Vedic Astrological Newsletter: April - March 2026

VEDIC ASTROLOGICAL OUTLOOK FOR THE 2ND QUARTER OF 2026:

As a reminder, these newsletters are published on a quarterly basis, and focus on the most salient planetary transits in force during each month of the quarter. These newsletters are available at my website www.Dgoldsteinphd.com and remain posted for each quarter of the year. Interested readers are invited to subscribe and have the quarterly newsletters emailed automatically, four times/year. 

APRIL - MAY 2026:

     The planetary transits for this April are among the most challenging for the entire year.  We begin the month with the movement of transiting Mars into Pisces on 4/2, where transiting Saturn already resides. When Mars and Saturn transit close together, there's trouble ahead.  They are two malefic influences forced to share close quarters and they work in opposite directions. This Mars/Saturn conjunction creates an atmosphere of intense frustration, delays, restriction, push/pull scenarios, aggression, antagonism, arguments, fighting, with irritations galore. Planets along the Pisces/Virgo axis will feel the brunt of this transit. But, regardless, all of us will feel this influence in the domains (houses) of each individual chart that are influenced along this axis. 

     To put more fuel on the fire, Mercury, the planet governing all types of communication will move into its weakest position, Pisces, on 4/10 and join with Mars and Saturn until 4/29 when Mercury then moves to Aries.  During this period, communications will be at their weakest state. Mercury will be debilitated in Pisces, conjunct the two malefic planets, Mars and Saturn, taking on their characteristics. Therefore, this is a month where we are likely to witness massive confusion, communication mix-ups, misunderstandings, deception, lies, impatient, hostile, angry speech, misinformation and erroneous conclusions.  Breakdowns in communications equipment, and problems involving the cloud, data centers, the internet, various websites and social media are likely, along with data breaches and other interruptions from cyber theft.  Since this harsh transit is happening In Pisces, much of this issue may originate in foreign countries and reach the U.S. as an attack on our security. 

     Generally, Mercury in Pisces is a great position for creativity, inspiration, and spiritual awareness, but it is not beneficial for linear thinking, logic, and clear communications, including signing documents and agreements, for example. When Mercury is in this position and surrounded by Mars and Saturn, it is harmed substantially, which takes away from its positive expression. That leaves Mercury is a somewhat dangerous, reduced state. This manifests as delusion, ignorance, and communications that can't be trusted. 

     This is a month to be particularly cautious with interpersonal dealings, communications, agreements and decisions. It would be wise to slow down plans, projects and major decisions, if at all possible.  Allow extra time for everything and pack your patience. Scrutinize all communications (written and verbal) for accuracy and errors, misunderstandings or wrong calculations. Ask for clarification if what's in front of you makes no sense or seems unclear and foggy.  Clarity will not be easily found during this month. Travel will also become more complicated and problematic. There is a greater likelihood for serious accidents, fires, bombings and explosions at sea, over or on the water. Explosions and bombings, gunfire and hostilities will be at their peak.  I address the Iran war timing concern separately below.

     In the U.S. chart, this Mercury/Mars/Saturn transit will move through its 4th house, which represents the home, real estate, and vehicles.   For the U.S. chart, the 4th house represents the homeland and the vehicles within it. Mars and Saturn together represent terrorists, thugs, murderers, and criminals. I suspect we are about to endure one or more serious terrorist attacks in the U.S. coming from foreign terrorist cells that are already planted in the country during the month of April, with the greatest likelihood coming on or near 4/15 - 4/16 and/or on or close to 4/19.    

     On 4/15 - 4/16, the Moon will join with Mercury/Mars/Saturn, as well as Neptune. The Moon will be at its weakest point, in the 15th dark lunar tithi just before the New Moon.   On 4/19, there is an exact tight conjunction at 13 degrees Pisces between Mercury, Saturn and Mars. This is perhaps the weakest exact point of the month, but the build-up a few days before 4/19 can be just as challenging.  

     This 13 degree Mercury/Mars/Saturn conjunction takes place in the 2nd drekkana of Pisces, in the nakshatra of Uttara Bhadrapada, which is symbolized as the back feet of a funeral cot. This nakshatra is associated with endings, death (funerals), as well as cleansing and renewal. Uttara Bhadrapada has the shakti of bringing on the rains. Hence, when malefic planets are in this nakshatra, that can indicate excessive rains or flooding. It is also known as part of the "scorching pair" of nakshatras (along with Purva Bhadrapada, which comes before it), which refers to heat and fires. Thus, we can ascertain that both problems with water (flooding) and excessive heat (drought and wildfires), can be expected during a transit of this group of planets through this section of Pisces. 

