Rahu and Ketu in the Leo and Aquarius Axis
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Rahu and Ketu in the Leo and Aquarius Axis by Patricija Venckutė
Introduction
Have you heard of a myth that is used to obtain a greater insight into the energy of Rahu and Ketu in Vedic Astrology? The myth tells of a demon who desired to consume Amrita, a nectar of immortality intended only for gods. As the demon began to sip Amrita, Lord Vishnu, the sustainer of the Universe, swiftly decapitated him, and by doing so separated the demon into two immortal parts. One of them is the head, which in Vedic Astrology is called Rahu, while the other is the remaining body, Ketu (The Yoga Sanctuary, 2023). In this essay, I will explore Rahu and Ketu separately as they are known now and in a union, as it was at the beginning to reveal more knowledge on how they function in a birth chart, and along that, I will aim to analyze their manifestation in the Leo and Aquarius zodiac axis.
Rahu and Ketu
Rahu and Ketu are Sanskrit words that name the North Node and the South Node of the Moon. Astronomically speaking, these are two points where the Moon’s orbital path crosses the ecliptic. The North node (Rahu) is where the Moon moves into the northern ecliptic hemisphere, while the South node (Ketu) is where the Moon enters the southern ecliptic hemisphere. They are always 180 degrees apart from each other and together they cause lunar or solar eclipses according to the position of the Sun and the Moon. When the full Moon is near either Rahu or Ketu a lunar eclipse can occur, while a solar eclipse can occur only when the new Moon is near either of the nodes.
Since Rahu is an ascending node of the Moon, it symbolizes extroversion, forward going, and a tendency to amplify things. To be more specific, extroversion includes a proclivity to go out and, a desire to be visible, famous, and powerful. The motion forward indicates a need for evolution and exploration of unknown places, while the tendency to amplify causes obsessions, and immense desire for more and bigger (Vic DiCara 0:00-7:00). The position of Rahu in one’s natal chart will always highlight area of life that will lack experience and expertise and thus will radiate a strong magnetism to attract one’s attention to work on and improve that area of life.
On the other hand, since Ketu is a descending node of the Moon, it symbolizes introversion, depth, and moving backward. To be more precise, introversion indicates an energy of shyness, not standing out, and being non-physical. Depth requires going within, compressing, and wanting less or having no desire whatsoever, whereas backward motion foretells about looking into the past (Vic DiCara 0:00-7:00). The placement of Ketu in a birth chart will always show an area of expertise, but a lack of satisfaction as well. In other words, that area of life can be like a dead corpse because of how well-known and not challenging it is.
An oppositional view of Rahu and Ketu can create an illusion that one should completely let go of matters related to Ketu and focus entirely on the area of life indicated by Rahu. When done so, one would continue to live an unbalanced life, just from the opposite perspective. Instead, like with any axis, the Rahu and Ketu axis also calls for a balance between the opposing areas of life to ensure a more wholesome human life experience.
Rahu in Leo and Ketu in Aquarius
In Kala Software for Vedic Astrology, Ketu in Aquarius is described as: “Ketu in Aquarius indicates a native who in recent past lives has attempted to create security by identifying with groups and peers of like-minded individuals. This has created security in the world but now leaves the native feeling less secure with themselves as an individual. The natives’ security and self-esteem are conditioned by what their peers think, do, or say about them. This results in a lack of satisfaction with oneself and the need to develop one's individual inspirations” (Ernst Wilhelm).
Aquarius zodiac is the eleventh sign, thus it marks the pivotal point of losing one’s individuated sense of self. Furthermore, the eleventh opens up a vast ocean of collective consciousness. The latter contains all kinds of accumulated beliefs, ideas, norms, tendencies, structures, and anything that enables societies to form and function. As described in Kala, Ketu in Aquarius shows a person who in the past has put a lot of attention on dissolving individuality to merge with collective consciousness and thus has a conditioned sense of self that is based on what others think or believe.
