Happy New Year!!

Based on the new year’s chart for 2021, I do think there will be some improvement this year, though it will be slow. Jupiter, the planet of good fortune and well-being, is aspecting the ascendant, which is helpful, but still debilitated and afflicted by Saturn and Rahu, bringing continued challenge.

The moon, representing healing and sentient beings in general, is strong in its own sign of Cancer, in the lunar mansion of Pushyami, symbolized by the udder of a cow. It gives the power of spiritual nourishment, so it is a very nurturing and healing lunar mansion.

However, it is aspected by two malefics, Saturn and Mars, which is an improvement over last year’s new years chart, where  the moon received the aspect of three malefics.

Saturn’s aspect on the moon can give poverty, as well as continued illness and suffering, but hopefully to a lesser degree, as the aspect of Rahu is blessedly absent this year. Jupiter, with its tendency to improve things, is also aspecting the moon but, unfortunately, is unable to help much due to its own afflictions.

Rahu can represent poisonous, invisible things, which can be confusing, mysterious, and, therefore, difficult to treat. Covid has shown itself to be the ultimate Rahu and Rahu strongly dominated the chart last year.

Due to its connection with Rahu, Covid is not a simple respiratory illness like the flu, and its long-term effects are only gradually becoming known. It is wonderful that Rahu is not afflicting the moon this year!

One of the malefics aspecting moon is Mars. This year, Mars is in the lunar mansion of Ashwini, represented by twin doctors with horse heads who ride their chariot through the skies, bringing medicine to the Gods. It gives the power to reach things quickly and is also associated with plant medicine.

Mars represents the immune system (defensive capacity of the body), so this relates to the lightning-speed rollout of the vaccines, as well as the use of herbal immune boosters related to Mars, such as Echinacea and Elderberry.

Please note that these herbal immune boosters should not be used when one is actually sick with Covid to avoid causing cytokine storms, but are helpful for preventing contagious illnesses if taken when possibly exposed. Herbal medicine in general, may be found to be effective and helpful this year.

Due to other types of astrological analyses, I do expect the pandemic situation to improve when Jupiter moves out of debilitation temporarily in April.

Venus, the ruler of the second house of the mouth, food, and speech, is afflicted in the sensitive sign of Scorpio with an exact conjunction of Ketu (the south node) and an aspect from Mars.

Ketu, which is strong here in its own sign, can represent viruses, violence, and destruction in its negative connotations. As Venus represents relationships as well, relationships of all kinds could sustain damage.

It would be good to be careful with what you put in your mouth (food) as well as what comes out of your mouth (speech and communication in general) this year.

Venus and Ketu are in the lunar mansion of Jyestha, ruled by Indra, king of the Gods, which gives the power to rise, overcome, and conquer. This can bring strife and power struggles in relationships between people and political entities. It also represents transactional relationships, where people or entities exchange favors with little or no love involved.

This challenged Venus may represent a lack of harmony between states, nations, and in the world in general, so promoting peace by avoiding unnecessary conflict in all areas of life during this year would be prudent. As there is already too much polarization in this world, try not to see things in black-and-white terms, and instead, it would be best to cultivate the Venusian traits of harmony, love, and compassion as much as you can.

On a positive note, Jyestha also represents spiritual warriors, and Ketu represents renunciates, hermits, and spiritual people who put others first. This can give extra power and ability to people who are working with the current world situation on a spiritual level.

Whatever prayers or mantras you are doing during this extraordinary time of transformation, please keep doing them! Please make strong aspiration prayers that the current sufferings of this world lead to a new era where we live in harmony with the planet and each other. We need to make big changes so that our planet will survive, and we must do it now.

I lead online prayers and practices for compassion and healing from the Buddhist tradition on Monday and Thursday evenings at 6 PM Pacific time, so please contact me if you would like to join us or would like more details.

You can also contact me to schedule a reading to understand more about how this year looks for you.