United States Moves through Sade Sati Period: Should You be Worried?

Why This Challenging Planetary Cycle May Indicate Financial Issues, Unrest, and Technological Development

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.

What is Sade Sati: Should I Be Worried?

Sade Sati is a term often heard in Vedic astrology. It means “seven-and-a-half” in Hindi (sade means “half,” and sati means “seven”). Sade Sati refers to the approximate seven-and-a-half year transit of Saturn (Shani) through the sign and house immediately before the natal Moon (twelfth position), the sign and house of the natal Moon (first position), and the sign and house immediately after the natal Moon (second position). Some Vedic astrologers also consider Sade Sati to be in effect when Saturn transits in these same positions relative to the birth ascendant (rising sign or lagna).

Another term for Sade Sati in the Telugu language is “Elinati Shani.” Sade Sati is also sometimes referred to as “Panoti,” which is a colloquialism meaning “bad luck.” However, Sade Sati is not always “bad luck.” It should not be confused with the idea of seven years of bad luck, which the ancient Romans believed would ensue after breaking a mirror, especially when it shattered one’s image.

The Romans believed that the soul renews itself every seven years, so any broken parts of one’s life (like difficult issues reflected by the broken mirror) would be renewed after that period of time. This is probably more related to the cycle of Uranus, as it moves into a new sign every seven years, and of Saturn, which squares or opposes its natal position every seven years, which would perhaps be a good topic for another article.

“Panoti” is an important term because there is also an astrological system for analyzing Sade Sati known as Panoti Yoga. I will not be discussing it here further, but if you want to read more about it, check out this article by the esteemed astrologer P. M. Padia titled Panoti Yoga, published by Saptarishis Astrology.

Sade Sati is considered to be a time of karmic reckoning. Saturn’s quality in astrology can have a contracting effect. In contrast, the Moon represents the nourishing and fulfilling nectar of life. Therefore, Sade Sati is a time during which one might experience a lack of joy or clarity while also having to face and rise above hardships, limitations, or losses.

Some of our usual support systems can break down, foundations can shift, and we may be challenged to find new sources of strength and sustenance during Sade Sati. We may also experience unusual pressures with work and all other kinds of responsibilities. For some, it can be a time of added worry, depression, and pessimism.

The beauty of Sade Sati revolves around the lessons and gifts of Saturn, who represents the force of fate and transformation. As the irritant that produces the pearl, Saturn’s ultimate purpose is to rekindle the divine light within, to unfold our soul’s power and purpose, and to help us to develop spiritual insight. There are many different kinds of karmic remedies that can be recommended to help prevent or mitigate some of the difficulties that can arise during Sade Sati. Some are ancient remedies, and some are more modern. They are best fine-tuned and prescribed for each individual’s unique situation and need.

How Does Vedic Astrology Predict the Outcomes of the Sade Sati Period?

Not all Sade Sati periods are alike, and Vedic astrology has many specific techniques and tools used to analyze and predict the specific outcomes of each individual Sade Sati period. First, the emotional, social, psychological, intellectual, and spiritual development and maturity of the individual determines how this and all other astrological cycles will play out. Second, we must carefully assess the overall strength and nature of the whole natal horoscope. Third, the planetary cycles (mahadashas and subdashas) and all the other planetary transits and progressions in effect during Sade Sati will also be significant determiners of the overall experience and outcome of a Sade Sati cycle.

Three Stages of Sade Sati: A Generalized Assessment

• The first stage of Sade Sati occurs as Saturn transits in the twelfth house from the Moon. This is when old structures and relationships may start to break down. Our status quo often begins to change during this period. There may be a great deal of mental restlessness, depression, anxiety, and insecurity. Typically one’s support systems become unreliable while at the same time new pressures start bearing down, often intensely. This period for the United States has passed now (it was in place from January 2020 to January 2023 when Saturn transited in Capricorn). It was perhaps the most difficult phase for the United States based on the relative strength of Saturn in Capricorn in the United States chart (per a specific Vedic astrology calculation called bhinnashtakavarga).

