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Vedic Astrology & Palmistry

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Nodal “weather” forecast: Q3 2019

July 6th, 2019 · Astrology

This is a continuation of my series on the “power levels” of the nodes. Readers interested in the attributed values governing the appearance of this graph are encouraged to read earlier posts in this series.

The blue line represents the cumulative energy that Rahu carries on behalf of planets for whom it can act as a proxy during the period; the red line represents that of Ketu. The vertical scale reflects magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic influence. Eventually, this “nodal weather report” may evolve into something more nuanced.

Compared to Q2, when nodal “power levels” averaged 18 points with peaks of 35, Q3 power levels are considerably lower, averaging 13 points with peaks of 27 and lower. This is a consequence of Mars and Mercury having passed through sidereal Gemini and no longer making contact with the nodal axis in Gemini/Sagittarius.

Meanwhile, however, Saturn in Sagittarius with Ketu continues to drive long-term nodal power levels. Sun and Venus are both in Gemini for the first 2-3 weeks of July, after which they leave the sign and the nodal power level drops noticeably.

Mercury provides a brief “bump” in power at the end of July after it completes its retrograde cycle and briefly re-enters Gemini. Other “blips” occur every two weeks as the Moon passes through Gemini or Sagittarius and thus makes contact with the nodal axis.

A solar eclipse on July 2nd and a lunar eclipse on July 16th provide the peaks in nodal power levels for the month, after which activity declines noticeably.

Rahu remains in Mercury’s sign Gemini for the entire Q3, and in Jupiter’s nakshatra Punarvasu until mid-September. Ketu remains in Jupiter’s sign Sagittarius and Venus nakshatra Uttara Ashadha for the entire Q3.

As a general observation, we can say the nodes exert significant influence around the dates of the eclipses on July 2nd and 16th. Longer term, the effects of this slow nodal transit in Q3 may be felt most keenly by anyone whose ascendant, luminaries or key planets occupy 19-24 degrees sidereal Gemini or Sagittarius.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.



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Nodal “weather” forecast: June 2019

May 29th, 2019 · Astrology

This is a continuation of my series on the “power levels” of the nodes. Readers interested in the attributed values governing the appearance of this graph are encouraged to read earlier posts in this series.

The blue line represents the cumulative energy that Rahu carries on behalf of planets for whom it can act as a proxy during the period; the red line represents that of Ketu. The vertical scale reflects magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic influence. Eventually, this “nodal weather report” may evolve into something more nuanced.

Compared to May, when nodal “power levels” averaged 15 points with peaks of 23, June’s power levels are considerably higher, averaging 22 points with peaks of 35. This is a consequence of the Sun, Mars, and Mercury spending a good portion of the month in sidereal Gemini with Rahu, while Saturn remains in Sagittarius with Ketu.

Rahu remains in Mercury’s sign Gemini (2 points) and Jupiter’s nakshatra Punarvasu (1 point). Mercury transits Gemini from June 2-20, adding 8 points for association with Rahu during that period. Mars is also in Gemini from June 1-22, adding another 8 points for association with Rahu. And Sun is in Gemini from June 16-30, contributing 8 points for association with Rahu. Meanwhile, Saturn is in Sagittarius all month, adding four points for its aspect upon Rahu. The Moon transits Gemini June 4-6, adding another 8 points for association, and transits Sagittarius June 17-19, adding 4 points for aspect upon Rahu.

Ketu remains in Jupiter’s sign Sagittarius (2 points) and Venus nakshatra Uttara Ashadha (1 point). While the Sun, Mars and Mercury spend a portion of their time in Gemini, they aspect Ketu and thus each contribute 4 points to its power level. Meanwhile, Saturn remains in Sagittarius throughout June, thus contributing 8 points to Ketu via association. When the Moon transits Gemini it contributes 4 points by aspect on Ketu, and when passing through Sagittarius adds 8 points for association.

