Lunar Cycle in Vedic Astrology

In two weeks (8 April) we are going to experience a powerful Total Solar Eclipse in Revati Nakshatra in sidereal Pisces, where Sun, Moon and Rahu, along with exalted Venus, will be conjuct together. It’s going to make this lunar fortnight particularly spiritually charged and make us all more inspired to dive within and connect with the Divine. 

Venus exalted around the luminaries with Rahu also indicates that it is a powerful time to work on opening our heart, cultivating compassion and consciously choose to let go and forgive, as universe is going to support us in that during those days. But, as it often is, if we rather choose to resist, that very process of opening the heart may manifest in a more painful or stressful way.

This bright fortnight will lead us up to the first eclipse of this year, which will coincide with a particularly auspicious Full Moon, known as appearance day of Goddess Lakshmi. This makes this entire fortnight particularly sacred for Mother Lakshmi and Goddess Kamalatmika. It is a powerful time to connect with our intuitive power and learn how to trust our instincts more than our mind.

During this auspicious fortnight you may like to connect with Goddess Lakshmi through those guided meditations: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/meditate-with-lakshmi/

…or dive even deeper through a transformative 50-day process called “Journey with Lakshmi”: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/meditative-journey-with-lakshmi/

This dark fortnight is going to culminate with New Moon in transformative Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra, preceded by the Great Night of Lord Shiva, known as Mahashivaratri. 

This fortnight was always seen by the ancient sages as the time for inner purification, introspection and intensifying our spiritual practice, as it often brings some of our inner demons to the surface of our awareness and thus gives us the opportunity to face our shadows and transform them. This year, in particular, the dark fortnight of Lord Shiva may stir from deep within us many conflicting emotions, as Sun and Moon will be conjuct with Saturn and Venus during the Shivaratri and the New Moon itself - which is a very complex conjunction to experience for every planet involved. This is the time to look deep within and avoid active participation in any external conflict.

Get ready for one of the most powerful Full Moons of the year: Full Moon in Magha Nakshatra, occurring on 24 February 🌝

When Moon shines with its full rays in Magha Nakshatra, which represents the very point between our eyebrows, the third eye chakra of intuition, higher consciousness and our connection with the Divine, our whole consciousness becomes enlightened with its rays. This year it is going to be a particularly powerful one, as it will be receiving aspects from 5 different planets: benevolent Jupiter from Aries, Sun, Saturn & Mercury from Aquarius and exalted Mars from Capricorn. 

This Full Moon is also known as Lalita Jayanti or appearance day of Goddess Lalita, one of the 10 Mahavidyas. While the first 9 days of this Shukla Paksha are sacred to Goddess Matangi, closely associated with Lalita. You can learn more about both Goddesses here: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/mahavidyas-10-mystical-goddesses/

The upcoming New Moon in Dhanishta Nakshatra, in the last degrees of sidereal Capricorn, which is zodiacal root chakra, will bring with itself new dynamic energy, inspiring us to to be bold and move forward in life. Simultaneously as the Moon will be approaching the Sun in Capricorn throughout this dark fortnight, Mars will be also moving there, towards his exaltation place. Entire universe will be pushing us forward and inspiring us to be courageous - especially when it comes to realising our ideas on material level. It is great time to make some real steps towards realising our plans, initiate new things, tackle the postponed or delayed projects and find practical, down to earth solutions to current challenges. 

The Sun and Moon will meet once again in the amsha of Goddess Bhairavi, shakti of fearlessness, inspiring us to go beyond our comfort zone and focus on real life action. The Divine Mother in this form will be teaching us this time to get out of our head and stop overthinking things, but focus on the practical solutions in the present moment.

Here you can learn more about Dhanishta Nakshatra: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/dhanishta-nakshatra/

After recent transformative New Moon, the upcoming Full Moon in Pushya Nakshatra will bring into our lives more nourishing and soft energies, inspiring us to focus our attention on protecting and nurturing that, which is most precious to us. Moon shining at the heart of its own sidereal sign, Cancer, will be inspiring us to get in touch with more gentle side of ourselves, address our feelings, and practice compassion and forgiveness - to ourselves and others. It is a powerful time to heal the wounds of the past and let go grudges. 

