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Planets

 

Large moving bodies in our area

The planets are the largest things around. Besides them, in our whole big multi million mile expanse of space there is nothing. It's just the planets here, and we're on one of them. We are stuck on the surface of the Earth, which is just a small ball in a huge expanse of space, and we're rotating around on the surface, trying desperately to hold onto our lives by constant work, struggle and all in futility, as we all die.

So, we're on one ball, but there's a number of other balls, and they're all whirling around in a circle around one bright star. They are balls in a system of balls, a group of balls, and within a certain space surrounded by the Zodiac. So, we're very small players- dependent players- in a larger system.

Small items within a larger framework are dependent on the larger framework as it's parts- where it goes, they go.

For example, a chip in my computer is burned if I burn my computer, it goes downtown if I take my computer downtown, and it was bought when I bought my computer.

As their patterns, so all smaller dependent entities and natures

Similarly, as things go in this universe, so it goes for us. We are dependent. The planets are splintered up parts of a greater whole. They each are representatives of different parts of a natural whole system. Their gravity pulls on each other- for example every one knows that the Moon affects the tides. Well, guess what, it also affects the water inside us making our water-influenced emotions rise and fall with it's 27 day cycle around the Zodiac.

You were born on one of the spinning balls. The influences of all the parts of the Universe led to your appearance. You, like me, are totally dependent on the nature we live in for your life- if the Sun stopped shining you and I would die, period. We are dependent on many things we cannot see.

The planets are the significators of the unfoldment of all things in the Universe- reading their dance is to read the plan of unfoldment of all things- the plan of God, the Light of God, or Jyotish.

Veda doesn't use the outers

The Vedic Astrological system doesn't use the three outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. These are mentioned in some old books I'm told, but that's not important. I believe these planets may have effects- I believe that just because they exist they are certainly meaningful and probably have a God personality behind them as the other planets do, but since the Sages don't talk about them we don't use them. It's that simple.

As dictaters of most natural patterns such as music, color, cycles, natural phenomena

The planets we do use, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, have colors they rule, as well as notes, sounds, metals, elements, and more. You see, the wavelengths of the planets, again, because they are the biggest and significant objects in the Universe and are affecting our world entirely, are to be found in all things.

For example, Mars rules Red, and Mars rules all Martial activities such as war and police work. Isn't it funny that Red is always used in the kind of urgent areas of work where Mars people are often found- Red Cross, Blood Red, Red Fire Trucks, Red Flashing Lights, Red Hats, Red Stop Signs, Red Circle with a line through it. So the stone of Mars is Red Corral.

Once you learn Jyotish you will know the planets by all of these kinds of things as well. You will see the planets in colors, in people's faces, in the way they dress, in the sound of music, in the pace of a city, in the mood of a handshake- everywhere. Evernthing is working under the strict control of the modes of material nature- that means astrology- or more specifically, the unfolding Universal seasons based on the Universal clock.

About motion-speed-stations-retrogrades.

The planets orbit at fairly steady speeds and each on their own orbit band so that they don't collide, and in this way, with the Sun in the center they are orbiting around and around, year after year. In fact, what is our year, but the time it takes for our ball to go around the Sun one time. See, astrology is the basis of the calendar that is running your life already!

In astrology, the speed a planet is travelling relative to our planet affects how strongly it acts in a persons life. A planet is like a strong beam of light in your chart. The beam, if held still on one point, can ignite a fire. But if we just run the beam of light quickly across the dry leaves, nothing happens. It is exposure over time that allows a strong beam of light to begin to burn the object on which it focuses.

So when planets are either moving slowly in relation to us or standing still in space, then their effects are heightened in the chart.

Yes, planets seem to slow down, stand still, then proceed backwards, then again stop, turn around and go forwards again. This is because of the law of retrograde motion.

The Planetary Movements

A Jyotishi must have a good idea of how the planets move. I am going to briefly explain the basics to you.

In the picture below, notice Aries is at the top, Taurus is the pink "bulls head" at about 11 O'clock, and Gemini is the 2 green Pillars at about 10 O'clock and so on. Those are the signs. They are in space. They are the constellations of the Zodiac. The Sun is in the Center, and the other planets are rotating counter clockwise as in the arrows coming off of Saturn. This is all physical fact- this is astronomy, no tricks here.

Now, pinpoint the Earth in the above picture. Now draw a line in your mind from the Earth to all the other planets, each one directly, then continue each of those lines through the planets and on to the zodiac sign behind them. You will end up with a drawing as under:

Notice the yellow lines now coming from the Earth through each planet, and onto the signs behind each planet. So, when we speak of the signs the planets are in, we are speaking "Geocentricly", which means "Earth as the viewing center". Notice the red line coming from the Earth over near to the Cancer symbol- this is my representation to talk about "The Ascendent", which is also fine to call "The Lagna" or "The rising sign". Looking directly East from the place of a birth, we will see (or not see if it's daylight out) a certain sign rising - one of the signs of the zodiac is ALWAYS rising on the Eastern Horizon from EVERY point on Earth at ALL TIMES. Trust me on that.

