Covid-19 Pandemic and Vedic Astrology

”Proceed with courage. Be alert and cautious. Pray for Grace”. ~ Amma

Let me start by saying that I do not believe epic events, like the Coronavirus pandemic arising from the shared destiny of humanity (collective karma), can be astrologically predicted with accuracy and precision.  Personally, I like to leave that type of forecasting to prophets and mystics. Having said that, spiritual Vedic Astrology can be a vital companion in illuminating the natural forces behind the collective karma and furthering our understanding of what lies ahead.

In Vedic Astrology eclipses, and the shadow grahas Rahu and Ketu that cause them, are always involved in most unexpected catastrophic events that derail our lives, both collectively and individually. This is why Rahu and Ketu’s influence on our minds and the events of our life (both good and bad) is always extreme. These forces conceal and camouflage and then seem to appear out of nowhere, leaving us unprepared and vulnerable.

In this case, the rare solar eclipse of Dec 25, 2019 with six planets conjunct in Sagittarius, foretold the coming of a major cosmic event and the transits of Rahu and Ketu as expected pulled the trigger in early 2020.  As you all know, Vedic Astrology goes beyond the 12 divisions of the Zodiac and uses Nakshatras, or star constellation of 27 divisions along the ecliptic, to fine tune predictions. After the December eclipse all Vedic Astrologer’s eyes were on Ketu’s transit into the perilous Mula Nakshatra on February 14, 2020, with Rahu in the volatile Ardra Nakshatra already awaiting Ketu’s arrival.

The transit of Ketu into Mula and Rahu in Ardra detonated Covid in the life and consciousness of people worldwide. This transit occurs only once every 18.5 years and has historically proven to be extremely explosive for the world. In recent history, events include 9/11 in 2001 and the beginning of the aids epidemic in 1982.

Other indications which intensified Ketu’s movement into Mula Nakshatra was the formation of the dreaded Kala Sarpa Yoga (all planets located between Rahu and Ketu), which makes events (both good and bad) more fated and extreme. On top of that fiery Mars joined Ketu in Mula around the same time making the situation more volatile.  The virus spiked in China about this time and people around the globe began to be concerned of its arrival on their doorstep.

Planets as Producers

In Vedic Astrology each planet is a Karaka, or producer, of some aspect of creation. Ketu produces the unseen and subtle aspect of our existence, including viruses and microorganisms. Metaphorically, all things elusive, such as enigmatic spiritual truths that are not easily graspable by the gross mind, are also the headless Ketu’s domain. While Ketu is minimalist, Rahu loves blowing things out of proportion, especially terror and dread.  As such, for plagues, invisible enemies, concealed truths and conspiracy theories we turn to Ketu. For overreaction and panic that shuts the entire word down, we turn to Rahu.

All planets are ultimately also the producers of our spiritual awakening. Ketu is the quintessential Yogi who produces the knowledge and awareness of the sukshma or the intangible, indefinable and metaphysical and all that is invisible to the naked eye. Ketu functions very much like Mars, who considers facing our most invisible and imperceptible adversaries as the only path to the destruction of our ego’s attachments to physicality. Rahu is archetypical bhogi, or one who is fully engaged in physicality. He functions more like Saturn by encouraging anxiety and terror, so we can come face to face with our greatest fears.

Mula Nakshatra

Both Ardra and Mula are the harshest of the 27 Nakshatras and considered unfavorable for easing our path in life. Associated with deities who terminate our illusions and material attachment through death and destruction, these Nakshatras contain Shaktis, or powers, that have the potential to bring calamitous events.

The deity of Mula is Nirriti, the goddess who contains within her Barhana Shakti, or the power to ruin and destroy. Like Ketu, whose symbol is a body with no head, the symbol of Mula is roots, signifying that goddess Nirriti wants to destroy our ignorance down to the very roots, so we can access the concealed world beyond the veil of Maya (myth or illusion of the physical world).  

Nirriti is called Alakshimi or the anti-Lakshmi (Lakshmi is the goddess of abundance and prosperity related to Venus). Nirriti is also likened to the Goddess Kali. Kala means time in Sanskrit and Kali is the feminine aspect of time that eventually brings death and desolation of everything that exists in the space time continuum.

