Into the Wild, with Ardra Nakshatra

Rudra desired, “May I become the lord of the animals [Paśupati]” ~ from the Taittirīya-saṃhitā

Today I’ll guide you through the skies of the Vedic lunar mansion Ardra, where we find the fixed stars Betelgeuse, Propus, Tejat and Alhena – and to me personally, this part of the sky has always connected to wolves. In Vedic astrology Ardra connects to the female dog as its animal symbol or the wolf, but to me it’s always been the wolf. And with the Wolf Moon soon upon us, what better way than to dive into the spiritual secrets of the lord of the animals Rudra, walking with the wolf.

Last time I walked you through the spiritual wild lands of Punarvasu nakshatra, which you can read in The Beauty and Mysticism of Punarvasu Nakshatra, and Ardra is what comes before it. Within each is the other, as nothing ever exists on its own. What’s special about this part of the sky where both Punarvasu and Ardra reside, is not only that this is our brightest winter sky, kind of like our winter heaven where the path of the Milky Way is seen as a bridge also, but here is a very special sequence of nakshatras: from Rohini to Punarvasu is the divine sequence of birth. Not just any birth, not necessarily human births, here we see the beginning of all, the birth of wildlife and nature, and in Punarvasu is the birth of the gods.

When we speak of stars and constellations and lunar mansions, we can’t simply refer to books. Astrology can only be properly understood by intuitive wisdom, and this is unique to each astrologer. Part of that is a very almost embodied experience and witnessing, a direct perception of the sky as well as movement of nature’s rhythm – as above, so below.

The intimacy of the witnessing is part of the intuitive intelligence and wisdom of us as spiritual practitioners. We need to go out and observe the real sky, touch the soil, feel the rhythms and try to listen to and understand the languages unspoken and wordless.

There is no replacement for direct perception and a program cannot replace you. We need to look with our eyes; let the light penetrate your eyes. Your perception of something is a direct connection with that source of intelligence. I know we live in a digital world increasingly so, but please, do not ever limit yourself and your knowledge expansion by mere books or apps or programs. None of these will ever replace your mind and direct perception and intuitive wisdom and experience. Do not fall for theories that promise to upgrade you.

What matters is the simple and intimate contact between you and the other of which you may learn and deepen in understanding. So build your own experience with the sky, and with nature too and her rhythms. This is what will enrich you, and expand you.

In the first visual I am using the constellation art, just so that you can imagine what this may look like for the purpose of understading the second visual. The orange line is the ecliptic, which is the path that the planets and our moon travel along as perceived by us on earth.

This is taken in 2025 in Toronto, Canada, two days before the Summer Solstice, and here we see the Sun entering the lunar mansion Ardra – which is essentially when the Sun meets fixed star Betelgeuse. Fixed star Betelgeuse is currently found at around the 28th degree of Tropical Gemini, and at the shoulder of Orion, the hunter. As Betelgeuse lies south of the ecliptic, you will not see a planet directly pass through it, only in paran, or visually, it is kind of like drawing up a vertical line to meet it.

Now, if this is the entering of the mansion Ardra, let’s see where she ends and moves into Punarvasu’s chambers.

In the visuals above, the Sun will leave Ardra and enter Punarvasu once it leaves fixed star Alhena and moves further into the body of the celestial immortal twin Pollux. So when we see a planet still at the knee of Castor, it is still Ardra, but once it passes fixed star Alhena, who also is south of the ecliptic at the foot of Pollux, then we enter Punarvasu and the realms of fixed star Sirius also.

Essentially, Ardra is a lunar mansion which begins at Betelgeuse, moves along the foot of Castor with stars Propus and Tejat, and then ends after it leaves the starry realms of Alhena, entering the upper body of Pollux. If you have a Celestial Natal Reading with me, and have any of your planets along this starry path, they would reside within the Vedic lunar mansion Ardra. 

Why is this important?

