 Venus will be in Taurus from March 29th to August 1st 2020. As Taurus is Venus’ home sign, this amplifies Venus’ relational and indulgent energy, and emphasizes everything it symbolizes: beauty, art, partnerships, and romance. How Venus impacts you will differ depending on your chart, and I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question.
Of course, there are many other things 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): Venus is transiting your house of food and family, so this can bring pleasant experiences related to those areas of life. However, they say too much of a good thing can become a bad thing, so my only advice is not to be too indulgent when you’re eating all that delicious food! Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): This period will bring you an extra dose of charisma and relational energy. You may find yourself being drawn to more social situations, which would probably mean lots of Zoom and FaceTime calls in the current backdrop. This transit will also help you go out and make new friends when you're allowed to. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): This period brings an extra dose of relational energy when it comes to your spiritual practices, making you do well in devotional meditation styles like Kirtan or metta meditation. It’s a great time to focus on opening your heart and sending love out into the universe. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): Venus transiting Taurus will bring you good experiences with groups of people, and also help you achieve your goals in your life. This is a good time to host group Zoom meetings, and one day when we are all able to leave our houses again, a good time for you to network. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): Venus is transiting your career house, bringing you an extra dose of creativity and relational energy in your career. This is a good time to work on the creative side of your projects, and also build a better relationship with your boss. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): This Venus transit may bring you nice experiences with your general wealth relative to the people around you. It is a combination that encourages saving, and also brings your family closer together. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This period is a good time for making positive changes in your life. Are there any relationships you want to redefine? Is there a combative presence in your life? Is your job not treating you well? Have you not been treating your body correctly? This is the time to reframe all negative relationships in your life, and change it into something more pleasant and useful. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): This transit delivers you positive experiences with one-to-one relationships, from romantic ones to business partnerships. If you’re not currently in a relationship, it may be hard to date in this environment, but even online, this transit will make you a more charming and lovable person. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): During this period, you may experience an upswing in your health. It’s a good time to try new health routines out, so enjoy your home yoga and exercise routines! Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): Venus is transiting your house of children, and is supportive of you having children if you’re trying to. I’m sure you’ve heard all the jokes about the impending lockdown baby boom! Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): Venus is transiting your house of the home, which will make you want to beautify your home. I’m sure everyone being stuck at home will also have the same desire, but your home improvement projects may be a little more significant and better designed than many others. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): Venus is transiting your house of communication, giving you an extra dose of pleasantness and charm when it comes to your speech and writing. This is a great time to show your charm and diplomacy in all the conference calls you’re probably participating in.  Hey everyone, I hope you are all healthy and enjoying all the extra time we have at home. While most sports seasons have been postponed this year, there’s still one season that will definitely be played… Eclipse season! In the next few weeks, we’re going to have 3 eclipses, and this newsletter will cover the first two. Eclipses are generally 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 click here. Before we dive into the eclipses, I have an announcement to make. I am now on Instagram and Facebook! If you have been enjoying my newsletters, I think you’ll enjoy following those accounts too. Also, I have a huge favor to ask - if you have ever received a reading from me, please consider leaving me a positive review on my Facebook page. It would really help me out, and is a great way to express your inner altruism :) Thank you so much in advance; please click here to get to the Facebook Reviews desktop website, it seems to accept reviews better than the mobile app. Now back to your regularly scheduled astrology - the first eclipse takes place on June 5th from 10:45AM to 2:05PM PDT (June 6th from 3:45AM to 7:05AM in Melbourne). This is a lunar eclipse, visible in most of the world outside of the Americas:  The eclipse is taking place in Jyeshtha, a constellation ruled by Indra. Pictured at the top of this newsletter, Indra is the King of the Devas (the higher beings in our universe). He is the prototypical conquering hero, slaying demons with his vajra (thunderbolt weapon), conquering their worlds, and is often pictured intoxicated with lots of women. When applied to modern life, this is a constellation about business, competition, and achieving your material desires. Consequently, because eclipses disrupt material energy, the time around this eclipse is especially bad for starting a business or a relationship. Instead of channeling your desires outward, it will be more productive for you to redirect your consciousness inward and towards your true self. The second eclipse takes place on June 20th from 8:45 PM to 2:35 AM the next morning PDT (June 21st 1:45PM to 7:35PM in Melbourne). This is a solar eclipse, visible in Africa, parts of Europe, Asia, and the Northern tip of Australia:  The eclipse takes place in a constellation called Mrigashira, which means “to hunt”. To help you understand Mrigashira’s name, I have very professionally drawn out the constellation on my computer (this is what a Vedic Astrologer does in his free time during shelter-in-place):  Please click here for the original photo if you wanted to see the stars without the lines. As you can see, Orion’s Belt is also in the division of the sky marked by Mrigashira. This division was extremely important in many ancient cultures - for example, the Vedic people assigned the power to bring fulfillment to Mrigashira, and the Egyptians honored Orion’s Belt with the Pyramids of Giza.
