Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘it will be happier’…” – Alfred Tennyson
How wonderful the New Year feels as we hope it will be happier, and I myself am quite happy to share that 2017 will be a One Year per numerology, as 2017 = 2 + 0 + 1 + 7 = 10 = 1 + 0 = 1! The year 2016 was a Nine Year. A One Year indicates a brand new nine-year cycle in the collective karma of the whole world, a true new beginning; whereas the Nine Year represented a completion and culmination of the past nine-year cycle.
The new One Year relates to the number One which in Vedic astrology is usually associated with the Sun, but also with Mars and Ketu. These are the fiery grahas of Vedic astrology, so we can count on 2017 being a year of remarkable leadership, transformation, creative power and new beginnings for the world at large.
For a more specific individual or mundane numerology forecast, we would need to calculate the personal year which is calculated by adding a birth month and date to 2017. For instance, for America, we would use the date July 4 (7/4) and add that to 2017 (7 + 4 = 11 = 1 + 1 = 2 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 7 = 12 = 1 + 2 = 3. A Three Year relates to Jupiter and represents the potential for new developments founded on wisdom, optimism, cooperation, collaboration and inventiveness.
In addition to the aforementioned numerological system, another way to predict the New Year is with a Nadi astrology mini-dasa system which was shared with me a few years ago by Indian Nadi astrologer A.V. Sundaram. Using this system, the United States will be having a Rahu year in 2017, whereas the last two years were Ketu years. You can use this mini-dasa with your own natal chart to get an idea of how 2017 will transpire for you.
To do this, first find the time of sunrise in your present locale. I recommend that you refer to an online panchanga (Vedic calendar) such as the one offered on drikpanchang.com, because you need to use the Hindu sunrise time rather than the observational sunrise time. The Hindu sunrise time is based on the astronomical sunrise, which is the time of first appearance of the upper limb of the Sun. This time is added to the time taken for the Sun to rise one-half of its diameter, plus the time taken by the Sun to rise further to offset the refractive result.
Once you know the time of local sunrise on January 1, you can calculate the horoscope and determine the nakshatra in which the Moon falls. By the way, January 1 is the date used for this technique as it is the date agreed upon by most world societies as the beginning of the New Year. In other words, it is valid simply as it is based on a universal consensus. Vedic astrology also traditionally calculates other dates for the New Year: 1) New Moon in Pisces in the springtime marks the Lunar New Year; and 2) Sun’s Aries ingress (also in the springtime) marks the Solar New Year, and both are calculated using the sidereal zodiac.
Once you know the nakshatra of the transiting Moon for the sunrise chart in your locale on January 1, 2017, you need to note your own natal Moon nakshatra (janma tara or birth star). Then, you have to count in a table of nakshatras (inclusively) from your natal Moon nakshatra to the nakshatra of the Moon at sunrise on January 1.
Next, multiply that sum by seven, and then divide that amount by nine. The remainder is the number you will use to determine the year lord (starting dasa lord). Note, do not use decimals for your calculation. Also note that this mini-dasa is based on 360-day year:
REMAINDER — DASA — DAYS of DASA
1 — SUN — 18
2 — MARS — 21
3 —JUPITER — 48
4 — KETU — 21
5 — MERCURY — 51
6 — VENUS — 60
7 — SATURN — 57
8 — MOON — 30
0 — RAHU — 54
TOTAL…360 DAY YEAR
Here follows an example of this calculation using the astrological birth chart of the United States. I like to use the Kelleher chart rectified by Vedic astrologer James Kelleher for July 4, 1776 at 18:30 in Philadelphia. It reveals the placement of the US Moon’s nakshatra in Satabhisha.
