Hi %FIRSTNAME%,

As I looked up at the beautiful moon this weekend, it reminded me of one of the tasks we were asked to complete before our trip to India late last December. The task was to find out our Nakshatra. At the Chidambaram Temple, the rituals are carried out by the Dikshitars—hereditary priests who have preserved the temple’s sacred traditions for over a thousand years. They are only found at that temple. At the other temples, the rituals are carried out by priests.

No matter the temple, when you approach the sanctum for puja, you are asked for your name and Nakshatra. This allows the deity to see you specifically so that you may receive their blessings. For those that are married and/or parents, you also give the name and Nakshatra of your spouse and children so that they too may be blessed.

I asked ChatGPT to describe more about the Nakshatra and how you can find yours!

Understanding Your Nakshatra

The soul-code written in the stars at your first breath

In Vedic Astrology (Jyotish), the Nakshatras are the 27 lunar mansions—subtle energetic fields along the Moon’s path that shape your inner wiring, your karmic patterns, and your spiritual gifts.

Your Nakshatra reveals the texture, flavor, and destiny of your mind, intuition, and soul path.

Your Nakshatra shows:

• Your core temperament — the instinctive way you perceive the world

• Your dharma themes — the deeper purpose you’re here to embody

• Your karmic lessons — where your soul is learning, unlearning, and refining

• Your innate gifts — intuition, creativity, leadership, healing, communication

• Your relationship patterns — how you bond, attach, and love

• Your spiritual lineage — the divine energies and symbols that guide your evolution

Because Nakshatras are more fine-grained than the zodiac signs, they offer the most accurate insight into your personality and spiritual path.

Why Nakshatras Are So Important

In Jyotish, Nakshatras are considered the soul signatures in your chart. Each one carries:

• a presiding deity (a divine force guiding your evolution)

• a shakti (a specific spiritual power)

• a symbol (the archetypal energy of the constellation)

• a shadow (what you are learning to heal or transcend)

This is why even people with the same Moon Sign can feel completely different—your Nakshatra refines the Moon’s energy into something uniquely you.

The Moon’s Role in the Nakshatras

Although all planets move through the Nakshatras, the Moon’s placement is the one used to determine your birth Nakshatra. This is because the Moon represents:

• the mind

• memory

• emotional imprinting

• past-life residue

• intuitive intelligence

The Nakshatra of your Moon shows how your mind processes life, how you feel safe, and how you instinctively respond to the world.

How to Find Your Nakshatra

Just like the Moon Sign, you’ll need:

1. Date of birth

2. Exact time of birth

3. Place of birth

Once you enter this in a Vedic astrology calculator it can tell you:

• your Moon Sign (Rashi)

• your Nakshatra

• and your Pada (the quarter of the Nakshatra, adding even more detail)

The 27 Nakshatras include well-known ones such as Rohini, Bharani, Ashwini, Pushya, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Bhadrapada, and many more—each with its own mythic story and soul-lesson.

What Makes Nakshatras Different From Western Astrology

While Western astrology focuses on 12 archetypes, Nakshatras offer:

• More nuance (27 archetypes instead of 12)

• Deeper karmic insights

• A mythological dimension

• A clearer view of destiny, cycles, and timing

• A map of spiritual psychology

They are the ancient yogic system’s way of reading the subtle body, not just the personality.

I hope that this was educational for you and maybe a bit interesting. Please let me know if you would like information on Vedic astrology. I'm new to it but find it fascinating!

And here are the usual links:

You can register for live class Tuesday 9:00 AM and Wednesday 8:30 AMhere: https://www.toembodyyoga.com/offerings

And there is the class archive here: https://www.toembodyyoga.com/online_store

Order Books here: https://www.theyogaauthor.com/category/all-products

Saprema,

Julie