There is a story related to Mrigashira that involves Rohini and Ardra (the previous and next constellations). Once upon a time, Brahma the creator of the universe was sexually attracted to his daughter Rohini, a beautiful girl who loved to sing and dance. To be fair to Brahma, he didn’t really have a lot of options - because he was the universe’s first being, every girl in the universe was his daughter. As Brahma began pursuing her, Rohini cried for help, took the form of a deer, and ran away. Brahma then took the form of a stag and chased after her. Rudra (the ruler of the constellation Ardra) heard Rohini’s cries, and shot Brahma to stop him from chasing her. In the skies, you can see Rudra shooting the arrow from the constellation Ardra. Mrigashira is in the middle symbolizing the forbidden seductive chase, and the beautiful Rohini is off in the distance running away. The symbolism suggests that the days around the Mrigashira eclipse may bring up intense desires, perhaps desires related to relationships like in the story, but also possibly with other parts of your life. It could make you feel some urgency to accomplish something or prevent you from seeing alternatives. If you recognize this, being conscious of the desire and letting go will probably make you happier long-term (and prevent you from being shot by Rudra 😀). How the ancients came up with this story and linked it to the constellations, allowing astrologers living thousands of years into the future to use these symbols in the modern world - that is truly a wonderful mystery. So, the next time you look up in the night sky and see Orion’s Belt, I hope you are reminded of this story and the intergenerational experiences we share through astrology. Wishing all of you the most spiritual eclipse experiences, Ken  Hey everyone! I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. In my previous newsletter, I wrote that based on the timing of an eclipse in Dec 2019, I believe that things will start to normalize closer to July 2020, and that appropriate treatments / vaccines should start to be widely used after September 2020. At the very least, I hope this gives you solace that the health side of this calamity will start improving in a few months. However, there is another side to crisis, and in this newsletter, I wanted to give you an astrological timeline on the world’s economic recovery. While the coronavirus timeline above is based on an eclipse, this economic timeline is based on the movement of a few planets. In November 2019, I wrote that based on Jupiter joining Saturn in Sagittarius, there would be an increased risk for a stock market correction from January 24th 2020 to March 29th 2020. Since then, the stock market has corrected:  Over the next few months, according to the astrology, it’s going to be a bit of a roller coaster. There will be a recession, which will probably be followed by a period of temporary hope, followed by a second more difficult period, and finally finishing with a full recovery. I’ve put in some thumbs up and down emojis below for some levity as this newsletter was feeling a bit too serious :) 👎 From March 30th to June 29th, Jupiter is in Capricorn, where it joins a very strong and challenging Saturn. Jupiter is the planet of wealth and abundance, and in addition to Saturn’s suppressive energy, Capricorn is Jupiter’s weakest sign. This means Jupiter’s abundance cannot be expressed easily during this period, and clearly symbolizes a recession. 👍 From June 30th to Nov 19th, Jupiter retrogrades out of Capricorn and back into Sagittarius. Unlike the previous period of Jupiter in Sagittarius (Jan 24th to March 29th), on this occasion, Jupiter is not impacted by any of the harsher planets. In fact, Sagittarius is Jupiter’s home sign, and Jupiter’s abundance symbolism should be expressed well. This period should represent a better time economically, a return of hope and dharma into the world, and a generally better time for everyone. 👎 From Nov 20th 2020 to April 5th 2021, Jupiter returns to Capricorn, and similar to March 30th to June 29th, we’re in for another tougher period. The one more thing I’ll add is that Saturn and Jupiter in this position forms a special astrological combination called Neechabhanga Raja Yoga. During this combination, an initial event is usually interpreted as negative, but as it gets closer to the end of this period, the event will prove to be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps the world uses this period to reprioritize, and hopefully support more ecological and sustainable businesses. 👎 As a final “gift” within this period, on March 26th 2021, Mars will be conjunct Rahu. Both Mars and Rahu are risk taking planets, and when they are together it can create excessive risk taking. This creates a possibility of increased stock market volatility during the couple weeks before and after this date. In the two previous occasions I looked at where Mars was conjunct Rahu in a recession (June 1930 and February 2009), the stock market was down significantly. 👍 And finally, on April 5th 2021, Jupiter enters Aquarius. Jupiter’s year long journey through Capricorn is finally complete, and the economy should start to feel more normal again. I hope that by providing this timeline, it at least gives you a heads up on what to expect and helps you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mercury in Pisces Mercury, the planet of logic and reasoning, goes into Pisces, the sign of imagination, on April 7th 2020 (PST). It will stay there till April 24th 2020. While Mercury is in Pisces, its logical energy has difficulty materializing, and you might find yourself with communication issues, difficulty writing, or experiencing some additional hurdles in what you are trying to learn. A great example of this is Albert Einstein’s chart, whose Mercury is in Pisces:  Einstein famously failed his first attempt at his university entrance exam, principally because he was not good at French. With Mercury in Pisces, his strengths lay in the imagination required to uncover the secrets of Physics, and not with the logic and reasoning required to study a second language. Ultimately, failing his engineering school entrance exam was a blessing in disguise, as it forced him into the study of Physics, where he was able to make important contributions to the world.
