Just before the new moon on February 27 (4:44 pm PT) the thin crescent of the waning moon, known as the Shiva Moon, marks the celebration of Shivaratri, the night of Lord Shiva. Karmic patterns can be rewritten, and prayers are said to be amplified a thousandfold on this sacred night.
Shivaratri (falling on Feb 25 in USA) is a powerful time for spiritual practice, meditation, and ritual. In India, devotees stay awake, fast, and chant mantras to Lord Shiva, the deity of destruction and liberation. It’s said that Lord Shiva can dissolve fear and attachments with a single glance from his third eye, freeing us from suffering and ignorance. Lord Shiva is often depicted in a wild dance of destruction, but can also be seen as the perfect yogi, meditating silently in the Himalayan Mountains.
According to Vedic astrology, this new moon falls in the area of the sky called Shatabhisha, the “veiling star.” The power to conceal and reveal hidden truths is veiled within this new moon. Shatabhisha is also associated with healing, particularly of long-term and chronic conditions.
Know your Vedic Birth Star? Calculate yours and get a free guide.
Mars, the planet of will and action, has just shifted out of a retrograde that has disrupted peace and shaken key foundations worldwide since Dec 6. The forward motion of Mars, starting on Feb 25, renews motivation for action and self-empowerment, and can help you breakout of a rut.
Also on the day of this new moon, Mercury, the planet of travel and communication, steps into Pisces, a sign where it is considered weak. Here, facts may blur, and boundaries soften, but intuition and imagination flourish. Mercury will remain in Pisces throughout its upcoming retrograde from March 5 to April 7, and is entangled in complex astrological alignments until May 6. Although stormy, this period encourages fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking.
Venus, alongside Rahu—the head of the eclipse snake—awakens passion, poetry, and music. While heartfelt communication can bring deep healing, this alignment also sparks a fiery purification in relationships and finances, especially after Venus turns retrograde on March 1.
Venus Retrograde intensifies desire but can also stir loneliness and disconnection. Old flames may reappear, and unexpected shifts in relationships are likely to occur. When Venus crosses the Sun around March 22, something will need to be surrendered for new possibilities to emerge.
Shivaratri and Shatabhisha new moon marks a powerful turning point for healing and a possibility to release negative patterns, break karmic ties and call in a higher truth to your life. Lord Shiva’s transformative power is more present than ever now, so tap into through meditation or by saying this mantra.
Mantra for dissolving negativity and invoking peace: Om Namah Shivaya.
How these planetary transits affect you personally depends on your birth chart. Book a Vedic Astrology reading to learn more.
