In Vedic Astrology November 29, 2023, was the first day of Rahu and Ketu’s transit into the Virgo-Pisces axis where they will stay a year and a half to May 29, 2025. Rahu is the planet of attachment and materialization. Ketu is the planet of detachment and dissolution.
I have been obsessing about this shift, which is appropriate as Rahu and Ketu, otherwise known as the North and South Nodes of the Moon, can be obsessive. Intoxicating is the word my teacher Dennis Flaherty uses to describe their energy.
I like Vedic Astrology for its accurate predictive powers, but I struggle when those predictions are too dark or negative, too fixed, too fatalistic. Even while loving Vedic astrology’s rigorous framework, at the same time I am always tinkering with the symbolism, trying to work the energies of the planets for their best possible results.
Along these lines if we consider that Ketu is the planet that detaches, that lets go, and in its purest form, is the energy that carries us off out of the earthly realm and back to the Godhead. And we consider that Rahu is the energy that materializes us, that brings us down into the earthly realm, then consumes what comes before it ravenously, then…
This suggests if we want to work well with these two energies as they transit new areas of our horoscopes, we should consider focusing on the purer-minded detaching, letting-go-of-things energy of Ketu. That way our detachment will balance with the materializing Rahu side so that what we materialize comes from a better place, one that is in keeping with our highest spiritual aspirations.
See how Western and exploitative my thinking is???
Another useful approach when working with the transiting energies of the nodal axis, is to keep the idea of balancing the two opposing energies in mind. My suggestion above to focus on the more spiritual side of the axis in Ketu ignores that Ketu’s detaching energies often easily lead us into fantasy and illusion. Most of us are not spiritually evolved gurus that have figured out how to work well with Ketu.
Rahu and Ketu are not actual planets but two opposite points that the Moon crosses when it orbits the earth. The points mark where the Moon ascends above and descends below the ecliptic (path of the Sun). They’re not distant planets with their own cycles and perspectives. Their scope is rather limited. Similarly, Rahu and Ketu have no powers of rulership. They have no dominion over any separate realm.
This means that what Rahu and Ketu are good at is bringing tremendous, focused intensity to the zone where they are transiting. At their best both Rahu and Ketu are healers. Ketu’s detachment gives perspective since it is our attachments that limit our ability to see. This is great for diagnosis. Rahu’s attachment to outcome helps him persist by any means necessary. Rahu is a rebel who follows no traditions. He finds avenues for cures that convention prevents us from finding.
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Below I’ve written a few snappy possible avenues of exploration for the various transiting Rahu-Ketu house placements according to rising sign. This presentation pertains to Vedic Astrology which is based on the actual position of the stars and constellations in the sky and not Western Astrology which is based on the first day of spring representing 0 Aries.
Since presently the Vedic horoscope wheel is running about 24 degrees behind the Western wheel, to translate your Western horoscope Ascendant to Vedic, simply minus the 24 degrees. For example, if your Ascendant is 20 degrees Libra in Western Astrology, your Ascendant would go back 24 degrees to 26 degrees Virgo in Vedic Astrology.
Vedic Astrology uses a whole house system. Virgo, from 0 to 30 degrees, would be your Ascendant or 1st house. Ketu would be transiting your 1st house, Rahu your 7th.
About five out of six of us will see our Western Astrology rising sign move to the previous sign.
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Aries Rising: Ketu transiting 6. Rahu transiting 12. Ketu – exploring alternative health, allowing work to be meaningful. Rahu – mental health is real. Exposing hidden problems and working on them.
Taurus Rising: Ketu transiting 5. Rahu transiting 11. Ketu – softening expectations of what we love, of children. Rahu – solidifying reputation, being known.
Gemini Rising: Ketu transiting 4. Rahu transiting 10. Ketu – letting go of foundational ideologies. Loss of homeland, mother. Rahu – fulfilling ambitions, desire to let the world know who you are.
Cancer Rising: Ketu transiting 3. Rahu transiting 9. Ketu – letting go of developmental notions regarding competition, new conceptions of how to be consistent. Rahu – attachment to higher understanding, philosophy. A great time study or to finish that post-secondary degree.
Leo Rising: Ketu transiting 2, Rahu transiting 8. Ketu – Dematerializing the material. Letting go of what money has meant to you. Allowing the values you believe in drive your consumerism. Rahu – Deep bonding with significant other. Learning what can’t be controlled.
Virgo Rising: Ketu transiting 1, Rahu transiting 7. Ketu – Letting go of parts of your self image that no longer serve you. Rediscovering your kinetic self. Rahu `– Solidifying relationship connection. Keeping your public self real.
Libra Rising: Ketu transiting 12. Rahu transiting 6. Ketu – going inward. Spiritual retreat. Being soft. Rahu – work, work, work and enjoying work. Digging in. Miracle cures.
Scorpio Rising: Ketu transiting 11. Rahu transiting 5. Ketu – what is the point of social gains. How can one’s being recognized be used more altruistically. Rahu – good time to create that masterpiece or manifesto.
Sagittarius Rising: Ketu transiting 10. Rahu transiting 4. Ketu – feeling open to all possibilities. Upliftment. Rahu – strong attachment to land, home, mother.
Capricorn Rising: Ketu transiting 9. Rahu transiting 3. Ketu – openness to prayer, to wisdom, to freedom. Rahu – knowing your competition. Strategic abilities.
Aquarius Rising: Ketu transiting 8. Rahu transiting 2. Ketu – loss. Letting go. Intimacy. Psychological intensity. Rahu – capacity to manipulate matter. Sensuality.
Pisces Rising: Ketu transiting 7. Rahu transiting 1. Ketu – allowing partner to be who they are, feeling more open publicly. Rahu – getting real about yourself. Feeling your body.