This year, the New Moon that will complete Pitri Paksha (fortnight of the ancestors) and precede Devi Paksha (also known as Navaratri or 9 nights of the Goddess), will be also a Solar Eclipse that will take place in Hasta Nakshatra, in tight conjuction with Ketu and exalted Mercury. This New Moon is also sometimes known as Sarvapitri Amavasya (New Moon of All Ancestors) or Mahalaya Amavasya (New Moon of Dissolution). It is not only the time to symbolically honour our ancestors and deceased family members, but also the time to reflect upon our past in order to heal our old traumas and uplift the generational karma, which still continues to live through us. New Moon which completes the Pitri Paksha and which will be a Solar Eclipse this year, is like a symbolic death, letting go of the old, so that the new may be reborn during the fortnight of the Goddess.

Learn more about Interpreting Eclipses: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/eclipses-in-vedic-astrology/

Lunar Eclipse in Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra

17/18 September 2024

In this part of the year we are going to experience two eclipses - one on 17/18 September, another on 2 October, with the great fortnight of ancestors (Pitri Paksha) in between them. This entire period, which will be initiated by Lunar Eclipse in Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra, will be a very potent time for inner transformation and especially healing of the past - including past traumas, past lifes, fear that hold us back and old habits that don’t serve us anymore. Similarly to the tree shedding their leaves in this time of the year we, too, will be inspired to shake off those things which do not serve us anymore and allow the old parts of us to fall off and die if need be - so that something new may be born. Theme of symbolic death is very symbolic for Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra and will be especially pronounced during the upcoming eclipse as Moon will be in tight Papa Kartari Yoga, squeezed between Saturn retrograde from one side and Rahu from another.

Learn more about Interpreting Eclipses: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/eclipses-in-vedic-astrology/

New Moon in Purva Phalguni Nakshatra

2-3 September

The next meeting of Sun and Moon will occur at the heart of sidereal Leo, near the brightest star (yogatara) of Purva Phalguni nakshatra. Purva Phalguni, although ruled by Venus and friendly god of alliances, Aryama, is fierce (ugra) and fiery in nature. Combined with the intensity of the New Moon which will be directly aspected by Saturn retrograde, it may bring some storms into our relations - both those close and those more distant. It is in times like that that we are challenged more than ever to stay heart-centered, kind and compassionate (to ourselves and to others) even when it’s hard.

Simultaneously, as Sun and Moon will meet in the nakshatra of Venus, Venus herself will be debilitated in sidereal Virgo and approaching Ketu, which may increase in some people a certain sense of dissatisfaction and result in various compensations - a particular aspect of this fortnight for each of us to be very watchful about. When dissatisfaction with current situation arises, remember to rather step back and take time for yourself to resolve the inner issue rather than enforce your preferences on others or engage in direct confrontations.

Learn more about Purva Phalguni Nakshatra: https://thenakshatras.com/purva-phalguni-nakshatra