Engaged Astrology

Things have felt pretty eclipsey lately. Some call it eclipse “season”, and we do have an unusual number of them in 2026. We already had a solar eclipse in February, a total lunar eclipse in March, and we have another total solar eclipse coming up on August 12. In Vedic Astrology, there are two planets that are only visible during eclipses: this year Rahu emerges during the lunar eclipse, and Ketu during the solar ones. Even though they are invisible the rest of the time, these two “points” in the sky were invented to help us decode the complicated eclipse energies. They carry a charged and fascinating importance in any horoscope.

Because we have two solar eclipses this year, and because this month it is reaching peak power, I thought it would be interesting to use this newsletter to look at Ketu in particular. I provide some general symptoms of our powerful Ketu, and focus in on its interesting relationship with technology. After a brief look at Ketu in current events, I have also provided some sign-by-sign suggestions based on how Ketu might affect your personal chart.

Before I get into this, I would also like to announce that I have created my first astrology “Video Class”, which is an edit of a live lecture that I did late last year. It is an entry-level class that I call an “Introduction to the Planets” (Rahu and Ketu are included!). The class is about 1 hour and 45 minutes long and is based on a series of “slides” (PowerPoint!) which I spent a long time annotating with arrows and labels for the video. If you are interested in learning Vedic Astro, this is a great first step to understanding the basic “language” of the planets we use, and how they appear in charts. For more information please go here.

Ketu’s symbol is the tail of a snake without a head. The headless aspect is extremely important — this planet represents our “instinctive” nature, our unconscious. In the spiritual world this can be great. Ketu is the “Moksha Karaka”, meaning that it represents “Liberation” or “Enlightenment”. So how it is placed tells us a lot about our spiritual lives (and past lives), and our ability to detach or progress spiritually. But in the material world, Ketu can be wildly unreliable. The headless aspect can make mistakes, be impulsive, or lead to behaviors that are “thoughtless” in some way. This can cause harm, and sometimes catastrophe.

Added to this, Ketu moves with incredible speed and energy. It is sometimes referred to as a “fire planet”, but since it does not have a physical body, or create any kind of light, this can be misleading. Instead the energy that it creates is mental, psychic, or transpersonal. It is basically electricity. Indeed, one of the things that Ketu rules is advanced technology. Computer chips, cellular communication, virtual memory, and gadgets of all kinds that allow us to “think without our heads” or “be in two places at the same time”, are the hallmarks of Ketu.

All this adds up to by far the strangest, most surreal planet we have in Vedic Astrology. Ketu is often represented as a flag flying at the top of a pole. Like a flag it marks events and moments in our lives that are transformational, and unforgettable. Starting this month and for the next few months, there will be a lot of flags flying!

As you probably know — especially if you’ve had a reading with me! — one of the unique features of Vedic astrology are the 27 “Nakshatras”. They are small asterisms or constellations with fixed locations in the sky. There are approximately 2.5 of them for every sign of the zodiac and the moon moves through them at a rate of one per day. Even though they are extremely ancient (at least 5000 years old), they are packed with information, and the ideas they contain are still very relevant.

On March 29th, Ketu entered Magha Nakshatra. This is located in the area of the star Regulus, which is known as the brightest star in the sky and is located in sidereal Leo. Ketu entered Leo last May, but is only now reaching Magha, where it will be until it leaves Leo in December. The symbol of Magha is a throne, or the kind of palanquin that they used to carry kings or very important people. Each Nakshatra has a planetary “ruler” and the planet that rules Magha is Ketu itself. So when it enters Magha, Ketu will be supercharged, and the world will be flooded with Ketu transmissions sent from the throne.

Known as “The Mighty One”, Magha Nakshatra is often associated with great professional attainment. So there is a lot of ambition to the sign and people with Magha either in the ascendant, or as their moon-sign, are usually driven to succeed. (Donald Trump has his ascendant in Ketu — more about this later).

