Every year, when New Moon occurs in Libra, Sun’s debilitation place and zodiacal heart chakra, we celebrate Diwali, a festival of light, to bring illumination into our homes and into our hearts; to remind ourselves of our inner light, when the external light of the Sun is temporarily dormant.

This year Moon and Sun will conjoin in Swati nakshatra on 1 November (New Moon tithi will already begin on 31 October). Both luminaries will be aspected by the debilitated Mars. With two fiery planets occupying their place of debilitation, we may experience big fluctuations in our energy levels and increased need to turn within. At the same time, both Sun and Moon will be conjuct in the amsha of Goddess Lalita in the D20 (Vimshamsha) chart of spiritual progress, thus inspiring us not to always take life so seriously, but to invite more curiosity, play, connection and creativity in order to restore our enthusiasm and energy levels.

The upcoming Full Moon in Ashwini Nakshatra, a culmination of Devi Paksha (fortnight of the Goddess) brings with itself powerfully transformative energies this year. During the culmination Sun will be just entering the sidereal Libra (below one degree, which is also known as Sankranti dosha), sign of its debilitation, while Moon will be dwelling in deep gandanta in the beginning of sidereal Aries. Both luminaries will be also conjoined with lunar nodes in the Navamsha (D9) chart and occupying the amsha of Goddess Kali in the Vimshamsha (D20) chart of spiritual progress. This is both a very volatile time, as well as a powerful period for inner transformation, renewal and new beginnings. Learn more in today’s podcast.

Learn more about the 40 Goddesses of Vimshamsha (D20) divisional chart: https://academy.discoveringyouniverse.com/courses/goddesses-of-the-vimshamsha-chart-d20/

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/