Lunar Cycle in Vedic Astrology

New Moon in Ardra Nakshatra

25 June 2025

The upcoming New Moon in Ardra Nashatra will be quite a unique stellar event, with not only Moon and Sun tightly conjuct in the star of cosmic Rudra, but also Jupiter joining them in the same degree. Thus on that day Sun will be combusting, or symbolically refining within its fiery rays two planets, Jupiter and Moon. This intimate conjunction will additionally happen in the amsha of Goddess Sati in the D20 chart (Vimshamsha chart of spiritual progress), the Goddess who self-immolated herself, which will remind us of the meaning of sacrifice and the need of transformation in our lives. This deeply transformational fortnight will be ideal for any purification practices during this fortnight. It is, however, also an indicator that with Jupiter combust in Ardra our judgement might be clouded at times and we might like to avoid any impulsive decisions in this period.

Rahu & Ketu transit through Aquarius and Leo

29 May 2025 - 25 October 2026

Just a few days back Rahu & Ketu changed their signs, moving into sidereal Aquarius (Rahu) and sidereal Leo (Ketu), which symbolically represent zodiacal root chakra (Aquarius) and zodiacal third eye chakra (Leo). This 18-months transit will be calling all of us to align our vision with reality, and follow our dreams with courage. Rahu in sidereal Aquarius will be inspiring us to push beyond the boundaries of what’s conventional and expected and embrace the innovation while staying aligned with our purpose.

It will be also a powerful time for larger communities to rethink their values, joins hands in their efforts and become more inclusive. We may expect many reforms and even revolutions, both on inner and outer level, as this transit will be calling both individuals and larger communities to manifest more integrity.

Full Moon in Jyeshta Nakshatra

10-11 June 2025

Every year when Moon is about to get full in its debilitation place, sidereal Scorpio, emotions are stirred and churned from deep within us, so that we may face our shadows and grow beyond them. This year, in particular, Full Moon in Jyeshta Nakshatra will be additionally aspected by Mars (losely conjuct with Ketu, who will be already in Leo), which may add to the intensity. It’s a fortnight during which we all may feel a bit more easy to trigger than usual and more prone to irritation or anger.

Sun and Moon will be both dwelling in the amshas of Goddess Bhairavi in D20 chart (vimshamsha chart of spiritual progress) during the climax of the Full Moon. Bhairavi is the Goddess of fearlessness, who will keep inspiring us during this fortnight to transcend our fears and find courage to move past our limitations.

Learn more about 40 Goddesses of Vimshamsha chart: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/goddesses-of-the-vimshamsha-chart-d20/

New Moon in Rohini Nakshatra

26-27 May 2025

The next conjunction between Sun and Moon will occur in the heart of sidereal Taurus, where Moon becomes exalted while Sun starves (kshudhita avastha). During this entire dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) Venus, another planet of water element, will remain exalted, while Mars, another planet of fire element, will remain debilitated. With both fiery planets starving during this dark fortnight and both watery grahas in exaltation during the New Moon day, we may feel generally more tired and less energised - but at the same time we will have greater access to our feminine, intuitive energy and thus will have a chance to heal some deep emotions. It’s a powerful time to “rest and digest”.

Full Moon in Vishakha Nakshatra

12 May 2025

The upcoming Full Moon in Vishakha Nakshatra will be the first one since many months that won’t bring so intense energies with itself. However, as Moon will be experiencing isolated state (kemadruma yoga), preceded only by Ketu in 12th house from it and aspected by debilitated Mars, we all may have increased tendency in this period to isolate and withdraw. The energy of debilitated Mars, however, may still make us quite hyper vigilant and overuse our “what’s wrong” attention.

Simultaneously, Full Moon shining in Vishakha, will be calling us to listen to that intuitive voice within and move beyond past experiences and limitations, or at least begin the process of reintegrating them. With dispositor Full Moon (Venus) exalted in Pisces we will have greater access to the source of inspiration and intuition within.

New Moon in Bharani Nakshatra

27-28 April

The upcoming New Moon in Bharani Nakshatra will continue with the theme of letting go and learning how to go more with the flow of life, skilfully riding its waves, rather than fighting against it and end up struggling. This entire dark fortnight will give us all greater insight (exalted Sun) into all the things that we need to unburden ourselves from in order to experience greater freedom and greater aliveness. It’s a great time for sincere introspection and conscious observation of our minds vrittis (waves and whirlpools), as well as engaging in revitalising practices such as yoga or pranayama. It’s a perfect time for changing some of our habits, too.

