With all three gandantas open right now and three retrograde planets, it feels like we are traversing the netherworlds!

You may be asking yourself: Has anything really changed since last year? It feels like the same old ground. Lots of foggy uncertainty, not sure what is real, or how to move forward.
You may be questioning since the Aries new Moon: How can I shift and change the challenges that are re-emerging right now?!

What are you noticing?! What is returning?! How does it feel?!

Moon is transiting Gemini until Monday, May 1st. This is Mercury's sign and will invite in more mental body returns. What stories and connections are showing up as reminders?! These are places where you might need to do more mental body clean up.

All three gandantas are open once again- now that Mercury has retrograded back into Ashwini nakshatra. Gandantas are points in the zodiac between water signs and fire signs (Pisces/Aries, Cancer/Leo, Scorpio/Sagittarius). These points are notorious for causing immense upheaval, as deeply rooted knots within your being get released.

Ashwini, Mula and Magha are nakshatras situated in these powerful gaps that trigger immense change processes to take place. These nakshatras are also ruled by Ketu, a non planet notorious for sudden release, forced letting go and remarkable changes. His goal is to support your moksha, liberation, to release you from your attachments.

Mercury is currently retrograde moving through Ashwini. This is impacting the mental body. Clean up the mind, restore and harmonize. Rejuvenate and spend time in nature. Meditation and health resources such as Ayurveda will be especially important for this transit. The mind is getting uprooted, retracing old stories, and overheated as it conjuncts with exalted Sun. Mercury goes direct on May 3rd but will continue to transit Ashwini until May 23rd, which keeps the gandanta propped open most of the month.

Saturn is retrograde in Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra. Mula nakshatra is ruled by the dark goddess, Nirrti, responsible for adharmic activity- that which is against dharma. She is notorious for causing chaos, calamity and misfortune, while also pulling you from your dharmic path. There is a risk in this year of losing your path, getting stuck in the storm of uncertainty, confusion and misalignment.

If you find yourself lacking clarity about your life purpose, or confusion seems to increase, it's time to seek support and guidance. Resources, guidance and support will be even more important at this time because it will be so easy to fall into the chaos and confusion that Nirrti provokes. With great diligence however, this can also be a time of strengthening your determination, focus and alignment with dharma. Do not lose hope. Do not get lost in Nirrti's perfect storm. Stay connected and aligned with your dreams, desires, goals and passions. These are important resources to help you honor your dharmic path.

Rahu is always moving in reverse and is currently in the gandanta situated in Leo and Magha nakshatra. This transit is bringing ancestral karma to the surface, intensifying shadows and woundology that is connected to the masculine and father. Old karmas, lineage karmas, karmas related to the masculine, are asking you to look more closely, clear and release. The spiritual body is impacted by this transit as Magha closely relates to the ancestors.

What challenges are you noticing with these planetary themes?

Gandantas are door openers. They are portals of the in-between. Neither here nor there. Due to their nature of uprooting, they can cause a sense of ungroundedness and sudden, painful loss. You may be noticing a lack of footing, clarity and purpose. Much uncertainty is arriving right now- mentally, spiritually and physically. You may be feeling uncertainty in the spiritual, mental and physical bodies as a result.

Stay as close to your body and its wisdom as you can right now. More inner resourcing is important, and in many ways can be easier to do as a result of the liminality of these gandantas and the current transits moving through them.

What are you noticing- spiritually, mentally and physically?

With all the big upheaval and changes that have recently taken place, I'd like to be able to say it's smooth sailing from here on out.

I wish I could say that the transits will be agreeable and offer ease and simplicity for the next few months. That there will be a pause and some gentleness. Unfortunately, the upcoming transits show big changes in the weeks and months ahead, and through 2017.

My intention is always to speak the sweet truth, so I will share the challenges here- with some important resources as well. Remember, there are always gifts! It may be more challenging to find them in the coming days, but moving closer to what you are grateful for is a balm for the heart.

This is a particularly tumultuous time. Unlike anything I've seen before- because there are multiple layers of challenges impacting us simultaneously. The aggression being stirred in the environment is activating individuals very acutely, and individuals are intensifying the collective energy as well. The churning is extreme right now.

In the Vedic literature, demon god, Rahu, was instrumental in the churning of the ocean of milk. The gods realized that by churning the ocean of milk, they could extract some Amrita, the divine nectar of immortality (like churned cream becomes butter). But they couldn't do it alone. They had to employ the support of the demons (asuras) to create the momentum needed.