So, what sign was rising at the moment of a birth becomes the degree point of the ascendent, and the sign involved takes over as the First House of the chart. So, the above chart has something like 25 degrees Gemini rising because that's where my red ascendent line is touching. Then notice that the line through the Moon ends up at around 20 degrees Taurus, and see all the others. Here's how the chart would be drawn Vedic:

This is the Geocentric, or Earth Centered drawing of the planets at the same moment as the previous Sun Centered Universal drawing. Notice we are placing the planets in the signs as they appear from Earth, not the Sun. Astrology is about the effects the planets are "beaming at us", not at the Sun.

The reason Gemini is rising is because it WAS rising on the Eastern Horizon in our Hypothetical chart previously shown.

The signs of the Zodiac are ALWAYS in the same order. The stars don't swim around at all, and in fact Nakshatra means "doesn't change". They stay in the same places. Only the planets travel around. So, once you establish the rising sign, the rest of the signs just follow around in order filling the remaining 12 spaces or houses in the chart.

In Jyotish, there are 12 houses because there are 12 signs. The houses and signs are synonomous. Whichever one is rising is the first house. It doesn't matter how much of that sign is rising- whether the first part or the last part has already come- whatever- that sign becomes our rising sign or the first house. The rest of the signs just fill in using their natural order.

The apparition of Stations and Retrograde

Consider the drawing below. As Mercury moves along on the other side of the Sun, notice that the points in the background Signs that it hits or points to are moving forward from Scorpio to Sagittarius.

Now when Mercury comes up alongside the Sun and is soon going to be coming between the Sun and Earth, there is a point where for a short time, to it's cresting on the edge of it's orbit in relation to us, it appears to stand still when we judge by looking at the sign behind it. This is called "Stationary". It happens at about the point shown below:

At this point, what really happens is this: The energy from the sign behind the planets is focused by the planets onto us much like a prism would do if angled just right. The planets are reflector points, and the Zodiac signs give off certain types of rays or influences. This is what's always going on.

But what's happening special at the time of a planets "station" (that's when it appears to standstill against the Zodiac backdrop) is that we are getting an extra long dose time of just one spot in a sign being focused through that planet at us.

In the above drawing, the spot of about 27 degrees Sagittarius is being focused through Mercury upon the Earth. We would say, in astro-jargon, that "Mercury is Stationary Retrograde at 27 degrees Sagittarius".

Retrograde verse Direct

The planets are actually never turning around. They just appear to be. After "stationing" as in the above drawing, Mercury comes up between the Sun and Earth and appears to be moving backwards if we just judge from the sign "behind" Mercury. See this in the drawing below:

Notice that as the days roll by and Mercury is aborting just normally around the Sun as it always does, it appears to be moving backwards when we judge by the sign and sign part that appears behind Mercury as viewed from our viewpoint here on Earth.

Now if you think about the other planets, those circling inside our orbit such as Mercury and Venus and those outside our orbit such as Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, you'll find that they all do this. The Sun and Moon never go retrograde in relation to us.

In Jyotish, a retrograde planet is strong generally, although retrogression is also sometimes causing "exact opposites" as it represents travel direction opposite to the norm. Generally however, retrogression, which appears in charts very frequently, serves to make planets stronger. A planet that was stationary on or around the day of birth is very prominent or powerful to do whatever the chart says it will do, and if a planet was recently stationary and at the time of birth is just starting to move again, same thing, very strong. This is just one point of Jyotish. I'm not trying to over stress it- I was just covering the movements of the planets so that these physical realities will have some home in your brain as you proceed to talk about them in Jyotish.

Retrogression is not "good" in the truest sense of purity. If you take this Vedic Jyotish, then take the Vedic conception- this whole place, the material creation, is fraught with imperfection. The nature of this place encourages illusions. Firstly, we are not these bodies, but nobody likes to live based on this fact. Anyway, the retrogression of the planets represents the odd things that happen due to the interactions of the souls being here.

The Earth is separate from the Sun, which represents the the person travelling in a body which appears to be separate from their own soul, or not their soul. The other features of ourselves, which we find governed by and represented in the planets, sometimes have to "turn around" because of our strange movements. If all were aligned and perfectly correct and good, there would be no such disharmonious and crazy paths for the various parts inside us, nor the planets. You could say therefore that retrogression-reactions inside us- they are adjustments which are necessary to bring things "back on track".

Therefore in life they represent the reactions to our actions. They tell us in a chart that this part or parts are making adjustments in this life so that other parts of the chart can be where they are. Indeed, once you know the astronomy well, you realize that for the planets to be where they are in a chart, they MUST be AS THEY ARE, whether that is retrograde, moving fast or slow, high or low in latitude, and so on. It is not at all accidental- at each moment in time the planets must be where they are to keep going in their paths.

