rahu

The Rahu Ketu axis

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Most astrologers call Rahu /Ketu as ‘imaginary planets’, or ‘mathematical points’, which is doing them a great injustice. You can never understand your chart if you do not analyse Rahu /Ketu. In Jyotish the correct term is ‘graha’ .(Graha means, force, giving, holding, seizing, seizer, holder, giver, taker, etc).

You live your life on several levels. How do you look like? The human body which you see in the mirror is not even 1% of how you really look. And we are obsessed about the physical body that we see. (Sometimes I see beautifully made-up and dressed up people, expensive clothes and accessories with such filthy auras and energies, can’t bear sitting next to them. We Indians have this habit of doing namsakar when we meet others, that way we don’t need to touch them.) 

Your energy, your naadi network, your chakras, even each organ looks different, the aura, your higher, sub-conscious and astral selves, everything, is so much much more. You live and work for a very tiny part of your life in the physically perceived universe and significantly more in the astrally perceived realms. So every graha has its other astral/ indescribable components. Rahu and Ketu are completely ‘other’ graha, they do not have any part of themselves visible in the conscious/subconscious dimensions. They exist at levels much more deeper than that.

The Rahu Ketu axis

 

All of us live out our lives in the occult dimensions as well as the physical realm. There is nothing called as a ‘past’, ‘present’, ‘future’, ‘parallel’ life. Everything is occurring in this single moment simultaneously. All of us are aware of our this multi-dimensional self, all of us. But it is so staggering that most of us shut it out, perhaps for fear that our minds will crack or that we need to resolve a few karma. Some of us keep all this open, how ‘open‘ depends on the planetary positions and the chart as a whole. If your karmic balance is more to do with these dimensions, your perceptions will be more ‘open’.

Some use sun-signs, some moon-signs, some focus on the ascendant lord but it is illogical to say which one graha is more important than the other. This ‘importance’ depends on the question that one seeks to answer. Most modern astrologers do not find Rahu/Ketu to be important and relegate them to the shadows. This is the result of our times, we are more interested in shallow materialistic things and refuse to appreciate the subtlety of our existence (nothing wrong about it, each one has his own priorities).

But on the deeper levels, the Rahu/Ketu axis is what drives you, all your aspirations, desires, ambitions are Rahu, the karmic ties which you still have to unwind. And all those detachments, apathies, disinterests are Ketu, you have saturated yourself with these objects so are now completely indifferent to them. In very simple language they represent the effect of the Earth (Bhu the first vhyarhuti) on your soul. The reason you manifest on the Earth is Rahu/Ketu.

You are the Ultimate, so what are you doing on the lowest energy level/Bhu? The answer is Rahu/Ketu. The energies of the entire chart are channelised by the Rahu/Ketu axis. You have a train full of valuables, and its engine is Rahu! It is very important to have support from the all the planets in the chart, e.g. ascendant lord – overall ‘fitting in’, Moon -stability, Sun -self-confidence, Mercury -thinking, Mars-fearlessness, Saturn-pragmatic work, Venus-esoteric knowledge, Jupiter-conventional knowledge, etc to navigate the realms of Rahu/Ketu.

Rahu/Ketu mature very late in life at 48yrs years of age, so by then you have more or less finished your material duties and can now start on your spiritual agenda. They make you work at the deepest levels beyond the conscious and the sub-conscious both.

Energy-wise Rahu is more airy/Vata and Ketu more fiery/Pitta. Both are considered to be the enemies of the luminaries, Sun and Moon. Now Sun represents your consciousness/jivatma/soul/ego also your Pingala nadi and Moon represents you at the subconscious/emotional/astral levels and your Ida nadi. Rahu/Ketu thus have the ability to occult the You in several dimensions. And from the energy point of view only when Ida and Pingala are occulted i.e. shut, can pran flow through the central Sushumna nadi complex. So now can you appreciate the vital importance of Rahu/Ketu! When Rahu/Ketu occult the Sun/Moon, wonder what shows through? Energy cannot be destroyed only transmuted. When the lenses of Rahu/Ketu eclipse the oh-so-shiny luminaries, wonder what they allow us a glimpse of?

