Rahu the Shadow Planet
Rahu is a shadow planet and is associated with the moon. It is known as the north node of the moon. Rahu is naturally a malefic planet which is not the lord of any house. Rahu is exalted in Taurus and debilitated in Scorpio. It is strong in its own sign of Aquarius. Rahu will act like Saturn, and also like the planets and houses it is associated with. Rahu represents past life karma such as the frustrations, fights, and fear we may have in this life. Rahu multiplies the effects of whatever it is associated with by giving the situation more strength or weakness. For example, Mars represents warriors or generals. When Rahu is well placed with Mars, it can make the general or warrior very powerful. When it is badly placed with Mars, that powerful soldier may become a brutal warlord. Rahu associated with Venus can bring great wealth but can also bring failed multiple marriages. Rahu in the second house can bring great financial loss when debilitated but great wealth when it occupies other positions.
Rahu represents intoxication, cursing, anger, fear, quarrel, chaos and trouble from ghosts. It can show adultery, poison, snakes, cancer, sudden changes or happenings. In medical astrology it represents chronic diseases, malignant tumors, incurable diseases, poisoning and snake bites. Rahu also represents the thing that are associated with Saturn such as yoga, detachment, longevity, disease, and death.
How Rahu influences a chart depends on multiple factors. These factors include the planets, houses, transits, and running dashas. In general Rahu in the first house represents a spiritual nature, multiple marriages, limited education, poor investments or frustration with children. In the second house Rahu brings a poor diet, harsh speech, deformity of the face, limited education, or intoxication. In the third house Rahu can bring great strength, valor, and courage, a poor relationship with younger siblings, criticism by others, or marital problems. Rahu in the fourth house brings ownership of property and vehicles, influence over others, association with materialistic people, health problems to the mother, or lung cancer. Firth house Rahu can manifest as poor education, no spiritual inclination, multiple miscarriages, or limited children. In the sixth house Rahu brings struggle to succeed, association with foreign people or places, legal problems, scandals, or health issues related to the intestines. Seventh house Rahu can create multiple marriages, conflict with business partners, adultery, or mental imbalance. In the eighth house Rahu brings illegal activity, intoxication, drugs, gambling, cheating or a violent death. In the ninth house Rahu may cause fights with authority, a deep religious nature, illness to the father, or it is associated with criminals. In the tenth house we can see great success at work, a high social status, or wealth. The eleventh house is a strong placement for rahu which brings fulfillment of desires, easy acquisition of wealth, courage, influence over others, or higher social circle. In the twelfth house Rahu brings material loss, death, deep religious nature, or illness requiring hospitalization.
Rahu is a very powerful planet on the birth chart and can magnify the influence of other planets or houses, good or bad, significantly. This malefic planet does bring frustration into life but can also help in achieving great things such as spiritual prosperity. It should be carefully evaluated before any judgements of the birth chart is made.