So, back to your life - how does Mercury in Pisces affect you? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other things 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): Mercury is in your house of spirituality. This is a good time to work on your intuition, especially as it applies to spiritual texts. Try and focus on the metaphors and analogies instead of the literal meaning of the words. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): During this period, if you are dealing with groups of people, it is especially important to make sure what you’re saying is clear and understandable. If you are setting any goals during this time, it may be a good idea to break them down to smaller, more achievable steps. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): Mercury is transiting your house of career. Focus on imagining big ideas and try and see the forest for the trees. This period is not supportive for getting down to the nitty gritty. It may also be useful to work on speaking and writing more clearly. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): During this period, there is a tendency for you to misunderstand things, especially if you are learning something. The transit also forms a combination that may make you lose some money - it’s best to stick with conservative investments, and be careful with your wallet! Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This transit could make you exclaim “why is everything so complicated”! Communication can become more strenuous, but on the flip side, if you work on being more considered and conscious when speaking, your communication skills will strengthen through the period. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): During this period, you may have difficulty communicating with your partner. Perhaps you feel your partner is being (even more?) illogical or obtuse. Just relax, he or she will start seeming more intelligent in a few weeks. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): Mercury is transiting your house of health, and can give rise to allergies or auto-immunity, especially on the skin. There might be certain foods that you may be a bit more sensitive to than normal. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): Mercury is transiting your house of education. If you are trying to learn or read something during this period, try and focus on the big picture, and come back later to go through the nitty gritty details. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): This period is a good time to think more big picture about your personal spaces, whether its your home or your office. Imagine your ideal space, decide what you like about your current space and what you don’t, and slowly work towards creating a better environment. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): Mercury is transiting your house of communication. You may find yourself not making sense, or perhaps people are just not understanding you. Be a bit more conscious of your speech and writing during this period - you’ll have to work a bit harder to ensure clear communication. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): Take care of your health during this period, and pay more attention to the foods you are eating. This is a good time to work on “conscious eating” - how does each mouthful feel and taste? How does smell interact with the taste and textures? Don’t just rush through your meals while being distracted on something else. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): Mercury is transiting your house of the body, and can give rise to allergies or auto-immunity, especially on the skin. There might be certain foods that you may be a bit more sensitive to than normal. I hope you found these mini-predictions useful, and also please remain safe and healthy through these pretty intense times. P.S., the bear and bull picture at the top of the newsletter is not completely random - the bear represents time periods when the stock market is falling, and the bull represents time periods when the stock market is going up :)  Hey everyone! I’m sure you haven’t heard enough about the coronavirus, so let me tell you how to wash your hands! Just kidding, this will just be a quick astrological timeline of this virus :) Around Christmas last year, there was a solar eclipse in the constellation Mula. This constellation is symbolized by roots, and so is related to natural therapies and health. As eclipses spoil the energy of a constellation for about 6 months, this gives us the first clue of how long the virus is likely to be a disruption. The eclipse was visible mostly in central Asia and surrounding areas, which also marks the place of origination of the virus on December 31st. Mula’s shakti or energy is the power to destroy or damage, and this is an apt description of what is happening in many communities and economies around the world. On February 8th and 12th respectively, Mars and Ketu entered Mula. During this time, the death toll in China surpassed the number SARS killed worldwide in 2003, and the virus began its spread outside of China. Mars is a war planet related to the military and police force, and symbolizes the government response to the virus, while Ketu is a shadow planet that hides the true nature of things, making the spread of the virus harder to trace. Ketu only leaves Mula on Sep 19th 2020. My interpretation of this is that the disruption will probably begin to go away closer to July 2020 (6 months from the December 2019 eclipse), but appropriate vaccines will only begin to appear after September 19th, after which the coronavirus will be a more normal occurrence, just like the common cold.  Yagyas (Fire Sacrifices) Over the last few months, I have been working on a new project - to learn to perform a fire sacrifice. These ancient sanskrit ceremonies can be dated back to the Rig Veda, the oldest of the Vedas, and forms the basis of many spiritual ceremonies performed across the world. By sacrificing rice, fruit, and oil into the fire while chanting the appropriate (and extensive!) set of mantras, we channel our desires up to the higher beings, and their grace flows into our lives. I am planning on performing a group Mahamrityunjaya fire ceremony on April 26th. At the heart of the ceremony is the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, also known as the death-conquering mantra, which forms a verse in the Rig Veda. The origin of this mantra is found in the story of Markandeya. Once upon a time, sage Mrikandu and his wife worshipped Shiva to bring them a son. Shiva gave him the choice of receiving either a spiritual son that lived 16 years, or a child of low intelligence that lived a normal lifespan. Mrikandu chose the former, and was blessed with an amazing son named Markandeya. On Markandeya’s 16th birthday, the god of death came to carry him away, but Markandeya said the Mahamrityunjaya mantra, causing Shiva to intervene. Shiva then blessed Markandeya with eternal life. How is this story relevant to you? In the Vedic tradition (and in many others), there is a belief that your last thought or desire carries you towards your next birth, and so if your last thought is a regret that you didn’t accomplish something in your life, you will be born again to fulfill that specific desire. The idea here is that you die at peace without any desires so you can move onwards on your journey. Well, you can imagine it would be an advantage to die in a controlled setting (perhaps as you are meditating), and you aren’t surprised by a sudden death. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra, and the accompanying ceremony, guard against sudden death, so hopefully when our time is up, we are better placed to continue our journey in a positive direction. In addition to the health benefits the ceremony brings, it also carries a spiritual blessing, as the last part of the Mahamrityunjaya mantra is a request to Shiva for enlightenment. If you choose to participate, during the ceremony, I will read your name and pour oil on your behalf into the fire, and you will receive the fruits of the ceremony. To limit numbers, the cost will be A$30 per name (~US$19). If this interests you, please send me an email before April 12th, and I will reply with more details :)  Mini-Predictions
On March 23rd 2020, Mars joins Saturn in Capricorn, forming what my teacher calls the rush hour traffic combination. This lasts till May 5th 2020, when Mars exits Capricorn. When you’re stuck in traffic and aren’t conscious of your mind and emotions, there is a tendency to get frustrated at the endless delays. Probably a better way to handle this is to just relax - you’ll get to where you’re going in your own time. Applying this analogy to our lives, if we just surrender to our own divinity and relax, we won’t feel frustrated at the obstacles and delays that may come throughout this month and a half. I’ve written out some mini-predictions to help you see the area of the life that may experience some delays during this transit. Bringing the light of consciousness into that area of life may be enough to save you from expending unneeded energy. Of course, there are many other things 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): During this time, you may experience some frustration related to your career. At the same time, Capricorn is Mars’ sign of exaltation and Saturn’s home sign, so in between periods of frustration, you may notice that you are slowly being put in a position of leadership. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): Mars and Saturn are transiting your house of long-distance travel, so it may be a good time to avoid any unnecessary traveling. If you must travel, expect some delays so remember to bring a book to read! Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): If you are trying to make changes in your life, you may experience some delays and obstacles. This transit may also result in your relationships becoming over-complicated. Just take a step back and communicate calmly. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): This period may result in some frustration in relationships. Mars is in your house of relationships with Saturn, so you may experience some inhibition related to the physical aspects of your relationship. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This is a good time to be more disciplined with your exercise routine. Maybe invite your partner (if you’re in a relationship) to join you in your yoga session. Doing competitive sports or focusing on your health together may help both of you have a happier relationship during this period. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): During this period, don’t rush into speculative investments, take things slowly and do your research thoroughly. If you are thinking about starting a project during this period, you may find it is more productive to wait till this transit is over. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): Mars and Saturn are transiting your house of the home. If you are working on a property project, whether its renovating your home or looking for a new office lease, you may encounter some delays and frustrations during this transit. Just take it easy and go with the flow till the transit ends. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): During this period, you may experience some frustrations related to your communication, and you may get into some arguments. Sometimes it’s good to just take a step back and walk away. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): Be more aware of your diet during this period. There is a tendency to stress eat during this period, and may cause health issues in the future. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): Be a little bit more careful as you may be more prone to accidents during this period. This is a good period to be more disciplined towards your diet. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): Be a little bit more careful as you may be more prone to accidents during this period. This is a good period to be more disciplined towards your meditation practice, and practice surrender and letting go. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): This is a period where you may be frustrated about your salary from work, or maybe your goals aren’t being achieved according to your schedule. Relax, things will happen in their own time. Practice surrender and meditate.  Hey everyone! Last year while hiking to Gomukh, I snapped a lucky photo of a yellow-beaked crow in mid-flight. The crow is connected to Saturn because traditionally, Saturn is pictured sitting on a crow. Just like the crow flying in the picture, Saturn just moved signs on Jan 24th 2020 (Jan 23rd for US people). Saturn is the planet of hard work, discipline, and patience. It carries the energies that most people find difficulty connecting with. Actually, what Saturn is doing is strengthening and challenging the area of your life it touches. Only by working hard and being disciplined can we accomplish difficult goals and improve ourselves. The sign Saturn is moving into is Capricorn, one of its home signs. Saturn usually stays in each sign for about 3 years, and will leave Capricorn in January 2023. Capricorn is where Saturn’s energy (hard work, discipline, and patience) is expressed more intensely. So on one hand, if you work hard, you’ll start to enjoy the feeling of being productive and being in the “flow” state. On the other hand, if you resist, it’ll feel like everything is going too slowly and nothing is fun anymore. As an example, of Saturn in Capricorn, let’s take a look at Barack Obama’s chart:  Obama is a hard worker who used to work after dinner late into the night. From the NYT: “Almost every night that he is in the White House, Mr. Obama has dinner at 6:30 with his wife and daughters and then withdraws to the Treaty Room, his private office down the hall from his bedroom on the second floor of the White House residence. There, his closest aides say, he spends four or five hours largely by himself. He works on speeches. He reads the stack of briefing papers delivered at 8 p.m. by the staff secretary. He reads 10 letters from Americans chosen each day by his staff.”
