I was involved with a project team that was recognized by the execs at Wizards of the Coast last year, and this customized Chandra card was created as our reward! There are very few of these in existence (I think, like, 5). THE (GREMLIN-COUNTING) POWER OF TEAMWORK.

This goes right into my Nalaar family Commander deck! …Which in turn goes right into a security vault, probably. Thank you, Wizards!

drantlers:

Chandra is always on the look out for planes with beautiful sunsets or skylines or constellations or other such beautiful vistas. She marks these places for picnics to go on with Nissa. Chandra’s not super into admiring such things herself, but Nissa seems to love them. And while Nissa gazes at the skies, Chandra gets to gaze at Nissa. Win-win.

Galactic Snakes On Our Galactic Plane? What NASA’s Newest Images Reveal

“The center of our galaxy houses some of the most interesting physical and astrophysical phenomena around, and yet it’s maddeningly difficult to observe. From within our own Milky Way, observing other locations is tremendously difficult because of all the intervening matter in the way. Neutral gas, dust grains, and ionized plasmas not only can block a significant fraction of the light we’re interested in, but they also emit their own light. As the old saying goes, however, one astronomer’s noise is another astronomer’s data.

By leveraging high-resolution radio and X-ray images of the central region of the galaxy together, we can finally identify the long sought-after radio filaments that showcase these strong magnetic features in our galaxy, and they match up exquisitely with X-ray emission as well. The magnetic reconnection events that likely underlie them are the first direct evidence we have for the theoretical prediction that solar flare analogues should exist in our galaxy, driven by the hot young star clusters found in the galactic center. With more research, astronomers now hope to learn how cosmic rays accelerate, hot plasma heats up to even greater temperatures, and how turbulence arises in these extreme environments. The high energy galaxy, with both radio and X-ray data combined, just got a lot cooler and hotter in tandem.”

There’s been a new image of the galactic center that’s gone viral recently, and that’s great! But wouldn’t you like to know about the science behind it? I bet you would!

the astrological and spiritual meaning of our hair

this is an extremely long post so please grab some refreshments and enjoy! in this post, i cover the meaning and importance of hair length, the hair color and texture manifestations of each graha, when to cut/wash hair for spiritual guidance, the meanings of popular hairstyles today, ancient indian hair styles and more <3

historically, long hair has often been a symbol of femininity and prestige. however, there is a deeper significance to long hair. it is said the spinal cord is like an upturned tree, the hair serving as a tree’s roots, and the afferent and efferent nerves of the hair as branches. according to the writings of yogananda, “like an upturned plant, man similarly absorbs through his hair electric currents helpful to the body.”. the hair naturally acts like an extremely powerful energetic magnetic and absorbs it’s surrounding energies. therefore, the longer the hair, the more energy it draws to the brain. the hair follicles serve as the roots due to their exorbitant nature, these follicles transfer their absorbed energy to the nervous system (via the sensory nerve fibers and hair follicle plexus). this is why there is a higher concentration of hair on our heads, as that is where the base of our energy lies. by keeping our hair long, we are able to draw from the ether around us and absorb a greater quantity of cosmic rays.

this increased susceptibility to outer energies can unfortunately cause issues with those who are particularly unable to handle the energies of others or those who are surrounded by primarily negative energies in general. there was an analogy i read once that perfectly sums up this reasoning. “have you noticed, if you prune a tree, the tree focuses its energy towards the pruned area and the number of leaves that come out in that part of the tree in the next fifteen to thirty days are much more than in other parts of the tree? this happens because the tree directs its energy in the direction of the pruned area. the same thing happens in your body.”. if one suddenly removes their hair, the will likely feel the energies they so desperately crave move in that direction. to clarify, you probably have noticed how if someone is particularly struggling with their mental health, they like to cut or shave their hair. the buzz cut has become synonymous with female strength. as hair is, and always has been, a reflection of our identity. cutting/shaving one’s hair usually stems from a desire to wipe the slate clean. you will particularly notice lunar women choosing to shave their heads the most, as lunar natives are naturally highly susceptible to their surroundings energies, due to their increased intuition. by removing their hair, they can focus their energy inward and align with the plexus follicles of their hair. there is a certain type of sadhana (spiritual practice) to shaving the hair. in this sadhana, people do not just shave their head whenever they wish to. in this practice, they shave their hair on shivarathri, one day before amavasya (the new moon). on that day, the day of amavasya, and the following day, there is an upsurge of energy in the human system, which can be accelerated by the shaving of one’s head. the hair is removed because there is sadhana attached to our hair follicles. if there is no sadhana attached to you, its removal would barely make a difference.

it is actually energetically contradictory for most people to shave their heads. people want to remove their to receive reprieve, but when someone has never shaved their head in their life, they run the risk of becoming mentally imbalanced because they are unable to handle the excessive energy that is now following inward. think of it this way: it’s one thing to be subjected to feeling the outer influences of others via long hair and another thing to feel devoid of outer energy and solely being abundant in your own energy. if your mind/spirit is negative, it will worsen with the removal of your hair. this is why shaving one’s hair is important for self reflection, as you are able to truly understand the state of your spirit and the effects it has on your body.

if shaving one’s hair is executed properly and the necessary sadhana to support it is present, it can work to your benefit. this is why a spiritual seeker (sadhaka) who is solely seeking spiritual wellbeing uses shaving their head as a catalyst for growth. the act of shaving one’s head isn’t a reality for most of us, but it’s important to discuss when talking about the meaning of our hair, as we can compare what the absence of hair entails to our current state of having long hair. having short or no hair is yang/masculine and draws energy upward to the mind. long hair is yin/feminine in nature and draws energy downward and inward. thus, long hair is naturally more in tune and adept with it’s surroundings and bestows greater intuition.