It’s important because no two Ardra are ever the same. It matters whether it is near Betelgeuse, or with Propus and Tejat, or within the heavenly Milky Way path with Alhena. These are all quite different places, though all of them are very fertile, it is moist soils here. And naturally, Ardra is associated with a “drop of moisture”, known as the “moist one”, also carrying the symbols of the teardrop, rain, storms and thunders, and a diamond.  

To understand more deeply, let me take you to the Vedic scriptures where the nakshatras are discussed, specifically to the Śrī Rudram hymn found in the Taittirīya Samhita where Ardra and Rudra are written of.

The literal translation of this is:

“The two arms of Rudra are moist. Because of the notion of liquidity, this is the designation. The arms exert effort. Wherever sacrifice and sacrificial components are fashioned, there a triad of Rudra arises: above are hunters, animals whose nature is the seeking of beasts; in the middle is the time-formed power of effort relating to gain and expenditure; below is fluid essence, light discharge. When this triad is present, that becomes Rudra.”

We begin with Betelgeuse above – the strong powerful arms of the hunter, the one who aims his efforts. In this part of the sky we aim our efforts to protect others and animals also, and to fight for what we want and believe in. It is indeed about effort, though it is effort that will pay off greatly.

The arms are moist, because rainlife falls in this time of year, to pour the beds where rivers flow in the cardinal direction, set the path forward. Moisten the soil, so that all is born. Within rain, nothing can exist. Rain feeds the animals also.

“In the middle is the time-formed power” which are essentially the feet of Castor with fixed stars Propus and Tejat, which are of Saturn nature. Time is Saturn, he is the lord of time, teacher and wise that time itself gifts us. He is nature itself and all that forms because of time, such as wrinkles on our body and efforts shown on hands or the ankles of the ballerinas. It shows effort shaped in time, it shows dedication. It shows cycles of the land, seasons and rhythms, and the ways we choose to walk with, hopefully, integrity.

And “below is fluid essence, light discharge”, which to me is where we enter the realms of Alhena. I’ve spoken in depth about this mystical star in Fixed Star Alhena, the Muse Illuminates the Destined Path.

Alhena represents the heel of a god, an immortal or sacred one who touches the earth and human realms, and Alhena shows a destined path or higher calling or mission a person may feel in their life. Alhena is also known as the “mark of the artist” and serving the muse, so this aligns quite beautiful with Ardra natives because they do often have a lot of creativity and out of the box thinking.

The “fluid essence” is this moist opening that happens here – a bridge between the worlds that Alhena offers, and Ardra walks us into. You see, the celestial Gemini constellation is one of union and sexual unions for reproductions, so the fluid discharge here symbolizes this conception that takes place, which then in Punarvasu is when “gods are born”.

The “discharge of fluid” means to populate here in the celestial Gemini, and the path from Rohini to Punarvasu is the divine sequence where all nature, wildlife and gods are born. Ardra is the fluid, Punarvasu is the birth.

There is a fierceness to Ardra, this is Rudra and Shiva after all. Thunders need to be powerful here, but this is what sets a path forward. This is what breaks us open as humanity also, and a lot of people who have Ardra in specific positions and alignments do indeed go through some humbling moments, where life kneels them, but essentially, this opens their heart and deepens them into compassion for all of humanity.

Tears cleanse them, purify them, and the intensity of their emotions too cleanse them, move them, purify them, teach them, rise them. In its higher manifestation, Ardra can feel deep empathy and compassion for all people and all animals, and they will never be tall not to kneel to help another creature.

Rudra is a rebel. Ardra is a rebel. The trick is to know what you are actually rebelling against, and what are you fighting for. Are you rebelling for the sake of stubbornness, to create drama, or are you fighting for justice and truth? How are you fighting for that? Do you create more fighting? How are you authentic in your life, and to whom and what are you loyal? What ideologies are you loyal to? Do these serve to separate or unite humanity?