This is the embodiment of Saturn in Capricorn - by tuning into his Saturn energy and working hard, Obama was able to achieve his goals and ultimately enjoy the high energy feeling of being productive. So, back to your life - how does Saturn in Capricorn affect you? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other things 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 is in your career house, forming a combination that makes you a manager. This is a good period for your career, and if you work hard, this period is supportive of you receiving promotions or starting your own business. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): Saturn’s transit gives you a boost of hardworking energy in all things related to studies, especially to things related to business or your career. If you have been thinking of doing an MBA or something similar, this is the time to do it. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): Saturn here gives you the tendency to change your career, but in typical Saturn fashion, you’ll have to go through obstacles and work hard for the change to happen. Saturn is trying ot teach you patience :) Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): Saturn here gives you obstacles related to relationships, but at the same time, a strong sense of commitment. Ultimately, the relationship will be strengthened as you work through the issues. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): Saturn placed here challenges you to be more disciplined with your exercise and health routine. It is a negative placement for health if you don’t exercise regularly, as it suppresses your body’s recovery ability. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): Saturn’s placement here makes you more hardworking if you are learning anything, and more disciplined at actualizing your creative projects. If you are trying to have a baby, this transit slows the process a little, so be patient :) Libra (October 17th to November 15th): If you are trying to buy a house or a car, Saturn’s transit here allows you to actualize your goals, but in typical Saturn fashion, will only bring you results after hard work and time. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): Saturn is transiting through your house of speech, giving you a tendency to have communication problems. If you work on being a little more considered and conscious when speaking, your communication skills will strengthen through the period. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): This period is supportive for you to learn how to be more disciplined with your food, and perhaps learn to be more detached from food. Starting a regular intermittent fasting practice and having a more regulated diet are things to consider. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): Saturn’s transit forms a combination that makes you a manager. This is a good period for your career, and if you work hard, is supportive of you receiving promotions or starting your own business. At the same time, Saturn’s placement here challenges you to be more disciplined with your exercise and health routine. It is a negative placement for health if you don’t exercise regularly, as it suppresses your body’s defenses from falling sick. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): Saturn here transits your house of spirituality. This makes it a great transit for you to get into a disciplined spiritual practice, such as meditation. Regulation meditation sessions during this period will help you become more conscious of your mind and less reactive to the daily undulations of life. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): Saturn is transiting your house of goals, which gives you the ability to actualize your goals during this period. However, in typical Saturn fashion, achieving goals in this period is subject to hard work and patience.  Hello everyone, Merry Christmas and happy holidays! I’ve brought Christmas Ganesha back; I’m pretty proud of the high level graphic design work that was required to produce that picture 🎅 On to the astrology - there are a couple of eclipses coming up that I want to tell you about. Eclipses are generally not a good time to start something new, but are great for spiritual endeavors. This is especially true for the 3 days before and after an eclipse, and is also true regardless on whether you can see them or not. In addition to this, eclipses can affect certain individuals for up to 6 months if the eclipse happens to take place over one of the person’s birth / natal planets. To learn more about eclipses, please click here. The first eclipse takes place on Dec 25th 2019 9:59PM to Dec 26th 3:05AM EST (Dec 26th 2019 1:29PM to 7:05PM AEST). This is a solar eclipse, visible mostly in central Asia and surrounding areas:  The eclipse takes place in a Nakshatra (constellation) called Mula. Mula is symbolized by roots growing deep into the ground. It’s a time to drill deep into your own psyche and analyze your mind. With more attention and consciousness, old thought patterns emerge and can be burned away in the light. This constellation’s Shakti (energy) is the power to destroy, so this is an especially good time to break old habits and addictive behaviors. Mula is ruled by Nirriti, the ancient form of Kali. So, a mantra that may be helpful during this eclipse is the Kali mantra: Om Kreem Kalikayei Namaha. This mantra is famous for its power to clean out negative energy and thought patterns from your life. I know, all this sounds pretty heavy for the Christmas holidays, so try and soak up as much of the festivities as you can before the eclipse begins! The second eclipse takes place on Jan 10th 2020 12:07PM to Jan 10th 4:12PM EST (Jan 11th 2020 4:07AM to 8:12AM AEST). This is a lunar eclipse, visible in most of the world:  This second eclipse takes place in a constellation called Punarvasu. Punarvasu means “good again” or “light again”, which makes this time especially good for renewal. It’s a time for rejuvenation, a time to look internally to what feels worn out and run-down, and make everything full of light again. The Shakti (energy) of Punarvasu is the power of wealth, and because eclipses disrupts the energy of the constellation, it is an especially bad time to make investments or financial decisions. The deity that rules Punarvasu is Aditi, the mother of the gods, so a good meditation practice during this eclipse would include feminine mantras, light practices, and Kundalini / energy practices.
I wish all of you a productive and spiritual eclipse time, and also a wonderful time with your friends and family 🎄  I’m back from India! Actually I’ve been back for almost two months, but it’s been a little hectic. Let me tell you about one of the places I went to in India before diving back into your regularly scheduled astrology :) In September, I went to Gomukh. Gomukh means mouth of the cow, and is the glacial source of the Ganges river. It is mentioned in the Puranas - once upon a time, a shepherd boy got lost while looking for his sheep, and stumbled upon the source of the Ganges. He described it as looking like a cow’s mouth, and the name stuck. I’ve been told 50 years ago it really did look like a cow’s mouth, but now I can’t really see the resemblance because the glacier has melted significantly in recent years. The Ganges river is considered the most holy river of India. It is said that bathing in the waters wash away your sins, and bring you closer to liberation. There is a story that explains her source, and starts with a king’s sacrifice. Once, there was a king named Sagar, and he undertook an Ashwamedha Yagya (horse sacrifice). This is the sacrifice where a chosen horse is allowed to roam wherever it pleases for a year, and wherever it goes, the people must pledge loyalty to the throne (either willingly or nudged “gently” by the king’s army). It was all going well until Indra, the king of the Devas, got jealous. Indra hid the horse near a powerful sage’s ashram, and when King Sagar’s army / sons found the horse, the sage was disturbed and annoyed. Imagine leaving civilization to meditate in the mountains and being disturbed by an army! Well, the powerful sage cursed King Sagar’s sons, and when they begged for forgiveness, the sage said everything would be forgiven if they managed to bring the holy river Ganges down from the heavens. After a few obstacles, King Sagar’s grandson was successful, and Brahma ordered Ganga (the Ganges river) to flow down to Earth. As the legend goes, she flows from heaven down one of Shiva’s locks and onto the Earth to purify our sins. If you are ever in India (upstream from Rishikesh is cleaner), it’ll be cold but make sure you take a dip in her holy waters!  