Astral Weather for the Week of April 23 to 30, 2023

A Festival of Sacred Rivers, a Fortunate Planetary Conjunction, and Other Weekly Events

Please note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac used in both Vedic and Western sidereal astrology, not the tropical system used by most Western and some Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.

April 10 to May 5: Vedic Festival of Sacred Rivers

According to Vedic tradition, the twelve days before Jupiter (Brihaspati) leaves a sign, and the twelve days after it enters a new sign, are celebrated as the festival of Pushkaram or Pushkara. These twenty-four days are a sacred time of empowerment, purification, and spiritual rituals. People will take holy baths and perform pujas along a certain sacred river in India. This year, the twenty-four days of Pushkaram span the period from April 10 to May 5.

Pushkaram is based on the allegorical legend of a boon that Lord Shiva granted long ago to an ascetic and pious Brahmin. The boon was that the Brahmin would be able to live in the holy rivers, and that his presence would purify them. The Brahmin came to be known as Pushkara, "the one who nourishes.” Lord Brihaspati (Jupiter) asked Pushkara to enter one of the twelve sacred rivers every year when he (Brihaspati) entered a new sign.

So, the Pushkaram festival is celebrated along sacred rivers in India. Although each river corresponds to a different astrological sign, these correspondences can vary according to different regions of India. This year, as Jupiter has just entered Mesha rashi (the sign of Aries), the festival is celebrated along the River Ganga. This special time is known as Ganga Pushkaram.

Personal photo of the River Ganga/Ganges/Ganga-ji in Rishikesh, India, 2013

For those who are not able to bathe in the River Ganga, these twenty-four days are a good time to do any kind of inner purification practices and to spend time in or near any ocean, river, lake, or hot springs. This is also a great time to receive the divine blessings that are especially strong now and moving through the rivers of light into our own sublime energetic systems.

April 19 to May 1 (Exact on April 25) Sextile Between Saturn and the Sun: Practicality and Hard Work Or Pessimism and Struggle

Saturn and the Sun will form an exact sextile on Tuesday, April 25. They will be in a five-degree effective orb of this aspect from April 19 until May 1. This 60-degree aspect is considered to be one of ease and harmony in Western Astrology. It may manifest for those so inclined with clarity of thought, practicality, hard work, and enhanced self-discipline.

In contrast, Vedic astrology considers this aspect to be somewhat inharmonious because Saturn and the Sun are enemies. This can reflect in heavy pressures, professional tensions, weakening self-confidence, and health irregularities for some.

At the same time, Saturn is giving its third aspect to Rahu. The aspect was exact on April 19 but is in place from March 28 to May 8. It indicates a Shrapit Dosha, which represents some potential for ruthless attacks by fraudsters, mental unease, depression, pessimism, frustration, or self-pity. If you are dealing with difficult events right now, don’t lose heart. Keep the faith, because your situation may turn around and manifest in a very positive result anytime in the coming weeks.

April 23 Venus and the Moon Conjoin in Taurus: Stability, Peace, Kindness, and Fulfillment

We began the week on Sunday with the beautiful celestial conjunction of Venus and the Moon in Taurus. This aspect in Vedic astrology is considered to bring a sense of stability, peace, kindness, and fulfillment. Let’s hope this carries into the week ahead.

The Moon will move forward to conjoin Mars in Gemini on Monday and Tuesday, April 24 and 25. This aspect, known as Chandra Mangala Yoga, may point to some passionate emotions or heated communications.

April 24 Rahu and the Sun Form an Exact Conjunction in Bharani Nakshatra: A Time of Change and Unrest

Using the mean node calculation, the Moon’s North Node Rahu will exactly conjoin the Sun in Aries on April 24. This is occurring as Saturn also aspects the Sun and while Mercury and Uranus continue to be conjoined also in Aries. Right now, the Sun occupies the recent solar eclipse axis in the fierce and heated Bharani nakshatra, and Saturn is transiting in the Rahu-ruled nakshatra of Shatabisha.

This combination may point to ongoing revolutionary upheaval in the world and especially in the media. These planets can also indicate general rebelliousness, nervous energy, malaise, unrest, and susceptibility to psychic or other kinds of attacks. As usual, the specific impact of this combination will depend on where and how this influences a natal or mundane horoscope.

