The November 28, 2012 lunar eclipse will be the last eclipse of the year. A lunar eclipse occurs when the full Moon is aligned with one of the lunar nodes (Rahu or Ketu). A full Moon happens whenever the Sun and Moon are opposite each other in the zodiac. The nodes are always directly opposite […]
Diwali 2012
Today is the festival of Diwali 2012 (dee-vaah-lee) or Deepavali (deep-uh-vaah-lee) – the Indian festival of lights. Deepa means light and avali means a continuous line. Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama back home after a 14 year period of exile. The residents of Ayodhya (I-yo-the-yah) celebrated his homecoming by lighting rows and rows […]
Astrological Predictions for the 2012 Election
These astrological predictions for the 2012 election are offered from the viewpoint of Vedic astrology or Jyotish. The planet having the greatest impact on the election is Mercury, which is turning retrograde on Election Day. A retrograde planet is moving closer to the earth and thus exerts more of a gravitational impact. What’s vital is […]
Saturn Enters Svati Nakshatra
Om Sham Shri Shanischaraya Namah Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, is a lunar based system, as opposed to the solar based system of Western astrology. Vedic astrology emphasizes the zodiac sign in which the Moon resides, and more so, its nakshatra or lunar constellation. There are 27 nakshatras (phonetically nuck-shut-ruhs) in Vedic astrology. Each is associated […]
Navratri Festival Commences October 15 (or 16), 2012
In the Vedic calendar, immediately following Pitru Paksha, the time for honoring our ancestors, comes a much more joyous celebration. Tonight (October 15, 2012) marks the beginning of the month of Ashwina in Vedic astrology and the first of nine nights of the Indian holiday of Navratri (also spelled Navaratri). The prefix nav means nine and raat […]
The Great Benefic Jupiter Retrogrades in Taurus
In Vedic astrology or Jyotish, planets can be classified as natural benefics or natural malefics. Benefics are the planets which possess the capacity to deliver results which we deem as favorable. Malefics can bring forth experiences which we would prefer not to experience. The benefics are Venus and Jupiter, Mercury, (when it’s with other benefics), […]
Mars and Rahu: A Powerful Pairing in Scorpio
Fiery Mars had been waging its push and pull battle with icy Saturn in Libra. Last week, Mars passionately exited the balanced sign of Libra and blazed back home into its intense sign of Scorpio. In Vedic astrology or Jyotish, Mars owns the signs of Scorpio and Aries. A planet is always comfortable residing in […]
Mercury and Saturn: The Battle Between Impulsiveness and Caution in Vedic Astrology
I previously wrote about the planetary configuration of all the planets on the nodal axis in Vedic astrology or Jyotish. Multiple factors have added to this intensity. One is the current planetary war (or graha yuddha) between Mercury and Saturn in Libra. A planetary war is when two of the five “true” planets in Vedic […]
A Sacred Time to Honor Our Ancestors: Pitru Paksha
The Indian or Vedic calendar is lunar based, unlike the Gregorian calendar. The observances during each month are usually spiritually or religiously based and rooted in deep tradition. Sunday, September 30, 2012 marks the beginning of two weeks of Pitru Paksha (Pitt-true Puck-shuh), or Shraadh, which is a time dedicated to honoring our ancestors. This […]
Astrological Influences of Saturn in Libra
Om Sham Shri Shanischaraya Namaha One unique feature of Jyotish, or Vedic astrology, is its predictive capability. By knowing what lies ahead, we can prepare ourselves for the journey, just as if we were packing for a trip. To determine when an event is likely to occur, Vedic astrologers utilize the placements of planets in […]