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.