• The second stage often includes some adjustments and ongoing struggles or a crisis followed by an introspective period that leads to a major transition motivated by a new awareness and changing interests and needs. During this phase, Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon which can bring mental or physical health concerns, losses and other kinds of difficulties, but also some potential for growth and new beginnings. This period extends from January 2023 to late March 2025 for the United States chart during Saturn’s transit in Aquarius.

• The third stage is the aftermath of the previous two stages where we are tested and have to make further adaptations. This period will extend from late March 2025 to February 2028 for the United States chart during Saturn’s transit in Pisces.

The United States Enters Sade Sati: January 23, 2020 to February 23, 2028

As mentioned, the United States entered its current Sade Sati on January 23, 2020, and will remain in Sade Sati until February 23, 2028. Sade Sati occurs every 29.5 years and lasts for about seven-and-a-half years. The last time that the United States went through this cycle was in 1990 to 1998. Before this, the United States was in Sade Sati from 1961 to 1969, 1931 to 1939, 1902 to 1910, and so on.

For the United States, I use the Kelleher horoscope set for July 4, 1776 at 6:30 PM when the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain. The birth time of this chart was rectified by Vedic astrologer James Kelleher.

The Kelleher birth chart has a Sagittarius ascendant and the Moon in Aquarius. Sade Sati extends for the period of time that Saturn transits in Capricorn in the second house, Aquarius in the third house, and Pisces in the fourth house.

The Moon’s Natural Significations According to Mundane Astrology

According to Mundane Astrology, which studies the effects of the heavenly cycles upon groups and nations, the Moon represents the public and its well-being. The Moon also represents public administration, and all public affairs, as well as matters related to health and hospitality; agricultural and food industries; all domestic issues; public lands; and security concerns. During the Sade Sati of any nation, these are some of the main areas that tend to come under pressure and go through significant changes for both “good and bad.”

The United States Moon in Aquarius: Freedom, Invention, and Humanitarianism vs Alienation, Division, and Suffering

In addition, the sign in which the Moon is placed will signify areas of emphasis during the Sade Sati cycle. In the United States chart, the Moon occupies the sign of Aquarius, which in its higher expression is egalitarian, freedom-loving, inventive, humanitarian, and futuristic. In its lower expression, the Moon in Aquarius can be alienated, divisive, depressed, paranoid, and physically and mentally unhealthy (including with addictive tendencies and substance abuse issues).

The Moon in Rahu’s Nakshatra of Shatabhisha: The Land of Outsiders, Immigrants, and Rebels

The Moon occupies Shatabhisha nakshatra which is ruled by Rahu, the North Node of the Moon. This suggests that the collective consciousness of the United States was profoundly conditioned at the nation’s founding by Rahu, who is an outsider, immigrant, and rebel, just as the early settlers and founders of America were. Rahu as the planetary ruler of Shatabhisha nakshatra is like an overlord of the Moon. Rahu also occupies the Moon’s sign of Cancer, the sign of security, safety, and the homeland. Rahu occupies the eighth house, which also relates to upheaval and revolution.

The Moon as Ruler of the Eighth House: Death and Rebirth (and Other Matters)

The Moon’s eighth house rulership (and its strong connection to Rahu in the eighth house) gives it a transformational quality, since the eighth house ultimately represents death and rebirth. The eighth house also signifies national finances including public and foreign debt, interest rates, global financial relations, resources of foreign enemies, taxes, and tariffs. The eighth house also represents state treasuries, trading and stocks, social security benefits, business organizations (as in insurance and financial companies), national speculative ventures, and lotteries. The eighth house further represents peril to the people through chronic ill health (mental and physical), wars, or disasters, and it signifies mortality rates (especially suicide rates). In addition, the eighth house relates to substance abuse, violence, and crime; all kinds of secrets, mysteries, and hidden matters; medical and scientific discoveries; and tyrannical forces rising up against the establishment.

Shatabhisha Moon as the Eighth House Ruler in the Third House: Challenges and Opportunities in Specific Areas

The Moon rules the eighth house and occupies the third house. Both houses are known as dusthana houses, the areas of the chart that represent major challenges that help us to grow and evolve. The third house Moon placement relates to all communication and media matters, the transportation and travel industries, infrastructure weaknesses, and concerns related to neighbors and borders. Ruling the eighth house and due to its strong and inventive Shatabhisha/Rahu connection, the Moon is activated to bring forth technological and medical advancements during Sade Sati cycles. This is because the Moon’s nakshatra of Shatabhisha and its ruler Rahu represent organizational development, science, technology, health, and alternative kinds of healing. Additionally, Saturn is the traditional ruler of Aquarius, and Saturn also suggests potential positive outcomes since it is a force of action and manifestation.

