Hey everyone, Hope you are all having a wonderful week! This newsletter will cover the upcoming two eclipses, but first, I wanted to tell you about another celestial configuration. The Saturn / Neptune Conjunction Similar to the Jupiter / Uranus transit covered here, which was about the tech advancements we would see in 2023 and 2024, I thought it would be helpful to highlight another longer-term trend being shown in the heavens. Saturn and Neptune will be moving towards a conjunction over the next few months, building towards two peak time periods:
Saturn symbolizes restriction, discipline, and obligation, representing the unvarnished truth and boundaries between the known and unknown. On the other hand, Neptune embodies mysticism, spirituality, and imagination, reflecting illusions, dreams, and empathy. These are conflicting energies. When Saturn and Neptune come close together in the skies, Saturn's scrutiny challenges Neptune's imagination, while Neptune erodes away Saturn's certainty. This process often involves sobering up from delusions, confronting lies, and separating truth from fantasy. It can be a time of disillusionment, but also presents an opportunity to give form to abstract ideals and bring them down to earth. The last time Saturn and Neptune were aligned in the sky was in late 2015 and the year 2016, when I remember there was a significant amount of misinformation in the news. And this conjunction will probably be the same, as the lead up to it is another US election year - expect the Saturn / Neptune question of “is this real?” to come up frequently. But it’s not all bad - the last time Saturn and Neptune were in an exact conjunction was in 1989, which was when the Soviet Union started to crumble. Here, Saturn symbolized control and the entrenched authority of communist regimes, while Neptune represents the dissolution of boundaries and the rise of collective aspirations for freedom and democracy. This conjunction coincided with intensifying tensions between the established order and the desire for change, fueling dissent that ultimately led to the collapse of communism. Actually, there have been several important events in Russian history that have coincided with Saturn / Neptune alignments: the Decembrist Revolt in 1825 (Saturn / Neptune opposition), the Emancipation of the Serfs in 1861 (opposition), and the Russian Revolution of 1917 (conjunction). And spiritually, the Saturn / Neptune conjunction is associated with conflicts between belief systems and the truth. It prompts individuals to question whether their beliefs are true, by making belief systems seem more ridiculous or more restrictive, which hopefully prompts the individual to awaken to the truth. So, a very good use of this time is to question if your belief systems have served their purpose or if you have outgrown them. If the answer is yes, it may be time to dissolve that belief and move forward along your journey. Eclipses Okay, onto the eclipses! In general, eclipses are not a good time to start something new, but are really useful for spiritual endeavors. This is true especially for the 3 days before and after the eclipse, and is also true regardless on whether you can see the eclipse or not. In addition to this, eclipses can affect certain individuals for up to 6 months if it occurs over a prominent place in their birth chart. To learn more about eclipses, please tap here. The first eclipse takes place on September 17th 2024 from 8:41PM to Sep 18th 12:48AM ET (10:41AM to 2:48PM on Sep 18th in Melbourne). This is a partial lunar eclipse, visible in the Americas, Europe, and Africa: This eclipse takes place in a constellation called Purva Bhadrapada, whose Shakti or energy is the power of spiritual fire which elevates consciousness. This constellation’s desire is to gain radiance and the splendor of spiritual knowledge, urging us to look beyond the limitations of our individual identities. By tapping into the transformative energy of spiritual fire, we begin to purify our thoughts and desires, shedding layers of ignorance and false attachments. This journey of inner awakening guides us toward the realization that our true identity is not confined to the body or mind, but is the universal one consciousness that permeates all existence. Through this awareness, we experience a profound unity with all beings and align ourselves with the divine essence that flows through every aspect of life, embracing our role as a manifestation of the infinite. The second eclipse takes place on October 2nd 2024 from 11:42AM to 5:47PM ET (1:42AM to 7:47AM on Oct 3rd in Melbourne). This is a solar eclipse, visible in the southern part of Africa: This eclipse occurs within the constellation of Hasta, ruled by the deity Savitar, the divine force behind the sacred and potent Gayatri mantra. This mantra is a beacon for enlightenment, calling upon divine light to awaken and expand our consciousness, just as the Sun’s rays reveal the world around us. Hasta’s Shakti or energy allows us to gain what we are seeking and place it in our hands. When these celestial forces intertwine, the days surrounding this eclipse become especially powerful for prayer and mantra meditation. The eclipse peels back the layers of creation, and the energies of Hasta invite us to connect deeply with our inner divinity, allowing us to manifest our desires and intentions in a real, tangible way - a profound expression of divine grace.
And last thing before I sign off - on the upcoming US election, based on where these eclipses are taking place in each candidate’s birth charts, and also based on transits / planetary cycles, I think astrologically, Kamala has a better chance of winning. That’s it from me for now - I hope these eclipses bring you deeply spiritual and wonderful experiences! Hey everyone! The wonderfully wise, expansive, and abundant planet that is Jupiter is moving! It will transit out of Aries and into Taurus starting May 1st 2024, and will stay in Taurus for about 12 months till May 15th 2025. Jupiter in Taurus, the sign of materialism, sensuality, stability, and patience, brings a focus on steadily growing your wealth, in establishing a solid foundation, in creativity and artistic expression, and also in indulging in pleasurable sensory experiences. The last time Jupiter was in Taurus was from May 2012 to May 2013. During this period, there was a notable emphasis on fostering financial stability as the world continued recovering from the 2008 crisis, paralleling Jupiter in Taurus’s focus in creating steady growth and stability. This definitely shares similar themes with the present day, as governments across the world continue trying to stabilize inflation post the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in 2012, food tourism suddenly rose in popularity with the help of social media platforms, which is a really perfect manifestation of a pleasurable Jupiter in Taurus sensory experience. An example of someone with Jupiter in Taurus in his birth chart is JFK (in the bottom right of the chart): Kennedy’s life exhibited a lot of the above Jupiter in Taurus themes - he was wealthy (he inherited a significant amount from his father), his administration was called Camelot as there was this sense of economic prosperity and idealism in the air, and he famously sought numerous pleasurable sensual experiences throughout his life.
