Shortly after the New Moon this morning, the Sun and the Moon entered Uttara Ashada nakshatra. Although I’m not quite ready to publish fully on this star, I felt like writing this. I blame it on the New Moon.

New Moons represent the darkest period of the skies, with the Moon completely dark. On a more practical, or exoteric sense, this is the time when it is easier to see the stars. As they won’t be obfuscated by the light of the Moon, and solely by the huge McDonald’s billboard on your town, they are far more visible. The best time to stargaze is during or right after a New Moon.

Exoteric = external and understandable by all
Esoteric = internal, appreciated by few
Both have almost the same pronunciation, albeit opposite meanings, very esoteric.

On a esoteric sense, the New Moon removes the external lights, allowing the internal light to shine. A lot of pagan sects or magicians see this as the best time for rituals. The darkness acts as a blank slate, from this point of view. This is a strong time for prayer, meditation, mantras or anything related to the esoteric.

I tend to view New Moons mostly as the time for the inner light, the soul. Our power, our fire, as well as our shadows. They are more visible and clear in the dark, for good and bad. For some, it can be like being a kid afraid of the dark again, making this a time of crisis. No night light, no shiny ball to distract you from the inner world.

For others, this can be a revealing and invigorating time. Seeing problems not as external matters, that require your commitment, but as reflections of your inside. The person causing you fear, the problem at work, the anger on the news, they show something about you.

Maybe you need to be more proactive. Get over your fears. Quit with the laziness. Break down a façade. Build a true foundation. Maybe the target of your anger/desire is not that far away. This is the revelation.

The invigoration comes in multiple forms. Exoterically, through the rituals, prayers and possibilities I mentioned above. Esoterically, from standing in the dark and finding your light. Understanding your shadows, understanding your light, finding your fire and letting it burn. Seeing your problems, seeing your strengths and working towards a solution.

Each and every New Moon represents this process, but what about Uttara Ashada? I always take these pointless tangents, I waste your time, I can’t help myself.

One of the main symbols for Uttara Ashada is a wooden bed, specifically the frames of it.

This is not a bed of comfort, like in Purva Phalguni, it is a bed of function. It shows the necessary, the minimal, austerity. It can also show a knack of punishment, pain, as sleeping on wood planks is not a pleasant experience.

Another important symbol is an Elephant’s Tusk. This is a valued portion of the elephant, extracted and sold by a lot of money. Used in ancient times as a fighting/war instrument. Also carefully watched by the elephant’s themselves, who take the utmost care and protection for it.

The tusk represents a multitude of things. First of all, something hard to achieve, yet highly desirable. Uttara Ashada represents the quest for enlightenment, the quest for the highest achievement. Second of all, being a fighting instrument, it represents war. Fighting, fearlessness, conflict all come into play here. Third, it represents piercing or penetrating. Either externally, by the already explained aggression. Or internally, by understanding faults or finding shadows.

Uttara Ashada is not an easy nakshatra. On a mundane level, it is related to declarations of war, as well as troubles caused by this. On a personal level, natives with this star tend to have a life of struggle. Hardships, blockages, disappointments, complicated enemies and troubles.

There is strength, as seen by the elephant tusk, to rise above and get over such struggle. But the struggle remains. Those familiar with the Bhagavad Gita will understand this.

In a way, Uttara Ashada represents darkness and light. The long and painful road, of tribulations, that leads towards achievement. As well as the victory. The darkness of aggression, obstacles, lack of recognition and struggles. The light of rising up above it all.

This reminds me much of the darkness and light, inner and outer, conundrum of New and Full Moons. So I thought I’d share it with my dear friends, the bots that crawl my website. Hopefully, in a quest for enlightenment.

The monthly transit of the Moon in Uttara Ashada is a time of struggle, where we could be dealt a bad hand, we could be slighted or troubled in some way. But it is also a time of rising up above, maybe declaring war against that person or problem. Rising above doesn’t mean lashing out, doesn’t mean a hissy fit, doesn’t mean destruction. It means responding adequately, doing what needs to be done. This is the time to make a decision, make a commitment, declare your intention to fight your battles and deal with your struggles.

Sun in Uttara Ashada: January 11th to January 24th
Sun in Capricorn: January 14th to February 13th

As I’ve mentioned on this month’s predictions, the transit of the Sun in Capricorn always represents a time of intense karma, intense struggle. Uttara Ashada is the most intense portion of this. So be aware of that, be aware that the week ahead can be a time that challenges you, but don’t forget to use this for your own improvement and enlightenment.