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Take Exam (Pay Later)Rahu & Ketu: The Nodes of Destiny
The Essence
Why do we have points in the chart that possess no physical mass yet wield the power to eclipse the luminaries? Rahu and Ketu are not planets of matter, but points of 'Karmic Gravity.' They represent the cosmic psychological axis of 'Desire' and 'Detachment.' Without Rahu, the soul has no hunger to incarnate and experience the world; without Ketu, the soul has no door through which to exit the illusion of Maya and return to source.
Classical Verse
"Dhumrakaro nilatanurvanastho api bhayankarah | Vataprakrtiko dhiman svarbhanuh parikirtitah || (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Ch. 3, V. 31)"
Modern Translation
Parashara describes Rahu as having a smoky appearance, a blue-hued body, residing in forests, and being terrifyingly intelligent. Technically, the Nodes are the mathematical intersection points of the solar and lunar orbits. Rahu (North Node) is the ascending point where the Moon crosses the ecliptic to the north, representing intake, obsession, future karma, and amplification. Ketu (South Node) is the descending point, representing output, separation, past-life mastery, and contraction. Together, they form the axis of your evolution.
Practical Insight
The 'Landlord Principle.' Since the Nodes have no physical bodies (Chhaya Grahas), they behave like chameleons, taking on the nature of the planet ruling the sign they occupy (the Dispositor). The secret to predicting Rahu's behavior is not looking at Rahu itself, but at the condition of its dispositor. If Rahu is in Aries, it acts like Mars. If that Mars is exalted, Rahu's obsession becomes constructive drive; if Mars is debilitated, Rahu becomes chaotic aggression.
Go Deeper
Locate the Rahu-Ketu axis in your chart. Identify the 'Landlord' (dispositor) of your Rahu. Is that planet strong or weak? This reveals whether your life's greatest obsessions will lead to success or instability.
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