Dhanishtha

• Span: 23°20′ Capricorn to 06°40′ Aquarius
• Deity: Ashta Vasus
• Dasha Lord: Mars
• Symbol: Drum or Flute
• Animal (Yoni): Lion (female)
• Shakti or power: khyapayitri shakti = power to give fame and wealth

This nakshatra is strongly related to material prosperity and wealth. The name itself can be translated into “the wealthiest” or the “most prosperous”. It usually bestows great luck, a comfortable life and a fair degree of success.

The symbol here is a drum. This represents a receptivity to external influences, as this is a hollow instrument. It represents an openness to opinions, ideas and, on a higher level, to spiritual or holy wisdom. Absorbing knowledge and living it are a strong thing for Dhanishtha.

Another point of the drums, of course, deals with music. Playing music, specially for an instrument like the drums, is all about timing and rhythm. In life, this relates to being in the right place at the right time. Doing the right thing in the right moment. As well as being able to adapt to the circumstances.

The flute carries a similar symbolism to the drums. I’d say the difference between the two relates to subtlety. With the flute being the more elegant or discrete of the two. Natives will embody one or the other.

Mars here shows power, strength, movement and the willingness to achieve. Similarly, the symbol of the lioness reinforces that. In nature, the female lions are usually the hunters, going after food and resources. While the male lions are more preoccupied with protection, instead of providing or caring.

The Asta Vasus myth deals with death and trouble, followed by prosperity. Seven out of eight were born, and dead at an early age. Until the eight was born and prospered in life. The myth hints to issues with children, family and fertility; that can trouble these natives at times. As well as the idea of hardship and strife, so at home in Saturn’s signs.

Still, this nakshatra is mostly positive, and the shakti here relates to elevating the native in life. Dhanishtha promotes fortune, wealth, luck and prosperity; although a few strifes along the way, as no person is free of misfortune.

One association I haven’t seen anyone else make (which will now become common, through the magic of ChatGPT and people’s incompetence/dishonesty) deals with Mercury.

Mercury rules nothing here, and has no explicit relationship to Dhanishtha. Yet when we analyze hollowness, one is inclined to think of the little green devil ☿. Mercury is the messenger, hollow by nature, a mere vessel so that two parts can communicate. Mercury adapts, changes and takes the color of the environment around him. The hollowness of Mercury leads to extreme receptivity. High philosophy has the same weight as a Twitter meme, great scientific formulas have the same importance as your favorite shampoo.

Similarly, Mercury represents the eternal merchant. Pseudo-socializing with everyone, in search of a sale. Bending and twisting the truth. Adapting to the environment, to maximize his gains. At times, in an aimless pursuit. You are gaining, for gaining, to gain for gains. There is no end goal, no final number, no day where you will be satisfied.

Mercury’s hollowness can lead to emptiness, lack of meaning and a sense of despair/depression. That is a shared burden/cross for Mercury and Dhanishtha, avoiding emptiness.

Recently, I was being pestered by a marketing consultant. She was going to change my life, rock my world, make me rich and famous. I just want to grill, my darling. She is a 30-something year old in a 30-something year old life crisis. She worked the corporate world, but got disillusioned by the lies and deception there. She made a change! She studied yoga, astrology, reiki, tarot, “gene keys” [astrology with extra pointless steps] and dozens of other things. She is now changing the world, by “revealing the truth” all in the search of meaning.

She will never find it. Not in the path she is at. This emptiness comes from the inside. It comes from hollowing out everything in your path.

The “just one more class, bro” mindset, where you take 500 courses on dozens of subjects, because this next one will be it. The next one will make you stop feeling empty. Only it won’t. Excessive theory, with no practice and depth, is simply procrastination. And procrastination will only make you feel empty.

When you take something like astrology, and you turn it into a dozen courses, you hollow out the meaning of it. If you had studied and really focused on the basics, instead of a dozen courses on ultra turbo specific things, that only apply in extremely specific circumstances, you’d have something of greater value. But studying Saturn and Jupiter cycles isn’t as flashy as a bi-quintile of Kronos and Hades.

As with any diatribe I make, what’s the point of it? First, and most important, the fun of the ride. I enjoy it, it makes me happy, it colors life. Second, it illustrates the issue of hollowness.

Hollowness can lead to absorbing wisdom, expanding, and embracing the world. But it can similarly lead to emptiness. Drying out life like a prune, and losing all meaning in everything.