As a general observation, we can say the nodes exert significant collective influence a couple of days on either side of June 5th, and then two weeks later a powerful influence a day or two on either side of June 18th. The effects of this slow nodal transit and its accumulated power may be felt most keenly by anyone with their ascendant, luminaries or key planets in the area of 24-25 degrees sidereal Gemini or Sagittarius.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Nodal “weather” forecast: May 2019

April 30th, 2019 · Astrology

This is a continuation of my series on the “power levels” of the nodes. Readers interested in the attributed values governing the appearance of this graph are encouraged to read earlier posts in this series.

Here’s the logic behind the graph: the blue line represents the cumulative energy that Rahu carries on behalf of planets for whom it can act as a proxy during the period; the red line represents that of Ketu. The vertical scale reflects magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic influence. Eventually, this “nodal weather report” may evolve into something more nuanced.

Throughout May, Ketu’s power level remains moderate, since Ketu is with Saturn in Sagittarius (8 points), and receives an aspect only from Mars in Taurus (4 points). At a much slower rate (think of it as a background hum), Ketu is in Jupiter’s sign (2 points). Meanwhile, Ketu is in the Sun’s nakshatra Uttara Ashadha until May 9th, and then in Venus nakshatra Uttara Ashadha until the end of the month (1 point in either case). Totaled, that makes 15 points, except for days when the Moon aspects or associates with Ketu in the first and second halves of the month, causing the additional “blips” of 4 points and 8 points respectively.

For the first week of May, Rahu’s power level is modest, aspected only by Saturn (4 points). Meanwhile, Rahu is in Mercury’s sign (2 points), and Jupiter’s nakshatra Punarvasu (1 point). That’s 7 points in total. But on May 7th, Mars enters Gemini to conjoin Rahu (8 points), and immediately after that the Moon passes through Gemini to give Rahu an additional surge, followed two weeks later by a smaller blip as the Moon transits Sagittarius.

As a general observation, we can say that the nodes exert their greatest collective influence around May 9th and May 22nd, affecting anyone with the ascendant, luminaries or key planets in the area of 25-27 degrees Gemini or Sagittarius.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Paris Jackson: you can’t go back to Neverland

April 4th, 2019 · Astrology

Paris Jackson’s name turned up on social media last month when TMZ reported that she’d allegedly made a suicide attempt back in February. She vehemently denied this, but it’s not the first time she’s been in similar circumstances. Can astrology confirm or deny a rumor such as this?

Normal people don’t understand depression, let alone the extreme act of ending one’s suffering by choosing death. But in the past year there’ve been a spate of high-profile suicides, most of which baffle us. In 2018 there were the suicides of fashion accessory designer Kate Spade, and of celebrity TV chef Anthony Bourdain. And just a month ago there was the suicide of renowned economist Alan Krueger who rose to prominence in the Obama administration.

Astrologically, suicide is sometimes seen as a consequence of a difficult Mars/Saturn placement, either conjoined or mutually opposed across the 1st/7th house axis (because that involves the physical body), or across the 6th/12th house axis (because that involves personal malaise and self-undoing), or across the 4th/10th house axis (especially with Mars in the 10th and Saturn in the 4th, from which position they both aspect the ascendant).

There are, of course, other combinations that could reflect self-harm, but those involving Mars and Saturn are classic, since Mars signifies violence in some form, while Saturn is the karaka for death itself. Needless to say, these two planets alone are often insufficient to make the case for self-harm, and there typically needs to be some connection to the 1st (self), the 4th (one’s happiness or lack thereof), and the 12th house (the self’s undoing).

Paris Jackson’s birth chart

Paris Jackson was born at 6:26 AM PST on April 3rd, 1998, in Los Angeles, California. She was the second child and only daughter of Michael Jackson and his then-wife Deborah Rowe.

The first thing one might note of her chart is that the kendras are empty. There is a piece of jyotish folk wisdom that says, a person with empty kendras will never make a mark in life, because they can’t get their hands on the wheel, and are therefore incapable of steering themselves in any direction.

Although empty kendras should give us pause for thought, we must be wary of rushing to judgment. Some highly accomplished people, eg, the inventor of the AC electrical system, Nikola Tesla, and rock star Jon Bon Jovi, also had empty-kendra charts, so there are certainly exceptions. So on that score, let’s hold that thought, and see what else arises from a closer look at this chart.