Although it is valuable to be open to receiving some input about oneself from other people to gain different perspectives, it shouldn’t become absolute and completely overshadow one’s sovereignty of self-esteem and sense of self. To ensure such balance, Rahu in Leo calls for the native to focus more on developing a personally inspired sense of self and esteem (Kurczak, Lunar Nodes Class 5). Moreover, Rahu in Leo shows that the individual should spend more time answering such questions: “Who am I? What is important to me? What is my true path?” These questions require spending time alone, just as the 5th sign is related to places of solitude – caves, mountains, dwellings of kings - based on Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra. When one takes time to refine one’s sense of self which is archetypically represented by the 5th sign (Leo), then one will be able to participate in a collective realm, archetypically represented by the 11th sign (Aquarius), in a way that will be truthful and wholesome.
Rahu in Aquarius and Ketu in Leo
The description of Ketu in Leo is: “Ketu in Leo indicates a native who in recent past lives has attempted to create security through expressing a noble and dignified personality. Often times they may have even had a station in life that required them to express a noble personality. The result of this is that they did not completely express themselves along their most natural lines, rather they exhibited only what was best or most virtuous and noble. In this life, Ketu in Leo gives great self-doubts that are the result of the native being unsure of what aspects of their personality to express, and what to hide. They are insecure, though they may appear very magnetic. The purpose for creating these doubts is to help the native overcome any attachment to their role” (Ernst Wilhelm).
The 5th sign (Leo) is ruled by the Sun - the King amongst all of the planets, and thus embodies noble and highly dignified traits. In other words, the Sun influences the 5th sign to express in ways that would inspire, uplift, and impress others. Despite such honorable expressions, living life as a human being is not always so gracious. All of us, no matter our occupation or role in life, have weaknesses and vulnerabilities that coexist with our strengths and dignified traits to create wholeness and pure perfection. This is what Rahu in Aquarius invites the native to recognize and attend to.
When one learns to accept one’s weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and insecurities and stops expecting to be only perceived as noble and having honorable traits, one will become more humble, simple, and relatable to others and that will open up opportunities for greater bonding, and unification to create something beyond oneself. In addition, that is when the axis of Leo and Aquarius will unite in one’s chart and one’s energetic system.
Conclusion
Although notorious, shadowy, troublesome, dark, and confusing – Rahu and Ketu are a part of our Universe and that means that they are significant for our existence. Otherwise, they wouldn’t exist. Mostly their significance is based on evolutionary topics, such as one’s ability to develop an area of life or oneself in an area of life for growth, expansion, and greater balance. Ketu is the starting point that provides stability and assurance but is dried out of possibility for growth and thus requires one to be less attached to it. On the other hand, Rahu is the unknown jungle that is fruitful of probability to learn and develop something new that would balance out the Ketu point. A great example of that was an analysis of Rahu and Ketu in the axis of Leo and Aquarius which showed that when Ketu is in Aquarius and Rahu in Leo one should learn to be less attached to other's opinions and beliefs and rather mature into one’s independent view, understanding, and expression of self. In the reverse situation with Ketu in Leo and Rahu in Aquarius, one should let go of expectations for oneself to always be flawless and instead accept one’s humanity to be able to relate better with others and unite for a greater mission than oneself. As said by Jana Kingsford, “Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create”, may the existence of Rahu and Ketu be the tool for creating balance in one’s life.
References:
The Yoga Sanctuary. (August 25, 2023). The Myth of Rahu and Ketu: the Lunar Nodes https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/the-myth-of-rahu-and-ketu-the-lunar-nodes/
Vic DiCara’s Astrology. (September 16, 2022). Rahu and Ketu Nodes in Aries and Libra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BVzfz6BPe4&t=272s
Charlotte Hilton Andersen. (March 16, 2022). 16 Balance Quotes You Need if You’re Feeling Stressed https://www.thehealthy.com/mental-health/balance-quotes/
Ernst Wilhelm. (June 3, 2018). Kala - Vedic Astrology Software
Maharishi Parasara & R. Santhanam. Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra. New Dehli, Ranjan Publications, January 1, 2006.
Kurczak, R. (2023, March 24). The Lunar Nodes Class 5 & 6 https://vedic-astrology.teachable.com/