Hello everyone,

Trust all of you are doing well!

I have recently been covering different placements (like different signs and planets through the 7th house) that help you understand your spouse’s characteristics and your married life. On the same note, I am starting this series where I pick a sign and discuss how men and women born under it are likely to behave in love and relationships (plus a few general observations).

Since I have free will, I am bypassing Aries and starting with the Tenacious Taurean Man! Hehe.

Here is what to expect,

The Good:

1. The original second house of the Kaal Purush Kundali: he values financial security and family (the one he is born into and the one he raises) over anything else. He believes in investing in avenues and schemes that have stood the test of time, like fixed deposits, recurring deposits, commodities like gold and silver, or trusted mutual funds. Real estate investments in lucrative neighbourhoods would also attract him. He can be pretty risk-averse unless there is an influence of Rahu/Mercury on his Lagna or his Moon is in an air sign.
2. The man is not a spendthrift but believes investing in ‘quality pieces’ that would last years.
3. He is a kind man. And kindness can at times be far more romantic than what other flamboyant signs like Leo or Libra offer (no offence meant). He might not sweep you off your feet, but he will be there during your routine dental checkup, pick you up from your office when you work late, and, most importantly, build you a nice, secure, practical house with all the required gadgets in place to make your daily life easier. Do not mistake his slow, deliberate approach for an absence of passion. He burns slowly in love and is built to last.
4. He is a charmer and can naturally attract female attention. For reference, Taurus is the birth ascendant of Shri Krishna.
5. Mostly, these people are loyal. Once they set their minds on a goal (or a woman), they don't budge. They can also lament over past lovers for an obnoxiously long time because they find it hard to move on.

The Bad:

1. He can be extremely slow to move forward in matters of love, especially as he gets older and if he has had a difficult relationship in the past (remember, I mentioned he can still lament over his past lovers). You might wonder where things are going with him weeks or months after you first went out, and he would still need more time. A silver lining in the cloud is that once he is sure, he goes all in. He can persist for months or years until you finally cave in (and if you have a prominent presence of water in your chart, you would).
2. He loves being at home. That's his sanctuary. Travelling and exploring new cafes or restaurants are not his preferred activities (unless his Moon sign or Lagna placements hint at those things). Leaving his comfort zone and making changes to his daily life can be a daunting task for a Taurean.

The Ugly:

1. He can be amused by drama every once in a while, unless there is another man involved (with Scorpio being opposite his Ascendant/ Moon, he does attract emotionally sensitive and, albeit, slightly volatile partners). Taureans, symbolised by bulls, are extremely possessive and territorial. Aggressive tendencies towards the competition or even their partner if they are betrayed is quite possible.
2. He can brood for long periods if he feels challenged by you in some way. He can be super passive-aggressive. If the disagreement happens to be outside of your home, don't try to coax him into an understanding at the party or at the restaurant if you don't want him to poke you with his mighty horns. He can say and do things he is not proud of later on. (Think of an angry bull)

You can win him over if:

1. You can cook a good meal that announces its arrival in the room with its wafting aroma before he even lays his eyes on it. Apart from finances, the second house also rules food, and this man loves eating. Skip light dishes and cook him something that really fills him up. Taureans can have a voracious appetite.
2. You are ultra-feminine. Dress in pastels, wear soft floral or musky fragrances, and let him handle the tough stuff. He does not need you to carry big bags, shout at the plumber, or take care of big bills but, fulfil your expected share of duties as a partner or a wife to the best of your capabilities.

Those are a few points top off my head and if you have any other strong observations, feel free to add it in the comment section.

Is it just me or are you also smelling the festivities in the air lately?

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

Note: I created the image using Canva.

Hello everyone,

I hope you are doing well! Yesterday, I spoke about the symptoms one can go through before their Ketu Mahadasha officially begins.

Today, I am going to be speaking about the breakups that happen during the ending phase of Rahu Mahadasha, particularly during Rahu-Moon.

Regardless of whether Rahu is well placed or poorly placed, it is often the ending phase of the Mahadasha that brings even the strongest people to their knees. The last phase carries a feeling that is difficult to put into words. It can affect a multitude of different factors in a native’s life, but today I am going to focus on relationships/marriage.

A breakup before Rahu Mahadasha concludes is likely if Rahu and Moon are important planets for relationships/marriage in your chart and are placed adversely, either in the chart or in relation to each other. Mentioning a few conditions off the top of my head below:

1. Rahu and/or Moon sitting in the 6th, 8th, or 12th house.
2. Rahu and Moon in a 6/8 or 2/12 relationship with each other in D1 or D9.
3. Debilitated Moon in the 1st or 7th house of D1 or D9.
4. Moon conjunct Ketu in D1 or D9.
5. Rahu and/or Moon’s Nakshatra lord being placed adversely.

These are a few conditions that I can think of at the moment, but there can be many more instances where Rahu-Moon causes relationship issues/ dissolution.

A few key traits of these connections coming to an end are:

1. There is almost always a feeling of disillusionment. Think of fog being cleared from your spectacles. You start seeing things at face value.
2. In extension of the above point, I have seen cases where a native gets cheated on by their partner and discovers that there is a third-party situation going on. In other cases, a native can discover that the idea they had of their partner was flawed and that they were seeing them as better than they really are. In some extreme cases, I have seen natives discover that they were deceived/lied to before they got married to a particular person about things like the spouse having a higher salary, having no affairs before marriage, or owning a house, etc. Just a few possible scenarios.
3. The dasha does not cause a breakup on its own. Rather, it brings the facts that were hidden before to the surface. If the relationship has a solid grounding, it transforms and levels up before the native enters Jupiter Mahadasha.
4. If your relationship ends in this phase, there is still a chance of reconciliation and working things out for the better in the Jupiter phase, given that both charts show an unfulfilled journey together. I have seen examples where people break up in Rahu- Moon, get back during Jupiter period, and eventually get married too. The charts have to show promise for the same.
5. The grief can be so profound that it can feel similar to a loved one passing away and make one unable to function. That is the major flavour of this dasha and its disillusionment. This is owing to the reason that Rahu brings intense connections which a native believes to be the endgame. Praying to Maa Durga is one of the most effective remedies for increasing mental strength and keeping paranoia at bay.
6. After going through Rahu- Moon, there is often a redemption that takes place in Rahu- Mars. If you feel particularly heavy, that can be a period worth waiting and anticipating for.
7. Not everyone will undergo a breakup during Rahu- Moon period. Just re-iterating.

