 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.  Hi everyone! I had a very busy March (moving houses and attempting to assemble furniture), but I’m back to deliver you your regularly scheduled newsletter. Assembling furniture, being a technical / physical task, is related to Mars. This is also the planet that rules over engineering, and I can tell you that assembling some of those tables definitely felt like engineering to me! Turning to the skies, Saturn and Mars will be in opposition starting next month from May 8th to June 23rd (May 7th to June 22nd for US people). This means Saturn and Mars are looking at each other (graha drishti in Sanskrit). Saturn, being the planet of hard work, obstacles, and doing things slowly, looking at Mars, the planet who wants to get things done and achieve goals, is called the rush hour traffic combination by my teacher. This more difficult combination is compounded by Rahu and Ketu - during this period, Mars will be with Rahu, the planet of rushed obsessive desires, and Saturn will be with Ketu, the planet of chronic disappointments. I wrote about Rahu and Ketu in these positions in my last newsletter. Together, these are the four harsher planets in Vedic Astrology. They bring experiences to our lives that we perceive as difficult. So, imagine stuck in traffic but really needing to get somewhere quickly. 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. As an example of combination, Elizabeth Holmes has her Saturn and Mars placed together (a more intense version of the Saturn and Mars opposition), 9 houses away from her Moon:  Elizabeth Holmes was the founder of Theranos, a blood testing company that was worth $6 billion but became insolvent because the product never worked. The house Saturn and Mars are placed in is her house of general wealth, and this would give her a tremendously strong desire to become rich, almost to the extent of this being her only life goal. This quote from the book Bad Blood by John Carreyrou epitomizes this:
When [Elizabeth Holmes] was nine or ten, one of her relatives asked her at a family gathering the question every boy and girl is asked sooner or later: “What do you want to do when you grow up?” Without skipping a beat, Elizabeth replied, “I want to be a billionaire.” “Wouldn’t you rather be president?” the relative asked. “No, the president will marry me because I’ll have a billion dollars.” However, her journey towards this goal would be littered with obstacles and delays, as evidenced with the lack of progress with her blood testing product in the early years of her company. In her attempt to rush the product to market, she lied to regulators and investors, which should be a lesson of what not to do when we are faced with delays and obstacles during this period. Being conscious of our minds and emotions is of course, harder than it seems, especially if you don’t know what might disturb them, or when specific events may occur. Here’s where Jyotish comes in - it’s the universe speaking to us through planets and symbols, giving us a giant “Heads Up!” sign at the coming period. I’ve written out some areas of life to maybe be a little bit more conscious of during this period, depending on your Vedic Sun signs. 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 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. During this period might also be a good time to be a little conservative with your investments. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): Be more careful with your diet during this period. There may be a tendency to eat too much or be a bit addicted to certain foods or drinks. This may cause health issues in the future. If you are trying to change your job, you may have some delays doing that during this period. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): You may feel frustrated about relationships during this period. If you are in a relationship that is no longer serving you, it may be a time to reconsider the relationship. You may experience some delays in achieving your goals during this period. Cancer (July 17th to August 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. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): 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. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): On one hand, this period is good for your career if you work in technical jobs, like jobs related to engineering, math, or technology, or if you have a technical project to accomplish in your life. On the other hand, even if things are going well, it might be going slower than you expect. Taking a step back might help change your perspective, and allow you to appreciate the progress you are making. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This is a good period for you to practice a more deliberate communication style - maybe imagine you’re a CEO making a big presentation - consider everything you say and speak slowly. If you feel an intense desire to earn more money, take a step back and relax. Don’t be rushed into speculative investments, take things slowly and do your research thoroughly. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): As a Scorpio, you may have noticed that in periods of your life, you have been involved in disagreements and conflicts related to control issues. This period may accentuate this tendency. This is a good time to do more yoga and to let go of your innate need to control things around you. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): You may feel frustrated about relationships during this period. Mars is in your house of relationships and it is being suppressed by Saturn, and so you may experience some inhibition related to the physical aspects of your relationship. 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 meditation practice. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): 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. