Rahu and Ketu always sit directly opposite each other (7 houses apart), and together they spend roughly 18 months in each sign-pair. Their movement is slower than the Sun’s or Moon’s, so its influence is felt over a longer stretch. While the Sun changes signs every month and the Moon every 2.25 days, Rahu and Ketu sit in the same axis for about 550 days. That slow crawl is why their transits are considered among the most significant in Vedic astrology.

What Rahu and Ketu actually are

They’re not physical planets. Rahu is the Moon’s north node and Ketu is the south node: the two points where the Moon’s orbital path crosses the Sun’s apparent path (the ecliptic). Eclipses happen when the Sun and Moon are near these points, which is why Rahu and Ketu are called “shadow planets” (chhaya graha). In the mythological framing, Rahu represents insatiable desire for what you haven’t experienced, while Ketu represents detachment from what you’ve already mastered. Together, they form an axis of obsession and release.

Current position

Rahu has been in Aquarius since May 19, 2025, and Ketu has been in Leo since the same date. This axis holds until December 6, 2026.

The next shift

On December 6, 2026, Rahu enters Capricorn and Ketu enters Cancer. This begins the next 18-month cycle.

What this means

When the Rahu-Ketu axis shifts, tradition holds that the collective emphasis on certain themes shifts too. On the Aquarius-Leo axis, themes around technology, groups, and self-expression tend to dominate, while the Capricorn-Cancer axis brings career structure and the balance between home and family to the forefront. This is a general, collective-level traditional interpretation, not an individual prediction.

Which Moon signs feel it most?

The signs directly on the transit axis, and the signs squaring it, tend to feel the shift most strongly:

  • Aquarius Moon: Rahu transiting over your Moon can amplify desires, create restlessness, and push you toward unconventional choices. Sleep disturbances and anxiety are commonly reported during this transit.
  • Leo Moon: Ketu transiting over your Moon brings a sense of detachment, sometimes from things you once cared deeply about. Career pivots and spiritual turns are common here.
  • Taurus and Scorpio Moons: These signs are at a square (4th and 10th house angle) to the axis and often experience housing or career upheaval during the transit.

After December 2026, when the axis moves to Capricorn-Cancer, the spotlight shifts to Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, and Libra Moon signs. If your Moon is in one of these signs, the second half of 2026 is a good time to get your full rashifal and see what the transit charts show.

How long does the effect last?

Rahu-Ketu transits don’t switch on and off like a light. Most astrologers consider a “shadow period” (called “orb of influence”) of about 2-3 months on either side of the exact transit date. So if Rahu enters Capricorn on December 6, 2026, you might start noticing shifts as early as October 2026 and the energy settles into its new pattern by February 2027.

Rahu-Ketu’s position in your own chart

Which houses Rahu and Ketu occupy for you personally can be seen by entering birth details on the kundli tool. Look at both the natal positions (where Rahu-Ketu sit in your birth chart) and the current transit positions (where they are now relative to your chart). The house they transit through indicates the life area most affected, while the house they transit from shows what’s being released.