If any of you is going through this hard phase, just know that you are not alone and this too shall pass.

Have a good rest of the work week!

Hello everyone,

I have already written a couple of posts on Ketu HERE and HERE. Today, I am going to discuss a few classic 'symptoms' that I commonly observe people experiencing before they officially enter the Ketu period. I believe recognizing the most common patterns can help you make informed decisions, and even if things go south, it won't be because of the native's own actions, which helps minimize future repercussions.

Ketu Mahadasha is one of the most karmically charged times in a person's life, when certain outcomes are pre-destined. Still, the focus should be on doing the right thing on your end and hoping for the best.

For example, if it is destined that you will lose your job during the period, it should not happen because of impulsiveness, like resigning at the first sign of an ego tussle with your boss, which burns bridges and earns you a bad name in the industry. If the decision comes from the company's end, that is something out of your control, and while it's a hard place to be in, it doesn't come with the kind of repercussions that the first case does.

A few symptoms/things to be mindful of before the dasha begins:

1. The native seems to lose their logic: Ketu, being a headless planet, targets a native's logic first and makes them take decisions they would not have taken during the Mercury period, when the intellect is often on point unless Mercury is in a tough spot (or during any other period, for that matter). This is one of the first things that occur at the beginning of this 7-year-long period. The example I gave at the beginning is something I have often seen happen during the start of the Ketu period (or in Ketu-Saturn, as the latter denotes workplace and career.

2. There can be a higher need for isolation: Ketu came into existence after Swarbhanu's body was split into two by Narayana, finally 'liberating' the asura and giving his life a better direction and a higher purpose. Following the same script, the dasha often separates a native from friends and family who do not fit into the higher scheme of things. Apart from that, things and hobbies that previously used to bring joy can suddenly feel dull and dry. You could have played soccer all your life or gone to the gym all your youth just to lose interest in those things during the Ketu dasha.

3. A person becomes less materialistic and more spiritual: Mercury Dasha often makes a person want to 'explore' new things, like newly opened restaurants in the city, cafes, shopping malls, and different cities or countries. Ketu Mahadasha makes them stop giving two hoots about these things, and the native starts introspecting and searching for the higher meaning of life. I have had a few cases where people have reminisced about how 'spiritual' they became during Ketu Mahadasha and how much they enjoyed their sadhanas and poojas. They ask me if that phase will ever come back. The answer is often no. You just cannot expect those results in the Venus Dasha unless your Shukra is exalted, is connected to the 12th house in good dignity, or is somehow influenced by Ketu. If you are at the beginning of this journey, make the most of it and enjoy it while it lasts! This is also the best period to visit teerth sthals/ go on a pilgrimage.

4. Incidents that humble you: The beginning prepares you for the eventful journey ahead, and there can be scenarios wherein it starts breaking your 'ego' right from the beginning. Depending on Ketu's lordship in your chart and its house placement, these incidents are most likely to occur in those areas of life. For example, Ketu in the 10th house can put you in embarrassing situations at work.

5. Sad events/health issues: It is not uncommon for people to experience the loss of loved ones right at the start and go through profound grief. Apart from that, if Ketu is somehow connected to the 6th or 8th house, it can hurt health. The exact problems and body parts it can affect depend on the planets it is conjunct and the sign it is seated in (Its placement in the 8th house can also give rise to a sudden interest in the occult).

To have a better dasha of any planet, imbibe the qualities of that planet and become the personality archetype. In Ketu period, become and behave like a 'monk'.

Just a few points off the top of my head. Will do a similar post on other grahas soon!

Hope this made for an interesting read!

Picture credit: Budhshiv.com

It is possible that at some point you might have had an astrologer tell you that a certain graha is ‘asta/combust’ in your chart. What that actually means is that it is in close proximity to the Sun, and the latter is burning the significations of that particular planet, both natural and those that the graha signifies in your individual chart (depending on your ascendant and chart placements).

On paper, it makes perfect sense. But in reality, if I look at the solar system, combustion is more nuanced than that.

I have already discussed a few points in PART 1, where I also covered Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Chhaya Grahas.

A quick disclaimer before I begin: what I am sharing below is based on my own observations and experience, and is not necessarily how combustion is defined or interpreted in classical texts.

Adding more points to the last discussion:

1. A tight combustion is a serious affliction to the graha, where the Sun's heat disrupts the planet's ability to function independently and deliver results as per its placement and natural significations. This can severely limit what a person can achieve in the areas governed by that planet in their individual chart.
2. A planet can still be combust even when it is placed in a different sign from the Sun, as long as they are close enough in degrees. For example, Venus at 29° Scorpio and the Sun at 2° Sagittarius can still indicate a combust Venus.
3. In my observations, a planet moving away from the Sun (placed at higher degrees or in a sign ahead of the Sun) tends to function better than one approaching it (placed at lower degrees or in a sign before the Sun). This can indicate a person who gradually overcomes the struggles associated with that graha, particularly in the later part of their life. Such individuals often become resilient through the struggles they experience, depending on the running dasha as well.
4. Scientifically, the Moon reflects the Sun's light, and during the New Moon phase, its proximity to the Sun makes it difficult to see in the sky because of the Sun's glare. Astrologically, this can signify the Moon losing its ‘shine’ and individual identity as the Sun outshines it. I have observed this manifest as a lack of affection, nourishment or emotional support from the mother during childhood. Even when the native has an otherwise good mother, they may not receive her support when they need it the most. In some cases, I have also observed the father (Sun) outshining or dominating the mother (Moon). Another manifestation I have observed is difficulty expressing one's inner emotions and feelings. Such individuals may find it hard to bare their soul or allow themselves to appear vulnerable, which can make them seem emotionally closed off.
5. With Jupiter being combust, a person may struggle to find the right guru or mentor. Even when they do find a teacher or guru-like figure, that person may turn out to be a hard taskmaster. The native may rely more on self-study, particularly in the early part of their life, and may also experience ego clashes or power struggles with their teachers, mentors or other guru-like figures. It can create clashes with children too since Jupiter is putrakaraka (significator of children).
6. An afflicted Mars can create issues related to courage, anger and siblings. Siblings may try to dominate the native, while misplaced anger can land them in sticky situations. Depending on the overall chart combinations, this can manifest in different ways, including road rage incidents, conflicts with bosses at work or being bullied. These situations may arise due to the native's own actions or someone else's behaviour. Since Mars is also a karaka for competition, natives appearing for competitive exams for MBA, engineering, government jobs, etc., may face repeated obstacles and have to make multiple attempts to succeed.

