*Eleditor’s note: Astrology isn’t a religion. We’re not sure it’s a science, either. It’s magic, maybe. But, as with feng shui, say, things affect things. So as long as we don’t go blaming our problems on the stars, as long as we assume responsibility for our own actions…well, hell, a little auspicious coincidence and applicable wisdom can’t hurt. And so, with that grain of salt…enjoy!

*Vedic Astrology, or Jyotish, is one of the oldest sciences on the planet and considered a relative of astronomy. It is an important and valuable part of the ancient Vedic texts. This complex, logic-based and also intuitive science, has survived thousands of years in India’s Vedic tradition and is still considered a highly valuable tool of guidance and life insight. It is not a religion, but rather a philosophical understanding of human and cosmic existence. In Sanskrit, Jyoti means light. Essentially, the study of jyotish is the study of light and how we interact with the cosmic light—within us and within the cosmos. Vedic astrology, or the sidereal approach to astrology, casts charts differently than Western, or Tropical astrology. The meanings, implications and purpose of jyotish is therefor different, as are the details used for prediction and the indications given below.

In this waxing Moon cycle, the feeling of potential will be ripe and awakened.

Mercury, Sun and Venus change signs, while Rahu and Ketu continue to prepare for change on the 29th of January. With all this movement being stimulated, the gaps between signs will be opened and awake. Rahu and Ketu are sandhi—-at the very edge of Virgo and Pisces respectively. The Sun and retrograde Mercury switch signs, just before Venus moves into Sagittarius. Jupiter continues to retrograde, though from the very last degree of Leo. This puts five planets in sandhi simultaneously over the course of the days to come.

Sandhi planets are vulnerable, delicate and powerful in their ambiguity.

It’s true, sandhi planets lack the grounding and stability that a planet who is clearly situated within a sign may offer. It is as though the planet hasn’t fully decided if it is in the house that it is in. It is on its way in or out, but hasn’t decided which one it will be. Its bags are still packed, boxes are still full, and it may not know if it’s here or there. It’s a traveler. It’s in limbo.

This sense of here nor there, however, can offer some profound insights and awareness.

Nothing is all good nor all bad, and this is quite true with sandhi planets. The gap offers us a connection to the mystical realms, the nether realms and can offer great depth and awareness with what feels untouchable most of the time (or all the time depending on the individual). Planets that are sandhi offer potential, possibility, unique insights and depth as a result of their “otherworldly” connections.

These are flexible planets and of course that can show up as versatility in a person as well. We can let this lack of grounding hinder us or give us great awareness. That is a choice. I like to remind my clients that what may appear to be a “negative,” is in fact a great gift of some sort, just waiting to be discovered.

If there’s any part of a chart that gives this type of indication so clearly, I think it is sandhi planets. There’s a certain potential alive right now in the planets. This can be terrifying, exciting and highly creative.

What are you moving toward? What are you creating for your life and your path? What excites you and stokes your creative fires? Move toward these desires.

On January 14th, Mercury retrogrades back into Sagittarius at 01:51 PST, joining the Sun who is poised at the edge of Capricorn. As they conjunct here, they will be in exact degrees.

Once Mercury lands back in Sagittarius, he runs right into the Sun, rendering him combust and in exact conjunction with the direct heat of fire itself. The mind will be hot, agitated and fragile leading up to and after this transit, so be mindful of your thoughts, words and actions. Sun and Mercury pass and begin to separate as Mercury retreats back through Sagittarius and the Sun moves forward into Capricorn.

Though they will be separated by being in different signs, they are both still sandhi in the coming days—meaning the threshold between signs is open and vulnerable. It’s as though the door is open and energy can move through easily.

Notice where Sagittarius and Capricorn are in your chart and what bhavas (houses) are activated by these transits. These are areas where heat and mental body stimulation will be intensified. Retrograde Jupiter now gives his gaze to Mercury, softening and stabilizing the mind, yet provoking growth and wisdom in ways that may arrive as challenges and learning curves. Where do you need more guidance, support and stability? What resources do you need for this stability to take place? Gather more support for the mental body. Use the physical body as a resource for grounding and stabilizing within, while stepping out of the pitfalls of the mental body.

Just after Mercury moves back to Sagittarius on the 14th, Sun moves to Capricorn for the coming month at 11:33 PST, which will offer more grounding and Earth based energy in the weeks to come. It’s also a time to increase your visibility, step toward your desires and life offerings and be seen for your work in this world.

Simultaneously, pushing and forcing may be your ways.

This type of action is not sustainable and will effect your physical well being. With Rahu, Mars and Saturn giving their gaze to the Sun during this transit, the theme of forcing agendas and outcomes will be strong. Rahu offers intensified desires, while Mars brings his warrior mentality.

Warriors don’t think, they act.

