Last Updated on July 30, 2020 by astrologerbydefault

The last Vedic year was named Vikari and was from 6th Apr 2019 to 24th Mar 2020. ‘Vikari’ means bad or damaged energy. This past year had Saturn, Ketu and briefly Jupiter in Sagittarius and Rahu in Gemini wrecking havoc in all our lives (I wrote several posts on the combinations from last year do go through them if you are a student of astrology. Use the Index page).

Inauspicious, intense, aggressive karma was released as an unstoppable impulse and it impacted our ability to think logically, create auspicious options, choose intelligently and act correctly. Most of us forgot what our life’s dharma was and actively acted against this. We actively alienated our well-wishers and people who loved us. Instead of taking blessings, we took on curses from others. Look into your behaviour during this past year, especially from Nov 2019 onwards when the energies got even more intense, analyse for yourself.

Corona and COVID 19 is just one part of this karmic turmoil. Each one of us has faced and is facing turmoil in our lives in some way or the other. Frayed emotions, best friends turning hostile, separations from loved ones, more couples divorcing, financial messes, jobs lost, homes broken, health issues, students missing on education, deaths in the family etc. All of us are going through this scripted Rahu-Ketu trauma very intensely at this point in life. (My husband and I are both remembering even more of our past lives and their learnings which we are required to assimilate in our present.)

Economy. In Sharvari, global economy will be worrying. Indian situation is a bit better than the rest of the world, but everyone will feel the pinch. The major reason is that Jupiter this time is behaving quite erratically. Sharvari naam samvatsar, vedic year, is from 25^th Mar 2020 to 13^th Apr 2021. In this period Jupiter will be doing this,

• He was in Sagittarius on new year day
• Entered Capricorn on 29^th Mar
• He will go retrograde in Capricorn on 14^th May
• Return retrograde into Sagittarius on 30^th Jun
• Turn around and move forward in Sagittarius on 13^th Sep
• Enter Capricorn again on 20^th Nov
• Run through Capricorn very fast and enter Aquarius on 6^th Apr 2021.

Jupiter is the agent of expansion, economy, resources, gold, wealth, economy and he is running through signs like this. That too through all the possible eight types of motions from Atichar/very fast to Vakri/ retrograde. And look at the signs involved. Sagittarius is his own sign, in fact his Mooltrikon sign. And it is currently occupied by Ketu till 23^rd Sep, so he really cannot do much there. A fiery incisive cut coupled with expansion and hope. Then Capricorn is his sign of debilitation, already occupied by its own ruler Saturn. Constrictions and expansions, I really wonder what these two will be up to in this environment, as this sign indicates social hierarchy, governments, public activities, mass movements etc. Then we have Jupiter running full tilt into Aquarius, in his Atichar movement at the end of Sharvari.

All this will cause severe shocks in the global economy. Signs of a recession were already there and the Coronavirus precipitated it. Most businesses which shut down at the start of Sharvari will not be able to revive themselves. Few will be able to get back in shape only by the end of 2021. Recession will go on for a couple of years and improve somewhat after Jan 2023. Gold prices will also show fluctuations but still remain very high. Saturn’s influence will ensure austerity and deprivations in our day to day life. We will be required to organise our lifestyles very carefully now. Stuff ruled by Jupiter in your life will show the same erratic pattern, eg if Jupiter is connected to your 3rd house expect issues with your siblings or if he is linked to your 11th house you will face issues with your friends etc.

Saturn in Capricorn is in charge. A very practical advice would be to use your resources very sensibly. Budget and avoid spending on non-essential items, branded goods, luxury items etc. If you have a job do give it your 100%. Saturn will not tolerate laxity now. If you are into business, try using the government schemes which support small business entrepreneurs and earn, but think logically before attempting such projects. He will not allow you the luxury of ego now. No work is small or big and it all will be eventually rewarded in time, you have to be patient. (eg a small tea-shop can also earn well, if you look on it as genuine work rather than something below your dignity.) If you are a student, opt for skilled jobs rather than white-collar jobs. We are going to have to rebuild the economy. People who work with their hands, skilled people will be in demand. Work as trainees or apprentices. He will be focussing on sectors where physical work takes place, eg metals esp iron. Service sector will take a hit, travel for pleasure too, in fact all activities related to leisure and pleasure will not flourish. Professionals related to these sectors will see mass unemployment.

The Society we live in. We will be seeing war like situations in several nations including India. Elections are due in several states and nations, these will give very unusual and messy results. Terrorism will increase, racism and religious fanaticism will create law and problems. Public will disobey the nation’s laws as rifts in the social structure become more prominent. Hot-heads will try to spew dissent. The governments will take strict actions which will lead to civil riots like situations. Social media will be checked by new laws. Crimes will increase, especially the financial ones. There will be a rise in depression, addictions and psychological type of illnesses. Suicides can increase. Mercury is King in Sharvari, so try to keep your mental processes logical and think before you act.