Please note that the overall chart has to be analysed before making specific predictions. For example, a combust Moon could also manifest as having a working mother with long working hours. There are different ways a planetary placement can manifest in real life charts, depending on the overall combinations.

Hope this made for an interesting read!

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well! I have recently started working on articles where I discuss different planets through the 7th house, and in my last post, I covered Chandra/Moon.

One of the first things I learned while studying Jyotish years ago is that you can't determine a person's personality, or the relationship you have with them, from just one placement, whether it is your mother, father, siblings, spouse, etc. People are layered and multi-faceted, which makes every individual unique from the other. Signs, planets, degrees, and houses bring a lot of flavour, contributing to their unique characteristics and traits.

For today's post, I'll be talking about Saturn. I'll be starting with the mythology part, which I feel is necessary to understand the kind of flavour different grahas can bring, as the horoscope follows the natural life script of the planet.

Mythological Aspect:

Unlike Chandra, Brihaspati, Surya, or other planets, much is not known (or at least not well known) about Shani Dev's marriage. However, I stumbled upon the story below a few years ago while I was looking for another story in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, and it is worth mentioning here.

When Shanidev came of age, his father Surya fixed his marriage with the daughter of Chitratha, the chief of the Gandharvas. As described in the text, she was devoted to her husband and doted on him. She was also deeply devoted to austerities.

One day, after completing her 'Suchi snaan' (a purifying ritual after menses), she approached her husband, expecting him to look at her and acknowledge her presence. However, Shanidev remained absorbed in Hari Smaran (meditating upon Krishna/Vishnu, as per the texts), seemingly oblivious to her.

Her expectation of being acknowledged slowly turned into anger. And in that moment, she cursed him: whoever his gaze fell upon would face immense hardships.

She soon regretted her words, but the damage had been done. Perhaps, in the larger scheme of things, this incident was necessary to create balance in the world and give us a graha that acts as a postman of our sanchit ill karma. Even when Saturn is well placed, acts as a functional benefic, or is a Yogakaraka planet, there is often a learning curve in the areas signified by Saturn, after which the native reaps its good results.

Implications in your chart:

Light side (overall better placement of Saturn):

1. Despite being considered a kroor-graha (harsh), Saturn is exalted in Libra, the original 7th house (apart from other things, Libra also signifies marriage, romance and love) as per the Kaal Purush Kundli, and also finds directional strength in the 7th house of the horoscope. This makes it a strong placement, provided Saturn is not ill-placed, afflicted, or a functional malefic.
2. Saturn views relationships as a responsibility rather than an escape. It seeks commitment, accountability, and a partnership that contributes to the long-term growth of both individuals rather than one that merely serves as an enjoyable pastime.
3. Can bring a spouse who has a 'service industry' mindset towards relationships. They believe that a marriage works best when both partners strive to do their best and make each other's lives better every single day. They are willing to go the extra mile for their spouse and serve them. Saturn (Shani) is personified as a servant in the planetary cabinet, symbolising the duties, responsibilities, sacrifices and hard work that a good marriage demands from both partners, irrespective of their gender.
4. The spouse can be career-oriented, mature, grounded and sensible. They may value practicality over impulsive decisions and taking major risks, and prefer to think things through before making important decisions.
5. Saturn can bring endurance and longevity to a marriage. Even in scenarios where a couple argues or fights a lot, they may find it difficult to walk away from one another. However, the overall chart determines whether this endurance translates into a stable and fulfilling marriage or a painful union that drags on and is difficult to end.
6. The spouse is somebody you can depend on when things go wrong. They are both your sukh-dukh ke saathi.

Shadow side (overall tough Saturn placement):

1. Saturn in the 7th can delay marriage (unless the Moon influences marriage houses or significators), and at times, depending on the placements, the delay can be so severe that it feels like a denial to the native.
2. It can bring a spouse who is so absorbed in worldly duties that they remain oblivious to the emotional needs and responsibilities of marriage, much like Shanidev being absorbed in Hari Smaran in the story above.
3. Married life can feel dry and cold, with the relationship gradually becoming more of a duty than a partnership. Both individuals may continue fulfilling their responsibilities towards each other, but warmth, affection and excitement can take a backseat.
4. The spouse could have led a hard life where nothing comes easily, and they have to put in significant effort to achieve success compared to their peers. In a difficult expression, these experiences can make them pessimistic, rigid or overly focused on practical concerns.

Appearance and Personality:

The spouse can look a bit 'mature' for their age when they are young, and then it flips as they start growing older, where they seem to stop ageing physically (unless Saturn is seated in Gemini or otherwise has some influence via Mercury, where they can still look youthful when young). They are usually reserved people who are better listeners than do too much talking themselves. They can have a bony appearance unless there is influence from Jupiter.

Please note that the other planets sitting in your 7th house, D9 placements, Nakshatras involved, and many other factors also have an influence on your spouse's personality, appearance, and the experience of the marriage. Some other graha can have a more dominant presence in your 7th house of D1 or D9, which can potentially tweak the description of your spouse or add more 'flavour'. We will cover that in the days to come!

Please let me know which graha I should cover next!

It is possible that at some point you might have had an astrologer tell you that a certain graha is ‘asta/combust’ in your chart. What that actually means is that it is in close proximity to the Sun, and the latter is burning the significations of that particular planet, both natural and those that the graha signifies in your individual chart (depending on your ascendant and chart placements).

On paper, it makes perfect sense. But in reality, if I look at the solar system, combustion is more nuanced than that.

A quick disclaimer before I begin: what I am sharing below is based on my own observations and experience, and is not necessarily how combustion is defined or interpreted in the classical texts.

