Category: Nakshatra (Page 1 of 11)

• 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

• Span: 16°40′ Scorpio to 30°00′ Scorpio
• Deity: Indra, King of Gods
• Dasha Lord: Mercury
• Symbol: Talisman, Umbrella or Earrings
• Animal (Yoni): Deer (male)
• Shakti or power: arohana shakti = power to rise and conquer

Jyeshtha is the high-energy and intense nakshatra that ends the similarly intense sign of Scorpio. A very fitting match on many levels. The name itself can be translated into the eldest, or the most noble one, referring to someone in a high position. Another translation relates Jyeshtha to the Ganges River, a holy river, also showing high prestige.

The third, and most interesting, translation relates Jyeshtha to the middle finger. Not in the sense we know, although it can be seen as that too. The middle finger is known as the finger of Saturn. In yogic breathing practices, the middle finger is used to help close the nostrils, to control and direct the breath. Controlling the breath is seen as a key practice for spiritual progress.

In the skies, Jyeshtha is formed by three stars very close by, which some see as the top of an umbrella and others see as an earring. Both of these become symbols of the nakshatra.

The earrings deal a lot with status and power. Even in tribal cultures, earrings are seen as something for the wealthy or powerful. So this symbol represents a lot the idea of status, position and power being displayed.

The umbrella is an interesting tangent, specially for those familiar with occult knowledge. I relate the umbrella to any kind of hat or head protection. In occult lore, protecting the head is seen as something essential in many traditions. Mandatory headgear exists on many religious traditions, specially amongst the priests or leaders.

To summarize a concept that varies from tradition to tradition, the head is seen as a vulnerable area to psychic or spiritual attacks, so protecting it is essential; specially for someone who intends to lead.

The final symbol, and the most prominent one in my opinion, is that of the Talisman. First, what is a Talisman? This unusual word can confuse or intimidate some, specially the dumber ones. It sounds ancient, foreign and distant. It can be, it is in many cases. But it is also extremely present in our world. Think of police badges, medals and other symbols of status and power used to represent authority.

Again, all three symbols relate to status and power.

Going into the deity, Indra is the king of gods. He is said to control lightning, storms, thunder. He yields great power. Unlike other gods, however, Indra is not a fixed deity. Indra is a position, occupied by a soul at a certain moment of time. Indra is much more like the Pope than Jesus, to put it simply. Indra’s quality, prestige and powers tend to vary with time. As each human epoch will have a different Indra.

Some fairly common points, however, are a liking for luxury and enjoyment. Much like another nakshatra ruled by Indra, Vishakha, this becomes a trend in life. Unlike that other star, here Indra is the sole influence, so everything is much more strong and intense here. Jyeshtha tends to embody some other qualities related to Indra, like being proud, vain, blusterous and unreliable.

The power of this nakshatra arohana shakti refers to rising and conquering. Arohana means to arise. Here this alludes to rising above challenges, going after a goal and coming out victorious.

Taking the symbolism above, one of the main themes related to Jyeshtha is power. These natives have a strong need for power, high status and a good position in life. Achievement is a key thing for these natives. The way into that is, however, variable. In some cases, hard work and proper methods will lead them into victory. In other cases, these natives will use dishonest methods, anything that gets the job done.

A key thing to interpret this nakshatra is to understand the difference between wealth and power. A person might be wealthy, lead a very luxurious life, without having or yielding power. They might not care about it! Going to parties, having fun, traveling require money, not power. Controlling others, bossing people around and demanding respect, are all things that require power — not necessarily money, although it always helps.

Jyeshtha wants the money, the power and everything. Jyeshtha natives care deeply about being respected or having a sense of importance in the world. Being wealthy doesn’t matter if people don’t know who they are, or don’t consider them important. On that note, social rituals and prestige tend to matter a lot to these natives. Getting awards, honors and status is very important to them.

To make a comparison. As a person who doesn’t care, I see award ceremonies as a bunch of pointless speeches, that nobody pays attention to; and fake medals that mean nothing. A Jyeshtha person sees it as high honor, and the height of life, and they are offended at my opinion.

The two biggest Jyeshtha professions, to me, are a great way to understand this nakshatra. The first profession deals with police work. They have a badge that gives them power, they fight with people, they exert power in the world. Their morality varies from time to time. On the good side of things, they defend and help the weak. On the negative, they cheat and destroy, to help authoritarian pursuits.

The second great Jyeshtha profession is journalism. Much of what I already said about cops can be similarly applied to them, but there are more interesting layers to it.

Indra sits among gods, but he is not permanent and equal to them, he rose there because he was allowed. Journalists are the ultimate Indra. They enter palaces, powerful meetings, they mingle amongst people who have actually accomplished things. Are they equal? No.

A scientist did actual research to get there. The journalists just wrote about it. A senator got elected by a majority of his constituents. A journalist just went on TV to talk about him. Top executives create and manage great companies, journalists just put a serious face and talk about what they did. They sit amongst the gods, yet they aren’t gods.

This being while not being creates a status anxiety, all but ever present in the life of Jyeshtha natives. They need to maintain their status, and they might be extremely forceful about it, willing to do anything for it.

