Rahu & Ketu: Why the 40s Can Feel Like Paradise or Purgatory
- hercosmiccrown
- Jan 19
- 14 min read
There is a hidden axis in your birth chart that reveals your karmic ruts and your untapped brilliance. The answer lies in the shadows of your Rahu (the North Node of the Moon) and Ketu (the South Node of the Moon) placements. While the Moon rules the conscious mind, these lunar nodes represent the subconscious mind. They are one of the most critical forces in our natal charts when it comes to fated events in our lives. The lunar nodes are the paths of our consciousness, and they change signs about every 18 months. Not visible to the naked eye, they’re where the Moon’s orbit intersects the ecliptic plane, which is the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Rahu is the point where the Moon crosses the ecliptic plane as it moves from the south to the north, and Ketu is the point where it moves from north to south. They are always in the exact opposite sign and house of one another. These nodes are associated with eclipses and the Moon’s influence on the tides.
Rahu and Ketu are arguably the most important “planets” in our charts. In Sanskrit, planets are called grahas, meaning “to seize” or “to grab”. The lunar nodes also grab and pull us to fated experiences, whether we like it or not. Rahu is symbolically connected to the head of a dragon, where it mindlessly consumes whatever house and sign Rahu is in. It represents illusions, false things, strange places/situations, and foreigners. Rahu’s house and sign is the place that’s least developed in our charts, but it’s where we can have the most growth because we’re stepping into foreign territory and learning about ourselves. Rahu corresponds to the number eight. This number is like a boomerang. How we feel about ourselves will be projected in the world. If we feel good about ourselves and if we aren’t tackling any inner demons, the Rahu experience will be decent or even feel like paradise. If not, we'll be stuck in a loop in purgatory until we surrender and explore our North Node. Either way, with Rahu’s mirror, we’re able to discover new things about ourselves.
Symbolically, Ketu is connected to the tail end of the dragon, where it eliminates what’s no longer needed. This node represents liberation, completion, perfection, control, and elimination. Ketu represents our past lives and our ancestors, and because of this, this node reveals our natural talents and what comes easily to us. It’s the place where we’re comfortable because we have the most experience in that area, but it’s also where we hold limiting beliefs regarding how we think things should be. In addition, this node is the place of absolutes. We have a tall measuring stick for the house and sign in which Ketu’s placed because we’ve worked on this area in recent past lives.
Each planet has a maturation age, which means that we’re able to use that planet to the highest potential possible( depending on the dignity, shad bala, and other strength-based factors of the planet). Since we’ve had enough experience with that graha, we’ve gained the necessary skills to work with its energies. Rahu matures at the age of 42 and Ketu at 48. We tend to make lots of mistakes in the Rahu house since it’s underdeveloped until around the age of 42 when the North Node matures. Many have trouble with their nodal maturations, and it’s no wonder the 40s are considered the midlife crisis era!
Between the ages of 39 and 42, a person’s Ketu often starts failing them. This forces the individual to go to their Rahu house. The North Node's house is the place where the possibilities are endless, like a child’s dream playground. However, for some, this could be a house that can seem frightening or daunting. But Rahu is only an illusion. The Moon represents our perceptions, and since the nodes reflect our subconscious mind, Rahu pulls out what’s in the subconscious mind and projects it onto the screen of our lived experiences. If we don’t like what’s happening in our lives, we need to become aware of the psychology behind these subconscious forces and move with the flow of what we’re being pulled to develop.
How to Have a Successful Rahu & Ketu Maturation
Rahu and Ketu show where there’s an imbalance in our lives. The South Node exemplifies what we’ve worked on in the past and what we’re comfortable with; however, we're using it with a limited perspective and need to go to the opposite sign to find a healthy balance. On the other hand, the North Node shows what’s new that we’re developing. Look to Rahu to get an understanding of major life changes and inexplicable events. Life will take us to an extreme so that we can get a different perspective on things. This helps us to release our grip on what feels safe and controlled, which is Ketu, and venture into the unknown, which is Rahu. For example, a person with Ketu in Capricorn and Rahu in Cancer is used to working hard, but at some point, they may have a meltdown, or they lose their job. This is because they need to have a balance between their ideas around success and happiness. At the same time, make sure not go overboard with Rahu. Some people take their Rahu to an insalubrious extreme and present a false persona. We want to embody both nodes and express them healthily depending on the situation at hand.