But it’s more complicated than that, and not only about professional gains. Every Nakshatra has a “shakti”, or “special power”, and Magha’s is “the power to leave the body”. This seems counterintuitive — why would someone who is driven to succeed in the material world also want to leave their body? But in a sense success, or fame, does allow one to leave one’s body: the definition of fame is that people know about you, and care about you, even though you might have nothing to do with them personally. So again, it connects to that Ketu transpersonalism — the ability to replicate, or communicate in a way that does not need to be physical.

Another important aspect of Magha is that it is ruled by the “Pitris” or “The Anscestors”. Again, this underscores the Ketu factor — a trans-material reality that is not tied to the constraints of time or place. In Magha, our ancestors stand alongside us. They can bring us great wisdom, but they can also torture us with their unmet needs. So Ketu-in-Magha is a deeply karmic transit. We must reckon with our pasts (even our past lives) and the degree to which we do that — the degree to which we can open ourselves to Ketu — will be the degree to which Magha will be of benefit to us. “The Jedi’s strength flows from the Force” said Yoda. But in order to feel that Force you must:

“Train yourself to let go of everything you are afraid to lose.”

~Yoda

Here are some very general ways this could manifest for all of us in the next few months (again for more specific sign-by-sign readings, see below).

• Get ready for riddles or paradoxes in your life. You may be confronted by confounding choices that on the surface make no sense, or seem impossible. Try to default to the path that makes most sense internally — “follow your heart” now more than ever. You can also ask yourself “which option would make more sense to my ancestors?” Any other option might be a trick or a “false flag”. And the path that is true to you will pay off, especially if chosen during this period.

• Sudden changes or disappearances. Ketu is the “Shunya Graha”, the planet that causes things to vanish, as eclipses do. Similarly, Ketu in Magha might make things in your life vanish. If they are obstacles or adversaries, this could be a good thing. But sometimes they might not be, and there may be a sense of loss or grief. Luckily, the ability to reframe this loss as a lesson will also be supported during this time.

• Learning. All planets are teachers, but some more than others. Ketu is one of the great teachers. Like Saturn, he may take things away to show you what is truly important. And as with Saturn, this is an astronomical/ astrological event that is much bigger than us: fighting it is impossible. In Ketu’s case, he teaches through uncertainty, sudden changes and emptiness. These things will come whether we like it or not. How we react to them is the key. Patience is good. Humor is good. Calmness is a must.

• Power shifts: sudden falls, and rises to fame. I am reminded of the famous Bob Dylan line from “The Times they are A-Changin’”: “The loser now will be later to win”. Some will be elevated to the throne, and others will be removed from the palace. Ketu in Magha can see a very rapid “disassembling” of power (we’ve seen a lot of that lately with César Chávez, Maduro, Khomeini and so on). But it can also create every kind of rags-to-riches or Cinderella story as Ketu-in-Magha and elevates whatever is connected with that sign to a place where it can rule trans-personally (ie be famous).

• Mistakes. This is perhaps the most avoidable of all these indications because mistakes can be prevented, for the most part, by awareness. And it is the area of awareness that Ketu attacks. By being headless, Ketu can remove foresight and also create a highly impulsive, rushed mood. (This, again, depends on where Magha is in your chart — see below!) In general during this period I would watch out for people or situations that make you feel rushed or under pressure. They could be Ketu in disguise.

• Technology. As I’ve mentioned, Ketu rules advanced technology, particularly super-fast modes of communication (Ketu is super-fast) and “disembodied” AI or computational power. In Magha, Ketu will be very active and this nakshatra provides the perfect “incubator” for tech breakthroughs: technology itself will be raised to the throne. So, over the next seven months or so look for heightened activity in the tech world; advances that have a global effect. If possible, it would be a good moment to incorporate new technology into your own life or work. Unless we experience an overall crash, tech stocks (the right kind of tech stocks!) should be a good bet in the stock market.

I went back 100 years and looked at all the moments when Ketu transited Magha. In general, these 8-9 month periods in history were quite volatile. The last time it happened, for example, between August 2007 and May 2008, the subprime mortgage crises exploded; Bear Stearns collapsed, and the country plunged into recession. But there was not a financial crisis in every one of these transits. A theme that does emerge around these moments in history, though, is one of technological breakthrough. Following is a brief look at each of these Ketu-Magha transits and the new technology that appeared during them. It is, of course, true that tech advances are happening all the time, but it is outstanding that each of these moments was a kind of inflection point.

