WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RAHU & KETU IN ASTRO?

Mars metal is Gold but colour is Bright Red

Jupiter metal is Silver but colour is Golden/Silver

Moon metal is Gems but colour is Milky White

Venus metal is diamonds (but crystal is also under Venus; crystal like diamond reflects but not of a pinprick kind of intensity for the rays unless the crystal is cut into a fine maze of surfaces that reflects) but colour is Shining White. Venus colour is yellow too (sky blue is only a weak colour of Venus).

Sun is copper red and metal is copper

Mercury is green and the metal is brass

Saturn is blue/black and metal is Iron

There are different names given to Rahu and Ketu like Nodes, Shadows, Head and Tail, Caput, Cauda etc. The Moon is a satellite of the earth revolving around it in an orbit inclined to that of the earth round the Sun at an angle of approximately 50. The Moon completes its orbit round the earth in about a month crossing the orbit of earth twice in the same period, once when it goes from south to north and at another time while traveling from north to south. The ascending point is called ‘Rahu’ and descending point ‘Ketu’. These have retrograde motion in the zodiac at the rate of 19020' per year.

Rahu:

Rahu is the ascending node of the moon and it afflicts the Moon more than any other planet.

Rahu points to the direction of spiritual growth for an individual and wherever he is placed in a chart there will be a tendency to indulgence or obsession. In many ways the path that Rahu indicates is designed to lead the individual to self-destruction. It is said that Rahu gives and Ketu takes away but to be more accurate Rahu gives in the same manner that a drug dealer "gives' since what he gives is designed to hook into you and become a need which leads toward ones own downfall.

Rahu is especially associated with the sense of emptiness that must be fed regardless of the problems it causes. This is the emptiness of the addict, the workaholic or the serial killer.

Rahu has a very strong affiliation with the air. Airplanes, aviation, pilots and space travel all fall under his influence. Rahu can involve one in areas of life considered somewhat taboo by conventional society such as astrology, metaphysics, occultism, witchcraft, cults, skin diseases, executions and epidemics. Rahu also has a tendency to drive one toward areas where deception and the hidden aspect of something play a large role such as politics, revolutions, drugs, secret societies, mysteries, inventions, scientists, deceit, affairs and taboo sexual appetites.

Snakes encountered in dreams or in life are often thought to be manifestations of Rahu.

Rahu has an special affiliation with Garlic, which is said to have sprung from the ground where his blood fell.

The Seagull or Gull is known to be an aspect of Rahu.

Names:

Tamas, Rahu, Asura, Swarbhanu, Vidhuntuda, Pata, Sainhikeya, Bhujanga and Ahi. The common term is Rahu.

Attributes:

Rahu represents indulgence and expansion to the point of fault. Smoke, mental illness (over expanded consciousness), losses, theft, death of family members, and air disasters are other negative aspects.

Rahu does have a positive influence on gambling or speculation, which takes place in activities like investing in the Stock Market. Another positive aspect is his ability to heal diseases. Foreigners and sudden changes also fall under the area of Rahu.

Associations:

The goddess Durga is often associated with Rahu and on occasion her dark counterpart Kali. The Nagas are always a manifestation of Rahu and sometimes snakes in general are considered the same. One could make a good case for Medusa of Greek mythology to be another manifestation of Rahu.

The direction Southwest is given to the rulership of Rahu.

The age of 42 is considered to be the time in which Rahu comes to full fruition.

Rahu owns no particular sign. However, he is considered exalted in Taurus (which also has a tendency to overindulge) and his fall is in Scorpio.

Rahu is malefic as a whole though he does bring about the tendency of being "lucky".

The color black is associated with Rahu as well as the color "smoke". His metal is Lead, like Ketu.

The wind or air is considered the element of Rahu.

Rahu has a Vatta constitution in Ayurveda.

