Oct 30, 2023 - May 18, 2025 (Mean Nodes)
Nov 29, 2023 - May 29, 2025 (True Nodes)
Nov 29, 2023 - May 29, 2025 (True Nodes)
Rahu explores the heights and depths of Pisces in its usual over-the-top manner, sometimes crashing down after soaring high. Historically, Rahu in Pisces has meant space explorations, but also air and maritime disasters. Ketu in Virgo has its own problems. It may run away from the issues of Virgo, but then express criticism if things go wrong.
Someone with this configuration at birth may seek release through spiritual practices or idealistic notions that have no bearing on reality. Some may attempt to find it at the bottom of a bottle or through some sort of immersive experience. On the other side and extreme (and there is always another side to the nodes), someone may fear losing control and try to keep a semblance of order, not allowing things to happen naturally.
Space travel is a good example of this placement, as it highlights the need to go further into the depths of space (Rahu in Pisces), while keeping a close eye on any potential problems with technologies and communications (Ketu in Virgo) at the time of lift-off. Yet no matter how well-planned a space flight may be, there are always unforeseen problems. Take that as a lesson on how to navigate this transit in the next 18 months. Explore what you must but keep your feet firmly on the ground.
As we journey deeply into something, we must keep an eye on things that can go wrong. Yet if we overdo either, we can end up with problems. The nodes can show a polarization between the two opposite signs they inhabit, while the planets that rule the signs: Jupiter and Mercury, may sometimes express themselves through their shadow nature. Logic is thrown out the window in favour of an ideal that beggars belief.
Usually, we focus a lot more on Rahu’s placement, while Ketu’s sign is mostly neglected, if not, outright rejected. Thus, Jupiter becomes the realm of obsession for Rahu. This may include a lot of focus on the court of law, as well as growth in the economy, perhaps because of an issue with the same. Mercury becomes a problem, including business, trade, travel, and communications. The media may be rejected or questioned a lot more, as things that are presented seem unreal or confusing.
Pisces represents the need to "Turn on, tune in, drop out", as Timothy Leary said. Virgo represents a need for some order in the apparent chaos and confusion. How we each experience this divide depends on the lunar nodes' positions in our own charts, as well as Jupiter's and Mercury's.
The more challenged Jupiter and Mercury are, the more likely the nodes' transits bring problems in Pisces and Virgo.
The polarization between both signs is never more obvious than when someone with Virgo prominent meets someone with Pisces prominent. Opposites attract, of course, for better or worse. Virgos could do with letting go a little more, to relinquish their need to control outcomes, while Pisceans could do with a little more planning.
I once heard of someone with Pisces prominent turn up at the airport even when they forgot to book their flight! Some order and management is required as we venture into unknown places. Actually, because Rahu in Pisces suggests unknown territories and realms of possibility, we need to be more orderly.
Thankfully, Rahu is tempered by Jupiter as it transits its sign. This means there is potential for us all to be more coherent, even while exploring the outer boundaries of what is possible. Ketu in Virgo is more of a challenge, as we attempt to keep things more logical. Things are not likely to seem logical as the nodes transit these signs.
I imagine there are going to be quite a few perplexing developments in our world in the next couple of years, including insights into space, even into alien life. This will alter our perceptions and religious institutions. If we have some disclosure about alien life, we cannot continue to follow the same belief systems. Religious institution are likely to go through other radical changes, too.
We will sense the shift of the nodes by the end of 2023, probably because some things seem out of control and confusing. We can maintain a more balanced approach, by finding some way out as we do what we must in our everyday lives. As the saying goes, 'The only way out is in'.
Someone who takes a drug, be that in a social setting or on retreat, or even someone who meditates, may do so because they cannot cope. Yet that same person could use these practices to help them through a perplexing time. Our intention makes all the difference.
Rahu in Pisces can certainly show a movement towards peace, whatever the cost. As long as we don’t run away from our problems (Ketu in Virgo), we can certainly do with retreating from problems we cannot solve in an ever-increasingly confused world.
Someone with this configuration at birth may seek release through spiritual practices or idealistic notions that have no bearing on reality. Some may attempt to find it at the bottom of a bottle or through some sort of immersive experience. On the other side and extreme (and there is always another side to the nodes), someone may fear losing control and try to keep a semblance of order, not allowing things to happen naturally.
Space travel is a good example of this placement, as it highlights the need to go further into the depths of space (Rahu in Pisces), while keeping a close eye on any potential problems with technologies and communications (Ketu in Virgo) at the time of lift-off. Yet no matter how well-planned a space flight may be, there are always unforeseen problems. Take that as a lesson on how to navigate this transit in the next 18 months. Explore what you must but keep your feet firmly on the ground.