in indian mythology, hair has long been used to convey metaphors. recall from earlier, the hair of a person always conveys a message regarding their persona and every hairstyle or accessory that is adorned has a meaning too. unbound and unruly hair represent a wild nature, whereas hair that is well-oiled, combed, & maintained are seen as a mark of civilization/domestication. for example, shiva had thick matted dreadlocks, much like kali’s unbound hair, which is symbolic of their wild nature, fury and potent mental power. in the mahabharata, draupadi’s choice to keep her thick, beautiful hair unwashed and unbound until she washes her hair with the blood of dushasan, represents her fury and yearning for vengeance. whereas, the goddesses, lakshmi, saraswati and durga, have loose, unbound hair, a symbol of their powerful and controlled nature.

in this section, i will be mentioning the spiritual significance of women having long hair. many texts use gender to decipher the implications of our hair and this is how it was taught/worded to me, i don’t think that all women should subscribe to having long hair nor do i think this has to apply to solely women really, simply anyone who wishes to embody the feminine of aspect of divine duality.

a woman is said to symbolize shakti: divine energy. therefore, they are the natural bestower of shakti, blooming in the possibility of making use of the tejtattva predominant energy generated in one’s body. by the movement of long hair, and with the assistance of raja component, one can emit shakti waves into the environment. these waves of shakti drive out the raja-tama components from the atmosphere. this is why twirling, flipping, or playing with one’s hair is sensual in nature. by doing this, you are rejuvenating your surroundings with the energetic movement of your hair. according to hindu dharma, as a symbol of this shaktitattva (the divine energy principle), which is complementary to the activity of the raja component in the body, a person wishing to embody the feminine aspect of the divine should keep long hair. the ever-flowing waves of kriya-shakti (the power to act) keeps the vibrations in the form of shakti tattva in the body always in an awakened state. due to this awakened state taking place in the form of shakti tattva, a person with long hair is said to look more humble and polite than a person with short hair (hence, short hair being synonymous with strength and power). however, even negative energies get distressed due to tej-bestowing waves. if these negative energies attack a person out of irritation, the possibility of them suffering from distress is more likely since they lack the ability to repel these energetic attacks. by having long hair and, thus, being protected from distressing vibrations in the atmosphere and the emissions of raja, the fruitfulness of one’s life increases. creating a positive effect on one’s surrounding atmosphere.

i understand the concept of rajas, tamas, and sattva can be a bit difficult to understand so i’ll try to sum this concept up in more clear terms:

the movement of long hair generates vibrations in the form of tejtattva (the absolute principle of fire). these vibrations can congregate into the voids/follicles of long hair for prolonged periods of time. these vibrations cause the disintegration of negative waves entering through the hair and destroy them. as a result, the body can remain free from the attacks of negative energies.

the energetic currents that flow from one’s long hair downwards, towards the direction of the earth, prevent the distressing vibrations emitting from patal from entering the body or creating obstacles in one’s life. by drawing the energies of earth through the hair, one can receive heightened intuition.

according to yogic principle, when someone reaches a state where their energies are bursting/brimming within the mind, if they activate the two chakras which are above the physical body, then they should grow their hair out. preferably by growing out the hair and tying it up just above the head so that it is protected and nurtured. this is why witches or deeply spiritual people keep their hair covered or in braids for protective purposes.

which bring me to my next point: the importance of hair care (specifically the days in which we cut and wash our hair):

it is considered to be inauspicious to get one’s hair cut on tuesdays (ruled by mars), thursdays (ruled by jupiter), and saturdays (ruled by saturn). it is said that the planets send out individual rays that may impact our wellbeing on certain days. as humans, we possess great levels intelligence, therefore, our brain is the core of our existence. the middle part of the head is most delicate/sensitive to other energies. our hair protects our head and us from external, harsh energies. in the mahabharata, it has been said that all days are not meant to be auspicious for cutting our nails and hair. for example, cutting one’s hair on monday is said to be harmful or inauspicious for children’s health. according to the puranas, cutting one’s hair on tuesday lowers their age. tuesday is a day dedicated to the planet kuja. kuja is inhabited by blood in the body and the root of our hair follicles is blood. this is why indian barbers do not usually touch the roots of the hair, as it can harm one’s blood stream and cause issues. if you get a hair cut on tuesday, you may run the risk of blood related diseases. whereas, on wednesday, cutting one’s nails and hair is said to bestow a rise in wealth and happiness in familial matters. thursday corresponds to the god of wealth: brihaspati and the goddess lakshmi. brihaspati is god’s progenitor of children, wealth, and knowledge. cutting your hair on thursday is said to bring loss/lack in economic, family, and educational matters. friday is ruled by shukra, the symbol of beauty. shukra dev is pleased with the cleansing and upkeep of the body on this day, as it is said a person with a clean neat body receives honorable glory. saturday is the day of shani. shani is related to delays, increase in longevity, and death. because the celestial bodies are related to the skin of humans, cutting or trimming one’s hair on a saturday is theorized to reduce one’s life by seven months. people often feel called to cut their hair and nails on sundays, due to it being the end of the week and the start of anew. however, this is considered to be inauspicious because sunday is dedicated to lord narayana. this can result in loss in property, knowledge and religion. across many cultures, it is a common belief that people should not get their hair cut on new moons and other inauspicious days, as specific components in human beings can make these energy waves more predominant in the atmosphere. as previously mentioned, these energetic waves generated on inauspicious days can get transferred into the hair through the hair follicles and reach the hair roots (the mind). this is why more older traditions state that people should not cut hair on the date and tithi: lunar day of one’s birth. because when we worship deities/grahas, we experience low endurance to imbibe the energies that are a byproduct from these stars, planets, and constellations that reduce the benefits we avail form our worship (puja). this runs the potential of not only harming the body, but also harming us on a spiritual level.

