The Sun enters the sign of Cancer very late close to midnight on 16th of July and will stay in the sign till the early hours of August 17th. Sun in the sign of Cancer is represented Varuna Aditya who is the ruler of Oceans. He carries a noose, which ensnares souls and drags them back into the earth, symbolic of re-birth due to attachment and desires. Cancer is the natural 4th sign in the Zodiac that represents the mind. Sage Paraśara calls this house ‘bandhu’ – meaning close friends and family, those who are in our inner circle and can bind us with attachment. It may well be noted that a planet in the 4th from any house can bind us w.r.t. to its matters and the 4th is the also the place of manifestation of conjunction or yogas.
The rishi travelling in the chariot of Varuna Aditya is Vaśiṣṭha. He is a sapta rishi and one of the preceptors from the Rig Veda. The Agni Purana was revealed by Agni deva (Fire god) to Sage Vaśiṣṭha. Vaśiṣṭha was married to the chaste Arundhati and their compatibility and affection for each other serves as an example and guide in Hindu marriage ceremonies. In the sky, Arundhati is identified with the morning star Alcor that forms a double star with Mizar (identified as Vaśiṣṭha ) in Ursa Major (sapta rishi constellation) in the sign of Aquarius. A newlywed couple are asked to gaze at these two stars for deriving inspiration for true love devotion to each other.
The 7th mandala of Rig Veda is attributed to Sage Vaśiṣṭha where there are number of hymns (7.86-89) imploring Varuna to release us from the bonds of our ill-deeds and of our ancestors. Vaśiṣṭha is associated with the planet Saturn, and one of his best works is the Yoga Vaśiṣṭha which is a dialogue between the Sage and Śri Rāma. He had approached the sage expressing his frustration with the ephemerality of the world stating, “I am bound, I should be liberated”. Through the stories, the Sage illustrates that world is created by the mind and individual perception is influenced by the instrument of perception – the mind, and the perception of the mind is more indestructible than that of physical creation by material substances. Here is a quote from the scripture translated by Svāmi Veṅkaṭeśānanda.
“The mind alone is a creator of the world, and the mind alone is the supreme person. What is done by the mind is action, what is done by the body is not action. Behold the power of the mind”.
The meaning of the above verse highlights the importance of the impressions of the mind (in the form of memories, judgements, scars, like and dislikes) as they can travel many lives to be exhausted, while the body perishes in one life. Our truth is merely a narrative peppered by our thoughts, feelings, and judgements. These impressions become the fodder for the creation of the 4th house carried through the 6th (shad ripus) and the 12th houses (binding desires). The paradox is that while the fourth house can bind us with attachments, it does hold the key to the unlocking of the moksha (liberation) triangle (4th, 8th and 12th houses) in our horoscope.
Transits
The Sun joins Mercury in the sign of Cancer. The transit of Sun through the sign does not bode well for leadership for many reasons. The sign of Cancer is the natural 4th house where Sun does not have any directional strength. Further, the transit happens on the tithi of amavasya (new moon) bringing forth the energy of our ancestors and predecessors as it crosses into the sign Cancer breaking away from the Moon in Punarvasu nakṣatra in Gemini. The Amavasya tithi continues until the end of the evening of 17th July as the Moon joins the Sun in Cancer. The weekday being Sunday (the transit is called Ghora- ferocious) can cause chaos while benefitting the workers. In Britain, much suffering is guaranteed this month with announcement of a new wave of strikes of doctors, rail and airport workers. The negative results may be mitigated slightly as the nakshatra Punarvasu is not an aggressive one and the transit happens at night.
There will be be frustration in the air, as Mars the planet of action and the supporter of leaders (represented by Sun) after making a difficult and treacherous transit through Cancer into Leo, faces opposition from a retrograde Saturn in Aquarius. It is also aspected by Rahu in Aries and further hampered by its association with Mercury from the 24th July, which can result in extreme or unhealthy competition. The only real blessing is the aspect of Jupiter from Aries on Mars. Wisdom can prevail. The advice is to be unhurried but stay focussed. If one does need to act in a hurry, it may be more fruitful if initiated after the 20th July as Mars crosses over Saturn in degrees.
It is also not an easy time for relationships as Venus turns retrograde on the 23rd July in Leo, drawing away from Mars and moving towards Sun in Cancer. It enters the sign of Cancer on the 8th of August and will be in combustion from the 8th to the 17th August. The exact conjunction of Venus and Sun is in Āśleṣā nakṣatra on the 14th of August. The combustion of Venus will bring forth some purification and one can see it in action when it resumes its direct motion after the 4th of September. The tithi of amavasya starts on the 15th August in Puṣyā before moving into secretive Āśleṣā when Venus and Moon will be getting into a war. There may be too much or too passion, perhaps withdrawal or tears as mixing of water and fire have the potential to create difficult circumstances. This is also the time when Sun will be in the last degrees of Cancer crossing the gaṇḍānta (water into fire) into Leo. Mars will also be in transit crossing from Leo into Virgo. Caution is warranted around 15-17th of August.
Festivals
The holy period of Cāturmāsa- a period of four months, beginning on Shukla Paksha ekadashi tithi in the month of Ashadha is already underway and will end in Shukla Paksha ekadashi on 23rd November in the month of Kartik. This is a period for introspection, penance, austerities, study of scriptures and personal rituals like bathing in holy rivers. Lord Vishnu is supposed to be in Yoga nidra at this time. In the ancient times, this was the only time the sanyasis (monks) are allowed to stay in one place and under a roof.
May we implore Varuna to reign our restless minds to gain equanimity and contentment.
ॐ घृणिः वरुणादित्य
om ghṛṇiḥ varuṇāditya