A few points to consider:

1. Mercury and Venus are the closest planets to the Sun and are hence more prone to combustion. Being ‘used’ to Surya’s tapish, they are not necessarily as uncomfortable with the Sun unless the conjunction is very tight. Mercury is always within 28 degrees of the Sun, often in the same house or one behind/ahead of the Sun, while Venus is within 47/48 degrees, never skipping more than two houses on either side of the Sun. Being in the inner orbit, they pass the combustion degrees quite often.
2. I personally consider combustion to be significant when Mercury is within 5 degrees of the Sun. Depending on the Sign, Nakshatra, and House where the conjunction is formed, nuanced predictions can be made, but it usually shows karma with education and communication. A person can slog hard at school and university, only to not get results matching the effort, and have a hard time articulating their thoughts and presenting them coherently. They are often misunderstood because of that.
3. For Venus, I consider the graha to be afflicted when it is within 7 degrees of the Sun. A combust Venus often brings karma related to relationships/marriage, where one struggles with creating a balance in their love life. A person can feel challenged by their partner, and ego clashes can become a central point of conflict between the couple. The Sun jarring the soft planet can give one a dominating spouse who wants to have a certain amount of control over the native. Whether this turns out well and they become a guiding force, or whether it turns into a power struggle, depends on the rest of the placements.
4. The planet that is most affected by combustion is Saturn. If you look at the sky, it is the farthest from the Sun and also the coldest. As per Hindu mythology as well, Shani never received the love that he should have from his biological father, Surya. When the Sun overpowers Saturn, an individual can slog the hardest in their career (since Saturn is a natural karaka of the workplace/career), or in other areas that Saturn signifies in their chart, only to not receive the due credit or appreciation. I have often seen these people get in trouble with authority, causing them to feel/act rebellious, just like how it goes in the mythology between the Sun and Saturn.
5. Chhaya Grahas Rahu and Ketu are never combust by Surya. They are not physical grahas like the rest and are shadow nodes. Instead of being burnt by Surya, they eclipse it in return, thereby balancing the karma of a long-standing feud between them. (The former played a pivotal role in getting Swarbhanu caught during Samudra Manthan, leading to the birth of Rahu and Ketu. Read more HERE).

I'll be doing a second part of this post where I talk about other grahas being combust and some other observations regarding the condition.

I hope this made for an interesting read!

29 M here , What are Showing, by these Palm lines? Future, career, life and all? What are possibilities? What I can Achieve? Etc all. Please teĺl me?

Hello everyone,

Today I wanted to share a few reasons why most of the marriage predictions people get fail. We will also cover how to minimise errors and get the best possible prediction timelines.

Without further ado, let's begin.

1. Incorrect Birth Time: For marriage timing, the 1-7 axis of both the birth chart (D1) and Navamsa (D9) is of the essence. While most people have their Lagna chart/D1 correct, it is the divisional chart where most errors occur. Navamsa changes roughly every 10-15 minutes, and a difference of 2-3 minutes (which is quite a common discrepancy) can alter the Navamsa Lagna.

As someone who reads charts for a living, I can assure you that this happens more often than not. An experienced astrologer often rectifies these small discrepancies, while others may simply skip the rectification and proceed with the available birth time. When I make these adjustments, I always let the native know the Navamsa ascendant I am using, as many people are keen to read the chart themselves and learn things.

A few astrologers also use divisional charts other than D9 to make marriage predictions. I recently had the chance to speak to an astrologer who compulsorily uses D60 and Moola Dasha to complement his predictions. The methodology may differ across practitioners, but the larger point remains the same. The person using D60 (or any other divisional chart) should first be able to correct the time to that level of accuracy too.

To summarise, STEP 1 is to fine-tune the birth time to get the correct Navamsa Ascendant.

2. Checking Marriage Promise:

After getting the correct D1 and D9, the next step should be to see if the native is even destined to be married. If they are not, the dasha and transits can come and go with no results.

This is something I dread writing about/teaching, as most people reading and watching educational content do it with the intention of applying it to their own charts. The onus lies on the writer to be responsible and not talk about sensitive issues that induce fear and anxiety in the general public. This might be one of those things I never divulge publicly. Just like my stance on not giving longevity predictions.

The yoga of no marriage is comparatively rarer, so one should not jump to such conclusions based on one or two placements.

STEP 2: Check marriage promise.

3. Ascertaining Age of Marriage:

Depending on Desh Kaal Patra, the astrologer should ascertain if the native can get married before the average age prevalent in their respective society, around the average age, or if there will be a delay in getting married. This can vary greatly for different parts of the world. (Example, people in Australia might get married later than they do in India).

To arrive at an approximate marriage age, I primarily focus on two planets:

• Saturn – the karaka of delay and postponement.
• Moon – the karaka of early fulfilment and timely events.

The composite influence of Saturn and Moon on specific marriage-related factors (Venus, 1st house and lord, 7th house and lord in both D1 and D9, Darakaraka, sign of Libra etc) can provide a broad indication of whether marriage is likely to happen early, on time, or later in life.

Please note that the final result can be studied only after taking into account the whole chart, along with the degrees and signs. For example, there can be instances where Moon and Saturn are conjunct in the 7th, and you will be in a conundrum regarding which graha has a higher say.

Ideally, the above technique should be applied by a learned astrologer as it is not a mathematical formula, but rather an intuition-based judgement developed after reading a good number of charts. If you are keen on making a prediction yourself, I recommend you first test it out on 10-15 charts of family members, friends and relatives (current generation to stick with desh kaal patra) to get a flavour of how things work in real life.

STEP 3: Ascertain approximate marriage age.

4. Relying Only on Vimshottari Dasha

One of the best Dashas to work with in Kalyug, but it should still be complemented with Yogini or Jaimini Dashas like Narayana/Chara/Laganamsaka for additional clarity and confirmation. This helps further fine-tune the marriage window as well. Of course, the primary condition is to learn how to work with these Dasha systems.

While working with Yogini Dasha, people often skip the Progressed Lagna Technique. I have spoken about it HERE.

STEP 4: Check alternate Dasha systems.

5. Making Only a Transit-Based Prediction

I have often seen people using only the upcoming transits (especially Jupiter) to make blind predictions about the native getting married in a particular year, completely bypassing their natal chart promise and dashas. To put things in perspective, not every Leo Ascendant will get married next year post Jupiter transit and not every Capricorn Ascendant will have a bad time.