So, back to your life - how does Jupiter transiting Taurus affect you? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other factors that fill out the picture of your life (most of it individualized from your birth chart), but this transit will show one small perspective. I have arranged these mini predictions according to your Vedic Sun signs; you can find your Vedic Sun sign by finding which date range includes your birthday. Please read the birth times carefully as your Vedic Sun sign can be different from your Western one (reason here). If you know your Vedic Ascendant sign or your Vedic Moon sign, the predictions corresponding to those signs are also applicable to you. Aries (April 14th to May 14th): This transit brings financial expansion, opportunities for financial growth and abundance, and material comforts. During this period, you may experience an increase in income, and find yourself focusing more on enhancing your material security and enjoying the pleasures of life. One thing to watch out for during this period is that this transit may bring a tendency to indulge in food, but that’s usually a good problem to have! Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): This transit brings opportunities for personal growth and development, which could manifest in increasing confidence, optimism, and a broader perspective on life. If you’re suffering from any health ailments, this transit can also bring a period of recovery and better health. And lastly, this transit can also bring greater material wealth, financial growth, and stability in your life. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): This transit brings a period of spiritual growth and exploration. You may feel drawn to meditation, dream analysis, and other practices that explore the subconscious hidden realms of your mind, aimed at connecting to deeper aspects of yourself. Jupiter’s influence here may also facilitate healing and letting go of past traumas or limitations, and you may be prompted to confront any unresolved inner issues from your past. And lastly, this transit may also bring expansive and wonderful experiences related to traveling to distant places. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): This transit can lead to an expansion of social circles, bringing new friends, or strengthening existing friendships. You may feel more inclined to connect with like-minded individuals or join groups that align with your interests. This transit can also bring more opportunities with financial growth such as increased income, bonuses, or successful investments. And lastly, this transit is also a goal achievement transit, allowing you to accomplish goals or complete tasks that you have been working towards. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This transit brings opportunities for growth and advancement in your professional life. You might receive recognition for your work or find yourself in positions of greater responsibility. So if you’ve been working towards a promotion or are in the running for an award of some kind, this might be your year! Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): This transit brings wonderful experiences with higher education and travel. During this period, you might feel inspired to enroll in a course that expands your knowledge and horizons. Or, this transit can also literally expand your horizons by pushing you to embark on a holiday or pilgrimage or some form of long-distance travel. And lastly (but also related to the above), this transit brings an expansion of your belief system. You may feel more inclined to explore different philosophies, religions, or spiritual practices during this time, so as to help you see the truth from a higher and broader perspective. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This transit may bring increased financial resources, specifically from areas like inheritance, investments, joint ventures, or bonuses. Separately, this period can also make you might feel drawn to explore subjects related to occult knowledge and hidden truths, including subjects like astrology, psychology, magic, or other esoteric practices. Exploring these subjects may facilitate psychological growth and healing, and you may undergo a process of introspection and self-discovery. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): This transit can bring nice experiences related to relationships. This could mean entering into a new relationship, deepening the bonds in an existing one, or experiencing greater harmony and understanding with your partner. In addition to that, you may find yourself drawn to forming connections with people who share similar values, interests, and aspirations. And lastly, you may meet people that may bring you opportunities to expand your finances through partnerships or collaborations. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): This transit brings opportunities for you to focus on your physical well-being. You might adopt healthier habits, experience healing, or find success in endeavors related to fitness and diet. In addition to that, you may find fulfillment in helping colleagues, volunteering, or engaging in charitable work during this period. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): Jupiter's transit here often brings a sense of joy, optimism, and lightheartedness to your life. It may enhance your creative abilities and bring opportunities for self-expression, and you may feel inspired to pursue artistic endeavors or hobbies with greater enthusiasm and success. In addition to this, for those desiring children, this transit may increase the likelihood of conception or bring blessings related to parenthood. It's a favorable time for spending quality time with your children and nurturing your relationship with them. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): This transit brings expansion with matters related to your home, and may manifest as purchasing a new home, moving to a larger or more comfortable home, renovating or expanding your current residence, or even welcoming new family members or extended family into your household. In addition to this, this transit may make you feel a stronger pull towards exploring your family history, reconnecting with your cultural or familial roots, or gaining a deeper appreciation for the traditions and values passed down through generations. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): During this transit, you may find yourself communicating more expansively, perhaps sharing your ideas and thoughts more freely. Jupiter here can encourage you to speak with confidence and optimism, and you might find yourself more open to learning new things or pursuing intellectual interests. In addition to this, this transit may bring wonderful experiences related to short distance travel. And lastly, this period may bring positive and helpful interactions with your siblings. Hope this was helpful, take care and stay healthy, till next time! Ken Hey everyone, Happy equinox day! The equinox, occurring twice a year, marks the precise moment when the Earth's axis is neither tilted towards nor away from the Sun, resulting in equal lengths of day and night across the globe. This celestial event, associated with the onset of spring or autumn depending on where you live, holds significance in various cultures and traditions worldwide. In India, some regions celebrate Navratri (“nine nights”), which is dedicated to the goddess Durga, while others celebrate Holi, the festival of colors symbolizing the arrival of Spring. Hope you’re all having a wonderful day! This will be a brief newsletter focused on the upcoming two eclipses. In general, eclipses are not a good time to start something new, but are really useful for spiritual endeavors. This is true especially for the 3 days before and after the eclipse, and is also true regardless on whether you can see the eclipse or not. In addition to this, eclipses can affect certain individuals more intensely if the eclipse occurs over a prominent place in their birth chart. This can lead to major changes or turning points in that person’s life. To learn more about eclipses, please tap here. The first eclipse takes place on March 25th 2024 from 12:53AM to 5:33AM ET (3:53PM to 8:33PM in Melbourne). This is a penumbral lunar eclipse, visible in most of the world outside Asia: This eclipse takes place in a constellation called Hasta, whose ruling deity is Savitar, the deity associated with the highly revered and powerful Gayatri mantra. This is a very direct mantra used for enlightenment, and works by invoking divine light and wisdom to illuminate the practitioner's consciousness, similar to how the light of the Sun illuminates the world around us. Hasta’s Shakti or energy is the power to gain what we are seeking and place it in our hand, and when combined with the earlier symbolism, this also makes the days around this eclipse particularly fruitful for prayer or mantra meditation. Putting everything together - the eclipse peels back the layers of creation, and the energies represented by the Hasta constellation allows us to tap into our own divinity and manifest our desires and intentions in our hands - a very tangible expression of grace. The second eclipse takes place on April 8th 2024 from 11:42AM to 4:53PM ET (April 9th 1:42AM to 6:53AM in Melbourne). This is a total solar eclipse, visible in most of North America: This eclipse takes place in a constellation called Revati, which is symbolized by a drum. It is ruled by a deity named Pushan, a being associated with nourishment, and also known for guiding souls on their journey, all while offering protection along the way. Combining the symbols - just as a drum's beat provides a steady rhythm, anchoring us in the present moment, the energies represented by the Revati constellation echoes the pulse of life itself, offering nourishment to the soul. These energies make the days around the eclipse supportive of inducing a meditative state using rhythmic techniques, such as your breath, mantras, or even literal drums. This enables us to connect with our innermost selves, fostering nourishment, healing, growth, and spiritual awakening. The eclipse rips open the veils of creation, allowing us to more deeply tap into its sacred rhythm underlying everything. This enables us to better align ourselves with the divine flow of life and be nourished by its infinite grace.