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): During this period, you can practice “being a manager” at work, and not get sucked into the frustrations of your coworkers. If things aren’t going well at your job, it might be time to take a holiday or go on a spiritual pilgrimage. I hope all of you find time to relax and take things a little easier during this period, till next month! :) Ken  On March 24th (March 23rd in the US), Rahu moves into Gemini, and Ketu moves into Sagittarius. It will stay in this sign until Sep 20th 2020 (Sep 19th 2020 in the US). Rahu in Gemini brings an obsessive desire to communicate and pursue many interests, and Ketu in Sagittarius brings chronic disappointments related to truth and dharma. Rahu and Ketu are the North and South nodes of Vedic Astrology, and astronomically, they are the points in the sky where the paths of the Sun and Moon cross. There is a story that fleshes out what the personalities of Rahu and Ketu and what they bring to your chart. Rahu was once a demon, and his greatest desire was to drink Soma, the Nectar of the Gods, the drink that would make him immortal. However, he was not allowed to as he was a demon; only the Devas (the higher beings of our universe) were qualified to drink the Soma. So, like any good demon, Rahu put on a disguise and snuck into the big ceremony where all the Devas were drinking the Soma. He succeeded, but as he was drinking the 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 feels chronically lost and disappointed because he doesn’t have a head (understandable). So, the area where Rahu is placed in your chart shows an area where you have deep obsessive desires, and the area where Ketu is placed shows an area of chronic disappointments. Now that we understand Rahu’s and Ketu’s personalities, as an example of the coming transit, let’s look at Elisabeth Moss’s chart - her birth chart has Rahu in Gemini in her ascendant, and Ketu in Sagittarius in her 7th house. Elisabeth Moss, for those who don’t know, is the actress in The Handmaid’s Tale and Mad Men. Her birth chart:  Her Rahu is in her first house, and describes a key part of her personality. As mentioned earlier, Rahu in Gemini brings an obsessive desire to communicate, and this has materialized clearly - she is an actress, and wants to express her creativity and communicate it with the world.
Specific to Elisabeth’s first house and general life, and not necessarily related to how the transit will affect you, Rahu in the first house can make a person an outsider and have a different belief system to society. This is because in the above story, Rahu was an outsider and had a different belief system to the Devas. So, it is perhaps appropriate that in Elisabeth’s Mad Men and Handmaid’s Tale roles, she plays an outsider to the society she lives in. Outside of her acting roles, she also has a different belief system to our society, as she was raised a Scientologist. Ms. Moss’ Ketu is in her house of relationships, and this gives her chronic disappointments related to her relationships. This tendency to be disappointed is emphasized by her Ketu being in a Nakshatra called Purva Ashadha, which is symbolized by a winnowing basket, a symbol of separation. In fact, she separated from her first husband after only 8 months, and described the marriage as "extremely traumatic and awful and horrible". Ketu in Sagittarius brings disappointments related to dharma and truth, and her ex-husband’s infidelity is an expression of this. Back to transit starting on March 24th - how this transit affects you depends on your chart, shown below. 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 transit will bring a desire to communicate with everyone, and especially with people from different cultures or different countries from you. It may also cause disappointments in wealth, so this is a time to be conservative with investments. On a more positive note, it might be a good time for you to go on a quiet backpacking trip or a religious pilgrimage. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): This period may give you strong desires to eat and drink, and it is beneficial for you to abstain from drugs and alcohol. The reason for this is once you start, the desires will become obsessive, and may result in adverse health effects. Meditation and yoga can help bring you detachment so you have a bit more self-control. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): You may have some disappointments related to your relationships. This is a good time to spiritualize your relationship, and develop a meditation practice with your partner. Being disciplined with this practice will allow both of you to go deeper together, and overcome any obstacles. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): This is a period where you may develop a greater interest in spirituality, especially new or esoteric spiritual topics. On a more negative note, it is important during this period to seek a second opinion if any health issues surface as Ketu is covering up the true nature of your diseases. To offset this, maybe you can be more disciplined with your exercise routine. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This is a period where you may develop intense and obsessive desires related to your goals. Try to be more detached when pursuing your goals in life - focus on your actions and not on the end result. You may also experience some difficulties in learning things during this period - maybe your mind is going through your textbook in a stream of consciousness, and you are getting a little lost in your mind. Take a step back and relax, and that will help you see the whole picture. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): You may have some disappointments and delays related to your home or vehicles. If you are trying to buy a house or a car, you may have some delays and feel a bit lost during the process. On the plus side, this is a good time to focus on your career, especially if your career has anything to do with new or unconventional things like technology etc. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): This is a good period to work on improving your communication. Be conscious if you are communicating in a stream of conscious because people may find difficulty following you. There may also be a tendency to be evasive or lie - be careful as it might come back to bite you in the butt! You might also be interested in new or alternative spiritual paths during this period. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): Be careful with finances during this period. It’s a good idea to be a little more conservative with your spending and try and save more. This is also a period where you should be a bit more careful about your health, especially related to your diet. Try and eat more sattvic and healthy foods. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): During this period, there is a tendency for you to be overly obsessed about your relationship, especially if the person you’re with has a similar background or personality to you. If you are single, there is a possibility for you to start dating someone that’s a little different from you - perhaps they are from overseas or from a different culture. If you feel you are becoming a little too clingy, take a step back and breathe. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): During this period, if you are in any competitive situations like legal battles, sports, business, or if you’re trying to get a promotion over someone else, there is a higher possibility for you to win. This is also a good time to travel overseas, especially if it’s a spiritual pilgrimage. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): You may have some disappointments related to goals or promotions during this period. There is a tendency for you to be sucked into bad investments - remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! During this period, it may be better to invest in conservative, more slow moving financial instruments. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): This is a good time to remodel your home or living situation, maybe with some smart home devices or anything related to technology. At work, there is a tendency to feel a little lost. If this happens, just relax and go with the flow, and if you find that difficult, maybe try and meditate a little more. I hope you find these mini-predictions useful, till next month! :)  Your Vedic Sun sign may be different from your Western Sun sign because Jyotish is a visual system that uses the sidereal zodiac, whereas Western Astrology is a symbolic system that uses the tropic zodiac. I know what most of you are thinking - what does this mean?
Well, Western Astrology uses the first day of Spring to symbolize new beginnings. So, the Western system says that on the first day of Spring every year, the Sun enters the first sign of the Zodiac, Aries. From that date, the rest of the planetary movements are calculated. However, if you looked up in the sky, the Sun actually entered Aries on April 14th this year, not on the first day of Spring (March 20th). This is because as our Earth rotates, it wobbles a little bit, causing the the Sun to enter Aries at a slightly later time every year. For reference, the last time the Sun first entered Aries on the first day of Spring was about 1500 years ago. Jyotish, on the other hand, is a visual system, so it uses fixed stars to calibrate the date and time when all the heavenly bodies move across signs. These have been verified through modern astronomical observations. Said another way, if you looked into the sky when you were born, your Sun would be in your Jyotish Sun sign, but may or may not be in your Western Sun sign. Having said all this, Western Astrology works well in isolation, and so my general advice is to not compare astronomical details across astrology systems. Both systems should tell you similar things, and generally the universe guides you to the astrologer that can tell you what you need to know.  Hi everyone! In the last two newsletters, we talked about how eclipses aren’t the time to start something new. Well, when do you start then? In Jyotish, there is a technique called Muhurtha, where an astrologer picks a good time for you to start something. This is a time consuming process, as the astrologer (me!) has to go through charts calculated from many different times to find the best one. Imagine if you could pick your own birth time - what would your chart look like? What qualities would you give yourself? How would you offset the weaknesses in the chart? Muhurtha gives you this freedom on a smaller level, letting you pick the “birth time” of many things in your life, for example, your wedding, your business, your house purchase, your new job, or even an important trip or journey. As a brief example, let’s look at the marriage chart of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. They were married on November 18th, 2006 shortly after sunset, and divorced in August 20th 2012. Here is the chart of their marriage:  First of all, the ruler the relationship house is Mars, and it is placed in the house of arguments and conflicts. This is a classical combination for a divorce - lots of fights in the relationship, hinting at the troubles to come. On August 20th 2012 when they divorced, their marriage chart was in its Rahu / Saturn period:  Saturn is the planet of discipline and commitment, and is close 0 degrees in the chart. This means that the commitment energy of Saturn was not expressed well in their marriage. There is a lot more you can tell from these Muhurtha charts, but we’ll have to leave it here for now. So, just from the time they were married and without even looking at their individual birth charts, we can see that they had a strong tendency for divorce.
