WAITING FOR GODOT AND ASTROLOGY
By Barry Rosen
We have several difficult transits going on with the Sun in Jyestha Nakshatra (Scorpio 16.40-29.59) and Ketu in Libra taking away our fun and Saturn in Dhanishta which leaves a background noise of frustration and indecision.    Mercury and Venus are in Mula Nakshatra which is the black hole of the universe that can take everything away into the void so that we pursue enlightenment and do not get too caught up in the material world.
Yes it will get better and we still have a strong Jupiter in Pisces protecting us and it is the closes to the earth in 47 years and there is something very auspicious about that through late April. It is a good time for very deep spiritual growth and enlightenment and questing for Moksha to get off the karmic wheel is strong.
The spiritual masters remind us to live in the present and I am always writing about not being victimized by the planets. I am reminded of teaching college literature and a very wonderful French play that is still quite popular, Waiting for Godot Â
Samuel Beckett’s seminal play involving two hobo-like characters waiting for the arrival of Godot, an embodiment of living in hope of the future rather than embracing the present and the existential void is a hallmark in world literature and a reminder of our plight in the world.
The planets are schools and teachers and their transits set up karmic circumstances so that we can do it better this time. It’s like Bill Murray in the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day. Will he learn kindness and compassion this time or continue to wake up the same grumpy old weatherman who treats people terribly? Are we going to make new and better choices this time or repeat the same patterns and suffer?
I often get people waiting for their next big cycle to start. It will be better when my Jupiter period comes and when I leave Rahu. If I can just get out of my Ketu period, then my life will get better. Many times this is years down the road and the new cycle may not bring all that it hoped for.
There are rare charts and rare periods where everything is working on all cylinders. Life is rather mixed. Relationships may work in one period but health and work are challenged. Life is so often a complicated mix and you can see this in the Varga or divisional chart where Jupiter period may shine with a strong placement in the D-10 or career chart but relationships may not work.
The malefic planets that cause us suffering are ultimately wonderful high school coaches inflicting short-term pain to move us on to becoming a greater person. The challenge is whether we are willing to embrace our challenges and change our lives and make difficult decisions or do we act like Didi and Gogo in the Beckett play and keep waiting for the arrival of Godot that will somehow magically save our lives?
The malefic planets are our friends if we embrace their lessons and that takes the courage of a strong Mars and the desire to fight and move out of our suffering and a little grace and help from Venus and Jupiter is always welcome. When they are not around, we still have to find the energy, clarity, and courage to move out of our problems. God is there to help if we are willing to take the first step and change our lives.
More importantly, we can not live our lives waiting for something to get better in the future. We have to make changes in the present and be better people, do the right thing, and not make the same mistakes. The transits will repeat every year or so to test us and see if we have risen to the occasion to make new choices and create a better life.
Yes, it’s nice to have nice transits but the malefics are also our friends and they force us to learn difficult lessons. Everyone fears Saturn because he teaches responsibility, discipline, hard work and endurance, and stability amid suffering. Of course, we would rather party all the time and seek pleasure with Venus but if you go on vacation and meet people who are wealthy and drink all day on the beach, and if you get to know them, their lives are often rather empty. When you meet people who have gone through a lot of Saturn events, they have great depth and there is something alive and fresh and authentic about them. Suffering builds character and makes us the great people that we are.
People often think that yagyas and mantras are magic bullets that will solve all their problems.  They can help very much but they mostly loosen the grip on our mind so that we can take action and move through our issues — but we have to take action to create a better life for ourselves. We still have to make those tough choices and we can create new good karma for the future by helping others and tithing and this is essential.
So embrace your Sade Sat, your Saturn period, your Rahu, and your Mars and Ketu, and realize they are your good friends. They are the tough coaches at school that is molding you into a successful athlete that will pay dividends down the road. Live in the present moment and enjoy whatever planetary gifts that are there. There are always gifts and sometimes we have to dig deep to see that but the gifts are there. Enjoy and see the game in this wonderful world and loosen the grip of suffering with yoga and meditation and good deeds and Godot may finally arrive even in your Saturn period.  Have a great day!
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