About Vedic Astrology

Vedic Astrology is an ancient art and science. It is said to have been cognized by the sages of old, in states of deep meditation. It is not a creation of the mind, but a revelation from the hearts of enlightened rishis (sages). Some say that Vedic Astrology is just a divination system. In fact, it is a great spiritual science rooted in a profound understanding of Creation and the Cosmos.

In India, Vedic Astrology is known as Jyotish. The first written reference to Jyotish was in the Vedas, ancient scriptures that are considered to be at least 5,000 years old. Jyotish means “the Lords of Light”, which refers to the Sun, the Moon and the other stars of heavens.

Insight into who we are

Jyotish helps us gain insight into ourselves and our destiny, our gifts and challenges.

The cycles of time

Jyotish can also help us understand and map the cycles of time. What are the cycles of time? We’ve all noticed that sometimes we find ourselves incredibly busy, while at other times, life is quite relaxing. Sometimes problems crop up one after another, while at other times difficulties resolve very smoothly. These are not random occurrences and Jyotish can map them with incredible accuracy.

The right (auspicious) moment for performing important actions

But perhaps the greatest gift of Jyotish is helping us “see” (determine) the right moment for performing various actions: when to get married, when to start building a house, when to start a business or simply when to make an important phone call. It can help us “align” with the flow of the universe. When we are in alignment, “in the flow”, and act from that place, life has a tendency to unfold graciously and effortlessly and our efforts yield the desired result. This part of Jyotish is called Muhurta. Muhurta has been used in India for thousands of years and continues to enjoy tremendous popularity, a testament to its efficacy and value for everyday living.

When we are in alignment, “in the flow”, and act from that place, life has a tendency to unfold graciously and effortlessly and our efforts yield the desired result.

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Jyotish and Karma

Jyotish helps reveal our karma for this lifetime. It can time major life events extremely accurately and let us know when life is likely to be pleasurable and easy and when it’s likely to be difficult.

Karma is a key concept in hindu philosophy and a cornerstone concept in Jyotish. We are born to experience the fruit of our past thoughts and actions. Like a train set in motion a long time ago, our past habitual thought patterns and actions become an active, creative force that is continually giving birth to our present: continually creating our current life circumstances. What we are and what we do in the present, originated some time ago, in the thoughts and actions of the past. This is not unlike “as you sow, so shall you reap”, however, it goes a lot deeper than just actions – it applies to our mental and emotional patterns too.

It must also be understood that from the transcendental viewpoint of the “seers” who brought Jyotish into our world, life is not punctual, but rather takes place on a continuum. Death is not the end, but it is rather like the period at the end of a sentence. A sentence may be over but another one will follow it.

In our current state of awareness we only have access to the events of this lifetime which makes our understanding of current life circumstances very limited. As a result, we sometimes have a hard time accepting difficult life circumstances, which further fuels pain and suffering. Very much on the lines of: “why does my neighbor who is mean and dishonest enjoy excellent health and happiness, while I, a wonderful person am having such bad luck?”. The answer is: we are not aware of all of our past actions, only of what transpired in the short span of our current lifetime.

Not all karmas are created equal!

According to Jyotish, some karmas are fixed while others are more loose and can be changed through personal effort and increased awareness.

The natal chart reflects the karma we brought into this lifetime, the karma at birth. As we grow older and wiser (hopefully) we can make better choices and develop healthier patterns, which can shift some of the looser karmas in our charts. As we age, we grow and transform, and so does our karma.