These Muhurthas cannot bring things that don’t already exist in your own charts and karmas, but it can help offset some of the negative tendencies that we may have in different parts of our lives. On the flip side, if you pick a difficult Muhurtha to start something, it can short-circuit even the best birth charts, or cause greater aggravation to an already difficult area of life. This is a really powerful way to exercise your free will in the world - using Jyotish to minimize your own suffering, so that you can have more time to focus on what you want to do in this life. Mars Transiting Aries This wouldn’t be an astrology newsletter without some predictions about your life! From February 6th to March 22nd 2019 (Feb 5th to March 21st in the US), Mars transits into Aries. Aries is Mars’ home sign, so this is a significant transit in Jyotish. When you’re at home, you are generally more comfortable and relaxed. Similarly, when Mars is at home, he can express his ambitious and assertive energy more comfortably. How this transit affects you depends on your chart, shown below. 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 Mars 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 (for reasons which maybe can be explained in a future newsletter). If you know your Ascendant sign or your 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 emphasize your leadership qualities, and take control of your life. It’s also a good time for you to start a physical exercise routine and improve your health. Taurus (May 15th to June 14th): Mars will be in your spirituality house, making it a good time to meditate. Mars is a physical and energetic planet, so a physical meditation like yoga, or energy practices related to Kundalini, Chi, or Prana are all appropriate. Gemini (June 14th to July 16th): This is a good time to achieve your goals in general, but specifically goals related to your health. If you have a project at work that you are trying to complete, or you have a desire to improve your health, set some goals and work towards them during this period. Cancer (July 17th to August 16th): Mars, the planet of ambition and materialization, is in your career house. This makes this period a great time for your career, and also your general investing ability. It’s also a good time to emphasize your leadership qualities at your job. Leo (August 17th to September 16th): This is a good time for learning and for general finances. If you wanted to seek advice for anything related to your home, this may be the time to talk to a contractor, property agent, or mortgage broker. Virgo (September 17th to October 16th): Mars, the planet of physicality, is in the house of yoga, making this a great period for you to do more yoga. Also, if you wanted to change something in your life, this is the period where you can initiate the change. It’s also a good time to work on improving your communication skills. Libra (October 17th to November 15th): If you are single, this is a time where you can ask people out and take charge of your relationships. If you are in a relationship, you might have to practice a little surrender and allow your partner to be a little bit bossy and assertive. Scorpio (November 16th to December 15th): Mars is in your house of health. This is a good period for you to exercise more, or exercise more energetically. If you wanted to get fitter, this is a good time to start. Sagittarius (December 16th to January 14th): Mars is in the house of learning, and also the house of mantra meditation. This is a good period to chant mantras more, especially warrior mantras related to Mars like the Hanuman mantras. Capricorn (January 15th to February 12th): This is a period to achieve your goals related to your house or vehicles. It’s generally a good time to buy a new car or house, or improve your existing property. Aquarius (Feb 13th March 14th): Mars is in your house of communications, making your speaking style a little bit more assertive. If you notice yourself getting on anyone’s nerves, maybe take a step back and be a little bit less bossy. Pisces (March 15th to April 13th): This is a good period generally for your wealth. You might also develop an interest in eating more energetic or Sattvic food, like vegetables, nuts, grains, and legumes. I hope you find these mini-predictions useful, till next month!  A solar eclipse is where the Moon covers the Sun. In Jyotish, this represents your emotional mind (the Moon) covering the Sun (your soul). A lunar eclipse, on the other hand, is where the Earth covers the Moon from the Sun. This represents material energy (the Earth) blocking the Sun’s rays (the light from your soul) from reaching your mind (the Moon).
