Venus Transit in Chitra

Tvashtar, the divine craftsman also called Vishvakarma, is the deity of Chitra, Mars is its lord, and its symbol is a bright jewel. The first two padas lie in Virgo and hold the exact degree of Venus's debility. The last two lie in Libra, Venus's own sign and mulatrikona. No other nakshatra takes Venus from its lowest point to its seat in so few days.

Mars is neutral to Venus in Parashara's table, and the craftsman's nakshatra gives Venus something to make. Design, architecture, jewellery, fashion, film and any art where beauty is built by measure do well. The stay is around eleven days. A retrograde loop has once held Venus here for about six weeks, and in such a stay a piece of work is made, undone and remade.

Chitra is mridu in muhurta, soft and friendly. The Libra padas suit buying ornaments or a vehicle and starting a creative venture. In the Virgo padas the maker is a critic first, and pleasure waits until the object is right. The jewel is also vanity, and Venus here can spend on surface.

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

• For the Virgo padas, Aries, Pisces and Sagittarius Moons hold Venus in the sixth, seventh and tenth and should take care.
• For the Libra padas, Taurus, Aries and Capricorn Moons hold it in those houses, so Aries Moons should be careful throughout.
• Every other Moon sign has Venus in a favourable house. Libra Moons hold it in the first, with real gain in charm and income.

The transit shows the standard a person holds beauty to, and whether that standard is ever met.

Finish one thing well. Recite Om Shukraya Namah, give white cloth or silver on Friday, and pray to Vishvakarma before the day's work to keep Venus creative.