9. Ashlesha

Ruled by Mercury (16° 40’ – 30° 00’ Cancer) Epsilon, Delta, Mu, Rho, Sigma & Zeta-Hydrae.

The Clinging star. Power to Inflict & Remove Poison.

Meaning: Embrace, Entwine, Coiling, Clinging

Main Deity: Snake king, Shesha, The Remainder, 

Symbols: Coiled Serpent, Naaga, Kundalini Shakti, Caduceus, The Staff of Aesculapius

 

Western Myths: The Hydra, Hermes,

Secondary Gods: Garuda, Laxman, Balarama

Sexual-Creative Expression: Male Cat

Body Parts: Joints, Nails, Ears

Tree – Incense: Nagkesar (Nag Champa), Alexandrian Laurel

Trimurti: Shiva/Dissolution Gotra/Clan: Sage Vashishta Gana/Race: Rakshasa/Demon Varna/Caste: Mleccha Motivation/Goal: Dharma Nature: Hard/Sharp/Dreadful Activity: Active Place:

Guna: Sattvic Element: Water Tridosha: Kapha Sex/Gender: Female Downward Facing Direction: South Colour: Blackish Red Animal: Male Cat

Words for the Classics

Rulership:: Pure silver, mercury, quicksilver, sugar candy, artificial things, green grass, juicy vegetables, insects, water animals, reptiles, snakes. Bulbs, roots, fruits, poisons, hunt-grain (hunting or fishing bait), cereals. Robbers, counterfeiters and all classes of physicians.

Hora Sara: The native who has moon in Ashlesha will be cruel with malefic tendencies, fickle-minded, eloquent. They will have income from various sources, allowing them to accumulate wealth. They will lead others, be bestowed with wisdom (and cunning), and will have sons.

Jataka Parijata: The person born when the moon is in Ashlesha will be silly, ungrateful, depraved and of hasty temper.

Sage Narada: One born in Ashlesha will be mischievous, cruel, fond of others’ wives, crafty, straight in form (i.e. will not be crooked-bodied), addicted to vices and self-restrained.

Brihat Samhita: Ashlesha makes one insincere, inclined to eat everything (poor diet), sinful, ungrateful and deceitful.

Brihat Samhita: When Saturn transits Ashlesha, aquatic objects or animals, as well as snakes are destroyed.

Varahamihira: Moon here causes people to not see the work of others, the have promiscuous hunger, are sinful, ungrateful, and skilled in deceiving others. 

Modern Pijan: Bound to rhythmic repetitive patterns, soothed by restraining embrace, guards the ethno cultural environment, needs familiar folk narratives. “Won’t let go.”

Auspicious Activities: 

Auspicious activities should be postponed when the moon transits Ashlesha. Clean up, detoxify, use sharp, hard practices to achieve altered mental state if you must do anything. Do the things you dread doing the most: like filing lawsuits, facing enemies, deceiving others, lying, taking care of insect or rodent infestations, laying out poison, meeting with unfavourable peers, tearing things down, breaking contracts and putting ourselves in all kinds of uncomfortable situations. This is an active nakshatra so don’t sit around waiting for the discomfort to find you, go out and meet it halfway. This can also be a good day for farming or trenching activities; working with water. Offer prayers and milk to the snakes. OUr vulnerabilities can be exposed when the moon transits ashlesha, so be careful (but not paranoid). There is always someone willing to exploit our weaknesses.

Special Considerations

• Ashlesha is a Ganda-Moola nakshatra It sits on a junction point of fire and water. It’s inauspicious. A special ceremony is recommended every month when the moon transits one’s natal Moon in these nakshatra. The 3rd and 4th pada can bring suffering to mother figures or father figures respectively.
• Mars is debilitated at 28º.

Key Themes

• Cold-blooded, forked-tongue, hypnotic, manipulative, sneaky, deceptive, suspicious, promiscuous, chameleon, penetrating gaze, strong will, mind control,
• Entwine, embrace, entangle, drunkenness, squeeze, asphyxiate, suffocate, 
• Poison, serum, medicine, petrochemicals, underground, trenching, agriculture, blue-collar
• Kundalini energy, vibration from the ground, the remainder, trenching, the devourer, 
• Rhetoric, eloquence, artifice and cunning and living by your wits, deceit, disguise, promotes intercourse between people & nations, the art of the argument, striking, wrestling, graceful dexterity, 
• Ambassadors, business men, politicians, elder siblings, step-siblings, side-kick, travellers, thieves, chaperones, lost and wary wayfarer.
• Commerce, coinage/currency, streets, roads, unexpected strokes of good fortune, playing innocent, good humour, feigning innocence, bribery, avarice, stone pillars (lumps of black stone)
• String of shiva’s bow, rope for churning, string instruments
• Ketu was born under this star.

Qualities of Ashlesha

Dissolution / Destruction: A destructive nakshatra, A day to bring things to an end, tear things down, break things and generally take part in destructive activities. Planets placed here will also bring destruction. This is a very strong Shiva nakshatra. 

Sage Vashishta: He and his wife Arundhati are an example of the closeness, intimacy and blessing that marriage brings into a couples life. Her star, Alcor, is the 8th sister who stays in the handle of the Big Dipper with her husband (a star called Mizar) instead of with her seven sisters. This star is sometimes worshiped by married women in thanks for the blessings of married life. Their seven sons all became great sages themselves. He was the keeper of Kamadhenu.

One of his main teachings was that we must overcome our prejudice, bigotry and stereotypes and seek to work in cooperation and harmony with our rivals. Ashlesha teaches us that this strategy can even be used in pursuit of our own selfish desires. Ashlesha people are often entwined in various kinds of relationships, but they only become successful once they learn this important lesson. He believed there was a common spiritual core between even the worst rivals. 

Sage Parashara was one of his sons, suggesting this lineage has something to do with astrology.  Vashistha Samhita is about electional astrology which is used to select favourable timing for events such as marriage or war.  Vashistha typically highlights the importance of the means we use to achieve our desired outcome.

Some of his hymns in the Rig Veda discuss family life, and much emphasis is put on his hymns extolling Indra & Varuna on equal terms. The power of Indra was needed to destroy enemies and Varuna was there to uphold social & ethical norms of society.

Vashistha also has a famous section in the Ramayana where he answers Rama’s questions about nature of life, human suffering, free will, creativity, & spiritual liberation. He is considered the Adi Guru of Vedanta Philosophy. He taught that the powers of the deities arose from within ourselves and that our fate was not determined by external gods. We must make an effort to live in harmony with nature and with others. He was devoted to righteous action and worked for the welfare of the world. 

He was involved in a famous feud with a king who wanted to steal Kamadenu but he warded off all attacks by the king and his men. In a final attempt to  get the cow, Vishwamitra did severe penance, however, by the end of his tapas he decided to reconcile with the sage. Vashistha teaches us to defend nature and many of those who are descendants of Vashistha find various ways to act as custodians of nature. . 

Mleccha: Mleccha: Outcast, barbarian, uncultured foreigner, not part of society but capable of mixing with all parts of society, adaptable, oftentimes doing piece-work, cash jobs or travelling for their career. They like the subterranean world, underground jobs related to trenching, piping or stringing cables. They relate with themes and places dealing with alcohol, drugs, chemicals, toxins, pollutants and other impure substances. They may be involved with inflicting poison or cleaning it up: sewer work, toxic spills, fertiliser, using chemicals to clean chemicals. They tend to be nomadic in life and work and they may take any kind of job to achieve their goals.  

Dharma: Despite being rather wicked people, Ashlesha is often taking actions that will help them reach their spiritual potential, but they normally have an unorthodox path that may include the 5 M’s or these days we might find them taking drugs in search of a spiritual psychedelic spiritual experience. They are usually seeking out these shocking paths that are meant to arouse the sleeping kundalini. 

Rakshasa / Demon: Mostly seeking selfish ends. Seeking only for the pleasure and comfort of their own bodies. They are more likely to follow their intuition, or seek out the beauty of life rather than following the status quo. They can be violent or aggressive both to defend what they have and to get what they want. 

Sattwic: Tendency towards purity, harmony, truthfulness, sincerity, peacefulness. They tend to have a positive attitude and seek constructive dialogue. The activity of planets in this asterism act as an instrument of the divine. Rajas – Sattva – Sattva 

Tikshna / Daruna – Sharp / Hard: Maiming killing, hypnotising, distracting. dreadful, ferocious, bitter. Skilled at acts of aggression, torture, cruelty, murder, punishment, mesmerising, tearing things apart, getting stabbed in the back, performing illegal activities, acts of war. Really hard training can be started or practiced when the moon is here: training dogs or breaking horses, doing really intense tantric sadhanas or more intense and difficult Hatha yoga practices meant to break our will or or perhaps kill something inside of ourselves. All kinds of incantation can be auspicious on these days: tantra, black magic, hypnotism, casting out demons (literal and metaphorical ones). more intense and difficult Hatha yoga practices. But also surgeries, or treatments like chemotherapy, initiating a difficult divorce or walking away from your kids, all these things that make up a really tough cookie. Ardra, Ashlesha, Jyeshta, Moola are all hard people with potentially sharp tongues. They often find themselves in tight places where they have to make really difficult choices, often life or death. Mars and Saturn combining energy in one of these nakshatras can be very dangerous in transit as well as in someones personality.

