EYE ON THE SKY:Â MARS CONJUNCT RAHU til August 10th.
As we are approaching Rahu conjunct Mars, we need to review it. When they are in the same pada of the Navamsha or D9, Scorpio (Aries 23.20-26.40) the energy will be most intense. This is also an Ashtamamsha pada as there is an 8 relationship from Aries to Scorpio and it tends to bring up deeper transformational and stuck issues.  Mars goes into that section July 31-August 6th so that is the most intense period of the transit particularly if you have planes at 23-27 Aries or Libra in your natal chart.
Rahu, the planet of desire and ambition will be conjunct Mars the planet of action exactly on August 6th in the mean node system and August 1st in the True Node System depending on whether you use true node or mean node systems. . When they are within 3 degrees of each other, there is a strong influence and that will come into play July 29-August 10th. The outer planet, Uranus, which is connected with unexpected events will be in the mix with Mars conjunct Uranus on August 1st. Given this is all taking place in the volatile sign of Aries where violence and war and aggression can get accentuated, we get a formula for riots, explosions, earthquakes and volcanoes. In past years, the stock market has gone higher during Mars conjunct Uranus and Mars/Rahu conjunctions so this year will depend if there are any real X-Factor events in the world.
Mars and Rahu in Aries will stir up crazy events around sporting competitions. Expect more baseball brawls on the field and in preseason football games. It will also create drama and tension in the military around the world and push military leaders toward being more aggressive. In the past, we have seen this conjunction lead to great civil unrest and riots.
The transit creates great energy to want to act, to move forward, and can unleash huge amounts of energy but if people get in the way, it might lead to losing one’s temper easily. The key with this transit is to take the energy for creative purposes and channel it to create great inventions or technological advancements but avoid being hasty or over-enthusiastic or accidents and overworking could stress the adrenals. Be careful on the road as you will see crazier drivers and people taking wild risks to pass people because they are impatient.
Health-wise, blood pressure can be increased if you do not slow down with this energy so be cautious and avoid being reckless or driving like a maniac. Â Â Calm Mars and pita with less spicy food, more coconut water and milk, and more meditation. The Warrior Pose will balance Mars and allow it to stay more focused.
Since Rahu acts like Saturn and is an enemy of Mars, this aspect can be intense and difficult. It will promote outward courage but the Vata/air element of Rahu may promote inner fear. Â The tendency may be to lash out recklessly so be cautious. Â If you have this aspect in your natal chart, it may promote good achievement with career, athleticism, and adventure but avoid recklessness and watch rash tempers that might lead to violence.
On a mundane level, this aspect may lead to more political craziness than usual as Mars is about leadership and power and Rahu may drive politicians out of control to make rash decisions.
On a spiritual level, Rahu/Mars can foster the courage to move through difficult spiritual challenges as is clear in the chart of Mahatma Gandhi, a great freedom fighter.  Abraham Lincoln also has this conjunction in his chart and both fought with revolutionary thinking to change their worlds.
We have to think that the protesters in the US and the rest of the world are going to get stirred up by this aspect and get a bit wilder.  We have already seen this in Sri Lanka and Panama.  On a mundane level, we will always have to worry about how much turmoil and protest gets stirred up in the world, and let’s hope that racial protesting goes peaceful. This aspect also suggests we have to pray and meditate for the world as terrorist or psycho energies will get stirred up a bit.
On a personal level, slow down, rest more. Â The adrenals will be firing and if you run around too much you will feel exhausted. Still, the energy will be there to accomplish a lot and move through huge boulders and projects so it will at least get you unstuck.
IMPACT ON YOUR PERSONAL CHART
If you have key planets at 22-26 degrees Aries or Libra, you may notice the impact more dramatically. If you are in a Rahu/Mars or Mars/Rahu period it may bring a major event. Be careful being too aggressive with driving and stay alert to the other guy to avoid accidents. Avoid pushing yourself beyond your abilities at the gym or in competition to avoid injuries or exhaustion. If arguments get over-heated, find ways to walk away and cool down rather than engage in a battle–unless it is one that has to be fought.
Aries rising and Libra rising or moons may feel the impact most. Avoid making impulsive decisions –particularly around relationship break-ups and make those decisions when things are calmer after August 12th.   Because Rahu has a 30 degree full aspect to Taurus rising and moon signs, some of the above may apply and then the relationship conflicts may extend around money and family so be patient.   Gemini Rising and Moon have to worry about angry battles with friends and older siblings or massive anger around groups. Stay way from riots.   Virgo rising and moon will have this happening in their 8th houses and are vulnerable to accidents and hospitalizations if difficult dashas are running which might cause such events. Cancer rising and moon signs may face conflicts and arguments at work so be sure not to fly off the handle. Leo Rising and Moon have to watch anger toward counselors, priests and Gurus and religious establishments and remember that more doubt is being created by Rahu, who tends to confuse matters. Scorpio rising and Moon has to be careful with health as Rahu/Mars in the 6th can lead to surgery or health crises or being paranoid about enemies or taking on too much debt.  Sagittarius Rising and Moon have to watch impulsive and rash actions around investments or getting too angry around one’s children. Capricorn Rising and Moon  should avoid rash and impulsive decisions around buying new vehicles or homes without carefully doing all the research on them and try to wait until the energies are better after August 12. Aquarius Rising and Moons have to watch out for battles with siblings or general aggression coming out. Sexual energies may bubble up and be out of control as the primal mind takes over. Pisces Rising and Moon have to watch out for aggressive speech and anger toward family .
RAHU/MARS CONJUNCTIONS IN A NATAL CHART
My friend Muhammad Imran made a list of qualities that one might have if there was a Mars/Rahu connection in your natal chart. Â These qualities are tempered by sign/constellation/aspects also. (see: https://www.facebook.com/Muhammad.Imran.Karachi/posts/10212657494422144).
The more negative qualities of Mars/Rahu will get stirred up but you should be aware of the more positive ones also if you have Mars and Rahu well-placed in your natal chart:
1) dashing and photogenic appearance
2) athletic enthusiasm, crazy sports supporter
3) penchant for guns, gadgets, and smoking
4) reckless driving, and auto-accessories and designs
5) traffic violation, accident, and bone-fracture
6) many adventurous tours, rushing, mugging
7) taking muscle-building drugs and food-supplements
8) fondness of war/fighting movies, crime stories
9) rescue/ambulance services, blood donor or sucker
10) producer/transporter of metals or tobacco
11) mechanic, engineer, or builder of mega-structure
12) high-tech machines, gadgets, robots, hardware
13) criminology, bomb-disposal, air-crash investigation
14) terrorist hunting, research on border-dispute
15) affluent brother who lives in faraway city
16) misunderstanding with brother, land dispute
17) crazily loving and then hating an outcaste partner
18) fiery, rough, and wild relationship (in a woman’s chart)
19) odd, wealthy, or foreign partner (in a woman’s chart)
20) partner is a passionate hobbyist or addicted to drugs
So watch that wild energy or just enjoy it and move with it. Mars can be fun for some when he is wild but many cannot handle the energy so be cautious walking on the wild side and how it will impact others.
Special thanks to my teacher Komilla Sutton and all my Jyotish Gurus for their wisdom and continual inspiration.