Eclipses disrupt the material energy that make up our universe, so it is generally seen as negative times to start anything important, like buying a house, signing a contract, or starting a new job. The material energy is disrupted intensely 3 days before and after any eclipse, and this affects the whole world and all its inhabitants. 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. In some parts of the world, eclipses are seen as very negative and unlucky events. In India and other parts of Asia, when an eclipse is taking place, people will stay in their homes or go to a temple, and close the blinds to the outside world. It is seen as inauspicious to look at an eclipse. This is an external representation of what we should do inwardly - we should be closing the blinds to the external world and going deeper within ourselves. If you understand what eclipses are, you’ll realize that eclipse times are actually a really great time to meditate, reflect, and to go inward. The disrupted material energy thins the veils covering our soul, and this allows us to more easily realize that, at our core, we are spirit souls and thus eternally blissful. This is Jyotish in a nutshell - reading the language of the universe to help you optimize your time, align your life to your true purpose, and guide you on your spiritual journey. So, may you use these eclipses to serve your higher purpose, and to go deeper into your true selves. Hi everyone! Happy 2019! How was everyone’s solar eclipse? Did anyone do a peaceful hike near a lake? As promised, I am going to tell you about the the second eclipse of January. This is a total lunar eclipse, which means the Earth covers the Moon from the Sun. In Jyotish, this represents material energy (the Earth) blocking the Sun’s rays (the light from your soul) from reaching your mind (the Moon). Eclipses disrupt the material energy that make up our universe, so it is generally seen as negative times to start anything important, like buying a house, signing a contract, or starting a new job. The maximum point of this eclipse takes place at 4:12PM AEST on Jan 21st (12:12 AM EST).  In some parts of the world, eclipses are seen as very negative and unlucky events. However, if you understand what eclipses are, you’ll realize that eclipse times are actually a really great time to meditate, reflect, and to go inward. The disrupted material energy thins the veils covering our soul, and this allows us to more easily realize that, at our core, we are spirit souls and thus eternally blissful. This is Jyotish in a nutshell - reading the language of the universe to help you optimize your time, align your life to your true purpose, and guide you on your spiritual journey. This eclipse takes place in Pushya Nakshatra. Pushya is ruled by Brihaspati, the teacher of the Devas (the higher beings of our universe). He is pictured below on the right, sitting on a chair that could probably be made more comfortable:  Back in the day, the teacher was the most respected person in society, and the Devas would seek Brihaspati’s advice for all things, including their questions related to their spirituality. He is also the universe’s first astrology teacher - he taught Jyotish to the Devas. Brihaspati was an orthodox teacher, and his teachings were based on the very traditional Vedic body of knowledge. Having Pushya’s energy disrupted in our world means that the leaders and advisors of our world have a tendency to break out of the conventional way of doing things, degrade societal norms, and may even lead us away from universal law. To do your part in restoring Brihaspati’s energy in the world, and to offset the negatives of this eclipse, you can say the mantra for Pushya during the eclipse a few times: Om Sri Pushya Nakshatra Devataye Namaha. The material energy is disrupted intensely 3 days before and after any eclipse. This affects the whole world and all its inhabitants. 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. For example, this eclipse is taking place over Donald Trump’s natal Venus, one of his career planets. This will affect his career negatively for the next 6 months. His natal Venus is in Punarvasu Nakshatra, which is symbolized by a quiver of arrows. This is a war symbol and shows he won’t be following convention in matters related to war, which has actually already begun with his decision to pull out of Syria (against the advice of most military leaders). This eclipse could also detract from his ability to combat the many battles he fights with people closer to home (border wall, Russian investigation, etc).  Going back to August 21st 2017, there was another eclipse that also affected Trump. This eclipse was in Magha Nakshatra, which is symbolized by a throne room. The eclipse disrupted Trump’s desire to be treated like a king, and it marked the start of real consequences to his past actions - his associates started going to prison for crimes. On October 30th 2017, George Papadopoulos (foreign policy guy) pled guilty, and Paul Manafort (campaign manager) and Rick Gates (political consultant) were indicted. Also within 6 months of the eclipse, on December 1st 2017, Mike Flynn (National Security Advisor) pled guilty.
Trump entered his Saturn sub-planetary period on January 3rd 2019. He had been in his Jupiter sub-period since Nov 14th 2016 (it started within a week of the US election!). Jupiter represents a chunk of exceptionally good Karma he brought into this life. Saturn, on the other hand, is a more difficult planet for him, and compounded with the eclipse on January 21st, you would expect a more difficult time for him in the coming months. On that note, I hope all of you are doing well, and that you will be able to use this eclipse to serve your higher purposes. Next month, we move on from eclipses, and so please drop me an email if you have a special request for the newsletter. Political feedback about Trump, however, should be posted on the relevant angry Facebook thread ;) |
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