As we journey deeply into something, we must keep an eye on things that can go wrong. Yet if we overdo either, we can end up with problems. The nodes can show a polarization between the two opposite signs they inhabit, while the planets that rule the signs: Jupiter and Mercury, may sometimes express themselves through their shadow nature. Logic is thrown out the window in favour of an ideal that beggars belief.
Usually, we focus a lot more on Rahu’s placement, while Ketu’s sign is mostly neglected, if not, outright rejected. Thus, Jupiter becomes the realm of obsession for Rahu. This may include a lot of focus on the court of law, as well as growth in the economy, perhaps because of an issue with the same. Mercury becomes a problem, including business, trade, travel, and communications. The media may be rejected or questioned a lot more, as things that are presented seem unreal or confusing.
Pisces represents the need to "Turn on, tune in, drop out", as Timothy Leary said. Virgo represents a need for some order in the apparent chaos and confusion. How we each experience this divide depends on the lunar nodes' positions in our own charts, as well as Jupiter's and Mercury's.
The more challenged Jupiter and Mercury are, the more likely the nodes' transits bring problems in Pisces and Virgo.
The polarization between both signs is never more obvious than when someone with Virgo prominent meets someone with Pisces prominent. Opposites attract, of course, for better or worse. Virgos could do with letting go a little more, to relinquish their need to control outcomes, while Pisceans could do with a little more planning.
I once heard of someone with Pisces prominent turn up at the airport even when they forgot to book their flight! Some order and management is required as we venture into unknown places. Actually, because Rahu in Pisces suggests unknown territories and realms of possibility, we need to be more orderly.
Thankfully, Rahu is tempered by Jupiter as it transits its sign. This means there is potential for us all to be more coherent, even while exploring the outer boundaries of what is possible. Ketu in Virgo is more of a challenge, as we attempt to keep things more logical. Things are not likely to seem logical as the nodes transit these signs.
I imagine there are going to be quite a few perplexing developments in our world in the next couple of years, including insights into space, even into alien life. This will alter our perceptions and religious institutions. If we have some disclosure about alien life, we cannot continue to follow the same belief systems. Religious institution are likely to go through other radical changes, too.
We will sense the shift of the nodes by the end of 2023, probably because some things seem out of control and confusing. We can maintain a more balanced approach, by finding some way out as we do what we must in our everyday lives. As the saying goes, 'The only way out is in'.
Someone who takes a drug, be that in a social setting or on retreat, or even someone who meditates, may do so because they cannot cope. Yet that same person could use these practices to help them through a perplexing time. Our intention makes all the difference.
Rahu in Pisces can certainly show a movement towards peace, whatever the cost. As long as we don’t run away from our problems (Ketu in Virgo), we can certainly do with retreating from problems we cannot solve in an ever-increasingly confused world.
Historical Transits
The last time Rahu-Ketu transited the Pisces-Virgo axis was between Mar 2005 and Oct 2006; the time before that was between Aug 1986 and Mar 1988; and before that, between Jan 1968 and Jul 1969. These periods saw many advances in space travel, but also many disasters, in the air and on the seas.
In 1968, there was the assassinations of MLK and RFK; in 2005, the death of the much-loved Pope John Paul II. While the former might not seem to express the lunar nodes’ transits, assassinations are more likely when someone is influenced to believe something (Rahu in Pisces), true or not, and does not think about what they are doing (Ketu in Virgo). They may feel they have nothing left to lose.
Rahu-Ketu in Pisces-Virgo from the end of 2023 until the beginning of 2025 is likely to show more assassination attempts. Ketu in Virgo shows the potential for a lack of critical thinking. On the other hand, it may also show hyper-criticism. It all depends on where you personally find the pendulum at any given time.
Another example of this configuration is cults. Rahu was in Pisces and Ketu in Virgo when cult leaders Jim Jones and Marshall Applewhite were born, as well as spiritual/cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (OSHO). It all depends on how you view it, of course, but depending on the strengths of Jupiter, Mercury, and these individuals' ascendant rulers, it makes all the difference. Whether a lie or the truth, a cult following is possible when Rahu is in Pisces and Ketu is in Virgo.
The death of a Pope is a straight-forward expression of Rahu’s transit in religious Pisces. Rahu may increase the need for something, but it usually brings this need because of a sense of lack. This is why cult leaders can convince their followers. We all desperately want to believe. Rahu casts its shadow wherever it goes. Some areas of life do better in the shadows than others. The truth is not one of those.
Rahu can show an obsessive need for something because of a fear of lack, whether or not there is an actual lack. An example of this was during a Rahu in Pisces transit in 1969, when Pope Paul VI increased the number of cardinals by a third. I'm sure the Pope had his reasons, most of which were probably fear-based because of Rahu.
Yet there were also a lot of peace movements when Rahu was in Pisces previously. A perfect example of this was John Lennon’s and Yoko Ono’s ‘Bed-In’ in 1969, in March and May/June of that year, with the subsequent release of the song, Give Peace a Chance.