Kapha: Water + Earth = Cool, oily, heavy, stable, slow, soft, gross, sticky/cloudy, smooth

• Stable, slow, methodical, greedy
• Disturbed by sweet (Jupiter), salty (Moon), sour (Venus). 
• Pacified by pungent (Sun) and astringent (Saturn)

Adho Mukha – Downward Facing: Relates with research, containment, underground activity, digging wells or mines, drilling for oil, digging up the garden or other trenching activities. It may also relate with shame, pessimism or low self worth that causes you to keep your eyes cast downward. Bharani, Krittika, Ashlesha, Magha, Purva Phalguni, Vishakha, Mula, Purva Ashadha, and Purva Bhadra. Planets like Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu share this nature. 

Active: Planets here will actively pursue their interests. and people may be more active in the creation of meaning and knowledge in their lives. With the snake-like movement here wraiths like a snake, due to the teachings of Vashistha they make an effort for everything they have in life. They can be very independent doing much on their own without asking for help. Mars here can make a person very aggressive and angry. The moon here can make an active mind. Ashlesha natives are often either alert and ready to strike or scheming and calculating. Saturn will be like putting an old man jogging; he can still do well, but may follow the “slow and steady wins the race” mantra. 

Female: This can feminize the live karakas of planets placed here. It also relates to the chaos of the universe.  

Water: heavy, cold, movable, fluid, moist, liquid, soft & hard, clear

• Earth + Water = Cooperation
• Water does not cooperate with Air and impedes Fire
• Fire does not cooperate with Earth and impedes Water
• Air does not cooperate with Water and impedes Earth

Male Cat / Tom Cat: (pairs with Punarvasu). Male cats are self-going, polygamous, highly fertile most of the time, sexually active throughout the year, and they will fight to defend their territory. They mate loudly. frequently and indiscriminately. They have a unique barbed penis to stimulate ovulation in the females. And of course we cannot forget to mention their urine spray that makes so many cat lovers reconsider their love. Toms like to prowl around at night and will spend hours stalking and fighting as a kind of courtship ritual. The sex itself is over in a few seconds and the male runs away.

South: The events related to this nakshatra often happen in the southern direction. One can also face the south when worshipping this nakshatra.

Gods & Symbols of Ashlesha

Coiled snake: Kundalini Shakti, Nagaloka

All the evil and demonic forces are seen in the form of a snake. All our fears and secret desires and the really deep dark manipulative ways that we go about satisfying them are represented by snakes. The secrets that slowly poison the well, the hidden dangers and unexpected attacks striking suddenly as if from nowhere. They are so quiet, sneaky, reclusive and self reliant; they could lurk anywhere. They have divine wisdom of the universe and support its continued functioning the sex, passion and procreation. 

Their connection to the world comes primarily through their forked tongue which is very sensitive to the chemical composition of the air, and through their bodies which are in constant contact with the earth: they are very sensitive to vibrations coming through the ground. They have a strong connection to the earth, and what is underground. Their eyes are said to be able to see into the soul, they can penetrate the depths, and hypnotise their prey. A coiled snake also represents the kundalini energy at the base of the spine. 

They are celebrated on Nag Panchami, in the month of Shravan on the 5th day of shukla paksha (July or August) during the rainy season when they all come out from their burrows. They are worshiped by offerings of milk as well as in the temples and before idols in the home. A fast is typically maintained for the day. Celebration of this annual festival can be a good remedy for kal shapa yoga. 

Kundalini Shakti in Practice

Venus is the only planet that does not have a more obviously dedicated practitioners of Kundalini Tantra in some form. Even Mars makes for a very aggressive form of tantra for destroying ones enemies and the list could include other boxers and elite special forces people, but I tried to keep the list to those focused on some kind of spiritual path in their tantra though i n honesty it’s just as likely that someone at the highest ranks of special forces practices meditation.

The focus of Ashlesha is mind control. Mars is most likes to weaponise their mind control powers to crank up the pressure until the other person snaps. They can keep their cool in any situation.  There are many other yoga teachers and spiritualist not on this list, a few other astrologers can also be found with planets here.  This is the Shiva of the most fierce tantric warriors and there are war hawks in politics who have placements here as well. It’s also a popular nakshatra for psychologists like Jordan Peterson, Tolle and Piaget. They understand the tension between their own light and dark side; between heaven and hell. Ashlesha introduces people to the evils of life and they often come to recognise the beast which lies within themselves. A great deal of their life is spent feeding the beast and making it stronger, while at the same time learning to control that beast. They seek the balance a peaceful equinamious poise with the ability to strike and sieze what you want at the right moment.

A list of Kundalini masters and practicioners: Baba Ramdev, Sri Aurobindo, Masutatsu Oyama, Steven Seagal, Edward Smyth-Osbourn, Muhammed Ali, Pattabhi Jois, Shiv Code, Pranal Baba, Jordan Peterson, Shivananda, Mike Holliday, Robert Boustany, Michael Dordaro, Saint Francis Asssisi, Eckhart Tolle, Krishnamachaya, Osho, Mercury, Jupiter, Morihei Ueshiba, Bepin Behari, Gandhi, Alice Bailey.

Caduceus

Staff of Hermes (also known as Mercury to the Romans) has two snakes coiled around it with a set of wings near the handle. When it was given to him by his elder brother he was told it had the power to “unite in love all being divided by hate.” With this new power he became the messenger or ambassador of the gods capable of travelling freely through all worlds. The caduceus provides the bearer with a kind of diplomatic immunity that allows safe passage anywhere, including the underworld. The three parts of the staff, the rod, the snakes, and the wings symbolise the power, wisdom, and quickness necessary for journeys to far away lands.  Alternately the wings symbolise heaven and the snakes symbols hell. The staff in the middle is the earth.   

Hermes was well known as the god of commerce, travelling salesmen, foreign diplomats, and thieves and those lying on their deathbed. He was famous for his eloquence and rhetoric as he was capable of speaking from both sides of his mouth and convincing people that what is unworthy is worthy. This connects him also with modern law, politics, marketing, police in general and activism. It’s likely that he has some rulership over coinage, especially in the modern day where bills are rarely worth the paper they’re printed on. 

This symbol has also been used by publishers and printers and relates to the immunity we give to media that allows them to print both sides of a story without penalty. Postal carriers, and customs offices also use this symbol. In modern times it has come to be used as a symbol for the medical profession but there is some controversy over this due to the commercial implications of the symbol. However, it would remain a fitting symbol for organisation’s like the Peace Corps or Doctors Without Borders who commonly seek safe passage in foreign lands. The symbol of healing and medicine is actually the Staff of Aesculapius which only had a single snake wrapped around it. 

The Staff of Aesculapius

single snake coiled around a cypress branch. Aesculapius was Apollo’s son who was born from the mother who Apollo had just killed for being unfaithful. He had Hermes deliver the child while the mother was on the funeral pyre. Chiron was tasked with teaching the boy who eventually grew up to become the god of medicine. Hypocrites was the 20 generation member of the Cult of Aesculapius. It’s said that Aesculapius’ healing temples were filled with non-poisonous snakes. There were special chambers where patients could sleep and report on their dreams in order to direct the kind of treatments they would receive. Many of the healers of this lineage were wandering itinerant healers. 

Bowl of Hygieia (hygiene)

This cup or chalice with a snake wrapped around it was representative of Aeculapius’ wife or associate (or nurse). Hygieia was the goddess of health and hygiene. The image is used by pharmacists and has since merged with the image of the mortar and pestle used for blending ingredients. She was, however, most commonly worshiped for the prevention of illness in relation to hygiene. Her name has also been given to an asteroid belt, Hygiea, considered to be a dwarf planet, which incidentally suffered a major collision in 2019.

Shesha 

Adi Ananta Shesh Naag is the king of all snakes. He is the snake upon which Vishnu sits floating on the Ocean of MIlk. He is the servant, supporter and protector of Lord Vishnu. He is also called Sankarshana, the tamasic dark energy of Lord Narayana. It is he who creates the 11 Rudras who bring about ultimate destruction. Shesha means “the remainder” and he is all that is left after dissolution. This term is also used in mathematics referring to what is left over. He is said to hold all the planets of the universe in the hoods of his many heads. When he uncoils time moves forward and creation takes place. When he coils back up the universe ceases 

He is the eldest brother of the snakes born in the union between Kashyap and Kadru: Shesha, Vasuki, Airavata and Takshaka. Garuda is his step-brother. Shesha eventually left his family disheartened by their duplicity. After years of penance Brahma offered him a boon: he wanted only to keep his mind under control so that he could continue with his ascetic penances. Brahma then asked him to go beneath the earth and stabilise it.

Incarnated three times: as Laxman, as Balarama & as Ramanujacharya, a proponent of Vishishtadvaita school of vedanta He represents the peaceable sattvic aspect of snakes.  

Vasuki 

As an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva he took the place around Shiva’s neck and he allowed himself to be used as the string of the bow used by Shiva to destroy the three cities called: Tripura Dahanam 

He wrapped himself around Mount Mandara so that it could be used as a churning rope to get the Amrita from the ocean of milk. It was he who vomited the poison that threatened to destroy the universe during the churning of the ocean. The churning brought great strain to him and he almost died. It was Shiva who drank the poison to save everyone. He represents the rajasic-active aspect of snakes.

Tankshka

When Arjuna and the Pandavas conquered Khandavprastha they disturbed the nearby forest where the snakes were dwelling. Takshaka was greatly angered by this and attacked the army of the Pandavas, killing the whole army leaving only the Pandava brothers and their wife Draupadi. Arjuna then set fire to the Nagaloca forest. Takshaka vowed to kill one of the descendants of the Pandava lineage. 