There is actually a story in which Shiva didn’t bow to his father in law, and people saw it as disrespectful, but if he had bowed, this would ruin him. Because his father in law was stuck in a false sense of self righteousness, so if he bows, he is essentially “bowing” or submitting to this falseness and self righteousness.

Ardra is about not bowing and not submitting to false concepts or ego or societal conditioning or worldly powers or demands or someone’s “false self righteousness”. It’s about finding your own truth – not a dogmatic truth, not following ideas or herd mentalities which serve to separate or judge or dominate others. Ardra invites us into having a real code of ethics and holding ourselves to a certain level of integrity and authenticity.

Carrying the teardrop as its symbol, Ardra shows the emotional depth and sensitivity these natives have gained through being able to endure the storms and allow truth to purify them. This shows profound transformation for the purpose of soul growth, and ultimately coming into deep compassion for self, forgiveness and emotional understanding. The rollercoaster of emotional intensity that they might have been through in this life was for the purpose of developing emotional mastery – and even pouring waters of compassion for others also.

There is a story how Rudra had many extreme emotions, uncontrollable and imbalanced, untamed, wild desires and passions, addicted to base actions, and could get really angry when things didn’t go his way sending the thunders to earth which then caused war and suffering. This is why he is associated with storms, chaos and destruction, and this could be both creative and destructive. Creativity too needs some destruction sometimes.

What Rudra was essentially looking for was forgiveness from all the guilts he felt, and hoping that through the tears of humanity, or rainfalls after thunders and during storms, the ice within him will melt also. And this is why after Ardra comes the purest nakshatra Punarvasu, the return of light, renewal of soul.

The dharma of Ardra is powerful – it is about truth. Ardra natives smell and see truth from miles away, despite all veils, they have olfactory senses to smell falseness. Just like wolves. Ardra sees things and people as they truly are, and their dharma is about authenticity, honesty and integrity; it is about having the clarity after the stormy and cloudy sky, and being thankful for these storms and clouds because these are the paths we learn from.

They’ve seen falseness and cheating in people and in their lives, they’ve been betrayed and diminished and lied to – but they are strong, fierce; they cry their tears and then these same tears are the ones that actually cleanse and purify them, and then they get up and move forward with the blessing of truth, clarity and aligned to higher values.

On the higher expression of their dharma Ardra people can be ethical, moral and compassionate people, because they know what it feels like on the other side and they have made the choice not to do that to others. Most people close off and harden up after storms, and on the lower expression Ardra can be ruthless, mean and speak its “truth” without consideration for others and how they can hurt other people with their words and actions.

Their dharma is not to do that but instead, it is to pour the waters of compassion and forgiveness on self, and then to others also. Any storms are essentially teaching Ardra people to humble themselves, keep the Rahu tamed, and to appreciate in a deeper way all in life – because it is only after storms, when clouds clear and we smell the freshness in the air, that we can more truly appreciate that which matters to us most deeply.

Ardra people have the potential to see through everyone’s lower self or falseness – because they have seen these aspects of humanity, they’ve walked these paths, and this makes them very honorable in their actions after. Truth is freeing, powerful and while disillusionment can hurt, it is freedom – and it is the initiation towards spiritual knowledge and wisdom. Spirituality is about authenticity is about truth is about compassion for all of humanity and wildlife and all living beings. We all cry our tears, but water is water, is union.

You need to give yourself grace and compassion though, and moments of relaxation. Because Ardra burns with a bright powerful engine, and exerts a lot of power through its efforts and work, you may feel like sometimes you just want to retreat into the woods or go spend some time somewhere remote, serene, quiet. This is actually very beneficial and very needed, as you will feel recharged in nature and it will give you relief.

Wolves are known for their fierce nature, independence and yet deeply loyal and protective. The wolf doesn’t ask to be liked. It doesn’t perform tricks or seek approval. It lives by instinct, loyalty, and a code of its own.

