Rahu and Ketu are important nodes in Vedic astrology that represent spiritual growth and past life karma. Rahu signifies indulgence and obsession that can lead to self-destruction, and is associated with air, aviation, the occult, deception, and taboo interests. Ketu signifies release and transformation through problems and indicates past life karma, bringing spiritual enlightenment through difficulties. Both Rahu and Ketu are associated with snakes and can cause changes through accidents, afflictions, and hard times.

1. Rahu & Ketu in Astrology
Rahu:
Rahu is the ascending node of the moon and it afflicts the Moon more than any
other planet.
Rahu points to the direction of spiritual growth for an individual and wherever he
is placed in a chart there will be a tendency to indulgence or obsession. In many
ways the path that Rahu indicates is designed to lead the individual to selfdestruction. It is said that Rahu gives and Ketu takes away but to be more
accurate Rahu gives in the same manner that a drug dealer "gives' since what he
gives is designed to hook into you and become a need which leads toward ones
own downfall.
Rahu is especially associated with the sense of emptiness that must be fed
regardless of the problems it causes. This is the emptiness of the addict, the
workaholic or the serial killer.
Rahu has a very strong affiliation with the air. Airplanes, aviation, pilots and
space travel all fall under his influence. Rahu can involve one in areas of life
considered somewhat taboo by conventional society such as astrology,
metaphysics, occultism, witchcraft, cults, skin diseases, executions and
epidemics. Rahu also has a tendency to drive one toward areas where deception
and the hidden aspect of something play a large role such as politics, revolutions,
drugs, secret societies, mysteries, inventions, scientists, deceit, affairs and taboo
sexual appetites.
Snakes encountered in dreams or in life are often thought to be manifestations of
Rahu.
Rahu has an special affiliation with Garlic, which is said to have sprung from the
ground where his blood fell.

2. The Seagull or Gull is known to be an aspect of Rahu.
Names:
Tamas, Rahu, Asura, Swarbhanu, Vidhuntuda, Pata, Sainhikeya, Bhujanga and
Ahi. The common term is Rahu.
Attributes:
Rahu represents indulgence and expansion to the point of fault. Smoke, mental
illness (over expanded consciousness), losses, theft, death of family members,
and air disasters are other negative aspects.
Rahu does have a positive influence on gambling or speculation, which takes
place in activities like investing in the Stock Market. Another positive aspect is his
ability to heal diseases. Foreigners and sudden changes also fall under the area
of Rahu.
Associations:
The goddess Durga is often associated with Rahu and on occasion her dark
counterpart Kali. The Nagas are always a manifestation of Rahu and sometimes
snakes in general are considered the same. One could make a good case for
Medusa of Greek mythology to be another manifestation of Rahu.
The direction Southwest is given to the rulership of Rahu.
The age of 42 is considered to be the time in which Rahu comes to full fruition.
Rahu owns no particular sign. However, he is considered exalted in Taurus
(which also has a tendency to overindulge) and his fall is in Scorpio.
Rahu is malefic as a whole though he does bring about the tendency of being
"lucky".
The color black is associated with Rahu as well as the color "smoke". His metal
is Lead, like Ketu.
The wind or air is considered the element of Rahu.
Rahu has a Vatta constitution in Ayurveda.
Areas of effect to look for changes:
Accidents, afflictions, cosmic law, rebirth, air disasters, cheating, corruption, drug
addiction, destiny or fate, consumption, insects, poison, deceit, power hungry,
widowhood, inevitability, karma, aloneness, fear, things or people foreign,

3. apathy, hard times, intense pain, snakes, radical changes, luck, wealth through
inheritance, corruption, madness, schizophrenia, delusions
Ketu:
Ketu is the descending node of the moon through the eyes of Indian Astrology.
Ketu is known to afflict the Sun more so than any other planet. This is in contrast
to Rahu, which is associated with the Moon.
Ketu is also associated with comets and like its associate Rahu it is known to be
exceedingly cruel and malefic. Though interpreting Ketu is somewhat difficult the
basic theme seems to be release and transformation. More specifically Ketu
points to the past life karma of an individual through its placement in the chart.
Ketu brings about spiritual enlightenment. Unfortunately it does through the
placement of problems, pain and roadblocks, which are meant to help us in our
spiritual growth. Ketu has a tendency to behave like Mars and as a result fire and
accidents are also associated with Ketu.
Special note should be made of the Ketu dasha cycle. The dasha of Ketu lasts
seven years and it is common knowledge in Vedic astrology that Ketu always has
a "sting" in its tail. This means that somehow the end of a Ketu dasha cycle will
be potentially problematic or troublesome.
Ketu and Rahu have the same affiliations for animals which are the following:
snakes, camels, the ass, wolves, rodents, mosquitoes, scorpions and any other
animal that utilizes poison in its defense. No food is associated with Ketu or
Rahu.
Ketu is especially affiliated with the owl.
Names:
Ketu, Sikhin, Dhvaja, Dhum, Mrityu Putr and Anala. The common term is Ketu.
Attributes:

4. In Indian Astrology Ketu is associated with broken relationships, changing events
and accidents. Electronics have also been placed under his influence in the
modern era.
Other noted areas under his influence are ascetics, renunciation, assassinations,
cats, clairvoyance, contemplation, desire for knowledge, deep thinking,
imprisonment (like Saturn), poison, intrigues, magical powers, poverty and
mysticism.
Associations:
Ketu is associated with the god Brahma and Chitra Gupta. Another popular
affiliation is Ganesha, which seems more intuitive considering he is known as the
"remover of obstacles".
Ketu has an unusual association in terms of direction. He is most often noted to
be the "center" which is really no direction at all.
Ketu is associated with the 48th year of life.
Ketu has no sign, which it rules but it is considered exalted in Scorpio and fallen
in Taurus.
Ketu is extremely malefic though the affliction it gives brings about enlightenment
and spiritual growth.
Ketu has special affiliation with the Nakshatra Abhijit.
Ketu is variegated in color and associated with the metal Lead. Turquoise and
Cats eye are associated with Ketu.
Earth is considered the element of Ketu.
Ayurvedic medicine ascribes a Vatta constitution to Ketu.
Areas of effect to look for changes:
Renunciation, enlightenment, spiritual authority, ascetics, clairvoyance,
dissatisfactions, separations, breaks, helplessness, negative habits, liberation,
artistic tastes, bankruptcy, sudden windfalls, lower classes of society, things
strange or foreign, cheating, cataclysm, comets, smoking, philosophers,
assassins, mental illness.