Saturn on the other hand will only support slow, steady steps. This combination is a lot like trying to start a fire without enough kindling. That said, where there’s a will, there’s a way. But at what cost?

Seek balance and harmony with your power and purpose.

How do you get the job done? Is it possible to weave in healthy doses of rejuvenation and relaxation, without burning yourself out? How do you know when you’re approaching burn out? What signals does your body give you? Use your creative life force in ways that strengthen the fire, without burning too hot and quick. Slow and steady wins the race. Notice when the feeling of balance and stability lands in your body. Can you locate this within? What is nourishing this feeling? What is depleting it?

Delegate and use effective communication to get your needs met. This will insure that you get your message and offerings out into the world more effectively. Tend diligently and tenderly to the inner fire and cultivate a deep presence with your passion. Your gifts deserve your attention. Put your focus on your greatest desires. Seek balance with your light and dark forces, polarities and opposing energies. How do you treat your darkness? What types of pleasure are you seeking? Are you in right-relationship with this?

In this Sun cycle, stepping toward your power, while cultivating an intentional, harmonious relationship with it, is absolutely key.

January 18th, Venus moves to Sagittarius at 16:31 PST, inviting in a new creative cycle. There will be tensions with the creative process, perhaps chaos and overwhelm, yet the underlying forces at play are to provoke change in your creative currents. Can you land in the center of the storm? Venus and Mercury will be tracking each other closely in the coming weeks, continuing this dance into Capricorn next.

Though Venus is not fond of Sagittarius, nor the gaze that Jupiter brings throughout this cycle, there is an integration being requested of you. Venus is the god of the asuras, the demons, or the human qualities we all express. Sagittarius is Jupiter’s domain and his gaze intensifies his desires. Jupiter is the god of the devas, the gods. He encourages purity, spiritual pursuits and pure knowledge.

Normally, the gaze of Jupiter is a comfort and a support, yet the relationship between Jupiter and Venus is tempestuous. Your demon and god qualities will be forced to face each other in this cycle. How can both get their needs met, in order for greater harmony within? Where are you spiritually-bypassing? This is a great time to be aware of where you may be refusing to look at your human parts with authenticity.

Simultaneously, spirit is a great ally and a wonderful resource. However, even spirit wants you to evolve as a human being. It’s time to be a fully integrated human. What resources and extra support do you need in order for this to happen?

Relationships, finances, health and comforts will provoke your desire for change in the coming weeks.

Where there are challenges and struggles, you will be more inclined to put in the effort for growth and transformation. What stories are intensifying? Where is there discomfort and dis-ease? Release and cleansing will be important resources during this transit, while cultivating a deeper relationship with your creative powers. Stagnant inner waters must be given the opportunity to move, flow and find a new current. This can be supported through intentional creative acts, the arts, embodiment and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Remove and let go of the relationships that keep you strangled, undernourished and stifled creatively.

This includes those that deplete your life force energy—leaving you dry and incomplete. Parts of yourself that you are clinging to, that keep you malnourished must also be let go. Keep cultivating a deeper relationship with yourself in order to increase awareness about what you need for cultivating a richer creative process.

Work with my creative rituals to support you with this. Find ways to increase your fluidity with healthy habits, nourishing foods and lifestyle practices, dance, chanting and singing. Let the legs ground you and deepen your presence of support in the pelvis. Integrating human and god qualities within will be supported through working with first and second chakras.

Start 2016 off with clarity, support and extra resources—schedule a personal session.

*Horoscopes are based on your Vedic (sidereal) rising sign. You can also check your Moon and Sun signs for further insight. Do the same with your Navamsa signs for further clarity. Do not use these horoscopes with your Western sign (Tropical) as there is likely no correlation. These horoscopes are meant to be used as a broad overview of the current transits and obviously do not address the specifics of an individual’s unique chart.

Aries: Work on strengthening relationships with T.L.C. and balance. Where do you hide who you are, just to keep things pleasant? Where do you need to show up more authentically? Dive into your depths and work consciously on your challenges, obstacles and difficulties. Use grief as a resource for cleansing and healing old wounds. Career gets your focus and the light of the Sun in the coming weeks. Make hay! Dharma is full of creative potential. Use your creative powers to instigate new possibilities and opportunities for yourself.

Taurus: Continue to seek stability and support within. Notice when it arrives and where you feel this in your body. Use this as a resource to cultivate more stability in your life and relationships. Dharmic pursuits are being activated and awakened on multiple levels. Look for themes and old desires returning to support your ambitions. Creativity is being cultivated and activated from your raw humanness. Channel your creative power into potent expression, words and sounds. Speak your creative truth and land in the nourishment of your heart wisdom.