similar to the aforementioned results of trimming one’s hair/nails stated above, washing our hair is also considered to be inauspicious on tuesdays. however, this is considered to be more applicable to those who are negatively affected by kuja. to remedy the malefic effects of a heavy kuja, natives should not wash their hair on tuesdays. wednesdays are overall considered to be good for hair washing but it is advised against a mother of one boy, as it said to affect the health of her child. moreover, a newly married woman is advised to wash hair on wednesday to get a baby boy. whereas, washing your hair on thursdays is said to take away from the financial and homely blessings of brihaspati and goddess lakshmi. therefore, out of respect and devotion to brihaspati deva people do not wash clothes/hair, or cut nails on thursdays. because thursdays are also auspicious for the worship of vishnu, anyone who indulges in kshorya karma (cutting nails, washing hair, etc.) knowingly, displeases lord vishnu and the angry goddess lakshmi (the wife of lord vishnu) is said to leave the house of the person doing so. now, understanding the effects of saturday is a bit difficult, as some believe that washing your hair on saturday is beneficial because it helps relieve a person from the effects of sade sati. however, the general consensus is that washing one’s hair on saturday can upset shani dev. overall, mondays, wednesdays, fridays and sundays are generally considered to be auspicious for washing hair.

to sum up all the topics discussed in this section:

wednesdays and fridays are best for cutting hair

mondays, tuesdays, thursdays, saturdays, and sundays are considered to be inauspicious for hair cutting, as well as new moons.

the significance of a day being inauspicious/auspicious for hair cutting is reliant on the position of the planet in your birth chart

mondays, wednesdays, fridays, sundays are best for washing hair

tuesdays, thursdays, and saturdays should be avoided for washing hair

now that we have cultivated an understanding of length, washing, and trimming, we can start to use this knowledge to better understand the hair manifestations of each planet. please keep in mind this is very generalized info, this thread is already incredibly long and i do not wish to give away too much information (as i’ve been extensively working on providing astrological services that go more in-depth with the manifestations of the grahas, rashis, and nakshatras in fashion archetypes, nails, hair, and makeup for months now).

ketu hair color manifestations :

a few months ago, i talked about ketu’s natural manifestation of red/vampy black hair. those physically influenced by ketu tend to have extremely dark hair or, much like many of the fiery mars natives, red/auburn hair. this is because mars and ketu are said to be extremely similar in nature. both planets possess the same subtle, fiery energy. both are known to convert lighter solar, external energy to serve their own internal, darker energy. this darker energy may reflect in its natives through red hair. according to the brihat parashara hora shastra, ketu is described to have a blue/grey physique. while these natives have dark/red hair, similar to mars, their black hair typically has a distinct cool undertone that differs from mars natives (symbolic of the greying hair of the tantric goddess, dhumavati, correlated to ketu). the prevalence of the color black is fitting, as black is said absorb the negative energies/projections of others. by having black hair, one is naturally protected from the negative energies around them.

mars hair color manifestations ☄️:

mars is the fiery planet of sheer, raw energy which bestows the powers required to execute tasks/actions. mars represents our actions without reasoning, motivation; whereas, the fiery sun controls the reasoning/motivation for said actions of mars both warm planets prefer/deposit warm undertones to the hair, but mars’ hair is more red in complexion. even with their quintessential black hair, these natives typically have more warmth to it. pay attention to when these natives’ hair is illuminated by the sun, as you will often see reddish warmth in their hair (when under solar illumination). this red undertone/coloring to the hair indicates both the sensuality and purity that lies in the polarity of mars. while mars is considered to be one of the most malefic planets, many of these natives are quite pure inwardly, but physically manifest in a sensual manner. thus, embodying the contradictory misconceptions/illusions that bagalamukhi smashes with her cudgel. in the hindu religion, red is of the utmost significance and is most frequently used for auspicious occasions like marriages, birth of a child, and festivals. for example, red powder is usually thrown on statues of deities and phallic symbols during prayers. red is also the color of shakti (one’s prowess). a red colored dress is put on deities who are charitable, brave, protective, and who have the capacity to destroy evil (much like baglamukhi herself).

rahu hair color manifestations :

rahu is the planet of intuition and the master of manipulatory acts. these natives are considered to be an expert when scheming or plotting, this is why rahu is said to be a better politician than saturn. rahu is also the luck behind instant success or failure in life. being the natural embodiment of maha maya, these natives are naturally inclined to presenting themselves in a glamorous manner. one of the colors associated with rahu is ash. these natives seem to favor blonde, as it is naturally quite ashy/cool in undertone. bleaching your hair can actually be quite difficult, as it causes damage to the hair follicles and makes it more susceptible to physical damage. (i.e. uv rays) and surrounding energies. in turn, this can weaken the patal protecting hair follicles and awaken one’s intuition/connection with the dead or astral realm.

jupiter hair color manifestations :

jupiter is next to size, orb, and color of the sun and these natives are described as golden in complexion. jupitarian natives also tend to have blonde/yellow undertone hair, this is likely due to jupiter being ruled by the color yellow and remedied by wearing gold/donating yellow objects (i.e. bananas/saffron). overall, they are the best planetary type for those wishing to dye, bleach, or wear wigs of the color blonde. jupiter natives, who are linked to the mystical powers of death, are inclined to blonde to both remedy a weakened jupiter via their golden/yellow blonde undertone and strip the hair follicles for the purpose of subconsciously aligning themselves with the astral plane. jupiter is also linked to the blood, as a weakened jupiter can result in blood poisoning, this is why jupitarian blonde natives prefer dark roots to compliment their honey blonde hair (or simply incorporating blonde highlights) as to not interfere with their blood/roots. ketu is also said to be remedied by jupiter. in my survey of the dumb blonde trope, ketu, jupiter, and mars were the most reoccurring nakshatras. by ketu natives bleaching their hair, they have the opportunity to remedy the maleficence of ketu and further open themselves to the astral plane. ketu natives also enjoy coloring their hair purple for this very reason, as purple (the color of royalty) is also ruled by the royal jupiter.