April 26-27: Ganga Saptami, the Birthday of the Goddess Sri Mata Ganga-ji

This year Ganga Saptami, the birthday of the Vedic goddess Sri Mata Ganga-ji, will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 26 in North and South America, and on Thursday April 27 in India and the rest of the world. This event is also called Ganga Jayanti. Every year, Sri Mata Ganga-ji is worshiped at noon on the seventh day of the waxing Moon (saptami tithi) in the Vaisakh month (which is the Vedic lunar month that extends from April 20 to May 20).  Offerings and charity are also provided on this day. 

Who is Ganga? She is one of the luminous forms of the divine creative energy of Shakti that streams from the Source of Everything.

The holy Ganga descended from the heavenly planets to deliver all the conditioned souls from the vast ocean of material existence. Ganga Devi emanated from the lotus feet of Lord Hari, and so everyone happily glorifies her. The water of the Ganga is enjoyed by the demigods who reside on the peak of Mount Sumeru.

By bathing in Her water, all one’s sins (karmas) are vanquished. By pleasing Ganga Devi, one can easily gain release from the bondage of material existence... Oh holy river, when will I reside on your shore, bathe in your pure water, chant your holy name, discuss your appearance and activities, engage in your worship, and joyfully wander throughout the world singing your glories? (Kalki Purana, Ch. 34)

I have been fortunate to experience pujas (fire ceremonies) and to take miraculous holy baths in a few different rivers in India on several occasions: In the Ganga-ji in Haridwar and Rishikesh, and also in the Gautama Ganga River at Haidakhan Babaji’s ashram in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Each time has been a divine blessing and heavenly experience. I have several bottles of water from both rivers, and spray it on myself and throughout my home regularly, as well. The water has a very pure and high spiritual frequency and is said to help wash away lifetimes of karma.

Gautama Ganga River at Haidakhan Babaji’s Ashram

April 28: Bagalamukhi Jayanti, The Birthday Celebration of the Mahavidya (India’s Tantric Goddess) known as Sri Mata Bagalamukhi

Bagalamukhi Jayanti, the birthday of one of India's Tantric goddesses, is celebrated in the month of Vaisakh during the shukla paksha (waxing Moon) on the eighth day (ashtami tithi). This year, this day will occur throughout the world on April 28.

Bagalamukhi or Bagala is the eighth Mahavidya. Her name has been broadly translated and interpreted as “the crane-faced one who checks the mouth, and one whose look has the power to stun, compel, and control.”

In North India, her name is Pitambara Maa, which refers to the yellow goddess. Although she is rarely depicted in yellow garb, her devotees are instructed to wear yellow or use yellow/gold mala beads to recite her mantra. In addition, some interpreters have wondered if the yellow color refers here to her aura of bright light being like the brilliant light of the Sun which is the ultimate power of consciousness.

Another name for Bagala is “Brahmastra Roopini,” referring to her supernatural power which is a weapon against evil and ignorance:

The mantra of the goddess Bagalamukhi has the power of the Divine weapon Brahmastra instilled in it and the goddess simply strikes terror in and paralyzes the enemies of her devotees. Repetition of her mantra is enough to stop even a terrible tempest. (Mantra Maharnava)

In her iconography, Maa Bagalamukhi is shown striking a demon and pulling out its tongue. This is said to symbolize her power to awaken vak siddhi (the voice of divine truth), and to destroy the inner and outer demons of ignorance. Maa Bagalamukhi can be propitiated with pujas (yagyas), mantras, and other rituals for challenging Mars issues in the horoscope, and for all troublesome situations including disputes, personal or professional attacks, and legal matters.

Om Baglamukhyae Cha Vidmahe Stambhinyai Cha Dheemahi Tanno Bagala Prachodayat — I meditate on Goddess Baglamukhi, who can make my enemies motionless. Let the powerful goddess bless me with clear sight.

I hope you have a beautiful week ahead, and that it is peaceful and fulfilling in all ways. Thank you, with love and light to all my readers!

Oh Mother Goddess of the Waters, may our thirst be quenched by your Sacred Nourishment.

May the Waters be peaceful, reflecting your Glory to all.

May we be aware of the Nectar of Life you provide for us.

May we remember to remember Thy Divine Grace,

And pay continual homage to Thy Prana bequeathed onto us.

May we walk lightly with simplicity to reach Thy Feet.

May we tread softly within Thy moving surface,

To not excavate your earth or pummel Thy Divine Core...(Mother Maya)