The New Moon in sidereal Pisces in March-April is the Lunar New Year in the Vedic calendar. The Sun currently transits sidereal (star sign) Pisces when it enters tropical Aries around March 21. Yet this is slowly, but constantly, changing over millennia.
The Sun will not always be here around the Spring Equinox in the centuries that follow, as it slowly changes over millennia. This is called ‘precession’. In the future, the Sun will have slipped back so far that the Spring Equinox will occur when the Sun is in sidereal Aquarius, then Capricorn, and Sagittarius, and so on, until it eventually moves around the entire zodiac in 25,800 years.
The current New Moon in Pisces is not only a marker for the Lunar New Year in the Vedic calendar; it’s a way to show how the sidereal and tropical zodiacs, although once blissfully married, are now going through a messy divorce!
The Lunar New Year shows how soli-lunar calendars are formed and festivals timed. If we only observed the Sun’s transit through tropical signs, we could forget about timing Easter, for example: Easter Sunday occurs after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox.
The relationship between our nearest star (Sun) and the Earth doesn’t give us the full picture. The Moon, and its lunar mansions (star signs), the stars that cluster around the zodiac belt, are needed to see the full picture.
In the Vedic calendar, months are named after the monthly Full Moons, not the New Moons. The New Moon in Pisces marks the beginning of Chaitra, which falls in March–April, as the New Moon in Pisces is usually followed by a Full Moon in the lunar mansion Citrā.
Citrā spans 23°20′ sidereal Virgo to 6°40′ sidereal Libra, with its midpoint marked by the bright star Spica. Because there are no prominent stars at 0° sidereal Aries, the opposite midpoint of Citrā—0° sidereal Libra—is used as the reference point for the sidereal zodiac.
The difference between this point and 0° tropical Aries measures the drift between the sidereal and tropical zodiacs. This offset is known as the citrāpakṣa ayanāṁśa.
Jovian Year
Another important feature of the Lunar New Year is that it marks the beginning of a new ‘Jovian year’, or sāṃvatsara, in the Vedic calendar. Jovian years are based on Jupiter’s and Saturn’s transits in relation to each other and the Sun. Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the Sun, while Saturn takes about 30 years. Their orbital periods align roughly every 60 years, the least common multiple of 12 and 30. At that point, both planets return to nearly the same sidereal positions they held at the start of the cycle, completing a full 60-year cycle.
This is not only an important point for an individual at this age; it’s an important consideration in terms of repeating Jupiter-Saturn cycles for the world.
60 such Jovian years are each given Sanskrit names. These correspond to Jupiter’s movement through the twelve zodiac signs and are traditionally grouped into sub-cycles of five years (12 × 5 = 60), but I’ve discovered we can also view these in six groups of 10-year cycles. More on this later.
From March 19, 2026 until April 6, 2027, the Jovian year is called parābhava. Some of the meanings of the Sanskrit word are ‘defeat’, ‘vanishing’, ‘separation’, ‘ruin’, ‘overthrow’, and ‘mortification’. When we see such themes in any given year, we may deduce that there are some challenges to those in power, as was the case the last time this occurred 60 years ago, in 1966.
In 2026, when we consider transits alongside these themes, including the South Node's transit in Leo, it is likely a year of mortification for a leader. Could this be the Russian regime. Or could it be in China, or the USA? More on this later.
Jupiter’s ingress into sidereal Cancer by June 1, 2026 (12th from the sign of power, Leo), opposite Pluto in Capricorn (systemic change), after Saturn has conjoined Neptune in Pisces, highlights the potential for uprisings all on its own. When this occurs within a parābhava year, it’s all the more likely.
Additionally, Uranus in sidereal Taurus, in a trine to Pluto and a sextile to Neptune, reflects the ease at which sweeping changes are likely to occur in 2026, probably because of changes in money and resources (Uranus in Taurus), as a new world order is formed (Pluto in Capricorn), leading to much uncertainty (Neptune in Pisces).
The European Central Bank is indeed planning to establish a digital euro in 2026/2027, with initial transactions possibly taking place by mid-2027. The astrology of this period highlights this: Mars is conjunct the South Lunar Node (Ketu) and Jupiter by the end of 2026 and into early 2027, reflecting the potential shake up of the economy, whether that is good or bad news. It may also be something entirely different that upsets the markets, including another war, cyber-attacks, or natural disasters, of course. Yet it may bring about a completely new approach, leading to new ways of tackling the issues, perhaps with the help of AI.
