Astro Mummy

Rahu and Ketu in Vedic astrology

Rahu and Ketu are 2 shadow grahas that do not have physical bodies. These are calculated mathematical points where the Moon's orbit around the Earth intersects with the Earth's orbit around the Sun. At these points, lunar and solar eclipses occur.

Ketu is more powerful in my experience.

⠀ Rahu is the north ascending lunar node (the point where the Moon crosses the ecliptic when moving from south to north), and Ketu is the south descending lunar node (here the Moon crosses the ecliptic when moving from north to south).

Accordingly, Rahu is associated with the expansion of energy (ascending), but mostly in a negative way, and Ketu is associated with contraction of energy (descent). ⠀

And if sunlight allows us to clearly see the objects of the material world and shadows, then the shadows are associated only with illusions. Therefore, the energy of the lunar nodes gives rise to false ideas, delusions and illusions.

You can also view the lunar nodes through the prism of mythology, which is closely associated with Jyotish. This is an important part of Jyotish, because each planet has its own Personality, with its own character. And this helps to better understand the relationship of the planets to each other. ⠀

According to the legend about the churning of the Ocean, when the drink of immortality (Amrita) was obtained, it all went to the devas (gods). But the demon Rahu, having changed his appearance, sat down between the Sun and the Moon and received a drop of amrita. The luminaries managed to tell the god Vishnu about this, who, angry, cut off Rahu's head with his disc. But because of the amrita that got into the throat, the head remained alive, and the body fell dead. Since then, Rahu has been tormenting the Moon and the Sun, "swallowing them" for betrayal and making eclipses for them. ⠀

In the tradition of the Jyotish school, rahu is considered the co-ruler of Aquarius, along with Saturn (similar to Saturn).

⠀ Rahu symbolizes illusions (including the mind), material desires and is the cause of birth. He helps us to be born again. Because the reason for our birth is our desires, ambitions, hopes (desires are associated with the 11th house of the natural zodiac - Aquarius). ⠀

The task of Rahu is to find our weaknesses and tempt us so that we show weakness and lose purity. They earned their karma to return to Earth again. ⠀

Ketu , according to the tradition , is moksha-karaka - i.e. the planet leading to liberation (moksha). ⠀ In the chart, Ketu often shows the area where we make mistakes, where we behave like "headless" (because Ketu is only the body of a demon without a head). And also Ketu represents shunya (emptiness) - and where he is, he wants to dissolve it, take it away so that you give up your attachment to this and be freed.

⠀ Ketu, respectively, is considered the co-ruler of Scorpio, along with Mars (similar to Mars). Scorpio in the natural zodiac is the 8th house which is 12m from the 9th house of dharma and spirituality. 12th house is denial, loss. Therefore, the 8th house negates the 9th house and is associated with the denial of religion, atheism, occultism, mystery and mysticism. ⠀

What errors does Ketu symbolize? The first mistake is that even for believers, because of human nature, it is difficult to understand and realize that God exists. We do not believe that the Divine principle is somewhere in ourselves. We still have doubts. ⠀

Second - there are 2 directions of the world: material and spiritual. And most often we go into the material (the energy of the Pisces sign, in which Ketu “feels good.” Its symbol is 2 fish swimming in different directions).

⠀ And the third mistake is that even if we believe, become religious, we believe that religion is God. But God has no religion, He is above them all. Religion is needed only for a person to know God, but in order to develop relations with him, religion is no longer needed. God is not a religion. God is Truth. Om Tat Sat.

PS Until now, there is a lot of controversy and reasoning regarding the nature of Rahu-Ketu, what kind of energy they transmit, what signs of the zodiac they are “comfortable” in, and whether incorporeal grahas can even own zodiac signs - Planet RJ