There will be a New Moon in Ardra nakshatra on Tuesday, June 28th at 7:52 pm pdt. Ardra is symbolized by a tear drop. It is connected with the Deity Rudra. The teardrop comes from the story of Rudra's birth. When he was born, he cried. His father, Lord Brahma (the creator) said, "Why are you crying?" Rudra said,"Because I don't have a name" His father said, "Then I will call you Rudra," which means 'he who cries.' But then Rudra cried again and Brahma split him into seven more beings, giving all of them names as well. Ardra is a nakshatra that is connected to the search for identity through having a special name, vocation, or talent that allows a person to stand out. Those who have the Sun, Moon or Ascendant in Ardra often struggle with this. They are looking for the one true thing that defines them, when in fact, they are not cut out to just do one special thing. Instead, they have multiple talents and interests. Pursuing various interests is the way they are wired, so chasing after a single calling will only make them frustrated and bored.
A New Moon is the beginning of a lunar cycles that will take about 29.5 days to complete. The New Moon in Ardra makes the following month a good time to pursue a variety of activities. That doesn't mean you can't also make an effort. In fact, Ardra's shakti is the power to make an effort. This period is good for getting a lot done by making an effort, but the key to working hard is in not doing one thing past the point when you are tired of it. The secret is to have two or three projects going. Work on one of them until you start to get tired, and the switch to the second. Work on each project in sequence and cycle back to them later. You might find that changing to a new project gives you new energy. By recycling through all of your projects you can nurse them along without burning out. And if that doesn't work, Rudra also means the Howler. So if you get bored or frustrated you can always try howling at the Moon!
James Kelleher
Author