The Purpose of Astrology

It is often difficult to see our shortcomings or even our strengths unless someone else points them out to us. Astrology provides a keen glimpse into the areas of our life that are fully supported and that a client might be taking for granted. It can also show areas that are weak and need strengthening through remedial measures. A Vedic astrologer can ascertain the resources available to a client and give advice on making the most of what is available.

Vedic astrology can pinpoint times to take actions that are supportive of particular endeavors. Imagine a client expressing interest in moving to

Timing is everything.

another country and starting a new business. Success for that endeavor could be indicated in the chart, which is one reason the client had the inspiration in the first place, but the astrological influences do not indicate success for said venture until five years down the road. If an astrologer did not share this information with the client, she might make the move and start her business only to struggle needlessly for the next five years.

 H uman beings incarnate to fulfill four main purposes in life:

• P roper livelihood in accordance with our natural tendencies.

• T he ability to procure resources for our needs.

• E njoyment of our life circumstances.

• Liberation of consciousness from the mistaken sense of individual isolated existence.

Astrological Heart Problems

This is the chart of an athletic (over) achiever, in her mid twenties. With the Sun and an Exalted Mercury in the 10th, I was able to discern the tri-athlete level ability, and the conjunction of Mars and Saturn, easily showed her intensity and drive.

Her Dasha fits well with the Asthotari Dasha sequence, a conditional nakshatra specific dasha, that will be more precise for her, rather than the standard Vimshottari Dasha.  Having begun the Mars Major period in 2007, she adamantly confirmed, that was when life started to become harder and more stressful, and it was in this dasha she discovered the holes in her heart.

The Mars dasa can show surgery, because he rules the 12th, and has that connection with Saturn and Ketu.

In the Trimamsha Varga, Mars is in the 12th house, a house of loss, in neutral status, which makes it’s energy scarce.  This is aspected by a Sun in a Great Enemies sign, which does not help.

The afflicted fire element, while did help sustain her drive, may have pushed her too far.

How to Choose an Astrological Remedy

Question: “What methodology do you use for choosing remedial measures, Ryan?”

Response: “For a long time I would assess the house placements, their lords and strengths of the individual planets, and if one of the friendly

Gemstones, properly proscribed can alleviate astrological difficulty by strengthening the stressed planet, so you have more energy to take appropriate action.

planets to the ascendant was under a lot of stress, I would advise gemstones for that.  Of course I would also assess this from the moon sign, and the sun sign, and the navamsha lagna, before deciding.Mantras I would advise as well, for any planet that was causing difficulty, as well as service or charity, and I would also advise yagyas.

What I advised was based on what I could anticipate that the client would actually be able to do.  Some folks just can’t commit to sitting once a day for 40 days to do a mantra, but can easily arrange a yagya or purchase a gemstone.

Now my approach is a bit different.  Using dignities, and the ishta/kashta information, as well as considering dashas in effect, and the planetary placement in the appropriate varga, I do the same.  It’s just the method of assessment has become a bit more involved.”

Prasna Principles of Jyotish

Prasna (aka prashna) is an accurate and precise system within Vedic Astrology (aka Jyotish). No birth dates, birth times or locations are needed to answer questions accurately.  You see, in prasna, the moment a person asks an important question of the astrologer, the astrologer creates a chart of that exact instance.  Within that moment lies the information needed to answer the question.  Now, this is extremely accurate for one very important question.  The accuracy, while still valid, declines up to the 5th question.  Ideally, a querent, should only ask one or two questions.

You’ll notice I made bold and italicized “important question”. This is because, flippant questions should not be answered using this science.  It is ideal if the questioner has spent some time reflecting on the question in mind, or at least has a sense of urgency about knowing the information.  It needs to be important.  Otherwise, the astrologer, is advised through ancient teachings not to entertain that questioner, and tell them to go away.

I decided to write on this wonderful branch of Jyotish, because of its extreme usefulness. The precision and accuracy with which information is revealed from this method, by far, exceeds my expectations and those of my clients.  Also, there is no horoscope needed, and so the potential of having to deal with incorrect birth times, is not an issue.

In this writing, I endeavor to share the basic principles of this science, for those learned astrologers who have not yet experienced it’s validity. Also, if you find fascinating the fact that you can answer questions accurately for those who are in need, by creating a chart in this way, I’d love to work with you. We can go through some personal tutorials to bring you up to speed on your astrological knowledge, and then specialize in the art of prasna.

Onward now, to the principles…

1) Prasna (aka horary astrology) reveals the future based on the current disposition of the planets.

2) How should a questions put the question to an astrologer?  This is beautifully described by Varahamihira, “One should approach a learned astrologer of pleasant disposition, early in the morning, with fruits, flowers, and money and facing the east, after making due obeisance to the astrologer, put only one question of an auspicious nature.”

3) Note that the astrologer, based on the moment a question is asked, can ascertain the sincerity of questions and the honesty of the questioner.  Isn’t that interesting? How does the astrologer know if the questioner is not sincere or honest?

a)-If the Moon is in the ascendant, Saturn is in a quadrant, and Mercury is combust

b)-Mars and Mercury aspect the Moon in the ascendant

c)-A malefic joins the ascendant

d)-Jupiter and Mercury cast a negative aspect on the lord of the 7th

How do we know if the questioner is honest?

a)-There is a benefic planet joining the ascendant

b)-Mars or a Full Moon AND Jupiter aspect the ascendant

c)-Jupiter and Mercury are positively aspecting the lord of the 7th

To Practice Prasna, These Yogas Need to be Known

“54-55. If a faster planet with less longitude is backwards of a slower planet with a greater longitude, Ithasala Yoga is caused. If the latter planet is ahead of the former by a minute or 30″, it is a complete Ithasala.  This Yoga becomes Muthasila.
56. When a faster-moving planet is ahead of a slower-moving planet by one degree, Easarapha is caused. It is also called Musaripha. This is an unfavourable combination.
57. When there is no mutual aspect between two planets but a faster (than the two not in aspect) planet is in between in aspect with both then this faster-moving planet transfers light from the (other faster) planet to slower one. This is Nakta Yoga.
60. When there is no aspect between two lords and a slower-moving planet is in between these two lords involved in aspect with to them, then the slower-moving planet will transfer light from the other faster of the two lords to the slower. This is Yamaya yoga.
61. When there is Ithasala between two planets and the Moon is also involved in Ithasala with one of the planets, the resulting yoga is Kamboola. There are three varieties of this yoga, viz., exalted, mediocre and debilitated.”