Dhanishtha natives have a strong work-ethic, a strong drive and workaholic trends. They are similarly prone to bouts of depression, feelings of emptiness and other emotional complaints. An important lesson here deals with balance. Not everything has to be business all the time, some things are just done for fun. Receptivity, similarly, doesn’t mean losing yourself to the world. We have to fill the voids of life, instead of hollowing out life.

Dhanishtha is prone to variety, another Mercury theme. The idea of 8 deities indicates variety. This is a hard nakshatra to read or feel in people, as it is very diverse. From shy to outgoing, tattooed-freak to suited-formal, it is hard to pin down. Specially on an aesthectic/visual manner. Other influences in the chart will be more important on this front.

Dhanishtha manifests mostly as the strong work ethic, already mentioned, and its fruits. Wealth, prosperity, fame and success. They have great luck, also great timing for business deals and finding opportunities. The natives can have an affinity or easiness with technology. Similarly, a strong liking for music is most of the time present here. In many cases, the natives play some instrument.

These natives are very charming. They have a talent for talking, convincing and captivating people. Dhanishtha has a strong desire to change the world. So some forcefulness or rebellion can be seen here. They prefer confrontation to escapism, always facing their troubles head on.

Dhanishtha tends to make strong movers and shakers, in one way or another. Obviously, not everyone can be a handsome 6 foot tall CEO with shredded abs. I’ve met more than a dozen natives with Moon/Ascendant here who were leaders of their communities, be it some kind of business or something else. Like an online forum, a club or association. There is a strong potential for leadership here.

As usual, let’s delve into the negative. I kinda jumped the gun and already said the main thing above, the negative side of hollowness which is feeling empty. This can lead to bouts of depression, mental issues, anger or lashing out at others.

The solution is to engage with things, fully immersing yourself in life and creating meaning in the things around you.

Besides that, these natives can also have a hard time in marriage and relationships. There is an odd trend here, of seeking an unsuitable partner, who is very different from you and might shock the people in your life. Having good people (family or friends) around to give you a second opinion can be important here, as you might make bad choices in this regard.

Similarly, delays or trouble having children is another negative effect here.

As a daily star:

This is a fun and generally good day. It is a great time for a party or a big and flashy event. Most things tend to run well now, people tend to be enthusiastic or at least more receptive than usual. It is an excellent day for travel or adventure.

It is my favorite day to buy or update anything related to technology. The trifecta of Dhanishtha, Shatabishak and Purva Bhadrapada (which englobe the full sidereal Aquarius sign) are all great for technology. But Dhanishtha is the most positive star, becoming my favorite day for this.

On the negative, it can be a complicated time for dating and relationships. Rushing to judgment, negative or positive, can deceive us on this day. We might see a toad in a prince, or a prince in a toad.

→ Favorable activities with Dhanishtha: Anything ritualistic, big and performative. Pomp and circumstance. Creative activities, specially music. Dealing with technology, buying new electronics, updating, etc. Travel of all sorts. Buying property. Recovering or healing. Fitness and physical activity.

→ Unfavorable activities with Dhanishtha: Marriage or dating. Giving up old habits, or trying to restrict yourself. Delicate conversations, or tact.

On a predictive manner, planets in Dhanishtha promote a sense of pomp and circumstance, grandiosity around the planet’s matters. This can lead to great success or progress. In the 3rd or 5th house, it can specially promote musical talent.

Issues of emptiness, or hollowness, can also pop-up with planets here. With Saturn, specially, things can feel dull or empty; or the person could feel lost about life.

Examples:

• Yves Saint Laurent (Dhanishtha Ascendant at 0° Aquarius): French designer of high fashion.
  • High Achievement: He became the sucessor of Christian Dior, as well as one of the biggest names in fashion himself.
  • Mental health issues: He had problems with drugs, alcohol and depression. His longtime partner Pierre Bergé used to say that he was born with a nervous breakdown.
• Auguste Comte (Dhanishtha Moon at 5° Aquarius, conjunct Pluto): French philosopher who formulated the doctrine of positivism.
  • Relationship issues: He had a troubled first marriage, which caused him multiple mental breakdowns, some leading towards him being hospitalized.
  • Mental health issues: read above. Also a suicide attempt and other mental episodes. At a certain moment, he was put under “interdiction”, which would be the equivalent of a conservatorship nowadays.
  • High achievement: known as the father of sociology, his ideas of establishing a “social religion” or doctrine for society remain a staple in intellectual circles.

See more Nakshatra posts here