In life, these natives are dramatic and exaggerated. Whenever they talk, the talk is always way bigger than reality. When talking about a slight issue, it will seem as if they were tortured and almost murdered. When talking about an accomplishment, it will seem as if they discovered fire and invented the wheel.

In the case of problems, specially, these natives become extremely dramatic. Groaning, complaining and bothering everyone about it. Specially in an age where being a victim helps, Jyeshtha tends to milk the pity cow until it dries.

Physically, this type of drama is embodied into the natives. Usually they have a striking and noticeable face, that might seem threatening to some. Their clothing choices tend towards everything that is very noticeable. Their homes will similarly tend towards palatial, exaggerated and striking. Think animal prints, gold details, noticeable religious imagery or things of the sort.

As unusual, let’s delve into the positive. Talking normally about this nakshatra deals a lot with things that are somewhat negative, or poorly perceived by others, so I feel the need to do the opposite and highlight some positives.

These natives are very energetic and intelligent people, very capable strategists, who can achieve and create a lot in the world. The potential here is excellent to create, build and do a lot in the world.

For a lot of these natives, a strong sense of justice exists in their mind. So they can be ruthless fighters against injustice, deceit or trickery. Fighting and defending are big things in their minds and lives. When harnessed for good, this can be a powerful and important force in the world.

As usual, let’s delve into the negative. Talking about a forceful and strong personality will always seem negative on its own, as a lot of people are turned off by that. Still, someone being flashy doesn’t mean that they are bad people. However, Jyeshtha has a negative potential, that tends to come off at times.

A big, and root, issue here can be jealousy. These natives might resent people for having more than they have, and this can turn into hatred or vicious behavior. Jealousy here can happen because of money, status, love, power, etc.

At times, these natives can be vindictive, taking revenge at others for slights or perceived faults. Many times, in totally excessive and unjustified manners, that tend to create problems for themselves.

Another issue can be a flexible moral compass. This is the key issue of our time, our age in the world. But Jyeshtha is definitely an exponent of this trend. Imoral, deceitful or troublesome behavior becomes justified as long as it gives them what they want or crave.

As a daily star:

Jyeshtha day has a funny situation. It is one of the worst days for blusterful and excessive behavior, yet it stimulates people towards this. Gossip, conflict and combative statements that alienate others are a strong trend this day. Boasting about oneself is another trend.

A great lesson of this day is about self-control. Dealing with our instincts, managing our behavior, taking charge of our lives. Resisting this urge to blabber chaotically is a good starting point. It is also a great time to start a diet or new and better habits.

I dislike this day for anything dealing with authority, as they will be more imposing and restrictive on this day. It is a good idea to avoid dealing with police, law and bureaucracy on this day. This is not a bad day for travel, but security personnel will be specially annoying today.

→ Favorable activities with Jyeshtha: Anything strong or harsh. Judging, giving strong opinions, scheming, confronting, etc. Having important discussions. Revenge or confrontation. Taking charge of a situation. Concern, care and responsibility. Problem solving or planning. Taking care of family matters. Showing restraint or consideration for others. Starting new disciplines, restrictions or penances. Good for occult work, specially more complex matters.

→ Unfavorable activities with Jyeshtha: bad for rest, healing, restoration and sleep. Anything that needs calmness, gentleness or sensitivity. Not good for fun and parties. Not a good day for feeling defeated or complaining. Bad for blustering, selfish behavior or excesses. Travel can be troublesome.

On a predictive manner, planets in Jyeshtha will feel big and over the top. This can be either a person or your behavior. For instance, the 4th lord in Jyeshtha could show your mother being a blusterful and exaggerated person. Or it could show your own emotions being over the top and dramatic. The 3rd lord could show that you talk in a strong and dramatic way. The 10th lord tends to show a notable career, many times helping the person become famous.

Examples:

• Noam Chomsky (Jyeshtha Ascendant at 23° Scorpio + Saturn at 27°): American professor and political activist.
  • Activism: He is very outspoken about his beliefs. From foreign policy, non-interventionism, to free-speech. Jyeshtha promotes fighting for causes.
  • High status: He is a highly successful in the academic world, having a PhD and great honors.
  • Involvement with politics: Even though his field is linguistics, he is mostly known for his political opinions and essays. Jyeshtha natives always tend to deal with politics, in one way or another.
• Joan Rivers (Jyeshtha Moon at 24° Scorpio): American comedienne, gossip columnist and commentator.
  • Blusterful: Mostly famous by her loud and fast mouth, always making shocking and extreme comments.
  • She was prone towards drama, theatrics, hyperbole and exagerattion.
• Sean Penn (Jyeshtha Ascendant at 23° Scorpio): American actor and director
  • Insecurity and Prone to Outbursts: He is known for outbursts of temper, attacks on people and scandalous clashes.
  • High status: He is a highly successful actor, with multiple awards.
  • Blusterful: In 2022, he threatened to melt his Oscar award if the Academy didn’t allow Ukraine’s Zelensky to speak during that year’s ceremony. Well, he wasn’t allowed to speak, I’m still waiting for the Oscar to be melted. I want it.
    • A typical Jyeshtha bluster affair.

See more Nakshatra posts here