Ketu in the 8th house
The results given by Ketu in the eighth house of the horoscope
Ketu in the 8th house. This serves as a sign of a large number of stops or obstacles on the professional path, of a chronic illness or troubles connected with the excretory system, of an average length of life, of psychic powers, of an inclination towards illegal or scandalous actions, of the loss of an inheritance and other problems. This person may suffer because of excessive sensual enjoyments and from dangerous enemies. (Tom Hopke)
Ketu in the 8th house, Rahu in the 2nd house
When Rahu is in the 2nd house, Ketu is always in the 8th house. The 8th house represents research, mysterious knowledge. Ketu in the 8th house gives success in research in any field. Ketu in the 8th house is considered unfavourable for sons. For example, in the chart of the well-known astrologer B. V. Raman Rahu was in the 2nd and Ketu in the 8th house. On the right side of his face there was a dark spot, which Rahu gave. His son died when the mahadasha of Ketu was running. Ketu in the 8th house gave success to his research.
The second house represents the face, speech, the family and wealth. Rahu is a demon. Rahu in the 2nd house will not give a calm, peaceful family life. Rahu wants to destroy it. Very rarely can one see a peaceful and harmonious family of a person who has Rahu in the 2nd house. In many cases the marriage ends in divorce or the death of the partner. Relations with children also deteriorate. On the other hand, unusual financial sources may be discovered in these people. Often they have to make a choice between family and career. Rarely does one manage to achieve success in both areas. They want to be financially dependent on other people. Such people seek money by an easy and improper path. They dream that a sack of money will fall on them or that someone will leave them an inheritance. These people must try to build financial stability by their own effort and not to hope for help and sponsorship from their partner and from those around them. This is one of the main karmic tasks that they must solve in this life. It is better for such a person not to tie himself up with credit and not to have dealings with dubious financial structures.
When Rahu is under the aspect of malefics, the skin on the face may be damaged and pimples, moles, dark spots and so on may appear. Speech may become strange and harsh. Also a damaged Rahu in the 2nd house gives harmful habits. If Rahu is under the aspect of a benefic planet, the face will be very pleasant. A benefic Rahu gives unusual beauty, a wise appearance. It is also favourable for money when Rahu is in the 2nd house in the sign of Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Aquarius. (Mahesh Dharmadasa)
Ketu in the 8th house
Ketu in the 8th house: shaky health, partnership with unreliable or unprincipled people, failures on all fronts, the loss of friends, disappointments, quarrels, accidents, injuries, illnesses of the intimate parts of the body, a short length of life. A fascination with mysticism and occultism. A placement in Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Virgo or Scorpio gives extremely favourable effects, making the person skilful and very popular. (Shri Govind Swarup Agarwal)
Ketu in the 8th house, Rahu in the 2nd house: the karmic task
Ketu in the 8th house contributes to deep research in any sphere. If Ketu acts through the higher principle, this may free the native from the fear of death. For such a person it is important to understand the beauty, power and renewing force of death.
If Ketu is sufficiently strong and more materially oriented, it promises an inheritance and the resources of other people. In the second half of life sudden changes in destiny may occur. If Ketu is weak, it gives only hopes and expectations in this sphere, but does not fulfil desires. This placement is considered not very favourable for the birth of boys to the native. If Ketu is afflicted, this may give illnesses of the sexual system and the native is recommended to be careful and to beware of sexually transmitted diseases.
Rahu in the 2nd contributes to the wise management of material and spiritual resources (if Rahu is not afflicted). If Rahu is afflicted, after a period of abundance a time of need will come.
The indications of the 2nd house gain: the face, the senses, perception, refinement, tastes, expression, speech, early childhood, the reading of books, resources, desires, personal earnings, property, prestige, mathematical abilities, rationality.
This is a good combination for material well-being, but the problem is that it also means that there is no end to the flow of material desires. Moreover they are quite intense. One born with this combination has to deal with the illusory power of Maya in the matters of the 2nd house, which in Vedic astrology is considered one of the 2 houses ruled by Maya herself. Satisfaction or the lack of it becomes the main theme of such a person's life.
On the physical plane Rahu in the 2nd gives a beautiful appearance (especially to women, if there are other factors contributing to this). This beauty is quite unusual and gives the person some special attractiveness. From early years the stamp of maturity can be seen on such a face.
Although these people may engage in various affairs, this combination especially favours such professions as mathematicians, linguists, astrologers, economists, financiers, bankers, discoverers, researchers, singers and musicians. Rahu in the 2nd also forms the mind of a capitalist, if it is not afflicted by an aspect of Saturn. If this Rahu is afflicted by a negative influence, it prompts the native to lose the sense of measure and proportion and to earn by fraud, blackmail, theft and by taking bribes. Statistically many drug dealers have such a placement. Usually, money earned by such means is likewise spent on excessive indulgence of the senses. Such people easily develop an addiction to smoking, alcohol and other intoxicants.