Additionally, as Rahu and Ketu will be dwelling during this Full Moon in the amsha of all-embracing Goddess Bhuvaneshwari in the D20 chart, the universe will simultaneously try to encourage us to learn how to accept ourselves and others as they are, and focus more on love and kindness rather than trying to be right. It is a perfect time to cultivate more heart-centered approach to life and get in touch with more spiritual and mature side of ourselves.

Here you can learn more about Pushya Nakshatra: https://thenakshatras.com/pushya-nakshatra

And here you can learn more about Goddesses of Vimshamsha (D20) chart: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/goddesses-of-the-vimshamsha-chart-d20/

The upcoming New Moon in Purvashadha Nakshatra will be of intensely fierce nature. As Moon and Sun will meet in Purvashadha Nakshatra, the fierce star of purifying waters, in the fiery heart of Sagittarius, they will be very near the amsha of Goddess Bhairavi in Vimshamsha (D20) chart, where the lunar nodes currently reside, exactly 90 degrees away from Sun’s and Moon’s meeting point. Yet, the very same transformative energy, will also help us to move some things forward, push us out of our comfort zone and have courage to take on new challenges.

The upcoming Full Moon will stir many emotions within us and cause some inner churnings, as Moon will be shining in transformative Ardra nakshatra, while Sun will be aspecting it from equally intense lunar mansion, Mula. Additionally, the peak of the Full Moon will happen with both Sun and Moon occupying transformative ashtamamsha padas of their respective Nakshatras. Channeling the powerful energies of Shiva and Shakti, this Full Moon will present us with many opportunities for our spiritual growth and transformation, but at the same time will challenge our attachments to comfort zone and limited beliefs. Not without a reason this particular Full Moon of the year is also known as Bhairavi Jayanti - the day of Bhairavi, Goddess of Fearlessness, who challenges us to move beyond our limitations towards the unlimited divine consciousness within.

New Moon in Jyeshta Nakshatra, in the heart of sidereal Scorpio, is usually one of the most transformative ones in a year. Moon, the significator of our mind, goes through inner churning while residing in Scorpio, which is additionally amplified by combustion experienced by it during the New Moon time. Pushed far away from its comfort zone, mind in such a state can be more prone to irritation, frustration, finding fault in things and negative attitude. With Mars being closely conjuct with the New Moon, we might be additionally prone to anger - while Saturn’s aspect upon it can easily challenge our fears and limits. The conflict between those two inimical and tamasic planets experiencing mutual aspect will significantly intensify the tensions around the New Moon time.

And yet, a New Moon so powerful, can be an incredible opportunity to truly transform our shadows, face our fears and rise above our limitations with courage. After all, Jyeshta Nakshatra is all about growth and strive for perfection - also on spiritual level. A challenge is, after all, just an opportunity to grow. Additionally, during this New Moon, Sun and Moon will be conjuct in the amsha of Goddess Bhairavi in the D20 chart, who does not only challenge use to rise above our fears, but also inspires courage to grow and evolve.

This Full Moon in Rohini Nakshatra, although spiritual charged, will simultaneously challenge us on many levels and inspire us to grow, as the very power (rohana Shakti) of this lunar mansion indicates. With Venus (disposition of the upcoming Full Moon) heading towards Ketu and her max debilitation place in Virgo, and Mars combust during the entire fortnight, we may experience that many of our desires, wishes, hopes and expectations in the external world might end up in disappointment - and the resulting dissatisfaction may influence many to become more prone to frustration and anger outbursts. But if we utilise this time instead to turn within towards the inexhaustible source of happiness and love inside our hearts, independent from external factors, we may find out that even if we feel dissatisfied, there is a part of us which always remains full. It is a beautiful time to practice gratitude (instead of focusing on what we lack) - especially in the sphere of relationships, which might be particularly challenged those days.