The demons and gods worked together and the Amrita rose to the top, but the asuras ended up stealing it for themselves. The gods fought back and with the support of Vishnu (the sustaining force of dharma) they were able to regain the Amrita. Vishnu gave each one of the gods a drop of the immortal nectar, but Rahu (Svarbhanu) received a drop accidentally.

Rahu was positioned in between the Sun and the Moon as he received the nectar, and they recognized him at once. Vishnu chopped Rahu in half with a chakra and thus Rahu (head of the serpent) and Ketu (tail of the serpent) were born. Rahu continues to chase the Sun and Moon out of disdain.

The formless entities Rahu and Ketu are representative of the unseen forces at play within all humans. Rahu drives the cravings and the appetite for this material world, while Ketu forces the inevitable release process, severing us from worldly attachments.

Right now, this epic "churning" is taking place very acutely- inside of you and on the world stage. You are likely feeling this within mind and emotions directly. But all you have to do is look at what is taking place within our society right now to see how this churning is impacting the world- socially, politically, environmentally, etc. What is activating this dynamic right now is the Kala Sarpa Yoga effects. Sarpa means snake in Sanskrit, which is intensifying the serpent energy in extreme ways right now. Rahu is transiting through Leo and Ketu in Aquarius which is creating highs and lows and activating polarities very elaborately. Once the Kala Sarpa Yoga officially ends on January 20th when Mars shifts into Pisces, there will be some leveling out, but the churning will continue with the impact of Ketu.

Read more about Kala Sarpa Yoga's effects.

In the coming weeks and months, there will be an increase of Ketu's cutting energy. Ketu is the tail of the serpent who brings release, cutting of attachments and forced letting go. He brings liberation, ultimately, but usually not without pain. He can also show you specifically where there is trauma in your natal chart, as his detachment causes disconnection on multiple levels- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

On December 9th, Rahu shifts into a Ketu ruled nakshatra, Magha. This nakshatra is considered one of the three gandantas- junction points between water and fire signs. These portals are particularly notorious for creating immense transformation and change. Ketu is currently transiting a Rahu ruled nakshatra, Satabisha. This exchange between Rahu and Ketu will bring to light much of the darkness and deception that seems so illusive right now. Nothing is what it seems. The Sarpa (serpent) energy being activated right now is increasing the extreme highs and lows taking place inner and outer. Things go well and support comes, but then this is taken or it vanishes somehow. All is illusive and in constant change.

The shift of Rahu into Magha will activate the ancestors and increase the forced cutting and release process taking place currently. Magha brings magnanimous action and a royal spirit with profound accomplishment and visibility. It's shadow side is excess ego, misuse of masculine power and extreme or aggressive force.

As the necessity for being in right-relationship with the masculine energy comes to the surface right now, notice where you are pushing too hard and forcing outcomes. Notice where your ego is controlling you, rather than heart and spirit. Learning the art of detachment and release is an important lesson right now. We are also learning how to integrate extremes and polarities very intimately. Working with the spine very specifically is an important resource right now. Track sensations in your spine and use this as a resource for finding greater stability and support within.

As the new Moon in Scorpio arrives, the coming cycle brings an even greater necessity for integration, harmony and balance with your polarities and extremes. Let your spine lead the way as it is the Maha channel of integration for the entire body. As Sarpa (snake) energy continues to activate and intensify in the coming weeks, illusions and deceptions come to the light. Are you willing to look at your own shadows? Your own darkness is being mirrored to you through others- in challenging and confrontational ways right now. Look deeply within and clear away your darkness. Bring it to the light. Let your body and spine support this integration process of merging shadow and light. Stay connected to sensations in the spine. Listen for messages. Ask your spine to speak to you. What do you hear? Track this closely in the coming days. The body has all the wisdom you seek.


The theme of forced cutting and release will be amplified as a series of planets march through Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra in the coming weeks and months and through 2017. Mula is a Ketu ruled nakshatra, which is notorious for uprooting and forced releases. We've already experienced Mars and Venus transiting this challenging gandanta recently (the gap between water and fire signs that are particularly connected to untying knots within the psyche). Mercury begins his lengthy passage through Sagittarius on the 28th of November, marching in and out of Mula nakshatra several times between now and February. Sun shifts into Sagittarius next, creating big changes starting December 15th. Then Saturn arrives in Sagittarius for a few months, beginning January 26th.

Why do these transits provoke such change and upheaval?

