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The Sun in the Nakshatras |
| By Jyotidevi (Charlotte Benson) Nakshatras are 13 degree and 20 minute sections of the familiar 30 degree signs of the Zodiac. This section is the area of the sky which the Moon travels over in a 24 hour period. These smaller parts of signs contain much ancient, and very specific, embedded Truth. Nakshatras are comprised of thousands of fixed stars, and they are associated with almost as many concepts! There are deities, planets, elemental qualities, gunas, ganas, animals, doshas, symbols, myths, sounds, castes, directions, etc. associated with each nakshatra. Knowing about the nakshatras of your Lagna (rising sign), Moon, and Sun can give you much information about your own hidden abilities, and motivations. A serpent is the symbol of nakshatra #9. Ashlesha�s name (Ash� lay sha) even sounds a little sibilant or snake-like. From around August 2 through August 17 of any year, our glorious Sun transits through this powerful nakshatra, contained within 16.40 � 30.00 degrees of Cancer. Its principal star is epsilon Hydrae, part of the vast asterism of the water snake.
Ashlesha means �The Embracer�. This profound term implies the passionate nature of this nakshatra, which is known for its capacity to both cure � and to kill. Venom can also produce these two disparate effects, depending on how it is managed. Managing power and passion is one of the main challenges for planets in this internally contradictive nakshatra. Mercury is assigned as the planetary ruler of Ashlesha. This questioning planet conveys the concept of intense intellectual capacity leading to wisdom, wealth and internally-induced transformation. The cleverness of Mercury implies the ability to help Ashlesha get what it wants by making connections, writing, speaking and convincing. Ashlesha can be a very serious convincer! Kapha is the ayurvedic dosha; and Dharma is the motivating force for this intense and complex nakshatra. Splendid Surya moves into nakshatra # 10, magnificent Magha on August 17. It is useful to keep in mind that a day or two before and after this date, the Sun is in the fragile gandanta state. The condition of gandanta is defined by the movement of a planet crossing the boundary from a water sign into a fire sign. There are three of these particular junction points per year, and this is one of them. It is advised to be careful to maintain peace of mind, and perhaps do special spiritual practices to stay centered and mindful. The Sun travels through this �fierce� nakshatra until August 30. Magha (Mug� huh) means �great�, and spans from 00 degrees � 13.20 degrees of Leo. Regulus (aka alpha Leonis,) one of the ancient �Four Corners of Heaven�, is the marker star. This is a very prominent fixed star, clearly visible around midnight, in the mid-winter sky.
Palanquin on display at Mehrangarh Fort museum, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India 25578886 123rf.com Artha (acquisition and enjoyment of the material world) is the motivating factor for Magha. Its ayurvedic dosha is Kapha. The last 2 days of August are influenced by Purva Phalguni. Much more on that next month.
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