That’s it from me for now - I hope these eclipses bring you deeply spiritual and wonderful experiences, Ken Hey everyone, Happy belated new year! It’s been a while - my wife and I have had our hands full since the birth of our second son last October. Having two kids is definitely more than double the work, but also more than double the fun! I hope you are all doing well. This newsletter will focus on the Saturn / Mars conjunction occurring in Aquarius through March and April, but first, a quick overview of 2024. Astrologically, in the first half of this year, the most positive event is the Jupiter / Uranus conjunction reaching its apex on April 21st 2024. This is a conjunction which has been building over the last 12 months and was covered in detail in this newsletter - it brings significant cultural, technological, creative, and emancipatory developments in our world. Focusing on the technological advancements over the last 12 months, we’ve seen huge developments in AI (ChatGPT, DALL·E, Sora) and AR/VR (Apple’s Vision Pro). This theme of significant technological advancements should continue over the next few months. After the wonderful Jupiter / Uranus conjunction in the first half of 2024, the second half is a bit more complicated astrologically, but that’s a story for another time… Saturn and Mars in Aquarius Saturn and Mars will be in the same sign from March 15th to April 23rd 2024, reaching their point of exact conjunction on April 11th. Saturn is the planet of discipline, commitment, and building a strong foundation, and Mars is the planet of reckless, fiery action. These are harsh, conflicting energies. Saturn and Mars being together in the same sign bring escalating anger, a desire to move forward quickly while simultaneously slowing down to build a stronger foundation, and a frustration that is driven from a lot of starting and stopping. In Aquarius (revolution, rebellion, alternatives, unconventional thinking), these energies are focused on change. An example of someone who has this in his birth chart is Justin Bieber: Bieber has his Saturn / Mars conjunction in his 4th house (left side of the chart), his house of childhood, which can manifest as someone having a challenging childhood with lots of friction and frustration, driving him to find alternative ways to change his situation. Well, Bieber’s father left his mother soon after he was born, his mother had to work multiple jobs to support both of them, and he spent a lot of time with his grandparents and at with a family friend. He was also bullied at school. So, definitely a challenging childhood.
Because his Saturn / Mars was in Aquarius, you would expect an out-of-the-box and alternative solution to these challenges, and that’s also what happened - he used his talents in music to leave his troubled childhood. You can also see this from the Jupiter / Moon conjunction in Bieber’s house of distant places (top right of the chart), bringing fame and success from far beyond the small town where he grew up in Ontario. So, back to your life - how does Saturn and Mars transiting Aquarius affect you? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other factors that fill out the picture of your life (most of it individualized from your birth chart), but this transit will show one small perspective. I have arranged these mini predictions according to your Vedic Sun signs; you can find your Vedic Sun sign by finding which date range includes your birthday. Please read the birth times carefully as your Vedic Sun sign can be different from your Western one (reason here). If you know your Vedic Ascendant sign or your Vedic Moon sign, the predictions corresponding to those signs are also applicable to you. Aries (April 14th to May 14th): Saturn and Mars are transiting your house of friends and the community. During this period, you may experience some occasional frustrations with your friends, or with the greater community you belong to. If this is the case, you can seek out more unconventional communities or talk a bit more to the nonconformist in your friend group. This period is also supportive of financial gains, however, the gains will probably only come after some delays and obstacles. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): Saturn and Mars are transiting your house of career, and so during this period, you may experience some frustrations at your job - perhaps the project you’re working on is delayed in some way, or your boss gives you a higher than normal amount of pressure. The best thing to do during this period is to focus thinking outside the box and finding alternative solutions to solve any problems that may arise. These activities allow the frustrations from this transit to materialize into something positive. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): Saturn and Mars are transiting your house of long-distance travel, making this period not the best time to do any long trips. If you have something already planned, the trip may provide a good opportunity to practice your patience and tolerance. A nicer expression of this transit is that it can help you learn knowledge that is technical in nature, and allow you to apply the knowledge in possibly novel ways. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): Saturn and Mars are transiting your eighth house, a house associated with the unconscious mind. This is a combination that makes it a great time for you to work on energy practices like tummo, yoga, tai chi, pranayama, etc. - channel that energy into something positive, and use it to open yourself up to the light. If you are trying to make changes in your life during this time, you may experiences some delays and obstacles - you’ll need to think outside the box to solve any problems that may arise. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): Saturn and Mars are transiting your house of relationships, making it a generally challenging time for relationships. A good way to mitigate this is to incorporate physical activities into your relationship like a boxing class, or a long challenging hike, or swimming in the ocean, etc. This way, the frustrations from this transit have an avenue to be expressed, and your relationship will stay happy. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): Saturn and Mars are transiting your house of health, which may exacerbate any existing health issues you may have, especially issues related to inflammation and / or your back. A good way to channel this transit is to be more disciplined with your exercise routine. Or, maybe just take a nice long bath and get a massage - that’s also a great way to spend this transit. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This transit impacts your house of children. If you’re trying for a child, it’s best to be patient - you’ll probably have more success after the transit is over. If you already have children, this is a great time to allow them to guide you into becoming a more patient and tolerant person :) If children don’t feature heavily in your life, the transit also impacts your learning and creativity, and a great way to channel this transit’s energies is to focus on the more technical areas of your studies or creative endeavors - less big picture, and more of the nitty gritty details. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): This transit impacts the house of your home. If you’re trying to move houses, this may not be the best time to do so, as this transit tends to bring delays and frustrations with buying or selling property. It is, however, a great time to do minor renovations, and to also perform any required repairs around the house. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): This period is a great time to get errands done. Just write them down on a long list, and start checking them off, especially if those errands are technical in nature. On the flip-side, there is a tendency to experience a little more frustration in the area of communication. Just be patient, relax, and budget for more time if you have any important meetings to do during this period. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): Saturn and Mars are transiting your house of money in the bank. If you are trying to save for something, this period may result in some unexpected expenses, resulting in some delays. Just go with the flow - you will get there eventually, you may just need to budget for some extra time to achieve your money goals. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): This period is generally a strong and productive time for your career. However, you may need to work extra hard during this period, and may feel at times like the work is a little tedious or overly technical. Just be patient, be diligent and hardworking, and make sure you plan some breaks to relax and recharge. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): This transit could produce delays and obstacles while traveling. If you have something already planned, the trip may provide a good opportunity to practice your patience and tolerance. You may also have especially notable experiences during this period if you regularly practice physical meditation techniques like chi gong or yoga. Take care and stay healthy, till next time, Ken Hey everyone, It’s been a while, hope you’ve all had a wonderful last few months! This newsletter will delve into the mysteries of the two upcoming eclipses. In general, eclipses are not a good time to start something new, but are really useful for spiritual endeavors. This is true especially for the 3 days before and after the eclipse, and is also true regardless on whether you can see the eclipse or not. In addition to this, eclipses can affect certain individuals for up to 6 months if it occurs over a prominent place in their birth chart. To learn more about eclipses, please tap here. But first, Elon Musk’s biography was released last week, and it said he was born at 7:30AM, and so of course I had to take a look at his chart. This is tangentially related to eclipses, so bear with me! Here’s his birth chart: Elon was in his Mercury sub-period from April 2020 to October 25th 2022 (table on the bottom right), and his natal Mercury is very strongly-placed in a constellation called Punarvasu, a constellation symbolized by a quiver of arrows. This symbol can bring wealth through investments - deploying capital in the equity market can be a physical manifestation of the symbolic archer drawing an arrow from his or her quiver and shooting it at its target. Well, in late 2021, Elon sold $16.4 billion worth of shares, but because he continued meet his milestones and exercised more options, in February 2022, it was reported that his stake in Tesla grew to 17% of the company. So, a very good period for generating wealth through shares. Then, on October 25th 2022, Elon went into his Rahu / Ketu planetary cycle. There is a story that fleshes out what Rahu and Ketu bring into your life. Rahu was once a demon, and his greatest desire was to drink Soma, the Nectar of the Gods, a drink that would make him immortal. However, he was not allowed to partake because he was a demon; only the Devas (the celestial beings of our universe) were qualified to drink Soma. So, like any good demon, Rahu put on a disguise and snuck into a big ceremony where all the Devas were drinking Soma. He succeeded, but as he was drinking Soma, the Sun and the Moon realized he was an imposter, and told Vishnu. Well, Vishnu isn’t one to act slowly, and immediately sliced off Rahu’s head with his Chakram (spinning disc weapon). The head of the now immortal being became Rahu, and the rest of the body became Ketu. A mixed result for Rahu - you win some, you lose some I guess. Rahu was the universe’s first drug addict - he wanted the Soma at whatever the cost, and so Rahu symbolizes unlimited desires. Ketu is sort of the opposite - he is like the universe’s first Buddhist monk - without any desires, but he feels chronically lost and disappointed because he doesn’t have a head (understandable). Eclipses happen when a new Moon or a full Moon takes place near transiting Rahu and Ketu - according to the story, they take revenge on the Sun and Moon for being snitches by eating them during an eclipse. (I told you this was tangentially related to eclipses!) Back to Elon’s Ketu sub-period, which began on October 25th 2022 - you would expect this period to be a lot less financially lucrative for him compared to the previous period because Ketu is chronically disappointed and often feels lost. Well, he closed his acquisition of Twitter on October 27th 2022, just 2 days into his Ketu sub-period, and we all know how much of a dumpster fire that has been. He paid $44 billion, and an estimate in May 2023 valued Twitter at just $14.75 billion. So, you can see how the planetary cycles can make very sharp predictions about a person’s life. After all these years giving readings, it’s still amazing to me every single time I see astrology working so nicely. There’s definitely a plan for everyone! Eclipses Okay so now, onto the eclipses! The first eclipse takes place on October 14th 2023 from 11:03AM to 4:56PM EDT (Oct 15th 2:03AM to 7:56AM in Melbourne). This is a solar eclipse, visible in most of North and South America: This solar eclipse is taking place in the constellation of Chitra, whose meaning is the multicolored or a work of art, and is ruled by Tvashtar, the celestial architect who designed the palaces for the gods and crafted their tools and weapons. It is a constellation full of creative energy, but when combined with the energy of the solar eclipse, this eclipse has the potential to disrupt our creative flow. A solar eclipse symbolizes our underlying consciousness (the Sun) being covered up by our emotions (the Moon), and so instead of trying to force ourselves to be productive or creative during this eclipse, it’s better to channel those propensities inwards, and try and learn more about the true source of our creativity deep inside all of us. The second eclipse takes place on October 28th 2023 from 2:01PM to 6:27PM EDT (Oct 29th 5:01AM to 9:27AM in Melbourne). This is a lunar eclipse, visible in most of the world: The eclipse is taking place in a constellation called Ashwini, whose Shakti or energy is the power to reach things quickly. Combining this energy with the lunar eclipse brings a tendency for us to rush unnecessarily, or make our minds a little messy. So, I would definitely recommend against making any major decisions during the week of this eclipse. Instead of starting something new, this eclipse is perfect for healing - Ashwini is ruled by the Ashwini Kumaras, the twin gods who were the universe’s first pharmacists. Consequently, the period of time around this eclipse is perfect for healing therapies of all kinds, helping us rejuvenate the divine temple that is our body so it is more capable in handling the rigors of everyday life.