Depending on the sign Rahu is in, the ruler of Rahu, planets in the same sign as Rahu, and other factors, will show how extreme or challenging your midlife crisis will be. The key to conquering this node is to understand that we’re living in a realm where we experience things as separate existences instead of seeing the One in all things. It’s also essential to accept that plunging into unknown territories is how we grow. As we experience enigmatic realms, we learn that the unconscious things we haven’t faced are presented to us in the form of a mirror. Rahu reflects the hidden parts of our consciousness. The loss, fear, and void we may feel on the inside may be reflected in our lives through deeply painful experiences. That pain is there so that we can let go of our unhealthy ego and confront that which makes us feel lost or unworthy, or fearful. Conversely, if we have subconscious expectations that the entire universe bends in our favor and act accordingly, then we will experience more alignment during our nodal maturation.
When we drift too far from the balance of our lunar nodes, life stops whispering and starts shouting to get our attention. What seems like curveballs aren't random streaks of bad luck. They are the universe’s way of flashing a neon sign that screams, “You’re going the wrong way!” However, most people mistake these cosmic course-corrections for bad luck when in reality, they’ve failed to see that those drastic life events are invitations to realign with their true path.
One of my favorite quotes is an African Proverb which goes, “If there are no enemies within, the enemies outside cannot hurt us.” This quote exemplifies that what we experience as an enemy is a mere reflection of what’s within us. Once we tackle our inner demons, we’ll have no fear exploring the Rahu territory, and we’ll release our tight grip on what we’re trying to control, which is Ketu, and become liberated from our karmas. We realize, there really are no enemies, just mirrors. The reflections of our inner struggles and demons are our friends who assist us on our paths. As we have more experience with Rahu, the more balanced life becomes through this shift in consciousness, seeing things as a whole and no longer swinging between polarities. We begin to see through the illusion of separation, which is the subconscious part of the ego.
How to Find Rahu & Ketu in Your Natal Chart
The following link shows how to find planets in your natal chart, including Rahu and Ketu.
Visit the following website to generate your South Indian natal chart: https://vaultoftheheavens.com/VOTH_ChartCreator/Welcome.aspx.
Rahu/Ketu Through the Signs
Below are brief explanations of Rahu and Ketu. I begin by discussing your Ketu because that shows what comes naturally to you. Then, I go over your Rahu, which is what you’re developing. If you would like to learn more about the lunar nodes in your chart, you can book a reading with me: www.hercosmiccrown.com/book-a-reading
Rahu in Aries/Ketu in Libra- With Ketu in Libra, you’ve mastered your ability to connect to others charmingly. You understand that relationships of all kinds require us to give and take. You can easily spot the things you have to offer that can benefit the other person and vice versa. In addition, you expect a worthwhile life, and you’re great at knowing what’s worth being in your orbit and what isn’t. At the same time, you may only want the right things in your life, but how do we know what’s right if we don’t fully know who we are?
Rahu in Aries is what you’re developing, and it’s about figuring out who we are, what inspires us, and what actions we want to pursue. Once we explore our individuality, we can attract more of the right things in our lives that reflect who we are. Otherwise, we’re too focused on what we think we like and don’t like, and those things might not even be right for us to begin with because we haven’t truly discovered who we are.
Rahu in Taurus/Ketu in Scorpio- With Ketu in Scorpio, you’re a spiritually inclined individual who seeks emotional security. You’re a tough cookie who can endure lots of emotional pain and can hang on to tough situations for a long time. Rahu in Taurus is all about material security, worldly fulfillment, and valuable things. With Rahu in Taurus, taking care of your material responsibilities may not come naturally to you because you value emotionally fulfilling things. In your youth, you probably felt that there wasn’t much in the material world that could be fulfilling. Taking care of your appearance or your material responsibilities may have taken a back seat to something more important in your world, something intangible.
As you get older, you’re learning that the physical world is also important and that we can connect to others through our senses (Taurus). If we don’t have material security and fulfillment, such as a roof over our heads, healthy foods, rest and relaxation, and love, are we really fully getting our spiritual and emotional needs met? No, because need a balance of both material and emotional security, and that’s what you’re learning to master when your Rahu is in Taurus.
