Ketu
Also known as: South Node, Dragon's Tail, Sikhi
Ketu is the south lunar node — a mathematical point in the sky, not a physical body — that represents detachment, past-life mastery, and spiritual liberation in Vedic astrology.
Ketu is one of the nine grahas (planets) in Vedic astrology even though it is not a physical body — it is the descending node of the moon, exactly opposite Rahu, where the moon's orbital plane crosses the ecliptic from north to south. Ketu is associated with letting go, sudden endings, intuition, occult knowledge, and the wisdom you bring in from past lives. Where Rahu wants more, Ketu wants nothing. In a chart, the house and sign Ketu occupies show areas of life you may instinctively bypass or have already mastered. Ketu's mahadasha runs 7 years in the Vimshottari cycle. Ketu always moves retrograde (backward) through the zodiac at about 18 years per cycle.
Example
Ketu in the 10th bhava can indicate a career switch later in life — a sense that worldly recognition no longer satisfies.Related terms