Once we locate the janma tara of the chart in question (Satabhisha for the US chart example), we then locate the year star (nakshatra) which is calculated for the Moon’s nakshatra in place at sunrise. In this example, I cast a chart for January 1, 2017 in Washington, DC, capital of the US, and the time is 7:31 AM, the Hindu sunrise time. The Moon falls in Dhanistha nakshatra. Dhanistha, the “Star of Symphony,” is ruled by the eight Vasus, solar gods of light and energy, and thus denotes material well-being and charity.
Counting (inclusively) from the 24th Satabhisha nakshatra to the 23rd Dhanistha nakshatra, we get 27. So then, 27 X 7 = 189. Dividing 189 by 9 gives 21 with a remainder of 0, which means Rahu’s cycle will be the first of the year (see above table showing 0 — RAHU).
In my own interpretation of this technique, the starting dasa lord becomes the year lord. This is because the starting dasa lord sets the stage and lays the ground for the year ahead. As the leader of this new year journey, it conditions the mind and governs free will and all our reactions. In the case of the US chart, the year lord conditions as well as reflects the collective mind.
Once we know the year lord, we can analyze it based on its natural significations. For more advanced analysis, we have to look at temporal and progressed significations in various natal and transit charts. Just generally, I can say that the past two Ketu years in the US have been very erratic, i.e., full of surprises and mass confusion (the nature of Ketu). Additionally, Ketu as the graha of dissolution and separation has brought great socio-political upheaval. Ketu also stands for chronic dissatisfaction, violence, polarization, hypocrisy and disparity, all of which have become so prevalent in American society in recent years. Add to this list the worst drug epidemic in American history (prescription opioids and heroin abuse), and you will get the full picture of Ketu’s darkest side.
Like Mars, Ketu’s attributes are hot, dry, dark, sharp and destructive. In addition, Ketu in its less positive manifestations can indicate angry, bitter and hazardous forces. Ketu’s lower tamasic indications are contracted, alienated, negative, paranoid, willful, critical, argumentative and suspicious. We see the effects of this everywhere now, a real split down the middle in our culture, with so much animosity and fear among Americans who are at extreme odds with each other in terms of their values and beliefs.
Now here comes Rahu in 2017! He is also the Vimshottari maha-dasa lord of the US Kelleher chart from September 2015 until September 2033. I wrote about the US Rahu cycle at length in a previous article for AstroLogic Magazine and also on my blog.
One key word for Rahu in this New Year is REBIRTH. Not only is Rahu the dasa lord in this Nadi mini-dasa system as well as the Vimshottari, but he will also eclipse the Sun and Moon in August 2017 over the USA, and also will be conjoining our new President Donald Trump’s ascendant in that eclipse. As the graha of revolution, evolution and expansion, Rahu signifies tremendous new possibilities for America if we choose to step up and come together as a people and nation.
Donald Trump is a Rahu-esque character as I have stated before, because he, like Rahu, is the ultimate outsider. It is quite fitting that he will take office under these new Rahu cycles. Additionally, in the Kelleher US chart, Rahu is in the sign of the homeland (Cancer) in the 8th house of rebirth, and is the dispositor of the Moon which represents the masses. Rahu dasa is a powerful force of change in 2017 and could potentially alter politics, the economy and culture in ways we might not have imagined are possible.
In addition to understanding the year lord and main theme for the year based on that main lord, we can also use the sub-lords to chart the year ahead. As you will see above, Rahu is given 54 days, so the Rahu sub-dasa (Rahu-Rahu cycle) will last from January 1 through Feb. 23, after which the Sun minor period begins (Rahu-Sun, which lasts 18 days), and so on. An astrologer will be able to evaluate each individual sub-dasa according to standard dasa analysis techniques.
So here’s to hope in the New Year ahead! It will be both a One and a Three Year for America, and this along with being a Rahu Rebirth year indicates the potential for great amazement, wonderful innovations and tremendous new creative ventures. All of us as individuals and as a collective are so full of immensely vast potential. All we need to do is expand, tune in, let go and let it all flow! Here’s wishing you and yours all the best in 2017, with great love and light and hope for all.