Rahu in Gemini/Ketu in Sagittarius- With Ketu in Sagittarius, being a counselor or providing sage advice comes naturally to you. Doing the right thing can be important to you and it can be hard for you to understand others who don't have a strong moral compass. Further, you have a grand vision and purpose for your life, however you lack the detailed plans to reach that goal. Having your Rahu in Gemini has to do with actually studying and applying our knowledge. What’s the point in having a bigger-than-life vision if we’re not actually taking steps towards it? For example, a person with this nodal axis may dream of being a writer, but they haven’t taken writing classes or started working on their script. It’s an amazing goal to write a screenplay, but no one’s going to know it exists if you haven’t started working on it yet. It’s wonderful that you have dreams for your life; now you're learning to take baby steps to realize them.
Rahu in Cancer/Ketu in Capricorn- With Ketu in Capricorn, in recent past lives, you were so focused on surviving and making sure you had clothing, food, shelter, and security, that you haven’t developed working on your emotions sufficiently. You're physically strong and know how to survive when it gets rough out there, but you may unravel easily when it comes to your emotions because you haven’t fully developed them. In recent past lives, you may have had to rely on your instincts to survive, but this lifetime, you’re expanding your capacity for happiness. It’s essential to say to yourself, “Yes, I can survive and make money, but am I happy?” You can feel emotionally vulnerable having Rahu in Cancer, but when you shift your consciousness to accept all of your emotions and to not just rely on your physical strength/survival skills, you can be successful in something that makes you truly happy.
Rahu in Leo/Ketu in Aquarius- Having your Ketu in Aquarius means that you’re used to blending in with others. You can step aside and allow someone else to be the star of the show. But now, you’re discovering what makes you unique and what makes you shine. With Rahu pulling you towards Leo, which is ruled by the Sun, you’re exploring your individual essence and working on your self-expression. The Sun represents our career in our natal charts. Because we’re dealing with Rahu, the planet of confusion, you may go into career fields that don’t reflect who you are. But this isn’t a bad thing. Through the process of elimination, exploring different professions helps us narrow down the ones that support our vision and helps us discover our individuality.
Rahu in Virgo/Ketu in Pisces- With Ketu in Pisces, you’re open to whatever life has to offer. You can be deeply connected to the spiritual realm, and it’s easy for you to understand the big picture. The challenge is connecting to the material realm because your nature is to go with the flow like a fish in an ocean and become one with your surroundings. It can be difficult to keep up with due dates, maintain an organized space, and dot your i’s and cross your t’s. Mercury, the ruler of Virgo, represents rules, planning, and boundaries, and life becomes pointless without them. With your Rahu in Virgo, you’re learning the value of having rules in place and not accepting everything into your space. It’s okay to say “No” to some things. This may look like no longer being complacent with letting life happen and leaving it up to fate. Life doesn’t move forward efficiently when we don’t have a plan and when we don’t set up boundaries. Create a plan that you want to follow so that you can swim in alignment with your purpose. It’s okay to say, “No” to a friend who may want to stay at your place for a week. You can set boundaries for your personal space and let them know that you have to work on your projects.
Rahu in Libra/Ketu in Aries- With your Ketu in the action-oriented sign of Aries, you’re conditioned to believe that as long as you follow your inspirations and are focused on your ambitions, things will be okay. It’s almost as if you have a warehouse of energy stored in your body for emergencies, because when they happen, you know how to calm the fires. A true problem solver, you’re naturally logical, and you have a strategy for life. But now you’re learning that your inspirations and concepts need to be worthwhile for you to expend your energy on them.
Libra is the sign that has to do with the worth of something. Every thought and inspiration that pops into our heads isn’t necessarily valuable. You’re learning to spot the ideas that will add value to your life and which ones don’t. Discard the distractions and move forward with the inspirations that carry weight.
Rahu in Scorpio/Ketu in Taurus- In your early upbringing, there was an emphasis on material security because you have Ketu in Taurus. You think that as long as your material needs are met, such as water, food, safety, sex, etc, things will be okay. But now it’s essential to focus on getting your emotional needs met. Our deep needs for connection and spirituality are the opposite of our physical ones. You’re learning to transmute the need for sensory stimulation into cultivating deep connections and finding peace. Scorpio is the sign of restraint, so a person is learning to use less of their senses and more of their inner will. An individual working towards mastering their Rahu in Scorpio may say, “I’ll abstain from sex for a while.” Or, “I won’t overeat anymore because that’s not really fulfilling my emotional needs.”