In one chart I know, Jupiter and Saturn are retrograde in the ninth house. The other planets are where they are and are not retrograde. You could say therefore of this chart that although these planets are in the ninth house, they are acting a little reactionary because of the rest of the person. So, this tells us that we must at least a little bit consider that these planets are having to give in, or over-act, in order to do what they are going to do for this person. It will either make their ninth house matters a little extreme, or defensive, or odd, not standard. And so it is.

Retrogression is not normal, I say again, so it's results are various types of extreme-ness or odd-ness. More powerful is standstill- that is power- and if it is standing still or just starting to move retrograde from standstill- then that is powerful and going odd. If it is starting to move slowly forward again- that is powerful and becoming normal so to speak. What is normal and what is odd is understood correctly only by those who actually know the VEDAS OWN standard for what is normal and odd. Eating flesh for example is very odd in Vedic standards or soul-standards, which are the basis of Vedic standards. So, modern society is pretty odd by Vedic standards. Homosexuality is odd, violence is odd, not serving others and not loving others are all odd things. Many types of modern mentality is odd- such as competitive non-caring agression as found in large cities and certain careers. So, often times, my point is, the odd-ness caused by retrogression is thought of as good and powerful, inasmuch as Rahu for example can sometimes cause WONDERFUL MATERIAL results, when in fact in terms of Vedic conception purely, it cannot be "good". But materially speaking, or anti-spiritually speaking, it can be very good.

So sometimes it is necessary to remember how our life here, and our needs and concerns here, can be very opposite to pure Vedic thought. Some books coming from India however, are flipped upside down because they have been pre-converted to modern materialistic angle of vision. For example, if a reading says "This Venus placement will provide you with all comforts, wealth and happiness". Is that "good" or what? Well, Venus always spins backwards- on it's own axis- it's own personal rotation (not orbit around the Sun) is backwards compared to the other grahas. This is because, I think, Shukra is the "Asura Guru" or guru of the demons. He encourages pleasure and enjoyments here in this life more than others, and grants same, and this is a cause of bondage for the soul, so ultimately not a good idea. His philosophy: Enjoy now, pay later. Credit cards.

So, that is a good example of anti-Veda sounding like "good". It is not "good" ultimately, but temporarilly rather. So in some places you have more pure thinking being conveyed, and in other places you have the kind of speaking which is what the kings wanted to hear from the astrologer - authors they were supporting, who wrote many of the "classics" we read. The original pure revelation is another thing.

Retrogression is very common. It's hard to escape because it happens so much. It is normal for all of us to have some of it in our charts. It's not a bad thing, or an embarrassment at all. It just indicates a place in the chart where there will be some extremities to handle. We (almost) all have some of that somewhere. When judging planets, there are 30 or 40 such points of interest to look at- and no one thing is so important as to cause alarm or overshadow the other things. Ashtaka Varga, Shad Bala, Retrograde, Transits, on and on it goes. There is so much to look at which is all together causing the big result.

If nothing else, remember that retrogression increases overall strength of the planets placement- making it's results a little more biting or intense.

 

The Planets Themselves

 

The Lagna

When you go to a play at the Theatre, the players enter the stage from the left (maybe). So you have your eyes glued to the left side of the stage, just waiting to see who will come on the stage.

So it is with the rising Sign. If you watch the Eastern Horizon, and if you could see the Zodiac behind that Horizon, you would find that the constellations, or Signs of the Zodiac are rising there at the rate of one sign roughly ever two hours. Wow!

These big huge 30 degree (1/12th) sections of the circle of space that surrounds us at all times are rising one after the other all day long. You know, the reason the Sun rises and sets each day is because the Earth is turning. So, as the Sun rises, so do the Signs of the Zodiac, also because of the turning of the Earth.

At any given moment, if you look East, the Sign rising is the "Rising Sign" or "Ascendent" or "Lagna". These all mean the same thing. And just like with the planets, it is the exact degrees-minutes-and seconds that we are interested in with the Lagna, so we might say someone has "29 degrees Sag. rising". So, we are interested in the exact angle, as usual. You'll see why later- it has to do with the all sub-divisions of the signs mostly.

The Lagna is very important. It is the body and overall life. Afflictions to the Lagna are significant. It is the starting point of the chart. The Lagna is the first house, and sets up the chart. Without the Lagna we don't have a chart. It's not optional. The Lagna is based on the place you were born, as well as the time. If you are born in New York at a certain time, and you look East, you see the Lagna. But someone born in New Delhi at that exact same moment would see a different Lagna because the Earth is a ball, and looking East from any point on the surface of that ball is going to produce a different spot in the great circular Zodiac that surrounds us.

