As a predominantly lunar based system, Vedic astrology or Jyotish, places great emphasis on the placement of the Moon over the placement of the Sun. The Moon represents our emotional body. Jyotish tracks the movement of the Moon through the 12 signs of the zodiac and the 27 lunar constellations or nakshatras. Each nakshatra has specific qualities […]
Makar Sankranti 2014
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 […]
Astrological Placements for 2014
We begin 2014 with a new Moon in Sagittarius in Vedic Astrology. This is a very infrequent occurrence for the New Year. New Moons are considered as weak placements in Vedic astrology, or Jyotish. While the Moon and Sun will be in the star of Purva Ashadha, which is connoted with new beginnings, it may […]
‘Twas 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 goThere had been so much to doHow the year slipped by, they hadn’t a clueMany a resolution had been madeYet there were foundations for these which hadn’t been laidBefore another year slips byThere […]
Saturn in Vishakha Nakshatra
There’s been a general state of uncertainty, indecision, and wavering on both an individual level as well as a global level. People haven’t been able to choose sides and felt unable to move forward. Things are about to change. Exalted Saturn has left Svati nakshatra in Libra in Vedic astrology, or Jyotish. Now we have […]
Jupiter Retrograde in Gemini
Of the nine planets utilized in Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, Jupiter is considered to be the great benefic. Jupiter is currently occupying Gemini in Vedic astrology. It has come to a standstill in its movement in the heavens as we are about to experience Jupiter retrograde in Gemini, starting tomorrow. Jupiter is known as the […]
Diwali 2013
One of the biggest holidays in the Vedic calendar is the festival of Diwali (dee-vaah-lee) or Deepavali (deep-uh-vaah-lee) – the Indian festival of lights. “Deepa” means light and “avali” means a continuous line. Diwali occurs the day before the Indian New Year. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on different days in various parts […]
Mercury Retrograde in Libra
After an intense Saturn Rahu conjunction and a partial lunar eclipse, a more common astronomical phenomenon is about to re-occur. This will be Mercury retrograde in Libra in Vedic astrology, or Jyotish. While many people dread the period when Mercury is retrograde, Vedic astrology offers a somewhat varying perspective than Western astrology. In Vedic astrology, retrogression […]
October 18, 2013 Lunar Eclipse
The October 18, 2013 lunar eclipse is the first in a series of two upcoming eclipses. In Vedic astrology or Jyotish, a lunar eclipse occurs when the full Moon is in close proximity to one of the lunar nodes (Rahu or Ketu). A full Moon happens whenever the Sun and Moon are opposite each other in […]
Saturn and Mercury planetary war in Libra
While Saturn and North node Rahu continue to separate in Vedic astrology, there are still quite proximate to each other in Libra. Mercury is also with this combination. There are three upcoming Saturn and Mercury planetary wars in Libra. A planetary war (or graha yuddha) is when two of five planets (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and […]