Speaking of empty houses, the astute observer may note that the southwest half of the chart is empty, a consequence of the chart being bisected by the Rahu-Ketu axis, and (almost) all of the planets on one side of the nodal axis. This is a Class 4 Kala Sarpa configuration in which one or more planets (Venus in this case) may lie outside the nodal axis without leaving the sign in which one of the nodes is resident.

Kala Sarpa is a bit like a double-edged sword, oftentimes bequeathing talent and good fortune, or dogging the native with misery and misfortune, sometimes both. In this case, the bias starts on the yoga (positive) side, since both prime benefics Jupiter and Venus lie on the nodal axis, and no other planet is associated with or even aspects either node.

However, both nodal dispositors (Sun and Saturn) are in the 12th house, and that gives this Kala Sarpa a nudge toward dosha, or negative results for the native. That inclination becomes compounded when we notice that Mars and Saturn are in graha yuddha. And it becomes especially pertinent when we further note that Mars is lagnesh.

Whenever the lagnesh of a chart goes to the 12th house, it’s a bit of a red flag to raise concerns about (a) addictions, (b) sexual issues, and (c) losing one’s way in life. Of course the 12th house has positive associations too, eg, charity, spirituality and travel, but with so many malefics in weakened condition here, it’s genuine cause for concern.

As so often happens in a Kala Sarpa configuration when planets are restricted to one half of the chart, several planets will often bunch up in one or more clusters. When four or more planets, ie, counting luminaries and planets but not the nodes, collect in one sign this forms Pravrajya yoga. It’s typically an indicator of concentration in some area of life whose theme may arise from the house itself, or from that of the strongest planet therein.

Since the 12th house embraces so many themes, eg, the “bed pleasures” of sleep and sex, addictions, charity, expenses, incarceration, immigration, suicide, spirituality, travel, etc, we can only speculate for the moment which of these many possibilities might be part of her karma.

As sometimes happens within a cluster or “stellium” of planets, their crowding into one sign may precipitate a case of planetary war, as happens here between Mars and Saturn. Since these two are traditional enemies with antithetical natures, eg, active vs lethargic, hot vs cold, impulsive vs controlled, etc, their association or opposition are usually problematic unless one is clearly stronger than the other.

In this case, neither has any significant dignity in Pisces (Mars in a friend’s sign is trivial). Worse, they’re both weakened by graha yuddha. Planetary war occurs when any two of the true planets (Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus or Saturn) lie within one degree of arc from each other, no matter whether the cusp of a sign lies between. Symbolically, they crowd each other’s space and struggle for supremacy. And even though there’ll technically be a winner – by virtue of brightness, greater northern declination or higher zodiacal longitude – it’s a bit like two heavyweight boxers going a full 15 rounds. By the end of the fight, there may be a winner, but both fighters are bone-weary and seriously damaged.

In this case, lagnesh Mars has gone to the 12th house where it associates with the Sun and a debilitated Mercury, and competes in planetary war with Saturn. The fact that it’s gandanta (first degree of a fire sign or last degree of a water sign, simultaneously on the cusp of both signs and nakshatras) just compounds matters.

To tease out the likely cause, manifestation or consequence of planetary war, we can always start by considering the people in the life of the native. Lagnesh Mars represents Paris. Its war is with Saturn, lord of the 10th and 11th. If we start from the family and work out way outwards, we can take the 11th house for elder siblings, of which she has just one, Prince. Sibling rivalry is a commonplace dynamic, so that’s one possible source of her angst. Further on out into her social circle, the 11th also represents friends. Perhaps she’s been betrayed by friends, or feels unable to meet the expectations of her social circle. Expanding our orbit, we can also consider Saturn as lord of the 10th, wherein it may stand for authority figures with whom she might have locked horns.

We can also take a different approach to all this by considering the Jaimini karakas. Mars as the planet with the highest zodiacal longitude is the Atmakaraka (AK), or significator of the Self. It’s a bit of a coincidence that Mars is already lagnesh signifying the same thing, but that just gives it confluence. Meanwhile, Saturn as the planet with the second highest zodiacal longitude is the Amatyakaraka (AmK), or significator of the career. Coincidentally, Saturn is already the 10th lord, but that too gives our earlier idea some traction.