Mula Nakshatra is located in the center of the galaxy, or what is called the galactic center, covering
0 -13.20 degrees of Sagittarius. All planets and the Ascendant placed in this sector of the Zodiac will have some destructive qualities but also the capacity for metaphysical insight and transcendence.  

Ardra Nakshatra

Ardra is ruled by Rudra, the most fierce and dangerous form of Lord Shiva, associated with the howling wind, wild storms, thunder and wild and dangerous animals. In essence, Rudra relates to some of the harshest aspect of nature. Rudra holds within him Yatna Shakti, or the extreme effort exerted by nature, like the wind and rain storms, to destroy and obliterate. As such, Ardra is also symbolic of the herculean energy humans are capable of garnering to achieve a desired goal in life.

Like Rahu, Ardra is symbolized by a human head with no body, signifying our attachment to the limited mind that cannot perceive the subtle and unseen aspects of the universe (ie. Ketu). Ardra means “wet and moist” and is represented by a tear drop, which reflects the potential for clarity that is possible after a major rain storm of Rudra’s “tears of sorrow”.

Ardra covers 6.40 – 20 degrees of Gemini and any planets or Ascendant in this sector of the sky will have wild and untamable qualities but also the capability of pushing through to victory with extreme effort.

What’s next

Looking ahead, the planet that protects our immunity is the Sun, the giver of Vitamin D that destroys all pathogens. The Sun’s movement into its exaltation point in Aries in mid-April began to ease some of the panic and confusion. However, continued chaos and disruption can be expected until Ketu leaves Sagittarius and Mula Nakshatra on Sept 23, 2020 and is comfortably in Scorpio and Jyestha Nakshatra (Rahu and Ketu move anti-clockwise unlike the rest of the planets).

While the fear and threat of the virus will ease, you don’t have to be an astrologer to predict that the economic, social and political fallout due to the first ever worldwide lockdown will be profound and long-lasting. Again, Collective Karma is difficult to predict with precision, as we have to go beyond studying just one horoscope.  For example, something that I feel most Astrologers are overlooking is that Jyestha Nakshatra in Scorpio also happens to be where a Gandanta Moon, which is debilitated and eclipsed by Ketu, resides in President Donald Trump’s horoscope. Trump, as the most prominent leader in the world, brings some of the instability of his karma into the fold of the collective Karma of humanity.


Ketu’s Teachings

As noted earlier, Ketu’s transit into Mula Nakhatra is the most significant astrological event related to the pandemic because Mula is where our own as well as those of humanity’s collective wounds and misperceptions are released.

Here in the USA, the virus has released the wounds of our collective disregard for the most vulnerable and invisible citizens of our society, especially our “essential workers”, who barely make a livable wage. Collectively, we must consider how it has come to pass that the vast majority of American citizens have absolutely no safety net to fall back on in the wealthiest nation in human history.

It has also brought to the surface our collective disregard for the invisible forces of the immune system that keep the enemy pathogens at bay. Hopefully, in the months and years to come the focus will shift from just containment and vaccines to prevention of such deadly outbreaks.

Mula Nakshatra is also revealing the instability brewing in the mental health of people worldwide due to the breakdown of family structures that have sustained the human race from the beginning of time. Most of us do not know anyone who has contacted the Coronavirus but we do know someone who is going through a potential mental breakdown due to the isolation and seclusion.

Furthermore, the internet and social media age has been accelerated by the pandemic. The dumpster fire that is the internet has been set fully ablaze, filling our heads nonstop countdown of pandemic related deaths and conspiracy theories that are robbing us of tranquility and peace of mind.  Did you know that during these two short months time, Youtube has seen a doubling of its usage?

Finally, and most importantly Ketu is a minimalist, he has shown all of us that we can all get by with much, much less that we ever thought was possible.

Truth is, we do not appreciate our immune system until there is a pandemic, nor we do we question the importance of family and friends and the stability of our mind until we are forced into isolation.

Remember that while we have little control over the collective karma that we share with our family, community and all of humanity, our personal Karma is still in the driver’s seat of how we choose to experience any event.