Timeline Astrology

The Moon reaches its fullest in Sagittarius by June 22, opposite the Sun, Mercury, and Venus in Gemini. Jupiter, ruling this Full Moon, is transiting Taurus, which clashes with the Full Moon and the planets in Gemini. Jupiter’s ongoing square to Saturn adds to the tension, making resolutions difficult despite the Full Moon in Sagittarius.

Full Moons typically bring closure, but this one is more complex. It emphasizes the mismatch of Jupiter in Taurus, raising questions about whether our pleasures align with our values. Activities, no matter how enjoyable, will prompt us to question our motives.

A Full Moon in Mūla lunar mansion demands deeper truth, not just factual correctness but alignment with our true selves. Mūla asks us to remove falsehoods to connect with our divinity, and through that, with others. The disconnection felt during this Full Moon arises from focusing only on surface-level experiences. Superficial enjoyment, without meaning, fails to satisfy.

Additionally, the North Node (Rahu) in Pisces, another sign ruled by Jupiter, presents a conflict. No matter how right we believe we are, or how wise the advice we follow (Sagittarius), without surrendering to the Divine, everything else is a mere imitation of Truth.

By June 6, the Moon aligns with the Sun in Taurus, in the Rohiṇī lunar mansion—its favourite. According to legend, the Moon favoured Rohiṇī over all his other wives (lunar mansions) and spent more time with her each month, resulting in a curse that made him wax and wane. This story illustrates that lingering too long on pleasures inevitably leads to decline.

Rohiṇī, known as the "red lady," symbolizes sexual arousal and desire, but it also signifies growth in any aspect of life. No wonder the Moon wanted to linger here longer! In Taurus, the Moon is exalted and at its strongest, promoting growth and stabilizing the mind, especially through sensual pleasures.

This New Moon, closely aligned with Venus and forming a square with Saturn, suggests two key actions: enjoy the moment and be sensible. Pay attention to your body's needs, not just your mind's desires.

However, since it’s a New Moon and Venus is hidden by the Sun, the energy is low. Keep this in mind if you feel tempted to indulge—you might not have the resources or energy to sustain it. Enjoy yourself, but don't overdo it, or you might end up feeling more extreme ups and downs.

A Full Moon in Scorpio is emotionally intense. How you experience it depends on your birth chart, daśās, and other transits, as always. A Scorpio Full Moon balances the opposite Taurus. While Taurus focuses on enjoyment and comfort (Venus, Jupiter, and Sun in Taurus), the Moon in Scorpio urges us to embrace change and uncertainty.

Taurus anchors us in sensual pleasures and basic supports, allowing us the luxury of dread. Those with full stomachs and a roof over their heads can entertain doomsday predictions; those who are homeless and starving have other things to worry about. This Full Moon reminds us of life's precariousness, where everything can seem wonderful one moment and lost the next.

This Full Moon is an important pivot in geopolitical unrest and personal resets. It is influenced (aspected) by Saturn, Rahu, Jupiter, and Venus. At the same time, Mars conjoins the recent eclipse degree in Pisces, it highlights themes of change and inevitability, bringing some sort of resolution to things that have recently been triggered.

The Moon reaches fullness in Anurādhā, a lunar mansion in the heart of Scorpio associated with Krishna’s devoted wife Radha, reminding us where our loyalties lie. When the Moon transits Anurādhā, it’s a good time for devotion, making agreements, and marriage. However, this Full Moon sees Venus exactly conjunct Jupiter, both of which conjoin the Sun, prompting us to question the deeper meaning and purpose behind our desires.

The New Moon on May 8 marks the start of a new lunar month in Aries, symbolizing major new beginnings. Both the Sun and Moon are exalted for a couple of days after this New Moon, enhancing their more benevelont influences. This period signals a powerful new phase, suggesting a positive start is on the horizon.

An Aries New Moon encourages proactive steps forward in personal endeavors. Venus' conjunction prioritizes personal needs possibly at the expense of relationships. This self-centric approach could reflect broader societal shifts as well. Yet if you wish to start something new in your life, you're going to have to focus on what you want.