These are considered to be Serpents. Serpents actually mean karmic bindings. If you have read this post, kundalini is also considered to be a serpent as it binds. To free yourself from the limited sense of self-identification as Priya, Amit and Manish you have to break free of the kundalini and Rahu/Ketu energy too. Serpents guard treasure, here the /Rahu-Ketu Serpents guard your karmic balance. What binds you is also what makes you free. If Rahu/Ketu have bound you, then they have the capacity to set you free too. If Devi Mahamaya has bound you through her Serpent-Kundalini then She has the power to set you free too, thus spiritual aspirants do Devi mantra/yagnya etc aradhana and Ketu is considered to be the real moksh karak.

Rahu/Ketu are the equal and opposite counter-forces of attachment and apathy. These energies are used to churn the Mahameru within you. The story of Samudra Manthan has 54 dev and 54 danav churning the Meru in the Ksheer-Samudra. The rope used for churning is again the Serpent Vasuki. So many karmic events push and pull us constantly till the infinite Samudra gives up his treasure of immortality/self-knowledge. These karmic events on the deepest spiritual levels occurring in your life are linked to Rahu/Ketu placements, dashas and transits. If truly analysed, you can see that they are indeed pulling and pushing you towards your real self-identification.

This is the real use of Jyotish the science of illumination. Of course you can answer mundane questions like, ‘when will I get married’ or ‘when will I get a job’, you will get your answers. But sometimes do analyse your chart in the spiritual context to delve deeply into your real self.

 

The Rahu Ketu axis

Exalted and debilitated, Rahu, Ketu and Saturn

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About exalted/ucch and debilitated/neech planets again. I had written about Sun, Moon and Mars in my post here. Here let us talk about Saturn, Rahu/North Node and Ketu/South node. Exalted is when a planet feels at home and its energy perfectly matches the energy of the environment/sign. And conversely, when the energy of the planet is perfectly mis-matched with the energy of the rashi environment it is ‘debilitated’.

Astrology is just matching energies. Start by learning the basic keywords and see if you can you can understand the energies of the 12 houses/signs and the 9 planetary forces. If you want you can read on the combinations and yogas/doshas later but first learn these basics. Astrology is quite simple actually.

Exalted and debilitated, Rahu, Ketu and Saturn

Saturn, is exalted in Libra and debilitated in Aries.

Saturn is the King of Karma! He subsumes his personality for the greater good of the society. He works anonymous among the masses and does not care about acknowledgment. He works tirelessly and endures so that everyone reaps what they have sowed. He is into redressing old hurts, balancing pending Karma and restores fairness and discipline. His work is his fulfilment. Saturn needs structure, discipline, maturity, hierarchy and austerity.He serves and in his service, he Rules.

In Libra/Tula the airy, intellectual sign of his friend Venus/Shukra, he gets maximum opportunity to carry on his work. Venus happily hosts his friend Shani and honors him as the agent of social Justice. And Shani supported by the intellect and inherent fairness of Libra, does his work with aesthetics and beauty. Karma is beautifully balanced! Saturn in Libra becomes great in public related legal issues and is exceptionally materially successful. He addresses old karmas by his legal/balanced service to a large section of the society. His spiritual activity will also be regular and he will learn about constraints and restraints on his personality, which then he will be able to work through. The only fear he faces here is the fear of illegality and unbalance, and this fear is addressed in the environment of the sign itself.

In impulsive Aries however, the rigid, slow-to-move Shani finds himself at a loss. Though Mars is neutral to him, he views the aggressive youthful Mars as an enemy. In Aries/Mesha, Shani, creates fears and resistance from the physical body and the environment both. He constricts innovation, instinct and competition. He demands that in the ‘Sign of the Champions’, rules, regulations and social equality be followed. He refuses to provide energies for explorations and new ventures. The body frame wants to be visible, win and shine, but Saturn insists on anonymity and drudgery.  Saturn tries to perform his obligations but fails unless other planets placements help him. Aries’s energies are invasive and contrary to Saturn’s true nature of Social Justice.

Rahu, is exalted in Taurus and debilitated in Scorpio

Rahu is the ambitious one, always over-reaching and falling. Yet he never surrenders. He respects no boundaries and is never satisfied. He is an expert in camouflage and can pretend to be anyone or anything as long as thinks he can gain. He has the courage and daring to attempt, often over-extends.

