Namaste. Today is the 18th of July, Mercury will go retrograde; after four or five days it will become combust. Along with this, Mars is moving closer and closer to Ketu. The Mars–Ketu conjunction occurs between 19th July and 23rd July, and on 24th July is Amavasya (new moon). I am concerned that this timeframe—retrograde Mercury, Mars–Ketu conjunction, and the dark Amavasya of 24th July—is a sign that you must remain cautious.
In this blog I have specifically mentioned about the aspects you should take care of, followed by certain remedies. This blog is not to scare you; it is to alert you so you can make the right decisions. The overall time is not great for major decisions—whether long travel, marriage, joining a new company, or starting a new business.
Let us see how these planetary transits will impact each zodiac sign (Moon sign). Depending on the individual, your Ascendant may be more active than your Moon sign; consider both. For example, if your Ascendant is Cancer and your Moon sign is Aquarius, review both charts. Time is sensitive: drive safely, don’t overtake, and be very careful.
Key Transits (18 July – 11 August)
- 18 July: Mercury goes retrograde in Cancer
- 23 July: Mercury becomes combust
- 19–23 July: Mars conjuncts Ketu in Leo
- 24 July: Amavasya (new moon) in Cancer, with Mercury retrograde
These difficult transits signal a red alert for all signs, especially Cancer (New Moon & retrograde Mercury), Gemini & Virgo (ruled by Mercury), and Aries & Scorpio (ruled by Mars, now with Ketu). The other seven signs must also stay alert. Follow the remedies and mantras revealed below.
Aries – Red Alert
The storm begins at home.
- Cancer rules your fourth house (home, mother, inner peace, emotional security). Amavasya shakes your roots.
- Mercury rules your third and sixth houses: be extremely cautious with communication—especially with siblings or co‑workers—and with health‑related paperwork or disputes.
- Mars (your ruler) is swallowed by Ketu in your fifth house (children, love, creative energy): do not gamble with money or love. Sit still, reflect, and let this inner darkness pass.
Mantra:
Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Tuesdays with one Sattvic meal.
- Offer red flowers to Hanumanji on Wednesdays and recite Hanuman Chalisa.
- Avoid arguments with children and romantic partners.
- Every Tuesday, walk barefoot to a Ganesh temple and offer 11 red hibiscus flowers, 250 g modak, and a flower garland.
Taurus – Red Alert
- Cancer is your third house: retrograde Mercury can disrupt decisions, travel, and communication with siblings or neighbors. Silence protects—stay quiet.
- Mercury also rules your second house (speech, wealth) and fifth house (love, intelligence): choose words carefully and avoid risky investments.
- Mars rules your seventh and twelfth houses (relationships, losses). Mars–Ketu in your fourth house may abruptly impact your home life. Breathe, let go, and trust divine rearrangement.
Mantra:
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Wednesdays with only moong dal khichadi or fruits.
- Practice mounvrat till 4 pm daily; avoid excess speech.
- Feed green grass to cows or donate stationery to poor children.
Gemini – Red Alert
- You are ruled by Mercury, now retrograde and combust in your second house: expect drama in finances, family, and speech. Misplaced words may cost dearly.
- Mercury also rules your first and fourth houses: low energy, foggy thinking, and emotional confusion are likely.
- Mars–Ketu burns through your third house: watch for troubles with siblings, short travels, or loss of motivation.
Advice: Avoid overconfidence. Pray more, think less. This is karmic cleansing—stay still, let clarity return.
Mantra:
Om Vishnave Namah
Om Vishnave Namah
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Wednesdays.
- Chant mantra 108 times facing east.
- Light a ghee lamp under a tulsi plant every Wednesday.
- Refrain from new projects until Mercury turns direct.
- Donate green fruits or vegetables to a temple on Wednesdays.
Cancer – Red Alert
- Amavasya in your first house: identity and emotional fabric are shaken. Retrograde and combust Mercury bring self‑doubt, unclear thoughts, and disorientation. Think twice before speaking; do not react.
- Mercury also rules your third and twelfth houses: sleeplessness, travel delays, and miscommunication with siblings.
- Mars–Ketu affect your second house: avoid impulsive reactions in family or financial matters. Retreat inward and surrender to solitude.
Mantra:
Om Rudraya Namah
Om Rudraya Namah
Om Rudraya Namah
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Mondays with plain rice, fresh cow’s milk, and fruits.
- Each night, recite Hanuman Chalisa before bed.
- Offer white flowers to Shiva and do Abhishek on the shivalingam with water & cow’s milk.
- When possible, chant in moonlight; avoid emotional outbursts—speak less and feel more.
Leo – Red Alert
- Mercury retrograde and Amavasya in your twelfth house (subconscious fears, isolation, karmic depths) bring spiritual fatigue.
- Mercury rules your second (speech, money) and eleventh houses (gains, friendships): expect financial chaos or misunderstandings—maintain a low profile.
- Mars conjuncts Ketu in your first house: weakened judgment and potential outbursts. Withdraw and chant mantras; avoid major decisions.
Mantra:
Om Bhaskaraya Namah
Om Bhaskaraya Namah
Om Bhaskaraya Namah
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Sundays; avoid salt and processed foods.
- Wake before sunrise; offer arghya to the sun.
- Light a mustard‑oil lamp for Narasimha or Surya.
- Recite Aditya Hridayam Stotra.
Virgo – Red Alert
- Ruled by Mercury, now combust and retrograde in your eleventh house (friendships, networks, gains): social media and group advice may backfire.
- Mercury also rules your first and tenth houses: career decisions and personal clarity may go haywire.
- Mars–Ketu in your twelfth house can cause unexpected expenses, travel chaos, or health flare‑ups. Retreat and reassess.
Mantra:
Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Wednesdays; wear green while chanting.
