New Moon in Krttikā: The Star of Fire

NEW MOON IN KRTTIKĀ

May 16th 01:31 AM IST | 13:01 PST 

The Sun and Moon converge for May’s New Moon (Amāvasyā) within the Vedic Lunar Mansion of Krttikā (Taurus), the Star of Fire, known also as the radiant star cluster of the Pleiades—marking a powerful threshold of refinement, purification, and aligned emergence.

Kṛttikā, seed of solar energy, appears in the night sky as a radiant cluster of seven stars within the Pleiades. The ancient Ṛṣis observed these stars as a luminous necklace woven through the heavens, attributing profound significance to their role within the greater movements of natural law. Known as the seven Kṛttikās—the wives of the seven great sages—they are recognized today through Alcyone, Maia, Electra, Taygeta, Merope, Atlas, and Pleione.

The name Kṛttikā translates as “the cutters,” and its symbols—the razor, blade, and sacred fire—speak to its power to refine, purify, and sever what is no longer aligned so that something truer may emerge. Its śakti, Dāhana Śakti, “the power to burn,” holds the capacity to purify through fire, severing attachment to the corporeal and clearing the way for transformation.

Kṛttikā, the exaltation (ucca) point and birth star of the Moon (Candra), holds Agni as its Devatā—the sacred fire and original creative spark with the power to burn, refine, and transform: the ever-consuming flame. Similar to ghee offered into the havan kuṇḍ during a yajña (Vedic fire ritual) to fulfill desires, this Nakṣatra seeks a fertile vessel for the cultivation of stability, prosperity, and purposeful manifestation.

We cannot purify or sit in tapas (austerity) without first fueling the inner fire. Agni cannot burn without an offering—without ghee, or something to consume. Yet this longing for growth is softened and sustained through the coolness of amṛta (divine nectar), the fullness of Soma: that receptive, magnetic force which nourishes and steadies Agni’s intensity, allowing transformation to unfold without exhaustion. Together, they sustain the original impulse toward creation, refinement, and embodied becoming.

The Star of Fire is associated with Lord Murugan (Kārttikeya), the God of War, who wields a spear and rides a peacock, symbolizing courage, directed intelligence and spritual refinement. Here, growth often requires us to move beyond that which is familiar or preferred. The blade of Kṛttikā severs what no longer serves, clearing space for new beginnings, greater clarity, and aligned emergence.

The same fire that burns can be used to assimilate experience into wisdom and transmute food into usable energy. Just like the Goat, the animal medicine of this Nakṣatra, which consumes instinctively and must eventually metabolize all that has been taken in, you may find yourself confronted by pressure, friction, or discomfort in some area of life that is asking to be refined through awareness.

Purification is rarely comfortable, yet it is often the very force through which refinement unfolds. We remain unaware of certain shadows until the inner light begins to intensify. As awareness increases, what has been hidden begins to loosen, surface, and dissolve.

Though this process may feel confronting at times, what rises into awareness is often revealing of a refinement already underway—much like dust stirred into the air after a long-neglected space has finally been cleared.

Be gentle with yourself through the process. Tend steadily to your inner fire and remain present with what is unfolding. If Agni is cared for and kept strong, we cultivate the capacity not only to digest the food we consume, but also the experiences gathered through the senses. Through steady practice and awareness, what is being refined will gradually begin to stabilize, integrate, and reveal itself with greater clarity.

All my Relations, Tulsi

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
 then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,
 go to the limits of your longing.
 Embody me.

Flare up like a flame
 and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
 Just keep going. No feeling is final.
 Don’t let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.
 You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.

- Rainer Maria Rilke 

New Moon in Aśvinī: The Star of Transport

NEW MOON IN AŚVINĪ

Curated by @___turiya

April 17th 4:51AM PDT | 7:51AM EDT | IST 17:21

The New Moon अमावस्या of April arises in Aśvinī अश्विनी (sidereal Aries), the Vedic lunar mansion known as the Star of Transport—governing movement, as well as the subtle passage between states of being.