moon hair color manifestations :

moon-influenced natives seem to prefer their natural hair color the most. this planet seems to be the least common for red hair, but most common for more natural colors: brown, black and blonde hair overall. because the moon naturally waxes and wanes and is typically unstable, these natives prefer to embrace stability via there appearance. i noticed lunar women seem to really distance themselves from beautifying enhancements as they age and prefer to embody the pearlescent state of chandra. however, these natives could benefit from black hair to ward off negative projections, as many lunar women struggle with other people trying to project their light/energy onto them.

saturn hair color manifestations :

saturn natives seem to favor incredibly dark hair, modeling that of kali. their black hair represents absence of light, hiding one’s emotions, feelings, and insecurities from the outside world and aiding these natives in their secrecy. thus, protecting others from people who wish to manipulate them. black is a secretive color that covers the truth behind the veil of darkness and absorbs all other colors (energies) of the spectrum and represents power in its extreme form. their black hair conveys both authority and class. black is the color of discipline and self-control (saturn) that does not wish to reveal its true feelings to others. because saturn also favors blue/indigo, the undertone of their hair is fairly cool, similar to rahu, but vastly differs in undertone compared to mars.

venus hair color manifestations :

much like the vedic texts state, venusian natives naturally have brown hair or black hair and prefer to abstain from additional coloring due to it’s possibility to take away from their beauty (unlike rahu). their hair is naturally quite warm in undertone and can seem somewhat devoid of additional highlights and uniform in color. their hair is very much so identical to the para shara’s description of the features of a beautiful woman: honey colored or black colored.

mercury hair color manifestations :

because mercury is considered to take on the effects of the planet aspecting it, we see this interplay of mirroring and absorbing outward projections prominent with these natives. similar to the colorful attributes of jupiter natives’ hair, these natives are overall quite trendy with their hair coloring. from their auspicious greens to deep onyx, these natives enjoy hair coloring of all varieties. as they enjoy experimenting & trying out new trends/designs this favor for trends, juxtaposed with mercury being correlated to the goddess durga, is why we often see mercurial natives specifically enjoying ombre or streaky highlights, as it embodies the pattern of the tiger of durga (more on specific hairstyles later).

sun hair color manifestations :

sun natives seem to enjoy various types of hair coloring, from the more basic hair colors (blonde/black) to more intense colors like reds or even oranges. as this color is expressive of their inner warmth by radiating electrifying heat. they typically like to stay in the range of warm undertones and apply this to blonde, brown, or black hair. these natives also tend to enjoy highlights that mimic hair coloring via the sun, aka sun bleaching. overall, these natives are one of the most versatile people when it comes to their luxurious hair accessories and expressive faux hair colors (i.e. the hairstyles of grace jones, donna summer, naomi campbell, and sza).

hair texture:

this is not to say that just because you are influenced by the following planets, you will specifically favor this hair texture, this is just my observations juxtaposed with the information of vedic texts.

the physical composition of the hair can be determined by a person’s dominance in a dosha: vata (which is associated with saturn and rahu) kapha (which is associated with jupiter, moon, venus), pitta (which is associated with sun, mars, ketu). whereas, mercury can indicate all three doshas are in balance or out of balance. thus, mercury is a tridhatu planet. the pitta type is described to have reddish hair, prone to having/preferring straighter hair, and experience premature greying.

the sun bestows short/yang hair and hair loss (detailed later); mars bestows curly, shiny hair; and all pitta planets resulting in a red undertone of some sort. whereas, the vata types are said to have dry, frizzy, or curly hair. saturn is said to bestow course and thick hair (as some say it is the best planet for hair growth) and rahu bestowing dry hair. the kapha types are described to have voluminous, illuminated, thick hair favoring that of a dark complexion. this correlates to venus who is described to bestow dark, curly (or wavy) hair, jupiter who is said to bestow a golden complexion, and the moon who can bestow dark/black hair.

overall,

the pitta types seem to prefer short/yang hair, have oily hair, and enjoy embracing their fiery undertone and incorporating light highlights or blonde into their hair. to negate the negative effects of this type, work on your indulgence and aggression.

the ether/airy vata types favor dry hair and can be prone to thinness (but have a great deal of hair in general). to negate the negative effects of this type, address your issues with irregularity and fearfulness.

the kapha types, due to their apa nature, can have oily/well-nourished hair and enjoy a more methodical approach to hair. to negate the negative effects of this type, remedy you issues surrounding attachment and greediness.

i’ve decided to decode a few prominent hair styles today, in case any of you guys are looking to get/wear one of these hairstyles and wondering what its effects could have on you (all of these were requested by my lovely followers and mutuals on twitter) <3

the sleek, straight ponytail: the sleek ponytail involves tightly gathering the hair with a hair tie. it’s a simplistic design and creates quite the high end look. by tightly smoothing back your hair, you are increasing the blood production (aka production of mars energies). thus, affecting how you cultivate energy around you. if the hair is straightened, it can damage the follicles and harm mars (as mars is prevalent in the base/blood of the hair follicle), this increases receptivity to outer influences via hair damage but weakens one’s strength. however, if the hair is naturally straight, it will be less likely to absorb/harness the influences of external environment. this is a great hairstyle for cultivating sexual energy and remaining independent of devoid influences, but be weary of the effects straightening one’s natural hair can have on you.