In 1969, there was the Moons landings – apparently. Only kidding. I have no idea about the conspiracies attached to this event. All I know is that Rahu creates confusion wherever it goes, and that Rahu in Pisces creates even more confusion, especially when conjunct Neptune, as it will be this time around. All kinds of truths are likely to be twisted over and over again during Rahu's transit in Pisces this time around.
Space explorations are likely to advance during Rahu’s time in Pisces also. Along with the potential for more UFO disclosures, we're likely to see many more conspiracies around this.
People often complain about governments spending money on space exploration because they see it as ignoring problems on our planet. This is a prime example of Rahu in Pisces and Ketu in Virgo. We’re likely to see this discussion come to the fore in the coming years. As I write this, India has become the first country to put a space probe on the dark side of the Moon.
The cynical part of me thinks any UFO disclosure may be used as a distraction from other, bigger, issues. But then, what's bigger than finding out we are not alone in the universe? Yet this may also bring the planet together. Another example of a previous Rahu transit in Pisces was Woodstock in 1969.
Rahu likes to 'go big'. In Pisces, this means going even bigger - on the sea, under it, or over it - in the skies and in space. We’ve seen many disasters in all these three realms when Rahu has transited here previously. Yet there have also been many successes. Rahu is always a mixed bag. You get great advancements, but you also get the huge flops.
The most obvious example of this was the biggest maritime flop of all, when, in 1912, just as Rahu entered Pisces, the Titanic sank. There were other things going on at the time that would not have been ideal for setting out on such a voyage. It’s vitally important to look at the ruler of the signs housing the nodes to get a better idea of the impact. Jupiter was in Scorpio during the sinking of the Titanic, while a retrograde Mercury had joined a debilitated Saturn in Mars’ other sign, Aries.
In 1912, the Titanic disaster was immediately followed by Harriet Quimby becoming the first woman to fly across the English Channel. But we don't hear much about it because of the Titanic. This is another reason to keep your eyes and ears open for both sides of any discussion as the nodes transit these dual signs. There are always extreme highs and lows with any area under Rahu’s influence. Even if you did hear about the success of Harriet Quimby's voyage, you may not have heard that two months later, she died after her brand-new monoplane crashed.
In 1987, the MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsized after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193, and the MV Doña Paz sank after colliding with an oil tanker, drowning almost 4,400 passengers and crew.
Going even further back, in 1857, there were many ships lost in storms. In that same year, there was panic in banking and many bank closures. Disasters at sea seems to be the most regular occurrence with Rahu in Pisces. In 1857, that was also the last time both Rahu and Neptune were together in Pisces - just as they will be from the end of 2023 until the beginning of 2025.
The financial storyline this year (2023) appears to be as fraught due to other transits. If we simply include Jupiter’s retrograde in Aries, with Rahu in Pisces and Ketu in Virgo, just as it was in 1857, we’re likely to see a major financial adjustment once again. But while there are many more indicators for a crash, which you can read here, I am more hopeful looking at the astrology moving forward. Also, I'm more hopeful because of our modern technologies and abilities to cope with such setbacks.
Other big movements in more recent years were the release of the first ever YouTube video in 2005 and the launch of Twitter in 2006. 2005 was also the year Pluto entered sidereal Sagittarius, Jupiter’s other sign. With Pluto and Rahu, both representing dark qualities and impacting Jupiter, the planet of truth, I don’t think truth had a chance!
This time around, we have Rahu join Neptune in Pisces, which is potentially even more confusing. Just as it was in 1857, Jupiter was in Aries. This was when The Indian Rebellion took place against the British Empire. We're likely to see more uprisings in the next few years. In particular, we’re likely to see rebellions in Russia, China, and the U.S, as all these have a historical correlation with Saturn-Neptune, or their leader was born under one (Jinping). Saturn will join Rahu and Neptune in Pisces before Rahu has left the sign. Read an article I wrote about the potential for major revolutions here.
In 2025, by the time Rahu is almost done with Pisces, Saturn will enter the sign, placing all three: Saturn, Rahu, and Neptune, in the sign from Mar 29, 2025 until Rahu moves out on May 18, 2025. Saturn and Neptune will then conjoin by exact degree from June 2025, and retrograde closely together for the rest of the year, into the beginning of 2026. This conjunction has always had a big say in Russia's history. 2026 is likely to create major changes, as a result. This is most likely to express itself in a rebellion in the Russian ranks and the collapse of the current regime.
Saturn-Neptune were conjunct in sidereal Virgo at the time of the American Independence in 1776. Things that were previously built are likely to dissolve once they conjoin in Pisces in 2026.
Whatever Rahu in Pisces is to bring, it brings huge swings up and down. We're likely to see so many lofty ideas and ideals float our way, some of which come crashing down in dramatic ways. We must be aware of which ideas to grab to stay afloat and which to set adrift.
Om Tat Sat