The great king Parikshit, a grandson of Yudhisthira from the Mahabharata and thus a descendant of the famous Pandava brother, had resumed ruling Hastinapur under the Pandava name. He was greatly loved by his people. But one day he made the mistake of disrespecting the great Rishi Shamika whose son witnessed the event and cursed the king to die by snake bite within 7 days. Of course this was the fulfilment of a vow that was uttered two generations earlier. Takshaka bribed the only man who could cure snake bites to leave town, and then he stealthily snuck into the safe space king Parikshit had made for himself with hopes of surviving the stipulated period and killed him with a single venomous bite. 

The king’s son, Janamejaya, in turn vowed revenge and began performance of the Sarpamedha yagna which caused the snakes of the whole universe to fall into the havan kund. Takshaka, however, got himself caught up in the wheel of the chariot of Surya and the whole chariot was being dragged into the sacrificial fire along with the snake. The gods intervened to save Surya’s chariot, and in the process saved Takshaka, allowing him to continue the serpent lineage. 

Takshaka represents the tamasic-poisonous aspect of snakes. Some other significant snakes are Padma, Kambala, Karkotaka, Ashvatara, Dhritarashtra, Kaliya, Pingala, Vritra, Vala. But some of these might more rightly be attributed to Jyeshta (serpent eating its own tail) or Uttara Bhadrapada (the serpent of the deep).  

Garuda 

Known also as the devourer (of snakes), the king of birds, the golden bodied one with the most beautiful feathers. 

The snakes had worked out a truce with Garuda where he would get to eat one snake per day, but would have to leave them otherwise alone. The exiled Gandharva prince wanted to help the snakes so he decided to offer himself as Garuda’s food for one day. While he was on his way to the sacrificial site he came across a young woman weeping for the fate of her son, Shankhachur (king Cobra) whose day it was to be eaten. And though he offered himself, she didn’t feel it was right for a Gandharva Prince to take the place of a lowly serpent in the sacrifice. But he insisted, when Garuda came for a snake he picked up the prince and began to carry him off. But the serpent that was supposed to be eaten, calls out to Garuda and tells him of the mistake. Of course Garuda does not want to cause harm to the Gandharva prince so he releases him with little harm. But everyone is so impressed with the sacrificial enthusiasm that the snakes are given a greater boon to not be eaten at all. 

Laxman

Incarnation of Shesha who was born to protect and support his brother Rama. 

Balarama

The god of agriculture and strength was an incarnation of Shesha, Krishna’s elder brother, and son of Vasudeva and Rohini. He carried a mace and a plough. The was a straightforward, simple, honourable soul who was stronger than a whole herd of elephants but did not always understand the complex thinking of his younger brother. The two of them are always together in their youth. For every avatar of Vishnu that came to earth and avatar of Shesha also came to continue supporting and protecting his lord. Parallels are commonly made between Ram and his brother Laxman. It’s said they were born as a boon from Vishnu to Lord Indra to defeat the demon king Kamsa, king of Mathura. Vishnu took one white and one black hair from his head and promised they would complete the mission. The two brothers had contrasting complexions: Balarama was pale and white while Krishna was dark, black. Balarama dresses in blue garments which were given to him by Laxmi after he changed the course of the Yamuna river. 

His story mimics the biblical story of Sirius killing the children in order to avoid the curse of being killed by one of them. In this case, his mother’s brother was told he would be killed by her 8th child. He had smashed the first 6 newborns on the stone when Vishnu intervened and moved the foetus to the belly of Vasudeva’s first wife, Rohini. Balarama is sometimes called Sankarshana: the one who was dragged away. In the Bhagavata Purana, the great Lord says, “The whole of Shesha, which is my abode, will become the embryo in Devenki’s womb which will be transplanted in Rohini’s womb.” He grew up with his step mother and her family, including his younger brother, Krishna, caring for the cow. Farmers follow his instructions. Krishna cared for the livestock and Balarama ploughed the land. 

He killed Dhenuka: an asura sent by his fearful uncle intent on provoking his fate. 

He killed Pralamba who joined in a jumping contest with the condition that the loser would have to carry the winner on his back. Pralamba lost and started to carry Balarama around before reverting back to his true form as a much larger Asura and tried to run off with Balarama. Krishna stopped him and challenged him to suspend his powers to give a fair fight. Balaram, still holding onto his back bashed his head in. 

Chanura & Mushtika were two wrestlers sent by King Kamsa to kill the two brothers. Krishna defeated Chanura and Balarama defeated Mushtika. Then Krishna fulfilled the prophecy by killing Kamsa. Kamsa’s brother was upset by this and attacked but Balarama easily finished him. He was with Kishna through many of his adventures: they defeated Panchjana at the bottom of the ocean and Yama in his underworld to get their guru, Sage Sandipani’s son back to the world of the living. 

He once drunkenly insisted that Yamuna come to him so that he could take a holy dip in her waters. When she refused he became angry and used his plough to cut a course for Vrindavan with the goddess following along behind pleading for mercy.  

Defeated demons: He used his plough to lead the Yamuna past Vrindavan to pull the capital Hastinapur into Ganga. 

In the Mahabharata he taught Duryodhana & Bhima the art of using the mace. He remained neutral when war broke out. He instead went on pilgrimage with his nephew Pradtumna and some other farmers. He returned only on the last day to witness the fight between his two students. He threatened to kill Bhima when he won by striking Duryodhana in the thigh which he had exposed to Draupadi.  

He was later involved in the Yadava civil war in which they were all destroyed. He sat near a tree, went into meditation and died. A white snake came out of his mouth and returned to the underworld.

He appears on coins dated from 185 – 170 BCE with Vasudeva-Krishna on the other side. 

Hermes

was this day that President Nixon announced various measures to combat inflation & unemployment. He announced price and wage freezes as well as a suspension of the ability for investors to convert American dollars into gold. This “temporary” measure has never been reversed.

Ashlesha Association

We find the Mercury rulership heavily referenced here. Ashlesha is associated with rhetoric, and meeting with the enemy to negotiate a common goal, a peace, a truce in which the parties do not necessarily agree or even like each other, but on the face of things there is peace. But there may also be backstabbing and treachery at every opportunity. 

Stars of Ashlesha

Hydra: 

Six stars that make up a circle in the constellation of Cancer. A female water snake monster that Hercules was sent to kill. A small fresh water organism with regenerative potential that makes it seem as if it does not die of old age. Impervious to ageing. 

Hercules had to undergo 12 Labours as penance for killing his own family. He went crazy for a while first. The 2nd labour was to kill the Hydra, the two-headed, two-tailed water snake living in a lake at the entrance to the underworld. Her breath and blood and odour were toxic and poisonous.  Hercules covered his mouth and nose to protect himself from the toxic fumes. Hydra had regenerative potential, allowing two heads to grow back every time one was chopped off. Hercules had to use the flaming sword to chop the head and burn the neck in order to kill the Hydra. Hercules may have had help from his cousin Lolaus who cauterised the neck after Hercules chopped off the head. He may have used a golden sword gifted to him by Athena to cut off the last head. Hera, who had created the Hydra to kill Hercules, sent the crab to help Hydra but Hercules killed both beasts. After he killed the Hydra he put the body under a rock that still spews toxic gas till this day. He dipped his arrows in the blood to make them poison and used that poison to kill later foes. One river is said to still be polluted from the poison on Hercules’ arrow. 

The moral of this story relates with our unquenchable desires, when one is satisfied two grow up in its place. We need to put limits on our desires. There is also the hopelessness of falling back two steps for every one gained. 

Much of the Hercules story is driven by his step mother Hera who was angry over the many infidelities of her husband. She was especially jealous of Hercules, whose name means: the great gift of Hera. She had sent two snakes to kill him when he was a baby but he caught them and crushed them in his hands. She sent many beasts to kill him but was always unable. There’s a sense that the hero has become a hero because a lifetime of heroics was offered up to him from early in his life. He later got married and settled down, but Hera was still jealous of his happy life. She made him go crazy and he killed his wife and family while he was in an inebriated state. When he came to his senses he went to the Oracle of Delphi to ask what penance he might complete to earn redemption. He was told to see the king to get the ten labours. His victory over Hydra was considered null and void because he did not do it alone but was helped by his cousin. 

When he later used the Hydra poisoned arrows to kill the Centaur, a robe was dipped in the centaurs blood believing it to be love potions. But after some time the poison started to burn and fused the robe to his skin so that when he tore off the robe, he tore off his own skin. He eventually threw himself in a funeral fire to escape the pain and torment of the poison. 

Trees of Ashlesha

Nagkesar Tree: Mesua Ferrea

A slow growing tree that grows up to 30 meters tall and 2 m in diameter. It’s a hard and heavy wood. The flowers are bisexual and the fruit will usually contains one or two seeds. Nagkesar oil is used for haemorrhoids and piles. Ayurveda classifies it as astringent, bitter; light, dry. It promotes coldness and its post digestive effect is pungent.

Nag Champa:

Michelia champa, yellow champa, golden champa

Beautiful fragrant flowers that bloom May – October. They are easy to grow and maintain. A shallow root system allows them to be grown in pots, though in ideal situations they can grow to 30 metres. They love light and  They will only bloom once in two or three years unless the flower is removed before going to fruit as they use excessive energy to grow seeds.

Oil can be extracted from the flowers which is good for rheumatism, eye trouble and gout. Burning nag champa can be a good general remedy for Ashlesha people. The wood is good for cabinets and for burning.

