Tag: Solar month

The Sun In Scorpio

 

The Sun will be in the sidereal sign of Scorpio on November 16th until December 17th. The Aditya for the solar month is Parjanya from the root word “pṛc” (पृच्) which means to satiate, fill or nourish. Parjanya aditya plays an important part in the sustenance of the life cycle by helping produce the rain for the food, highlighted in the Gita and Upanishads (verses I have shared before in my monthly write ups in previous years). Parjanya demonstrates the importance of collective responsibility and is sometimes regarded as a magician who catalyses transformation which is the domain of the 8^th house. He is a rainmaker in modern terminology, representing a person who can bring fortune through associations. The need of this hour is indeed that of a magician.

Regions are at war and innocent lives are being lost at the expense of religious ideals or political causes. The affliction of Jupiter the significator of life – Jiva by Rahu, Saturn, Mars and Ketu has brought about this death and devastation.  Scorpio, the natural 8^th house is tamasic (dark) as both the rulers of the sign, Mars and Ketu are tamasic and the sign itself being a fixed in nature and hence designated tamasic.  As no planet exalts in this sign, it is difficult to mediate issues that have a root in Scorpio. The primary cause of our illusions is ignorance which is labelled as darkness or tamas. Sri Kṛṣṇa in verse 5.16 in Bhagavad Gīta explains that just as sunrise illumines the world in an instant, jnana can destroy ignorance. Here, the term jnana does not merely mean knowledge, but awareness that has permeated into our beings. Thus, the only true way to dispel the darkness in our own lives seems to be to enhance awareness by removing our prejudices and defences.  Defensive thinking is normally employed to avoid having an insight that can ruin ‘a particular agenda or narrative’ that we support.

The rishi accompanying Parjanya in the chariot this month is the illustrious Sage Bharadvāja who is associated with healing. He received the knowledge of ayurveda from Indra himself and authored some sections of Atharva veda. In contradiction to the saying “An apple does not fall far from the tree” is the story of his son, the expert warfare teacher Droṇācārya of the Kaurava and Pāṇḍava princes in the story of Mahābhārata. Droṇācārya was as one of the most invincible warriors in the battle of Mahābhārata in Kurukṣetra, yet his story was one of pride and deep revenge against King Drupada, his childhood friend.  His undue attachment to his favourite pupil Arjuna, not only cost Ekalavya his finger but also festered the jealousy resulting in enmity between Karṇa and Arjuna that had unfortunate consequences in the war. His constant meditations on revenge and insult also resulted in his son Aśvatthāmā becoming an instrument of violence. The story of Droṇācārya serves us timely reminder of the irresponsibility of our thoughts and actions and the mitigating consequences it has on those that depend and learn from us – the next generation.

Transits

The eclipse season has ended for now and Rahu will stabilise from the 18^th of November having crossed the last degree of Pisces. Extreme politics should subside as water does not stoke the air element.  The Sun moves into Scorpio to join Mercury and Mars. Mars remain combust the entire month. The Mercury and Mars combination (boxing yoga) is a union of competition and strife, and in the sign of Scorpio can result in unhealthy or unpredictable consequences.  Nevertheless, Scorpio will receive the sign aspect of Aries with a retrograde Jupiter. Jupiter in unencumbered by the presence of Rahu in Aries, yet it will receive a full planetary aspect from Rahu in Pisces as well as Saturn from Aquarius for its entire stay in Aries. Mercury flees the combination and crosses over the gandanta from Scorpio to Sagittarius on the 27^th of the month. This transit may seem premature as Mercury turns retrograde on 13^th December and will re-enter Scorpio two weeks later.  Communication issues or decisions around business proposals may have to revisited at that time.

A debilitated Venus in Virgo will be moving towards Ketu and the exact conjunction will be on the 28^th of November in Citra Nakṣatra – the eclipsed Nakṣatra from last month. A Venus conjunction with Ketu (fire water combination) is not favourable to the Moon, emotions, and wellbeing. Venus moves into Libra on the 29^th November and will be in the sign until the 25^th of December. The movable signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn will enjoy the presence of two benefics, Jupiter in Aries and Venus in Libra in their quadrants. A Mālavya Mahāpuruṣa yoga of enjoyment and well-being is formed by Venus being in its own sign. Enjoy without getting too attached to the bounties received as Mars is still combust, Jupiter has the aspect of Rahu and Saturn and Venus is receiving a pincer effect from Mars and Ketu.