The United States Rahu Mahadasha: A Planetary Period That Ties in Closely with the Sade Sati Cycle

At the same time that the United States is in its current Sade Sati, it is also in its Rahu mahadasha (Vimshottari planetary cycle) from 2015 to 2033. This means that the United States is going through a great deal of negative transformation; experiencing profound collective malaise and uncertainty; a burgeoning mental health and drug crisis; poor physical health standards and outcomes; a great deal of violence and crime; and financial instability (a massive debt crisis). I wrote about this Rahu cycle in a previous article.

The Sade Sati period compounds the already difficult Rahu period which has been underway in the United States since 2015. A large part of the population is struggling financially and now depends on financial support from the federal and state governments. We are facing a national identity crisis mirrored in never-ending cultural conflicts. A majority of people are physically unhealthy. Spiritual and moral values are at an all-time low. There is a significant disconnect between the desires and needs of the people versus the Uniparty in charge in Washington, which is controlled by lobbyists, special interest groups, think tanks, foreign powers, and the billionaire elite class. Rampant social problems are further aggravated by the interference of malicious enemies both at home and abroad.

In addition, incorrect information presented in social media and the mainstream media has distorted people’s perceptions and further divided the nation. The United States is also dealing with political upheaval, massive anxiety, and the economic and cultural changes caused by AI (artificial intelligence) and other new technologies. In fact, the deepening cultural divide and the ever-present angst, frustration, and pessimistic views of many of the population are very emblematic of both Rahu mahadasha and Sade Sati. And of course, the very challenging years that the citizens of the United States experienced during the Covid-19 situation reflect the difficult, restrictive, and distressed qualities of Rahu and Sade Sati. 

Previous Sade Sati Periods in United States History

As we analyze and predict the outcome of the current Sade Sati cycle, it is useful to reflect on the events that occurred in the United States during past Sade Sati periods. Below, I discuss some of the more significant Sade Sati cycles that our nation has experienced. 

Sade Sati Period for the United States: 1784 to 1792

One previous Sade Sati period for the United States that also occurred during a Rahu mahadasha (as we are in currently) took place from 1784 to 1792. This was a period of significant economic downturn and inflation due to debts incurred in the Revolutionary War. The House of Representatives passed the Excise Whiskey Tax in 1791, which levied a federal tax on domestic and imported alcohol. The taxes were designed to offset a portion of the federal government’s recent assumption of state debts, but the legislation was so unpopular among farmers that it eventually led to the “Whisky Rebellion” a few years later. These years were also part of a lengthier period in which the nascent Republic was trying to define and solidify its new identity. This period was rampant with political partisanship and disagreements over foreign policy.

Sade Sati Period for the United States: 1843 to 1851

Another significant Sade Sati period for the United States occurred from 1843 to 1851. In some ways, this time was dissimilar to the current Sade Sati period because it took place during a fairly auspicious Mercury mahadasha, which involved a period of heightened economic confidence and commercial expansion coming in the aftermath of the Panic of 1837. I say “fairly auspicious” because Mercury is a naturally benefic planet. However, it conjoins Rahu in the eighth house, and it rules two angles (the seventh and tenth houses), which means that Mercury loses some of its beneficial qualities. Mercury is also the gnati karaka, a planet that can indicate conflict and upheaval.

Many of the United States Sade Sati periods point to periods of intensified migration and immigration. For instance, Oregon Fever was happening in this period, referring to a large relocation of settlers to Oregon. They were drawn there by the fertile and free land promised by the federal government. The California Gold Rush and the Mexican War also occurred at this time. In the wake of these events, tensions over slavery and migration were brewing between the northern and southern states leading up to the Civil War.