Health: 

Joints, nails, ears

• Stomach problems, food poisoning, worms, obesity, poor diet, 
• Liver problems related to addiction or poisoning from chemical or natural  pollution from air, land, and water. 
• STD due to promiscuity
• Arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis 
• Platelets and blood clotting
• Nervous disordersNo peace of mind, active mind
• Organic mercury (ruled by Ashlesha) can trigger autoimmune disease 
• Blockage, clots, bi-polar.
• Antibodies & antibiotics
• Bacteria (See Sahtabhisha for the 1000 star blossoms and viruses. See also the shape of white blood cells).
• Bacteria, worms, maggots. Infection
• Hearing problems

Bacteria & Water Born disease

Bacteria causes many diseases in humans: cholera, pneumonia, influenza. Tuberculosis, measles, typhoid, malaria, legionnaire’s disease, anthrax, meningitis, dysentery. Some other water born diseases are likely to be related to Ashlesha as well: giardia, e coli, Hep A, samonella,

Snake Venom

Snake venom is a complex mix of proteins, enzymes, peptides, carbohydrates, lipids, metal ions, and organic compounds.

• • Cytotoxins, which cause necrosis, a complete breakdown of organic tissue, cells, and organs. Different types of cytotoxin target different cells in the body, meaning that while some target the heart, others target muscular tissue.
  • Neurotoxins, which disrupt and block neurotransmitters, lead to organs shutting down, paralysis, and respiratory distress. Different neurotoxins block different neurotransmitters.
  • Hemotoxins, which target the red blood cells and cause organ damage and tissue death via either causing blood to clot and prevent blood circulation in the body or by causing internal bleeding and haemorrhaging.

Immunity is usually developed after a long time of repeated exposure to small but increasing quantities of poison.  We can use a similar method for overcoming traumas a fears by allowing ourselves to be subjected to our triggers while in a safe space where we can practice non-reactivity.

Hearing loss

Caused by damage to the Cochlea in the ear. Often described like a snail, it also appears like a coiled snake. The hairs on the cochlea are what pick up the sound through their special sensitivity to vibration. Those sounds are then turned into nerve impulses which are processes in the brain. 

The cochlea is filled with two different kinds of fluids, one is a unique composition of endolymph. It’s very rich in potassium (150mM), very poor in sodium (1mM) and almost completely lacking in calcium (20-30 µM). This is not found anywhere else inside the body. The other fluid is common. There seems also to be a connection between dehydration and hearing loss which may be related to the potassium levels suggesting that ashlesha has something to do with potassium.

Auditory information first goes to the brain stem where a decoding of basic signals such as duration, intensity and frequency takes place. Other parts of the brain help us to understand where the sound came from. The thalamus, at the base of the cerebrum, then gets involved in preparing us to respond vocally. The last neuron of the primary auditory pathway connects the thalamus with the auditory cortex. At this stage the message has already been largely decoded. However, in the auditory cortex the signal is moreover recognised, memorised and may eventually result in a response.

Hearing aids or cochlear implants may be used to correct hearing problems related to the cochlea. I suspect the ear drum has some relationship with Dhanishta, but we will look into that side of hearing when we discuss that nakshatra. 

Good and Evil in the Brain

The para-limbic system is a “behaviour circuit” responsible for processing emotions of the brain, including the amygdala and pre-frontal cortex.

R – Complex: the most ancient part of our brain relating to reptiles: insight, intuition, perception, wisdom, cunning, concentration and sexuality. 

Cancer represents the Breast

Ashlehsa: The dual use of the breast. To nurture and provide temptation. Ashlesha is all about covering things up. It’s the trap that women set with their breasts and their cleavage. It’s the atmosphere of sexuality that creeps into relationships between men and women. Ashesha is the sexuality of the breast which is like playing with snakes. This is the dangerous game of sexuality that starts with the puffing of the chest by both sexes. It’s primordial, from our reptilian brain, and it’s a huge problem that we have to contend with. We have to learn how to tame this snake and keep and eye on it knowing that it can come out of its hole at any time. Again, self control in the midst of some of our strongest longing.    

Fluids related to movement and fluids which keep relay messages (Cancer/Mercury). To register vibration in the cochlea, to allow free movement of the joints, messenger hormones, the fluids which conduct electricity in the body (though these might relate to Indra in Jyeshta).

Pushya: Practical use of the breast to nurture and provide protection, in the way we hug to touch chests or hold a child to our chest. Of course there is also the milk and nipple; the little flower on top. 

Punarvasu: The fat of the breast. Fluids that provide protection. The emotional memories involved with bonding

Remedies

Due to the high stress nature of these people’s lives it will do them well to practice somewhat more intense and stressful yogic or self improvement techniques. The trick is to use breathing or other relatively safe methods to induce a stress response throughout which we try to remain at peace. Polar bear swims do this when the ice cold water shocks the body but we remain calm and controlled. Many of the Wim Hof practices work with the stress response in this way.  

This works in much the same way as the immune system. As we are introduced to our enemies more and more and in relatively benign circumstances we are more capable of defending ourselves in the case of an attack. 

Exposition

Like a snake they can be sensual and seductive using their underground knowledge in deceptive, cold-blooded ways to lure people in in order to feel safe and comfortable.  They will use people to carry out an agenda, emotionally entwining them until their goals are achieved, at which point they will coldly walk away; until their next victim comes along completely unaware of what is lurking in the grass..

They do well in any field related to drugs and medicines and they can often blur the line between the two using poison and medicine and medicine as poison. Doctors, pharmacists, drug dealers, chemists all relate to the poisonous qualities of Ashlesha, but so do petrochemicals, cigarettes, and many of the other poisons we use on a daily basis. 

Their connection to the underground can just as easily relate them with criminal organisations, prostitution, sexuality, and gambling as it can to astrology, tantra, occult and black magic. They will like to move in the dark or undercover or in deceptive ways which makes them suited for spying, or other kinds of undercover work. 

They can be suspicious bordering on paranoia. Heavy afflicting in Ashlesha can bring on Schizophrenic episodes. Lots of emotional manipulation is usually present in a person’s life and they can be very selfish and sexually promiscuous.

They may have a connection with snakes or reptiles themselves: owning them, selling them, catching them, caring for them.  They may be snake charmers both figuratively and literally. A forked tongue, hypnotic eyes and emotional manipulation can be very effective in many fields where fakes and cheaters are common: law and politics, occultists, channellers, fake psychics and even yoga teachers may all be happy to gain from the suffering and misfortune of others. They can be vicious opportunists.  

Pada’s of Ashlesha

Mercury 

Communicative, analytical, logical, quick, youthful, students, teammates, adolescents,  learning ability, speaking, writing, gesturing, messaging, media, counting, accounting, measuring, narrative, calculating.

Cancer + Mercury: Intelligent, teaching, writing, measuring out the land and the home. Emotional narratives, emotionally calculating, rhythmic speech, analytical caretaking, logical boundaries, well reasoned emotions, duplexes, defensive gestures, versatile habits. Will do well in any kind of educational or training atmosphere.

Pada 1 (Cancer + Mercury + Sagittarius):  : Usually belonging to the educated classes of doctors, pharmacists, healers or lawyers generously working through the imbalances of the world. They could be involved in local policy initiatives and it’s likely they will be very private about their personal life.

Sun: Martin Sheen (1), Lance Alworth (1), Martha Stewart (1),  Knut Hamsun (1). Moon: Johnny Michael Spann (CIA (1)), King Louis XIV France (1), Lucy London (1), Marilyn Manson (1),Tymm Poolsland (1), Mao (1), Bepin Behari (1), Jaime Brewer, Daria Bali (1), Bhairava Anuttara (1), Christano Ronaldo (1). Mars: Diane Keaton (1), Chetna Boyd (1), Komilla Sutton (1), Emmanuel Macron (1), William Butler Yeats (1), Jacque Fresco (1), Alexei Navalny (1), Sara Quin (1), Tegan Quin (1). Mercury: Sylvester Stallone (1), Cheryl Crane (1), Castro (1), George Bush Jr (1), Jenn-Child (1). Jupiter: Robert De Nero (1), Stock Crash 1907 (1), Joel Cran (1). Venus: WW I (1), King Francis I France (1), Tracy Head (1), Whitney Houston (1), Doc Holliday (1), Peter Smith (AI, Comp. Science, Mathematics (1)). Saturn: Arnold Schwarzenegger (1), James Boswell (1), Duane Gadd (1), Dana Black (1), Chris Martin (1). Rahu: John Walker Lindh (American Jihadist(1)), Lizette (1), Paris Hilton (1), Pranaal Baba (1), Dene (1), Daniel Balabane (1), Joslin West (1), John Milton (1), Pam Gadd (1), Jordan Peterson (1). Ketu: 

Pada 2 (Cancer + Mercury + Capricorn): The most manipulative pada, they can be very cunning and cruel in their quest for power and status. They will not hesitate to deceive others to get what they want. They can be very possessive in their relationship and their things. “What’s mine is mine” (and sometimes what’s yours is mine too if they can find a loop hole. 

• Mars is in a debilitated nakshatra but in exalted Navamsha in this pada . 