     The 2nd drekkana involvement of this rough transit refers to having problems on ships and traveling across the oceans. This may include terrorist attacks, bombings or hijackings of ships while at sea during this month, and it may refer to ships sinking deep into the ocean.  The loss of life is also likely.

     There is also a stronger likelihood for earthquakes, leading to tidal waves (tsunami), devastation in island areas, flooding and volcanic eruptions during April. The state of Hawaii fits this description, having several volcanoes within a series of islands. This transit may reflect an odd combination of both devastating flooding in some regions and also hot, dry serious drought and wildfires in other regions all happening at the same time.   

     Another point to consider, is that Mercury is the 7th house lord (ruling planet) for the U.S. chart. Mercury becomes the Karyesh (ruler) governing partnerships (other countries) for the U.S.  chart.  Obviously, with a horribly weak, devasted, afflicted transiting Mercury in April, this does not bode well for the U.S. to form any beneficial, reliable enduring commitments, or create beneficial agreements or relationships with other countries during April. The U.S. will not be able to trust or count on those associations holding up. This is certainly true with Iran and even other countries that are considered allies of the U.S. for the time being. These relationships will likely get worse before they get better over time.

     With this Mars/Saturn transit passing through the U.S. chart's 4th house, and 2nd from its Moon, this is not good for real estate, security, and finance matters. There are likely to be some sharp and sudden financial upsets and downturns and then recovery later, after these transits move on. 

     Mars will move to a much better and stronger own sign of Aries position as of 5/11. Meanwhile, Mercury will move out of Pisces on 4/29, to Aries. After Mars moves to Aries starting on 5/11, the atmosphere should improve for advancing projects, making rapid progress, quicker decisions and experiencing less restrictions along the way. Travel should improve into May and June as well.  Mars will transit through its own strong sign of Aries until 6/20 when it then moves into Taurus, and receives an aspect from Saturn.   Mars loses strength during its transit of Taurus between 6/20 - 8/2, partly due to the Saturn aspect. 

There are also some beneficial transits happening as well, during this April - June time frame:

*The Sun will be exalted in Aries between 4/14 - 5/14.

*Venus moves into its own sign of Taurus on 4/19 - 5/14.

Both of these stronger planetary transits reflect more confidence and material improvements in the atmosphere, including a tendency for recovery from financial downturns.  

June 2026: 

     On 5/29, Mercury enters its own strong sign of Gemini and joins with two benefic planetary influences of Venus and Jupiter. Mercury transits through Gemini until 6/22. During this Gemini transit, communications improve, and are more logical and flowing. It's a good time for all educational endeavors, teaching, lecturing and learning, as well as trying a variety of new approaches or having new experiences across the board. It's generally a better month for exploration and travel as well. 

     Then on 6/1, the great benefic planet, Jupiter, moves into its strongest position, exalted in the sign of Cancer. Jupiter will transit there until 10-31-2026, when Jupiter then moves into Leo temporarily, before retrograding back to Cancer on 1-24-2027.  Then Jupiter moves into the next sign of Leo on 6-25-2027 (next year).

     While transiting through its strong, exalted sign of Cancer, Jupiter throws positive, supportive, optimistic energy in the house it transits, as well as the 5th, 7th and 9th house aspects of Jupiter. When Jupiter is strong, it confers hope, the belief that everything will work out for the best, optimism, good will, and the desire to teach, offer wisdom and experience expansion, gains, growth and prosperity. With this transit, Jupiter also throws a supportive, positive 9th house aspect onto Saturn which is transiting through Pisces concurrently. That can be helpful for getting better, more productive results associated with that house where Saturn resides. This begins on June 1st and helps everyone at some level, depending on your chart situation.

The U.S. Chart: Change to Rahu/Ketu Mahadasha on 4-1-2026 and the Iran war situation:

     You may recall that the U.S. as a country, entered the Rahu mahadasha (planetary cycle) on 10-1-2015. I've been writing about this Rahu mahadasha since that time and its impacts. (Many Thanks to James Kelleher for determining the accurate birth time of the U.S.A. through his serious, scholarly historical research on this.)