What I think many people don’t know however about wolves, and what I personally learned about them through my times with them is that they are actually very emotional animals. Yes, they are sensitive, have strong sensitivity and senses, especially their sense of smell, very instinctual as well, but they are also very emotional. Research has revealed that wolves can express many emotions through their faces such as anger, anxiety, curiosity, fear, friendliness, happiness, interest, joy, loyalty and surprise.

Wolves have rich, complex emotional lives, exhibiting many emotions and deep familial bonds, much like humans; they communicate through varied body language, mourn lost pack members with sorrowful howls, care for the injured by sharing food, and show affection through play, licking, and rubbing, highlighting their intelligence, strong social structures, and inherent wildness. Their personalities vary, but core traits include resilience, deep empathy, and a strong sense of community within their pack, making them highly sensitive and social beings.

I didn’t move my hand, I just kept it there for a while, and then slided it gently caressing her back and fur. I could feel her breathing calmed, she hid her teeth, and softened, tamed herself. I too am sensitive gentle emotional creature, so I understand the complex nuances of the emotional waters, and I understand too, very deeply, that touch is healing, it is soothing, and sometimes we just need to know that no matter what happens someone is here and can hold us. Animal or human, we all have hearts, we all need a gentle touch, gentle voice, presence.

Ardra is deeply connected to nature, and is quite wild and raw and instinctual. So nature is really important for you. Natives are very connected to animals also, and there are many famous animal welfare activists who have Ardra prominent in their charts. They are very fierce and protective over animals, which is that wolf life quality and Shiva energy.

They do not tolerate injustice against animals, and will protect even the smallest squirrel in a park from people who harm her. They can get very passionate about animal welfare and make amazing activists, or build their own shelters rescuing stray animals, dogs and kitten and all. In a way, just as the rain of Ardra nurtures the soil and offers water to the animals, Ardra natives can feed and nourish the animals also, offering them a home, nurture and shelter in whatever way they can.

With the kindness and compassion you may hold in your heart and in your actions towards them, they too will give to you in whatever ways they can and be your trusted spirit guides along your path, be your nurture and hope and medicine and messangers when you need it.

Another verse in Yajurveda 16.46 actually locates Rudra in the heart of the gods, showing that he is the inner Self of all, even the gods, “devānāṃ hṛdayabhyo namo”, meaning, “salutations to him who is in heart of the gods.”

This concept emphasizes the idea that all individual gods and the entire universe are manifestations or aspects of the singular, supreme being, Rudra and Shiva. He is not merely present among them, but is their essential core and underlying reality. So in a way, Rudra is the ultimate reality, the source, and the destination of all creation and dissolution.

This highlights Rudra’s omnipresent nature, indicating that divinity cannot be confined to a single form or place but is present everywhere and in everything, including the hearts of all beings and gods. Within his heart and heart of all gods is the union of polarities; and within our own beating hearts are the hearts of gods, the possibility for union; for us to find a way to unite the polarities, to come into union.

To me, what is in the heart of Ardra and the heart of the gods is their compassion for us as humans. You see, the mortal twin Castor kneels, we all kneel as humans, we all cry, we all open our hearts because of it. And it is these tears and these emotions that actually serve as our bright to our humaneness, because this is how we too open in compassion for others. Our wounds too become our bridge to humanity; wounds that connect us all together, tears we now others too cry and we may be softer towards them.

What Ardra holds in its heart is our connection to animals, to nature, and to helping one another, to never being too tall not to kneel to help a little animal. Ardra wakes us up and invites us to never bow to falseness just because of societal conditioning. Yes, it’s fancy to be stupid, to be a drama queen, to be a victim, to be filtered and not even look human anymore, but it’s not truth.

Ardra needs the real thing. The diamond thing. The thing that is unbreakable, because it is pure, it is real. It is love. It is compassion. It is being not just human, but being humane. Soft in skin, open in heart and mind and with open palms. Animal and human. All and everything.

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