Rahu is at his acquisitive best in Taurus/Vrushabh. The earthy energies of this sign allow him to indulge in his cravings for lineage, treasures, resources, hoards, food/drink, song and dance. The solidity of the treasure house fascinates his Serpent/Naag mind. He allows himself sensual pleasures and indulgence here. Here in Taurus he can break rules under a superficial garb of legality and earn even more wealth for himself. He can shine in the banking sector. He has gained a good family back-up for himself, and he leverages his assets to shine in the social area too. Thus Rahu’s every ambition is allowed expression in this house of Venus and he unfailingly takes advantage of it.

In Scorpio, Rahu suffers in a curious way. This watery sign is of secret thrills. The owner Mars lets Rahu use his energies, but to enter the mind and the shadows. Here Rahu becomes a successful tantric, energy-worker, an explorer, archaeologist, someone who works alone, away from the society. He delves into the past and the dark with ambitions and ideas of self-gain. He is then a knower-of-secrets, sometimes applauded in the society but generally feared. He cannot claim his social privileges and his assets of secret knowledge cannot be displayed. The society does not understand his ambitions and is wary of him. Rahu is denied social mobility here, which chafes.

Exalted and debilitated, Rahu, Ketu and Saturn

Ketu, is exalted in Scorpio and debilitated in Taurus

Ketu is Apathetic. He does not care, one way or the other. He offers detachment and dissociation from the manifested. He is unwanted and does not want. Directionless, desireless and headless, he is the rootless wanderer. He is alone, ethereal and other-worldly.

Now this ‘Cut-off Ketu’ in the house of treasures is completely out of place. In the very physical Taurus he, the nebulous one, is not bothered with assets of the family, its money, wealth, resources, history etc, but conversely he is supposed to look after them. How can he? He has no head remember! He is not interested in sensual pleasures, partying, spending quality time with the family/friends and food/drink or song/dance. Utterly detached from social hierarchies and position of the family in the society. He has no permanent value and thus get no validation from the society. Ketu does not block the pleasures houses of Taurus, just that he does not attach to them. He might appreciate these luxuries but is not acquisitive, is rather detached. Venus’s sign Taurus fails to charm Ketu.

In Scorpio however Ketu feels better at home. Secret transformations are ok with him, place any ‘head’ on him, change his personality, it is all the same to him. He enters the terrifying forces of magic, occult, secrets, emergencies, death and rebirth with that same detachment of an observer. He can become a good doctor, surgeon, tantric, etc, it’s a pull from the past lives, but the thrill of exploration does not exist now. Been there done that! This non-attachment can actually lead to great spiritual development and then Moksh!

When analysing Rahu/Ketu placements, emphasis should be given on the house/sign owner, the planets/conjunct and aspecting both. These are nodes of great power and their power is directed and modified heavily by these other forces.

This was how exalted and debilitated Saturn, Ketu and Rahu behave. If you understand their basic natures its quite easy to analyse. Astrology is all about matching patterns and analysing them. The chart is like a palimpsest, it will reveal its secrets one layer at a time.

 

 

 

 

 

Rahu the trickster

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Rahu/North Node and Ketu/South Node are the two nodes of the moon, astronomically points, where the orbit of the moon around the earth cuts the ecliptic. These two nodes are 180degrees apart always and are tremendously important in your chart as they represent the influence of the Earth on you. They, in short, represent your karmic balance and your movement on the road to spirituality. As per our Sanatan Dharm there is always a push and pull between attraction and detachment. Rahu represents the attachments and Ketu the detachments to this world of illusions, the domain of Mahamaya. These two can drown you in the sea of illusions or raise you above to realise your true nature. To read more on Ketu the real Mokshkaraka please click this link. Ketu is also your movement towards the Parameshwar. As per the story these two forces/graha were one entity but separated by the power of Vishnu and now exist as two points of power. Rahu is the head existing without the body and Ketu is the headless body.

Rahu the trickster

Lets discuss Rahu in very simple terms today. Remember always Rahu is just a head, he has no body to carry out whatever he has thought out. He will plot but cannot work for it as he has no hands, no feet no body. He is a mass of all desires, planning and plotting and ways to subvert the system to gain what he is attracted to. A Rahu personality is often between two groups, pretending to be a part of both, when in fact he belongs to neither. Such persons can actually train their these Rahu abilities to be good diplomats, spies and double agents.