Aśvinī stands at the threshold—where one state dissolves and another has not yet fully formed—making it a potent gateway for transition, initiation, and swift reorientation of the path.

Seated at the beginning of the zodiac, Aśvinī holds the spark of latent power, igniting the unmanifest into manifestation. Initiating the first of the dharma houses, and governed by Ketu graha (south node)—marking Sūrya’s uccha (exaltation) point—the emergence of the individual principle, singular and self-illuminating—it is represented in the celestial firmament by two bright stars in the constellation of Meṣa—known in modern astronomy as Hamal (Alpha Arietis) and Sheratan (Beta Arietis)—which ancient Vedic ṛṣis saw as forming the head of a horse.

This asterism holds the energy of Śīghravyāpana Śakti—the power to quickly reach or attain the object of one’s aim. There is a swiftness inherent here, a directness in movement, where intention meets response with minimal delay. There is also an element of the miraculous—an intelligence that moves beyond limitation, where outcomes once thought fixed may be restored, reversed, or brought back into alignment.

Artwork: Pinterest

Ruled by the Aśvinī Kumāras, the celestial physicians to the devas—Daśra and Nāsatya, “bringing help” and “truthfulness”—this Nakṣatra embodies healing, rejuvenation, and the intelligence of alternative medicine. Symbolized by the head of a horse, it carries vitality and the eagerness to begin—to set forth with sensitivity, precision, and a swift, determined current.

The Aśvinī Kumāras are born of a subtle concealment within the solar lineage—when Sañjñā, wife of Sūrya and daughter of Tvaṣṭṛ, unable to bear his radiance, placed her shadow (Chāyā) in her stead and assumed the form of a mare. Sūrya followed, taking the form of a stallion, and through this union the twin horsemen were born—carrying the intelligence of swift restoration, arriving at the threshold where life is renewed.

Initiatives taken now, especially those related to health and healing, are said to bear rapid results, drawing upon the potency of creation itself. There is a subtle current here that replenishes what has been diminished, restoring vitality where life force has waned.

Half animal and half human, they hold an invisible thread—linked to the nostrils, to the first and final breath, and to the currents of iḍā and piṅgalā. The practices within Yoga Śāstra encourage the gentle and steady purification of these channels, guiding awareness toward the inner, hidden pathway, through which the journey of transcending identification with the body, the senses, desire, and even the fruits of action unfolds.

There’s a desire here for a fresh start and rebirth, one that lays the foundation for something enduring. This is attainable through unwavering focus and a commitment to the inner and outer purifications that may have kept you in a holding pattern. This constellation carries the swift momentum to achieve one’s objectives, much like its animal totem, the horse.

Artwork: Pinterest

Just as the race horse wears blinders to avoid distraction or misstep, we too must maintain singular focus, centered in our own lane. Let us remain resolute — unmoved by the opinions, expectations, or noise of the waking dream and world around us — steadfast in the pursuit of what truly matters.

The energies have been clearing the way, awakening clarity, and inviting us to take our seat at the center of our wheel and draw in congruency. With this New Moon, like a doorway swinging wide open, that which we’ve been tending to with steadiness, patience and a slow maturation can begin to land and meet with forward momentum.

What are you claiming?

All my Relations, Tulsi

Join us for our monthly New Moon gathering | Pulse of the Stars: Vidyā & Chai - Sunday, April 19th ☽☼

My schedule is now open for consultations. → Jyotisa Readings

I Said to the Wanting Creature
by Kabir (trans Robert Bly)

“I said to the wanting-creature inside me:
What is this river you want to cross?
There are no travelers on the river-road, and no road.
Do you see anyone moving about on that bank, or nesting?
There is no river at all, and no boat, and no boatman.
There is no tow rope either, and no one to pull it.
There is no ground, no sky, no time, no bank, no ford!

And there is nobody, and no mind!
Do you believe there is some place that will make the
soul less thirsty?
In that great absence, you will find nothing.