Sun: Hiroshima (2), Keya D. (2), Moon: Martin Sheen (2), Samasati (2), Hugh Laurie (House MD (2)), Shakiyamaan (2), Jean Piaget (2), Sydney Biddle Barrow (Stripper (2)), Frederick II of Prussia (2) Mars: Serena Williams (2), Hillary Clinton (2), Maxine Waters (2), Michael Green (quantum Physics (2)), Jet Li (2), Leonard Cohen (2), Shakiyamaan (2)

Pada 3 (Cancer + Mercury + Aquarius):  Ghandanta pada. They are excellent at connecting the dots and make very good diagnosticians working in health care fields. Negative influences to this pada can be deadly for the mother; possibly filling her with poison in some way. 

Pada 4 (Cancer + Mercury + Pisces) Mars is debilitated at 28 degrees here. Ghandanta pada.  Watery moon does well in Jupiter’s pada. They may be involved with private schools or private tutors. They are less likely to be the manipulative one in relationships and they may end up as therapists or advisors in some capacity. They often do well in providing safe private space for others, possibly in the hotel or resort business, in drug rehabilitation, or perhaps even studio, office or lab space, 

Planets In Ashlesha

Ascendant:

For the most part this Ascendant gives thin lithe bodies like a snake, quick movements and coordination thru most of their lives.  There seems to be a pattern of weight gain later in life (often related with stomach or intestinal problems. They are good fighters, dancers and athletes. They are deadly diplomates and very good politicians. They excel and deception, baiting the enemy and deception. Some of them are directly associated with magic, black magic, kundalini and at least a few that are not directly connected with this kind of thing tend to at least keep some kind of lucky charm or believe in superstition and astrology. 

As the ascendant lord we see the snake like characteristics most clearly in their body and personality. They do well in high pressure situations and often live high stress lifestyles. Several NHL goaltenders appear on this list. I’m sure this speaks for their coordination as well as reminding us of the function of the immune system defending against attack.

Many of these people have a knack for using peoples words or actions against them in the way the Stephen Seagal uses an opponents momentum against him in Aikido.

Edward Smyth-Osbourn is a highly trained NATO commander who will receive the Golden Stick (Hermes staff) from the queen upon retirement marking him as one of the most trusted and capable royal guards. It’s interesting that the goaltenders also hold a kind of stick that makes them immune from much the violent side of hockey as well. Hitler had a walking stick that he used to climb 13 mountains in Europe. Marylin Monroe was famous for her lip stick. Thomas Jefferson used an ivory walking stick and Otto von Bismark also carried a lovely walking stick with him. IO’m siure there are more examples

“Dance like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” ~ Mohammad Ali

There are a couple of exceptions to the rule of thinness with this nakshatra. Many Ashlesha natives tend to put on weight later in life which may be the result of stomach/digestive problems. Michael Moore has Moon, Mars and Rahu together in 6th house with Saturn aspecting so severe stomach problems and probably surgical procedures are likely.  Anita Dzus likewise has stomach problems which seem to be hereditary.

Susan Strasberg, Alice Bailey, Chelsea, Texas Girl, Pelosi, JK Rowling, Tracy Head, Tanya Tucker, Marilyn Monroe, Anita Dzus, Gabriella, Indra Gandhi, Otto von Bismark, Christopher Columbus, Charlemagne, Hitler, Thomas Jefferson, Nehru, Ralph Klein, Baba Ramdev, Sri Aurobindo, Masutatsu Oyama, Steven Seagal, Edward Smyth-Osbourn, Muhammed Ali, Hulk Hogan, Johnny Depp, Ed Belfour, Martin Brodeur, Jaroslav Halak, Curtis Joseph, Buster Keaton, Marilyn Manson, Micheal Moore, Zack Hanson, Denton Cooley (Surgeon, 1st heart implant), Robert Hand, Fifth Business Snow Ball (fiction), George Carlin, Frederick Engels

Sun: 

They spot light puts them in a tight position and they tend to express themselves in a do or die fashion. Many of these folks have either been in trouble from the law or have had to undergo detox and/or rehab. Martin Sheen, Martha Stewart, Doc Holliday, Larry Nassar. They are for the most part manipulative and insincere. George Soros uses slogans of democracy and freedom to cause regime change that is typically worse than what was there before. Maxine Waters is famous for race-baiting.  India has the threat of riot and war hanging over its head since independence agreements poisoned the well of unity. Castro faced numerous assassination attempts from America.  They all seem to have some imminent threat hanging over them. 

Martin Sheen (1), Lance Alworth (1), Martha Stewart (1),  Knut Hamsun (1), Hiroshima (2), Keya D (2), Hulk Hogan (3), Joe Rogan (3), Whitney Houston (3), Julius Caesar (3), Jean Piaget (3), Herbert Hoover (3), George Soros (3), Robert William Johnstone (3), Castro (4), India (4), Josef Haller (4), Maxine Waters (4), Komilla Sutton (4), Erwin Schrodinger (Quantum Mechanics (4)), Doc Holliday (4), Larry Nassar (4), Nixon’s 1971 Address (dollar decoupled from gold (4)),

“As far as the game of marbles is concerned, there is therefore no contradiction between the egocentric practice of games and the mystical respect entertained for rules. This respect is the mark of a mentality fashioned, not by free cooperation between equals, but by adult constraint.” ~Jean Piaget ~

Moon: 

Johnny Michael Spann (CIA (1)), King Louis XIV France (1), Lucy London (1), Marilyn Manson (1), Tymm Poolsland (1), Mao (1), Bepin Behari (1), Jaime Brewer, Daria Bali (1), Bhairava Anuttara (1), Christano Ronaldo (1), Martin Sheen (2), Samasati (2), Hugh Laurie (House MD (2)), Shakiyamaan (2), Jean Piaget (2), Sydney Biddle Barrow (Stripper (2)), Frederick II of Prussia (2), Lance Alworth (3), Simone de Beauvoir (3), Larry Flynt (3), Kris Kristofferson (3), Teah Field (3), Pierre Trudeau (4),  Robert Yeats (4), Jane Fonda (4), Gandhi (4),  Margaux Hemingway,  Nehru, 

Mars

Mars is debilitated in Ashlesha. Mars typically weaponises the emotional manipulation in Ashlesha. It can be good for activism, environmental protection and occasionally for police officers and military who do a lot of dirty work, but this Mars usually causes many problems in a person’s personal life. 

This position reminds me of the stories of baby Hermes when he went out to steal his brother’s cattle. You used every kind of deceit and trickery along the way in order to avoid being caught, he even bribed an old shepherd to keep quiet and then, knowing that deceit lies everywhere, returned in disguise to test the power of his original bribe with a new one. He killed the greedy old man knowing that the same greed was in his own heart. When he was caught by the divine vision of his family he continued to plead his innocence appealing to his state as an infant he is said to have naively inquired: “What are cows?” It’s very difficult to trust these people because the will time and again weaponise emotions, and resort to the worst kinds of deceit and trickery to cover up their original sin.

It’s interesting that Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido has his moon here while and his most famous student, Steven Seagal has his ascendant here. much of the training they do involves working with the force of the opponent. The role of Mars is to weaponise whatever he touches and in this case we find them weaponising whatever differences already exist. Language and rhetoric can be quite vicious with this placement as they seek to manipulate whatever they can for their own advantage. They never want to let go of anything that they believe is theirs.

Diane Keaton (1), Chetna Boyd (1), Komilla Sutton (1), Emmanuel Macron (1), William Butler Yeats (1), Jacque Fresco (1), Alexei Navalny (1), Sara Quin (1), Tegan Quin (1), Serena Williams (2), Hillary Clinton (2), Maxine Waters (2), Michael Green (quantum Physics (2)), Jet Li (2), Leonard Cohen (2), Shakiyamaan (2), Maxmillian Robespierre (3), Anne Frank (3), Harrison Ford (3), Al Gore (3), Buddy Holly (3),, Lance Alworth (4), Martin Sheen (4), Joseph Pilates (4), Caravaggio (4), Robert Boustany (4), Morihei Ueshiba (founder of Aikido (4)), Kamala Harris (4), Thomas Jefferson (4), Arthur Schlesinger Jr (Liberal intellectual (4)) ,Alice Bailey, Bridgette Bardot, Lauren Haris, Calamity Jane, Ray Kroc, Sophia Loren, Demi Moore, Boy George O’Dowd, Joseph Lilates, Sara/Tegan Quin, Kenny Rogers, Arthur Schlesinger Jr,   Sigourney Weaver, Jane West,

Mercury

Mercury does daily well in this position, he becomes the master of disguise, but they remain somewhat adolescent 

WW II was marked by the use of the gas chamber on the one hand but also by the fact that nobody used deadly gases on the battlefield like they did in WW I. 