Festivals

We celebrate the Kārtikai dīpaṁ festival in the South of India on November 26^th on the full moon day of month of Kārtika. We do not get the tithi at sunrise in London, nevertheless the full Moon is in  Kṛttikāon the 26^th evening.  The festival is to honour Lord śiva ho appeared as a column of fire and some honour his son Kārtikeya on that day. Lamps are lit in the evening with fireworks.

Let’s pray to Parjanya Aditya to show us the way to give up our prejudices and defensive thinking and unite us in harmony.

ॐ घॄणिः पर्जन्यादित्याय

om ghṝṇiḥ parjanyādityāya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sun will enter the sign of sidereal Virgo in the early hours of September 17th and will remain in it till October 17th afternoon BST. The Aditya blessing the sign is Vivasvān, the one who is brilliant and effulgent from the root word वस् (vas). As per the Samba Purana he dwells in the fire and is responsible for digestion of food in the body of creatures. The digestive fire is also the fire of intelligence (agni tattva) and of assimilation which governs all transformative processes. In the Bhagavad Gītā 15.14 Krishna says he is the digestive fire called Vaiśhvānara that enables us to assimilate food. This fire serves as a bridge between the body, the mind, and the consciousness and when this fire is not right in our bodies, we have problems with metabolism and digestion.

Virgo the natural sixth house of zodiac deals with diseases which are often the result of imbalances – undigested actions and emotions. The sixth house being the 7^th from the 12^th house where the mind was created (12^th house being the 9^th from the 4^th house of mind) showing the desires of the mind to be experienced this life and thus becoming a major reason for re-birth. That is why Rahu has his mulatrikona (office) in Virgo as he responsible for bringing us back into the planet because of our unfinished desires that may result in our vices (shad ripu). Saturn the natural significator (Karaka) of the 6^th house is the other planet that is responsible for us coming back to earth to complete any unfinished business (Karma) which we may view as punishment. Malefic planets in the 6^th house propel us to play for “win to take” all the time – akin to the harvest energy the 6^th house brings, but they leave us with a lot of residue in the form of imprints in the mind which may take more lives to exhaust. Nevertheless, the 6^th house is also an upachaya – house of improvement and It pays to be aware of the nature of planets in the 6^th house as well as its ruler to see how we can bring more acceptance in our life.

The sage travelling with Vivasvan in his chariot this month is Bhṛgu. Bhṛgu’s greatness is ineffable as Sri Krishna in Bhagavat Gītā identifies himself as Bhṛgu of all the sages (10.24). He is described as the son of Varuṇa in Book 3, Bhṛgu Valli of Taittirīya, Upaniṣad of Kṛṣṇā Yajur Veda, where Varuṇa instructs Bhrigu on Brahman. Bhṛgu realises Brahman by transcending though the pañcakōśa – the five sheaths – physical body (anna), vital energy (prāṇa), the mind (mana), intellect (vijñāna), and the blissful core of being (ānanda). The pañcakōśa viveka enquiry by moving the consciousness from grossest food sheath to the most subtle bliss sheath to realise Brahman is called Bhṛgu -Vāruṇī vidya.

 

The Upaniṣad in Book 2.9.6 presents the importance of food as it describes that all beings that exist on earth are born of food. Then they live by food: then, again, to food (earth) they go in the end. So, verily food is the eldest of all creatures and a medicine to all. All those who worship food as Brahman obtain all food.

This verse shows us the interdependence of all beings in the universe as we are supported by the universe and become the supporter of the universe by becoming food ourselves. Here, the Upaniṣad alludes not only to the food we consume with our mouth, but all that we consume using our sense organs – what we see with our eyes, hear with our eyes and touch with our skin. We must become mindful that all our actions, thoughts and activities are indeed food for others.

Transits

Sun joins Moon and Mars in Virgo on the 17^th early morning. Sun will be in its favourite Nakṣatra of Hasta ruled by the deity Savitur (giver of Gayatri mantra) from the 27th of September to late in the evening on the 10th October. This is the time to propitiate Sun if we are experiencing financial troubles.