–Prasna Tantra

Vedic Astrology Recommended Reading

Vedic Astrology, (aka Jyotish), is learned through guidance from a competent astrologer, self study, practice, and the reading of books. Books are usually the first step most people take on the path to understanding this Science of Light. There are a number of good books available on the subject. I’d like to recommend one that got me started on this path, and that I still refer to frequently after 8 years of study and practice.

#1) Beneath A Vedic Sky, is my most utilized reference book. It holds a wealth of basic information, and also clearly outlines what planets mean when they are in conjunction, in specific houses, and specific signs. It’s description of astrological combinations are very useful.  If you had a copy of your Jyotish horoscope, you could understand what the chart means for you.

There are a number of more advanced, traditional works, that I refer to now, but Beneath a Vedic Sky was the book that laid the ground work for me to understand and utilized the works of the ancient astrological sages from India.

Jupiter in Aries 2011

As of this moment, Jupiter is at 15 degrees of Aries. He has been in Aries since, May 5th, 2011.  He will stay in this position until May 17th, 2012.

Jupiter Guru is in Aries

(The sanskrit names for Jupiter is Guru, and Aries is Mesha.)

15 degrees is the very middle of the sign, and shows the strongest placement for a planet to have an influence on the horoscope.

Aries is a masculine, movable, fire sign, ruled by Mars.  Jupiter transiting this position, combines energies of Mars and Jupiter. Mars = energy, and Jupiter = abundance, abundance on all levels from financial to vitality to enjoyment. This combination is a variation of what we could call a Guru Mangala Yoga.  It creates enthusiasm, vitality, optimism, and a strong will to succeed and move forward, overcoming obstacles. This can help a person strive to attain leadership roles, or to increase their education. If Jupiter is a friend to your ascendant or moon sign, and is well placed in your natal chart, this is an excellent time to tap into that added burst of life created by this combination and to take your life in a new direction, or build upon your past successes.

This can also be a spiritually uplifting time, and a good time to learn from your teachers or father figures in your life.  For women, this is a good time

for your husbands.

If Jupiter is not a friend to your ascendant or moon sign, you may find that you spend your wealth too quickly, before you even get it. There could be negative turn outs to legal proceedings, or someone might be mismanaging your funds. This can also show an intrusion of the father into your daily routine, or you might have to spend more time with father to take care of him. For women, husbands might be costing you a lot right now.

Jupiter is a friend to the signs of Aries, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

Jupiter is not a friend to Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Capricorn, and Aquarius.

(Keep in mind, that there are layers upon layers of influences within one’s chart. And usually there is a mixture of good and bad influences. To find out how planets and transits affect you in astrology, you can either pay attention to how your life proceeds as the planets move, or you can have someone interpret your chart.)

 

Vedic Astrology Mantra Remedies

A client recently asked me which mantras were best to use.  She indicated there were a number on the internet, and she could not decide which was most appropriate.

While it is best to learn a mantra directly from someone who has practiced the mantras, that is not always immediately possible.

The following mantras are effective, and ones I have used since beginning the study of astrology.

Saturn as Ruler of the 2nd and 3rd Houses in the 10th House

(The 2011 chart we are using is posted here: http://ashevillevedicastrology.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/2011-astrology/)

One unfavorable placement of the Ruler of the 2nd in the 10th, is having trouble maintaining support from partners, or being a supportive partner. Since, from the chart for 2011, Ketu is in the 7th house (house of partners) this is supported.  Ketu can also create instability in relationships.  On a positive note, that can provide a positive opportunity to transform relationships into either a purer or healed form. This depends on how you work with it.

Saturn ruling the 3rd house, and being in the 10th, this shows a slow and stable growth of careers involving technology: internet, computers.  It also shows an interest in old (Saturn) forms of art, expression, and speaking.

Also…

If in the past you have had great success with short distance travels, being a public speaker, artist, editor, musician or sales person, this will be a good year for you. If you have had difficulty, you may find that your renewed efforts in these fields fall flat. Why? Because some planets work well for some people, and not so well for others. It depends on your astrological horoscope as to how they function. Without a thorough analysis of the horoscope, you can simply refer to your past experiences. They will give you a good indication.

More to come…

 

2011 and A Year of Learning from Saturn

It’s 2011! While on retreat at Center for Spiritual Awareness of Georgia, over New Year’s Weekend, I thought it might be helpful to take a look at the birth chart for the year ahead. This chart was created from the moment the Sun and the ascendant degree aligned.

Vedic Astrology Horoscope for 2011 as seen from the East Coast

Over the next several posts I’ll be reviewing the planetary energies of this astrological horoscope and how we can work with it in a useful way throughout the year. We will begin with Saturn’s dominance in the 10th house of this chart, which is Virgo.

Note: Always remember, that the planetary movements through the sky can only seriously affect you, if your own horoscope, or inner consciousness, has the triggers necessary to create a situation. The planets do affect all ego identified individuals, but the extent depends upon a proper assessment and understanding of our own inner astrology characteristics.