During this time radio becomes a true mass medium: the “Golden Age of Radio” is born. Some of this is due to Franklin Roosevelt who becomes the first president to really rely on radio to communicate with the masses. He begins his famous “Fireside Chats” broadcasts during this period (April 1933), which are broadcast nationally on the radio. Through the New Deal, FDR also brings electricity to many parts of the country that did not have it before (via programs like the Tennessee Valley Authority) so that they could, among other things, listen to the radio as well. It was also during this year that sound film — “talkies” — become the standard and the technology spreads like wildfire. So this period really sows the seeds for centralized, one-to-many, mass communication; or in the language of Magha “the ability to leave the body” is becoming institutionalized. Speaking of the language of “The Mighty One”, it is also worth noting that it was during these exact months the atom was “split” for the first time by John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton at Manchester University. “The Mighty One” indeed.

This time period saw the first “stored program” computers, such as the UNIVAC I, being used in professional settings such as banks, insurance companies, and the Census Bureau. In terms of mass communication, TV is coming of age and during this exact time period overtakes radio as the most important mass medium. Both of these technologies rely on a deeper, more important breakthrough: transistors. Up until this time circuits had relied on glass “tubes” to work. The miniaturization made possible by the adoption of transistor technology fuels countless technological revolutions, and leads directly to the microchip (which also emerges during a Ketu-in-Magha phase — see below). To continue the nuclear story, it was during this period that the hydrogen bomb is being developed which scares the pants off everyone when it is announced in early 1952: the nadir of the Cold War. So during this period, technology starts to rely on invisible, abstract systems — code, electronics, nuclear physics, etc.: the beginning of the modern age of automation.

UNIX, the world’s first Operating System, is released during this period by Bell Laboratories. This forms the basis of “personal computers” — where there is an interface, information is stored in files that the user can control, and devices are able to perform a variety of tasks simultaneously. Users can also, without much advanced knowledge, program these computers themselves. This technology immediately, with Ketu-like speed, catches on. ARPANET appears during this period as well. This is a protocol that allows computers to communicate with each other over networks. Its first manifestation is email. In early 1971, a computer programmer named Ray Tomlinson introduces the “@“ symbol to separate user names from host machines. ARPANET leads directly to the invention of the Internet (see the next time period). So both the concepts of personal computers and of connecting them together on a “network” are truly born during this exact period.

Also in February 1971 Apollo 14 landed on the moon. It’s interesting that in the current period, we are heading back there. Ketu, of course, would not exist without the moon … perhaps it drives us to pay respects to that planet.

Personal Computers, from brands like Atari, Commodore, Radio Shack and others, are in full swing. Apple releases the first “Mac” (“Macintosh Portable”) in early 1989 — a clear precursor to the laptop — and the brand explodes in popularity. Intel released the groundbreaking 80486 microprocessor, which was the first to contain over 1 million transistors. This was a huge leap forward in computer power … the age of Silicon Valley is born. And in cellphone history, Motorola released the MicroTAC 9800X — the first flip-phone. Finally, Tim Berners-Lee introduces the “World Wide Web” protocol in early 1989. As we know, humanity took him up on it in a big way, and the era of true connectivity and disembodied human knowledge takes another bold step forward. Also, I should mention, that it was during this Ketu in Magha period that Ayatollah Khomeini, the first Ayatollah, dies (of natural causes). Another rhyme with our current period.

There had been BlackBerrys and PalmPilots earlier, but in the Summer of 2007, the first iPhone is released and is an immediate hit. The smartphone has arrived and the world will never be the same. Facebook had been launched in ’04 and Twitter in ’06, but in early ’08 both of them release as apps — so this is basically the birth of the modern era of telecommunications where people are online all the time. It is also in this period that Bear Stearns collapses (March ’08) followed by the subprime mortgage financial crisis, and ushering in a major recession. Ketu doing Ketu things — new kings on new thrones (Steve Jobs!), old kings fall, and tremendous mistakes and instabilities are revealed.