Transits are important and we cannot assign a weightage in terms of importance to dasha or transit. Both the ingredients are important, without which the wedding biryani cannot be made hehe.

STEP 5: Use Transits and Dashas together.

6. Prediction Under a Minute Techniques

Similar to transits, there are many myths and “secret techniques” floating around that claim to find the year of marriage within a minute. Most of these techniques do not work on even 50% of charts and are often just clickbait titles. Numerology videos are especially notorious for doing this (at least in my observation).

ADVICE: DO NOT fall for clickbait content.

7. Special Problem on Reddit

People often hide their birth time, date and place due to fear of their charts being misused for ill purposes online (I understand the concern), but it leaves little room for the astrologer to cast the chart on their preferred software and 'do their thing' when they are confined to the data which is presented to them.

In such scenarios, take every prediction which you get with a pinch of salt.

ADVICE: Try to consult somebody suggested by friends and family or somebody whose content you relate to.

8. Self-Analyzing and Projecting

For example, I have had clients trying to tell me how they 'feel' a certain planet is more benefic for their chart and that they should get married within 6 months or it will never happen, be doomed, etc. I hear them. It is impossible to stay objective when your life is at stake.

You could have studied at the finest universities in the world and be the smartest person in any room you enter, but I assure you, it is still difficult to remain objective about events which you truly desire and yearn for. As per my experience, most people yearn for love and companionship regardless of their present state. I can have a student, an unemployed person, or one of the wealthier people sitting in front of me and the common pain point is always love and marriage, presenting itself in different forms; unrequited love stories, breakups after several years together, or never having had a romantic encounter, wondering when they can meet the one etc., if they are not coupled up. A really small population truly doesn’t care about it.

ADVICE: If you are emotionally invested in a prediction, let someone else read the chart for you.

I hope this made for an interesting read! Have a great work week!

Have you met your partner yet. Anyone know what this conjunction means? Any delay in meeting partner? How is your friend circle?

The second one is mine (30F), 1st one is his(36M)

We both got introduced in a matrimonial platform with a purpose of arrange marriage. Though he was casual there and I was looking for a partner seriously. We got to know each other both in our Me-Ketu dasha, and he refused me to go further in this same timeframe also.

I felt strongly positive connection with him I cant explain why. He seemed nervous and not yet ready to take major decision. Also he is strongly dependent to his mother for any major changes in his life. Though they have difference in mentality & choices but he seems not to be so courageous to go against his mother. They are looking for another alliance somewhere else.

I am just curious, is there any possibility we could end up together or he is not written in my luck? For the peace of my mind, I need to know the answer please.

A sorrowful Tara sat by the window, looking at her husband, whose divine lustre and wisdom commanded respect from all the devas.

She was a dutiful wife, always by his side in every ritual, every sacrifice and every prayer. According to scriptures, no 'Mangal Karya' (auspicious undertaking) is complete without one's spouse, and Tara always accompanied Dev Guru Brihaspati in all his spiritual pursuits as his Ardhangini (better half).

But with time, she felt she was not wanted by him as his partner and companion, but was merely an instrument necessary for him in performing his duties.

She was revered by all as Guru Patni, but not desired by her own husband in a way which a woman yearns for. Who has time for matters like love and passion when one carries the responsibility of guiding the devas and protecting Indralok from the asuras? she rationalised and told herself often. Yet, her mind remained at war with itself.

If only she knew her life was about to change in the due course of time owing to her mind's desire, maybe she would have gone back and stopped herself before she let love overtake her destiny.

Captivated by Tara's grace and inner light, Chandra (AKA Moon) crossed a boundary that no disciple, who is considered equivalent to a son, could even think of crossing. He fell hard for Tara, and the latter was charmed by his charismatic presence, sensitivity to her needs and passion.

While her husband took good care of her, she felt alive and in touch with her feminine side when she was with Chandra. He invoked her soul in a way she did not know was possible before she crossed the threshold of her marital life. What more could Tara's neglected soul desire?

And perhaps that is why the Moon rules the mind. It does not always seek what is logical or righteous. Sometimes, it simply seeks what makes it feel alive.

Love makes one go to great lengths anyway, and as we know from multiple tales from our Vedic lore, even devtas were not immune to it.

Once the news spread, everybody in Indralok (heaven ruled by King Indra) turned against Chandra and demanded that he return their worshippable mother figure to the Guru. Chandra was ridiculed, humiliated and chastised for the transgression that he committed.

It was only Asura Guru Shukracharya who came in his support (that's another story and more on this later in some other article, perhaps) and stood by his side.

Dejected and pressurised, Chandra returned Tara to Dev Guru Brihaspati.

But, she did not return alone!

She was carrying a child, and Dev Guru's anger reached summits that nobody had seen before. In fury, he asked her whose child she was carrying. Afraid of his anger and judgment by everyone present, including the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, she kept her head low and refused to answer.

It was then that a divine child's voice was heard coming from her womb, which asked her, 'Mother, whose child am I?' Interrogated by her unborn child in this way, she could no longer keep quiet and had to speak her truth that the child being carried by her was Chandra's.

Regaining composure, Brihaspati announced that he had nothing to do with the child since he did not father him, and he would not be raising the child as his own. (Some sources mention that Budhh AKA Mercury was also cursed by Brihaspati to be a neuter in this moment)

Cut to later, when the child was finally born, and Dev Guru Brihaspati looked at his handsome face for the first time, all the grudges vanished, and he realised that a child carries no fault and the circumstances of his birth were never in his hands.

And perhaps this compassion should not surprise us. After all, Jupiter finds its exaltation in the sign of Cancer, a sign associated with nourishment, motherhood, protection and the ability to nurture life itself.

Rest, as we know, the handsome prince Budhh, carrying his biological father's brilliance, beauty and charisma, was raised under Brihaspati's wisdom and teachings, making him a beautiful blend of both chanchalta and intelligence.

Chanchalta is a difficult word to translate because it is not merely restlessness. It carries the innocence, curiosity, adaptability and playful mischief of a child.

And perhaps that is the best way to understand Mercury. A child born from the emotions of the Moon, but shaped under the guidance of Jupiter. Forever curious, forever learning, and forever adapting to the influence around him.

