Timeline Astrology

When Everything Starts to Fall Away

There are times in life when things don’t just change; they dissolve. Plans fall away. Identity loosens its grip. What once felt solid no longer holds its ground.

In astrology, this is often the domain of Ketu, the South Lunar Node.

Ketu doesn’t build (usually), it strips things back to their essence. It removes what you’ve outgrown, whether you’re ready to let go or not. It can feel disorienting. But it also opens something deeper.

This week, I’ve begun a new series on the planetary periods (daśās), starting with Ketu—the most misunderstood of them all.

If you’ve ever felt like life was pulling you inward, away from external focus, this may explain why.

This is one of the planetary periods in my book, Daśā Vidyā. The book explores how these periods unfold over time, not just as external events, but as lived experiences that shape your inner world.

Ketu’s periods, in particular, reveal how loss and uncertainty can quietly redirect you toward something more essential.

Kishori joins me in the next episode of our Maps of Consciousness series as we explore the lunar mansion of Rohiṇī. Often described as the most alluring of the nakṣatras, Rohiṇī is what I like to call the comfortable one. It carries a passionate and fertile quality, radiating warmth, beauty, and sensual pleasure.

This is a creative and nourishing space in the zodiac — a place where life seeks to grow, flourish, and take form. Its symbol, the chariot, evokes movement toward prosperity, comfort, and abundance, reflecting Rohiṇī’s natural capacity to cultivate something both beautiful and enduring.

The New Moon in Aries makes it feel as though the year is finally getting underway. Although the Lunar New Year begins with the New Moon in Pisces, Aries transits often feel more decisive, bringing a stronger impulse for new beginnings.

This lunation encourages you to start something new in your life—especially as the days following lead into Akṣaya Tritiya, traditionally one of the most auspicious times of the year for initiating important actions.

The New Moon occurs in Aśvinī, the lunar mansion I call “the swift one.” True to its nature, it supports fresh starts after the endings that typically accompany the previous Pisces cycle.

There is an important lesson embedded in this time of year: every new beginning requires letting go of an old way of being. As one part of the zodiac closes, another opens. While earlier in the year we are often completing what was previously begun, this period brings new opportunities we are eager to engage with.

That said, there are still several caveats to keep in mind. Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune are all gathered closely together in Pisces, forming a dense cluster that may make it feel as though the past is lingering. Even as new beginnings appear, some endings may still be unfolding, leaving us feeling temporarily stuck.

Despite this, the Sun’s exaltation in Aries is something to celebrate. Whatever is still resolving behind the scenes, you may at least feel a growing sense of confidence about your next step.

One final caution: a New Moon in Aśvinī can encourage impulsive action. If you feel eager to move forward—perhaps because you’ve felt held back for too long—it may be wise to pause before rushing ahead.

By all means, begin something as this new energy enters your life again, but consider waiting until April 19, when both the Sun and Moon are exalted, and the Moon has begun waxing once more. Until then, the dark phase of the Moon—the New Moon itself—is better suited to planting seeds rather than acting too quickly.

The Full Moon in Hasta, the ‘hand’ in sidereal Virgo, brings focus, clarity, and precision. It’s an excellent time to be productive and attend to practical tasks. With so much uncertainty in Pisces, use this energy to focus on small, manageable details you can get to grips with.

Virgo balances the Piscean influence of the Sun, Saturn, Neptune, and Mars, which can bring both inspiration and confusion—all at once. The remedy is simple: get organised and take practical steps for this Full Moon phase. This might be as small as tidying your desk, or as significant as putting parts of your life back in order.

Hasta sits in the middle of Virgo, where Mercury is exalted, making it one of the most skilful and dexterous lunar mansions. However, Mercury moves into Pisces by April 10, so it’s wise to organise things now, before delays or confusion set in. A helpful exchange between Mercury in Pisces and Jupiter in Gemini will offer some support, but clarity may still elude you.

The solution is both simple and complex: bring things into order first, then let go. Yet balance isn’t about constant surrender, but about accepting what cannot be improved. A little organisation now will make the coming weeks much easier to navigate.

Communication, travel, and trade challenges escalate in April as Mercury and Mars enter Pisces. While we try to maintain an even keel, we may be at a loss. Though Mercury is weak in Pisces, it exchanges signs with Jupiter in Gemini. This lends itself to a deeper understanding than might be apparent at first glance.

But you must take the rough with the smooth in April, as Mars’s conjunction with Saturn and Neptune, which coincides with Mercury’s conjunction, may leave you unsure how to respond. Things may feel like they’re speeding up and slowing down at the same time.

Mars conjunct Neptune alone makes things unclear. Best keep your interpretation of events wide open. It is a more creative time, although some would use this time to be creative with the truth.

