The Dissolution
Venus with Ketu in Leo redirects us from outward display to the quiet joy of inner truth.
Dear Friends,
Since I last wrote to you about my wife’s spine surgery, I have been moved beyond words by the warmth of your wishes and prayers. Each email felt like a hand held out to me in a difficult moment, and I carry that kindness with deep gratitude. I am relieved to share that her surgery went well, and while the days ahead will bring their share of pain and restrictions, I believe that the hardest part is behind her. It feels as though the shadow has passed, and like the fading of an eclipse, the first rays of light are beginning to shine through.
Please accept my apologies for having to cancel the free astrology event scheduled for September 27, 2025. I had to remain at the hospital with my wife, whose surgery was set for the following day, and at that moment nothing felt more important than being by her side. I look forward to taking this up in October and fulfilling the promise, with the new date to be announced after October 11, 2025.
I would also like to share that enrolments for my one-year diploma course are now open for the final time at the inaugural price of 680 USD, before the fee rises to 1200 USD in Spring 2026. If you have been considering joining, this is the last opportunity to do so at this reduced rate.
Astrological Commentary
Venus-Ketu Conjunction in Leo
The Venus–Ketu conjunction perfects on October 4, 2025, though many of us likely began sensing its weight as early as the beginning of last week. This conjunction often signals dissolution in relationships, bringing a sense of emptiness and a natural tendency toward detachment. Yet dissolution is not inherently negative, it is a path to clarity. To invite something new, something else must dissolve to create space. Old bonds may fade to make way for new ones, or the space may remain your own, offering solitude and a chance to rediscover parts of ourselves that have lain dormant. Meanwhile, the memories stirred during Mercury’s retrograde in Cancer are now long behind us. With Mercury moving swiftly through Virgo, analytical clarity replaces emotional stagnation, allowing us to see with reason and discernment.
Someone once said, “The clock shows time, and time shows people.” Venus with Ketu reflects this truth with remarkable clarity. Emotional bonds we once believed to be strong may reveal themselves to have been one-sided. It is not about material support but the subtler, deeper need for psychological and emotional presence, which when depleted from the other side can leave us feeling quietly left out, leading to an organic yet inevitable end. Some ties fade naturally as life takes us in different directions, while others break away more abruptly, but in either case what remains is the grace of authentic connection; the bonds that endure not only in ease but also when life tests us. True to Ketu’s nature, this conjunction with Venus also turns us inward, reminding us that the only lasting refuge is the relationship we cultivate with our own inner self.
As far as relationships are concerned, it is worth looking back to the beginning of the year when Venus was retrograde with Rahu in Pisces. What began then with a sense of intensity or even obsession has now come a long way, reaching Leo where Venus joins Ketu, its opposite in nature. What was once irresistible may now feel like it is moving away, and with Ketu, such a manifestation is almost inevitable. As Venus prepares to enter Virgo, where it feels least at ease, we are being drawn into a space that makes it obvious to recognise the outcomes of the bonds we have carried over the past seven or eight months, and to see how some of them have turned into their very opposite. To get to the root of any relationship, it may also help to look back to when Venus was in Aquarius, the sign directly opposite its current position. That moment can offer perspective, giving us a clearer picture of how bonds have unfolded and where they are leading. This karmic release and ultimate realisation paves the way for us to be ready to experience the manifestations of a dignified Venus in Libra.
Past relationships may resurface during this period, but it is important not to take their weight back onto ourselves. More often than not, what ended did so because the karmic release was complete. Revisiting it can feel like carrying an unnecessary burden, with little significance either for us or for the other person. In such moments, Venus with Ketu shows us the wisdom of turning inward rather than projecting our energy outward. In Leo, this conjunction also redirects creative expression. Instead of seeking to display beauty or talent to the outside world, we may feel called to create in quiet, contemplative ways whether through art, spiritual practice, or ritual with no intention of being seen or applauded. The joy comes not from validation but from the act itself, nourishing the inner self.
Venus with Ketu can also dissolve our craving for luxury or excess. Contentment may arise more easily, sometimes even inclining us to give away what we have. This is especially relevant if Leo is prominent in your chart, as detachment from material concerns can be stronger. On a practical level, this is an excellent period to simplify, reduce recurring expenses, and find freedom in needing less. Venus in Leo also brings us to the idea of beauty in its most abstract sense. Plato described beauty in the material world as subjective and perishable, but true beauty as something beyond change or decay. The kind of beauty Venus with Ketu reveals is intangible, beyond measure, yet deeply meaningful. It may come as a spiritual insight, a ritual, or an inner experience that cannot be explained or quantified, yet becomes a lasting part of our journey.
© Aswin Subramanyan 2025
Moon’s Phases - October 2025
Inward Glance
Epictetus’ Discourses
Book I - Chapter 4 - Essence of 1.4.8 to 1.4.13
Epictetus continues by challenging how people often measure progress. Someone might say, “This person can already read Chrysippus without help, what progress.” But Epictetus calls that as a shallow measure. The ability to read complex philosophy is not in itself evidence of growth in character. It is like polishing the outside without touching what truly matters within.
He warns us not to get distracted by empty signs of progress. Instead of boasting about how much philosophy we can recite or how well we know the arguments, we should ask whether our desires and avoidances have become more disciplined. Progress shows itself in whether we have learned to want only what is good and to avoid only what is harmful in the moral sense. It shows in whether we can restrain impulses, check our judgments, and act with steadiness. This is where philosophy begins, not in showing off learning but in changing how we live.
Epictetus reminds his students that the basics are the most important. If someone is still filled with fear, anxiety, or restlessness, what use is their claim to progress? If you cannot yet face ordinary life without trembling inside, then you are not advanced, no matter how many books you have read. The first work of philosophy is to calm the soul and bring order to desire and aversion.
We should look at how philosophy has shaped a person’s way of living, not how many scrolls or arguments they can display. For Epictetus, the true evidence of growth is simple. It is visible in a calmer mind, in fewer mistakes of judgment, in desires that are steadier, and in the ability to face life without being tossed around. That is real progress. Everything else is only preparation.
New Offering - Focussed Natal Reading
I am pleased to share a new offering for those moments when you may not need a full consultation but are seeking clarity on immediate concerns. I have introduced a 45-minute consultation, designed to provide focused insights into some of the most pressing questions you may face at any given time. This shorter session allows us to look directly at the matters weighing most heavily on you and bring perspective where it is needed most. The fee for this new service is 125 USD.
The APAI Chronycle - Autumn 2025
The APAI Chronycle is the quarterly magazine published by the Association of Professional Astrologers International. The Autumn issue is now available for public reading, and I invite you to explore it. I would be delighted to hear your thoughts or feedback once you’ve had a chance to read.
Libra Ingress in OPA’s The Evolving Astrologer
The September issue of OPA’s quarterly journal has now been published, where I have contributed my analysis of the Libra Ingress 2025 for the USA. I will be continuing to write ingress analyses for this journal each quarter, and I look forward to sharing these perspectives regularly through this publication. Read the latest issue here.