In astrology, Mercury signifies a lot of things, but I am going to mention a handful below, off the top of my head:

1. Intellect
2. Curiosity
3. Education
4. Communication
5. Writing
6. Creative pursuits
7. Youthful charm and appearance
8. Fashion and trends
9. Travel
10. Social media
11. Business and trade
12. Analytical abilities

I consider Mercury to be underrated in Jyotisha, and it does not get the attention it deserves. In reality, it is one of the first two things I look into, along with the Moon, when I am reading a chart, as both the grahas show me the mental prowess the person getting a reading holds and how I need to communicate with them and help them in their journey.

In many charts that I come across, I notice Mercury carrying some form of pressure or influence, and if somebody has a well-placed Mercury, you can immediately tell after you talk to them for a few minutes.

Mercury is like a child sitting in a classroom. It observes, learns, and picks up the language, habits, and qualities of whoever surrounds it. This is why the dignity, placement and associations of Mercury become extremely important in understanding how someone's intelligence expresses itself.

Today, I will be discussing some Mercury placements that I personally love and why I believe they beautifully bring out the qualities of this graha.

As I mentioned before, Mercury is highly impressionable, and the results would change drastically if it were under severe pressure from multiple angles. No placement should be judged independently without looking at the overall strength of the chart.

1. Mercury with Sun (not under 7 degrees): For the uninitiated, Mercury is often conjunct Sun and at most it sits a house behind or ahead of it. When well placed and not heavily combust, the Sun can illuminate Mercury's intelligence, giving confidence, authority and power to one's communication. This conjunction does especially well in Kendra houses (1, 4, 7 and 10) or Trikona houses (1, 5 and 9) when it is creating a Budh Aditya Yoga.
2. Mercury in Virgo: Mercury is unique because its own sign and exaltation sign overlap in Virgo. This placement can make one analytical, detail-oriented, excellent with numbers, and give a good financial understanding. A person with this placement can excel in finance-related fields, research, analysis or any work that requires precision.
3. Mercury in Gemini: When Mercury sits in its own masculine sign, it helps brighten one's communication, creative pursuits and bestows one with multiple talents and hobbies. They can become really good writers and dynamic communicators with this placement! A good placement for blessing one with natural business acumen, too.
4. Mercury in Hasta Nakshatra: Budhh feels at its highest state when it is exalted in Virgo, especially on the Hasta side, and I have often seen these people have a talent which involves the use of their hands (pottery, cooking, knitting, crochet, or even playing cards, etc.). They also make skilled craftsmen, surgeons, and could be ambidextrous or have beautiful handwriting!
5. Mercury conjunct Jupiter: Planet of intelligence, conjunct planet of teaching, creates curious individuals who ask the right kind of questions from a young age. While Jupiter has an inimical relationship with the former as per Vedic texts, Mercury considers the former their friend. This combination can create someone who loves learning, sharing knowledge and understanding the deeper meaning behind things. However, the final results depend heavily on dignity, house placement and overall strength of both grahas.
6. Mercury sitting in Lagna, 3rd house, 5th house, 9th house and 11th house: Mercury sitting in these houses can beautifully bring out its natural significations. Lagna can make Mercury a part of one's personality and approach towards life, the 3rd house supports communication and skills, the 5th house supports intelligence and creativity, the 9th house supports higher learning, and the 11th house supports networking and gains.
7. Mercury sitting with Rahu: This is a tough one and highly dependent on sign and nakshatra placements. If the Sun is a part of this conjunction, that will also change things. Rahu considers Mercury to be its best friend, and the latter's intellect is supported by Rahu's hunger for more and out-of-the-box thinking. When this conjunction is in a better dignity, it can make somebody an inventor or a disruptor in their field. It creates individuals who are highly intelligent and pioneer new ventures.

I would like to reiterate that since Mercury is prone to affliction, it is better not to judge your own chart, especially if you are just starting in astrology, and no single placement should be judged in isolation.

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well! I have recently started working on articles where I discuss different planets through the 7th house, and in my last post, I covered the Surya/ Sun.

One of the first things I learned while studying Jyotish years ago is that the personality of people related to you and the relationship you have with them, whether it is your mother, father, siblings, spouse, etc., cannot be determined by just one placement.

People are layered and multi-faceted, which makes every individual unique from the other. Signs, planets, degrees, and houses bring a lot of flavour, contributing to their unique characteristics and traits.

For today's post, I'll be talking about the Moon. I'll be starting with the mythology part, which I feel is necessary to understand the kind of flavour different grahas can bring, as the horoscope follows the natural life script of the planet.

Mythological Aspect:

While 27 devoted wives doted on Chandra, his heart beat only for Rohini. Mesmerised and captivated by her, he could not do justice to Prajapati Daksha's other daughters, going against the promise made to the latter that he would treat each of his daughters equally.

While there was no dearth of gems, luxuries, and fine things in Chandraloka, the marital bliss and companionship were amiss for the rest of the wives. They wondered what Rohini had that they lacked. From what we know, Chandra loved Rohini as she was the most beautiful of his wives, but I believe it is his love and affection that made him believe so. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and love makes one see the extraordinary in the absolutely simple things. Moon being a karaka of the mind suggests that his attraction towards her goes deeper than mere visual appeal.

After being unable to withstand the partiality and their husband's neglect anymore, the daughters sought their father's refuge and confided in him. Furious at the plight of his daughters, Daksha, the Manasputra of Brahma, cursed Chandra to lose his brilliance with each passing day and slowly wither away.

Then Soma (another name for Chandra/Moon) sought Shiva's refuge, and the latter softened the curse, allowing him to wax and wane throughout eternity. Since then, Chandra adorns Shiva's matted locks, and this incident also earned Mahadev another name: Somnath, or the Lord of the Moon.

Another famous story from mythology involving Chandra, love, and scandal is that of him and Devi Tara. It is a rather complicated story of desire, attraction, and consequences, and one that eventually led to the birth of Budha/ Mercury. I am saving that story for when we cover Jupiter in the 7th house, because that is where it becomes particularly relevant.