The significance of the rising sign is that it determines the overall nature of one's body. The lagna has most to do with the body, then the overall life in general. So, if a lagna is a materially good sign, and the lagna or first house is affected by materially helpful planets, then the overall life will be smoother and the person will be healthy and good looking. The opposite influences will produce the opposite results.

I've covered the Lagna here in the list of planets because it functions alot like a planet as a very important point in the chart.

 

The Sun

The Sun is the center of the Solar System of planets used in Vedic Astrology. Therefore the Sun rules all types of Central things such as the central government, the centrally powerful person in an organization, and so forth. In ourselves, the Sun rules our center, which is our soul.

The Sun is the source of light for all other planets and beings, so the Sun rules in astrology our center of energy. As the source of energy in the Universe, so from the Sun's placement in our charts we judge our level of energy.

The Sun God is father to great Kings in ancient Vedic history. In a chart, a strongly placed Sun gives the ability to lead and be forceful. As we cannot live without the power of the Sun, so it goes in life that nothing can live without the power of the Sun. If one person has a very strong Sun in their chart, they will have a hard time subordinating to those who do not. People with strong Suns therefore tend to surface as leaders by their own force.

The Sun owns the Sign of Leo. Leo is therefore invested with the powers of the Sun. Since the King, or the Sun, is independent, makes the laws, and is therefore in many ways above the law, we find independence and leadership qualities of Leo. Planets placed in Leo take on this nature- that of independence and leadership or force of will. The way of a Lion, the symbol of Leo, is that of "either dominate it, or walk away". A lion either dominates something, or walks away. Lion's do not surrender to anything, therefore they are "the king of the jungle".

The Sun is called a "malefic" planet in Jyotish. Malefic means "negative" or "dangerous". Why is it that the central planet, the one that represents the soul, is considered as "bad". This is because the soul does not, in one sense, belong here. The soul is ultimately meant to be in the spiritual world, and one with other beings in service to the center. But here, the soul is overcome by the feeling of separateness and independence, and hence is a "malefic" entity in itself. The law here is that one living being lives at the expense of another. Our very presence here as souls has a malefic effect on other living beings always. We are here to learn by carrying out our personal, somewhat selfish, campaigns of self-serving continuation of our lives. Our presence here puts us in contact with elements which give us pain. So, the Sun, or the soul, is in a somewhat negative position so long as we are here, unliberated, in this material world.

The ego is a malefic, because it is generally separate from God. We feel like we are somebody, but that somebody is a nothing. We are humble slaves of God, but we often feel like something else. That is false ego or ahankara. In Sanskrit hankara means ego, but putting an "a" before any Sanskrit word means the opposite. So hankara means ego, and ahankara means the non-ego, or un-real ego, the false ego.

In many Sanskrit devotional songs and poems the word ahankara is used. This word is a favorite of the Saints of Ancient Times, because they liked to be able to sum up the illusioned ego of a person in this world in one easy word. That's their word- ahankara, and it is ruled by the Sun in Jyotish.

The Sun's position in our chart represents where our false ego will most manifest. The position of the Sun in our chart represents an area of life we will have to reckon with, in order to clear ourselves of attachment in preparation for liberation from bondage and suffering. Liberation to the Spiritual World is something to want and long for. But, our attachments and longings here will keep us here. We have to become humble. The Sun promotes non-humility or pride. Pride is the enemy of the Spiritualist. So, the Sun, though it is our pivot point for being here in this life, it is nevertheless attaching us as well. Saturn, the Sun's enemy and opposite in many ways, rules humility.

In Jyotish the Sun rules central things, powerful things, things which have force of character, things which are essential or pivotal, as well as overbearing things, and things which can burn and dominate. The Sun may be called a Malefic by Vedic Sages, but most Westerners would call it a great benefic because Westerners by background are aggressive, and supportive of a strong ego in the individual. So keep in mind the Sun is considered a malefic mostly for reasons which are not understood, nor attractive to, the Western mind prior to it's infusion with Vedic Style Spiritual Philosophy.

The Moon

The Moon is close to us, and reflects the light of the Sun. The Moon is the most visible planet of all, to us here on Earth, because we can look at it so easily. It neither burns our eyes, nor hides in the deep darkness of space, like the others. Rather, the Moon is up close and personal, showing Herself fully to us. The Moon is indeed very dear, close, friendly. It's light is very nice and pleasing. Her full bodily lustre each month is a rising sight to see.

The Moon is the most prominent reflection of the central light of the Sun. Therefore, the Moon rules the most obvious reflection of our soul to the seeing world, and that is our mind or selves as conscious beings. It is not so much our body, or our skin, or our hair, that makes us who we are as people, so much as do our minds. And not our knowledge, but rather, our emotional mental selves. Our attitude- how we "take life" or "interact with life" on an emotional level, that is the most important and influencial aspect of ourselves which reflects to others.