the middle part: the middle part is a great way to add a distinct form of classiness to a hairstyle. by parting the hair in a middle fashion, you are harmonizing the plexus follicles from the hair into symmetry (which is inherently venusian). this parting is interesting as it incorporates venusian qualities and aligns it with stimulating the frontal part of the scalp. by parting the scalp, you are creating negative space that is unprotected from outer energies and potential issues with energetic discernment. however, i know this will sound odd, this part is typically unable to be successfully executed without the lack of dandruff, which is caused by a deficiency in fatty acids and B6. because jupiter rules fatty acids/non-polar molecules, the prevalence of dandruff can be due to a weak jupiter. thus, displaying a middle part can indicate a healthy jupiter or wealthy/abundant person.

puffy 90s hair: having large or fluffy hair (aka the 90s blowout) correlates with jupiter (the planet of expansion in both orb and size). this hairstyle flaunts one’s influx of hair while simultaneously leaving the hair loose. recall from earlier, keeping the hair loose can indicate potent mental power (as it causes less strain to the mercurial epidermis) and the yearning for vengeance (by leaving the martian energy untouched and flowing). it is a wonderful hairstyle for protecting the weakest part of the mind and spirit (by covering all of the scalp) and residing in the abundant energies of planetary alignment. the mid-length hair is neither feminine nor masculine and creates somewhat of a neutral/base line level of energy. it’s personally one of my favorite hairstyles for when i wish to remain energetically open, but still aligned internally.

hair length for men: i try to steer clear of gender-based information because i want to be all inclusive but with this subject it can be tricky, because a great deal of the open astrological/spiritual information we have on hair is gendered. so please be mindful of this, i am not trying to say that if you are male-identifying you solely have to follow this information. this is merely a guide. men are said to be shiv dominant, meaning they are said to be naturally patient. hence, it is said that the growing of hair is harmful to their nature, thus destabilizing them. when men, who are not spiritual in nature, choose to grow their hair, it destroys his shiv nature and causes him to be fickle and more weak/susceptible to negative influences. when men choose to have long hair, depending on his generation of oscillating bhav, the vibrations of the conjured instability can affect his surroundings. therefore, it is advised for men to not grow out their hair, if they are struggling with their cultivating spiritual energy or would rather focus their efforts on the physical plane. this is why so many successful billionaires have little to no hair, they are able to focus their energy inward and not conjure instability in their monetary pursuits and environments.

perm: a perm is a hairstyle consisting of waves or curls set into the hair. the curls are said to last a number of months, hence the name. however, perms may be applied using thermal or chemical means. there is a number of things to unpack in this specific hair treatment. perms can be used to give the illusion of apa, due to the curly manifestations of the kapha element. this can make one appear more beautiful and luxurious. however, curly hair binds other people’s energy in their hair follicles. the most differing result of a perm, compared to those with natural curls, is people with perms are unable to wash their hair as much (therefore, unable to cleanse energies as well) and the energy of your hairstylist remains as long as the curls are present. the issue with long term hair modifications is most people are unaware of the magnetic pool our hair has. anyone who touches our hair is imparting their energy onto us, getting long-term hair modifications by negative people can truly affect us in a negative fashion. this is why a great deal of people in my community get their hair done by their mother, dear family member, or a stylist/barber that is generational. there is history and energetic buildup in the hair that needs to be addressed and handled with care. so out of all the hairstyles listed here, the perm is the one i would recommend the least.

“space buns”: “space buns” are heavily inspired by hopituh shi-nu-mu women’s “squash blossom” bun, which blossom on either side of the head, and were worn only by unmarried women. at the onset of puberty, historically young girls went through challenging initiation ceremonies, marked by a day of grinding corn at the paternal grandmother’s house. she would receive a new name and assume the squash blossom hairstyle, the sign of marriageability and fertility. the symbolic side arrangements aren’t actually buns, they’re more loops of hair. to make this hairdo, a young woman’s mother winds her hair around a curved piece of wood to give it a round shape, then remove the wood frame. this correlates to the imparting of maternal energies of the person’s hair, the usage of wood (ruled by the sun) represents aligning oneself with solar/spiritual path, and the coiling pattern protects most of the hair from negative external energies. this hairstyle was originally worn to indicate fertility and abundance. while the beautiful middle part correlates to the section on middle parts above, i highly recommend you research this deep, meaningful ceremony.

sideswept bangs: mercury is said to rule the forehead, this is why the para shara states large foreheads are auspicious for women (correlating to those under mercurial influence usually having larger foreheads). concealing one’s forehead is said to protect oneself (via protecting their third eye). you might have heard of forehead readings based on one’s forehead lines… having high bangs indicates generational wealth, as it protects the upper half of the forehead. whereas, having lower bangs indicates both generational wealth and a good job, career, and social status. this is due to lower bangs protecting the lower area of the forehead from damage and cultivating hydrating oils on the scalp. however, cutting one’s hair into bangs can bring an increase in the energy to the eyes, which are solar and lunar in nature. you likely have noticed solar, and sometimes lunar, natives’ affinity for bangs. while solar natives enjoy more symmetrical bangs, mimicking the uneven waxing and waning of chandra, lunar natives seem to enjoy sideswept bangs the most. specifically, lunar natives favoring the right (solar) side of their face for bangs. the prevalence of the hair on one side of the face allows one to simultaneously protect the energies of that side of the face, while drawing emphasis to the lunar, unconcealed side of the face.