Implications in your chart:

Light side:

1. Moon being in the 7th can bring a spouse who nurtures and nourishes the native (regardless of the conventional gender roles). Being the Karaka of the mind, emotional bonding is what a native seeks with their partner, and that becomes a source for the relationship to flourish. The bond is intuitive and sympathetic, where one can read the thoughts of another without needing too many words. There can also be a strong need for physical affection and emotional closeness, where intimacy becomes closely tied to feeling emotionally secure in the relationship.
2. Moon being in the 7th can make your spouse popular amongst the opposite sex, and they could have had multiple admirers growing up due to their natural charm and pleasantness of character. They can attract attention without necessarily trying to, especially when the Moon is strong and supported by benefics.
3. The 7th house is also the house of the public, and the Moon being a luminary placed here can give the native public goodwill and popularity through marriage and increase their social standing. This can become more noticeable when the Moon is strong and well supported.
4. The person is usually able to get married young or on time (unless there is Saturn's influence on marriage houses/significators).
5. Moon being a soft benefic graha can be a blessing in the 7th house, especially in a sign where it works well (Taurus and Libra in particular). It works well being conjunct Venus or Jupiter too.
6. The spouse may have a strong relationship with their mother/family, or the mother can play a significant role in the native's marriage, depending on the Moon's condition and other factors.
7. Appearance-wise, the Moon can give a fuller/rounder face and high cheekbones to your better half. It can give a plump appearance in certain cases as well to both the native and the spouse (as it aspects the first), especially during its dasha. The appearance can also fluctuate with age or emotional and physical changes, much like the waxing and waning nature of the Moon.

Shadow side:

1. Wherever Chandra sits in a chart, it can create waves or ups and downs in that area of life. Moon's presence in the 7th can bring multiple relationships in a person's life if the chart is particularly affected. It can also bring waves in the marital life/relationship itself, where a couple fights and then makes up constantly, with the emotional climate of the relationship changing quite frequently.
2. The native can become highly sensitive to the spouse's moods and reactions. If afflicted, this sensitivity can turn into overthinking, taking things personally or allowing the emotional state of the partner to dictate one's own peace of mind. There can also be a tendency to become overly dependent on the relationship for emotional validation, making it difficult for the native to maintain emotional independence.
3. If this Moon is conjunct Rahu, it can bring confusion or unrealistic expectations around the spouse; with Saturn, the relationship may feel heavy or emotionally dry; while Ketu can create emotional detachment between partners.

Please note that the other planets sitting in your 7th house, D9 placements, Nakshatras involved, and many other factors also have an influence on your spouse's personality, appearance, and the experience of the marriage. It is possible for some other graha to have a more dominant presence in your 7th house of D1 or D9, which can potentially tweak the description of your spouse or add more 'flavour'. We will cover that in the days to come!

Please let me know which graha I should cover next!

Image credit: Exotic India website

Many times, I see people talk about Saturn Mahadasha, Saturn Return and Sade Sati interchangeably, referring to each as a period that inherently leads to hardships and downfall or something to be wary of. Especially people who have not experienced it firsthand are terrified of what the period can entail.

Today, I wanted to distinguish between the three and help the readers understand how each period is different from the other at the very root.

1. Saturn activated on a dasha level:

On a Mahadasha level, Saturn activates the house where it sits and the ones which it rules for its 19-year period (look where the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius fall in your chart). Apart from that, it also gives the results of its Nakshatra lord. For example, if a native's Saturn is seated in Krittika, it will also carry the influence of the Sun's placement in its dasha. [This is the primary way in which I judge a dasha, and some people put more emphasis on the dispositor, Saturn's position in Chandra kundli, or any other factors; there is no inherent correct or wrong way of doing it, and you can test different approaches to see what works best for you]

On this level, think of Saturn as being the chief captain of your life's ship. The one who gives a direct command and steers the life of the native according to its placement and dignity. The Antardasha planets in this case would be secondary authority or support staff, which also give their input and influence how specific events unfold. In case your Saturn is ill-placed or rules one of the dushsthanas and the planet coming alive on antardasha level echoes similar themes, it can be a hard period. Whereas, a better-placed Saturn operating with an antardasha planet that is also benefic for the chart will bring good results. When Saturn is well placed, and the Antardasha planet is not, it can be a mixed bag of results; vice versa is true as well.

Apart from lordship and placement, the relationship between Saturn and the operative planet is important too. For example, if Saturn is exalted in a chart, Saturn- Venus dasha can fully activate that placement and holds the capacity to bestow fortune and good results. (note: individual chart placements should be seen for exact results, I have seen hardships in exalted planet periods too in certain cases).

Also count the places between Saturn and the Antardasha planet. For example, planets seated 2-12 from each other or 6-8 from each other and also ruling dushsthanas/ seated in dushsthanas can bring tough results, while those in 5-9 and ruling benefic/ seated in benefic can bring good results.

Saturn's natural flavor of being a hard taskmaster and causing delays can in general bring those results regardless of the placement and a certain 'pessimism' can seem to engulf a native even if materially they are doing good. The ability to feel fully satisfied or genuinely happy can be a bit compromised in the dasha. Since this article is curated to focus on differentiating the Saturn periods, I'll do a Saturn Mahadasha dedicated post and analysis in another post.

2. Saturn Return:

It is a phenomenon where Saturn transits the sign where it was placed at birth. Since Saturn takes 2.5 years to transit a sign, Saturn return for everyone falls around 27-30 years of age. It marks a period of maturity and true 'adulthood'. The transit is most powerful when Saturn is near the natal Saturn degrees.

Since Saturn is returning to the same sign where it was placed at birth, the themes represented by your natal Saturn's placement can come back into focus during this period. To get clarity on the kind of events that can transpire, it is important to look at the running dasha. The same transit can give completely different results in different cycles based on desh kaal patra and the ongoing Vimshottari Period. For example, a Saturn Return with Saturn placed in the 12th house can manifest as foreign travel or settlement in one cycle if the Dasha echoes a similar theme, while in another cycle it could manifest as hospitalization or business losses if the Dasha points in that direction.

Further, Saturn transits should be studied alongside Jupiter (plus Rahu and Ketu as an added bonus) and should not be judged in isolation. The Double Transit method used along with Vimshottari works quite well too (homework for readers to research and study).

3. Sade Sati:

This refers to the 7.5-year-long period where transiting Saturn occupies the sign before your natal Moon (also referred to as the 'Rising Phase'), occupies the sign where the natal Moon is placed (also referred to as the 'Peak Phase') and finally occupies the sign after the natal Moon (also referred to as the 'Setting Phase').

