Ketu is the Vedic Astrology name for the South Node of the Moon.
I want to start with a key factor in understanding Rahu the North Node and Ketu the South Node, which is what the Nodes show in terms of our ‘karmic unfoldment’.
Ketu in your astrology birth chart is the South Node of the Moon, and shows what past life scripts you come in with in this life. It is described as the camp of the occupying army.
Rahu in your astrology birth chart is the North Node of the Moon, and shows your incarnational destiny: what karmas your soul chose for you to work at to burn in this life, what special talents you chose to work with to seek to manifest and shine with. Rahu is always opposite Ketu, so in fact we are thrown toward our incarnational destiny.
But note at this stage that they are both very difficult energies, and indeed that we will have to purify our reception of Rahu if we are ever to have any hope of getting to where he points to, far across the chart in the opposite sign and house from Ketu.
In fact, until we learn to purify them, the two Nodes are the two parts of a demon: they are chthonic dark and invisible forces, Ketu without a head and so no logic; Rahu without a heart and so no feeling.
This presentation comes in three parts:
This part, part 1, is about the nature of Ketu.
In part 2, we will also be looking at relevant matters such as the Mythic Keys to understanding Ketu, the astronomical nature of the Nodes of the Moon, the difference between the western astrology birth chart using the tropical Zodiac and the Vedic astrology Birth Chart using the Sidereal Zodiac and the method of Visioanry Astrology to get a ‘clear appearance’ of the planet, first as a pure entity, as a refraction of the divine; and socondly as he manifests in our astrology chart and therefore in our life (as we experiecne him through filters of sign, house and aspects to other planets – and this can be a very different matter to his pure nature!).
And in part 3, we look at the birth chart of Donald Trump to show how the force of Ketu manifests in a terrible chart.
But first of all, let’s focus on the nature of Ketu, the South node of the Moon.
Ketu dissolves. So, to have a planet conjunct Ketu in general means that that planet will be ruined. But in fact, Ketu is a divine instrument. Ketu brings a fierce energy of concentration, powerful even terrible perception, intuitive or psychic awareness and openings. So, if we can learn Ketu’s lessons, we may ultimately do well with that planet. Ketu can liberate us. Ketu can on occasion boost the manifestation of a strong planet, but that planet has to be strong in your birth chart.
Ketu is headless and instinctual. He is very hard to understand and get to know. He is elusive. He creates a pervasive atmosphere of disconnection from material solidity.
So, for example, Ketu conjunct Sun might be to have no father. Ketu has the power to overcome the Sun.
Ketu in the 4th House might be to have no mother.
He calls us into the spiritual realm but he does this through odd and weird events and sudden disasters or openings. He creates doubt and disturbance.
Unless we develop maturity and spiritual perception, he can leave us devastated and bereft. Like Rahu, Ketu has a psychic effect on us, and it can be very hard to understand. Our mind can be really puzzled or devastated. His energy is very sharp and critical and martial, so to have Ketu conjunct a planet can make us very wilful, argumentative or critical around the manifestation of the conjunct planet.
To have Ketu conjunct Mercury plays weird games with the normal Mercury qualities of communication and conceptualisation and organisation, so we can be maddened with the Mercury problems, which include siblings, but the divine call is to apply ourselves better. And there is a much bigger meaning to Mercury conjunct Ketu than that. Mercury conjunct Ketu is the ‘jnana karaka’, or the ‘enlightenment indicator’. It manifests this way: we may study spiritual paradigm after spiritual paradigm, only to realise that any paradigm is but a finger pointing to the Moon. No paradigm is actually the Moon itself. Wisdom and psychic sensitively are included in Ketu’s ultimate gifts: spiritual rebirth. Ketu can free us from our illusions and delusions, but to the more materialistic person he manifests as dark destruction and disruptive events and delusion. But that is the higher consciousness person.
Ketu is all associated with mass catastrophe and war.
Ketu represents the forces in our subconscious which can and will erupt, even with devastation as well as release. Ketu is invisible forces and can manifest as virus attacks and epidemics.
Here are a few pointers to understaning Ketu in yoru birth chart: Generally speaking, the Nodes do best in the Vedic signs owned by Mercury (Gemini and Virgo). Rahu does well also in Saturn’s Vedic signs (Capricorn and Aquarius). Ketu does well in Mars’ Vedic signs (Aries and Scorpio).
Note that Rahu is the co-ruler of Vedic Aquarius, and Ketu is the co-ruler of Vedic Scorpio.
Jupiter’s Vedic signs (Sagittarius and Pisces) inspire and uplift Ketu.
Venus’ Vedic signs give a more worldly sensual energy to the Nodes, more so to Rahu rather than Ketu.
To find out more have a reading or enroll on one of my astrology courses>
So, now please go to the other two parts of this Blog Post:
Pt 2 Ketu Mythic Keys and Astronomy
Pt 3 Case Study: The frightening Birth Chart of Donald Trump.
If you would like a reading for yourself or family members covering your birth chart and this period ahead, or if you would like to enrol on one of my wonderful astrology courses, with their dedicated individual attention, please contact me on my starwheelastrology website:
And see details of my earthspirituality courses and novels on:
www.druidforestschool.com
For Maggie’s healings see: www.maggiepashley.com
Blog: blog.starwheelastrology.com
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I look forward to hearing from you
Michael
