The English words which use Ashlesha's alphabets («Da», «Di», «Do») — «Demon», «Diabolical», «Darkness», «Debauchery», «Devouring», «Danger», «Deceit», «Deception», «Dastardly», «Dagger», «Decadence», «Degenerate», «Delinquent», «Destitute», «Defile», «Destruction», «Depression», «Damned», «Death», «Delusion», «Desperation», «Despotic», «Doom», «Devious», «Doctor» — sum up Ashlesha's nature and functioning. Much needn't be said after a thought is paid to each of these terms. Obviously this doesn't paint Ashlesha in a good light, but it is very hard for Ashlesha to function in a wholesome and healthy way when acting on a mundane level.

Ashlesha is perhaps the most difficult of all nakshatra energies to handle and channel correctly, especially in the present day and age. Even the ancient sages and scholars had very few kind words to say in relation to this nakshatra. It has its occult and esoteric significance, which the reader can look up in the Esoteric Section of this chapter.

Ashlesha rising gives a squarish face; parallel, straight, wide, thin lips; beady small eyes; a naturally suspicious look and a pale complexion. Despite lacking facial attractiveness, natives born under this nakshatra generally have sexually appealing bodies. Their movements are similar to that of snakes. They are very conscious of how they move and how their movement arouses sexual passion in others.

They are adept at putting up socially acceptable and amiable fronts. They use courtesy as a tool to flatter others. This good humour doesn't last for long, for once their objective is achieved, they are immediately cold and ruthless. They are always scheming and plotting when it comes to climbing the social ladder. Since they often work from very superficial levels, their chameleon like quality and deception is very evident to anyone having an above-average level of perceptiveness. The Ashlesha element in a personality can be easily spotted through the almost constant suspicion and mistrust prevalent in the background. Worry and caution follow them relentlessly.

On a positive level, their suspicious natures make them good observers. This power of observation is often combined with a natural intuition. However Ashlesha's intuitive and psychic capabilities tend to function, best in situations where an element of danger is there. Natives can sense danger quickly and react quickly. On a negative level, their suspicion can turn into paranoia. In its extreme state, paranoia can become an illnesss. Paranoid schizophrenia is a disease whose roots lie in Ashlesha. Ashlesha natives can aid others in psychological exploration and understanding, but they also have a tendency to use their psychological perceptiveness to exploit others.

It is the predominance of Ashlesha energy which makes society a cradle of fear and suspicion. Ashlesha is about «lock your doors and mistrust your neighbour.» It is due to this inherent mistrust that Ashlesha natives tend to remain hidden in regards to their true thoughts and feelings. They do not form intimate bonds with others and will mistrust their most closest confidantes and families. They are however highly protective towards their kith and kin and will ward off suspicious intruders in the most ruthless manner.

Ashlesha natives can be the most mean and stingy in regards to financial affairs. Their miserliness never pays in the end as they always end up having losses one way or the other. The presence of Ashlesha in a nativity works both ways; one deceives others and gets deceived by others. Many Ashlesha natives are victims, rather than the users, especially natives who have planets like Sun and Jupiter placed in Ashlesha.

Ashlesha is a glutton and shows great interest in food, especially when it is not Sattwic and prepared by others. Ashlesha natives find themselves at home in hotels, bars, restaurants and the like. They usually cannot bear any kind of hunger. They are the hoarders of the zodiac and dislike throwing anything away. They can go to real extremes in this regard and need to learn to put the material world into its proper perspective. They have a natural affinity for poisons. They do not mind drugs, pharmaceuticals, allopathy, doctors, antibiotics etc.

Ashlesha natives enjoy business activities which border on crookery, They never employ straight methods in business and want some type of cheating or deception to be involved. They find humour in tricking others. They like mental games and strategy. They delight in hoodwinking others.

If one thinks of the characteristics of cats and snakes it is not difficult to sum upan Ashlesha personality. Cunningness, calculativeness, caution, coldbloodedness, wiliness, stealth are common traits amongst cats and snakes. The only way Ashlesha natives can use their singularly negative traits in a positive manner is by aligning themselves with universal will. The key for utilizing Ashlesha in a positive way is to overcome one's innate selfishness. Having done that, suspicion will turn into discretion and wiliness into wisdom. Ashlesha is the first step on the path of spiritual awakening.

The underbelly of nature is encountered here. One has to face all the dark demons of the inner psyche in order to come out shining and purified. Ashlesha's natural tendency to look under the surface has to be utilized for understanding the hidden elements of nature's functionings.

In the universal scheme of things, Ashlesha relates to «visasleshana shakti» — the power to inflict poison. Its symbolism has an approaching serpent above and trembling below. This relates Ashlesha with all kinds of sharp, venomous attacks made at one's enemy or prey. Once again the dangerous and naturally malefic potentiality of this nakshatra come to light.

Ashlesha is considered to be an Active nakshatra. Ashlesha on the surface often appears to be a passive nakshatra but that is only because all its activities are hidden. Even if an Ashlesha native seems to be physically passive, one will find that they are weaving many webs on the mental plane, Ashlesha's activities are subterranean in all senses of the world. In the present day and age where all the workings'of the elite take place in secret away from the eyes of the public, one cannot help but see a dominant role of Ashlesha in the halls of power.