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 astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.
The Sun will transit into Libra on Monday, October 17 at 9:52 AM EDT (1:52 PM UTC). You can use World Time Buddy to convert to your time zone if different. In Vedic tradition, the Sun’s transition into Libra is known as Tula Sankranti. The Sun will be sandhi from 12 hours before to 12 hours after it moves into Libra (when it transits on the one-half-degree edge between signs). This is also called "sankranti," which marks the Sun's entry (ingress) into a new sidereal sign every month. In Sanskrit the term "sankranti" means "course, passage, or entry into.”
According to classical Muhurta (elective astrology), we should avoid sankrantis for beginning a new action like starting a job or new program of study, making a significant purchase, setting out on a journey, establishing a new business venture, or getting engaged or married, etc. This is because the Sun is the soul of the world and the vitality of everything in life. The Sun needs to be strong when we set anything new into motion if we want that matter to have positive lasting results.
The Sun's energy is transitional and “on the edge of change” during a sankranti. So, often what we set into motion on sankrantis will not have the expected outcome. The sankranti time is a great period for inner reflection and for maintaining the status quo. It's also a time to be extra mindful as we can lose our way a bit, figuratively speaking, or can literally lose or misplace items, or can even get lost ourselves.
The Sun’s transit in Libra extends for the next month until November 16. It is considered to have some weakness here in the sign of the scales. It is the Sun’s debilitation or neecha sign which is ruled by the Sun’s enemy Venus. This means that the Sun's transit in Libra can be a month when vitality wanes a bit. We may also feel less driven, competitive, and ambitious than usual.
The Sun is king, the left-brained, action-oriented yang center of our being. However, when the Sun is in Libra, his nature tends to cool down and he becomes more humble, intuitive, receptive, and nurturing. For many of us, this period is moving into the best time of year. I think of this transition as the true beginning of “Yin Time” in the Northern Hemisphere, and it always feels like the beginning of the new year for me.
As mentioned, the Sun's Libra ingress is called Tula Sankranti (also, Garbhana Sankranti). It is a special day at the beginning of Kartika month in the Indian solar calendar, and this transit has special cultural and religious significance. In many traditions, it is a special day to honor Surya the Sun God. Some will do shraddha (prayers and offerings) for departed loved ones on this day. Many will bathe in holy rivers. In Odisha, prayers are made to Lakshmi Devi for a good harvest. If you are inclined, you can chant a Surya mantra at sunrise on Monday to mark this special time, like this lovely one on the video below (Om Hrim Suryaya Namah):
We pray to the Sun for our vitality and good health, and for the vitality and good health of others. We can also pray for confidence, courage and motivation, a healthy self-image, and a strong spiritual connection to the divine Light. And on Tula Sankranti, we can pray for a good harvest relative to whatever we have been creating in our lives, and especially for abundance and well-being for all.
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