Today we celebrate Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali festival. Traditionally, this day is devoted to Lord Dhanvantari, the celestial physician connected to Ayurveda, and to the worship of wealth in its highest sense—health, longevity, and prosperity that sustains life. Diwali, the festival of lights, unfolds over five days and culminates with the triumph of light over darkness.
Lamp lighting is symbolically important over these days. As tonight is the night of the divine physician, lamps are lit to promote health and keep death and misfortune out of our homes. He is invoked for healing of any kind. Traditionally a small new item, like a cooking utensil, is brought into the home as a symbol of fresh abundance.
On Diwali night, which is Monday October 20th in the US, lamps are lit for Lakshmi. As the goddess of prosperity, she represents both inner and outer abundance. In preparation for her arrival, we clean our homes and light lamps so she may bless us with prosperity, health, good relationships and strength in the upcoming year.
Astrologically and seasonally, we are moving into the colder and darker time of year. As the days shorten the light also gets less. Diwali is celebrated annually on the New Moon when the Sun is debilitated in Libra. This represents both the Sun and the Moon as our luminaries, the sattvic and light effulgent bodies, being at their lowest points of giving light. We light lamps through this darkness to guide our way through this dark season.
This year’s Diwali is further magnified by the transit of Jupiter into sidereal Cancer, its sign of exaltation. Jupiter’s movement into this watery and nurturing sign enhances qualities of wisdom, devotion, and protection. Exalted Jupiter supports emotional stability, family harmony, and the deepening of spiritual practices. This is a brief transit until December 5th, after which Jupiter goes back into Gemini until he returns to Cancer in June of 2026. As this is one of Jupiter’s best placements in the sky, we can compare this to our birth charts and see a preview of which house will be enhanced and supported from mid next year. Jupiter’s strong transit enables us to expand into that area of life that Cancer represents in our individual charts.
With love and Diwali blessings,
Mrin