The journey to Gomukh involved a 14km hike through the mountains to government accommodations in Bhojbasa, then a 4km day hike to Gomukh and back the next day, then a 14km hike back to Gangotri the day after. It was especially challenging because of the altitude and thin air - the hike begins at 3,400 meters (11,000 feet), and reaches its highest point at Gomukh at 4,000+ meters (13,200 feet). I have never been on a hike like that before and found it very cleansing and meditative.  Jupiter in Sagittarius Earlier this month on November 5th, Jupiter moved into Sagittarius. Jupiter’s original name is Brihaspati, and he symbolizes abundance, religion, and knowledge. In the Vedas, there is a class of beings called the Devas, and Brihaspati was their teacher. The Devas are higher beings, and battle demons for control of our universe. Brihaspati guides them through their endeavors by giving them knowledge, and reminding them of their dharma and spiritual path. In fact, Brihaspati was the first Jyotish teacher, the originator of the light that illuminates our future. Sagittarius, being the sign of truth, religion, and knowledge, is one of Jupiter’s home signs. This is where Jupiter’s energy can be expressed more clearly. Jupiter usually stays in a sign for about a year. However, this year it’s a little bit more complicated. Because Saturn is also in Sagittarius currently (leaving in January), Jupiter’s energy is still somewhat suppressed till Saturn leaves. Also, Jupiter will leave Sagittarius next year for a couple of months. So to modify my earlier statement, Jupiter’s energy is expressed more clearly for the next year or so, and is expressed most clearly during these dates:
The last time Jupiter was in Sagittarius was from Nov 23rd 2007 to Dec 11th 2008. This was a tough time economically for the world. The US stock market had just peaked on October 9th 2007, and existing home sales peaked in the US during October 2007 also.  In the years preceding 2007, greedy bankers had encouraged home owners to borrow as much as they could, and funded those loans using other investor’s money. Because the banks were being funded by someone else, there was not a lot of incentive for risk management. The bankers sold risky loans to investors and earned big bonuses in the process. Well, as Jupiter began its transit, the truth was revealed, and it didn’t look pretty! It was like someone turned on the lights - Brihaspati had reminded the Deva energy within us to clean this mess up, and returned us on our paths of dharma.
Mini-Predictions So, enough economy talk - how does Jupiter in Sagittarius affect you personally? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other things 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). Aries (April 14th to May 14th): This transit is supportive for greater wealth, and will bring you experiences of learning and knowledge. It is also helpful for your relationship with your father. Jupiter in this position is also supportive for travel and spiritual growth. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): Jupiter is transiting your house of change. While most of us dislike change, this period will tend to bring you positive changes that will be pleasant and helpful in your life. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): This transit is supportive of your relationships. This will make your partner optimistic, knowledgeable, and even wealthy, or will bring you a partner with those characteristics if you are single. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): Jupiter is transiting your house of health. On one hand, this is positive and helps you recover from any existing ailments. On the other hand, this may make you a little bit lazy and indulgent with matters related to health, so remember to keep up your health regime! Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This is supportive of all areas of creativity. This is a good time to learn things and create new projects. If you are looking to have a baby, this transit will produce a knowledgeable and intelligent child. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): This transit is supportive for all matters related to your home and vehicles. If you’ve been putting off a renovation or buying a house, now is the time to start thinking about it. This transit is also helpful for your relationship with your mother. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): Jupiter is transiting your house of communication. This will make your communication style more positive and more effective. It is also supportive for your relationship with your siblings. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): This transit will bring you nice experiences related to your family. Jupiter brings a sense of bonding and wellbeing when everyone is together. It will also bring you good experiences with food, but be careful as this transit may also make you a bit of a glutton! Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): Jupiter is transiting your Sun sign, which brings wellbeing across your life. It will make you less susceptible to falling ill, and make you recover more easily from existing ailments. This transit also generates wealth and may allow you to buy a house or a car. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): This transit is very supportive of your spiritual growth. It will bring you spiritual knowledge, and a greater depth to your meditation practice. Jupiter in this position also brings you good experiences with travel to distant places, so maybe book a holiday to a spiritual / yoga retreat somewhere! Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): Jupiter in this position forms a wealth combination, and so this period is supportive of you getting a raise or a promotion. This is also a good transit for your networking - time to put yourself out there and get to know more people! Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): Jupiter is transiting your house of the career, and is very supportive of your job. This transit will boost your chances of a promotion, and may bring you important projects that are positive to your career. I hope you find these mini-predictions useful. Till next time!  Hey everyone! I hope everyone had enjoyable and productive eclipse experiences. I recently read an interesting article about how eclipses affects plants - scientists observed that rates of photosynthesis and respiration declined almost to night time levels during the eclipse, and that when the Sun reappeared, it stressed the plants out. Poor plants! Just a quick announcement - I’m going to be in India for most of September, so if anyone needs any astrology in the next few weeks, please let me know soon so we can schedule something. India is going to be a bit of an adventure. I’m planning to visit a few remote temples deep in the Himalayas, and if all goes well, you’ll be reading about it in the next newsletter some time in October. Stay tuned! :) I wouldn’t be able to leave without giving you an update on what’s happening in the skies, so back to our regularly scheduled astrology - Venus is going to be in Virgo from Sep 10th to Oct 3rd (Sep 9th to Oct 2nd for Americans). Virgo, being the sign of analysis and organization, is not a natural place for the loving and creative Venus to be in. This placement of Venus gives us a tendency to be a bit analytical with our relationships, and perhaps even a little critical. Many relationship counsellors and psychologists have their Venus placed in Virgo in their birth chart, and during this transit, we