Venus spends much of the month in Aries before moving into Taurus. You must be mindful of potential tensions when it seems harder to get along. Together with Mercury in Pisces, conjunct Mars, Saturn, and Neptune, you may indeed say the very thing that gets you into trouble. Tap into the discernment of Jupiter in Gemini.

Peace negotiations are likely a significant theme, given the ongoing wars that exacerbate problems in global structures. As tensions escalate, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a level head and respond rationally.

Together with Mars, conjunct Neptune and Saturn in Pisces, the most obvious manifestation is the blockage of oil in the Middle East, likely due to increased fighting. This is likely to create disruptions in the economy and energy infrastructure, which is a larger story that must unfold in the coming months.

Though these transits may feel disruptive, they also bring the changes many of us are ready to embrace. By the end of April, Venus enters Taurus, and we become more appreciative of life’s simple pleasures, perhaps because many in the world are without even the basics.

As the planet of love and beauty moves through its home sign, there is much to be grateful for. However, one important caveat: Venus conjoins Uranus in Taurus, once again shaking up resources and relationships, whether personal or global.

April sees all the visible planets gathered on one side of the Lunar Nodes, creating a more pronounced sense of imbalance and a divisive atmosphere. Weather patterns may also be more extreme. The coming months are likely to be more extreme in various unusual and unpredictable ways. When everything is this polarised, events often push us toward one side or the other.

Fortunately, the Sun’s yearly exaltation in Aries from mid-April to mid-May restores a sense of confidence and initiative. It reminds us that we still have the strength to confront whatever challenges the month may bring, of which there are likely to be more than a few.

This New Moon on March 19 at 01.23 UT marks the Lunar New Year in the Vedic calendar, signalling an important reset for 2026 and setting the tone until the next New Moon in Pisces in April 2027.

The New Moon falls in Uttara Bhādrapadā, 'the latter auspicious steps', a lunar mansion in the heart of sidereal Pisces. This brings emotional depth and moral gravity, but also a necessary slowness — especially with Saturn and Neptune moving deliberately through the sign.

Uttara Bhādrapadā is empathetic and virtuous, capable of carrying collective feeling, yet it can also require withdrawal and solitude to process the bigger changes. A New Moon naturally calls for retreat, and this Lunar New Year marks a particularly meaningful pause and reset.

Be patient with the changes unfolding now. They are slow by necessity, laying the groundwork for changes that are real, enduring, and deeply rooted.

The Full Moon in Leo is a total lunar eclipse, reaching its maximum at 11:33 am GMT on March 3. Whether or not it’s visible where you are, this is not an eclipse to observe outwardly. Instead, it invites stillness, as the Sun, Moon, Earth, and Lunar Nodes align. This alignment offers a moment of resolution. It's a chance to connect the dots and bring closure to matters linked with this area of your life.

Collectively, we’re likely to see revelations or reckonings involving leaders and authority figures. A clear example is the ongoing release of the 'Epstein files', exposing the decay at the heart of leadership and celebrity culture. With Ketu, the South Node, involved, there is a stripping away, reduction, or removal of what no longer holds.

The eclipse occurs in Pūrva Phālgunī, 'the former fruitful one', highlighting the darker side of fame, pleasure, and celebrity. These themes have been intensifying since Ketu entered Leo last year and are now reaching resolution.

On a personal level, this eclipse illuminates our own relationship with authority, autonomy, and self-expression. There is also the risk of projection: as Rāhu conjoins the Sun, a kind of mob mentality can emerge, demanding punishment or scapegoats. Groupthink may seek blood rather than understanding.

Yet this is still a Full Moon in Pūrva Phālgunī — a creative, pleasure-seeking lunar mansion — celebrated in India as Holi, the festival of colours. Joy, creativity, and sensuality remain available, provided we acknowledge the shadow that accompanies this eclipse.

March is a divisive, electrically charged month, with all visible planets aligned on one side of the Lunar Nodes. Mars and a retrograde Mercury conjunct the North Node in Aquarius stir unrest, misinformation, and nervous energy, while the ongoing Saturn–Neptune conjunction in Pisces continues to dissolve idealism we can no longer rely on. The compensating factor is Venus exalted in Pisces, offering moments of grace, compassion, and connection amid the frenetic energy. Discernment is more possible, as Jupiter stations direct, keeping a close eye on proceedings.

Venus in Pisces (March 1–25)
Venus moves through its sign of exaltation, acting as the month’s primary stabiliser. While it must pass through the Saturn–Neptune conjunction, it offers emotional softness, creative refuge, and spiritual connection. This supports compassion and empathy, but also warns against idealisation and escapism. Venus here can lift us above the chaos, but also asks us to stay grounded in reality.

