Rahu & The Insatiable Desire

Where would the marketing industry be without creating desire? It is a fact that most advertising feeds off people's insecurities. Contentment is a rare thing in today's world. Being in the rat race of being better than others is making people more unhappy than ever. There is nothing wrong in making progress or even being your best self. But when it comes from a point of inferiority, it is seriously problematic. It will take away the joy of gratitude and push you into the cycle of desire.

In Vedic astrology, Rahu symbolizes illusion (Maya) and desire. It is considered a graha as it is the north node of the moon and not literally a planet. Being rooted in spirituality, Vedic astrology considers Rahu or the north node of the moon as a malefic. It is very good from a materialistic point of view, always pushing you to get ahead but at the same time planting seeds of insecurities within you. It is the master of communication and manipulation, similar to a corporate salesman. A good salesperson can sell you way more than you intend to by manipulation of your mind. In the end, you might end up repenting. Similarly, one has to be careful when dealing with the energies of the north node and be vigilant at all times. It is perceived as having a smoky nature, as it symbolizes the use of smoke and mirrors.

The famous tale of Svarabhanu illustrates this, as his longing for Amrit, the nectar of immortality, drove him to employ deceit in the pursuit of his wishes. His deception was caught and reported by Surya (the Sun) and Chandra (the Moon). Ultimately, his endeavors led to his decapitation by Lord Vishnu. As aptly stated by Abraham Lincoln, "You can deceive all people for a portion of time, and you can deceive some people for all the time, but you can never deceive all people for all the time." Any illusion or web of lies is bound to be exposed eventually.

Begrudgingly Rahu's severed but immortal head pursued the Sun and Moon with resentment, at times engulfing them, resulting in eclipses. However, due to the absence of his physical body, these luminaries descend from his head and reemerge. This engulfment is again an illusion as these two halves of Svarabhanu are Rahu and Ketu, the nodes of the Moon or the eclipse points. The eclipse metaphorically represents the illusion of desires which eclipse our true self and the real purpose for birth which is to evolve spiritually.

The Ego is another form of illusion and a form of self-deception. The story of Narcissus, who meets his demise beside a pool, captivated by his own reflection for which he develops a deep affection, comes to mind. He remains oblivious to his surroundings, disregarding basic needs like eating and sleeping. His final breath is drawn in solitude, his life ending due to an unattainable yet fervently yearned image. 

The true power of Rahu is desire, which is like blinding lights propagating an illusion of scarcity and insecurity. It is fueled by the need to compare oneself to others. When in reality, every person is meant to follow their own path in life with their own set of unique skills and individuality. The north node or Rahu allows you to fulfil your dreams by hook or crook, but at the same time, it creates a never-ending cycle of slavery of the self to the insatiable desires.