Sylvester Stallone (1), Cheryl Crane (1), Castro (1), George Bush Jr (1), Jenn-Child (1), Patrick Swayze (2), Cheech Martin (2), Josep Rhodes (2), Stephen Wolfram (Mathematics (3)),  Robertson Davies (3), Swami Paramananda Saraswati (3), Robin Williams (4), Josef Haller (4), Baghdad, Usain Bolt, Dave Chappelle, Cheryl Crane, Gerald Ford, Vitali Klitschko, Jorge Paulo Lemann, Kevin Spacey, Shania Twain, Natalie Wood

Jupiter: 

Robert De Nero (1), Stock Crash 1907 (1), Joel Cran (1), Joe Rogan (2), Sonny Liston (2), Pierre Trudeau (2), Roger Waters (2), Rabindranath Tagore (3), Keya D. (3), Jean Piaget (4), Sri Aurobindo, Friedrich Bayer, Jean Beliveau, Johnny Cash, Stephane Charbonnier, Stock Crash (banker’s panic), Robert Curry, Wild Bill Hickok, Teddy Kennedy, Osho, Bob Saget, Elizabeth Taylor, Coenraad Jacob Temminck, Greta Thunberg, 

Venus:

Difficult love life, unable to maintain boundaries. Will often get entangled in affairs. They may like an element of the mystery of the unknown to their relationships and it’s likely that there will be some dark secret between partners. You could say this for relationships with women generally so women may experience this kind of energy with women. It can be very “catty” and big crowds of women will feel like being in a snake pit. Women are likely to use their sexuality in a dangerous provocative way. But love, beauty, art, harmonious agreements, and marriage will be used as a diplomatic measure to get inside the enemy camp. But the danger is that one might just fall in love with the enemy. Enemy can be a strong word, it can relate with getting involved with people who are of a different caste or culture as they seek to bring opposites together. Their love life will be very intense. Men with this will get involved with the “femme fetale.”  But this can also promote durable, though troubled, relationships. They can see the beauty of the entanglement, they become possessed by the intensity and the danger lurking everywhere. There are likely to be secrets, whispers and perhaps unproven allegations about your relationships as well. 

We find this position connected to people and events with some of the most intriguing “conspiracy theories” & “cover up theories” swirling around them. Alan Pinkerton, the first private detective in the USA literally has the Pinkerton Liability Doctrine named after him. This doctrine literally defines the scope of liability in crimes of criminal conspiracy. Edward Snowden  gained mass appeal by uncovering mass undercover surveillance programs, but now anyone who talks about him or his contribution as a whistleblower is relegated as a conspiracy theorist. However in this case we can also see how he has received mass appreciation for his bravery. And what about Michael Jackson who is the king of pop, but also the king of the gossip column when it comes to his sex life? We can also see how he projects this snake like image. I’m not sure if we could find out how many of these people incorporate snake skin into their fashion and style; it seems like a reasonable proposition. (Perhaps those who have this position can let me know?). 

George Orwell is perhaps the king when it comes to warning the world about the creeping threat of the conspiracy upon which all others are founded. He reminds us that the government is not our friend, of course we have to work with it, but it’s a toxic relationship. Whenever the government tells us that it’s for our own good, we can know for certain that it is for their own good, not ours. One interesting thing about Venus in Ashlesha is that relatively few people (in my data bank) seem to have this placement. 

George Bush has the distinction of being at the centre of the 9/11 conspiracy and sloppy cover up. Venus is really good at diplomacy, but she is also really good at wearing a mask. She is the guru of the illusive forces so she can do very well in Ashlesha, it just might be a really intense ride. This placement essentially charges the whole atmosphere with Ashlesha in some way. Even Sylvester Stallone clearly had a love of the image of being behind enemy lines. Or an enemy from within like Larry Nassar, a poison in women’s gymnastics in the USA. And of course we all know that Peter Smith’s Artificial Intelligence is a double edged sword. As I was about to discuss Indian politics which is rife with backbiting and corruption, it also occurred to me that their National Emblem (or Coat of Arms) is the Ashoka Pillar; a pillar of peace and diplomacy (attained by first viciously conquering other lands.) It is also printed on the Rupee and has appeared on stamps to remind us of some other Ashlesha areas we can consider for this placement. The 9/11 twin-towers also stool like pillars. And of course there are the rumours of those pillars in the basement. I have no doubt they have stamps and currency with them on it as well. 

WW I (1), King Francis I France (1), Tracy Head (1), Whitney Houston (1), Doc Holliday (1), Peter Smith (AI, Comp. Science, Mathematics (1)), Joslin West (2), India (2), Edward Snowden (2), Nixon’s 1971 Address (dollar decoupled from gold (3)), George Orwell (3), Michael Jackson (3), Larry Nassar (3), 9/11 (3), George Bush Jr (4), Sylvester Stallone (4), Dawn Doell (4), Alan Pinkerton (Detective (4)), Gwyneth Paltrow (4),

Saturn:

Duty to teach, nurture, heal by removing the poison or using poison as a means of healing. They are often self medicated in some way, tactless and may not take criticism well. They may work underground, possibly in the sewers and also have underground knowledge of astrology, tantra or the occult. Saturn in Ashlesha in 9th house with aspects from Venus is good for astrology, underground guru (not a popular one). Malefic influence can cause misuse of the knowledge. Saturn with malefic influence can make the mother poison somehow.  Saturn with Venus or Jupiter can make a medicine man.

I can speak of my own experience with Saturn in Ashlesha 9th house. This Saturn rules my 4th house so I’ve always been nomadic and may home has often been supplied by my employer, I’ve mostly lived near water. My higher education was delayed for work and my work involved trenching and piping. My stick in those days would have been a seven foot steel crowbar and perhaps the shovel. I’ve worked in sewer, washed dished, and don’t some fishing in my life; many dangerous jobs, underground and sometimes under the table. I grew up fishing; baiting hooks and baiting traps. This Saturn is 2nd from my moon so my mothers family is fairly solid working class family and mother was also a bit older. I eventually went to university and studied languages, communications logic and rhetoric; and all those topics so beloved by Mercury.  This calculating mind eventually turned to astrology. Then there’s the spiritual aspect of this placement in 9th house which has turned my beliefs very conservative and old fashioned. I live mostly in Varanasi now which provides the wet filth of Saturn in Ashlesha while the 9th house gives me a spiritual of philosophical setting; it’s kinda like living in a big ashram with no rules. Moon, the ruler of my 9th house goes into the 8th house highlighting research and Tantra; while Mercury, the ruler of Ashlesha goes into Sagitarius highlighting my humanistic philosophical side. I have also studied several holistic healing methods. It could be mentioned that my mother was a forensic psych. nurse and I grew up studying her text books. All of which has a strong influence of Ashlesha.  This Saturn in 12th gives strong powers of renunciations, sacrifice, and fortitude; cold comforts.

Saturn in Ashlesha reflects the simple blue collar working class culture and rhythms. people get a lot of experience being in a tight spot. 

House is usually old and there may be water problems, leaks, humidity , black mould, sewer blockage. They have to spend considerable time and effort for upkeep and maintenance. They are caretakers of the home and the land in so many ways.

 

Frederick the Great who has Saturn in Ashlesha with the Moon conjunct and Mars aspecting set out to tame or conquer nature. He set upon a massive project of land reclamation, draining swamps and building canals   once told Voltaire that, “Whoever improves the soil, cultivates land lying waste and drains swamps, is making conquests from barbarism.” Although this had a huge tole on the natural landscape (which puts me in mind of the story Rama war against Taksha the serpent mother) he also had a great love for nature, plants and animals. He didn’t like hunting and set up the first veterinary hospital; he didn’t even wears because he saw it the same as having someone stick a fork in your belly. He was very much a man of two natures who could care for his home while destroying his enemies. It should be noted that he was also known as the “Potato King” for introducing them to the region. The other things we find with Ashlesha placements is architecture. Louis XIV with Venus in Ashlesha built grand and beautiful palaces while Frederick the Great with Saturn here saw the home and the land in a much more pragmatic way. Though culture was important to him and he also revived the Opera, the libraries, sculpture, and the fine arts, as well as the sciences and mathematics.

He became increasingly solitary later in life preferring to spend time with animals than people. By his late 60’s he was suffering from asthma, gout and other ailments but he continued to rise before dawn, drank six to eight cups of coffee a day, “laced with mustard and peppercorns”, and attended to the affairs of the nation. 

They can be immune to fear and hard living and be very self controlled.  They have simple habits, but they can become very set in those habits; this can of course include addictive habits.  This Saturn in Ashlesha also contributes to kidney problems  and hearing deficiency.  

Charlie Chaplin played the working man and Schwarzenegger appeals to the working class masses. Connection with the 4th house will give a spartan home. Saint Francis Assisi exemplified this with his ascendant lord Saturn in Ashlesha; and we need to consider what the working class community was like. Hearing trouble is common with this placement though it may not come until later in life. “Thick skin.” It may also be related to kidney trouble, as it hardens and dries some of the watery cavities; which is a dictum that we can extend to the other body parts depending on the placement of this. This Saturn in the 12th house might make them dream of a simple life and possibly take long trips to watery places . In the 9th house he might create a work to live scenario offering some kind of service for a place to live. I’ve seen this even in the charts of wealthy people. They are very likely to take a long pilgrimage to watery places or places associated with snakes. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger (1), James Boswell (1), Duane Gadd (1), Dana Black (1), Chris Martin (1), Charlie Chaplin (2), Mike Holliday (2), Al Gore (2), Anita Dzus (2), Liv Tyler (2), Dominic Monagha (2), Camillo Wiethe (dermatologist (2)), Indra Gandhi (2), Robert Boustany (2), MIchael Dodaro (2), Arthur Schlesinger Jr (Liberal intellectual (2)), Hitler (2), India (2), J.J. Rousseau (2), Alicia Machado (actress, singer, model (2)), Frederick II Prussia (2), Martina Klein (model, television, comedian (2)), Mark Duplas (2), Indra Gandhi (2), Israel (2), Jack Dorsey (2), Knut Hamsun (3), Jerome Deschamps (3),   Thomas Clarence (3), Stephen King (3), Ludwig von Beethoven (3),  Chester Arthur, Saint Francis of Assisi (3), Eckhart Tolle (3), Hillary Clinton (4), Krishnamacharya (4), Ionannis Pallikaris (founder of LASIK (4)), Leon Festinger (Psychologist (4)), John Burge (4), 

Rahu:

Jordan Peterson‘s fascination with snakes led him to study the totalitarian governments and then through the practice of clinical psychology to try to understand evil; pointing out along the way that we all have some of it inside of ourselves and highlighting how we have to meet with it and get to know it and try to control it. But his ashlesha keeps rising up in the form of addiction. Much of what he talks about concerns this tug of war between good and evil and the churning of the ocean. His Rahu Venus in 3rd house cancer he believes to be “the antidote for chaos,” his Saturn Ketu in Capricorn 9th house. Venus is of course the guru of the demons, especially Rahu and Ketu. He gets appreciation for his communications and media messaging. He has a strong focus on the free will side of things and seems to feel defeated over the things in life he cannot change. We should note that his common message that a person should “clean their own room” before trying to change the world is often criticised as being hypocritical since his own life is not all that clean. 