After a year conjoined Pluto (January), Neptune (April), and Uranus (July), Mars is likely to turn up the intensity dial. If first conjoins the North Node in February, aspecting Uranus in Taurus, while Saturn and Neptune join by exact degree. The New Moon in Aquarius, a solar eclipse, is thus a foreshadowing of bigger changes that are likely by the Lunar New Year in March.
Mars then meets with Saturn and Neptune in April, before it joins Uranus on July 4 (happy birthday America!), triggering more potential volatility. Yet the most impactful meeting in 2026 comes as Mars joins the South Node and Jupiter in November. Venus adds salt to a wound that is likely an open gash that starts haemorrhaging at this point, as Venus retrogrades back into Virgo by November, stationing at its debilitation degree, just as Mars meets with Jupiter and the South Node.
What happens afterwards is even more significant, as Mars, the South Node, and Jupiter, all conjoin for many months due to them retrogressing into Cancer, Mars' fallen sign. Mars is a planet that represents real estate and war, both of which are likely impacted by the upsets. This triple conjunction continues into the beginning of 2027.
This may reflect more attacks, of course, which may also lead to a crash, with a digital currency being implemented to attempt to save the situation. It may indeed save things – for now, as Jupiter is exalted for much of the time – but it’s also likely to lead to many ups and downs along the way.
Lunar New Year
All visible planets are either conjoined or one side of the Lunar Nodes for the Lunar New Year on March 19, 2026. The chart below shows the chart for the GMT, which can also be used for the EU (using Brussels as its headquarters). The chart has Scorpio rising, placing the New Moon (9th house ruler) in the 5th house of speculation. Themes of financial speculation are more likely in Europe as a result.
The Sun will not always be here around the Spring Equinox in the centuries that follow, as it slowly changes over millennia. This is called ‘precession’. In the future, the Sun will have slipped back so far that the Spring Equinox will occur when the Sun is in sidereal Aquarius, then Capricorn, and Sagittarius, and so on, until it eventually moves around the entire zodiac in 25,800 years.
The current New Moon in Pisces is not only a marker for the Lunar New Year in the Vedic calendar; it’s a way to show how the sidereal and tropical zodiacs, although once blissfully married, are now going through a messy divorce!
The Lunar New Year shows how soli-lunar calendars are formed and festivals timed. If we only observed the Sun’s transit through tropical signs, we could forget about timing Easter, for example: Easter Sunday occurs after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox.
The relationship between our nearest star (Sun) and the Earth doesn’t give us the full picture. The Moon, and its lunar mansions (star signs), the stars that cluster around the zodiac belt, are needed to see the full picture.
In the Vedic calendar, months are named after the monthly Full Moons, not the New Moons. The New Moon in Pisces marks the beginning of Chaitra, which falls in March–April, as the New Moon in Pisces is usually followed by a Full Moon in the lunar mansion Citrā.
Citrā spans 23°20′ sidereal Virgo to 6°40′ sidereal Libra, with its midpoint marked by the bright star Spica. Because there are no prominent stars at 0° sidereal Aries, the opposite midpoint of Citrā—0° sidereal Libra—is used as the reference point for the sidereal zodiac.
The difference between this point and 0° tropical Aries measures the drift between the sidereal and tropical zodiacs. This offset is known as the citrāpakṣa ayanāṁśa.
Jovian Year
Another important feature of the Lunar New Year is that it marks the beginning of a new ‘Jovian year’, or sāṃvatsara, in the Vedic calendar. Jovian years are based on Jupiter’s and Saturn’s transits in relation to each other and the Sun. Jupiter takes about 12 years to orbit the Sun, while Saturn takes about 30 years. Their orbital periods align roughly every 60 years, the least common multiple of 12 and 30. At that point, both planets return to nearly the same sidereal positions they held at the start of the cycle, completing a full 60-year cycle.
This is not only an important point for an individual at this age; it’s an important consideration in terms of repeating Jupiter-Saturn cycles for the world.
