's cycles converge

Life begins at 60 my husband told me before I turned the number last year. I thought he was just saying it to make me feel better. But a year into my sixties, I realize it’s true, there is something great about becoming 60.

An astrological observation came to mind to help me explain it.

It’s about those two outer planets, sometimes called the social planets, Jupiter and Saturn.

Jupiter is the fun outer planet. It takes 12 years to circle the Sun. Jupiter helps us to belong socially. It’s used in Chinese astrology to divide us up into our animal year cohorts.

Saturn is the feared outer planet. It takes 29 ½ years (30 rounded up) to circle the Sun. In Sanskrit Saturn is called Shani Scara, the slow-goer and walks with a limp because his brother Yana (Death) struck him with a cane and disabled his leg. The injury is the reason Saturn takes two and a half years to traverse a sign while Jupiter takes only one year.

Only once in our human lives do the two cycles converge, at age 60! Saturn and Jupiter both loop back to the original positions they were in when we were born. As in Jupiter has circled the Sun five times (5x12=60) and Saturn has gone around it two times (2x30=60).

Synchronized and simpatico, I like to think of each of them feeling a sense of accomplishment after completing their most recent cycle. And in that state of mind, being able to talk to the other in a way that recognizes the other’s ambitions.

In Jupiter’s case, its 12-year cycle’s aims are more manageable for us humans. There is scope for understanding that lifts us to a higher, more comprehensive understanding. There is the sense of a shared purpose and support for its success and recognition in the offing.

As a 30-year cycle, it is difficult for us to comprehend what Saturn asks of us. What part of ourselves do we wish to commit to a such a length of time? No part! There is too much scope! Our connection to the Saturn cycle therefore involves introspection and sacrifice. We feel alone. We suffer. We turn inward.

But what is the first thing Jupiter and Saturn observe about each other when their cycles converge? Jupiter who was the free, unfettered and philosophical one, is now the elder at 5 years of age. Saturn, who was born too wise and too burdened is now the youngster at age 2.

What happens when we turn 60 that is so great? Our young and old parts meet up and we realize that while we are no longer young, we were also never old.

Raja Yogas and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 20:59:55 GMT

Raja yogas are exponential

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is one small man with one mighty raja yoga.

Yogas are unique to Vedic astrology. They are exponential. 1 + 1 does not equal 2. Most have the power to amplify and uplift. I love seeing yogas in consultation because they tell me what to tell the client regarding innate strengths that uplift the other more difficult dimensions that show up in their horoscope. There is no equivalent in Western astrology.

Having two planets come together in the same sign is the most common way to form a yoga. Planets in the same sign are considered conjunct.

Not all conjunct planets form yogas. It depends on the houses that the conjunct planets bring together whether a yoga will form. One of the yogas formed in this way is called a raja yoga or royal union. Raja yogas are formed when one of the planets in the conjunction rules an angular or kendra house and the other planet rules a trine house.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has such a yoga. As you might expect from this singular brave, impassioned man that the world has fallen in love with, his raja yoga is of a more unique origin.

To backtrack, angular or kendra houses (1st, 4th, 7th and 10th) give the quality of power and position. While trine or dharma houses (1st, 5th, 9th) are connected to path and purpose. Any time power is connected to purpose is auspicious.

In Zelenskyy’s case he has two sets of conjunctions in his horoscope but neither form a raja yoga. The other way to form a raja yoga is when planets are in each other’s signs. This is called an exchange or mutual reception or a Parivartana yoga.

Zelenskyy’s raja yoga is quite glorious. His Jupiter is in Gemini tightly conjunct his ascendant degree. His Mercury, which rules his ascendant, is in Sagittarius in the 7th house of relationship. Mercury is in Jupiter’s sign and Jupiter is in Mercury’s sign.

Having Jupiter in the ascendant, which is the house of self, gives a large personality. Jupiter is the most generous planet because what he wants for himself, he wants for others. Mercury is the communicator and in the 7th house of partners and relationship, excels at 1 on 1 connections. Zelenskyy’s previous incarnation as celebrity ballroom dancer is a perfect demonstration. As are his individually targeted addresses to international government legislatures.