The Moon rules the mind, the emotions, nursing, nurturing, mothering and the overall self. An afflicted Moon greatly shapes the personality in the direction of the affliction, whether it be harshness of character, sadness of mind, or an angry and agressive nature. Similarly, benefic influences upon the Moon in a chart, or a well placed Moon we could also say, bestows the reflections of helpfulness, peace of mind, cleanliness all around, and so forth.

The Moon is "the other lagna", which means that as we normally take the rising sign as the first house, so also we can take the Moon Sign as the first house and read the chart of the person that way too. This is a very important principal in Jyotish, and we will cover this technique more later.

For now, understand this- the Moon is the Most Important planet in Vedic Astrology because it holds this special post of being as sensitive as the ascendent. Afflictions to these two, the Ascendent (lagna) and the Moon, are very strong shapers of both character and events. Your body, your health, your mind and gifts from birth are all dicatated in greatest measure by these two. So just appreciate that the Moon is one of two very main points in a chart to examine correctly and carefully.

Mars

Mars is the Ksatriya of the Gods, meaning the warrior. Mars rules agression, weapons, enforcement of law, emergencies, urgencies, weapons, energy, suddenness, rashness, anger, the color Red, and related items and matters.

The Sun is the King, and Mars is the Kings Commander of Armed Forces. Mars is ever beholdent to the will of the Sun. The General enforces the orders of the King, so Mars is always ready to be pushy on behalf of the King. Soldiers are usually fighting either for a cause, or for a government. This is because soldiers, even modern US Marines for example, derive their natures personally and collectively from the planet Mars, the "God of War". Soldiers usually have a strong Mars in their charts.

There are points in all of us when we apply our energy and quickness, usually to prevent a disaster, or to save a situation. For example, we move quickly to catch a falling glass object. Mars likes to protect- we race to save a child from running into the street. If somebody is hurt, we hurry to the scene. Mars people are often involved in causing bleeding with their weapons or stopping bleeding with their medical equipment. The gun of the soldier kills some and saves others. It's good to be on the right side of a person under the influence of Mars.

The Sun is the King, and Mars his Military General, and Jupiter his Guru or Advising Minister of the Court. These three planets- Sun, Mars and Jupiter are all very masculine and each other's friends. Together they are the "fire trine" of planets because they each rule one of the fire signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, and they are always working well together.

If a person has a good Mars energy in their chart, then they are into enforcing rules, good at following orders, have plentry of energy, are quick when it's needed, and are usually also terrible when crossed. A weak Mars makes one easily tired, jittery, easily angered, reactive.

Mars and Venus are the two planets whose orbits surround the Earth's on each side. Venus orbits just inside our orbit whereas Mars is the next planet outside our orbit. Venus rules all things desireable and Mars rules aggressive action. Venus represents the feminine and Mars the masculine. These two surround the Earth, sandwiched in the middle of the passionate attraction these two have for each other, so to speak. The intense passions caused by these two have most people on Earth within their grip. In Sanskrit terminology, most people are in the Maya (illusion) of Lust and Passion.

Mercury

Mercury is the Prince of the Court. He is going to be the King someday, and His father is the King, or the Sun, but for now Mercury is just a boy. Since this boy is the Son of the King, he is given tons of respect, and the King uses him (Mercury) as a minister gofer- run here and negotiate this deal, then run over there and carry this message, then go do your studies, then just hang out with me- this is how the King talks to this boy.

Mercury is youthful and causese youthfulness or immaturity in the chart in the house it resides. Mercury is the negotiator, so it rules in us the ability to be dimplomats, negotiators, deal-makers, or good liers. Mercury rules all types of communications, spoken and written. A good Mercury in a chart makes for careers where speaking, studying, thinking, writing and other scholarly thinking related matters are necessary. A bad Mercury can work towards making a person dumb or odd in mental workings.

Mercury, being youthful, is not mature nor convinced about anything for certain. He is truly a gullable boy, so, he is easily influenced by other planets. Any planet with Mercury will influence him. So Mercury is called "mutable" or "changeable". This reflects in the chart very much. Mercury always stands for the thinking capacity in a person, which in Sanskrit would be called your "Budhi" or "intelligence". Mercury's Sanskrit name is therefore "Budha", which also means "the intelligence".

An important point about each of us is our level of intelligence. This is partially judged from Mercury (as well as Jupiter and other things). The intelligence is influenced by learning, surroundings, family background, and so in the chart we will see all these things influencing the highly influencable Mercury.

Mercury is sensitive, because it rules a very important part of us- our intelligence. If your intelligence is low, there's not much anybody can do to help you have a better life. A fool is a fool, and there's no point in giving a fool alot of opportunities. This is a cold, hard fact. When you empower a fool, the only thing that happens is more trouble for everyone.