Areas of effect to look for changes:

Accidents, afflictions, cosmic law, rebirth, air disasters, cheating, corruption, drug addiction, destiny or fate, consumption, insects, poison, deceit, power hungry, widowhood, inevitability, karma, aloneness, fear, things or people foreign, apathy, hard times, intense pain, snakes, radical changes, luck, wealth through inheritance, corruption, madness, schizophrenia, delusions

Ketu:Ketu is just a point in the solar system. It is invisible and hence it is called as shadow planet. Ketu is also known by the names as Dragon's tail and Descending Node.

The planet Ketu is a cruel planet although it has a spiritual aspect to it as well. It is also responsible for various kinds of mishappenings in life especially those incidents which occur suddenly like accidents etc.

When conjoined with benefic house, it gives positive results while being with malefic planets, the results may be negative. Ketu increases the positive effects of house where it is situated.

The planet Ketu also forms various bad Yogas when it is in conjunction with other planets. Ill-placed Ketu also provides many bad results in the life of native just like Rahu but the intensity of the bad results are lower in comparison to Rahu. Ketu is milder in comparison of Rahu. Ill placed Ketu creates many hurdles and breaks in the life of natives. But there is a positive side also in it. Ketu is considered to be a great provider of spirituality. Strong influence of Ketu leads the person towards the detachment with the worldly matters and leads him or her towards salvation. Ketu induces strong religious feelings in the native and provides ultimate peace to the soul.

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Ketu is the descending node of the moon through the eyes of Indian Astrology. Ketu is known to afflict the Sun more so than any other planet. This is in contrast to Rahu, which is associated with the Moon.

Ketu is also associated with comets and like its associate Rahu it is known to be exceedingly cruel and malefic. Though interpreting Ketu is somewhat difficult the basic theme seems to be release and transformation. More specifically Ketu points to the past life karma of an individual through its placement in the chart.

Ketu brings about spiritual enlightenment. Unfortunately it does through the placement of problems, pain and roadblocks, which are meant to help us in our spiritual growth. Ketu has a tendency to behave like Mars and as a result fire and accidents are also associated with Ketu.

Special note should be made of the Ketu dasha cycle. The dasha of Ketu lasts seven years and it is common knowledge in Vedic astrology that Ketu always has a "sting" in its tail. This means that somehow the end of a Ketu dasha cycle will be potentially problematic or troublesome.

Ketu and Rahu have the same affiliations for animals which are the following: snakes, camels, the ass, wolves, rodents, mosquitoes, scorpions and any other animal that utilizes poison in its defense. No food is associated with Ketu or Rahu.

Ketu is especially affiliated with the owl.

Names:

Ketu, Sikhin, Dhvaja, Dhum, Mrityu Putr and Anala. The common term is Ketu.

Attributes:

In Indian Astrology Ketu is associated with broken relationships, changing events and accidents. Electronics have also been placed under his influence in the modern era.

Other noted areas under his influence are ascetics, renunciation, assassinations, cats, clairvoyance, contemplation, desire for knowledge, deep thinking, imprisonment (like Saturn), poison, intrigues, magical powers, poverty and mysticism.

Associations:

Ketu is associated with the god Brahma and Chitra Gupta. Another popular affiliation is Ganesha, which seems more intuitive considering he is known as the "remover of obstacles".

Ketu has an unusual association in terms of direction. He is most often noted to be the "center" which is really no direction at all.

Ketu is associated with the 48th year of life.

Ketu has no sign, which it rules but it is considered exalted in Scorpio and fallen in Taurus.

Ketu is extremely malefic though the affliction it gives brings about enlightenment and spiritual growth.

Ketu has special affiliation with the Nakshatra Abhijit.

Ketu is variegated in color and associated with the metal Lead. Turquoise and Cats eye are associated with Ketu.

Earth is considered the element of Ketu.

Ayurvedic medicine ascribes a Vatta constitution to Ketu.

Areas of effect to look for changes:

Renunciation, enlightenment, spiritual authority, ascetics, clairvoyance, dissatisfactions, separations, breaks, helplessness, negative habits, liberation, artistic tastes, bankruptcy, sudden windfalls, lower classes of society, things strange or foreign, cheating, cataclysm, comets, smoking, philosophers, assassins, mental illness.