This placement is eased by an aspect of or a conjunction with Jupiter. If Rahu manifests its higher vibrations, this placement may give a love of truth and an inclination towards charity.
With such a placement of Rahu-Ketu the native needs to find a balance between the indications of the 2nd and 8th houses. One needs to learn to take gains and losses lightly. It is also important to find a balance between practicality, connected with the element of earth and the 2nd house (Taurus) and the emotional side of life, connected with the element of water and the 8th house (Scorpio). This is a very difficult task, since the indications of these houses are as opposite as life and death.
Example: Bangalore Venkata Raman.
“Bhrigu Sutra” 8.22-23
If Rahu or Ketu are in the 8th house, the owner of the horoscope will be very sickly, and the length of his life will be 32 years. In the case of a conjunction of the shadow planets with benefics, the owner of the horoscope will live 45 years. He will live to 60 if the lord of the 8th house is strong or is placed in its sign of exaltation.
Other opinions concerning Ketu in the 8th house:
“Phaladipika”: Ketu in the 8th house — obstacles in all undertakings await the owner of the horoscope. He will be separated from people close and dear to him, will live a short life and, perhaps, will be wounded by a weapon. His character will be hot-tempered and quarrelsome.
“Chamatkar Chintamani”: Ketu in the 8th house — the owner of the horoscope will be threatened by danger from falling from a horse and by suffering from haemorrhoids. A person who has Ketu in the 8th house will experience a lack of money. Wealth may be expected when Ketu is in Scorpio, Virgo or Aries.
Note: Bhrigu Muni gives the same characteristics for the placement of Rahu and Ketu in various houses. His opinion is based on the fact that these planets are always in the seventh house from each other and both exert an influence on the house. However the other classical texts, apart from the “Brihat Jataka” and the “Saravali”, which do not describe the results of the placement of the shadow planets in the houses of the horoscope, hold a different opinion.
We should like to add several important remarks concerning the placement of Rahu and Ketu in the houses of the horoscope. Concerning the characteristics of these planets there are three main opinions: 1) they act as the lord of the sign that they occupy, 2) their nature is like that of Mars and Saturn, and also 3) the view of Kalidasa given below. An experienced astrologer intuitively understands what influences the shadow planets conduct when he analyses a horoscope or draws up forecasts.
Relying on the famous classical work of Kalidasa, the “Uttara Kalamrita”, it may be said that, being shadow planets, these planets are not regarded as the lords of any houses or signs. If Rahu and Ketu are in conjunction (in the same sign) with a planet, then they take on its qualities, become conductors of its energy, and in their periods, or bhuktis, act like that planet. When the shadow planets do not enter into a conjunction — they give the results of the planet aspecting them. And only when Rahu and Ketu are neither joined nor aspected by planets do they act as the lord of the sign in which they are placed.
If one of the two nodes and the lord of a triad are placed in conjunction in the 9th or 10th houses or if one of them is in the 9th, and the other in the 10th, a favourable yoga is formed, which will bring prosperity to the owner of the horoscope. If at the same time a malefic planet enters into a conjunction with or aspects one of the shadow planets, then the bhukti [sub-period] of the yoga-karaka will prove unfavourable.
And a last remark. Rahu and Ketu become beneficial when they occupy the positions of a triad or of a kendra from the lagna. The shadow planets also prove beneficial when they are joined with the lords of a house of a triad or of a quadrant. But if at the same time the lord of the 9th house also owns the 8th (in the case of Gemini rising), or the 12th (in the case of Libra rising), and also if the lords of the 9th or 10th houses are joined with the lords of the 8th and 12th houses, the beneficial results of the yoga are lost.
“Bhrigu Sutra” with commentaries by Indubala
«Jataka Bharanam» 17.106
The results of the placement of Ketu in the 8th house
If Ketu has entered the 8th Bhava in the Rashi of Karka [Cancer], Kanya [Virgo] or Mithuna [Gemini], then the person will get an illness of the anus, but his wealth will grow thanks to means of transport. And if Ketu is in the Rashi of Mesha [Aries], Vrishabha [Taurus] or Vrishchika [Scorpio] in the 8th Bhava, then there will be a considerable growth of wealth.
Comments: If, being in the 8th Bhava [house], Ketu is connected with any other malefic Graha [planet], then the person will suffer from such illnesses as haemorrhoids, fistula and so on. The money that he lends out is not returned. There is a great probability of pain because of a bite by a dog or some other animal. Such a person with Ketu in the 8th house is very attached to animals and loves them.