hair partings: in the practice of metoposcopy, differing from astrology, hair lines symbolize different characteristics and life paths. please note: any planets i mention correlate to the hair lines below are based on my own observations and familial information that was passed down to me. a straight hair line (correlating to mercury) represents the logical mind. the person is described as practical in their approach and feels that any problem can be solved by brain power. people with a shorter straight hair line (correlating to mars) will be prone to anger and irritable nature. they will have rigid views and quite fixed in their ideology. they are described to have an unhappy childhood and deep longings for love and sex. controlling sexual energy is difficult for these natives. a rounded hair-line (correlating to moon) represents a wavering mind, superstition, irresponsible and selfish person. they will be fond of good food and comforts and exploit others. a peaked hair-line (correlating to rahu/saturn) indicates a troubled adolescence and insecurities resulting from said childhood. the native will have high intelligence but be quite narrow minded in nature. their revolutionary ideas will make them join some anti-social groups. the m-shaped hair-line (correlating to venus) symbolizes an artistic person who is sensitive and who needs praise from others. these people are prone to feeling superior to others. they preach loving others but in reality they love themselves. finally, uneven or zigzag hair-line (correlating to ketu) belongs to a rebellious and rigid person. they are inclined to feeling unhappiness, stemming from the pressures of society during their youth. if their forehead is wide and high, then they will achieve success in any chosen field. in my research, jupiter natives do not typically have a specifically defined hair line, but jupiter does aid in the growth of the scalp and is responsible for the assimilation of protein products in the epidermis (mercury). this is why over-proteinized hair can have an overactive or afflicted jupiter.

hair (kesh) has long been used to convey certain aspects and feelings. to quote sreenivasarao, “providing elaborate, graceful and attractive hairstyles (kesha vinyasa or kesha-alankara), which besides enhancing the beauty of the sculpture would also bring out the status, the nature and the attribute of the subject, received a great deal of attention. this was one area, along with ornamentation (alamkara), where the shilpis could give wings to their imagination and enterprise; and exhibit originality. some shipa texts carry a chapter titled mauli lakshanam, but there is no comprehensive list of hair styles. some names are not supported by illustrations; and therefore we do not know what those style-names imply. and in some cases the names of the headgears (kirita or mukuta) have got mixed up with the names of hair styles.”. this is why the usage of certain ancient hairstyles is hard to completely define, but here are some examples kesha vinyasas (i wish i could include photos but i have exceeded my picture limit):

the jata-bandha: strands of hair in a rope-like texture are wound into spheric-shape or spindle-like state and placed atop the head. this jata-bandha was primarily worn by rishis, devas, and narada.

the kesha-bandha: the strands of hair are neatly combed and arranged into various conical forms of a series of diminishing tiers and placed in an upward position by tying up the arrangement securely. there are countless varieties of decorative and stylish hair arrangements under this category. in most cases, the conical hair-do is arranged to look like a mounted crown and decorated with ornaments. the kesha-bandha was primarily worn by devis and queens.

the dhummila: the dhummila is a collection of hair tied up the bunch into knots of various shapes. the bunched knot is usually placed behind the head and is as broad as the person’s face; and wound into three or four rounds. the dhummila was especially worn by devis and queens.

the alakacuda (my personal favorite): the alakacuda is specifically suited for curly hair types and was also used in ancient depictions of children, women, and even men. the hair is neatly parted in the middle and made into two bunches one on the right and the other on the left. then the bunch on the left is brought over to the right; and similarly the bunch on the left is brought to the left. together they are tied into spheric shapes; and held behind or to the side of the head. tiny wisps of hair are arranged around the face, like bees around a flower. this was a hairstyle more suited for general/everyday use.

hairstyles were influenced by a person’s region and status. for example, a wife of a sage wore hair braided in single lock. the celestial nymphs were decorated with a crest jewels and a coronet on their plaited heads. the naga women were distinguished by the insignia of hood on their head. the vidyadhara girls sported lunar discs on the plate of their hair. the yakshis were marked by their long crest (shikha). even some people from bhubaneswar wanted to add further volume and creativity to their naturally beautiful hair and used artificial stuffing/padding to increase their hair volume, to create as many varying hair-arrangements possible. ornamentation of the hair was also common via pearl strings. these strings were liberally used for their adorning qualities and to help the hair arrangements to to stay in place.

from ancient times to now, hair has long been considered to be extremely important in various cultures. i share these stories because it illustrates just the sheer amount of creativity, art, and intuition hair has. hair is like our spiritual antenna, the more we cultivate, the greater our intuition, beauty and emotions will become.

for those who are interested in the astrological indicators of hair loss and gain, there are—many—factors to consider:

abundant hair growth is determined by the epidermis (mercury), the hair follicles (venus), and the proteins that sustains the hair growth (jupiter). the signs ruled by benefic planets are said to aid in hair growth and the signs of malefic planets cause detriment to the growth of hair. however, there are two benefic signs that are susceptible to hair-loss: taurus and sagittarius.

according to the brihad jataka, if a native is born under a malevolent sign or in the sign of sagittarius or taurus and is aspected by malefic planets, the person will be bald headed or suffer from extreme hair loss. if the lagna resides in taurus/sagittarius or the signs under the rulership of malefic planets (such as mars, sun and saturn), it must be devoid of all malefic afflictions for hair growth longevity.

fiery/pitta nature is one of the main causes for hair loss. for example, aries signifies the head is associated with the mars. sun is the natural significator for the first house and hair loss. therefore, aries, scorpio, and leo cause hair loss.

the other two signs of malefic lordship are capricorn and aquarius. saturn is associated with early aging and premature graying and thinning of hair. however, saturn is said to bestow the most hair of any planet (please keep in mind the amount of hair one has is not synonymous with the thickness of the hair. you have to evaluate the porosity as well). this is because saturn rules the fetus at the sixth month of growth. hair actually starts to appear on a fetus’ head at the five and ½ to the 6th month mark. whereas, at the 5th month mark, the fetus develops the dermis which is governed by the planet moon (recall only the epidermis is ruled by mercury).