That’s it from me for now - I hope these eclipses bring you deeply spiritual and wonderful experiences, Ken Hey everyone, Hope April is treating you wonderfully! This newsletter will delve into the mysteries of the two upcoming eclipses. In general, eclipses are not a good time to start something new, but are really useful for spiritual endeavors. This is true especially for the 3 days before and after the eclipse, and is also true regardless on whether you can see the eclipse or not. In addition to this, eclipses can affect certain individuals for up to 6 months if it occurs over a prominent place in their birth chart. To learn more about eclipses, please tap here. The first eclipse takes place from April 19th 2023 9:34PM to April 20th 3:00AM EST (April 20th 11:34AM to 5:00PM in Melbourne). This is a total solar eclipse, visible in most of Australia and South East Asia: The eclipse is taking place in a constellation called Ashwini Nakshatra, whose Shakti or energy is the power to reach things quickly. Combining this energy with the solar eclipse, which symbolizes our underlying consciousness (the Sun) being covered up by our emotions (the Moon), this eclipse has the potential to make us rush unnecessarily, or make our minds a little messy. So, I would definitely recommend against making any major decisions during the week of this eclipse. Instead of starting something new, this eclipse is perfect for healing - Ashwini is ruled by the Ashwini Kumaras, the twin gods who were the universe’s first pharmacists. Consequently, the period of time around this eclipse is perfect for healing therapies of all kinds, helping us rejuvenate the divine temple that is our body so it is more capable in handling the rigors of everyday life. The second eclipse takes place on May 5th 2023 from 11:14AM to 3:32PM EST (May 6th 1:14AM to 5:32AM in Melbourne). This is a penumbral Lunar Eclipse, visible in most of the world outside of the Americas: This eclipse is taking place in a constellation called Vishakha Nakshatra, ruled by two beings of polar opposite personalities - Indra, the King of the Devas / celestial beings, symbolizing ambition and achieving material desires, and Agni, the god of fire, representing our inner consciousness and universal divine awareness. There is a story in the Mahabharata which involves both these celestial beings - once upon a time, there was a human King named Swetaki who decided to perform 12 years of continuous fire sacrifices. As a result of this, Agni, the god of fire, had to eat sacrificial oils for 12 long years, and got indigestion. He was feeling really sick, and Brahma, the creator of the universe, told him to eat / burn the Khandava forest as medicine - the Khandava forest had become a gathering place for demonic entities, and so Agni would also be helping with the cleansing of the forest.
However, just as Agni started burning the forest, Indra stepped in and caused rain to fall, stopping the burning, because he had some friends in the forest. Even though Indra was the King of the celestial beings, he represents ambition, and so he could relate to some of the demonic beings living there (the “demons” in the Vedic system are just wayward beings who focused too much on enjoying their material lives, instead of pursuing higher spiritual endeavors. Ultimately in time, they will also return to the source). This is when Krishna and Arjuna stepped in, and helped Agni complete the burning of the forest. I think the story is a metaphor for universal divine awareness (Agni) ultimately dissolving our material desires (the demons in the forest), despite our ambitions sometimes getting in the way (Indra). And so a great way to mark this second eclipse is to delve deeper into your awareness and consciousness, and watch your desires and emotions dissolve into your true self. That’s it from me for now - I hope these eclipses bring you deeply spiritual and wonderful experiences, Ken Hey everyone, Hope you’re having a wonderful week! In this newsletter, we’ll be going through the upcoming Jupiter / Uranus conjunction in Aries, which is a major theme that will be building through the next 12 months (April 22nd 2023 to May 1st 2024). As the conjunction of these two outer planets happens only once every ~14 years or so, this is an especially notable transit in the way it helps define a certain time period. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, of growth, and of progress, and Uranus is the planet of revolution, liberation, technology, and the sudden unexpected breakup of structures. Through history, their alignments (both conjunctions and oppositions) mark the start of long-term cultural, technological, creative, and emancipatory developments. To give you an idea of what this transit can bring, I have picked out a few historical examples of when Jupiter and Uranus were aligned in the sky, and have summarized them into 4 main themes:
These 4 themes are something to watch out for over the next 12 months. In the area of technological advancements, it seems one of the big advancements during this 2023 / 2024 conjunction will be generative AI, like what Microsoft has built into its Bing search engine and its Office 365 suite. I think many other tech companies will be building similar tools into their platforms in the coming months, making it much more widely available. Here’s a picture DALL·E 2 made - the prompt was “A painting from Vedic India depicting a Jupiter Uranus conjunction”: Last thing before we get to the personal predictions - if you’ve ever wanted to make your mark on the world - for example, if you wanted to plan the next big protest, work on the next big technological advancement, or if you wanted to write the next culturally defining work of art, these next 12 months are going to be your time to get to work!
