Learn - Planets - Ketu (Ketu)
Ketu is a shadow planet, the Moon’s south node, always exactly opposite Rahu. Its exaltation mirrors Rahu’s: many authorities, and AstroPal’s chart engine, take Ketu as exalted in Sagittarius (Dhanu) and debilitated in Gemini (Mithuna), while others place its exaltation in Scorpio (Vrishchika) and debilitation in Taurus. Like Rahu, its strength comes from the sign lord and its company.
Sagittarius is the sign of dharma, philosophy and higher truth, ruled by Jupiter, a friend. Ketu is the planet of detachment and the search for meaning, so a sign of faith gives that search a direction. In Gemini, the busy sign of trade and talk, Ketu’s inward pull leaves the mind scattered.
Open your birth chart and read Ketu through these checks in order. No single one decides it: an exalted planet in the 8th house, or a debilitated one with its debilitation cancelled, can surprise you.
From strongest to weakest: exalted, moolatrikona, own sign, a friend’s sign, a neutral sign, an enemy’s sign, debilitated. This is the first and most quoted check, but it is only one of several.
Ketu is strongest in Sagittarius (Dhanu), comfortable in Scorpio (Vrishchika), and weakest in Gemini (Mithuna). A sign ruled by Mars, Jupiter is friendly ground.
A planet in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) or trikona (1st, 5th, 9th) can act freely. In the dusthanas (6th, 8th, 12th) it struggles to give good results for that house, though malefics often do well in the 3rd, 6th and 11th.
A planet too close to the Sun is combust (asta) and loses some of its independence.
Ketu is never combust.
Jupiter or Venus with or aspecting a planet supports it. Saturn, Mars, Rahu or Ketu with it, or a planet hemmed between malefics on both sides (papakartari), weakens it.
A planet in the same sign in the birth chart and the Navamsa is vargottama, and gains a lot of strength. A planet exalted in the birth chart but debilitated in the Navamsa delivers less than its sign promises.
Shadbala adds up six kinds of strength (position, direction, time, motion, natural strength and aspects) into one number for each planet. It is the most complete single measure, and AstroPal computes it for every chart.
Like Rahu, Ketu gives the results of the lord of the sign it sits in, and of the planets with it. Ketu with Jupiter or in a sign of a strong Jupiter is a classic sign of spiritual depth.
Ketu is a natural significator of moksha, liberation. In the 12th house, the house of letting go, many astrologers read it as one of its best placements for spiritual life, though it can bring expenses or distance from home.
Your own chart
The free Kundli shows which sign, house and nakshatra your Ketu sits in. Ask AstroPal and the astrologer reads its dignity, Navamsa and Shadbala for you.
There are two views. Many authorities, and AstroPal’s charts, take Ketu as exalted in Sagittarius (Dhanu) and debilitated in Gemini (Mithuna). Another common view puts its exaltation in Scorpio (Vrishchika) and debilitation in Taurus (Vrishabha).
Ketu is a node and traditionally owns no sign. Many astrologers give it co-rulership of Scorpio (Vrishchika) alongside Mars. In practice Ketu acts through the lord of the sign it sits in.
Ketu usually does well in the 3rd, 6th and 11th houses, where it gives courage and victory, and in the 12th for spiritual life.
The nine grahas
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