60 such Jovian years are each given Sanskrit names. These correspond to Jupiter’s movement through the twelve zodiac signs and are traditionally grouped into sub-cycles of five years (12 × 5 = 60), but I’ve discovered we can also view these in six groups of 10-year cycles. More on this later.
From March 19, 2026 until April 6, 2027, the Jovian year is called parābhava. Some of the meanings of the Sanskrit word are ‘defeat’, ‘vanishing’, ‘separation’, ‘ruin’, ‘overthrow’, and ‘mortification’. When we see such themes in any given year, we may deduce that there are some challenges to those in power, as was the case the last time this occurred 60 years ago, in 1966.
In 2026, when we consider transits alongside these themes, including the South Node's transit in Leo, it is likely a year of mortification for a leader. Could this be the Russian regime. Or could it be in China, or the USA? More on this later.
Jupiter’s ingress into sidereal Cancer by June 1, 2026 (12th from the sign of power, Leo), opposite Pluto in Capricorn (systemic change), after Saturn has conjoined Neptune in Pisces, highlights the potential for uprisings all on its own. When this occurs within a parābhava year, it’s all the more likely.
Additionally, Uranus in sidereal Taurus, in a trine to Pluto and a sextile to Neptune, reflects the ease at which sweeping changes are likely to occur in 2026, probably because of changes in money and resources (Uranus in Taurus), as a new world order is formed (Pluto in Capricorn), leading to much uncertainty (Neptune in Pisces).
The European Central Bank is indeed planning to establish a digital euro in 2026/2027, with initial transactions possibly taking place by mid-2027. The astrology of this period highlights this: Mars is conjunct the South Lunar Node (Ketu) and Jupiter by the end of 2026 and into early 2027, reflecting the potential shake up of the economy, whether that is good or bad news. It may also be something entirely different that upsets the markets, including another war, cyber-attacks, or natural disasters, of course. Yet it may bring about a completely new approach, leading to new ways of tackling the issues, perhaps with the help of AI.
After a year conjoined Pluto (January), Neptune (April), and Uranus (July), Mars is likely to turn up the intensity dial. If first conjoins the North Node in February, aspecting Uranus in Taurus, while Saturn and Neptune join by exact degree. The New Moon in Aquarius, a solar eclipse, is thus a foreshadowing of bigger changes that are likely by the Lunar New Year in March.
Mars then meets with Saturn and Neptune in April, before it joins Uranus on July 4 (happy birthday America!), triggering more potential volatility. Yet the most impactful meeting in 2026 comes as Mars joins the South Node and Jupiter in November. Venus adds salt to a wound that is likely an open gash that starts haemorrhaging at this point, as Venus retrogrades back into Virgo by November, stationing at its debilitation degree, just as Mars meets with Jupiter and the South Node.
What happens afterwards is even more significant, as Mars, the South Node, and Jupiter, all conjoin for many months due to them retrogressing into Cancer, Mars' fallen sign. Mars is a planet that represents real estate and war, both of which are likely impacted by the upsets. This triple conjunction continues into the beginning of 2027.
This may reflect more attacks, of course, which may also lead to a crash, with a digital currency being implemented to attempt to save the situation. It may indeed save things – for now, as Jupiter is exalted for much of the time – but it’s also likely to lead to many ups and downs along the way.
Lunar New Year
All visible planets are either conjoined or one side of the Lunar Nodes for the Lunar New Year on March 19, 2026. The chart below shows the chart for the GMT, which can also be used for the EU (using Brussels as its headquarters). The chart has Scorpio rising, placing the New Moon (9th house ruler) in the 5th house of speculation. Themes of financial speculation are more likely in Europe as a result.
Lunar New Year Chart for Brussels, Belgium
There are some positive aspects about this chart, including an exalted Venus, yet the ongoing Saturn-Neptune conjunction shows the continued sense of uncertainty around structures of the world, be it banking or government.
The exact Mercury-North Node (Rahu) conjunction, with Mars within a few degrees, brings further challenges, placed in the 4th house of real estate. This reflects the ongoing migration and housing crisis throughout the EU.
Jupiter’s placement is always important to consider as it rules the New Moon in Pisces. Jupiter is in Gemini, in the 8th house, reflecting the uncertain changes and financial vulnerability that is likely throughout the year. Jupiter rules the 2nd house of finances along with the 5th house of speculation for a Scorpio rising chart.