will all be able to experience some of this energy. In general, this is a good time to feel your emotions, experience it fully, and let it go. For an example of this in a person, let’s look at John Mayer’s chart, whose Venus is in Virgo:  If you are familiar with his music like I am (I saw him live a couple of years ago 🤘🏼), you will know that many of his songs are about love and relationships. In fact, he has a whole album dedicated to the end of his relationships called Battle Studies. He definitely has spent a lot of time analyzing his own relationships so he can write lyrics to his music. The chorus of his song “In The Blood” is a perfect representation of Venus in Virgo - I can feel love the I want, I can feel the love I need, But it's never gonna come the way I am - the loving and affectionate energy of Venus is in everyone, but when Venus is in Virgo, the love has some difficulty being fully expressed. Interestingly, he brings this same left-brained, meticulous, Venus in Virgo approach to his other Venus-related interests. He famously is a watch collector, and unlike most of us who would just enjoy the craftsmanship and design of a nice watch, he is able to identify the model, year, and lineage of many watches.  Mini-Predictions So, back to your life - how does Venus in Virgo affect you? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other things 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 is a good time for you to observe any emotions related to your health. Perhaps you have some emotional resistance towards exercising, or some physical or mental issues which have been causing you angst. Watch these emotions and release them. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): Venus is transiting your house of children. One of my friends once told me that children are great, except the times they aren’t. If you have children, I’m sure you understand, and this is a good period for you to observe your emotions related to your children. If you don’t have children, this is a good time to observe any apprehension related to your creative endeavors. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): This is a good period for you to observe your emotions related to your house. Perhaps you feel some anxiety related to your housing situation, maybe you’ve been putting off some repairs - if it’s not the time to address these issues head on, it’s definitely time to address your emotional reaction to it. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): Venus is transiting your house of communication, so if you are in a relationship, it might be good to say something loving to your partner at least occasionally. There will be a tendency to be vocally critical or analytical towards your partner, so take a step back and observe your emotions. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This is a good period to observe your emotions related to food. Do you feel guilty about eating chocolate cakes? What about a tub of ice cream? If yes, the next time you’re enjoying a decadent dessert, watch your emotions - the excitement and anticipation of ordering your food, the feeling of contentment as you begin eating, and how you feel after. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): Venus is transiting your ascendant, which means this period is a good time for you to observe your emotions when you think about how attractive you are, or when you are thinking about giving and receiving affection and love. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): When you are meditating during this period, watch for any emotions that may pop up. They may cause some anxiety or agitation, just watch and let them go. If you’re having trouble, try and trace that emotion to the original cause and then go deeper into your practice of surrendering. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): You may experience some problems with achieving your goals during this period. If you do, and if you start to feel that familiar frustration bubbling to the surface, imagine the frustration as heat and steam leaving your body and let go of that emotion. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): You may experience some issues with your career during this period. Are you being over-analytical? Are you over-organizing everything? If you feel a little stressed, maybe it’s time to take a break and do some yoga, or listen to some relaxing music. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): During this period, you might experience some angst if you are traveling. Go deeper into your practice of surrender. If you are learning something, this is a good time to emphasize your left-brain and be a little more analytical in your studies. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): This Venus transit is related to your housing situation - perhaps you feel some anxiety related to this area of life, or maybe you’ve been putting off some repairs. If it’s not the time to address these issues head on, it’s definitely time to address your emotional reaction to it. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): Venus is transiting your house of relationships. It’s the planet of relationships transiting your house of relationships, so it’s all good, except Venus is in Virgo. Try not to over-analyze or be overly critical about your partner. Take a step back, watch your emotions, and relax. I hope you find these mini-predictions useful. Till next time!  This is a special edition of my newsletter focused on the upcoming two eclipse. Eclipses are generally not a good time to start something new, but are great for spiritual endeavors. This is especially true for the 3 days before and after an eclipse, and is also true regardless on whether you can see them or not. In addition to this, eclipses can affect certain individuals for up to 6 months if the eclipse happens to take place over one of the person’s birth / natal planets. To learn more about eclipses, please click here. The first eclipse’s maximum point is on July 3rd, 5:23AM AEST (July 2nd 12:23PM PST in the US). This is a total solar eclipse, visible only in parts of South America:  The eclipse takes place in a Nakshatra (constellation) called Ardra. Ardra is ruled by Rudra, the lord of tears, and is symbolized by a teardrop. During this time, you might feel more emotional. Rudra is the universe's first divine physician, and so this combined with the previously mentioned emotional symbolism makes it a good time to reflect on our internal emotions, let go, and heal. If you don't already have a meditation practice, this is a good time to experiment with a Shiva mantra like Om Namah Shivaya - Rudra is the ancient form of Shiva. Ardra means "the moist one" and so is also related to water. Because eclipses disrupt the material energies related to the constellation it is in, there may be some unusual weather patterns like floods or droughts occurring in South America over the next 6 months. The areas most likely to be affected are Chile and Argentina, as the solar eclipse is fully visible in both countries. The second eclipse’s maximum point is at July 17th, 7:31AM AEST (July 16th 2:31PM PST in the US). This is a partial lunar eclipse, visible to most of the world except for most of North America:  The eclipse takes place in a Nakshatra (constellation) called Uttara Ashadha. This constellation is symbolized by the tusk of an elephant, and thus makes it related to Ganesha, the elephant headed God who removes obstacles. In the Vedic system, the start of any endeavor, whether material or spiritual, begins with Ganesha.  There is a story about this. Once upon a time, all the higher beings in the universe were competing on who could ride around the universe fastest. All the Gods had their mighty mounts ready - Indra ascended his powerful elephant, Murugan took his place on his magnificent peacock, Ganesha sat on his mouse, etc. Well, after Shiva said "ready, set, go!", all the Gods took off and left poor Ganesha on his mouse. Ganesha realized he couldn't catch up, and so he went to his mother Parvati for some company. As he was walking towards her, Shiva said "the boy's got it!"
