Ketu in Chitra Nakshatra: June 26 2023-Jan 1, 2024 (mean node): Letting Go of Ego
Ketu moves into the constellation of Chitra on June 26th in the mean node system and July 6th in the true node system.  This constellation of the zodiac is commonly known as Spica which lies in Virgo between 23.20 degrees and Libra 6.40 degrees. It will stay there until Jan. 1, 2024, in the mean node system and Feb. 7, 2024, in the true node system. Chitra is one of the more material constellations and spans the end of Virgo into the beginning of Libra. Chitra means brilliant or many-colored or illusionary. Its symbol is a shining jewel or a pearl representing the mysterious creativity of the universe that can transform a grain of sand into a gem and work of art out of nothing.
If you were born with this constellation, the biggest lesson is mastering the ego and it can take control here and lead to arrogance and smug behavior. Chitra people have to learn to use their gifts to benefit others and if they can create beauty, they must learn how to share this with the world.  With Ketu going through Chitra, it will help eclipse the ego and bring more humility and this is a good thing.
The constellation is ruled by Tvastar, the celestial architect also known as Vishwakarma, the creation worker. His role is to create Maya or the illusionary force of the drama of life. He is the grand illusion maker creating delightful things but has no attachment to what he creates, much like modern scientists and technicians, and engineers who fashion great devices that sometimes are used by the ruling elite or politicians in the wrong way. Video games and virtual worlds have a strong connection to this constellation and Ketu may try to throw them a curve ball.   Ketu in Chitra will force us to let go of the material and wonder if it will dampen the AI craze a bit as Ketu wants to take away these kinds of obsessions. Â
In terms of Ayurvedic astrology, the Venus side of Chitra (0-6.40 Libra) is connected to kidneys and skin so stay hydrated and pay attention to the care of this area. Weatch overexposure to the Sun during the summer/fall transit through Libra. The Virgo side (23.40-29.59 Virgo) rules digestion and elimination and Ketu/Mars combinations can create ulcers or too much digestive fire so stay on top of this in late fall and winter and make sure your handle digestion by taking high-quality probiotics and avoiding hot and spice foods and problems that irritate the fire element. Drink more coconut water and milk to calm this down. Chitra is also connected to the forehead so watch head injuries with Mars going through Chitra. If they happen, it may be a sign to let go of the ego and the act of having to be right.
Mars goes into Chitra Sept 22nd-Oct 14th and is conjunct Ketu Oct 4th in the true node system and Oct 5th in the mean node system. This can lead to unexpected accidents and fires and explosions and outbursts of anger out of nowhere during the 3-5 degree orb. In general, we can also say that the connection between Ketu and Mars through the Nakshatra association can lead to outbursts of anger so make sure to release anger by screaming alone in the car or home when you need to rather than bottle it up or getting into an accident.
Ketu in Chitra is connected to the Akashic records so good time for a reading in this area if you are into unlocking your past life’s karmic patterns. Still, this can lead to dredging up too much of past life mistakes so you have to be careful with it.Â
Chitra can be a constellation that supports personal transformation and reflections on one’s deep patterns here studying the Akashic records can be fruitful and challenging. It can force us to go deep. The lessons of Ketu in Chitra involve learning to control sexual passion and direct the energy to find the Divine.  If you were born with Ketu in Chitra, your past lives have helped you move away from political and societal restrictions and move toward something higher.Â
With Rahu in the ego-based sign of Aries and Ketu in Chitra, the lesson involved until Rahu goes into Pisces involves letting go of ego and being able to move into the Divine will and transcendental consciousness to see unity with God. This can involve letting go of the material and Ketu in Libra has a problem with this but this disharmony has to be resolved.Â
When Rahu moves into Revati Nakshatra (Pisces 16.40-29.59) after Nov. 29th in the true node system and Oct 31st in the mean system, the quest for enlightenment and letting go will be a stronger and the  desire for sacrifice and letting go will increase. . Because Mars and Ketu are both spiritual warriors, there is enough courage to learn to let go of the material and move toward a deeper union with God and let go of the quest for material wealth. The darkness of material attachment must fade away so deeper enlightenment can dawn.
Given a fall financial crisis, perhaps sparked by these transits of the nodes, many will seek God if their material certainty comes into question. I remember this in 1973-4 when the stock market had fallen 50% and the economy was a mess and people flocked to the meditation centers. This is ultimately a good thing. Rahu was in Scorpio and Ketu was in Virgo in 1973-4 but it was still the Mars/Venus axis and teaches letting go of ego and the materiality connected to Venus.
ABOUT BARRY ROSEN: Barry Rosen has been practicing Vedic astrology since 1987. He has visited and studied in India on 4 occasions and has spoken numerous times at the American Council of Vedic Astrology Conferences in Sedona, AZ since 1999 and also at the British Association of Vedic Astrologers in London since 2006. He has been involved in Vedic culture since 1973 and is a long-time meditation and yoga teacher and a published poet. He has had many Vedic astrology teachers including Komilla Sutton, Marc Boney, and Robert Koch, and has taken several mini-seminars from Sanjay Rath. In the last seven years, he has moved away from his specialty in Investment and Mundane astrology to his fascination with the psychological and spiritual dimensions of Vedic astrology. He is the author of five books on Vedic astrology including The 2018-2020 Vedic Almanac series, Finding Your Blind Spots Using Vedic Astrology, Signs of Life from the Astrological Zodiac: The Spiritual Dimensions of Planets, Signs, and Houses in Vedic Astrology and Mysteries of Saturn and Capricorn: Mastering the Energies for Growth and Transformation. They are all also available through Amazon.
He has been teaching classes in Investment Astrology since 1990 and began teaching the other aspects of Vedic astrology specialized courses online in 2017, including Dashas, Transits, Personal Finance, Health, Longevity and Death, Nakshatras, The Spiritual Dimensions of Vedic Astrology, Secrets of the Houses, Relationships and many more. In his consultations, he focuses more on the emotional and mental patterns in the chart and their impact on consciousness which can create waves of illusion blocking you. A good consultation should help you witness the play of karma so that you are not gripped by it; you can transcend it and realize your Divinity, becoming the commander of the planets and not the victim. Barry Rosen also operates a blog on Facebook under Barry Rosen and also Astro-Yoga and his professional astrological website is www.appliedvedicastrology.com. He can be reached at support@appliedvedicastrology.com.
(Special thanks to Komilla Sutton and Michael Santangelo for their wisdom around this nakshatra.)