Gemini: Keep integrating your heart’s desires with your creative desires. Gather support, resources and guidance for your process. Who is walking with you? Let go of those who don’t fully align with your needs for creativity and expression. This is a release cycle for you as Sun dips into your 8th house. This is a good time for more silence, introspection and meditation. Spend more time with your inner landscape and use this as a channel for your creativity and self expression. Work with the recurring, old and heavy themes that continue to emerge. Rather than resisting your challenges, step toward them, then transform them through your creative powers.

Cancer: Work consciously on balancing your heart wisdom and emotional body. This effects your relationships, home life and how you show up for yourself and your life. Find a new balance with anger, passion and frustration, in order to help relationships be more balanced as well. Be authentic with yourself and your emotions. Seek nourishment, new resources, support and wisdom. Work on healing bad habits with sugar and intoxicants as well as money and relationships. Where do you need more healing and guidance? Work with father issues and patterns you received from your father in order to heal your inner power struggles.

Leo: Keep retracing your steps and covering old ground. Where have you missed important resources and support the first go ’round? What teachers and guides are returning to help you? Let creativity and the arts be sparked and activated with passion. Continue to seek stability and grounding in your heart and home, while moving through grief, struggle and pain with authenticity. Don’t apologize for your feelings, honor them. Shine light on your healing process and use it as a resource for overcoming bad habits. Get playful and lighten your spirit when life gets overwhelming.

Virgo: Retrace your steps and cover old ground. Foreign lands and travel, as well as rest and rejuvenation provide new types of support and new resources to emerge. There’s creative potential ripening in your heart center. Where do you channel these powerful forces? Let the body be a primary resource for activating your creativity, while using the arts and movement to keep the grief moving through you. With the many releases that have occurred in the past one-and-a-half years, it’s important to be digesting these experiences and emotions consciously. Find ways to express, share and lighten this load. Speaking and connecting with supportive relationships are vital.

Libra: There is a lot of energy and dynamism moving through you. Some of this you are transferring onto relationships. How do you use this passion and power? How do you work with your anger and frustration? Find balance with your drive and ambition, heart and emotions. The hearth and home, the seat of your emotional body and your ability to land and ground are getting a lot more focus right now. Use grounding and stabilizing resources to support this process—including embodiment and physical body awareness. Let your creative waters flow through writing, the arts and movement. This is highly dharmic right now. Find new pathways with these resources.

Scorpio: Continue to navigate your grief and suffering with authenticity and awareness. You are in a deep change process. Don’t expect anyone else to get it. Gather resources and support for yourself and your work. Get creative with how you share and who you share with. Use voice and writing to get your message out. Let your words speak for themselves. Find ways to balance and harmonize your energy without pushing or forcing. Self care and playfulness are the antidotes for the general heaviness you are working through. Notice where your life needs more balance and seek to restore a sense of stability and harmony there.

Sagittarius: Strong creative currents are moving through you. How do you channel these forces? Relationships may feel comforting and supportive as well as provide resources for ideas and new connections. Continue to find new and unusual ways to share your work with the world and move toward dharmic pursuits. What support and guidance is returning to help you with this process? Seek stability through time alone and extra rest. Rejuvenation and retreat time proves vital for helping you digest grief and challenges. Be diligent with your need for silence and solace. Share your truth, ideas and wisdom through the spoken and written word.

Capricorn: Use the energy and power coming to you as a way to activate career and offerings. The Sun is starting to shine in your head and the light bulbs are going off. The cycle to come will be helpful for shining in bigger and bolder ways. Step out of your comfort zone and into your power. Clarify who you are, how you are and what you offer. Creative energy is supported with rest, retreat and relaxation. Allow yourself to feel the support of creativity and the increased fluidity it can bring. Find new resources and revisit old means of support and nourishment. Gather your team and start delegating! Greater receptivity comes with deeper compassion for yourself and others.

Aquarius: Continue your methodical steps with your career and offerings. Notice where your steps are adding up. Create ample time for self care, retreats and rest. Get away, find time to be alone, meditate and pause. New ideas, possibilities and pathways for change arrive when you slow down and create space for them to emerge. Seek stability and support within yourself and relationships. What resources and guidance do you need to help with this process? As you deepen your own self development process and work with your shadow parts, you create greater balance in your life- inside and out. Keep moving toward harmonizing your opposing forces.

Pisces: Ample creative energy is moving through you. Channel it into your career and offerings. Let relationships and ideas cultivate new possibilities. Let grief and struggle be a teacher for you, a way to find more balance with your inner landscape. Seek harmony and integration with the past and the strong emotions. Anger is a resource for growth right now, as well as your passion and courage. Friends may be supportive allies with your healing process to pay attention to resources emerging. Your healing path and process is inviting you to revisit resources and support that you may have previously overlooked. What is re-appearing to remind you?

*All timing is given in Pacific Standard Time Zone.

Ready to make the New Year a powerful and potent year? Get some extra guidance and support from me. Schedule a session with me.

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Relephant:

Author: Saraswati J.

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock

Photo: courtesy of the author