The Sun enters Libra on the 17th October and will stay in the sign till the early hours of 16th November. The Aditya is Pūṣaṇa. He is called that because he feeds the world – puṣṇāti sarvān iti pūṣā (पुष्णाति सर्वान् इति पूषा). The sign Libra is associated with prosperity (nidhi rashi), it also the most rajasic sign (dynamic and/or agenda driven) amongst all. Pūṣaṇa Aditya is also the ruler of fruitful journeys, invoked for protection from dangers on the path whether it be material or spiritual. He is also worshipped to throw light on the auspicious path and to find the lost things, the most significant amongst the lost items is our own self. Here is a verse from Isavasya Upanishad beseeching the Pusan – the Sun, who is the representation of our soul to remove our delusion and focus from the world of glittery objects so that we may look at our true self.
हिरण्मयेन पात्रेण सत्यस्यापिहितं मुखम् ।
तत्त्वं पूषन्नपावृणु सत्यधर्माय दृष्टये ॥ १५ ॥
hiraṇmayena pātreṇa satyasyāpihitaṃ mukham |
tattvaṃ pūṣannapāvṛṇu satyadharmāya dṛṣṭaye || 15 ||
The entrance of the Truth is covered as if by a golden disc. Remove, O Nourisher (Sun), the covering that I who have been worshipping the Truth may behold it.
The Sun is debilitated in Libra, signifying a dying ego is necessary for travel upward.
Transits
Sun enters Libra in its debilitation sign and joins Mercury and Mars in Libra. The presence of Mars and Sun, two fiery planets will be challenging for relationships initially. The debilitation of Sun is cancelled most of the time this solar month, firstly by the presence of Mars in Libra until the 28th October and then by Venus from the 2nd November. Leaders will find support in strategy and hard decisions initially which will give way to finding strength in relationships to survive.
Mercury and Mars are moving together and will be in war in two different signs of Libra and Scorpio this solar month. They are in an orb from 10th October and get into a war in the nakshatra of the fiercely competitive Vishakha from the evening of October 18th till the early hours of October 22nd. Mercury and Mars conjunction also indicate unhealthy/extreme competition and we can expect to see this play out. Libra is a sign of the markets and trade. Mercury is the “Prince” and depends on favours from the King to win whereas Mars can only win by competence as he is employed by the King and has to safeguard him and the State. Nevertheless, in this conjunction Mercury seems to have more resources and skill at its disposal (looking at longitude and latitude) whereas Mars has better focus (declination). At the time of war between these two planets, the presence of Moon in the sign is unfortunate (it is Amavasya tithi) and shows public will be affected.
Mercury leaves for Scorpio on 24th October and Mars chases Mercury and enters Scorpio on 27th October. Fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius will enjoy Ruchaka Maha Purusha yoga (courage and success) as Mars will be in its own home, thought it will not be comfortable. Mars and Mercury get into an orb of influence and becomes retrograde on the November 9th. They get into a war again on 12th and 13th of November in the nakshatra of Anuradha which holds significations of loyalty and followership. This war is different as Mercury the fast-moving planet is tearing away from the slower moving planet Mars suggesting that one may have to walk away from clarity and consensus in business and warfare until the two planets get together in January next year.
Venus joins Sun on the 2nd November in Libra. Movable signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will enjoy Malavya yoga bestowing enjoyments and pleasure as Venus will be in its own sign.
The most exhilarating transit of the month is that of Jupiter entering its exaltation sign of Cancer on the 18th of October. Jupiter represents grace and justice and its exaltation leads to idealism. Jupiter will be vargottama in this period. Straight forward solutions may emerge as Jupiter will move away from the aspect of Rahu in Aquarius and throw an auspicious aspect on Saturn in Pisces. However, it turns retrograde on the 11th November until 5th December before its gets completely stable ( higher than a degree). Expect practical solutions during its retrogradation as Jupiter will give results of its opposite sign Capricorn.
Towards the end of the solar month, there will be three planets in retrograde motion – Jupiter in Cancer, Mercury in Scorpio and Saturn in Pisces. The retrograde motion is mirroring the mood of the autumn season of decluttering and preparing for winter. It is a time to examine, introspect and declutter our lives which include rest.
Festivals
We celebrate Deepavali, the festival of lights which is symbolic of victory over evil on the 20th October. This festival is celebrated on Amavasya tithi in the North of India as Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana, along with the Lakshmi Puja. In the South of India, the festival is always celebrated on Chaturdashi tithi in the morning.
Let us worship Pūṣaṇa Aditya for keeping us nourished and showing the way in these turbulent times and the upcoming hard winter months.
ॐ घृणिः पूषणादित्यः
om ghṛṇiḥ pūṣaṇādityaḥ