Represented by snakes, Scorpio is a spiritual and psychological sign that’s part of the journey towards finding paradise. What’s the point of having your physical needs met if you haven’t learned how to overcome your shadow?
Rahu in Sagittarius/Ketu in Gemini- With Ketu in Gemini, you’ve spent recent past lives perfecting your skills and talents and researching information. Your knowledge and intelligence give you a lot of security. However, you’re now developing your vision to create something with meaning since your Rahu is in Sagittarius. It’s essential to shift from being in the moment, which is Gemini, to a long-term planner, which is Sagittarius. At the same time, every time we do something, we’re creating our long-term goals, whether we realize it or not. For example, Gemini is the sign of having fun. Sex can be fun in the moment, but it can lead to something long-term, like creating a baby. Don’t get me wrong, this is a blessing. At the same time, raising and providing for a child requires a minimum of 18 years. In other words, you’re learning to balance your knowledge, skills, and fun activities with your bigger vision and long-term plans.
Rahu in Capricorn/Ketu in Cancer- With Ketu in Capricorn’s opposite sign of Cancer, your security comes from protecting your happiness. You think that as long as you’re happy, everything will be okay. But we live in a world where not everything will be smooth sailing all the time. It’s normal to have a healthy range of human emotions. Having your Rahu in Capricorn shows that you haven’t fully developed your abilities to survive or endure physically painful situations. Unfortunately, fighting to survive and facing painful situations are a part of life, and you’re learning to be okay with that. You may often convince yourself that you’re okay when you actually aren’t. It’s essential to realize that it’s when we have to go into survival mode and learn to be materially responsible that we'll have more fulfillment. Because we've had to work so hard to survive, we can be happy and grateful for the sunny days.
Rahu in Aquarius/Ketu in Leo- Your Ketu falls in Leo. Leo represents the abdomen, which is located at the center of the body. Similarly, you’re used to being the center of activity on some level. You’re a natural when it comes to expressing your individuality and being a shining star. However, as you get older and Rahu pulls you towards Aquarius, you’re moving towards human connectivity. You’re accepting that you’re an important piece to a larger puzzle, but not the entire puzzle. For many with this placement, this may look like accepting that you may not necessarily be the star at a company. You're understanding that the janitor’s role is just as essential as the CEO's position, as well as everyone else's, when it comes to moving the organization forward. You’re learning to look beyond your own inspirations and what makes you unique, and how you fit in with the collective experience. You may be pulled to do projects related to humanitarian causes or work with groups of people where you work towards a common goal.
Rahu in Pisces/Ketu in Virgo- Because your Ketu is in Virgo, you most likely spent most of your recent past lives trying to do the right thing and follow the rules. Virgo is symbolized by a prepubescent girl who has a pure consciousness. Also, Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the planet of rules, precepts, and compartmentalizing the good from the bad. You’ve pretty much perfected your Virgo tasks, and now you’re developing your Piscean energy.
Pisces, being a water sign, represents the ocean. There are a lot of dirty things in the ocean, but it’s kept clean with the salts and the swirling currents. A person with Rahu in Pisces is learning to get their feet dirty when it’s the right time, as long as they understand the why. It’s usually not advisable to lie, but in certain situations, it may be necessary. For example, if your 50-year-old wife asks if she still looks as good as she did in her 20s, admitting she looks even better could save you from a slap that would set your head spinning like an owl.
Greetings! I'm Gina, a California native who has been voraciously studying astrology since 2018. I utilize Tropical Vedic Astrology and cartomancy as my primary tools in my cosmic quest for profound spiritual understanding and healing.
I hold a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy. With over fifteen years of counseling and teaching experience, I've always enjoyed listening to people's stories and helping them on their path.
If you want to discover who you are on a deeper level, download my free ebook today: https://www.hercosmiccrown.com/offerings
To book an astrology or card reading with me, visit: www.hercosmiccrown.com/book-a-reading
The content on this page is to be treated for entertainment purposes only and should never replace professional advice. Her Cosmic Crown uses astrology and the cards as a tool to help with guidance, providing advice during readings. We will not be responsible for the decisions you make after a reading. Greetings! I'm Gina, a California native who has been voraciously studying astrology since 2018. I use Tropical Vedic Astrology and cartomancy as my main vehicles in my cosmic quest for profound spiritual understanding and healing.
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