Ganesha didn't get it initially, but after thinking about it for a while, he rode around his mother and told her she was the entire universe. Because Parvati is the embodiment of Shakti, the universe's divine energy, she is the universe personified. By the way, we have this same energy (and the entire universe!) in the Kundalini energy in our spine. As a prize, Shiva said that every Vedic ceremony will begin with Ganesha. So back to the eclipse - because this eclipse will disrupt the energy in Uttara Ashadha, it makes the 3 days before and after July 17th especially bad for starting anything new. It is however a good time to meditate and release internal blocks in your physical and astral body, and let go of things that cause obstacles in your life. If you don't already have a meditation practice, this is a good time to experiment with a Ganesha mantra like Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha.  Hey everyone! How has your practice of relaxing and letting go of frustrations gone during this Saturn / Mars transit? I hope you are enjoying this wonderful opportunity to surrender to the universe! And if not, don’t worry, everything will get better in a couple of weeks :) On June 4th (June 3rd in the US), Venus joined the Sun in Taurus. Taurus is the sign of material comfort, and as Venus is the planet of sensual material pleasures, Taurus is one of Venus’ home signs. This means, just like how you are probably more comfortable at home expressing your true nature, Venus is more comfortable expressing its energy and delivering you enjoyable experiences from Taurus. In addition to this nice situation, Jupiter is looking at Venus, giving it a big positive boost through this period. Venus is also with the Sun till June 15th (June 14th in the US), making Venus even more expressive. All these planets combine to bring love and light into your life. However, this combination is happening at the same time as the Saturn / Mars transit. This can be a little confusing - will this month be pleasurable like Venus, or frustrating like Saturn / Mars? Well, my teacher always says everything in the chart comes out. Life is messy and there are always multiple things happening at the same time. Take for example model Miranda Kerr - her birth chart has Jupiter looking at Venus, her Venus is in Taurus, and her Saturn and Mars are also looking at each other (exactly what is happening in the skies right now):  Miranda married Orlando Bloom in 2010, and later divorced him. She is currently married to the Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel. Her Jupiter and Venus form a powerful wealth combination, and since Jupiter is in Anuradha (a constellation related to devotional relationships), this gives her material comfort especially after marriage. At the same time, her Saturn rules her house of relationships, and being involved with a conjunction with Mars, gives her some frustrations related to her partner. So, everything in the chart comes out - she married wealthy men but has has had a divorce.
So, back to your life - how does this Venus / Jupiter combination affect you? I’ve written out some mini-predictions to try and answer this question. Of course, there are many other things 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): Venus is in your house of food and family, giving you pleasurable experiences related to both. You may have a desire to eat nice food, and this is a good time to enjoy your loving family relationships. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): This should be a period of good health for you, so if you were ill in the last few months, you can look forward to a period of better health. This transit will also make you express your charisma more easily, and people may like you more. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): Venus is in your house of spirituality, so this is a good time for you to go deeper in practices of devotion like Bhakti Yoga. If you are feeling overworked, this is also a good time for you to go on a nice holiday, far away from where you live. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): This placement should help you achieve your goals, and is also a transit that encourages socializing with groups of friends. Networking, meeting new people, or just seeing old friends are all appropriate activities for this period. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): You may experience an uplift in your creativity during this period. It's a good period for brainstorming, or if you're in a design-oriented career, you might be especially productive during this period. In general, you will receive a boost in your career. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): This is a good period for traveling, learning, and general wealth. If you are studying, you might develop a closer relationship with your teacher. If you are feeling overworked, this is also a good time for you to go on a nice holiday, far away from where you live. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This period may bring a bonus or some additional income from your business partners or clients. It's also a good time to do some debt collection if anyone owes you money. You will also have good experiences if you choose to indulge in a therapeutic massage or other relaxing treatments. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): Venus is in your house of relationships, so this period should bring you pleasurable experiences with your partner. If you're single, it might be time to go on some dates. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): This should be a period of good health for you, so if you were ill in the last few months, you can look forward to a period of better health. This can also bring you pleasurable experiences related to pets, or bring you a positive boost in your employment. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): If you have an investment idea in the next few weeks, this might be time to give it a go as Venus should bring you pleasurable experiences related to investments. This can also bring you nice experiences related to children and learning. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): This will bring you nice experiences related to your home. If you've wanted to start a renovation or remodel a part of the house, this is a good time to seek some advice about the project. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): Venus is in your house of communication, so you will have a tendency to speak more charismatically and lovingly during this period. If you have siblings, this may bring pleasurable experiences related to them. Venus is also in the house of short distance travel, so a nice road trip might also be an appropriate way to celebrate Venus in Taurus. Venus is in Taurus till June 28th (June 27th in the US), just before the start Eclipse Season 2 of 2019. So, hope you all have a pleasurable rest of June and go into July ready for a more introspective and meditative month. Stay tuned - I’m planning on sending out a special eclipse edition of this newsletter later this month. |
RSS Feed