So Mercury is a very important point in a chart, much like the Moon, the Lagna, and the Sun. In fact, when quickly looking at a chart, one should first see the influences on these, the Moon, Mercury, Sun and Lagna. These are very sensitive points that make up the "insides" of a person. You can call these "inner planets" because they rule our "insides".

Jupiter

Jupiter is the "Guru of the Gods". Jupiter is called "Guru" in Sanskrit. Guru means "heavy" because he is "heavy with knowledge". Jupiter is also called Brihaspati (bree-haws-putt-tee). Brihaspati is the name of the Guru of all the demigods in the higher planets. He is the advisor, or teacher, of the demigods. From these designations we derive the nature of the effects of the Jupiter planet.

In a chart, the disposition and relationship of Jupiter to the chart will determine therefore how the person feels about, and deals with, all things related to higher advice and council. A good Jupiter in a chart which leans towards Jupiter in a positive way will grant good relations with Priests, Law, Higher Education, the Legal system, the Financiers of the world, and so on. Jupiter has close ties with higher law such as God's laws, the laws of the land, and so on. Jupiter encourages righteousness when He is strong.

Jupiter is a large planet, and so rules largeness in things. Jupiter tends to expand things. Wherever He sits and wherever He aspects in a chart will tend to grow based on Jupiters influence. For example, if Jupiter affects the Lagna, which rules the body, then the body will tend to be large, or fatty. When a good Jupiter affects housing ruling money then the money will tend to grow. Jupiter in the second house, which rules speaking, will tend to make the person speak often, and with a tone of givine advice, one of Jupiters other natural tendencies.

Gurus and advisers are always well wishers, so Jupiter is very giving or kind, and is known as a great giver or granter of fortune. Jupiter is considered the most benefic planet, because of His nature of always wanting to give and grant benedictions. Because children are an expansion of life in many ways, as well as a gift from God, Jupiter rules children. Because Jupiter represents God through his many advices He has a tendency to be related to the ninth house, which rules God in our lives.

Jupiter is a Brahmin, which means Priest. Brahmins give advice and guidance of all types to the other members of the society, and this is Jupiters tendency- to give advice or to show the way to achieve one's objectives.

Venus

Venus is called Shukra in Sanskrit. Shukra literally means "semen", but more generally means "refined things". Venus rules over all types of refined things that are desireable such as art, music, flowers, love, beauty, etc. A well placed Venus in a chart that is well disposed towards Venus will grant to the person a life full of "the good things" such as those things mentioned above.

Venus is also a Brahmin or Priest, but of the "Rakshasha" type. Venus is called the "Asura Guru". Sura means "godly people" and therefore Asura means the "ungodly people". Venus is the Guru of the ungodly side in us. Venus gives us advice on how to achieve material success, whereas Jupiter's Braminical advice is more of the godly nature.

The Vedic way of understanding of life, and the process of elevation, is such that addiction to material gratifications are known to be often "anarthas" or "unnecessary". Too much stress is laid upon material gratifications in ungodly societies. So, Venus is loved and followed when the person or society is of the materialistic type. For Westerners, a good Venus is considered a good thing, because it helps in bringing in material wealth, sense gratifications, and all types of material fortunes. Famous, rich and beautiful people often have strong Venus, as these blessings are highly desirable to the materialistic masses, who love to worship such "achievements" in life. People in general are much more interested in the "Lives of the Rich and Famous" than they are in the "Lives of the Intelligent and Devoted".

Sukracarya (literally "the Venus Teacher") is a famous personality in the Vedas because he was present in many of the struggles between the Rakshashas (demonic or materialistic beings) and the Devas (the "good" Gods). Brhaspati, Jupiter, was always on the side of the Gods as their Guru, and Shukracarya was always on the side of the Rakshashas as their Guru. The advices of these two Brahmins, Jupiter and Venus, are almost always opposite and oppositely motivated. Inside us, we tend to listen more to one than the other.

While Jupiter tends to give advice leading to surrender to higher principles, Venus gives advice which works for us in the here and now. Jupiter is more about dharma, or religion for higher principles, whereas Venus is more about adharma, or self serving ways. The entire Vedic principle is to surrender to the greater laws of God, whereas Venus teaches us to maximize things as they are now, for ourselves. But it is not that one is bad and one is good- it's that priority has be established correctly. It is not wrong to have material quality in our lives, or pleasures and enjoyments, but they should not direct us and dictate our actions when higher principles of goodness are at stake.

Saturn

Saturn is known for his ring. Saturn rules restrictions- or things that surround us on all sides. All types of blocks, restrictions and obstacles are the ruling lot of Saturn. The wedding ring is related to Saturn, because it represents a restriction that prevents certain types of actions- namely, courting other spouses and therefore the ring is a symbol of a block or restriction.