this is why some vedic astrologers state the moon and lagna, particularly in the navamsa, can provide clues as to one’s hair pigmentation and appearance and, in turn, one’s hair growth.

due to their abundance in the epidermis (the sprouting of the hair follicle), gemini and virgo natives typically favor an abundance of hair. their rashi lord, mercury, is also associated with prithvitattwa (the tangible earth element). for example, when a child is surrounded by prithvitattwa during birth, this ensures healthy and prosperous hair and nail growth. this is why washing one’s hair on wednesday is considered auspicious.

the baadhak lord for both gemini and virgo is the natural benefic jupiter. jupiter rules nonpolar molecules and fatty acids (like hydrating oil) which aids in the growth of our hair.

for cancer natives, the moon is benevolent for their hair growth. because the beauty conscious venus is the baadhak lord for cancer, these natives have gorgeous hair.

the the baadhak of taurus natives is saturn, thus making one more vulnerable to greying and premature thinning of the hair (only to grow thicker hair with time).

libra natives’ baadhak is the sun. who is typically responsible for baldness, however, the venusian rulership of this sign is said to aid in their hair follicle growth.

sagittarius and pisces natives have mercury as their baadhak. however, traditionally, pisces is associated with good hair appearance compared to sagittarius.

the role of the lagna:

the lagna is the primary placement for determining one’s appearance, including the nature of our hair growth. because both of the luminaries add luster to the appearance, they are connected with hair growth. the following aspects can affect one’s hair growth negatively:

sun in the 1H of d1/d9

sun in the 7H of d1/d9

moon in taurus/aries/leo in the d1/d9

afflicted sun/moon in the 1H of drekkana and trimsamsa

aries/scorpio d9 lagna

to sum up this incredibly long post, i would like to talk about the deep importance of protective hair styles (bonnets, durags, braids, etc.):

braids have long cultivated prevalence in many cultures, but the origins of braids is said to be in africa. africa, who is considered to be the cradle of civilization, is home to the most famous and intricate braids or plaits. however, the oldest record of braids is a carved statuette of unknown origin called the venus of willendorf, austria, estimated to have been made 30,000 years ago as a fertility fetish, which features woven hair capping a voluptuous body. this correlates to venusian natives having the most wavy/curly hair (a symbol of luxury and prosperity). coily/curly hair binds other people’s energy in their hair follicles (ruled by venus) the most out of the hair types. braids/durags/bonnets/wigs (or really any form of tying/covering the hair) help close off other people’s energies, but because curly hair can absorb energy the most, it is therefore the most spiritual. in ancient egypt, braids were a sign of wealth and the leisure it affords; the more elaborate, the better. the adornment of jewels, berries, pearls, and pins (which are comparable to the elaborate clips, pins, and hair accessories of today) were symbolic of both luxury and wisdom. combing the hair represents the alignment of thought; braiding is the oneness of thought, and tying is the securing of said thought. flowing strands of hair are considered individually weak, but when harmonized in braids they demonstrate strength in unity. some cultures specifically believe letting our hair flow free demonstrates harmony with the flow of life, and braiding indicates thoughts of oneness. hair is endowed with spiritual significance and immense power, as it lies at the crown (the most elevated part) of the body, hair was believed to be the conduit for gods and spirits to reach the soul. this is why hairdressers were once considered to be trustworthy members of society, senior women, family or close friends with whom tribal bonds could be cemented, and grooming rituals often lasted several hours, even several days.

teisting, braiding, beading, and grooming also forged meaningful bonds between elders and children, and traditional techniques were thus passed along generations. braiding customs were both ritual and social service, but requiring no reward or pay; it was in fact unlucky to offer thanks.

details vary from tribe to tribe: mangbetu women plait hair and arrange hair it in cone-shaped basket frames decorated with bone needles. miango women decorate braids with scarves and leaves. massai men stiffen them with animal dung, and himba women mix red ochre, butter, ash and herbs to coat them; a girl is entitled to only two braids, and acquires more once she marries. himba men wear one braid, and tie it into a turban after marriage. mbalantu women put finely grounded tree bark and oil into their hair starting at the age of twelve to help it grow long and thick, and braid it into elaborate headdresses throughout their lives.

in my cameroonian culture, hair is said to be cut on a full moon for hair growth and length; pregnant women should not braid others’ hair (due to the energetic transfer potentially harming the fetus); and hair should not be combed or braided in the open (this invites negative energies to bind itself with the hair follicles). combing/brushing our hair should be cleansing, not for the accumulation of external energies.

across the world, many traditions teach that the top of the head is a portal for physical, mental and spiritual energies. if our hair is shaved, braided, or knotted, it can store energy within the body to maintain strength and health, as hair is our “god antennae”.

while durags were primarily used for protecting waves and cornrows, they became a fashion statement in the african american community in the 90s/early 2000s. by protecting the most sensitive part of the head, the middle of the scalp, one is internally protected from external factors and able to reside in their own energies. the same is applicable for bonnets. i have personally always worn a bonnet to bed (due to me having curly hair) and this has protected my energy greatly. this is yet another reason why head coverings are suggested for certain yogic practices, when the head is covered, one can receive clarity in spiritual intent and supernatural power.

this post took a great deal of time, energy, and resources to make. i consulted over 400 charts and made sure to cross reference my findings with not just celebrities, but the people in my life. this post may not apply to everyone and most astrologers have different beliefs on what categorizes certain aspects of the hair (especially with the sun and saturn). please use your own discernment when reviewing the information in this post. please let me know if this resonated or if it didn’t! wishing you all so much abundance and positivity on your hair journey

xoxo, angel

the mythology of rahu and ketu :

i am about to take a deep dive into the lunar and nodal nakshatras so i thought this would be the perfect post to prelude my upcoming explorations of the nakshatras of chandra, rahu, and ketu!