On a more positive note, Sade Sati periods are often times of scientific and technological advancement. In terms of the latter, the 1840s were the decade of the telegraph. Some other interesting developments occurred in this cycle. For instance, the use of recreational nitrous oxide, chloroform, and ether by the upper classes during this time soon led to the adoption of these agents for surgical anesthesia.

Another medical turning point occurred as some surgeons and physicians in the United States began advocating handwashing in order to create better outcomes (fewer infections) for their patients. This idea originated from a Hungarian physician named Ignaz Semmelweis in 1846. Yet, the benefits of handwashing remained a point of contention among medical professional for decades afterward.

Cooke and Wheatstone's five-needle telegraph

Sade Sati Period for the United States: 1902 to 1910

The United States experienced another Sade Sati concurrently with a Rahu mahadasha from 1902 to 1910, four years before World War I broke out. A financial panic occurred in this cycle, from 1907 to 1908. One of the most significant earthquakes in history damaged San Francisco in 1906, and another less-known but devastating fire disaster occurred in Baltimore a few years earlier in 1904. But this was also during a positive cycle known as the Progressive Era, a time of social and technological innovation and development.

First-wave feminism made a great deal of progress at this time. The Wright brothers created the first successful powered airplane. The United States saw the widespread application of the internal combustion engine, mass production of automobiles, and the introduction of the typewriter. This cycle took place during a large wave of immigration to the United States. In fact, 1907 set a record of 1.3 million newcomers in a single year, the largest ever up to that time.

Sade Sati Period for the United States: 1931 to 1939

During the years 1931 to 1939, the United States experienced a Sade Sati cycle which occurred during a difficult Saturn mahadasha that began in September 1929 and lasted until 1948. Saturn and Rahu have many similarities in Vedic astrology, including in their mahadashas. This period saw the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrial world, which began after the stock market crash of October 1929. Just as the Sade Sati cycle ended, World War II began.

Sade Sati Period for the United States: 1961 to 1969

From 1961 to 1969, the United States experienced Sade Sati during the last four years of Mercury mahadasha, followed by a Ketu mahadasha that began in September 1965. This was a tumultuous and divisive era marked by seasons of change in culture and politics. According to my astrological analysis, both the Mercury and Ketu periods have tones similar to Rahu cycles.

Some of the significant events included the JFK assassination in 1963, Beatlemania in 1964, many milestones in the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War and anti-war movement, the Great Society/War on Poverty, the Panama Canal incident, the free love and psychedelic movements, sexual liberation and the ascent of second-wave feminism, and the Watts Riots. This period saw the rise of counterculture and the emerging generation gap.

On a positive note (probably somewhat related to the concurrent Mercury mahadasha that lasted until the last quarter of 1965), this was also a period of emerging foreign trade and economic expansion.

Sade Sati Period for the United States: 1990 to 1998

The last Sade Sati for the United States took place from March 1990 to April 1998. This occurred during the last two years of the Venus mahadasha and then through the entire Sun mahadasha (which began in 1992), both of which were quite fortunate cycles in many ways. It was the post-Cold War era during an economic boom and a time of strong economic growth, rising productivity, and surging stock markets. This period saw the rise of the Internet, personal computers (Pentium processor), and DVD technology in the home, and advances in online gaming.

Gene therapy trials began during this era. The NASDAQ had its first online stock market trade. But also, as in most periods of United States history, there were wars, including the Persian Gulf War of 1990 to 1991, and United States intervention in Bosnia from 1992 to 1995. Additionally, the largest number of immigrants in history came to the United States in the 1990s and 2000s. The previous record was from 1900 to 1910, also during Sade Sati.

In Conclusion: The United States Sade Sati Has Both Challenges and Bright Spots

As you can see, the United States has frequently experienced both challenging and positive events during past Sade Sati periods. In particular, these cycles have been associated with financial issues, social unrest, natural disasters, and war. On the more positive side, we have seen progressive movements and technological developments advance during these cycles. As we continue to move through the current Sade Sati period, we may see these old themes continue to play out in exciting and unexpected ways.

Supreme Lord, let there be peace in the sky and in the atmosphere. Let there be peace in the plant world and in the forests. Let the cosmic powers be peaceful. Let the Brahman, the true essence and source of life, be peaceful. Let there be undiluted and fulfilling peace everywhere. (Atharva Veda)