Uttarayana

Yesterday on January 14th, at around 3p.m we ushered in the festival of Makara Sankranti.

Sankranti in sanskrit means 'Transition'. Every month when the Sun transits to a new zodiac sign, that particular day is called Sankranti. In a year the Sun moves across 12 houses in the zodiac, signifying 12 months of the year with 12 Sankrantis.

Only one, out of those 12 transitions, gets a very special place in our calendar- the day of Makara Sankranti.

Why do we exclusively celebrate this particular transit? What makes the transit of the Sun into the house of Capricorn/ Makara so special?

Steering

Large ships are not easy to steer. Movements are slow. There is inertia and drag. Changes have to be made well in advance. Wind and waves have to be taken into consideration. Teams have to work in synchronicity. External and internal worlds have to come together.

At Makara/ Capicorn the cosmos makes a turn at the helm. The Sun that has been traveling in the southward direction: Dakshinayana, now slowly turns around and starts moving north.

It is the light half of the year. The half ruled by the gods. The Day of the Gods.

We move from the realms of darkness into things that become visible in the light. The time is now focused towards action, setting up new ventures, it opens good dates for weddings, new business inaugurations etc. It's a period that promises hope.

And it starts with Makara Rashi/Capricorn.

Makara: The Gargoyle

Makara is a mythological, hybrid creature that has features of both an aquatic and a land animal. In many temples Makara is depicted with features of a fish tail, crocodile jaws, unicorn's horn, elephant's trunk and a peacock's tail. Additionally it sometimes has features of a deer, goat or even a snake.

In modern interpretation Makara is often linked to the crocodile or the water monitor lizard. Cross culturally it is very similar to the Chinese dragon and the Greek Ketos.

Makara are the beasts of transport for the river Ganga, and for Varuna, the lord of the seas.

In Western astrology Capricorn is depicted as the horned sea-goat.

The Portal And The Gatekeeper

Makara are well recognized as the guardians of gateways and thresholds, protecting throne rooms and entryways to temples. You may have seen dragons at the entrances of temples and treasure chests. They stand formidably at the threshold of sacred spaces. They are the gatekeepers of guarded worlds.

The reptilian monster crawls out of the murky depths to stand under the brightness of the mid-heaven. It feels its feet may yet be in the fluid, changing and sometimes vague aspects of life, but its head is now turned towards stability. It understands the great structures of society. It focuses on the rigid systems, the laws, and the ways of the world.

If the sign of Libra opens itself to the world: in a business-like, partnership oriented, you scratch my back- I'll scratch yours, let's think of a win-win game; and if Scorpio opens us up to the world we hide; and if Sagittarius opens the world up in terms of : Who are you? I'm glad to meet you! This is what I believe in, how does it match what you think? Am I thinking right? Why don't you share your perspective?

Then....... Capricorn simply shows us the world as it is.

At The Helm

Information is so freely accessible today, and people have powerful tools like AI at their disposal. It is possible to create a world without gatekeepers.

With an internet connection you have access to the best knowledge in the world. You can create products and enter markets that you had no idea about earlier. You can make art and show it to people, without the need for an agent or a patron.

Everything seems so possible!

Reality Check

Except that it's not.

I can learn medicine, poring over hundreds of articles on internet archives. But no one will take my advice on medicine seriously unless I put myself through medical school. I may even have more interest in health than a doctor does, but it makes no difference.

Forget the easy-breezy language of free knowledge sharing, egalitarianism, equal opportunities, freedom etc. Forget what the depths of your soul tell you, what your shadow whispers. Forget those wispy, vague ideas.

For now.

For now, you enter the big, bad world. Its reality. its harshness. Where things are not fair. And where, whether you like it or not, gatekeepers exist, hierarchies stand tall and access comes with a great price.

The Task Master

You are dealing with the planet Saturn here, as the ruler of Makara/ Capricorn.

By the time you reach the age of 30, you know Saturn pretty well. Every 30 years, a person goes through a 7 and a half year period, called the sade-sathi/ ezharai natu shani , dominated by the influence of Saturn. He is feared the most amongst the grahas. And very rightly so. Though Rahu can be scary as well, there is nothing like Saturn to wring you tight, batter you on the washing stone and turn you inside out.

Saturn is not technically a teacher. He is actually the dispenser of karma.

What have you sowed? Have you planted a mango seed, and are you now eagerly waiting to harvest coconuts?

Do you think hard work has gone out of fashion? Have you forgotten how it feels after putting in your best effort?

Are you so busy climbing the ladder, that you don't see whom you are stepping on?

Do you feel entitled? Ever think that the lack of a gatekeeper means you are no longer accountable?

How do you treat people below you on the social ladder?

Are you lending a hand to someone with a disability?

Do you show respect for the elderly?

Saturn wants you to reckon with these questions.

Saturn is not technically a teacher. But it is good if you learn his lessons.

Sankranti

The tradition in Karnataka at the time of Makara Sankranti is to distribute sesame seeds to people and to remind them "Ellu thinni, olle mathadi"/ Eat some sesame, and speak some good words.

From the volatile, exploratory, wobbly energy of Sagittarius, we have moved into the stable energy of Capricorn. You want to lay the stable foundation with good words. Words become the house you live in.

Pongal

For the Tamil people, today is Pongal. Pongal literally means to 'overflow'/ 'boil over'. It is a time to feel gratitude. The harvest is done. There is food on the table. And we survived the dark phase of the year.

Count your blessings, your cup is overflowing. Keep gratitude as your core value.

This Week

There is a stellium in Capricorn from the 15th- 19th of January. For reference, last year during Sankranti, the Sun was all alone with only Pluto for company. This year he will share space with Venus,Mars, Mercury and Pluto. A very busy Capricorn house in your chart.

Then there is a powerful new moon in Capricorn on January 19th, which means the Moon will move into this crowded house as well.

January 19th is Thai Amavasya, the day when the spirits of the ancestors leave the earth and return to their realm. They leave the world to now be ruled by the Gods.

In the north of India, the day is called the Mauni amavasya. The No Moon Day Of Silence. Don't forget to take your holy dip in silence.

The week ends with a Moon-Rahu conjunction on the 21st and 22nd.

Don't worry if you feel a sense of overwhelm, this week. With so many planets in one house, it is natural for things to feel intense.

Hang On Tight

When a large ship turns, people hanging on lightly are likely to be thrown off.

Things maybe trying to throw you off course. Remember your list. Your resolutions. It's time to start letting the Sun bake your list into tough resolves.

These years until 2035, are unique in their potential. Don't waste them.

Take care, and see you next week!