Both Mula and Magha are gandanta points which trigger extreme inner turmoil and change. Gandantas are points in the zodiac between water signs and fire signs (Pisces/Aries, Cancer/Leo, Scorpio/Sagittarius). These points are notorious for causing immense upheaval, as deeply rooted knots within your being get released. Both Mula and Magha are nakshatras situated in these powerful gaps that trigger immense change processes to take place. Both nakshatras are also ruled by Ketu, a non planet notorious for sudden release, forced letting go and remarkable changes. His goal is to support your moksha, liberation, to release you from your attachments.

Mula nakshatra is ruled by the dark goddess, Nirrti, responsible for adharmic activity- that which is against dharma. She is notorious for causing chaos, calamity and misfortune, while also pulling you from your dharmic path. There is a risk in the coming months of losing your path, getting stuck in the storm of uncertainty, confusion and misalignment. If you find yourself lacking clarity about your life purpose, or confusion seems to increase, it's time to seek support and guidance. Resources, guidance and support will be even more important at this time because it will be so easy to fall into the chaos and confusion that Nirrti provokes. With great diligence however, this can also be a time of strengthening your determination, focus and alignment with dharma. Do not lose hope. Do not get lost in Nirrti's perfect storm. Stay connected and aligned with your dreams, desires, goals and passions. These are important resources to help you honor your dharmic path.

As Mercury moves through Mula nakshatra on November 28th, the uprooting will take place especially in the mental body and all things impacted by Mercury including money, communication, commerce, technology, imagination and creativity.

Read more about Mercury in Sagittarius.

Sun's movement through Mula nakshatra begins December 15th and lasts until the 28th. This will impact the masculine energy very directly. We've already been experiencing the extremes of the weak masculine taking its toll in overtly aggressive and egocentric ways. As this energy continues to rise to the surface, exposing its self, it also loses its power. The passage of Sun through Mula will be a cleansing of sorts, an untying of the deeply embedded knots that keep you from your divine feminine wisdom. Notice where you are resisting this new way of being. Allow a softening and ease to arrive through deeper surrender. Being in right relationship with your masculine energy requires a new expression of what it means to feel safe, supported, clear and focused. What are you refusing to let go of? Notice where your ego and its sense of righteous indignation (I'm right, you're wrong) gets in the way of your compassion and loving kindness. This includes self compassion!

On January 26th, Saturn leaves Scorpio, entering Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra. He will stay in Mula nakshatra until June 21st of 2017. Part of this transit includes his retrograde dance back through this chaotic gandanta. Saturn will retrograde on April 5th, 2017. Saturn will then re-enter Scorpio on June 21st for another four months, before re-entering Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra once again for his 2.5 year transit through this fire sign.

This ongoing lengthy transit will be the most provocative and transformational since Saturn is the slowest moving planet and the grief giver. He impacts the physical body directly and brings ongoing duress because he is so heavy, old and slow. As the planet of grief, this is also an important time to pull out the roots of grief that have been living in your bodies unconsciously. Attending to your grief process and healing old wounds will be especially important in 2017. Everyone will be forced on some level to look directly at their suffering and pain. Hopefully this will bring new awareness.

As challenging as this Saturn transit will be for many, it is also an opportunity to do some very powerful healing work in ways that will support deep, lasting change for the physical body. Saturn has not transited Sagittarius since December of 1987. You might recall what took place for you from the end of 1987 to December 1990, the length of Saturn's transit through Sagittarius. This will give you a good idea of what to expect in the next few years. You can also look at your jyotish chart and notice where Sagittarius is for you specifically.

I share more details about how to assess your chart in my Jyotish Mastermind. Listen for free until November 30th.

As painful as this process of letting go will be in the coming months, it's also an opportunity for great change and transformation. Release and letting go allows new space and possibility to arrive- on all levels of your being. How you work with your pain, grief and challenges will determine your outcome. Remember that there's always a resource hidden in the challenges. The trick is to find them! It will be important to get extra support, resources and guidance in the months to come.

Do not lose sight of your visions and dreams, goals and aspirations. Stay close to your body and breath and deepen your inner roots. Use resources to help you expand your creativity and what you think is possible for yourself. Try to keep life as simple and stable as possible.

Please know that I'm here to support you in any way I can. I will continue to offer resources and articles to help you navigate the choppy waters ahead.

Wishing you gentleness, ease and inner wisdom.

Swati*

Did you miss my Jyotish Mastermind? I share more details about these upcoming transits and how they will impact your chart directly. Listen for Free Until Nov 30th