The alignment of visible planets on one side of the Lunar Nodes makes things more extreme, for better or worse. That could be extremely good, at one point, but then flip, at another. As is typically the case for the economy, there is usually more extreme highs before more extreme lows.
The overall chart is challenged because of Mars’ conjunction with the North Node (Rahu). This is a concept called stambandha[1] in Vedic astrology, where certain planets ‘restrain’ certain other planets. Rahu restrains Mars. The housing crises is likely to linger (Mars in the 4th), together with the migration issue (Rahu in the 4th).
The ruler of the weekday for the Lunar New Year is Mercury for all charts drawn up on March 19 in the Western world, with Jupiter being the day ruler for those in the East, including China and Russia. This shows more extremes in business and trade, with Mercury conjunct Rahu for the EU.
For China and Russia, Taurus is rising on Jupiter’s day for the Lunar New Year, placing Jupiter in the 2nd house of finances. Yet for Taurus, Jupiter brings changes (8th house) in income (11th house). The Rahu-Mars-Mercury conjunction is in the 10th house of leadership, challenging those in power in those nations to make financial changes.
The chart for the US (see below), using Washington DC for the New Moon in Pisces, has Libra rising. This highlights more conflict because of the New Moon, Venus, and the Saturn-Neptune conjunction, all placed in the 6th house, which is also an indication of the spiralling debt crises in the US.
Lunar New Year chart for Washington, DC
Jupiter is placed in the 9th house, representing laws, with Mercury, its ruler, in conjunction with Rahu and Mars in Aquarius, the 5th sign of speculation. Jupiter aspects these planets, with Rahu aspecting Jupiter in return. Rahu in the 5th, conjunct the 2nd and 9th house rulers (Mars and Mercury), is likely to show more extremes financially.
Mars’ conjunction with Rahu is particularly problematic, as ruler of the 2nd and 7th, where financial matters may promote open conflict and a general sense of unrest in the country. Yet its position in the 5th house of Aquarius may show great leaps forward technologically, even if there are also a lot of obstacles.
Greed is the chief ingredient of Rahu. In the context of AI advancement and the resources needed to accelerate growth (Jupiter’s aspect), this is also likely to bring more problems around resources.
The chart overall is more challenged because of the ruler of the ascendant, Venus, in the 6th house. Though exalted, any benefit conferred upon it is lost due to its house placement.. The 6th house is not conducive to Venus-type things, including diplomacy and negotiations.
Yet the challenge presented may prove to be more positive in the end, as Venus also rules the 8th house of the chart, placing a difficult house ruler in another difficult house, eventually leading to overcoming the obstacles. It’s likely to get worse before it gets better.
60 Jovian Years – Grouped into 10-Year Cycles
When you look at all 60 names through their Sanskrit meanings (see below), something interesting happens: they naturally cluster into groups with similar signatures. While the ancient texts don’t divide them this way, I discovered the semantic flow of the names moves in distinct currents while I was translating them, like chapters in a story.
Years 1–10: Beginnings, Growth, Youthfulness (1987-1997)
- Prabhava — new beginnings, emergence
- Vibhava — prosperity, expansion, distinction
- Śukla — clarity, purity, upliftment
- Pramodūta — joy, enthusiasm, fresh momentum
- Prajotpatti — creation, birth, innovation
- Āṅgirasa — inspiration, brilliance, guidance
- Śrīmukha — auspicious results, blessings, fortune
- Bhāva — stabilising, grounding, manifestation
- Yuva — renewal, youthfulness, growth spurts
- Dhāta — support, structure, protection
Years 11–20: Authority, Change, Challenge (1997-2007)
- Īśvara — leadership, authority, responsibility
- Bahudhānya — abundance, harvest, material gain
- Pramādi — carelessness, indulgence, oversight
- Vikrama — courage, decisive action, risk-taking
- Vṛṣa — strength, stubbornness, righteousness
- Citrabhānu — illumination, breakthroughs
- Svabhānu — shadow issues, exposure, revelation
- Tāraṇa — assistance, rescue, transition
