January 24 marks the festival of Vasant Panchami 2015 in India. The festival is also known as Saraswati Puja. The word “vasant” means spring, and Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of the spring season and the coming of the festival of Holi. Vasant Panchami is held during the Vedic month of Magh on the fifth […]
Mercury Retrograde January and February 2015
You knew it had to happen sometime this year, and it’s happening, perhaps sooner than you would have liked. The first Mercury retrograde of the year starts soon. Mercury retrograde January and February 2015 begins on January 21 and lasts until February 11. Mercury retrograde occurs in Capricorn in Vedic astrology, or Jyotish. While many […]
Vedic Astrology for January, 2015
A multitude of people have been asking what Vedic Astrology or Jyotish holds for 2015. The quote that comes to mind is from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom; it was the age of despair.” Many […]
Makar Sankranti 2015
The saying “Go fly a kite!” takes on a literal meaning every January 14 in India. This date marks Makar Sankranti: the kite flying holiday in India in the state of Maharashtra. Makar means Capricorn. Sankranti implies a movement or change of location. The reason for the celebration is the entry of the Sun into […]
The Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas and many were scurrying to and fro Trying to figure out exactly where the year did go There had been so much to do How the year slipped by, they hadn’t a clue Many a resolution had been made Yet there were foundations for these which hadn’t been laid Before […]
The Pungent Taste in Ayurveda
As we continue our journey through the shad rasa (six tastes) in Ayurveda, we will explore the taste that garners either a love or hate reaction: pungent. The pungent taste in Ayurveda is comprised of the elements of air (vayu) and fire (agni). Pungent increases Vata and Pitta doshas and decreases Kapha dosha. The virya […]
Jupiter in Ashlesha
In Vedic astrology or Jyotish, Jupiter has been exalted or at its peak of strength in Cancer since June, 2014. Jupiter was previously in nurturing Pushya nakshatra and then went into Ashlesha nakshatra on September 2. We will have Jupiter in Ashlesha for the duration of its stay in Cancer (mid-July, 2015). On December 8, […]
Vedic astrology for December, 2014
As we wrap up 2014, we can examine how the planetary placements in Jyotish, or Vedic astrology for December, 2014 are poised for us to lay a strong foundation for 2015. Saturn and Mars have been participating in a parivartana yoga or a planetary house swap since November 27. Saturn is in Mars’ sign of […]
Saturn in Anuradha nakshatra
Om Sham Shri Shanischaraya Namah Saturn has been in Scorpio in Vedic astrology or Jyotish for one month. On November 30, it moved out of Vishakha nakshatra and entered Anuradha nakshatra. Saturn in Anuradha nakshatra will carry on many of the same themes as Vishakha nakshatra. Anuradha translates as, “the one who follows Radha”. Radha […]
The Bitter Taste in Ayurveda
The bitter taste in Ayurveda is known in Sanskrit as tikta rasa. It is one of the shad rasa or 6 tastes in Ayurveda. Bitter is comprised of the elements of air (vayu) and ether (akasha). The bitter taste in Ayurveda increases Vata dosha and decreases Pitta and Kapha doshas. In terms of virya or […]