Ashlesha has a lot to do with genetic heritage, the karma we have brought from previous lives and the scope of changes we are allowed to make in the present life.Ashlesha is perhaps the most difficult of all nakshatra energies to handle and channel correctly, especially in the present day and age. Even the ancient sages and scholars had very few kind words to say in relation to this nakshatra.
Secretive, creepy, cold blooded deceptive,hypnotic and poisonous. All these qualities find their way into Ashlesha’s functioning. On the positive side,have primordial powers of insight, intuition, perception, wisdom,concentration.In the present times when the worst side of everything is on display, one can usually expect mostly the negative qualities to predominate.
If your Ascendant is in Ashlesha, that may give you a squarish face; parallel, straight, wide, thin lips; beady small eyes; a naturally suspicious look and a pale complexion. Despite lacking facial attractiveness, people born under this nakshatra generally have sexually appealing bodies.They are very conscious of how they move and how their movement arouses sexual passion in others.
Their good manner doesn’t last for long, once their objective is achieved, they are immediately cold and ruthless. They are always scheming and plotting when it comes to climbing the social ladder.
Worry and caution follow them relentlessly. On a positive level, their suspicious natures make them good observers.This power of observation is often combined with a natural intuition. However Ashlesha’s intuitive and psychic capabilities tend to function,best in situations where an element of danger is there. Natives can sense danger quickly and react quickly. On a negative level, their suspicion can turn into paranoia. In its extreme state,
paranoia can become an illness. Paranoid schizophrenia is a disease whose roots lie in Ashlesha.
Ashlesha natives can aid others in psychological exploration and understanding, but they also have a tendency to use their psychological perceptiveness to exploit others.
It is due to this inherent mistrust that Ashlesha natives tend to remain hidden in regards to their true thoughts and feelings. They do not form intimate bonds with others and will mistrust their most
closest families.They are however highly protective towards their kith and kin and will ward off suspicious intruders in the most ruthless manner.
Ashlesha natives can be the most mean and stingy in regards to financial affairs. Their miserliness never helps them in the end as they always end up having losses one way or the other. The presence of Ashlesha in a nativity works both ways; one deceives others and gets deceived by others. Many Ashlesha natives are victims, rather than the users, especially natives who have planets like Sun and Jupiter placed in Ashlesha. In the present day and age where all the workings’of the elite take place in secret away from the eyes of the public, one cannot help but observe dominant role of Ashlesha in the halls of power.
- 1st Pada: 16° 40″ – 20° 00′ Cancer falls in Sagittarius Navamsa and is ruled by Jupiter. This pada has he ability to put in the most hard work. It has a lot to do with dealing enmity, diseases and other 6th house affairs.
- 2nd Pada: 20° 00′ – 23° 20′ Cancer falls in Capricorn Navamsa ruled by Saturn. This pada is mostly involved in dealing with people. It is a highly ambitious pada which is usually liable to use all of Ashlesha’s negative traits like trickery and deceit to get what it wants. An inability to let go of possessions is another unique aspect of this pada.
- 3rd Pada: 23° 20′ – 26° 40′ Cancer falls in Aquarius Navamsa ruled by Saturn. Secrecy is the keyword to this pada. It however is most closely related to the occult side of Ashlesha.This pada usually goes to unusual lengths,takes highly inventive approaches to scheming and plotting. Planets placed here adversely effects mother’s wellbeing.
- 4th Pada 26° 40′ – 30° 00′ Cancer falls in Pisces Navamsa ruled by Jupiter. This is the pada relating to all kinds of illusions. The moral struggle is at its peak here.People under the strong
influence of this pada, are more likely to get tricked by others, rather than deceive others. Such natives are always putting up fronts and hardly ever show their true nature. Planets placed here
adversely effect the father’s well-being.
Rulership: Moon and Mercury are the two planets connected with this nakshatra, Mercury being the main planetary ruler. Mostly the negative Mercurial traits like evasiveness, deception and deviousness get highlighted in this nakshatra.But the actual functioning of Mercury here is to control the mind (represented by the Moon).Ashlesha is supposed to be the place where intellect develops itself to control and direct the instinctual workings of the mind. In today’s world, Mercury’s ability to direct Moon is used for deceiving the masses (Moon) through the media (Mercury). This negative usage of Mercurial energy makes this one of the most dangerous nakshatras in Kaii-Yuga (present age/cycle of humanity).Ashlesha is the battleground where the war between intellect and emotions, conscious and subconscious.
Moon/Mercury conjunction in a horoscope give similar results to Ashlesha. Ketu is supposed to give good results in Ashlesha when aspected by Jupiter. No other planet can be said to function well
in this nakshatra. A well placed Mercury however, can make the native a shrewd and manipulative businessman.
Profession : All professions dealing with Poisons, Petroleum Industry, Chemical Engineers; Cigarette Industry; Legal and Illegal Drug Dealers, Drug Pushers, All Self Serving professions like present day Politicians,Behind the Scenes Manipulators, Psychologists, Con Artists, Thieves, Swindlers, Pornography Industry, Prostitutes,Professions involving dealing with Reptiles,Allopathic Doctors & Surgeons,Secret Service Agents, Spies, Lawyers, Tantrics {usually beginner types), Hypnotists,Fake
Gurus and Cult Leaders.
Body Parts : Bone Joints like Elbows, Knuckles, Knee Caps;Nails and Ears are the body parts related to this nakshatra.
Direction : It is related to the directional range which covers the northwest to the north. Like all serpent energies it is strong in the Southwest as well.
Example : Indira Gandhi, the first and only woman prime minister of India, was born with Ashlesha rising on her Ascendant. Her extremely manipulative and deceptive nature is now common knowledge, especially in India. Her life and works reveal all of Ashlesha’s functioning in modern times.