Be strong then, and enter into your own body;
there you have a solid place for your feet.
Think about it carefully!
Don’t go off somewhere else!

Kabir says this: just throw away all thoughts of imaginary
things, and stand firm in that which you are.”

New moon in Uttara Bhādrapadā: The Latter Blessed Star

NEW MOON IN UTTARA BHĀDRAPADĀ

March 18/19th

The March New Moon अमावस्या occurs in Uttara Bhādrapadā उत्तरभद्रपदा (sidereal Pisces), the Vedic lunar mansion known as the Latter Blessed Star.

Uttara Bhādrapadā, marking the zenith of Saturnine energy, is illumined by two bright stars—one in Pegasus and the other in Andromeda—seen by the ancient Vedic seers as the back legs of a funeral cot. Together with two stars of Pūrva Bhādrapadā, they form the rectangular bed known as the Square of Pegasus.

This powerful asterism resides at the heart of the last water sign, in a mokṣa bhāva (house of liberation), ruled by ākāśa tattva (ether element) and Ahirbudhnya (Serpent of the Deep).

Artowrk: Pinterest

As the seat of Mahā Lakṣmī, this nakṣatra is deeply connected to the fertility of both earth and sky, excavating the unconscious, harmonizing the universal mind, and gaining wisdom through experience, humility, and self-sacrifice.

Its Varṣodtamana Śakti — the energy to bring rain and grow what has been planted — speaks to a deeper desire to establish a stable and enduring foundation with this lunation cycle.

We are now on the other side of Jupiter turning direct in Punarvasu (Gemini) and the distillation of eclipse season. There is a churning which stirs a desire for balance — a balance gained through stabilizing all that you’ve been learning over these past couple of months, which is now beginning to land. 

Jupiter’s retrograde invited a deeper reflection on our beliefs, wisdom, growth, and what truly sustains abundance, and with his direct motion the insights gathered through that inward journey begin to move forward again with greater clarity.

After the igniting threshold of tapasya, the New Moon in Uttara Bhādrapadā brings the quiet work of stabilization, where what was sparked in the previous star settles into deep waters, the fire of transformation now tempered and integrated into something enduring.

Artwork: Pinterest

Mercury will also station direct in Śatabhiṣā (Aquarius) on the 21st, bringing discernment to distill what has been unfolding and clarify the way forward.

Counted among the eleven Rudras—forms of Śiva—Ahirbudhnya is linked to fertility, Kuṇḍalinī energy, and the subconscious forces of Nature. His energy is both creative and destructive, reflecting the profound alchemy of transformation and spiritual awakening that unfolds in the hidden depths.

Artwork: Pinterest

Beneath this lunation, a quieter movement may also be sensed within the collective field of consciousness. Uttara Bhādrapadā, associated with twin foundations, gestures toward the reconciliation of polarity—the subtle healing of the ancient myth of separation between masculine and feminine principles.

Here the work is subtle yet immense. Uttara Bhādrapadā invites us to descend beneath the surface of the linear mind and listen to the deeper currents of consciousness. In these waters, insight matures slowly; the unconscious is stirred and illuminated, and what was once fragmented begins to harmonize within the greater field of universal (one) mind. 

The invitation of this New Moon is not urgency but surrender—to allow what has been awakened to stabilize, deepen, and quietly take root as we step into Navarātri, the nine nights of the Divine Feminine.

“You cannot cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” — Rabindranath Tagore

All my Relations, Tulsi

If you feel called to explore your own chart through the lens of Jyotisa, you can book a private consultation here.

New Moon Solar Eclipse in Uttaraphalgunī: The Star Of Patronage

SOLAR ECLIPSE

Edit by @___turiya

SOLAR ECLIPSE सूर्य ग्रहण 

Eclipse season culminates with the new moon (amāvásyā) and a partial solar eclipse (Sūrya Grahaṇam) in the Vedic Lunar mansion of Uttaraphalgunī उत्तरफल्गुनी (Virgo), the star of Patronage.

