When we get up to leave Saturn there is no one around us. Venus is tending to others and Mercury has disappeared mingling into the crowd. None of the other party-goers are looking in Saturn’s direction, of course. So we sort of aimlessly meander back out into the front room.
Mercury is back in this room. And he enthusiastically waves to us and comes over to share a few more witty and poetic jokes. But oddly he does not offer to help us meet the rest of the planets. So I guess this is where I come in. I walk you over to meet the other planet in the front room.
He is a large man, tall, thick and wide – sturdy and handsome with a strong and broad chest. His complexion is light and fair, and his hair lightening from brown and even a little bit blonde. He is the first planet you have met who looks you straight in the eye all the time – with soft brown eyes. It is the honest, straightforward glance of a man with no reason to hide anything or play any games.
“I’m sorry I did not introduce myself earlier,” he says in a voice so deep, powerful and resonant that the very floor seems to vibrate with it’s baritone. “You were with Mercury and I did not want to interrupt. I am Jupiter.”
Jupiter! You are actually meeting Jupiter!
And you would never have thought that the guru of all the planets would be so modest as to apologize for something like this. Even Jupiter’s clothes radiate modesty. He wears only a simple saffron-yellowed cloth wrapped around his waist, and another draped around his wide shoulders, which display perfect posture. Neither garment has any frill or print.
“It is an honor to meet you,” You manage to say. “Please don’t apologize.”
“Yes, please don’t!” I chime in. Jupiter seems to bringing out the delicate manners even in us!
Jupiter smiles. “What do you think of the people you have met thus far?” He inquires.
“It is a fantastic opportunity!” You express.
“Ah! It is exciting to meet important people, isn’t it! Such an opportunity to grow! What have you learned from those you have met tonight?”
Now it dawns on you. This really is Jupiter. Always delicately encouraging us to think, and to learn… to grow. He is the ideal teacher! “Well,” As speak a look of tremendous satisfaction came over Jupiter – as if your putting on your thinking cap is incredibly enjoyable for him to witness. “From Mercury I would say I learned that intelligence is all about our ability to share things, and thoughts, with other people in fascinating ways. He really enjoys talking!”
“Yes! Excellent!!!” Jupiter’s voice booms over the dim of the party with heartfelt satisfaction at the knowledge you have gained.
“And Venus,” you continue, “She is so natural. I learned that beauty is a natural thing which springs from being kind and helpful, not from just wearing jewelry or putting on makeup.”
“Indeed. She is charming,” answers Jupiter, a bit more reserved than before. “What of Saturn. Did he speak with you?”
“Yes.”
Jupiter’s thick eyebrows raised in appreciation. What did you discuss with that ancient and all-knowing creature?
“It’s strange how weak Saturn appears. How frail – but how he wound up giving me so much strength! He made me see through all the silly things that normally make me so nervous and self-conscious.”
“Yes,” Jupiter answered in firm, if somewhat distant, appreciation of Saturn. “Now, come! I will introduce you to the others.”
- Vic DiCara
© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved
Rahu and Ketu are both anti-authoritarian but Rahu is more of a social revolutionary while Ketu is more of a private, personal non-conformist.
Rahu and Ketu both create chaos in the wake of their changes and transformations. But Rahu’s chaos mainly affects the external conditions of your life, while Ketu’s chaos affects your inner being. They are both polar. But Rahu’s polarity is visible, while Ketu’s polarity takes you through the emotional and psychic extremes.
Like Rahu, Ketu has no mass. It does not take up space, and is therefore not subject to the normal rules of space/time. Rahu and Ketu can therefore transcend the boundaries of space and time. While Rahu moves outward and forward towards the future, Ketu moves inward and backward towards the past.
Ketu is not about the sky and outer space, but about what is buried beneath, inner space. Ketu does not want to know the outer layer of anything, it wants to get directly to the central core. Ketu is the power to get to the core of anything.
Rahu is the power of transformation – that alone is his singular, fundamental trait. You can learn everything else about Rahu just by always keeping this in mind.
In a sense, the conservatives are right. Rahu is very, very, very dangerous. They are way too scared of him and don’t know how to embrace his power in good measure for positive growth, but still, you can see their point of view to some extent. If you let them, the radical forces of change will create pure chaos.
Because Rahu is such a wild and unbridled force of change, you could well describe him as “polar” or “bi-polar” (as if a pole would could be tri-polar or uni-polar? I never quite understand the need for “bi” at the beginning of “polar”, but whatever). Rahu’s radicalism is so extreme that it will run you through the entire spectrum of changes.
Rahu and his other half, Ketu, are not ordinary planets. They have no mass, they occupy no actual physical space – therefore they are not bound by the normal laws of space and time. As a result they transcend the boundaries between here and there, past and present and future.
Just as Rahu’s awareness focuses on the future, it also focuses on moving upward and outward. The great sky is Rahu’s domain. And even more so is the void of outer space beyond.
