6. Planets affected by Krura Grahas (Cruel or Malefic Planets) Now we will discuss how planets become afflicted as karakas, but not as house lords, since we are focusing on the Sign placement of planets which correspond directly to the Chakras. We will also discuss how Signs become afflicted and therefore certain houses, which leads us to our first point which is…
Saturn Where Saturn is placed in a chart shows us where we hold our fear and psychological/emotional pain as well as physical pain. Saturn, in Greek Mythology, is Kronos or Time, so he gives us knowledge of Time and therefore death. Saturn shows us where our limitations are and points to events and situations that are beyond our control. But mainly, the core issues are fear and knowledge of the passage of time, which is our longevity. Who was it that said ‘all our neuroses stem from the knowledge of our impending death.’? Well, this is Saturn. Even if Saturn is strong in a chart as a karaka, meaning if Saturn has high Ishta and low Kashta, then the person will be able to weather difficult situations more gracefully, however, Saturn still shows the major psychological issues at hand within the mind of the person. Saturn rules all kinds of fears that are known, as opposed to Rahu which rules fear of the unknown. Saturn rules the feeling of lack, need and thirst. Where Saturn is or what he touches, we are lacking, needing, thirsting, because we are ultimately aware of Time touching it, or of its eventual demise and temporal quality. What sign Saturn occupies and especially which planets it influences will show where there is need, fear and separation and an awareness of temporality.
Rahu & Ketu Of the two nodes, Rahu is the most unsettling, especially to the Moon, which is our individual self, our ego and our perception. Rahu and Ketu are the intersection of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun with the Moon’s orbit around the Earth. In other words, they are points on the ecliptic where total eclipses occur. Since Rahu and Ketu are an intersection, they are much like a Lagna or Ascendant/ Descendant axis, as the Lagna is an intersection of the horizontal plane with the surface of the Earth. The Lagna or Ascendant determines the 1st house and thus the beginning of life and the body. This is where the Sun rises and a new day begins. The descendant or 7th house determines the end of the body, i.e., death and the Sun sets here, marking a day’s end. Similarly, Rahu is the North Node of the Moon and represents the rising of the mind, or that which brings the Mind or Jiva into experience. Ketu or the South Node of the Moon, represents the setting of the Mind, or the death of the mind which can only mean one thing – Liberation. This is why Ketu is the significator of Liberation and the death of the Mind, because the Mind can only die when the Soul is free from it. Because Rahu is that which brings the Mind into experience, according to Vedic thought, Rahu is what is in the ether that pulls the Jiva into the womb, or the newly formed zygote, Rahu is the reason we incarnate. Rahu represents the sub-conscious desires that we have come here on this Earth Plane to experience. He signifies those situations that are unknown and unfamiliar, but those that we are thrust into time and time again. Rahu represents compulsion, so the Sign placement of Rahu will show those psychological and emotional fears of the unknown and specifically, WHAT is unknown to the person. Ketu means ‘the flag’, and the flag is what is put into the ground when we have conquered a territory. But because Ketu is ultimately exactly the same as Rahu, as 2 opposites at their Page 3
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