When planets are in mutual reception, they act like they are in their own signs. Zelenskyy’s first house Mercury, ruler of identity, is precise and clear as if his Mercury was in Gemini. It is not generalizing and theoretic as we might expect it to behave in Sagittarius. Similarly, his Jupiter acts with leadership and generosity, like Jupiter in its own sign Sagittarius. It is not overly fastidious and cerebral, the way it would more typically behave in Gemini.

But to get back to the original thesis on raja yogas. With Zelenskyy being a Gemini rising, the planets Mercury and Jupiter rule all the angles, or kendras, of the horoscope. Gemini, ruled by Mercury, is the 1st house. Virgo, ruled by Mercury, is the 4th house. Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, is the 7th house. Pisces, ruled by Jupiter, is the 10th house. Since the 1st house is both a kendra and a trine house, Mercury’s rulership of the 1st house makes the combination a raja yoga, and a particularly strong one.

Zelenskyy ’s raga yoga is strong because all the angles of the horoscope are involved. Raja yogas are not uncommon but only a Mercury-Jupiter planetary exchange brings in all directions of position and power, making its impact all encompassing. Zelenskyy’s raja yoga is strong because Mercury and Jupiter are situated in the same power houses they rule. Zelenskyy’s raja yoga is also strong because Mercury and Jupiter aspect each other by opposition.

While all the power houses are covered in this raja yoga, only one purpose house, is brought into it. This is the first house of self or identity. I think this is the reason Zelenskyy the person is so compelling to us. We perceive the copious responsibility of his position and power. It seems impossible to believe the amplification brought by purpose comes through this one small man.

The Rahu-Ketu energy shift from Taurus-Scorpio to Aries-Libra

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:39:37 GMT

Storm planets move signs for next year and a half

On March 15 the storm planets Rahu and Ketu move from the Taurus-Scorpio axis to the Aries-Libra axis where they will spend the next year and a half. Otherwise known as the Moon’s nodes, where the nodes occur is where solar and lunar eclipses occur. Hence Rahu and Ketu are said to be the most malefic of the planets because of their ability to engulf the Sun and the Moon.

Another reason Rahu and Ketu get under our skin so much is because the direction the moon’s nodes travel in the heavens, is in the opposite direction that the planets travel. The nodes come at us from behind.

For example, if a person has their Sun at 17 degrees Pisces and their Mercury at 23 degrees Pisces and their Mars at 3 Aries, as a planet transits their Sun, they’re accustomed to experiencing themselves in their relationship to the world as sensitive and empathic. Then as the transiting planet goes over their Mercury in Pisces the need to qualify and quantify kicks in, which they also go about in a soft lens, spiritual or big picture-oriented way. As the transiting energy hits their Mars in Aries it’s time for extreme physical action! Mars in its own sign doesn’t hesitate. This is their pattern. The call to action of Mars in Aries comes into play after the sensitivity and circumspection of Sun and Mercury in Pisces.

In this example, when the Rahu and Ketu transits occur, the person feels the Martian urge to act prior to their customary sensitive circumspection. How will this go for them? Since they are going about their paces in the opposite direction they usually do, will Mars starting things off make their usual sweet self more aggressive and accident prone? Who even are they?

The Moon’s nodes don’t follow the regular order of development. Over time the nodes do develop their own sequence or history in a person’s life, but its an opposite history. The cycle of the Nodes takes a little over 18 and a half years which is a pretty long period for a human. It is 6 years longer than benefic Jupiter’s 12-year cycle, which brings good fortune, and 11 and a half years shorter than taskmaster Saturn’s 29-year cycle, which connects to our deeper life’s work. If we live a long life, we’ll see 5 nodal returns.

Rahu and Ketu turn things upside down. In terms of the current energy shift occurring from their change of signs, Taurus and Scorpio are Sthira or fixed signs. Their energy is stable, determined and unyielding. Aries and Libra are chara or cardinal signs. Their energy is dynamic, action oriented and initiating.