Rahu is the master of deceptions, ‘Chhalakarak’, the trickster, maybe a sort of a Loki! In a horoscope he is the agent of ambition. He wants everything, irrespective of entitlement. Example. A Mars will work for it, he will learn the skills, train and then compete with crushing force to win. But a Rahu will wriggle his way through, takes big risks, by hook or crook, he will want to win without working for it. He manages to impress with his skills, sinuous like a snake, he is mesmerising. But in the end, at the point where he seems to achieve his desire, he over-reaches, his deception is uncovered and he spectacularly falls. He desires the ‘process of desire’ not the ‘object of desire’ itself. He is never satisfied.

Rahu’s favourite ambition is social privileges which are available to a social class higher than the one he lives in. And he will do anything to get them. And Saturn is the one planet which can restrict Rahu’s ambitions, and cause his downfall, because Saturn is the strict one who follows the rules and punishes the one who transgresses. Saturn is also the force who regulates the masses, the public and enforces the social structure. He does not like a socially disruptive Rahu in his domain, thus unmasks him.

But Rahu never surrenders, he strives again and fails again and thus the cycle repeats again and again. He represents ambitions not satisfactions. Thus by his very nature he cannot have what he so ardently desires. Identify this pattern in your life. There are 12 houses and Rahu will be placed in one of these 12, so look up the keywords of the houses and keep tabs on your Rahu’s activity. Rahu is always a ‘pretender’, all these keywords are his superficial ambitions, but he himself is not aware of them being superficial. Even if he gains them he will not experience fulfilment.

  1. Rahu in Aries  – This Rahu desires being dominant, being competitive, he wants to push forward, be the first, desires conquest, wants to be a hero in the eyes of the society.
  2. Rahu in Taurus –  In Taurus Rahu desires the act of exploration and hoarding, he wants to collect treasures, may desire working in museums, treasuries and storehouses. he desires money and thus the banking sector. He wants the society to recognize him as a collector and preserver of family/society assets.
  3. Rahu in Gemini – Here Rahu craves conversations and connections. He shows off by talking about messages received from higher authority, feels privileged being a messenger for the elite. He desires being with brothers, siblings and neighbours.
  4. Rahu in Cancer – Rahu here desires security in all its forms, mother, residence, vehicles, landed property, etc. He is fascinated by his ethnic culture, especially maternal culture and attracted to patriotism to the homeland,
  5. Rahu in Leo wants attention. He is superficially a dramatic personality and desires center stage and all forms of creativity. He is capable of creative expression but will always lack in depth. He is especially attracted to his own children, as children are the ultimate expression of the creative force. He often gets trapped in risky speculation. He also desires education, may have a lot of degrees but his knowledge will again be superficial.
  6. Rahu in Virgo desires being of service, he wants to society to recognize him as a martyr to a cause. He will be attracted to crime, addictions, arguments, illnesses, anxieties, and being a victim always fascinates him.
  7. Rahu in Libra wants to show off his ability at diplomacy, negotiations, deals, agreements. He will superficially strive for balance and fairness, internally as always he is his own man.
  8. Rahu in Scorpio is attracted to mysteries, secrets, exploration, magic and long buried treasures. He will desire to roads less travelled, into physical places and also into his subconscious. He can be a good tantrik or work magic.
  9. Rahu in Sagittarius is superficially a pedantic humanitarian with lofty ideals. He desires to show his fatherly side and wants to mentor. He in searching for higher philosophy shows off by external displays of religious fervour.
  10. Rahu in Capricorn is crazy for social status and a high rank in social hierarchy. He is desires privacy in his personal life but at the same time wants to be a social elite, wants money and position. He wants to make rules and is conscious of social prestige.
  11. Rahu in Aquarius desires the markets, the hustle-bustle, the network of people and their interconnections. Strangers and new persons are his domain. He wants to be with the community. He desires social recognition because of his participation in the social activities.
  12. Rahu in Pisces desires the subconscious, the dream-states. He desires guidance from ancestral spirits and intuition. He is fascinated by the spiritual and meditation and contemplation.

Whenever you see your chart the next time, look at the positions of Rahu/Ketu, the houses they occupy, their influences on the other planets either conjunct or opposite. You will get an idea of the spiritual basis of your life. What deeply attracts you and what you are indifferent to. These two forces are the deepest instincts that you have, and they are so deeply buried that they influence everything you do. Understand them and learn more about your own self, your ambitions and your apathies.

 

Rahu the trickster

Eclipses and their energy

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Eclipses are just the 2 solar/lunar where Rahu/Ketu eclipse/hide the Sun/ Moon. Just this one simple statement but with such staggering implications.