Saturn is the outermost planet in the Vedic scheme of things, and so has "the last laugh". Saturn is final, being the last one. Saturn rules all types of final things, or things which are insurmountable. Saturn is "the bottom line" in many ways. Therefore, Saturn rules Death as well as Unconquerable Time. All things decay in time, and Saturn rules this decay, or the effects of old age. Saturn is old, and low, the worker, the downtrodden, the dirty.

Saturn rules the colors blue and black, which are akin to seriousness, coldness, and finality. Things turn dark when they are dead, when the color of life has gone out. The sky is either blue or black because the distance we are looking at when we look at the sky is always insurmountable, being such a far distance. When we look across the land the trees in the distance are more "greyed out" than the closer trees, because that distance, being insurmountable, takes on the dulling effects of Saturn. If something is hazy or unclear, it is because it is "out of reach" and that is Saturn again.

When Saturn affects a house or planet in a chart, then it "shuts it down" to some degree, by means of it's strong oppressing power. Saturn has the ability to oppress anything. When it aspects the Moon, or Mind, then the person feels the effects of Saturn in their mind, which basically leads to depression.

Saturn is large and slow, and so it rules these things. Large slow things cause alot of pressure, and so does Saturn. When Saturn affects something, it slows it down, puts it under pressure, and ultimately crushes it under it's tremendous weight and restrictive power. On the good side, these things give it rule over focus. Focus is a funny thing- it means application of pressure for a certain goal. Saturn can make things it affects highly focused or controlled, which at times is a very good quality.

Because of all these things, Saturn is considered a "first class malefic", or in other words, a planet capable of doing great harm. But that is spoken from the angle of vision of the materially oriented. Materially speaking Saturn is usually malefic, except when his reduction and crushing capacity is used, in the chart, against the enemies of our material progress. For example, if Saturn is situated in such a way as to crush the twelfth house, or the house of losses, then our losses are crushed, which means we don't lose as much.

But Saturn has another good side. Consider the diamond- it is created from black coal under great pressure for a long time. Saturn rules coal, pressure, and long periods of time. So, Saturn creates the diamond, which is very beautiful and extremely hard. When a person is under Saturn, they eventually become beautiful and hard, or shining and strong. The trials and struggles that Saturn puts us through teach us hard lessons. As one popular rock song says:

"We can't run and we can't hide, because when we meet what we're afraid of, we find out what we're made of".

So, Saturn makes us strong, by putting us to the test for a long enough period of time that we develop muscles and willpower.

Therefore Saturn rules the side of the religious peoples which is strong in principal, unbending, renounced from material motivations, and so forth. Saturn has alot to do with the dark blue color worn by most Police officers, and the black worn by many Priests. Men often wear dark suits to do business, because it promotes a no-nonsense, dead-serious demeanor in their business dealings.

Saturn rules the low workers or Shoodras, as we say in Sanskrit. This is because he rules all things low and difficult. Things which are cold, dark, hard and created under pressure are ruled by Saturn, so He rules many types of metal like iron and steal, as well as the tools of hard work. Because he is an old man, he rules old things.

Rahu

Rahu is not an actual planet-ball, as the other planets are, but a point in space that is of great influence. The nodes Rahu and Ketu are always opposite each other in the Zodiac. They are calculated from the orbits of the Sun and Moon in relation to the Earth. They are gravitational line up points. They cause the Moon to actually wobble in it's orbit.

The Puranic story that tells of the creation of Rahu and Ketu goes like this in brief: There was a feast for the Gods, and they were all there. At such feasts the Gods would drink Soma-Rasa, or the drink of "immortality" (a feeling it creates in them only, as they are never immortal). There was a Rakshasha, or demo, named Rahu who wanted some of that sought after drink. So, disguising himself as a God, Rahu sat in on the feast. It just so happened that he sat inbetween the Sun and Moon Gods, whose names are Chandra and Vivasvan respectively.

When the cup was passed it finally came to Rahu, who put it to his lips. At that moment the Moon recognized who Rahu really was, and told the Sun. The Sun told Vishnu, God Supreme, who utilized his Sudarshan Chakra weapon to cut off Rahu's head immediately. Rahu's head went flying, but it had touched the drink, so he got a real positive boost for long life. Whereas, the body of Rahu became dead. The body is now called Ketu. Thereafter and to this day, the head and body of Rahu float in space forever trying to chase and harm the Sun and Moon. When there is an eclipse, it represents the Sun or Moon entering Rahu's mouth, then coming out his neck again.

It is a scientific fact, that when the Moon gets close to the nodes in it's real orbit, that it wobbles due to the gravitational pull of the point. So, when in a chart we see that the person was born at a time when the Moon was close to one of the nodes (Rahu or Ketu) that the mind is disturbed, since the Moon rules the mind. This is a fact which you will see played out in the lives of those who have this (myself being one of them). Since the nodes occupy two signs, roughly one sixth of the population has this. However, it is strongest when the Moon is really close to the Node it conjoins- or in other words, when the two are close by degrees within the sign- say within 5 degrees of each other. Then the effects become pronounced.