To date, Paris has tried her hand at acting, modeling and music, but so far hasn’t managed to make a success of anything in particular. In all fairness, she’s only 21, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of. But her father was a major pop star in his teens, so she stands in a lengthy shadow. Between some psychological need to outshine her brother, or to live up to the expectations of her social circle, or simply to find her professional niche in life, the frustrations of butting her head against a wall (Mars vs Saturn) might at times seem overwhelming.

Does her chart illuminate an appropriate path for her?

Aside from Kala Sarpa and Pravrajya, her chart reveals multiple yogas. For instance, there are several Dharma Karma Adhipati yogas contained within her 12th house cluster. As lord of the 1st, Mars combines with 5th lord Sun and 10th lord Saturn. And 5th lord Sun joins with 10th lord Saturn. But these DKA yogas, although technically present, are weak since all of them involve a planet impaired by graha yuddha. The same weakness is true of the two Dhana yogas formed by 11th lord Saturn with trinal lords Sun and Mars.

On the other hand, the Dharma Karma Adhipati yoga formed by 7th lord Venus and 9th lord Jupiter is not impaired by any obvious weakness. Admittedly, this is the weakest of the DKA yogas, and it’s spoiled by association with the nodal axis, but this may only reflect an eclectic social circle. The Venus/Jupiter pair also forms a Dhana yoga, since Venus rules the 2nd and Jupiter the 9th.

She also has a Dainya Parivartana yoga, a mutual reception or sign exchange of 11th lord Saturn and 12th lord Jupiter. Theoretically, this could relieve her graha yuddha, but it depends on how you visualize the exchange. The first way is to imagine the two planets – Jupiter and Saturn – exchanging places degree-for-degree by stepping directly into the position of the other. So Saturn would move to 19AQ56, and Jupiter would move to 28PI15. But in that case, Jupiter would now be in graha yuddha with Mars. Since Jupiter is also the 9th lord, the planetary war would imply a problematic issue with respect to the father.

The second way to exchange positions is to imagine each planet taking its own degree into the other sign. Under this scenario, Saturn would take its own degree (28:15) into Aquarius, while Jupiter would take its own degree (19:56) into Pisces. But now, even though Jupiter would avoid planetary war with Mars, it would become totally combust with the Sun that sits at 19PI48. Consider again the implications of a 9th lord totally combust. So it’s something of a damned-if-you-do/damned-if-you-don’t situation.

In either of these two scenarios, other hypothetical considerations arise. By swapping Jupiter and Saturn, we’d now have Saturn on the nodal axis. Thus, by removing the prime benefic and replacing it with the prime malefic, we’d have thrown a virtual switch converting her Kala Sarpa from a yoga to a dosha. This in turn has ramifications for 5th and 11th house issues (the nodal axis), causing some degree of difficulty with respect to intellectual acumen, creative capacity and the prospect for children.

Speaking of creativity, that’s already somewhat impaired, since 5th lord Sun has gone to the 12th where it’s afflicted by Mars and Saturn. Perhaps Paris doesn’t have the same creative spark as her father did. Certainly she wouldn’t seem to have sufficient drive and/or discipline to make it happen. Quite aside from lagnesh Mars being frustrated by war with Saturn, there are other challenges.

In her chart, lagnesh, Sun and Moon are all in dvisvabhava rashis. In fact, five out of nine planets are in dual signs, which can spell ambivalence, indecision, procrastination and self-doubt. Furthermore, Mercury is perhaps the weakest planet in her chart, because (although retrograde) it’s debilitated and moderately combust, and afflicted by Mars and Saturn. Since Mercury owns the 3rd (desire, passion, talent) and the 6th (competition, routine), it’s likely that she lacks the necessary drive to devote herself to the rigors of a world-class performance that could secure her a lasting career.

If we conduct a career analysis from the point of udayalagna, chandralagna and suryalagna, looking at the most influential planet(s) from those three perspectives, we find that Jupiter is the most promising. This might suggest a game plan going forward, which could include (1) seeking trusted guidance via therapist, mentor and/or guru, (2) a strategic withdrawal from “celebrity society” in favor of a rehab clinic and/or spiritual retreat, (3) judicious weaning of friends and associates to reflect her higher social values, and (4) ultimate devotion to some form of not-for-profit charity work.

