Venus Transit in Ardra

Ardra lies in Gemini, Mercury's sign, and Rahu is its lord. Its deity is Rudra, and its symbol a teardrop or a gem shaped like one. Rahu has no place in Parashara's friendship table. By the rule Shanivat Rahu it is read as Saturn, a friend of Venus, and Mercury is Venus's friend too, so both lords support the transit whatever the deity's temper.

Rudra's intensity enters Venus's affairs. Love is felt strongly and sometimes with tears, and an old grief may return to be finished. Art made in these eleven days carries an edge of sorrow. Desire for the foreign, the new and the technological runs strong, and Rahu's taste for excess needs a limit.

Ardra suits research, sharp speech and the clearing of what has rotted, and the muhurta texts leave it out of their list for weddings. A purchase made in strong feeling is often regretted.

From the Moon and the lagna, with Phaladeepika's houses for Venus:

• Gemini, Taurus, Aries, Pisces and Aquarius Moons hold Venus in the first to fifth houses and gain in charm, speech and income.
• Scorpio, Libra, Leo and Cancer Moons receive it in the eighth, ninth, eleventh and twelfth, also favourable, with comfort from partners and elders.
• Capricorn, Sagittarius and Virgo Moons have Venus in the sixth, seventh and tenth and should guard the relationship and the purse.

Ardra shows how a person loves when love hurts, and lets them see their own pattern.

Recite Om Shukraya Namah, offer water to Rudra, and give rice or curd on Friday. Weep if the tears come. Then return to the work in hand.