- Pārdiva — earthiness, practicality, governance
- Vyaya — expenditure, loss, letting go
Years 21–30: Victory, Conflict, Passion (2007-2017)
- Sarvajittu — success, overcoming obstacles
- Sarvadhāri — responsibility, carrying burdens
- Virodhi — conflict, opposition, tension
- Vikṛti — transformation, instability, mutation
- Khara — harsh conditions, endurance
- Nandana — joy, ease, harmony
- Vijaya — achievement, recognition, triumph
- Jaya — progress, forward movement
- Manmadha — desire, attraction, creativity
- Durmukhi — criticism, unpleasant encounters
Years 31–40: Suspense, Transition, Change (2017-2027)
- Hīvalambi — lack of support, reassessment
- Vilambi — delays, waiting, reorganisation
- Vikāri — shifts, volatility, change of direction
- Sārvari — obscurity, mystery, uncertainty
- Plava — transitions, travel, movement
- Śubhakṛti — beneficial actions, good karma
- Śobhakṛti — beautification, improvement, refinement
- Krodha — anger, agitation, pressure
- Viśvāvasu — creativity, harmony, inspiration
- Parābhava — defeat, endings, dissolution
Years 41–50: Movement, Discipline, Spirituality (2027-2037)
- Plavanga — leaps, surprises, erratic changes
- Kīlaka — fixing things, anchoring, stabilising
- Saumya — gentleness, peace, healing
- Sādhāraṇa — normalisation, equilibrium, daily life
- Virodhikṛti — conflicts caused by past actions
- Parīdhāvi — roaming, searching, transitions
- Pramādīca — joy mixed with carelessness
- Ānanda — happiness, expansion, spiritual uplift
- Rākṣasa — aggression, protection, purging
- Nala — strategy, cleverness, refinement
Years 51–60: Intensity, Purification, Completion (2037-2047)
- Piṅgalā — intensity, fire, passion
- Kālayukti — timing, strategy, karmic precision
- Sidhārdhi — success, accomplishment, attainment
- Raudri — purification through difficulty
- Durmati — confusion, misjudgement, missteps
- Dundubhi — announcements, bold actions, upheavals
- Rudirodgāri — cleansing crises, exposure
- Raktākṣi — strong emotions, passion, confrontation
- Krodhan — anger, force, decisive correction
- Akṣaya — permanence, prosperity, lasting gains
N.B. We must consider Jupiter’s transit in any given year. While the Jovian year is important, it’s also symbolic. Jupiter’s exalted position for much of the 2026-2027 period is also important to acknowledge, hinting at more optimism, despite the breakdowns that are also likely.
Jupiter may be exalted but is not a guarantee of financial security. Instead, it serves to highlight how dangerous the notion of 'too big to fail' is. In 1931, Jupiter was transiting Cancer during the banking crashes that began 'The Great Depression'. In 2026-27, Jupiter transits the ‘karmik knot’ that is the gandanta between Cancer and Leo - on three occasions - while also conjunct Ketu and Mars. We're likely to see extreme highs and lows, both in the economy, and in our sense of what is possible.
The Story Arc
Our current 10-year cycle, which began in 2017, may have begun with good intentions but has become strained and unstable. It will finally reaching a collapse by 2026-2027. Parābhava is the final release of a stressed structural cycle.
This 10-year cycle includes the following themes, according to some relevant Sanskrit translations:
- Delay (Hīvalambi) 2017-2018
- Suspension (Vilambi) 2018-2019
- Changeability (Vikāri) 2019-2020
- Gloom (Sārvari) 2020-2021
- Returning (Plava) 2021-2022
- Good intentions (Śubhakṛti) 2022-2023
- Refinement (Śobhakṛti) 2023-2024
- Anger (Krodha) 2024-2025
- Wealth of all (Viśvāvasu) 2025-2026
- Defeat (Parābhava) 2026-2027
The current 10-year cycle represents unstable foundations, social turbulence, and a dissolving of structures, which is also highlighted by transits such as Saturn conjunct Neptune in Pisces. Parābhava is the culmination, the breaking point before jumping into something new during the plavaṅga year (2027–2028), when we ‘leap’ into something new.
The two previous years brought anger (krodha 2024–2025) and creative renewal (viśvāvasu 2025–2026), but also ideological clashes, public frustration, bursts of innovation, attempts to restore harmony, and a growing pressure on failing institutions. By the time we reach the new year in the cycle by March 2026, the system is already stressed and fatigued. By the next year in the cycle in April 2027, we’re ready to make the leap.