The thematic direction here is clear: what started with the rise of broadcasting from centralized networks has progressed to the point where everyone is broadcasting all the time. We are all able to “leave our bodies”, as Ketu-in-Magha promises. The next stage, Artificial Intelligence, is clearly upon us and I’m sure we will see some major, culture-shifting advances over the next 8 months or so. The next major development would appear to be the rise of AI “Agents” who can basically take over computers/ workstations and work them the same way humans do. There is also a huge emphasis on “coding” in the major AI companies — which basically translates to AI building more AI. Either way, now human beings seem to be in danger of being cut out of the equation. Ketu-in-Magha seems to be reaching its logical conclusion, where headless Ketu is ITSELF raised to the throne. We need to be very careful, and as much as we can, advocate for our own humanity!

Speaking of humanity, as this transit begins, we also seem to be in a scarily unstable place in terms of geopolitics. As mentioned, Trump has his ascendant in Magha and will surely feel emboldened by this transit — though will also sustain a lot of very serious, almost existential criticism within it. Trump’s Magha also contains Mars, so “Warrior Trump” is fully triggered by this transit. Especially with Mars entering Pisces on April 2 and becoming conjunct with Saturn on April 19, it does unfortunately seem that the war (Mars = war) in Iran will affect more people (Pisces/ Saturn = masses of people). Pisces also rules feet, so Mars in that sign would directly indicate “boots on the ground” (ground troops). So things are not looking good, especially before Jupiter becomes exalted at the beginning of June. My hope is that when this happens, Jupiter’s “wisdom” will prevail, and things will start to de-escalate.

Also, as I mention in my newsletter from a few months ago, Saturn in Pisces also connotes mass protest or “uprising”. There is a General Strike being planned for May 1st and it is up to us to prove Bob Dylan right — “The loser now will be later to win”. Ketu-in-Magha is on our side in this regard — in general, though leaders may feel emboldened, seeing them fall, or be replaced, is definitely within the realm of possibility.

Regardless, there is a lot going on and it is a stressful and unstable time in general. The fact is that most of what is going on is bigger than us, and we have little agency over it. But Ketu also affects our own personal charts, and how we deal with those influences could, in a fractal way, help what is going on in the larger culture. In that spirit, following are some brief readings for each sign for Ketu-in-Magha.

With regard to the below, if you know your Vedic ascendant, I would suggest focusing on that sign. If not, focus on the sign where your Vedic Moon is. If you don’t know that, then I am also including Vedic “Sun Signs” by date. These are not, strictly speaking, part of traditional Vedic Astro, but, because Ketu and the Sun have such a special relationship there could be some valuable information here. If you have any planets in Magha Nakshatra, they will become very charged and interesting — and we should talk about them! Also note: these concepts will not really work if you use your Western astrology placements.

Aries (Apr 14 – May 14)

Magha is in your fifth house, so if you are a creative person, this should be a good moment for inspiration and action with regard to creative projects. If you have children, or students, there may be an issue with them that needs attention — approach slowly, and with awareness, but definitely address. You may be offered some kind of investment type proposal — similarly be very cautious with sudden or overly ambitious financial moves. This is also a good time to embrace technology you may have resisted, particularly in relation to creativity, productivity, or investment. Paradoxically (the Ketu paradox!), this is also a great time for spiritual practices, meditation, yoga, and chanting in particular. You should be able to “detach” quicker and deeper than normal. Ketu Phrase: May I be safe.

Taurus (May 15 – Jun 14)

Magha is in your fourth house of heart and home, so you may feel ungrounded or destabilized during this period. It may be that you are unsatisfied with aspects of your home and feel the need to make a change. This could be a great time for home improvements, but could also coincide with a move. Regardless, this transit asks you to view your home as a temple — it should feel like a sanctuary. In terms of your heart, there could be some shifts with regard to who or what is IN your heart. You might feel confused, or empty, at moments. You could be very busy during this period, and that’s a good thing, though you also should not ignore the more personal churning in your heart and home. Time spent quietly looking inwards is recommended — and definitely supported — during this time. And don’t forget to check in with your mom, or her side of the family. Ketu Phrase: May I feel the earth beneath me.