Full Moon in Citra Nakshatra

12-13 April 2025

Although eclipse season is over, the intense energies of 5 grahas accumulated in sidereal Pisces (Sun, Saturn, Rahu, Mercury and retrograde Venus) can be still felt in the air and continue throughout this fortnight. Additionally, Sun and Moon will be again experiencing Sankranti Dosha, the maximum separation occurring right on the borders of two rashis: Moon in the heart of Citra nakshatra between Virgo and Libra, while Sun in the middle of gandanta between Pisces and Aries. This makes this whole fortnight leading towards upcoming Full Moon a powerful time for spiritual transformation and some serious inner work. It is a perfect time to embody the qualities of sidereal Pisces and choose more often to go within, talk less and feel more, listen to the voice of inner guidance, and learn to trust and surrender more, even amidst the storm.

Partial Solar Eclipse in Uttara Bhadrapada Nakshatra

29 March 2025

Partial Solar Eclipse in Uttara Bhadrapada Nakshatra, in the very heart of sidereal Pisces, will mark the culmination of this eclipse season, with impressive 6 planets aligned together in Pisces. Saturn will move into Pisces just hours after the eclipse. With 6 of the Navagrahas accumulated in Bhadrapada nakshatras, stars of Rudras, fierce aspects of Lord Shiva who represent forces of time, transformation and symbolic death, we all will be powerfully called towards inner transformation. With Sun and Moon perfectly aligned with Earth, and other planets joining, it is a powerful time for all of us to realign with our purpose and allow unnecessary desires and disappointments to burn in the fire of purification.

It’s incredibly significant that during this eclipse season both of the lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu, dwell in the amsha of Goddess Cinnamasta in the D20 (Vimshamsha) chart of spiritual progress. Cinnamasta, the Goddess who beheads Herself and drinks Her own blood, while immersed in ecstatic dance, represents the notion of unlocking spiritual bliss within by beheading our ego and disconnecting for a moment from the narratives and stories of our mind. While Her image may seem gruesome to some, She represents this force of aliveness within us, which we all have access to, if we choose to drop awareness from our head to our bodies for a moment, and liberate ourselves from the dictatorship of the mind.

If you want to learn more about interpreting eclipses, you can watch this workshop dedicated to decoding astrological meaning of eclipses: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/eclipses-in-vedic-astrology/

Here you can also learn more about 10 Mahavidya Goddesses: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/mahavidyas-10-mystical-goddesses/

Total Lunar Eclipse in Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra

13-14 March 2025

Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse in Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra will be one of the biggest planetary shifts of this year. Both luminaries (Sun and Moon) will be dwelling right on the border of their respective rashis: Sun in between Aquarius and Pisces, while Moon in between Leo and Virgo, continuing the recent trend of Full Moons coinciding with Sankrantis (solar ingresses). While Moon will stationed alone in the last degrees of Leo (Kemadruma Yoga), Sun will be simultaneously surrounded by his enemies (Papa Kartari Yoga), tightly squeezed in between Saturn and Rahu, and too far from Venus retrograde. This combination will invite a lot of pressure into our lives, while simultaneously will provide very little support from the outside. 

Needless to say, though, with Total Lunar Eclipse accompanied by 5 planets in Bhadrapada nakshatras, stars of profound spiritual transformations and symbolic death, this will be also a powerful time of inner purification and spiritual growth for many of us.

New Moon in Shatabhisha Nakshatra

27-28 February

The next conjuction of Sun and Moon will take place at the heart of sidereal Aquarius in Shatabhisha Nakshatra, in proximity of Saturn in Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra. The day before this particular New Moon is known as Mahashivaratri, the Great Night of Lord Shiva, and usually marks a time of great purification and inner transformation - the theme which continues for quite some time already, and is just about to get intensified.

During this particular New Moon many planets will be already accumulating in Bhadrapada nakshatras (Purva and Uttara) known for their shared themes of death, transformation, letting go and unburdening, while refocusing on what is truly important. These two lunar mansions, ruled by 2 of the 11 Rudras, fierce forms of Lord Shiva, also represent the transformative power coiled at our root chakra and opportunity to rise above our own limitations.