There are people now in this modern world who go eclipse spotting and love watching the eclipse and taking photos of the “red moon” or the “diamond ring”, but there are still those people who still follow the ancient instructions on not going out and exposing oneself to the direct rays of the eclipse and doing pujas and jaaps.

Rahu – North node is the forces which attract you subconsciously for this life, the tendencies that you were born with. The desires linked to the karma you decided to resolve in this life.

Ketu – South node is what you are apathetic to in this life, in short the desires you have resolved in your past lives. These now, do not interest or even disinterest you in this life. So you are apathetic to these objects.

Eclipses and their energy

Rahu and Ketu together are the combined influence of Earth on the individual. In astrology we have all the other planets, the earth’s satellite, the Moon, our personal star, the Sun, the other stars as the 27 constellations and every possible influence but astrology seemingly misses out the Earth herself. But no, Rahu-Ketu is the influence that the Earth has on the individual. i.e. the real reason we take birth is Rahu/Ketu, the astral planets.

Geometrically Rahu/Ketu are the points where the orbit of the moon cuts the ecliptic and always 180 degrees apart. In simple words the earth is tilted about its axis by 23.4 degrees. So this tilt gives rise to a lot of things from seasons to Rahu-Ketu.

Sun is our personal energy, irrespective of the individual horoscopes and the placement of the Ascendent/ Moon sign/sun sign, the Sun represents the source of our Energy, our physical-ness, our tendency to dominate, to hold the center stage, our personal charisma, our Ego. The placement of the Sun in turn energizes all the other planets and houses (bhavas) of the horoscope. A well placed Sun generally almost always raises the standard of the horoscope.

Moon is the counterpoint to the Sun, the subconscious, the emotions, the receptivity, the depths of the soul. It indicates our spiritual development and also our deepest wishes and darkest fears. A well placed moon in a horoscope can give artistic genius, or turn you into a spiritual Guru and on the other hand a badly placed moon can lead to insanity even.

During an eclipse do remember that both Sun and Moon are interacting with Rahu/ Ketu. During a solar eclipse, on an amavasya, the Sun will be very close to Rahu or Ketu. On a lunar eclipse, on a purnima, full Moon day, the Moon will be very close to either Rahu or Ketu and the Sun (180 degrees away) will be interacting with the other Node 180 degrees away too.

So the interactions of Rahu-Ketu with the Sun-Moon during an eclipse can trigger deep seated karma which will be brought up to the surface for resolution. Again the eclipse event releases energies which can be positive or negative for a particular individual depending on the individual birth horoscope and the current placement of the planets in the sky in relation to the at birth placements. To make things bearable and to avoid a sudden karmic attack the ancients through astrology prescribed a set of activities to be followed during an eclipse.

  1. Fasting – To not overload the digestive system with food.
  2. Bathing with water from the Ganga or with water energised with mantras.
  3. Wearing natural fabrics like cotton, silk – again for their positive protective energies.
  4. Doing some spiritual practice – this is again to invoke specific energies which will be useful in either mitigating the harmful energies of the eclipse or harnessing the favourable energies of the eclipse. The following can be easily done by all persons –
    • Chanting mantras like Gayatri mantra, Mahamrutunjaya mantra, surya beej mantra, chandra beej mantra, rahu beej mantra, ketu beej mantra. Repeat each mantra 108 times.
    • I have done 108 jaap of sri sukta too, just that it takes about 3 hours and you cant stop or drink water or speak or even get up from your asan while you are doing it. Or I do Dhyan for the 3-4 hrs of the eclipse. In these times, concentrating is easier and time simply seems to flyby.
    • Doing dhyan. Dhyan is actually one of the best activities that you can do during an eclipse.
    • If you like doing havans a simple havan using the above mantras by replacing the “namah” by “swaha” for the beej mantras of surya, chandra, rahu and ketu. A Mahamrutunjaya Homa can be performed by using the mahamrutunjaya homa mantra variation.
    • Reading Durga saptashati (Devi Mahatmya) or the Bhagwad Gita or any other book which strengthens your Shraddha in your source of faith.

So be prepared for the next time an eclipse shows up. Do not lose even one minute of these special periods. Do remember these eclipse events are high energy and are a one-off opportunity for us to capitalize on their energies for balancing our karma.

Eclipses and their energy