Mini Predictions And in addition to shaping the big macro energies of the world, this Jupiter / Uranus transit through Aries also impacts you personally. There are many other astrological factors that fill out the picture of your life (most of it individualized from your birth chart), but this transit will show one small perspective. I have arranged these mini predictions according to your Vedic Sun signs; you can find your Vedic Sun sign by finding which date range includes your birthday. Please read the birth times carefully as your Vedic Sun sign can be different from your Western one (reason here). If you know your Vedic Ascendant sign or your Vedic Moon sign, the predictions corresponding to those signs are also applicable to you. Aries (April 14th to May 14th): This transit may make you feel a strong urge to break free from old patterns and embrace new experiences, and may also bring you positive opportunities in life. It may also make you feel more confident, and allow you to make changes wherever you need to in your life. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): This transit can bring powerful breakthroughs in spirituality. Jupiter and Uranus are transiting your house of spirituality, making this a great time for self-discovery, potentially leading to shifts in your belief system. You can also use this transit to explore your unconscious mind and surface any repressed fears or emotions. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): This transit is taking place in your house of friendships and groups of people. It can bring opportunities for personal and professional growth in areas like networking, collaboration, and community involvement, especially in groups of people who are similarly progressive or technology-minded. All of this makes it a great time for you to go out and meet more people! Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): This transit is taking place in your house of career and public image. It can bring opportunities for personal and professional growth, and can also bring an experience of abundance and expansion at work. Because of Uranus’s influence, these opportunities can come suddenly and unexpectedly, and / or can bring a desire for greater independence and freedom at your workplace. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This transit can bring a tendency for you to expand your personal worldview and to learn new things. It’s a good time to broaden your horizons by seeking knowledge from books, institutions, teachers, traveling, or ceremonies. Because of Uranus’s influence, the knowledge can come suddenly and unexpectedly, and / or may push you to take risks to pursue your desires. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): This transit can bring you sudden increases of wealth, whether through bonuses, inheritance, or from your partner. It is also a good time to explore your unconscious mind and surface any repressed fears or emotions you may have stored in your psyche - the Uranus / Jupiter energy can bring sudden breakthroughs that allow you to break free from old patterns. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This transit can bring you sudden and unexpected success in both one-to-one client and romantic relationships. It also brings you a tendency to attract partners that are unconventional in some way. All of this makes it a great time for you to go out and meet more people! Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): This transit can bring beneficial changes to your work and health routine, especially if you use technology or some new innovative technique to implement those changes. And if you are suffering from a chronic illness, the transit may even bring opportunities for you to suddenly heal from what ails you. All of this makes this period a good time to examine your work and health routine, and see where it can be improved. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): This transit can bring a period of sudden growth and expansion in your creativity, self-expression, and love life. Jupiter’s and Uranus’s transit here brings abundance and revolution with all creative pursuits, including even the act of creating a child (and with Uranus transiting here, it may be a surprise child!). This is a good time to explore new creative pursuits and work on existing creative projects, and if you’re single, it is also a good time to go out and meet more people. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): This transit can bring a period of sudden and significant change and growth in your home, personal life, and / or family relationships. Jupiter and Uranus’s energies can create a feeling of being compelled to break free from old patterns and embrace new possibilities for personal growth and emotional fulfillment, and these themes can manifest in a remodeled relationship with your parents, buying a new home or renovating an existing one, and / or with the general reorganization of the foundations of your life. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): This transit can bring a period of sudden and significant changes in communication, short-distance travel, or learning style. Jupiter can bring expansion and growth, encouraging you to seek new learning opportunities and to broaden your knowledge. Because of Uranus’s influence, the types of knowledge / short-distance travel you may gravitate towards will probably be a little non-mainstream and off the beaten path, so this period is a great time for you to embrace the weird and wonderful of our world. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): This transit can bring sudden and unexpected periods of financial growth and expansion. You may find yourself more confident in your ability to earn money and to manage your resources. And lastly, this transit can also push you to reevaluate priorities and consider new ways of defining success. Take care, and enjoy this transit! Hey everyone, Hope you’re having having a wonderful week! In this newsletter, I wanted to highlight a period of about 3 weeks, when Venus joins Jupiter in Pisces. Long time readers of this newsletter will know that Jupiter has been transiting through Pisces since April 14th 2022, and will leave Pisces on April 21st 2023. From February 16th to March 11th 2023, Venus joins the party in Pisces briefly, making for an extremely positive 3 weeks. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, of growth, and of progress, and Venus is the planet of love, relationships, beauty, and material enjoyment. In Pisces, both planets express their energies at an extremely high level, sharing their love and light with the whole world. An example of a person with their Jupiter and Venus in Pisces is Drew Barrymore, who has both planets in her 11th house: This placement in Barrymore’s chart brings great wealth, and a wonderful relationship with a large community of people. In her case, these placements expressed themselves as making her a famous and wealthy actress. Barrymore was born during her Jupiter main period, which emphasized this favorable placement even while she was still a baby. This manifested clearly in her life - she was cast in her first role when she was just 11 months old, and at age 7, achieved widespread fame when the movie ET was released.
So, back to your life - how does this transit affect you personally? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other factors that fill out the picture of your life (most of it individualized from your birth chart), but this transit will show one small perspective. I have arranged these mini predictions according to your Vedic Sun signs; you can find your Vedic Sun sign by finding which date range includes your birthday. Please read the birth times carefully as your Vedic Sun sign can be different from your Western one (reason here). If you know your Vedic Ascendant sign or your Vedic Moon sign, the predictions corresponding to those signs are also applicable to you. Aries (April 14th to May 14th): This transit may bring nice experiences with your spiritual practice, so if you find yourself drawn to practices like meditation or yoga or ceremony, you may find this period to be especially productive in your spiritual growth. It may help you uncover greater intuitive ability, and / or bring inspiration from the depths of your unconscious mind. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): This transit brings nice experiences with groups of people, and also brings positive social connections with your community and society. If one of your new year’s resolutions was to make new friends or build out your network, you may find that putting yourself out there and meeting more people during this transit will be especially productive in actualizing this desire. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): This transit can bring opportunities for professional growth and career success. You may find yourself taking on new responsibilities or receiving recognition for your work during this time. This transit can also bring nicer relationships with your boss and coworkers, which can be used as a springboard that benefits you beyond the duration of this transit. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): This transit can bring a tendency for you to expand your personal worldview and to learn new things. It’s a good time to broaden your horizons by seeking knowledge from books, institutions, teachers, traveling, or ceremonies. It’s also a good time to explore new ideas or new places, and develop a more expansive understanding of both the material and spiritual realms. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This transit can bring a time of transformation and change, both psychologically and externally. You can use the energies of this transit to plumb the depths of your psyche and develop a better understanding of yourself, ushering in a period of personal growth and emotional well-being. Alternatively, if you have anything in your life that is no longer serving you, you can use this transit to make changes externally in your life as well. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): This transit can bring amazing experiences with romantic relationships, client relationships, and partnerships of all kinds. It brings expansion, abundance, harmony, beauty, and charm to these areas of life. If you’re single, it’s a good time to go on more dates; if you’re looking for more clients, it’s a good time to advertise; and if you’re looking for a good business partner, it’s a good time to go out and meet more people. Enjoy! Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This transit can bring improvements to your health situation and / or health routine. If you’re struggling with any health issues, you should see some improvement through this transit. And if you’re already really healthy, this is a good period to improve your health routine - the transit brings a nice tailwind in all matters related to health. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): This transit can bring a period of growth and expansion in your creativity, self-expression, and love life. Venus’s and Jupiter’s transit here brings abundance, beauty, and harmony with all creative pursuits, including even the act of creating a child. This is a good time to explore new creative pursuits, and work on existing creative projects, and if you’re single, it is also a good time to go out and meet more people. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): This transit can bring an expansion in your home life and family relationships. It is supportive in improving your relationships with family members, or with enjoying their company and have a good time with them. It is also a good time to make any improvements to your home that you’ve been putting off, like buying a new couch or meditation cushion or something. Lastly, this transit can bring a tailwind to improving your emotional wellbeing, and so if you’ve been particularly stressed or unhappy over the last few months, a bit of introspection can go a long way during this period. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): This transit can bring a time of growth and expansion with your communication and learning. It can bring you more charming and charismatic speech, and more harmonious relationships with the people around you. It can also bring a nice tailwind if you’re trying to learn something. Lastly, it can also bring you beautiful and abundant experiences with short-distance travel, so it’s a great time for you to set out on a road trip. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): This transit can bring wealth and abundance to your life. Jupiter and Venus are transiting your house of family, of money, and of food, bringing nice material experiences and improvements in these areas of life. If you’ve been gunning for a raise at work, or have any launches planned in your business, this will be a good time to commence. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): This transit brings expansive and positive experiences with your self-expression and physical appearance. It can temporarily make you seem even more charming and good looking than you normally are, and make you even more likable by your friends, acquaintances, and coworkers. It is a good time to go out and network, to meet more people, and to make progress in your career, all of which can be used as a springboard that benefits you beyond the duration of this transit. Hope you enjoy these very pleasant 3 weeks, till next time! Ken Hey everyone, Happy 2023! I hope you had a wonderful time with your friends and family through the holidays, and I wish you a healthy, happy, and fulfilling year ahead. For the first month of 2023, I have a quick tip for you if you’ve set any new year’s resolutions: 2023 begins with Mars and Mercury both in retrograde, which signifies some challenges with starting something new. Mars and Mercury stations direct on January 13th and January 19th respectively, so my suggestion is to build in a 3 week buffer to any resolutions you may have set for yourself :) In this newsletter, we’ll be going through Saturn’s transit through Aquarius, which begins on January 17th, 2023. Saturn takes 2-3 years to go through each sign, and will leave Aquarius in March 2025. Saturn is the planet of hard work, discipline, and patience - it carries the energies that most people find challenging to connect with, and so it often doesn’t get picked when people are choosing their favorite planets. Actually, Saturn’s big contribution is that he strengthens the areas of your life that he touches by challenging it to be better - we can only build a strong foundation, accomplish difficult goals, and improve ourselves by using Saturn’s energies to actualize and execute. So, in general, wherever Saturn is transiting in your birth chart will experience some initial challenges during the start of this period, and if you work hard and do your homework, that area of life will start to improve as the transit progresses. The way Saturn’s energies are expressed in Aquarius is that Saturn grounds the abstract ideas that Aquarius brings, allowing these ideas to be brought into conscious thought, and ultimately be actualized and implemented. A great example of this in action is in Carl Jung’s chart, who has his Saturn in Aquarius in his birth chart: Consistent with his natal Saturn in Aquarius, Jung had a process to help clients actualize abstract ideas, a process he called individuation. This is where he helped clients integrate their unconscious thoughts into their conscious self. Jung believed that this process was necessary for a person to reach their full potential. He also used techniques such as dream analysis and imagination to explore the unconscious mind, helping a person bring their innermost thoughts and feelings to the surface, and consequently, guiding that person to be conscious of his or her thoughts and desires. What a nice way to express the energies of Saturn in Aquarius!
So, back to your life - how does Saturn transiting through Aquarius affect you? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other factors that fill out the picture of your life (most of it individualized from your birth chart), but this transit will show one small perspective. I have arranged these mini predictions according to your Vedic Sun signs; you can find your Vedic Sun sign by finding which date range includes your birthday. Please read the birth times carefully as your Vedic Sun sign can be different from your Western one (reason here). If you know your Vedic Ascendant sign or your Vedic Moon sign, the predictions corresponding to those signs are also applicable to you. Aries (April 14th to May 14th): This transit brings a heaviness on your relationships with groups of people, including your community and society. You may feel a sense of responsibility to contribute to the greater good, and to use your unique talents and abilities to make a positive impact. A great way to mitigate this is to be conscious with how you balance your individual desires with the needs of the group. And on a positive note, if you work hard and use your talents to benefit your community / company, this transit can also bring a raise after some initial obstacles. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): This transit will make you work hard! Saturn is transiting your house of career, and you may feel a sense of responsibility at work. You may find that you become more disciplined with your schedule. This transit also brings a need to adapt to new situations and ideas, and may require you to be more open-minded and flexible. The good news is that if you roll up your sleeves and do your homework, you will achieve career success in the second half of this Saturn transit. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): Saturn will be transiting your house of higher learning, and may drive you to learn and improve your skills and knowledge base. Because Saturn is transiting Aquarius, this transit may also require you to be open-minded with your topic of study, and be flexible with the way it is taught to you. This transit may also bring you more challenging experiences with travel, especially initially in the period, but your experience should improve as the transit progresses. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): Saturn is transiting your house of transformation and change, and pushes you to take responsibility in removing things that are no longer working in your life, and to build a stronger foundation in the things that are working. As with anything Saturn touches, these changes won’t happen quickly, but with deliberation and discipline, the changes you implement during this period will probably last a long time. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This transit can bring initial obstacles in with relationships, and the best way to handle this is to use it as an opportunity to build a stronger foundation with all your relationship. There may be a need to assess the balance of give and take within the relationship, and to take responsibility in ensuring the relationship works for both parties. After the initial obstacles are overcome, this Saturn transit can bring a stronger and more committed long-term relationship. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): This transit has a tendency to bring any existing health issues to the surface, and allow you to address them more directly. It may push you to make adjustments in your daily routine, so that you can schedule in a more disciplined health / wellness / fitness routine into your busy schedule. The good news is that after you address any health issues directly that may arise, this transit can bring better health outcomes as it progresses through time. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): Saturn is transiting through your house of creativity, which suggests that you may need a more disciplined and organized process with your creative endeavors. This include everything creative in your life, from art, to music, to even making babies. During this transit, you may feel pressure to be more productive with your creative endeavors - just relax and stick to your schedule / plan, and everything should work out just fine. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): Saturn is transiting your house of the home, which means that you may feel more responsibility with your home and family life. It can indicate a need for you to be more organized and structured in those areas of life. There may need to be some adjustments in the home environment or family dynamics to meet these increased demands, but if you do your homework and get organized, this transit should bring increased maturity and stability with the home as it progresses. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): Saturn is transiting your house of short-distance travel and errands, and this may push you to become more organized with managing your daily schedule. This house is also related to communication, which could indicate a tendency to be more disciplined or careful with your speech. As the transit progresses, if you become more practiced at organizing your schedule and speaking with intention, these areas of life will be strengthened. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): Saturn is transiting your house of finances, which indicates increased pressure on finances at the start of this transit. It may make you more responsible or disciplined with your financial affairs, and push you to improve your financial stability. A really good way to channel these energies productively is to create a disciplined budget, and if you stick to it, you should see a stronger foundation for your finances develop as this transit progresses. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): This transit may bring you an increased sense of responsibility and discipline, specifically with your appearance and how you present yourself to the world. It may also push you to take responsibility in your personal growth and development, and also get more organized with your spiritual practice. A great way to channel this transit’s energies is to build in a spiritual practice into your daily routine, and as this transit progresses, you should start to see this practice bear fruit. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): This transit may push you to become more disciplined and organized with your spiritual practice, and take responsibility with your inner life and spiritual growth. It may also push you to explore the depths of your unconscious mind, and dissolve any patterns that are no longer serving you. Because Saturn is involved with this transit, a disciplined practice is required here, and if you stick to that practice through the transit, you should see results as it progresses. Happy new year again, till next time! Hey everyone, Hope everyone is enjoying the nice tailwind from the Jupiter / Saturn co-influence! This newsletter will go through a couple of eclipses coming up in late October / early November, but first, I wanted to briefly plug my newly released Nakshatras course module :) If you’ve received a reading from me (thank you!), you’ll know how much I rely on the Nakshatras when making predictions. The Nakshatras are the 27 Vedic lunar constellations, and have references dating back to at least 7000 BCE. Studying these constellations is like peering into a truly different and wonderful world. The archetypal stories and symbols contained within these stars connect us with a civilization that existed when the ice was still thawing from the last ice age, and despite their antiquity, they still beautifully describe our modern lives. A working knowledge of the Nakshatras is what makes an astrologer a Vedic astrologer, and is essential for any serious Jyotishi. The course will bring depth to your understanding of the Nakshatras, and also by using many example charts, will demonstrate how to use these magnificent constellations in your readings. And in addition to budding astrologers, this course is suitable for everyone - the vast majority of the course describes the stories and symbols contained within the Nakshatras, something that can be enjoyed by anyone who wants to delve deeper into the gods and goddesses of the Vedic civilization. For more information, please tap here. Eclipses Okay so now, onto the eclipses! In general, eclipses are not a good time to start something new, but are really useful for spiritual endeavors. This is true especially for the 3 days before and after the eclipse, and is also true regardless on whether you can see the eclipse or not. In addition to this, eclipses can affect certain individuals for up to 6 months if it occurs over a prominent place in their birth chart. To learn more about eclipses, please tap here. The first eclipse takes place on October 25th 2022 from 4:58AM to 9:03AM EDT (October 25th 7:58PM to Oct 26th 12:03AM in Melbourne). This is a partial solar eclipse, visible in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and India: This eclipse is taking place in a constellation called Swati Nakshatra, whose Shakti or energy is the power to scatter like the wind, and whose desire is to have the freedom to move throughout the worlds. Combined with the partial solar eclipse, which symbolizes our underlying consciousness (the Sun) being covered up by our emotions (the Moon), this eclipse has the potential to make our minds a little messy. So, I would definitely recommend against making any major decisions during the week of this eclipse. The solution of all of this is also contained within the Nakshatra - Swati is ruled by Vayu, the god of the wind, and a nice way to channel his energies is by practicing breath work. By focusing on our breath, by stilling the energies and “internal wind” inside our body, we can easily find our inner consciousness and light, and repose in all its glory. Consequently, the period around this eclipse is a perfect time to use our breath to uncover the divine spark of awareness that we all have, and practice making it more prominent throughout our lives. The second eclipse takes place on November 8th 2022 from 3:02AM to 8:57AM EST (Nov 8th 7:02PM to Nov 9th 12:57AM in Melbourne). This is a total lunar eclipse, visible in most of the world outside of Africa and Western Europe: This eclipse is taking place in a constellation called Bharani Nakshatra, a constellation all about removing things that are no longer useful. The Shakti or energy of Bharani is the power to carry things away, and the constellation is ruled by Yama, the god of death, the celestial being that brings our souls to the next world after we die.
Because of all this symbolism, if you have anything in your life that is longer serving you, you can harness the energies that are present in this eclipse and let them go. A good example of this in action is Carl Jung, who has his Moon in Bharani - he used the energies of Bharani to help his patients let go of their suffering. With the light of the Sun partially obscured during this solar eclipse, you can see the darker areas of your energy body, and release and dissolve any emotions that are causing blocks inside you. That’s it from me for now - I hope these eclipses bring you deeply spiritual and wonderful experiences, Ken |
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