Mercury joins Sun and Mars on the 1^{st of} October in Virgo. where it is exalted upto 15°of the sign. This movement is followed by a series of other moves in the sky that almost seems like a choreographed dance as the planets are taking up their positions for the upcoming eclipses in October. From this point the entire period of 30 days remains delicate. Venus moves into Leo on the 2^nd. Mars moves into Libra on the 3^{rd of} October to meet Ketu in Chitra Nakṣatra. The exact conjunction is on the 5^{th of} October. Ketu and Mars remain in Chitra until October 13^th and in the same sign till October 31^st. Both planets are fiery, and the combination can be explosive in the airy sign of Libra (air stokes fire) which is also aspected by a retrograde Saturn in Aquarius. A retrograde Jupiter will be aspected by a retrograde Saturn from Aquarius, and the fiery combination of Mars and Ketu from Libra. Meanwhile, Rahu will be in the first degree of Aries in gaṇḍānta (crossing from fire sign Aries into the water sign Pisces) from the 11^th of October.

The second solar eclipse on the 14^{th of} October caused by the descending node Ketu will be in Virgo (as the Sun is placed there) in Chitra Nakṣatra, 2nd pada. The symbol of Chitra is a bright jewel, a spot for brilliance as well as illusion. The ruler is Mars, and the deity is the divine architect Tvaṣṭṛ who is a diplomat as he makes arms for both the devas (divine forces) and asuras (demonic). Chitra is a place for creativity, sometimes without the thought for consequences. The eclipsed house is Virgo, does not receive the benefic aspect of Jupiter. The presence of Mercury in Virgo is not very comforting but signalling more about business and inflation. This eclipse is more significant for Virgo ascendants and Moon signs. The Solar energy or the Agni (Fire) gets weakened in an eclipse. It is good to fast at the time of the eclipse and worship the teaching form of Shiva, Dakṣiṇāmūrti. Read more the eclipse on at https://vijayajyoti.com/eye-on-the-sky-solar-eclipses-of-2023/.

With the arrival of the autumnal equinox on the September 22^nd, the days will shorten in the northern hemisphere, the trees shed leaves and the squirrels gather food in preparation for winter. The retrogradation of the two slowing planets Jupiter and Saturn provide an opportunity for reflection this month allowing the space for us to acknowledge most things we are grateful about symbolic of an inner harvest.

Festivals

Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of dear Ganesha who removes all our obstacles falls on the September 18^th in London. The holy period of ancestors, pitru paksha starts on September 29^th and ends on the 14^{th of} October. This is a good time to honour our ancestors and make food offerings. Navaratri, the 9 days of divine goddess starts on the 15^th of October. These nine days are filled with special offerings, yagnas, fasting, meditations, singing and dancing and by the display of beautiful art and dolls to honour the Mother Divine and her entire creation.

May we implore Vivasvān Aditya to bless us with right fire so that we are able to digest our thoughts, emotions, and actions properly and to remain free from diseases.

ॐ घृणिः विवस्वानादित्य

om ghṛṇiḥ vivasvānāditya

Sun In Libra

Happy Navratri. May the divine feminine energy bless us all. The Sun transits into the sign Libra on the 17th of October and will remain in the sign until November 16th. The Aditya is Pūṣaṇa who nourishes the world and is the ruler of fruitful journeys including the final journey. The sign Libra is associated with prosperity and of war, as the old saying goes, all is fair in love and war. The weekday Friday ruled by Venus was created for puṣṭi -nourishment, comforts and luxuries, yet Venus is also planet that is elitist and seeks revenge. The disturbances in thoughts that are deeply felt as emotions (water element) and embedded within us, when released in action cause the discernment to be lost. Sun is debilitated in Libra. The story of Indra (akin to the Sun), the King of Heavens lusting for Ahalya the beautiful young wife of Sage Gautama and seducing her is fine example of this. Indra pays for it as he is punished by a curse of Sage Gautama (who is also the sage accompanying Pūṣaṇa in the chariot this month).

The past weeks have posed several challenges and delays in my way; therefore, I will just focus on writing only about the transits this time. The Sun joins Mars and Ketu in Libra and meets Ketu on the 17th October late in the evening in Chitra Nakshtra. Mercury follows into Libra on the 18th while Jupiter and Rahu are in the opposing sign of Aries. The Aries/Libra sign is packed with planets and will remain so until after the lunar eclipse on the 28th October. Venus in Leo and a retrograde Saturn are standing apart across each other in the sky, casting a sign aspect on Aries and Libra. Please note that in a tug of war, Libra should win at least until November 2nd, after which Venus will move into Virgo (its point of debilitation). Mercury will also leave Libra for Scorpio on the 6th of November.