Natural calamities. Some will occur in India and also in the rest of the world. To begin with we are going to face a scorching summer from mid Apr to mid June till the monsoon starts (Sun aspected continuously by Mars). So fires can be there in cities and forests. There could be danger for the east coast and hills on the eastern side, ie the Himalayan region, either an earthquake or severe cyclones. Rains will be unpredictable, heavy and less in some places and cause problems for cities and agriculture, will continue till late. Jupiter is also Sasyadhipati for Sharvari so expect problems in agriculture given his movements in this year.

Corona virus remains a concern. I am getting questions on Corona virus and COVID 19, I have already written on this. Again, India will see some improvement after 14^th Apr. The cases which are coming to light now are those who were infected 2 weeks ago. Though death rates may remain high till Mercury remains debilitated in Pisces. Start and mid-May will see some positive changes. But mid and end of May as planets start going retrograde and combust and June will unpredictable as we face another total solar eclipse in the same Gemini-Sagittarius axis. Some viral infection will be seen in spurts till Sept. June is a very critical month and we should be prepared for this. Open your horoscope, evaluate what the Gemini-Sagittarius axis means to you in your life and take precautions. For India, I am anticipating a worrying dengue wave in the monsoon. We all must take care of our personal health, I cannot emphasise this enough. The governments cannot do it unless we listen to what they are saying. India is relatively better off than the other nations. For the rest of the world, Europe, USA, China and the eastern parts of Asia will be affected more.

Vikari means that damaged energy was triggered in all of us last year. This abnormal year, Vikari, brought out a lot of unfinished negativity from within us. Eg if you have a deep wound festering for several lives, it first has to be re-opened, cleaned out, this process is painful. Then you put medicine on it and bandage it etc. It is very deep, several lives, so will take time to heal. Sharvari means night, specifically the night of the Amavasya (it draws out negative things to ultimately heal), twilight (highly cryptic Sandhya time) and turmeric (very highly medicinal). So in this year all the deep seated negative stuff will be brought out, cleaned up and bandaged with turmeric, it will sting but it is all for your good. We are living through a very unique time, though it may seem painful on the material levels its all for your good on the spiritual levels. You and me have had quite a bit of negative karma accumulated over so many lives which had to be cleaned out. Just that it is happening in one go for all of us very intensely in a very short period of time. All the Karma heavy planets are on an over-drive. (I don’t think there has been such a conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter and Ketu in Sagittarius, Nov-Dec 2019, Jan 2020, in the past 500yrs at least and coupled with a total solar eclipse of Dec 2019 it is after a really long time.)

The challenge now is to strongly think on what you have chosen at birth. If you are an astrologer do go through your chart dispassionately. Think on what your birth chart indicates especially on the spiritual levels and what you have been doing to materialise it. This time is a one-off opportunity for some of us.

One typical thing we choose our karma at birth. We do get some options to tweak it a bit but by and large we have to honor that choice made at birth. Now Saturn is in Capricorn and will go to Aquarius next. He will enforce this choice. So you will be made to follow your own karmic choice at birth during these next 5yrs. He will not let you cannot deviate from it. (He has returned to Capricorn after 30yrs, do some research on world events from 1990-95 or in 1960-65). Saturn rules over karmic duty and when you complete his tasks he will naturally reward you (he is the ruler of the 10^th and 11^th houses of the zodiac). So whatever you have chosen will be brought into sharper focus. Do check out what Capricorn and Aquarius mean in your life and how you have used their energy till now in your life. (eg my favourite Cancer ascendant has Saturn right now in their 7th house, so if someone has started on the spiritual path, best would be to work on this till Saturn exits Aquarius, you will gain a lot then. Or if Leo ascendant, Saturn is now in your 6th house, you will be given opportunities in life to destroy your karmic debts and work to reduce your karma significantly.)

These 5 years are going to be hard work for all of us in every way. This is not the time for pleasure or idleness. Do think logically on what you do, do not be swayed by temporary illusions or shortcuts. Saturn transiting his own signs is an indication of tests coming up. Also do some spiritual practice, eg your Soham mantra, try to convert every breath you take consciously into Soham. You may not get time to sit in full-fledged Dhyan but at least do your Soham with your breath as you work. This will help relax the mind and if you have your mind in your conscious control, success is yours, even if it may take upto 3-5yrs for it to actually materialise in front of you.