The New Moon occurs on March 6, 2019 at 11:04 a.m. EDT in the sidereal position of 21-Aquarius-40, Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra. Together with Uttara Bhadrapada these two nakshatras translate to “former” (purva) and “later” (Uttara) “lucky feet” (Bhadrapada). Their symbol is the front and back legs of a funeral cot. They are noted in sky by the four stars of the square of Pegasus that sits above the dimmer stars of Aquarius and Pisces. They have to do with the primordial forces light (Purva Bhadrapada) and darkness (Uttara Bhadrapada). Purva Bhadrapada is ruled by Aja Ekapada, the one footed goat deity who is a form of Shiva and the vehicle of Agni (sacred fire). He represents infinity, transcendence, unborn latent creative energy and is without motion or speech. Purva Bhadrapada is an eccentric, mystical, intelligent, philosophical, visionary and future oriented nakshatra. Yet it is also a fierce nakshatra with the shakti power of spiritual fire, especially the metaphorical fire of purification to nourish evolution. It has a keynote of sacrifice.
Looking at the chart. The New Moon is conjunct Neptune an outer planet not always recognized in Vedic Astrology. Neptune in Roman Mythology is akin to Poseidon in Greek Mythology. Neptune’s celestial weapon is a trident and he is lord of the oceans. Shiva’s weapon is a trident and the Ganges flows from Shiva’s hair. The New Moon is in Aquarius, the sign of the water bearer. Purva Bhadrapada spans the last three padas of Aquarius and first pada of Pisces. Uttara Bhadrapada sits entirely in watery Pisces ruled by Ahir Budhnya the auspicious serpent associated with the celestial emissaries of Shiva’s army and the vital power of kundalini. Ahir Budhnya’s attribute of darkness is a polarity of Aja Ekapada’s attribute of light. Primordial fire and Agni are associated with Aja Ekapada and Purva Bhadrapada while primordial water and its personification as Soma is related to Ahir Budhnya and Uttara Bhadrapada. Both Bhadrapadas are related to Shiva. In the story of the churning of the ocean of milk (to attain the soma or immortal nectar of the gods) Shiva swallowed the poisons that were also churned up. This is why his neck turned blue. Shivaratri, “the Great Night of Shiva” is the Hindu festival that was celebrated on March 4th to worship Shiva the destroyer of evil who saved the world from destruction. Shivaratri also is celebrated as the wedding day of Shiva and Parvati.
Additionally, Saturn, the planetary ruler of Aquarius, casts his third aspect to the New Moon. Saturn is a servant in the planetary cabinet to the royals the Sun and Moon, and he resides in filthy grounds. Saturn is with Pluto, another planet not often used in Vedic Astrology that is akin to Hades Lord of the Underworld associated with transformation and destruction. What do we need to clean up or purify in our lives? Is there something that is blocking or limiting us that requires a sacrifice or something we need to swallow on a metaphorical level? How can we use Purva Bhadrapada’s Shakti power of “Spiritual fire” of this new moon to bring light where there is darkness, soma where there is poison, or to raise our kundalini?
Jupiter the planetary ruler of Purva Bhadrapada, and dispositor of Saturn in Sagittarius is 10th from the New Moon in Mars’s sign of Scorpio and receiving Mars’s 8th glance. Mars is in his domicile of Aries and is 3rd house from the Moon where is the bhava karaka of the house representing courage and prowess. Jupiter is the priest in the planetary cabinet who resides in treasure houses and Mars is the army chief who resides in sporting grounds. How are we being called to be a spiritual warrior in the world? How are we being called to be courageous?
There are many other questions we could ask ourselves as we sit with the stories related to this New Moon. Take a moment, without motion or speech, to sit with the energy of this New Moon and what it means for you, in your life, right now and going forward for the next month.