The deadly attack on Israel happened at a the time leading up to the Solar eclipse on the 14th October. I had written in my yearly eclipse article In February and reiterated in the BAVA conference in April that the timing around the October eclipse time was the more dangerous one of the two solar eclipses. This was particularly because of the close conjunction of Mars and Ketu (read ghost attacks) in the time leading to the solar eclipse whilst Rahu is also Gandanta moving into Pisces. The details of the transit were given in the previous monthly. The attack happened in the early hours on a Friday when Venus is a morning star, emulating a strategy that was used by the Mayan to succeed in wars. Venus is farthest from the sunrise and at greatest morning elongation this month. Isreal is equally likely to retaliate fiercely and swiftly as it has a Libra Ascendant and Venus controls the period of fortnight. Mars is in a difficult position as it has been combust from the 23rd of September and will remain so until middle of January as it moves through the signs of Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius. Aries and Scorpio ascendants should be patient and use their time well to learn from those who are wiser. This is not a time to demand for visibility, but diligence until mid-Jan.

The partial lunar eclipse will begin on the 28th October at 20.35hrs and will finish at 23.26 hrs (UK time). The eclipse is in Ashwini Nakshtra in Aries. A lunar eclipse following a solar eclipse is considered fortuitous and this time can be used to pray for healing and new beginnings. In my tradition, praying to Lord Narsimha is recommended with the mantra of
ॐ क्ष्रौं नमोभगवते नृसिंहाये
om kṣrauṁ namobhagavate nṛsiṁhāye
He is the protector of all those practising spirituality as they are usually defenceless in the world of grasping materialists and demonical beings.
Rahu and Ketu finally move to their next destination on the 30th October – the Pisces and Virgo Axis. Pisces and Virgo ascendants and moon signs have to prepare for much churning in life as all the eclipses will happen in this axis during this period. The solar eclipses in the next two years 2024 and 2025 are in the nakshatras of Revati and Uttarbhadrapada in Pisces and Hasta and Uttaraphalguni in Virgo). Note that Rahu and Ketu will be in a mutual exchange of signs during the period. The impact of the exchange will be more felt w.r.t to work situations.

Rahu in a water sign good for disinflation and in Pisces where Jupiter is the lord, the strategy amongst opposing forces is to look for mediation. A time for relief and breakages of bondages particularly if you have your ascendants in the movable signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn have gone through much churning the past 2-3 years with Rahu, Ketu and Saturn (prior to its move into Aquarius earlier this year) in quadrants creating a sarpa yoga (bondage). It is to be noted that Aries Ascendants have a lot of opposition with many planets in Libra this month while still experiencing the aspect of Saturn. Mars will be combust until early next year. Nevertheless, they will enjoy the beneficence of auspicious Jupiter finally without the influence of Rahu for the next 6 months.

Saturn turns direct in Aquarius on 4th November – the stuckness experienced with its retrograding should start to release, time to change the gear and accelerate on our projects, although it is wiser to wait until the auspicious Jupiter turns direct at the end of December.

The solar month starts when Navaratri, the 9 days of divine goddess is already underway. Of these, the special one is Saraswati Puja on the 21st October when the Goddess of learning, wisdom, music, and dance is worshipped particularly in the South of India. Children are made to write their first letters on this day.  We also celebrate the festival of lights Diwali on the 12th of November.
I am presenting this week on October 21st at the astrological conference organised by Paul Barker of the Leeds Theosophical Society. My topic is “Discovering the anatomy of the Mind – Examining the Moon in the horoscope to understand the mental make-up of an individual and the narrative one builds”. With this topic, I am trying to integrate my studies of the mind from Vedanta and behaviour psychology with those of the principles of Jyotish. The full programme & registration details can be found at: www.vedicconferences.com
Let us worship Pūṣaṇa Aditya for throwing some auspicious light on our path to remove our misconceptions, and to guide us in these turbulence times in the world.
ॐ घृणिः पूषणादित्यः
om ghṛṇiḥ pūṣaṇādit yaḥ