Rahu's nature is that of anger, upsetness, anxiety, suddeness and other things which we would feel if we got our heads cut off right when we were getting something we wanted. Think of it: Just when you are about to get what you always wanted, right then something comes to totally ruin your plans. But, the secret is this: Anyone who is killed by the weapon of Vishnu is also highly benefitted spiritually, so this plays out in our lives as well. So, the effects of Rahu can be said like this: Painful and troublesome, but ultimately for a higher cause.

Ketu

Ketu is the dead body of the lusty demon, killed by Vishnu. So, Ketu rules beheadings and losses and death, along with Saturn. Spiritually speaking, Ketu is somewhat purified because he was killed by Vishnu. So, Ketu rules over the highly renounced, the Sannyasis (Sanskrit for renounced persons) because they have voluntarily given up everything.

Wherever Ketu sits in a chart there we will find the sucking black hole effect. It feels forever like a hole into which we tend to want to put more and more of that thing to satisfy it. We cannot get enough where Ketu sits- we feel the lack of that house in our lives very much. Therefore many say that Ketu rules separations, cuts, loses and deprivations.

For the spiritually minded Ketu is very good, and for the materialistic, very bad. It is good for the Spiritually minded because it rules liberation from bondage. When Rahu's body was separated from his head, the body no longer was under the influence of Rahu's mind, and so was free. Ketu represents the ultimate freedom from ourselves, our spiritual liberation. Ketu is very final in this sense.

In Vedic thought, liberation, called "Mukti" or "Moksha" is considered the highest goal of life. After all our material role playing is through, we are to seek liberation from material bondage and misindentification, and seek out union with God (Yoga means union). So, liberation is the highest goal and Ketu is the "Moksha Karaka" or significator of Moksha in our charts.

When reading astrological books, one must remember that many of them were written, oddly enough, from the materialistic viewpoint. Indeed, today also, many people who are into astrology are into it for reasons of bettering their material positions, or finding out just how good their life (here on Earth) is going to be. Therefore, the books often say that Jupiter is the highest benefic.

But spiritually minded astrologers know that, in terms of real spiritual development, Saturn is above Jupiter and Ketu is above Saturn. Jupiter reals Wisdom, but Saturn rules Truth, yet Ketu rules Moksha, the highest achievment of all. So, Ketu is the most spiritual planet, with Saturn being next in line, and Jupiter takes third place.

Midheaven and other angles

The Midheave, or MC as it is sometimes called in astrological books, is a point in space which was "straight up" from our birth moment. If you were to look straight up at the Zodiac at the time of the birth, you would be looking at the spot which is called the Midheaven.

The Midheave in the middle of our tenth house, which rules career, rise, high position and attainment. When we stand up, we are under the midheaven. Our head, in a sense, points up towards the midheaven. If someone rises high in life, say a famous person, or a successful person, or a President of country for example, then you know for sure that they have a significant midheaven, or tenth house, in their charts.

The midheaven is a point in the Zodiac, just as the Lagna is the point in the Zodiac. So, we record the midheaven as a point in a Sign with so many degrees, minutes and seconds. Planets near to this point, or owning the sign this point falls in, or aspecting this point will affect the rise, career and other attainment factors in the life.

There are a number of other such points we look at in charts. They are, for example, the middle and starting points of the houses in the Bhava Chart, or House Chart. Then there is the Yogi point, another mathematically calculated point in the Zodiac. Of all the points, the Lagna and Midheaven are the most significant.

Outers and Subtle

Vedic Astrology does not use the three outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. God and the Sages saw fit to exclude them for their own reasons, and we follow suit. They probably represent Gods or Goddesses as the others do, and they probably have some effect, but for whatever reason they have been excluded, that is enough for the Vedic followers- we need not speculate about the matter.

There are a number of subtle planets mentioned in Jyotish classics. The most widely referred to are Mandi and Gulik. These planets are calculated points, like Rahu and Ketu for example, and not planets that have actual mass. Most modern Jyotishis do not make any use of them yet. Their effects remain laregely untested to Jyotishis in the West therefore. Perhaps someday they can be more heavily tested.

I would like to say that, while I respect all Vedic revelation as significant, I am also practical. There are many parts of the even the great Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra, the cornerstone classic of the science of Jyotish, which we in modern times no longer use. This is more due to lack of time and energy to learn and incorporate all the principles and techniques given therein. It is hard enough to digest just the basics these books give, what to speak of the numerous advanced techniqes which they give without much explanation as the correct application of the techniques. Since you can get so much from just the basics, and my purpose, that of spreading Vedic thought, is helped plenty by the spread of the basics, I myself am not excited to the point of taking action, on many of the finer and obscure techniques found in the classics.

END

written by Das Goravani