Parābhava (2026–2027): The Breaking Point
Based on previous parābhava cycles, we must expect some failures of leadership, systems buckling under accumulated strain, exposure of hidden weaknesses, financial or political collapses, endings of long-standing policies or regimes, and the public mood shifting from agitation to re-evaluation. The parābhava year collapses what cannot continue.
2027–28 signals sudden political changes, surprises, shocks, and new beginnings made in haste.
In 2026-2027, Parābhava may indicate some governments losing authority, leaders stepping down or being forced out, policies collapsing under scrutiny, major scandals or exposures, institutional incompetence becoming undeniable. This is the accountability year. Expect increased calls for reform, justice, restructuring, and possibly resignations or toppling of leaders lacking public trust.
Historically, Parābhava years correlate with downturns in the economy, and financial corrections, as well as issues with currencies, and exposure of fraud. It’s a deflationary year in a psychological sense. Expect market volatility, contraction in overheated sectors, debt crises revealing themselves, restructuring of failing industries. AI is due an early reckoning, it seems.
There is likely a sense of disillusionment, exhaustion, loss of faith in institutions, and a search for meaning, with grassroots movements building. We begin looking for alternatives, preparing for the leap.
We can expect a crisis in AI, with major companies restructuring. While this is also likely to breed more innovations, it may accelerate the fall of overextended companies.
Previous Parābhava-Plavanga Years
- 1966–67
- 1906–07
- 1846–47
- 1786–87
- 1726–27
Across all of these years, we consistently see themes of collapse, decline of structures, and failure of leadership. They were all the ‘end of an era’, but also a preparation for a huge leap forward. Of course, we typically don’t make drastic changes, unless things fall apart.
1966–1967
- China’s Cultural Revolution (1966).
- Indira Gandhi becomes PM after internal party implosion (1966): economic destabilisation.
- Sterling Crisis (1967): The British pound collapses; global confidence shaken.
- Vietnam War escalates beyond U.S. control; Internal dissent, trust in government collapses; 1967 is considered the year the U.S. lost the narrative.
- Detroit riot (1967): one of the deadliest in U.S. history.
1906–1907
- San Francisco Earthquake (1906): Literal destruction of a major city.
- Russian Revolution of 1905 fallout: 1906 sees political violence, instability.
- The Panic of 1907: Dangerous speculation and banking fragility (Parābhava often precedes a major financial correction).
- British colonial strains intensify globally.
- India sees rising revolutionary activity (Bengal partition backlash).
1846–1847
- Great Irish Famine at its peak: A literal experience of collapse.
- Europe enters the crisis that erupts as the Revolutions of 1848 (Parābhava = decay phase; Plavanga (1848) = sudden revolt).
- Political instability in monarchies and empires.
1786–1787
- France declares fiscal breakdown (1786); the entire regime begins to unravel.
- Grain shortages lead to riots.
- Widespread disillusionment with monarchy.
- Shays’ Rebellion (1786–87) in US exposes weakness, leading to a new constitution.
1726–1727
- Mughal authority experiences significant defragmentation.
- George I dies (1727), leading to the reign of George II.
- Political reshuffling and instability.
Across every cycle parābhava has shown the collapse of stressed structures, whether it’s political, economic, social, or natural infrastructure. Something that has been cracking for years finally breaks. And in every case, the subsequent year (plavanga) brings massive change, whether it’s a mass global revolt or economic reform.
What This Means for 2026-2027
Based on these historical events, we can expect a systemic breakdown in 2026-2027, possibly due to a financial collapse. There is likely to be a sort of ‘social fatigue’, where more and more people lose faith in their government, also highlighted by the South Node in Leo - North Node in Aquarius.
The following year (Plavanga 2027-2028) is likely to lead to sudden changes, including uprisings, and rapid transitions, where new political figures emerge with policy reversals and major societal reforms.
Aum Tat Sat
[1] Stambandha means to ‘restrain’ and ‘paralyze’. Planets are listed in order of the weekday rulership, with Rahu and Ketu added at the end, as follows: Sun – Moon – Mars – Mercury – Jupiter – Venus – Saturn – Rahu - Ketu. Counting from any planet to the sixth from there, that planet is said to create stambandha. Sun is thus restrained by Venus, Moon by Saturn, Mars by Rahu, and so on.