Nakshatras: Considering the Universe from a Feminine Point of View
...and why Western astrology is inherently patriarchal in nature
I was recently talking to one of my subscribers here about the posts I publish in the 27 Moons Project.
“I don’t get it,” she said. “What the heck are Nakshatras?”
She had read every post and used the calculator to find out the name of her moon’s Nakshatra, but she could still make neither head nor tail of it.
In many ways, this is the challenge in a nutshell about how to write about Vedic astrology in the way I want to write about Vedic astrology: one that presents its technical complexities and deep well of wisdom, but that can still be understood even by those who have little to no prior knowledge.
No easy feat, to say the least.
I appreciate feedback like this because it makes me realize I need to get out of my own bubble and take a step back to review certain concept whose clarity I have taken for granted.
So, let’s start in that vein by taking a closer look at Nakshatras.
To do so, we’ll briefly go over how astrology measures the universe.
The ecliptic and the zodiac signs
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, oh my!
Whether or not someone is interested in astrology–be it Western or Vedic–they likely still know the names of the zodiac signs. But where do these signs come from and how about they formed?
The answer? By the ecliptic.
In other words, another term many of us know but also don’t really know.
If you want all the little details, swing by this post on wikipedia. For the sake of brevity, I’ll just lift one line from the post:
The ecliptic is the apparent path of the Sun throughout the course of a year.
In short, they are based on a solar measurement of the universe.
The zodiac signs are all about the Sun
The Sun is a really regular, linear kind of guy.
He rises and sets at the same time, depending on the time of year. He moves in a forward motion at the same speed, no matter the day.
The ecliptic is the belt that tracks his journey as he passes by certain stars clusters.
The division is simple and even: 12 equal parts (“signs”), each 30 degrees in length which correspond to the constellations from which they get their names.
Although Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac and Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac (more on that here), this solar division of the signs is the same in both systems.
This solar thinking is particularly dominate in Western astrology, which is quite patriarchal in nature. Patriarchal is a Greek word that can be translated as “of the father,” which is the Sun.
In this system, the Sun is the be-all, and end-all, with the cycles of all other planets defined by their relationship to him. This view of the universe is inherently masculine, yang and left-brained in nature.
Although Vedic astrology also uses the signs defined by the solar journey (with the differences defined in the link I provided above), the tradition also maps the stars according to the moon as well.
Nakshatras are all about the Moon
Called Lunar Mansions in English, Nakshatras don't adhere to the strict, linear schedule of the Sun. Instead, they follow the Moon's dance across the sky.
The Moon takes approximately 27.3 days to complete one orbit around the Earth relative to the fixed stars. This is called a sidereal month and is the measurement used to form the Nakshatras into 27 equal parts.
Interestingly, the number 27 corresponds with many natural and traditional cycles here on Earth:
The female menstrual cycle: the average menstrual cycle for many women is around 27 to 29 days, aligning closely with the lunar month.
Tidal cycles: The gravitational pull of the Moon influences the Earth's tides. While daily tidal cycles are more prominent, the overall patterns and variations in tides can also reflect longer cycles that align with the Moon's orbital period, including the 27.3-day sidereal month.
Animal behavior: Various animal species exhibit behaviors tied to the lunar cycle. For example, certain marine species, such as the grunion fish, spawn during specific phases of the Moon, often linked to cycles close to 27 days.
Agricultural cycles: Traditional agricultural practices in many cultures have been influenced by the lunar calendar. Planting, harvesting, and other farming activities are sometimes planned according to lunar phases and cycles.
Cultural and religious observances: Many cultures and religions have festivals, rituals, and observances linked to the lunar calendar. These includes Easter, which is why the dates for this holiday shifts depending on the year.
Unlike the Sun's straightforward 12-part division into equal 30-degree signs, Nakshatras offer a different, more lunar-based perspective – the universe from a feminine point of view, so to speak.
How Nakshatras are used
It’s important to note that your Lagna and each planet in your chart–or currently in the sky–is divided both into a (solar division) zodiac sign and a (lunar division) Nakshatra.
For example, at the time of writing this post, the current rising sign (Lagna) is Scorpio, but it’s also in Viśakhā Nakshatra, the Sun is in Cancer and Punarvasu Nakshatra, Venus is also in Cancer but in Puṣya Nakshatra, and so on.
While a Western astrologer might create content about what it means when a planet changes signs (e.g., Jupiter has moved into Gemini), Vedic astrologers tend to focus more on a change in Nakshatra (e.g., Jupiter has moved into Rohiṇī Nakshatra).
In natal astrology, you can theoretically make interpretations for the Nakshatra of each planet in your chart as well as for the zodiac sign it’s in.
However, this is more commonly–and importantly–done to understand your moon.
Your Moon’s Nakshatra
In Western astrology, they mostly talk about the moon as your emotions and mother, either literally or figuratively. Although this interpretation is also the same in Vedic astrology, the main focus for understanding the moon is knowing this:
The moon is your mind.
It is the filter placed over all your thoughts and impressions, and therefore colors everything.
This is why the moon’s Nakshatra is so vital to understand what truly drives a person on a subconscious and psychological level.
The key to understanding your moon’s Nakshatra is not by its zodiac sign
Some modern Vedic astrologers try to define Nakshatras according to the sign they’re in–however, this is not an effective approach.
First, this is not how they are interpreted in the traditional sources. Second, many Nakshatras span over two zodiac signs, such as Uttarāṣāḍha, which is partly in Sagittarius and part in Capricorn.
However, I think the reason goes deeper than this. With Nakshatras, we are in the realm of the moon, and the moon is about imagery and dreams. This is the realm of the feminine, the yin, the imaginal, the elusive, the poetic. This is why Nakshatras are defined and understood by the symbols and stories associated with them.
To try to define them by zodiac signs or planetary zodiac–both of which are still an element–would be to apply solar thinking to what is actually a lunar concept.
Going deeper into Nakshatras
So far, I have only focused on the symbols and deity associated with the Nakshatra I’m presenting. However, each Nakshatra also has a specific plant or tree, an animal, a sound and a mantra. They are further divided into four distinct sections (called Padas), which change the nuance of their meaning.
If I can find a way to present this knowledge in a digestible way in the future, I will add it to the 27 Moons Project, so stay tuned.
Why I love Nakshatras in natal astrology
Whether Western or Vedic, astrology is an extremely detailed and complex art and science. This is why I’m not really a fan of the “cookbook” approach; in other words, Venus in Leo means this, Mercury in the 11th house means that.
Don’t get me wrong–you can say something about such placements in general. But therein lies the problem: they are simply generalizations that do not get you to the root of self-knowledge astrology can deliver. For this, you need the whole picture (i.e., aspects, house and sign placement, timing techniques, etc.).
But the moon’s Nakshatra in a person’s chart is a bit of an exception to this rule. Just knowing the Nakshtatra already gives you remarkable insight into a person’s psychology without looking at any other details. Because of this, it’s always the second thing I look at in anyone’s chart after the Lagna lord.
If you don’t know your Nakshatra, use this calculator (or a similar one) and note down the name. If I haven’t yet written about your moon’s Nakshatra, I’ll do so in the future.
Hope this post helps clear up any questions about Nakshatras. If not, then please don’t hesitate to ask away.
Michelle R. Dean is a Vedic astrologer and writer based in Berlin. To find out more about Michelle or book a Vedic astrology consultation, swing by here.