The Moon in Chitra

The Moon in Chitra gives a creative, active mind and a strong sense of form. The person strives to create beautiful and unusual things and wants their work to be noticeable and striking.

About the nakshatra Chitra

• Position: 23°20′–30° Virgo; 0°–6°40′ Libra (the 14th of the 27 nakshatras); for the Moon in the sign, see Moon in Virgo, Moon in Libra.
• Ruler: Mars.
• Deity: Tvashtar (Vishvakarma), the divine architect.
• Symbol: a sparkling jewel.
• Gana: rakshasa.
• Full description: the nakshatra Chitra.

Mind and emotions

Chitra means "bright", "variegated"; its symbol is a sparkling jewel and its deity is Tvashtar, the heavenly craftsman, the creator of forms. The first two padas lie in Virgo, where the mind is precise, analytical and attentive to small things. The other two are in Libra, where aesthetics, harmony and relationships come to the fore. Mars as the ruler gives energy, drive and a wish to act.

In myth Tvashtar is the craftsman who forged Indra's weapon and created many forms. So this Moon finds satisfaction not in the process but in the finished thing: a visible result of her own efforts is the best sedative for her.

Strengths and difficulties

The strengths lie in design, architecture, fashion, jewellery, engineering, photography and any kind of creative work where form matters. The person has charm and knows how to present themselves. Independence and a readiness to work hard for an impressive result are characteristic.

The difficulties are inner restlessness, impatience and a strong dependence on outside assessment. Sometimes conflicts arise from the wish to do everything one's own way. It is useful to develop patience and to work not only on the image but also on the content.

Relationships

In relationships the Moon in Chitra is passionate and attractive and values brightness and beauty in a partner. She is quickly carried away but can be demanding. Freedom, creative joint projects and respect for individuality help to preserve the relationship.

The four padas

• 1st pada (23°20′–26°40′ Virgo). Leo navamsha: self-confidence, artistry, a wish for recognition.
• 2nd pada (26°40′–30° Virgo). Virgo navamsha, vargottama: precision, mastery, an analytical mind, a love of detail.
• 3rd pada (0°–3°20′ Libra). Libra navamsha, vargottama: harmony, taste, diplomacy, a strong emphasis on partnership.
• 4th pada (3°20′–6°40′ Libra). Scorpio navamsha: passion, an interest in the hidden, a strong will.

The first mahadasha

The Moon in Chitra opens the Vimshottari cycle with the mahadasha of Mars, whose full length is 7 years; at birth only the part of it remains that corresponds to the stretch of the nakshatra the Moon has not yet travelled. It is followed by the period of Rahu (18 years). The Mars mahadasha in childhood often brings activity, an interest in sport and technology, and rivalry with brothers and sisters.

The solar version of this nakshatra is described on the page The Sun in Chitra. A birth chart on the site will show whether your Moon is in Virgo or Libra and in which pada.