John Milton has God tell the angel Raphael to go and speak with Adam (and Eve). half this day as friend with friend

“Converse with Adam, […]

and such discourse bring on,

As may advise him of his happie state,

Happiness in his power left free to will,

Left to his own free Will, his Will though free,

Yet mutable; whence warne him to beware

He swerve not too secure: tell him withall

His danger, and from whom, what enemie

Late falln himself from Heav’n, is plotting now

The fall of others from like state of bliss;

By violence, no, for that shall be withstood,

But by deceit and lies; this let him know,

Lest wilfully transgressing he pretend

Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd.”

~Paradise Lost~

John Walker Lindh (American Jihadist(1)), Lizette (1), Paris Hilton (1), Pranaal Baba (1), Dene (1), Daniel Balabane (1), Joslin West (1), John Milton (1), Pam Gadd (1), Jordan Peterson (1), Andreanne (2), Georgia O’Keeffe (2), Bernard Montgomery (WWII Commander (2)), Bepin Behari (2), Ranabir (2), Roger Waters (2), Caravaggio (2), Cheryl Crane (2), Robert De Nero (2), Jann Arden (2), Paul Newman (2), Clint Black (3), Garth Brooks (3), James Garfield (3), Sivananda (3), Oxford (3), Cheryl Crow (3), Jim Carrey (3), Steve Irwin (3), Howard Hughes (4), Hunter Schafer (model, actress, LGBTQ activist (4)), Erwin Schrodinger (Quantum Mechanics (4)), Bugsy Siegel (4), Hans Asperger (4),  Queen Bloody Mary

Ketu: 

They have little privacy and there are few boundaries when they get a little bit of it at random times. Ashlehsa suggests being covered, not buried very deep, everyone knows what’s going on, but it remains covered. Ketu here suggests that on one hand their whole lives might be a lie with one cover up after another; while on the other hand they aren’t really covering anything up at all. Ketu is without boundaries, suggesting Ketu in ashlesha leaks like a sieve.  

Julian Assange, King Louis XVII of France, Ingrid Bergman, Pattabhi Jois, Vitali Klitschko (Mayor of Kyiv), Elon Musk, Princess Maxima of Netherlands, Ma Huateng, Winona Ryder, Adam Segwick, all have the benefic Jupiter aspecting Ketu suggesting that Jupiter can help smooth things over in regard to this placement. It no doubt relates to some kind of hidden wealth related to this position. They will likely have wisdom about the dark arts, surveillance and counter surveillance, plots and schemes but tend to use this in a more benevolent manner. I should point out that King Louis XVII was the small son of Louis the XVI who infamously met his fate at the guillotine. Louis the XVII only lived until about the age of ten and spent the last half of his life imprisoned. 

There can be no shame with this Ketu placement as he removes the boundaries of decency, good taste and culture. He can be ambivalent about culture or negate it altogether. Ashlesha is already in the darker corners of the home where the snakes and the rats live, it’s easy to see how Ketu can bring hauntings into the house. Something my teacher called unconscious samskaras and suggested I ignore them when they came up. Many of these people have left ghost stories in their wake or even became ghosts themselves. Walls were no longer a boundary. This can be a very ungrounded position. There may be figurative or literal snakes or rats in the home or within your personal boundaries. This will be the same whether you’re a geologist doing field work, or Emma Watson getting lasciviously glared at, Jefferey Epstein doing anything, Clive Barker writing a story, Nixon announcing the end of the gold standard. Anyways, that’s just the way things are with Ketu. He’s not really paying attention until all is lost, and then there could come great grief.   

 

“When we’ve got these people who have practically limitless powers within a society, if they get a pass without so much as a slap on the wrist, what example does that set for the next group of officials that come into power? To push the lines a little bit further, a little bit further, a little bit further, and we’ll realize that we’re no longer citizens – we’re subjects.”

― Edward Snowden

This quote comes from Emma Watson but it shows a lack of concern over the clothing that covers her. This could translate into revealing see through clothing or nudity as we,  but here we merely find an ambivalence about the look of what covers us. “Wearing unbranded cheap clothes does not mean you’re poor, remember you have a family to feed, not a community to impress.” ~ Emma Watson ~

 

And then we find Princess Maxima of the Netherlands discussing culture in negative terms; not necessarily in a bad way, she just negates the idea of a solid culture and suggests that culture is more like a ghost which is there, but not there. “… ‘the’ Dutch identity? No, I have not found it. The Netherlands is: large windows without curtains so everyone can look in; but also adherence to privacy and coziness. The Netherlands is: one biscuit at tea; but also great hospitality and warmth. The Netherlands is: sobriety, control and pragmatism; but also the experience of intense emotions together. The Netherlands is far too diverse to summarize in one cliché. ‘The’ Dutchman does not exist. As a consolation I can tell you that ‘the’ Argentinian also does not exist. I therefore find it very interesting that the title of the report of the Scientific Council for Government Policy is not ‘the Dutch identity’. But: Identification with the Netherlands. That leaves room for development and diversity.” ~Princess Maxima of Netherlands~

Emma Watson (1), Night of the Long Knives (1), Nixon’s 1971 Address (dollar decoupled from gold (2)), Almas (2), Elon Musk (2), Julian Assange (2), Pattabhi K Jois (2),  Ingrid Bergman (3), Knut Hamsun (4), Patrick Swayze (4), Putin (4), Clive Barker (4), Dan Aykroyd, Baghdad,  Roseanna Barr, Ranjan Bose, Jean Chretien, Shiv Code, Jefferey Epstein, King Louis XVII of France, Yuri Gagarin (first human in space), Glasgow, Rutherford Hayes, Andrew Jackson, Vitali Klitschko (Mayor of Kyiv), Rue McClanahan, Robert B. Neller (Marine corps commander), Princess Maxima of Netherlands (3), Ma Huateng Pony (mobiles, messaging, payment), Christopher Reeve (paralysis), Winona Ryder, Adam Segwick (Geologist), Gloria Steinem, Lev Simkhovich Vygodsky (Childhood development Psychologist, often contradicts Piaget)

Case Studies

Cheryl Crow (Rahu Ashlesha): sleep  paralysis.

Elon Musk – Ketu in Ashlehsa

Elon Musk has this Ketu in his 2nd house highlighting the volatility of his liquid assets. During his Mars-Ketu period in 2010 he put up all the cash he had ($36 million) to keep Tesla afloat. Although he’s one of the richest people in the world he had to take personal loans from friends so that he would have some liquid cash for day to day living.  Ashlesha ensured that although he’s rich all his money is tied up in stocks and investments. Actually, his second house is completely destroyed from aspects by Saturn and Mars as well. This is not what one would expect from one of the richest people in the world, but I get the sense that if him I and I went for coffee that I would have to buy it for him. This is the strange manipulation of reality caused by Ketu in Ashlesha.  He is also a well known proponent of crypto-currenty and block-chain technology both of which are strongly tied with both Ketu and Ashlesha. He was also co founder of PayPal. Ketu really broke all the boundaries of currency and accounting for the movement of money around the world. Part of the reason for this extra-ordinary influence in this regard is that the lord of Ashlesha is powerfully situated in Punarvasu/Gemini in the first house.  In many ways he is Hermes/Mercury/Buddha Incarnate. 

His speech is also very unique. He speaks very quickly stringing his words together without proper intonation. Some have called it cluttered speech. It’s just like his brain is moving too fast. He has also been accused of saying inappropriate things, and his words have a strong effect on the stock prices of crypto and tesla. He has also been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. 

Asperger’s in a genetic disorder 2nd house. The Man it’s named after, Hans Asperger, had Rahu in Ashlesha and possibly in his ascendant but rectification work needs to be done.  One of the interesting things we find with Asperger’s is that they love animals including the creepy-crawly one. They just don’t have the same fear mechanisms the rest of us do.

Much of his focus in life and the technology that he pursues is to protect the environment with a focus on reducing the carbon foot print. He has invested and supported solar power, Tesla is focused on electric cars, other projects focus on high speed rail tubes. And then there are his projects in Artificial Intelligence, Space travel and rockets. Mercury is in Punarvasu and Ketu has taken away his limits in regard to reaching other worlds with rockets.

And the connection is not clear to me, but it seems reasonable that Ketu in Ashlesha may have had something to do with the death of his first child at 10 weeks old by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and this seems so much like a snake getting into the crib (which of course a western reference to parts of the Hydra asterism).

Caravaggio (Mars & Rahu in Ashlesha)

Many of Caravaggio’s painting were controversial for brutality and gore. Heads being chopped off with realistic emotional impact. And of course these kinds of things will get highlighted with vicious planets like Mars and Rahu here.  But he offers us a glimpse of another side of Ashlesha thru his paintings of Saint Matthew, the patron saint of accountants, moneychangers, tax collectors and customs officers. He was also invoked to help alcoholics with their habits.  It’s interesting how the wings of the angel are evocative of the Caduceus as well as the other symbols of Hermes.

