The last New Moon of this year will occur in Purvashadha Nakshatra, at the heart of sidereal Sagittarius, which is the constellation often associated with Goddess Saraswati - Goddess of inner flow of inspiration and wisdom, who calls us to realign with our higher purpose. With Jupiter and Mars simultaneously retrograde, this New Moon will be calling us to question are we truly aligned with what is important to us and are we heading towards the right direction in life. In today’s podcast, as a little New Year’s gift, you will also find a short re-aligining practice, which can be helpful to you not only now, but whenever you need to re-center yourself.

The meeting of Sun and Moon in sidereal Scorpio is often one of the toughest New Moons in a year - for not only Moon becomes debilitated in Scorpio and therefore starving (Kshudhita Avastha), but in conjuction with Sun also becomes combust and agitated (Kshobhita Avastha). 

Additionally, this year debilitated Moon will be in parivartan yoga with Mars debilitated in Cancer. Both Sun and Moon will be also conjuct with retrograde Mercury, aspected by retrograde Jupiter and Saturn agitated by the aspect of debilitated Mars. Needless to say, such an intrinsic connection between almost all of the Navagrahas will bring a lot of intensity and mixed feelings into our lives.

You can hear me dividing deeper into all the juicy details of the energies that upcoming New Moon is going to bring into our lives in today’s podcast.

Full Moon in Krittika Nakshatra, the star of Agni, opposed by debilitated Sun, is always calling upon us to align with our truth and make a deeper inquiry into what is really true to us. So many parts of ourselves which contain immense creativity, wisdom and lifeforce, often remain suppressed, due to our fears, insecurities, feelings of shame and social expectations. Full Moon shining in sidereal Aries in the star of Krittika, opposed by the Sun in sidereal Libra, always calls us to reintegrate those exiled parts of ourselves and embrace them without fear. This message is particularly prominent this year as both Sun and Moon will be occupying last degrees of their sidereal rashis which maps to the amsha of Goddess Matangi in D20 chart (Vimshamsha) of our spiritual progress. Additionally Sun will be aspected by strong Saturn, while deblitated Sun is aspected during this entire fortnight by debilitated Mars. This dynamics naturally increases our fears and insecurities and enhances the inner conflict between them and our natural wish to self-express and stand in our truth.

Needless to say, this entire fortnight might be quite volatile to some, with fiery nakshatras being very active, while fiery planets experiencing a very low dignity. It’s good to avoid making impulsive decisions, speaking unpleasant truths in too direct ways or stressing about things beyond our control.

Every year, when New Moon occurs in Libra, Sun’s debilitation place and zodiacal heart chakra, we celebrate Diwali, a festival of light, to bring illumination into our homes and into our hearts; to remind ourselves of our inner light, when the external light of the Sun is temporarily dormant.

This year Moon and Sun will conjoin in Swati nakshatra on 1 November (New Moon tithi will already begin on 31 October). Both luminaries will be aspected by the debilitated Mars. With two fiery planets occupying their place of debilitation, we may experience big fluctuations in our energy levels and increased need to turn within. At the same time, both Sun and Moon will be conjuct in the amsha of Goddess Lalita in the D20 (Vimshamsha) chart of spiritual progress, thus inspiring us not to always take life so seriously, but to invite more curiosity, play, connection and creativity in order to restore our enthusiasm and energy levels.

The upcoming Full Moon in Ashwini Nakshatra, a culmination of Devi Paksha (fortnight of the Goddess) brings with itself powerfully transformative energies this year. During the culmination Sun will be just entering the sidereal Libra (below one degree, which is also known as Sankranti dosha), sign of its debilitation, while Moon will be dwelling in deep gandanta in the beginning of sidereal Aries. Both luminaries will be also conjoined with lunar nodes in the Navamsha (D9) chart and occupying the amsha of Goddess Kali in the Vimshamsha (D20) chart of spiritual progress. This is both a very volatile time, as well as a powerful period for inner transformation, renewal and new beginnings. Learn more in today’s podcast. 

Learn more about the 40 Goddesses of Vimshamsha (D20) divisional chart: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/goddesses-of-the-vimshamsha-chart-d20/

This year, the New Moon that will complete Pitri Paksha (fortnight of the ancestors) and precede Devi Paksha (also known as Navaratri or 9 nights of the Goddess), will be also a Solar Eclipse that will take place in Hasta Nakshatra, in tight conjuction with Ketu and exalted Mercury. This New Moon is also sometimes known as Sarvapitri Amavasya (New Moon of All Ancestors) or Mahalaya Amavasya (New Moon of Dissolution). It is not only the time to symbolically honour our ancestors and deceased family members, but also the time to reflect upon our past in order to heal our old traumas and uplift the generational karma, which still continues to live through us. New Moon which completes the Pitri Paksha and which will be a Solar Eclipse this year, is like a symbolic death, letting go of the old, so that the new may be reborn during the fortnight of the Goddess.