The Bharaṇī New Moon is a period for initiating new ventures with the awareness that all beginnings must end at some point. Bharaṇī’s influence calls for commitment and discipline to nurture these new beginnings in a more focused and deliberate way.

Our last in this particular series looking at Rahu's placement in each sign of the zodiac. This one's all about Rahu in the most sensual and enjoyable sign, Taurus.

Listen to Kishori speak about the difference between "desire as allowing and desire as grasping", as we climax with our "beloved opponent."

During this Full Moon in the Svātī lunar mansion and Libra, opposite an exalted Sun in Aries, we're experiencing a significant moment of resolution and reflection. This marks a culmination point following the recent eclipse, as well as the Mars-Saturn and the Jupiter-Uranus conjunctions. These heavenly events have stirred considerable changes, setting the stage for unexpected developments.

A Full Moon in Libra may be a brief window for peace, particularly as Venus is now at its exaltation degree, yet as Venus quickly moves into Aries, where we find ourselves in a dynamic, and war-like, phase again.

Svātī, meaning 'independent one,' emphasizes our unique paths and the importance of recognizing our differences to us foster connection. If we're not connected to our unique path, we cannot connect with others authentically. Svātī's symbols, a young sprout in the wind and a sword, highlight the necessity of sometimes diverging from the norm to find our balance.

This is a pivotal time for introspection and forging meaningful connections, reminding us that while it’s challenging to maintain peace during turmoil, sometimes shaking things up is essential for achieving balance once again.

During this total solar eclipse, an exceptional celestial alignment occurs with all visible planets arranging themselves in Pisces or its adjacent signs, forming what is known in Vedic astrology as a shula yoga. This event coincides with the start of the Lunar New Year, named Krodhi, which translates to 'angry'.

Interestingly, both the concept of the Krodhi year and the shula yoga alignment underscore themes of anger. Yet, the philosophy around anger is nuanced, suggesting that while unchecked anger can lead to negative outcomes ('bad anger'), when directed towards just causes, it can be transformative ('good anger').

Pisces, the sign central to these events, embodies duality, encouraging the acceptance of complex emotions to achieve inner peace. Essentially, the situation underscores the philosophy of taking things as they come, recognizing that acceptance is a step toward tranquility.

The eclipse happens in the Revatī lunar mansion, which symbolizes completion and readiness for new beginnings. Revatī, meaning 'abundant', is associated with prosperity, spiritual growth, and the transition from one life phase to the next. Its guardian deity is seen as a shepherd guiding souls, reflecting themes of protection, guidance, and the journey towards self-realization.

This Full Moon and partial eclipse in Hasta lunar mansion within sidereal Virgo leads to heightened emotions as we approach the intense solar eclipse on April 8. Despite some unfavourable qualities associated with an eclipse, with the usual precautions being advised, there is great potential to create something new, but only when we can let go of something (Ketu eclipse).

Although eclipses typically suggest caution in starting new ventures, this overall period encourages productivity and manifestation. All that’s needed is a large amount of flexibility regarding outcomes. With Mercury (the Moon's ruler) at the precarious edge of Pisces, an open-minded approach is best as something ends and something new begins.

Despite the inherent uncertainty of the eclipse, it’s a time for engaging in rituals and setting intentions, provided we remain adaptable throughout.

The penultimate episode in our Maps of Consciousness series is at hand as we explore Rahu in Gemini, the most desirous and playful sign.

It's time to choose ...

The New Moon aligns with Saturn and is flanked by an exalted Mars in Capricorn and Rahu in Pisces. The tension that is possible can be harnessed positively, to concentrate your willpower on a specific goal. Saturn's influence brings perseverance, aiding significant achievements if intentions are clear.

The New Moon in Pūrva Bhādrapada lunar mansion symbolizes purification and insight, encouraged by the reflection and discernment that is likely at this time. 

Pūrva Bhādrapada is associated with transformative experiences that bring out the truth, soemtimes, with sudden realizations. It's symbolism includes a two-faced man, a sword, and the front legs of a funeral cot, all reflecting themes of getting to the truth of our existence. Big themes of life and death are emphasized. 

This New Moon marks a critical juncture, propelling us into new, uncharted territories for the upoming eclipses.