Gemini (Jun 15 – Jul 15)

Magha is in your third house of free will, communication, and creativity. You may feel that for some reason, you are not being given a choice about something, and are somehow trapped. But a point will come (probably suddenly) where you realize you actually do have agency, and can make choice. Be careful with communication — it may feel as though someone is not listening or responding to you during this time, but if you become triggered you could react too strongly, especially if you do so quickly. You also might be extremely intuitive — or psychic — during this time and have the ability to “read between the lines” of the messages you are receiving. Again, though, best not to jump to conclusions. Relationships with siblings might come into play here, particularly, but also intimate relationships or close friendships. This is a good time to embrace new technologies to help you communicate, or to be more creative, or in connection to your physical fitness. Innovation is supported. This, and the power of faith, can make this transit positive for you. Ketu Phrase: May I be free

Cancer (Jul 16 – Aug 16)

Magha is in your second house of money and support systems. This could mean that at times you feel very isolated and alone, as though your support systems have disappeared. There is a chance you are exaggerating, though, and remember, Ketu moves fast and changes a lot — so nothing is permanent. People change and Ketu is trying to teach you how to trust. There may be renewed interactions with your birth family or (especially older) relatives. It’s important to show respect. Please be extra cautious with finances during this time — double-check calculations and don’t rush decisions, especially purchases. This might be a good time to embrace new technologies that could help save money, or communicate with people. If you are experiencing anxiety around money, try to exercise calm and trust. Remember, money is not the most important thing — it is just energy. So actually, Ketu here can bring prosperity as well — if you have the right attitude. In terms of diet, beware emotional or impulsive eating — this could be a good time to make innovations in your diet, or get rid of foods that are not healthy for you. Ketu Phrase: May I feel supported.

Leo (Aug 17 – Sep 16)

Magha is in your ascendant, so this will be a very intense time for you. You might be questioning your very identity or feeling somehow invisible. Ketu is teaching you to stand up for yourself spiritually and emotionally, and this actually promises to be a time of much personal growth. It’s OK if you want to be alone — this is normal now, and it won’t be forever. Ketu, the headless one, is in your head (ascendant), so you might also feel headless. Sit with the not-knowing — again it’s OK — and deeper knowledge will come. Be careful of blame games. The things you are experiencing are nobody’s fault. They are meant to happen. Be open to new technologies and or self-help modalities. If they appear before you, again, it may be for a reason. You are being asked to change, which is not easy for Leos. There is the promise of much success, but you will need to follow the breadcrumbs that Ketu is leaving for you. Ketu Phrase: May I be my authentic self.

Virgo (Sep 17 – Oct 16)

Magha is in your twelfth house of meditation, and loss. Ketu here is great for all kinds of spirituality and introspection. If there is something — a new modality or technology — that you have not tried as a source of self-knowledge, this would be a great time to try it. Because the 12th house can create losses, the fact that Ketu is there is actually a good thing, as literally “losses will be erased”. So you can trust that you are protected, even if you may be receiving dissonant messages from the outside world. The 12th house also rules travel, but Ketu is not about long-distance travel. Instead, try new places closer to home, or new routines that take you through unknown areas. Finally, the 12th house rules elderly people, so if you have any of those in your life, please pay your respects to them. If you don’t, look for messages from your ancestors, and answer them if they are sent. Ketu Phrase: May I rise.

Libra (Oct 17 – Nov 15)

Magha is in your 11th house of friendship, investment, and goals. There may be situations with friends that lead you to feel isolated or lonely for periods of time — try to frame this (a) definitely temporary and (b) as a call to find deeper, more meaningful connections with people. As far as investments, Ketu may create an unstable environment or create loss but mpulsive, or extremely quick reactions could make things worse! Embrace new technologies that might help you achieve your goals. And in terms of those goals, you may find yourself asking “What do I want again?” This is OK. Embrace the unknowing. Release the goals you may have had that do not serve you — look deeper. Ketu is extending an invitation to something new and there should be a lot of creative energy to support that at this time. Ketu Phrase: May I connect.