Learn more about Interpreting Eclipses: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/eclipses-in-vedic-astrology/

Lunar Eclipse in Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra

17/18 September 2024

In this part of the year we are going to experience two eclipses - one on 17/18 September, another on 2 October, with the great fortnight of ancestors (Pitri Paksha) in between them. This entire period, which will be initiated by Lunar Eclipse in Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra, will be a very potent time for inner transformation and especially healing of the past - including past traumas, past lifes, fear that hold us back and old habits that don’t serve us anymore. Similarly to the tree shedding their leaves in this time of the year we, too, will be inspired to shake off those things which do not serve us anymore and allow the old parts of us to fall off and die if need be - so that something new may be born. Theme of symbolic death is very symbolic for Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra and will be especially pronounced during the upcoming eclipse as Moon will be in tight Papa Kartari Yoga, squeezed between Saturn retrograde from one side and Rahu from another.

Learn more about Interpreting Eclipses: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/eclipses-in-vedic-astrology/

New Moon in Purva Phalguni Nakshatra

2-3 September

The next meeting of Sun and Moon will occur at the heart of sidereal Leo, near the brightest star (yogatara) of Purva Phalguni nakshatra. Purva Phalguni, although ruled by Venus and friendly god of alliances, Aryama, is fierce (ugra) and fiery in nature. Combined with the intensity of the New Moon which will be directly aspected by Saturn retrograde, it may bring some storms into our relations - both those close and those more distant. It is in times like that that we are challenged more than ever to stay heart-centered, kind and compassionate (to ourselves and to others) even when it’s hard.

Simultaneously, as Sun and Moon will meet in the nakshatra of Venus, Venus herself will be debilitated in sidereal Virgo and approaching Ketu, which may increase in some people a certain sense of dissatisfaction and result in various compensations - a particular aspect of this fortnight for each of us to be very watchful about. When dissatisfaction with current situation arises, remember to rather step back and take time for yourself to resolve the inner issue rather than enforce your preferences on others or engage in direct confrontations.

Learn more about Purva Phalguni Nakshatra: https://thenakshatras.com/purva-phalguni-nakshatra

On 19th August Moon will reach its fullness in the Aquarius portion of Dhanishta Nakshatra - the star of finding your true rhythm and following your heart. Dhanishta Nakshatra, bridging sidereal Capricorn and Aquarius, the very center of zodiacal root chakra, is all about our embodied wisdom and embodied intuition - about finding wisdom in our bodies, our reactions, our biological impulses and instincts. 

This Full Moon will inspire us to pause for a moment, reach beyond the chatter of the mind and listent to the implicit wisdom of the body, the nature around us and the spirit. This theme will be especially prominent in this fortnight, as during the entire two weeks leading to the Full Moon Mercury will remain retrograde, thus furtherly inspiring us to find what we are looking for within - and learn to communicate and connect beyond words.

The Full Moon itself will be also loosely conjuct with retrograde Saturn which will furtherly increase our need for contemplation and self-reflection. But it may also bring some memories from the past that are unresolved and require healing. It is a powerful time to heal the past, break free from some old habits and find new sources of motivation - and new rhythms within us.

Learn more about Dhanishta nakshatra: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/dhanishta-nakshatra/

New Moon in Ashlesha Nakshatra

4 August 2024

This week Sun and Moon will meet on 18 degree in sidereal Cancer, in the early portion of Ashlesha Nakshatra, where its brightest star (yogatara) is located. Ashlesha Nakshatra is not only about deep transformations, alchemy of change, profound insights and healing our outdated patterns in the same way how the serpents (presiding deities of this lunar mansion) shed their skin. It is also about vishashleshana shakti or our capacity to drink or embrace the poison - to stay with those uncomfortable feelings inside of us and allows ourselves to be vulnerable for a moment. Because without allowing ourselves to visit those uncomfortable places within us, no true healing can really happen. And, as you can imagine, this particular New Moon will be quite powerful for personal healing and deeper transformation.

Learn more about Ashlesha Nakshatra here: https://www.thenakshatras.com/ashlesha-nakshatra/