Emotionally he was a violent, quarrelsome man. He was forced to flee his home and go underground in 1606 after killing a man an a duel over a romantic interest. Despite little being known about him it’s said that he was always fighting. There is much mystery over his death but it’s believed that he may have died from an infection from a wound received in one of these fights.  One of the dangers of being an artist during the renaissance is toxic exposure to the lead in the paint. The effect of this was a kind of madness or raving lunacy in sever cases.

His underground sex life has been the subject of much speculation. He never settled down or got married or had any children that are known of. He was known to have frequent prostitutes and and there is much speculation about homosexuality in a culture and time when sodomy was considered a capital offence. He never painted a single nude of a woman but did paint various voluptuous and sensual young men.

In1606 he was sentenced to beheading and had a bounty put on his head for the castration and killing of a mafia pimp.  He travelled around for several years sequin protection under powerful patrons, but by July 1610, at the age of 38, he was dead.

Hillary Clinton (Mars & Saturn in Ashlesha)

Saturn is yoga karaka planet in a powerful mutual exchange with the Moon and forming a Raja yoga in the 10th house of career with Mars. All of this is very good for her career and likely gave her diplomatic immunity, but her career house is also 6th from the moon  highlighting wars, criminal conspiracies and coverups.

Most of her career has been based on fear campaigns: weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons, biological weapons. But as she instills fear from these things she is also involved in the greatest proliferations of weapons of mass destruction anywhere. the most toxic aspect of this is perhaps the weaponisation of culture itself. Some might even say that she has led in the destruction of the nuclear family while claiming to be a nuclear family themselves. Her appeal was mostly for the middle class and blue collar workers and she’s well known for these kinds of roots. She lives in a $2.5 million house that’s almost 200 years old; oddly enough the address is #15 Old House Lane which is so Ashlesha. 

Early in her career she was involved in a cattle trading scandal (which again relates directly with the infant Hermes’ cattle thefts). Not much later she was involved in the Whitewater Controversy involving dodgy investments in land development. And then campaign donations being funneled thru the law firm she was working with. and the people close to the Clintons started dying in mysterious ways (and this hasn’t stopped, I think there are 16 names on the list now).  She has always been involved in the empowerment of young women and mothers working for gender equality and advocating education reform. Much of what America is facing today in their schools and universities; the free pass reforms to the criminal justice system all stem from Hillary Clinton’s early initiatives in these ares. Now that women’s rights or equality has basically been accomplished, she has moved to the next level of gender equality in the 21st century. All of this has been weaponised for power and control.  This is the aim of Ashlesha. Those on the spiritual path gain great inner power while those on the material plane can quickly become toxic as long term stability is sacrificed for short term goals.

June 1980 – June 1981 (Mercury / Mars): Whitewater controversy over banking and land fraud had just happened and during this period some of her enemies died in mysterious circumstances.

April 86 – Dec 88 (Mercury / Saturn): She was listed among 100  of the most influential lawyers. She sat on the board of the bar association to advocate for more women in law.  She was bring in wealthy corporate clients to the law firm. Her husband was governor and there was some controversy about some of the clients using the Law firm to give illegal political donation.

June 91 – Nov 91 (Ketu / Mars): She had just stepped down from practicing law and sat on the board of several companies learning about supply lines and unsuccessfully advocating for more environmentally friendly practices and more women at the corporate management level.  She had been considering running for Governor but the poles were not in her favour.

Nov 93 – Dec 94 (Ketu / Sat):  She became first lady.

Dec 2001 – Feb 2003 (Ven / Mars): She had just been elected tot he New York Senate after moving there the year before. She joined five senate committees all with some relations to Mars in Ashlesha:  budget; armed services; environment and public works; education, labour and pensions; ageing; and, security and cooperation with Europe. September 11  had just happened and in October she voted for the patriot act and the War against terrorism began with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (and about half a dozen other countries that got no notice).  By December she was already busy with war and weapons sales and by Oct 2001 she voted to go to war against Iraq after carrying on about fake WMD for the past year.  These campaigns have, of course, faced heavy criticism and the whole of 9/11 has become one of the grand conspiracy theories perhaps even greater than the assassination of JFK. Her husband also took 26 trips on Lolita express in this period.

Oct 2008 – Dec 2011 (Ven / Sat): The financial crisis of 2008. She supported the bailouts of the banks. In 2009 She became Secretary of State under Obama. She warned about possibly biological weapons coming out of the Wuhan Lab that year. It was also in this period when the personal email account was set up that caused her so much trouble latter.  But most of this period was spent on international diplomacy trying to “fix” relations with many countries which had been isolated by the Bush administration. She even offer a “great reset” in relationship with Russia (that quickly hit a snag when Putin returned to power). During this time she was also looking to allies to isolate Iraq with sanctions. while from one side of her mouth she was championing the case of women around the world, her policies were killing these same women. An interesting point with some relation to Saturn and Mars in Ashlesha was the biomass cook stoves she was seeking to install in the kitchen of the developed world as she was concerned about both the lack of affordable cooking fuel and the smoke inhalation that the poor underdeveloped women had to face.  She often tries to appear as an environmentalist and steward of the land while being heavily involved with the oil business as well as chemical and low yield nuclear weapons. By the end of this Saturn antardasha she went to Haiti after the earthquake there to ensure her man won the election. The Clinton Foundation has received heavy criticism for treating Haiti like a slave colony as well as for accepting donations from foreign countries while she was Secretary of State. Speaking of slaves, the Clintons are also involved in a program of hiring convicts as personal helpers and they are known to be very strict their servants; any small mistake will have them sent back tp prison.  Some have liked their treatment to these people as a form of indentured slavery.  Oh, and the Arab Spring protest also began in this period are are widely believed to be masterminded in a conspiracy between Clinton, Gates and Obama. And who can forget the Libyan civil war of 2011 which ended with Clinton saying: “We came, we saw, he died,” followed by her infamous cackling laugh.  The war in Syria was also just getting going in this year. By this point she seems to have become a James Bond Villain. At he very end of this period she began to campaign for gay rights saying: “Gay rights are human rights.” Western astrologers might note that she also has Pluto in Ashlesha assuring us that she is a force of revolution for the home culture.  Some others might consider that the Saturn Mars conjunction marks her as a toxic influence on the home culture and on government leadership.

Oct 2016 – Feb 2017 (Sun / Mars): Clinton’s aids who had been in charge of cleaning and deleting the files related to sending top secret e-mail from a private server all received immunity from prosecution.  This was a big controversy in the run up to the 2016 election which she lost. This would have also been the period when the fake Steele dossier against trump was being put together. A very cloak and dagger kind of time for her.  And just as it seemed this was all going to be behind her, the announcement came just before the election that there was a new investigation opening up over another set of emails that had been found.  This investigation continued until the Sun Saturn period when they announced that would not be pressing charges.

Oct 2018 – Oct 2019 (Sun / Saturn): Her immunity from prosecution over the e-mail scandal was confirmed. She was mostly campaigning against Trump calling him a threat to national security, a racist, misogynist, a white supremacist and an illegitimate president. Of course this was all going on while she had the FBI surveilling Donald Trumps election team and her democratic allies in the state department were investigating everything they could find or make up about Trump and his associates.

Oct 2022 – May 2023 (Moon / Mars): this could turn in to a war and the attack against Republicans could begin at this time. Mars typically bring her difficulties and powerful enemies. She may have to face a lawsuit and more accusations. Mars is also not very good for her health and surgical procedure might also be necessary (though this might be for her husband Bill). Jan 2023 looks like the date to remember for the fructification of these 10th house yoga’s and exchanges. It will likely be good for her, but not for anyone else.

These Mars periods never just happen on their own. The moon period that occurs before Mars typically opens the door to some shocking revelation in her career, Mars then is when she seeks to destroy her enemies by any means necessary. Which this kind of chart I do not doubt the Clinton kill list. In any case, after Mars comes Rahu who she has in her 8th house. This actually gives some similar results as Mars in Ashlesha: shady undercover work. This Rahu is also in the very elite 1st pada of Kritika anding up with an exalted Mars in her Navamsha giving her an incredibly powerful result for underground work and foreign wars.

March 2026 – Oct 2027 (Moon Saturn): I have heard speculation that Clinton might become leader in this period, but she will be 80 years old. Of course it’s not impossible, but considering that this yoga involves her 5th house, it might be more likely that her daughter enters politics or takes on a leadership position. But one thing is clear: the Saturn is deeply entrenched in politics.

Hillary Clinton health (keep in mind these are the official versions, she is very secretive about this).

Blood clots (she has been on blood thiners most of her life): 1998 (behind her right knee) & 2009 (leg) & dec 31, 2012 (behind her right ear).

1 feb 2005 she fainted due to the weakness caused by stomach issues.

June 17 2009: broken elbow. successful surgery.

Jan 2013: after the concussion she had to wear special glasses to keep her from having double vision

15 dec 2015: disclosure of more stomach problems, but this time she sustained a concussion when she fainted. Also disclosed that she had hypothyroidism and allergies. She was taking Armour Thyroid, a hormone replacement therapy.

July 21 2016: it’s speculated that she had a seizure on stage. She was diagnosed with pneumonia shortly after which it’s speculated she had been suffering with for almost a year.