On a mundane level, our currently coming out of Covid protocols fits the shift from fixed energy of withdrawal to that of getting back out in the world again. Similarly, on the cusp of the shift, you can’t say the Russian war on Ukraine isn’t action oriented.

I will write about the new bhava or house placements for Rahu and Ketu in the personal horoscope, so the part of life that the nodes are personally affecting can be tracked/considered, in an upcoming post.

Neptune Transits and Memory

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:56:30 GMT

Neptune moves to Pisces

In Vedic astrology the planet Neptune will be leaving Aquarius on Apr 19 22 and moving on to Pisces. It will retrograde back for a final visit to Aquarius from Sep 12 22 to February 19 23, then take up roughly 14 years residence in Pisces.

Strict Vedic astrologers don’t use Neptune in their practice. Neo-Vedic astrologers, like me, don’t mind if they do. Neptune and the other outer non-luminous planets are considered upagrahas or secondary planets. They are looked at by transit but are not considered in terms of sign rulership.

The characteristics of Neptune in Vedic Astrology aren’t a lot different than in Western astrology. Neptune is seen as a planet of transcendence, of breaking down boundaries. It is sublime. Whereas by comparison Uranus transits liberate suddenly, with Neptune transits we experience a liminal in-between state, like being between rooms. Neptune helps us transcend.

What Neptune touches dissipates. I propose Neptune brings on a fizzling or relaxing or even difficulty holding onto one’s memory regarding the area of life it transits. When we talk about specific area of life affected, we look to the houses. And since Vedic astrology uses a whole house system, when a planet moves into a new sign, it also moves into a new house.

So that means we all, everyone, will be experiencing a shift in the part of their life that Neptune affects.

Keep in mind, the area of life that Neptune is moving from can become clear again, but on changed (hopefully transcended) terms. Here follows a rundown of Neptune transit affects on memory by house of transit.

1st house – lose memory of self

2nd house – lose memory of truth

3rd house –lose memory of style/kinship

4th house - lose memory of home

5th house – lose memory of mind

6th house – lose memory of what one is fighting for/specifics

7th house – lose memory of other

8th house – lose memory of value of other

9th house – lose memory of law/freedom

10th house – lose memory of success

11th house – lose memory of reciprocal connection

12th house – lose memory of memory/loss

Birthday Week for the Aquarian Sun

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 22:05:19 GMT

the winter Sun

It was my birthday two days ago and I was joking with a friend about it being birthday week.

I was able to be specific about the qualities of birthday week. For example, my friend ironically asked whether birthday week started precisely on my birthday or sooner. I said that up until this year I would have said it started on my birthday, but that this year I could feel it coming on a few days before my birthday.

Joking along these self-aggrandizing lines is a demonstration of ego. Which makes sense because one's birthday is about the Sun's position in the sky relative to earth. And the Sun is about ego.

The Sun signifies other things as well. The Sun is the Atma Karaka, indicator of soul. It is a karaka or indicator of body, father, power, status, fame, vitality, respect, the eyes (ability to see), the heart (the heart radiates as does the Sun).

The Sun likes recognition. The Sun shines forth the self. The Sun is a planet of honour, fame, leadership ability.

What occurred to me this turn around the Sun was that my evolution from birthday to the self aggrandizement of birthday week suits my Aquarian Sun. Having the Sun in Aquarius is a weak placement. The Sun shines anemically in February. Aquarius is a social sign more concerned with collective welfare than self importance. Its energy is diffuse.

Therefore, it makes sense that those born under the Sun sign of Aquarius would conduct their birthdays in a similar diffuse or widely distributed manner. The Aquarian recognizes their birthday is not just about them. It’s not exclusive like the earnest ego inflation of its opposite sign Leo, the sign of the king and the home of the Sun. Its inclusive, socialistic. The Aquarian’s birthday must include everyone! It takes time for the Aquarian’s slow-burn Sun’s mild ego to come to this self-realization. It takes about a week.