This new moon is also known as Sarvapitṛ Amāvāsyā which concludes Pitṛ Pakṣa (fortnight of the ancestors), also called Mahalaya Amāvāsyā, when oblations can be offered to all ancestors (sarva-pitṛ), especially for those who may have been forgotten or for whom individual śrāddha has not been performed.

Solar eclipses are omens for the energies to come. Track what has been trying to make itself known to you in the past few weeks. They expose what is hidden and set the tone for the next six months. A spiritual culmination unfolds, signaling transformative endings and the potential for new beginnings.

Right now, we’re in a time outside of time, where things aren’t what they seem. 

The eclipse portal has delivered confrontation with the unknown as promised and continues to bring old patterns to the surface for transmutation. Don’t touch what’s coming up.

Uttaraphalgunī calls us to build authentic connections through acts of service, generosity, and mutual support. As the patron of contracts and agreements, this asterism, steeped in the qualities of hospitality and protection, encourages us to honor our commitments and nurture relationships that foster both personal and collective growth.

Holding the energy and śakti of prosperity and the accumulation of wealth through partnership, this is a powerful window for collaboration that ignites a fresh perspective and creative growth. 

With the responsibility of breathing life into new architecture, we become most in need of balance. The fine tuning point between self and other — anchoring into and committing fully to self sovereignty, while practicing the grace of presence and participation within this co-created dream.

You can only change and work on yourself. No matter how deeply you feel the need to hold on or piece together something that is unraveling, you may not be able to. Allow yourself to be surprised. This is an opportunity for profound growth—don’t bypass it simply because it’s uncomfortable. Observe what is unfolding and step powerfully into taking responsibility for your own spiritual evolution.

Accelerated spiritual growth awaits if we allow introspection. Some pattern has been attempting to reveal itself for completion and healing. What would it take for you to stop resisting that which you don’t prefer? Welcome it all—the beauty, the terror, the rapture, and the turbulence. Be with it and let it go. It may not be comfortable or easy, but it will undoubtedly be worth it.

Eclipses stir duality to initiate purification, a necessary process through which self-knowledge is deepened and stabilized. The turbulence you may feel is part of the alchemy drawing you deeper into your own psyche.

Know there is light at the end of the tunnel—keep going. Do yourself a favor and create space to delve deeper into what you may have been resisting. Release what you desire and realign with what is in right relationship and highest alignment.

In this phase of heightened impulsivity, keep life simple, stay grounded, and rest. Reflect on what’s being revealed and what needs untangling. Expect the unexpected.

The ancients taught that any practice undertaken during an eclipse bears fruit a thousandfold. In this sacred window, they consumed less—physically and mentally—to keep their channels clear. With the Sun and Moon—our sources of prāṇa—obscured, this becomes a potent time for:

• Mantra chanting

• Meditation & breathwork

• Prayer & fasting

• Turning inward, rather than outward

It is also recommended to bathe before and after the eclipse to cleanse both body and mind, allowing for a smoother energetic transition.

Trust that this cycle serves as an initiation, sowing the seeds of transformation that will blossom in divine timing, guiding you into the next phase of your journey. Take your time to process things and allow the story to continue unfolding.

Those in a dasha or sub-period of Saturn, or with natal planets (Sun, Moon, Rising) in Uttaraphalgunī, will experience this transit’s transformative energy even more profoundly….

All My Relations 🦚

We will be diving deeper together in our monthly Vidyā & Chai: Group meditation and Sacred Storytelling

September, 22nd 1:30pm pst 🦢☽☼

Partial Solar Eclipse: New Moon in Uttaraphalgunī (Virgo)

Sept 21st 2025 12:54 PM PST | Sept 22nd 1:24 am IST

Eclipse Timing:

Sept 21st 10:29 am PST - Sept 21st 14:53 pm PST

Sept 21st 22:59 pm IST - Sept 22nd 3:23 am IST