As of July 2018, Paris is in her Saturn dasha. Since Saturn is in planetary war with lagnesh Mars, she and her family have reason to be concerned about her well-being. And because any period lord will first and foremost deliver results on behalf of its nakshatra lord, we must take note of Mercury’s status. Recall that it is, aside from the Mars/Saturn pair in graha yuddha, perhaps the weakest and least stable planet in her chart.

Saturn bhukti runs until the summer of 2021, after which Mercury bhukti kicks in. Since Mercury is swa nakshatra, it is doubly inclined to give its own results during its period. As weak as it is, the prospects are worrisome.

The clock is ticking. One can only hope that Paris gets the counsel and care that she needs before entering this perilous period.

~~~

For a discussion of the salient features of Paris Jackson’s chart, follow this link to YouTube and subscribe to my channel.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

KALA SARPA by Alan Annand

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Nodal “weather” forecast: April 2019

April 1st, 2019 · Astrology

This is a continuation of my series on the “power levels” of the nodes. Readers interested in the attributed values governing the appearance of this graph are encouraged to read earlier posts in this series.

Here’s the logic behind the graph: the blue line represents the cumulative energy that Rahu carries on behalf of planets for whom it can act as a proxy during the period; the red line represents that of Ketu. The vertical scale reflects magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic influence. Eventually, this “nodal weather report” may evolve into something more nuanced.

In April, now that Jupiter has joined Saturn in Sagittarius, the association of both with that node means each contributes 8 points to Ketu’s “power level.” Meanwhile, transiting Mars in Taurus aspects Ketu for another 4 points.

At a much slower rate (think of it as a background hum), Ketu in Jupiter’s sign gives it another 2 points, while in the Sun’s nakshatra Uttara Ashadha it gains one final point, for a total of 23 points.

Nodal “power levels” April 2019

This continues for most of April. But Jupiter turns retrograde soon after entering Sagittarius, and returns to Scorpio on April 23rd, at which point it no longer associates with Ketu. Consequently, Ketu’s “power level” drops 8 points, then gets a brief boost as the Moon transits Sagittarius the last week of April before dropping again.

Throughout April, Rahu is aspected by Saturn (4 points) and, up until the 23rd, by Jupiter (4 points). Meanwhile, Rahu’s background hum draws 2 points from Mercury’s sign, and another point from Jupiter’s nakshatra Punarvasu. That’s 11 points for most of April, with a bump in week 2 as the Moon transits Gemini, then a dropoff in the last week of April when Jupiter retrogrades into Scorpio again.

As a general observation, we can say that the nodes exert their greatest influence towards the end of week 2 in April, affecting anyone with the ascendant, luminaries or key planets in the last pada (26deg40-30deg00) of Gemini and Sagittarius.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

→ No CommentsTags: ··

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: the face of America’s New Deal

March 6th, 2019 · Astrology, celebrity, Instruction

In the Vedic pantheon of deities, Venus is known as the Asuracharya, or guru to the demons. Judging by the invective heaped upon her by Republicans and conservative news media alike, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seems nothing short of the anti-Christ. But maybe that’s just the price you pay when you arrive on the battlefield announcing yourself as a Democratic Socialist, and vow to shake up everything that has become so comfortable for the Establishment.

She was born 13 October 1989 at 11:50 AM EDT in the Bronx, New York. (Rodden rating A)

Venus is the only angular planet in AOC’s chart – alone, unsupported and unopposed – and yet no less radiant with hope, nor less resolute in determination to make herself heard. If one were to doubt for a moment her ability to advance her cause, look no further than her Scorpio ascendant and her 11th house, where the Sun, Mars and Mercury form the nucleus of multiple yogas.

Her ascendant lord Mars forms no less than five significant yogas: (1) a Raja yoga via conjunction with 10th lord Sun, (2) a Raja yoga via opposition with 9th lord Moon, (3) a third Raja yoga via mutual special aspects with 4th lord Saturn, (4) a Dhana yoga with 11th lord Mercury, and (5) a Chandra Mangala yoga via opposition with the Moon.