✨rahu depicted above:

for those who are new to vedic astrology, ketu and rahu are the shadow planets of the moon. they are what many tropical astrologers refer to as the south node (ketu) and north node (rahu). except, in vedic astrology, they have more intricate and prevalent meanings. rahu’s ruling deity is often said to be the goddess durga and ketu’s ruling deity is said to be lord ganesha.

✨ketu depicted above:

rahu means “to abandon” or “void”. rahu is the prince of the daityas (the offspring of the goddess diti and kasyapa, they are giant spirits who fought against the devas out of jealousy towards their deva half-brothers). rahu was born the son of viprachitta and sinhika. whereas, ketu means a “sign” or “banner” and is the son of viprachitta and sinhika, as rahu and ketu are two sides of the same coin (they are two imaginary planets, of the same origin, that can only be evaluated when both are taken into account).

the solar system takes approximately 365 days for the earth to orbit the sun and approximately 28 days for the moon to orbit the earth. twice a year, the lunar and solar paths intersect to create solar and lunar eclipses. during these eclipses, the sun/moon is enshrouded by the darkness of one of the nodes. as discussed previously, rahu is the ascending node and ketu is the descending node. they will always be retrograde (as the nodes move backwards) and opposite of each other.

the story of rahu and ketu’s origin lies in the puranic texts (whose date of origin is said to be of the time before creation). after a deeply strenuous and violent war, the gods and demons decided to work together to churn the galactic material (milk ocean). this material is called amrita, the nectar of immortality, which was created out of the intent for the gods’ use alone. the snake demon, who sat between the thrones of surya and chandra, sneakily took a sip of amrita. lord vishnu, the sustainer of the universe, almost immediately be-headed him. this is why rahu is said to be the head of the serpent demon without a body and ketu is the tail without a head. due to rahu taking a sip of amrita, they are now immortal. lord vishnu placed rahu and ketu in two specific points in the sky. they are now only visible when eclipsing the sun and moon.

here’s a link to another version of the story:

https://www.astrology-prophets.com/rahu-and-ketu-in-astrology.php

Rahu and Ketu in Vedic Astrology, Horoscope, Mythology, Mantras & Remedies

✨ you will notice that ketu is depicted as sitting on the crow. the mahavidya correlated to ketu, dhumavati (one of the ten tantric goddesses), is also symbolized by the crow. the crow is said to be symbolized by the tamasic shani too. this is why feeding crows is considered to be a remedy for an afflicted rahu, ketu, or shani! crows are also fed as part of shradh, a hindu ritual, which is an annual ritual conducted on the thithi, anniversary, of a person’s death. after someone dies, annually the deceased person’s family prepares a feast consisting of their relative’s favorite dishes. they then take turns to serve the dishes on a banana leaf, then the leaf is placed outside. the relatives call out to the crows to invite them to participate in the feast. once a crow begins to eat from the leaf, it is assumed that the deceased person (now in the form of the crow) has eaten, and the ritual is successfully finished. as this action indicates that the deceased ancestor’s soul is now appeased. crows can also be fed on amavasya days, as our dead ancestors are said to supposedly visit us on those days.

ketu represents our karma, whether it is both good or bad. he represents spirituality and supernatural influences. ketu signifies the refinement of the spiritual process of materialization into the spirit. ketu is considered to be malefic, but not as malefic as the fierce, strong rahu who drank the nectar of immortality. this is why ketu is said to be submissive and cannot aspect other planets like rahu, because ketu is an uncontrollable and fluid being. he represents sorrow and loss and, therefore, is responsible for our journey to seeking a higher power. he will cause material loss for the purpose of bestowing the native with a more fitting spiritual outlook. ketu is also the karaka intelligence, wisdom, non-attachment, fantasy, insight, and psychic abilities. because ketu is not vain and is spiritually rich, he brings prosperity to the devotee’s family and is said to remove the effects of venoms and poisons. if you devote yourself to him, he grants good health, wealth and livestock to his devotees.

⭕️ rahu represents materialism, mischief, fear, dissatisfaction, obsession and confusion. the illusionary and deceitful nature of rahu is also why it is associated with politicians and occult sciences. interestingly enough, rahu is even mentioned in a pair of scriptures from the samyutta nikaya of the pali canon. in the candima sutta and the suriya sutta, rahu attacks surya and chandra. he is then compelled to release them by buddha. buddha instructs rahu to release surya and chandra, the alternative being to have rahu’s head being split into seven pieces. rahu proceeds to release them. the verses spoken by surya, chandra, and buddha in this passage are also recited by monks as prayers of protection. this could be why rahu is said to be friends with buddha, because buddha was one of the few deities who could adequately tame the malefic energies of rahu.

♟each planet is an expression of our own divine consciousness. the nodes are a combination of the earth (body), surya (soul) and chandra (mind). this intense influence is why they are regarded as one of the most influential planets in our creative and illusionary expressions. rahu is insatiable, obsessive and does not know how to take no for an answer. ketu is intelligent, wise, non-attached, and ultimately our spiritual liberation. this is why the rahu/ketu axis tells one what they must do to attain moksha. think of ketu as the defensive king in chess who is limited in the steps he can take but wise in his pursuit. rahu is the offensive queen who has multiple possible routes to take and her power/strength can easily be abused.

you may want to examine the different vibrations and undertones of the songs below to better understand the dichotomy between the nodes:

ketu native: billie eilish

rahu native: ariana grande

xoxo, angel <3

cabin(ish) life

Agility trial weekend. Big Black Dog and I sure wish I could be running her.

she likes to lay under the table while I’m working, so I put a bed there for her