Full Moon in Leo — Total Lunar Eclipse (March 3)
This total lunar eclipse marks a culmination and reckoning, particularly around leadership, authority, fame, and power dynamics. With Ketu involved, there is a stripping away — exposure, reduction, or removal of what no longer aligns with the groundswell movement in Aquarius. Personally, this eclipse asks for reflection on autonomy, self-expression, and projection. Collectively, it can fuel groupthink and scapegoating, even as it brings necessary revelations. Stillness, rather than reaction, is the wiser response.

Jupiter Stations Direct in Gemini (March 11)
Jupiter’s direct station begins a slow restoration of perspective. Though uncomfortable in Gemini, Jupiter here encourages reassessment of information, narratives, and assumptions. This is not instant clarity, but a shift toward wiser discernment. It’s a moment to pause, review what you know, and accept that decisions may still need to be provisional as the bigger picture emerges.

Mars and Mercury Conjunct the North Node (March 13–15)
This is one of the most volatile signatures of the month. Mars conjoined Rahu exaggerates drive, anger, and nervous tension before depletion sets in. Energy spikes are followed by burnout; action without awareness leads to disruption. This transit correlates with unrest, accidents, blackouts, tech issues, and erratic behaviour. The demand is for new strategies, not brute force. Persistence without adaptability may backfire.

Sun in Pisces (March 14 – April 12)
The Sun joins Saturn and Neptune, spotlighting leadership crises, power struggles, and confusion about direction. This exposes weaknesses, dissolving outdated structures. Though heavy, it offers the potential for humility, reflection, and recalibration — especially if ego is set aside.

Equinox (March 20)
The Equinox marks a threshold moment — a balance point between light and dark. With the New Moon and Lunar New Year occurring the day before, this period calls for slowness, attentiveness, and conscious transition. Rather than pushing forward, this is a moment to sense where the year is truly heading.

New Moon in Pisces — Lunar New Year (March 19)
This New Moon begins the Vedic year Parābhava, associated with decline, defeat, and the fall of entrenched power. Occurring in Uttara Bhādrapadā, it carries emotional gravity, moral seriousness, and the need for retreat. This is a deep reset — slow, deliberate, and foundational. The changes seeded now unfold over the coming year, demanding patience and trust in a longer arc of change.

Mercury Stations Direct (March 21)
Mercury’s station brings the sense that movement is possible again, but with an important caveat: it remains tightly conjunct Rahu. While ideas and plans begin to take shape, confusion and distortion persist. This is a preparatory phase, not a moment for final decisions. Keep options open and allow clarity to mature into April.

"Forgive yourself for not knowing earlier what only time could teach."

In this special sign-based forecast for the Timeline Astrology podcast, I dive into the Saturn–Neptune conjunction for each sign. This once-in-a-generation alignment dissolves old patterns while demanding realism. Saturn’s reality meets Neptune’s ideals, urging you to confront what’s been ignored, clarify what's truly possible, and learn to build your vision rather than merely fantasising about it.

This New Moon in Aquarius falls in Dhaniṣṭhā and takes the form of an annular solar eclipse. This is a highly charged reset. The eclipse is hemmed in by powerful planetary forces: Mars and Pluto on one side, Saturn and Neptune on the other, with Venus exactly conjunct Rahu. Mercury is drawn into the mix, while Jupiter aspects from Gemini and is itself aspected by Rahu. Everything is activated.

Even without the eclipse, the Saturn–Neptune conjunction signals profound shifts in global structures. Although the eclipse path is largely over Antarctica, symbolism matters: previously unseen landscapes are being revealed even here, mirroring how hidden realities are coming to light elsewhere.

Dhaniṣṭhā is ruled by the Vasudevas, the eight elemental deities that together provide everything needed to accomplish a goal. For this reason, it is closely tied to alliances, coordination, and collective purpose - an Aquarius theme. Under an eclipse, however, some alliances are breaking while others are forged. These changes rarely occur on the exact date; the eclipse serves as a pivot point for developments already underway and those yet to unfold.

Globally, this points to major realignments in power blocs and partnerships, with organisations such as NATO being one visible expression. Seismic activity may also accompany this period, but it may also simply be figurative.

Personally, this eclipse asks you to observe how all the elements in this area of your life are coming together - or falling apart - so that something can be reconfigured. Eclipses mark changes that must happen, regardless of preference, and emotions tend to run high around them.

By the lunar eclipse on March 3, you’re more likely to reach clarity or resolution around what this reset has set in motion.

The night before the New Moon and eclipse, the 14th lunar day of the dark fortnight, is called Mahā-Śivarātri, the ‘great night of Śiva’. Śiva wears the crescent Moon in his hair, a symbol of the Moon's resetting of time. This year, this is an even more powerful reset because it’s an eclipse; a vigil at the edge of dissolution, where everything falls silent for a time.