Vedic astrology for October, 2014

Like the leaves of fall shedding and changing colors, Jyotish or Vedic astrology for October, 2014 brings with it a preparation for our own transformation.  Most notably we will have two eclipses in October.  The total lunar eclipse will be on the full Moon October 8 and visible in most parts of the world.  The partial solar eclipse will be on the new Moon October 23 and visible only in North America and the North Pacific.

The Indian festival of Navratri continues until October 2 for people in North America and until October 3 for the other continents.

Saturn spends its final full month exalted in Libra. Although Saturn is lame in its gait and thus has the appellation “the slow walker”, it will give one final kick to whatever Libra signifies in your chart, before it enters Scorpio. Have you created the proper strategies in the past few years or do you still shun what has presented itself?

While there was a great deal of planetary strength in September, Vedic astrology for October, 2014 will have 2 debilitated planets and 4 exalted planets. The Sun enters its debilitation sign of Libra on October 16. It will be with Saturn;  the planets are inimical to each other. This can have a negative impact on partnerships, as well as health and vitality.  This placement will be most important for people in a Sun dasha or bhukti or Leo ascendant.

Venus, the planet of love and beauty is debilitated in Virgo until October 19.  This makes matters of the heart and the arts more difficult, especially for Virgo and Pisces ascendants or people in a Venus dasha or bhukti.  Additionally, Venus is combust until December 3, so it is stifled in its expression.  The times of greatest combustion are October 11 – November 6. Even Venus’s entry into its own sign of Libra on October 19 provides little relief, as it extremely combust and overpowered by a debilitated Sun and an exalted Saturn sharing its residence. This is not the time to start new relationships.

Mercury’s final retrogression for the year happens on October 4 in Libra.  As Mercury is barely moving, the first week of October is a time to be particularly vigilant regarding matters of communication and what house Virgo represents in your Vedic astrology chart.  Mercury re-enters its exaltation sign of Virgo mid month and then goes direct in Virgo on October 25. If you are in a Mercury dasha or bhukti or Virgo ascendant, you should be mindful from October 22 – 28.

Mars continues its stay at home in secretive Scorpio, creating the potential for Pitta disorders and inflammatory diseases in the system of Ayurveda. There can be potential lawsuits for those in a Mars cycle.  It blazes into Sagittarius on October 18. Jupiter’s influence will tame Mars’ fire.

Jupiter continues its exaltation in Cancer in the nakshatra of Ashlesha for the remainder of the year. This can bring deep spiritual experiences, particularly for those who practice a kundalini based form of meditation. Cancer ascendants may also be spending more time in the public eye, whether by choice or not.

The five day festival of Diwali 2014 is later in the month with the celebration of Dhanteras, Kali Chaudas, Diwali, the Indian new year, and Bhai Beej.

If you are in the San Francisco Bay area, please join me tonight for a free talk on October’s eclipses as well as a look at the months ahead in Vedic astrology.

These placements in Vedic astrology for October, 2014 can bring us the ability to radically change our lives and chart a new course for ourselves. Like the leaves of fall, we must shed our old skin to start anew. A personalized Vedic astrology reading may help deal with this time of change.