- Offer water to a peepal tree every Saturday.
- Avoid gossip, multitasking, and mental overload.
- Keep a green emerald stone by your bed.
Libra – Red Alert
- Retrograde Mercury and Amavasya in your tenth house (career): public image and work communication may suffer.
- Mercury rules your ninth and twelfth houses: faith and spiritual connection may be shaken.
- Mars–Ketu in your eleventh house: disappointment in friendships; reflect on your direction.
Mantra:
Om Rhim Shrim Klim Mahalakshmi Namah
Om Rhim Shrim Klim Mahalakshmi Namah
Om Rim Shrim Klim Mahalakshmi Namah
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Fridays; eat white foods (curd, rice, kheer).
- Offer rose petals to Lakshmi or Durga.
- Chant or listen to Sri Suktam daily.Avoid lending or borrowing money temporarily.
Scorpio – Red Alert
- Mars tangled with Ketu in your tenth house (career) brings disruptions or sudden public‑image changes—Ketu urges detachment.
- Retrograde Mercury in your ninth house affects travel, gurus, legal matters, beliefs, and also rules your eighth and eleventh houses: hidden matters may erupt; friendships may feel unreliable.
- Amavasya marks a loss of direction—go inward, mediate, and pray in surrender.
Mantra:
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Om Gam Ganapataye Namah
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Tuesdays with fruits and lemon water.
- Recite Ganapati Atharvashirsha Stotra 11 times each morning.
- Offer red sandalwood or copper items at a temple.
- Avoid conflicts and control impulsiveness.
Sagittarius – Red Alert
- Cancer rules your eighth house (fears, death, karma). Amavasya here brings past traumas to the surface.
- Retrograde Mercury here is like a broken compass—avoid decoding mysteries.
- Mercury also rules your seventh and tenth houses: relationships and work partnerships may suffer miscommunication.
- Mars–Ketu in your ninth house can bring friction with mentors or legal issues. Ride this storm with patience.
Mantra:
Om Rhim Shri Gurubhyo Namah
Om Rhim Shri Gurubhyo Namah
Om Rhim Shri Gurubhyo Namah
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Thursdays; avoid fermented foods for 20 days.
- Offer bananas or turmeric at a temple or to a Brahmin.
- Feed monkeys ripe bananas when possible.
- Recite Hanuman Chalisa each night before bed.
- Avoid religious or philosophical arguments—stay silent.
Capricorn – Red Alert
- Cancer rules your seventh house (marriage, partners). Retrograde Mercury here causes misunderstandings and may resurrect old issues.
- Mercury also rules your sixth and ninth houses: legal matters, health routines, and travel plans may be disrupted.
- Mars–Ketu in your eighth house (shared resources) is highly sensitive—avoid risks and confrontations. Surrender.
Mantra:
Om Rama Ramaya Namah
Om Rama Ramaya Namah
Om Rama Ramaya Namah
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Saturdays; eat only after sunset.
- Offer black sesame and mustard oil at a Shani temple.
- Walk barefoot on grass for 10 minutes daily.
- Avoid loans until 11 August.
Aquarius – Red Alert
- Cancer is your sixth house (enemies, health, routines). Mercury combust here suggests misdiagnosis, missed deadlines, or workplace chaos.
- Mercury also rules your fifth and eighth houses (love, children, speculation), and Mars–Ketu in your seventh house may bring detachment in marriage or business. Serve others, but protect your peace.
Mantra:
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Monday or Saturday based on issue intensity.
- Chant while performing Jala Abhishek to a shivalingam.
- Avoid litigation, overexertion, and late‑night screens.
- Donate a white bedsheet to an old‑age home.
Pisces – Red Alert
- Cancer governs your fifth house (creativity, love, children). Retrograde Mercury and Amavasya here may dull inspiration or trigger misunderstandings in relationships.
- Mercury also rules your fourth and seventh houses (home, partnerships), and Mars–Ketu combust in your sixth house—suppressed anger, hidden enemies, or health concerns may surface.
- Devotion, mantras, and letting go are your way out.
Mantra:
Om Namo Narayanaya
Om Namo Narayanaya
Om Namo Narayanaya
Chant 108 times morning & evening on a spatik japamala.
Remedy Plan:
- Fast on Thursdays with yellow foods or fruits.
- Chant or listen to Vishnu Sahasranama every morning.
- Avoid investments, emotional drama, and trust issues in romance.
- Donate yellow sweets on Thursdays to a temple or child.
A Timeless Story for These Transits
A young seeker travelled far to meet a Himalayan guru known for deep silence and wisdom. Upon reaching the cave, the seeker began talking rapidly—sharing all he knew, his meditations, philosophies, and experiences. Words poured out like a flood. The master listened in silence. Finally, he poured tea into a cup and kept pouring until it overflowed, soaking the seeker’s robes. Startled, the seeker said, “Master, the cup is full. It cannot take any more.” The master replied, “Exactly—how can I pour wisdom into a cup that is already full?”
Message: These transits are like an overflowing cup: too many thoughts, too much noise. When Mercury retrogrades and the moon vanishes in darkness, the universe whispers: empty your cup. Surrender what you think you know. Let go of control. Be still and silent. Only an empty cup can receive; only a humbled mind can awaken. In silence, the master’s voice is heard.
How to Prepare
- Meditation: Cultivate a daily practice.
- Mantra: Chant sacred mantras with devotion.
- Diet: Follow a clean Sattvic diet—what you consume shapes your thoughts.
Remember: remove toxic people from your space without reaction. Walk your path in silence—no noise, no ego, no drama. Just conscious action, pure intention, and the strength to protect your energy. Surround yourself with those devoted to inner evolution, whose journey is within.
The greatest journey is the journey within.
Jai Sri Ganesha. Jai Guru.