As of 4-1-2026, the U.S. changes its bhukti (sub-period) to Ketu. Now  the U.S. experiences the Rahu/Ketu period until 4-19-2027, just a little over one year. Rahu is the major period planet and it sits in the 8th house of deep transformation and change in the U.S. chart.  

     Rahu is considered to be unconventional in nature, not follow the rules, and step out of societal boundaries, for better or worse.   While independent in nature, going its own way, and devoted to meeting its own desires and following its own beliefs, Rahu gives a wild ride life experience, with ups and downs like a roller coaster ride. Some of the results are outstanding and positive, while at other times, dark, deceptive, law-breaking and functioning at a low ignorant level, bent solely on meeting insatiable desires and sense-gratification.

     The 8th house position of Rahu in the U.S. chart,  makes this transformative tendency even more pronounced, indicating enormous transformation of the country at almost every level. Transformation means change at its deepest level, such that you don't recognize the entity from its previous original state. That is what is happening in the U.S., ever since the country entered Rahu in late 2015.

     The U.S. clearly took a huge turn in 2015 and it has continued this wild ride for the past 10+ years. Rahu mahadasha is an 18-year cycle that will continue until 9-30-2033 when the U.S. will then enter the 16-year Jupiter cycle. That is when life will settle down again in this country, but not before that time. That does not mean that life in the U.S. is bad or negative. It just means that the country is completely transforming itself and changing in deep and dramatic ways.  The country is living an 8th house experience, going through a very long death and rebirth cycle. Some of this will end up being a great improvement and some will be experienced as destructive, as a major loss or huge setback, depending on your values and perspective.  It's all happening whether we like it or not. 

     Now we can shift our attention to the 5th sub-period of the Rahu mahdasha, that of Ketu. Recall that there are always nine sub-periods in every mahadasha (major planetary cycle). 

     Over the next year, while the U.S. experiences the Rahu/Ketu period, many of the events and situations that take place are out of our control to manipulate, even for those in powerful positions. These situations are considered to be the result of previous actions, for better or worse, and now the consequences will come out full circle in the country. Examination of Rahu in the 8th house, and its dispositor, the Moon in the 3rd house, which is positioned 8th from the 8th house, tells much of the story. Transformation, change and unconventionality are the major themes. It is also an excellent period for the U.S. to excel in research, especially medical research, and advancements in technology, communications and transportation. 

     The Ketu side is activated for the next 12 months. Ketu is in the 2nd house (always opposite 180 degrees from Rahu), and is at 15:51 degrees Capricorn, in the nakshatra of Shravana.   This indicates that the U.S. is compelled to get its affairs in better order, to remove what is not working in the country and to replace it with something better and of a higher order.  This is the main shakti of Shravana.  Ketu wants to remove and refine situations and is restless and searching for something better.  The 2nd house rules finances, materials, speech, food and sustenance. Saturn, Ketu's dispositing planet, is in the 10th house ruling the government and the president himself.  It is a prime year for cleaning out the country on all levels, making it leaner, healthier, more organized, reducing the size of government, clearing debts, unnecessary expenses, burdens, scandals, fraud and other hidden, deeper problems that have existed for decades if not longer.  Ketu in this 2nd house might reflect a reduction in inflation as the year progresses. 

     Meanwhile, with the challenging Mercury/Mars/Saturn transit in force during April, it is difficult to see how the U.S. will exit the war in Iran during April.  The inflammatory, and antagonistic tone in communications will grow steadily between the U.S. and Iran and other countries during April, while Mercury is so badly afflicted. Communications will likely break down and negotiations will not hold between the U.S. and Iran. A preliminary agreement may be reached for a cease-fire, but it is likely to be breached or suddenly fall apart. There will be an up and down process going on, changing one day to the next. The U.S. will likely continue to fight this war with Iran until at least mid-May, or possibly longer until Jupiter moves to exalted Cancer in the U.S. 8th house. If a terrorist attack does occur within the U.S. in April, then that will likely inflame tensions greatly, on an already challenging landscape between nations.  Such events will further delay an end to this war, with the state-sponsored terrorist regime in Iran.