Scorpio (Nov 16 – Dec 15)

Magha is in your 10th house of work and career — what you DO. You might feel suddenly dissatisfied with work or question the direction you have chosen. If you have an impulse to change everything up in a hurry, be careful — don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! It could also be that a lot of success is either manifesting, or just around the corner and there could be a final test of faith — and focus. Ketu is asking you to do some soul searching and priority-list making. In terms of technology, this might be a great time to embrace some kind of new technology around your work, something, perhaps, that you have been resisting. Know that Ketu activated in the 10th house can make people work very hard — almost too hard. You may need to set boundaries in this regard so you don’t burn out or get exhausted. Ketu Phrase: May I have one-pointed focus.

Sagittarius (Dec 16 – Jan 13)

Magha is in your 9th house of dharma, and good luck. Ketu is comfortable here because, fundamentally, this is a spiritual planet in a spiritual place. So this is a great time for anything related to your spiritual life, or journey. You may want to innovate in this area, learning from new people, or using new technologies — and that’s great. It will be so much easier than you think, and the knowledge should pour in. In the real world there could be challenges around missed opportunities, bosses or coworkers. Try to slow down and remember “Good things come to those who wait”. You may question your “dharma”, or purpose. This is a good thing, but could also be scary. Let it be. Your dharma is being eclipsed will reappear. Ketu Phrase: May I be steady.

Capricorn (Jan 14 – Feb 12)

Magha is in your mysterious 8th house of transformation and healing. Ketu is also a transformational planet and should definitely have your back in these areas, but could also be a lot to handle. The 8th house is also hard for us to apprehend, and Ketu likes surprises, so a good mantra for this transit is “Expect the unexpected”. This could be stressful, especially if it affects you financially, which it could. Meanwhile the spiritual side, this transit could bring a tremendous amount of deepening. Through research you will be able to access high-level “spiritual information”, possibly through new technologies or modalities. Activities like this are what Ketu is offering you, he is suggesting that with faith and trust, everything will work out. Ketu Phrase: May I have faith.

Aquarius (Feb 13 – Mar 13)

Magha is in your seventh house of partnerships and relationships. If you are in a relationship, there could be a sudden need to make a change by either you or your partner. Ketu will be in a big rush to switch things up. Please consciously and deliberately slow down and make sure, that personal issues are not “eclipsing” the relationship. If you aren’t in a relationship, and would like to be, this is a great time to change tactics: embrace new technologies or tools or approaches, do something different. Change is good when dealing with Ketu. If you are not in a relationship, and don’t want one either, that’s great, especially during this transit. In terms of business relationships, this is actually a good time for networking, and it is possible that you could connect with a powerful person who could help you. Ketu Phrase: May I be loved.

Pisces (Mar 14 – Apr 13)

Magha is in your sixth house of health and enemies. In terms of health, this is a good time to go to a doctor for a complete physical! Ketu sometimes comes in disguises that an untrained eye might miss. It is also very possible that there is nothing wrong. This transit also suggests that it might be time for you to take your spiritual path more seriously, and that this might be what your health needs holistically. Be open to new spiritual/wellness technologies or modalities that you might have wanted to try, but haven’t yet. This kind of experimentation is extremely supported by Ketu-in-Magha. In terms of enemies, Ketu here might actually make your enemies disappear! But there is also a chance that some weird character or situation could come up that makes you feel threatened and uneasy. Try not to be reactive and instead reframe the situation in larger terms as a teaching moment. You might not be able to control everything, but you can control how you react. This is what Ketu wishes to teach you. Ketu Phrase: May I be at ease.

Once again, I considered putting these small readings behind some kind of Substack paywall, but it still doesn’t feel right. Ketu wants open source!

Buy Me a Coffee

Thanks so much for reading!

Please consider me for astrological services and ask me about discounts and packages. Referrals are always welcome as well.

With Ketu becoming so active right now it’s a great time to start learning how to read a chart yourself! Again, check out the Video Class I am offering.

Most planets have directions like East, West and South. But Ketu’s direction is … straight up! Have a safe flight this April!

Sending love,

Jesse