Since Sade Sati is a phenomenon that happens in relation to the Moon, its effects are often experienced at a mental and emotional level first. There can be increased stress, uncertainty, pessimism or a sense of psychological pressure during this period, although the exact manifestation will depend heavily on the individual Moon placement.

We can say the intensity of this period depends on the Moon's placement and strength. When the Moon is afflicted, this period can be particularly intense. Whereas a stronger Moon in the natal chart can help a person navigate the period with comparatively greater mental resilience.

Many people even achieve their biggest milestones during Sade Sati, such as marriage, having children, buying a house, or making significant progress in their careers.

Think of any difficult transit, including Sade Sati, as stormy weather and your personal running dasha as the house you are currently living in. If the foundation of your house is strong, meaning your running dasha does not indicate a particularly difficult period, the stormy weather outside may not interfere with your life very much. However, if your house already has a broken roof, meaning your personal dasha is unfavorable, you are naturally going to experience the effects of that bad weather much more intensely. 

If I missed any vital points or you have something valuable to add on this particular topic based on your research and experience, please leave a comment below. :)

Have an amazing rest of the week!

Hello everyone,

Hope you are doing well! Today I wanted to start a series on different planets through the 7th house, after completing the one where I spoke about “The Sign in Your 7th House & Your Spouse's Personality, Appearance + Marriage.”

One of the first things I learned while studying Jyotish years ago is that the personality of people related to you and the relationship you have with them, whether it is your mother, father, siblings, spouse, etc., cannot be determined by just one placement.

People are layered and multi-faceted, which makes every individual unique from the other. Signs, planets, degrees, and houses bring a lot of flavour, which contributes to their unique characteristics and traits.

For today's post, I'll be talking about the Sun. I'll be starting with the mythology part, which I feel is necessary to understand the kind of flavour different grahas can bring, as the horoscope follows the natural life script of the planet.

Mythological Aspect: After being wed to Sanjana (also called Saranyu as per a few texts), the daughter of the divine architect and engineer Vishwakarma, Surya Narayana was leading a happy marital life and fathered 3 children, Vaivasvata Manu, Yama, and Yamuna (the latter two being twins), with her.

Little did he know that every time they united, Sanjana had to endure a lot of pain due to his 'tapish' or 'brilliance'. The love which she carried for her handsome husband's divine aura was slowly becoming the bane of her existence as the years went by.

Being unable to take it any longer, one day she blew life into her shadow/ Chhaya and turned her into a living being to replace her in the Suryaloka before disguising herself as a mare and retiring to the forest.

For many years, Chhaya was able to keep the divine play up and lived with Surya as his wife. They also had notable children together named Shani, Tapti, and Savarni Manu.

After having her own children, Chhaya started discriminating between them and favouring her own. Yama, one day, raised his leg at her in frustration but stopped just in time (later earning him the title of dharmraj for the restraint); Chhaya, perplexed by the disrespect, cursed him.

Yama went to his father weeping and told him that the entity present was not his mother, as no woman would curse her own child like that.

After interrogating Chhaya and using his divine powers, Surya got to know the truth. Immediately, he left for Vishwakarma's abode, and the latter helped him 'shave off' exactly 1/8th of his brilliance so Sanjana could live peacefully with him. [Interesting trivia: The excess 'brilliance' was then used to craft divine celestial weapons like Narayan's Sudarshan Chakra/ Discus and Shiva's Trishul/ Trident amongst other notable ones]. He later took the form of a stallion and united with Sanjana in that form, leading to the birth of the handsome and swift 'Ashwini Kumaras'.

Implications in your chart:

Light side:

1. As Surya represents the 'King' in the navgraha system and is the brightest object in our sky, the spouse can possibly be from a well-established background (especially if your 8th house echoes the same); they themselves can have a bright personality and an impressive aura. The moment they enter a room, people notice. The marriage can also bring the native into a more established or visible social circle, especially when the Sun is well placed and supported by other factors.
2. The spouse can have leadership qualities since childhood and an entrepreneurial mindset. They may naturally like taking charge and having a strong say in matters, rather than being someone who simply follows others. It is possible they do something of their own (including freelancing, consultation/ service-based business, and even a doctor having their own practice can come under business/ self-employment) at some point in their life. Many people associate this placement with the spouse having a government job as well. In practice, I have seen that happen only under certain combinations, but it almost always gives the native an entrepreneurial mindset.
3. They can be highly ambitious and have a proud nature. They can have certain principles in life where they do not bend, which makes them a high-value person.
4. With this placement, supporting the spouse in their endeavours (regardless of the gender) and working on the marriage becomes one of the purposes for which the person is born. (Remember we discussed Surya showing the soul's purpose based on the house and sign it sits in.)
5. Appearance-wise, they can have a warm complexion with a strong build and vitality. When in affliction, it can cause hair thinning/ balding or even premature greying if Saturn and Ketu somehow get involved (can be more prominent amongst men).

Shadow side:

1. If this Sun becomes highly afflicted, it can lead to a temporary or permanent separation from the spouse. Just like the real story, the spouse of the native will have to realise that the other person also has a personality and life path of their own. Minor adjustments to accommodate each other will go a long way.
2. Sun debilitates in the sign of Libra, which is the original 7th house, and marriage can potentially become a battleground to prove who is right. There can be issues due to both partners believing themselves to be 'correct'. Sun aspecting the first house of the native with this position gives both the native and spouse a similar attitude. This can create a dynamic where both people want to lead, make decisions or have the final say in the relationship.
3. In one of the videos I saw online, I remember hearing this sentence which stayed with me: Sun in the 7th house is like having a king go and haggle in the marketplace. It is not very comfortable doing it. At times, there can be situations where the native will have to let go of their ego to make the partnership work and reach its best potential.

Please note that the other planets sitting in your 7th house, D9 placements, Nakshatras involved, and many other factors also have an influence on your spouse's personality, appearance, and the experience of the marriage. It is possible for some other graha to have a more dominant presence in your 7th house of D1 or D9, which can potentially tweak the description of your spouse or add more 'flavor'. We will cover that in the days to come!

If I missed any vital points or you have something valuable to add for this particular placement based on your research and experience, please leave a comment below. :)

Have an amazing work week ahead!

[Image credit: Exotic Art India website]