Two more Raja yogas are found through other pairs: (a) the opposition of 9th lord Moon with 10th lord Sun, and (b) the opposition of 4th lord Saturn with 5th lord Jupiter. Note that capacity for government service is typically seen through the engagement of the 5th house (ministry, portfolio), the 9th house (judiciary, law) and the 10th house (administration, execution).

Mercury is the strongest planet in her chart. Despite her opponents’ bashing of her for her “crazy ideas,” the evidence is already there for an acute intelligence coming to bear upon long-neglected issues of socio-political significance. The Sun/Mercury pair is a classic Budhaditya yoga because it fulfills a necessary condition of aspecting the 5th of critical thought. It doesn’t hurt that the Moon/Mercury opposition is also a Dhana yoga of 9th and 11th lords.

The Moon too is strong. Yes, it’s in Pisces. But as John Lennon once sang, “You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” The Moon is full in the 5th house and involved in five yogas – four already noted above – with the last being a Kesari yoga in mutual kendra with Jupiter.

Don’t be lulled into thinking, with Venus rising and a Pisces Moon, that she’s just a starry-eyed girl who knows nothing of the real world. Rotate the chart to view it from the perspective of Chandralagna, and you’ll see Sun, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn are all in the angles. Sun/Mars is a fighter, and her intelligence will guide her to take the pulse of the public and pick her battles. War is coming.

But while we’ve got Chandralagna in view, note as well that she has six out of nine planets in dual signs. So between the idealistic and sometimes-fickle Moon, and the Sun/Mars tendency to shoot first and aim later, she is bound to make mistakes. This is, after all, a consequence of both her youth and her gung-ho attitude. Her motto might well be, I’d rather ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.

She has several strong houses by virtue of being occupied or aspected by their lords. The 2nd house, aspected by its lord Jupiter, gives education, the power of speech, and something meaningful to say. The 4th house, aspected by its lord Saturn, gives her a loyal constituency whose interests she is committed to represent. The 6th house, aspected by its lord Mars, gives her a competitive streak and a take-no-prisoners attitude. Her 7th house, aspected by its lord Venus, gives her relationship-building skills and a charisma that will draw other stakeholders to her side. Last but not least, her 11th house is occupied by its own lord Mercury, whereby she demonstrates her mastery of networking, social media and the power of community to bring change.

Note that AOC has Jyeshta rising. Not all rising nakshatras get activated, but this one does, courtesy the presence of Venus in the 1st house. Some of the principal themes of Jyeshta are: defying and surmounting odds, concerns for conservation and social welfare, issues of power and supremacy, and at the heart of it all, a “don’t fence me in” attitude. Sound familiar?

She was elected during her Ketu-Sun period. Ketu gives results for its sign lord the Moon, which is lord of the 9th in the 5th, two houses that denote governmental involvement. Ketu also gives results for its star lord Mercury, the strongest planet in her chart, which is associated with kshatriya planets the Sun and Mars, significators of both administration and war.

The Sun gives results for its star lord Mars, which from the 11th rules the 1st and the 6th, thus bringing into play her charisma, her courage and her willingness to engage in battle, whether in social media, Congress or other public venues. The Sun also does its own work which, as lord of the 10th, reflects leadership and governance in a social or political setting.

Her Ketu dasha will run until 2023, and thus almost certainly see her re-elected in the 2022 mid-terms. After that, she will be into Venus dasha for 20 years, where her future becomes a little less certain. Venus will give results for its star lord Saturn, which rules the problematic 3rd house. And Venus itself is lord of the 12th, which can spell loss, or withdrawal from the field.

For some resolution of such uncertainties, it’s useful to consult the relevant divisional charts, which in this case are the D9, or navamsha, for general planetary strength, and the D10, or dasamsha, to reflect upon her career. For this exercise, let’s concentrate exclusively on the current dasha lord Ketu, and the next dasha lord Venus.

In the D9, we see Ketu in a dusthana, which typically presents some problems. But it’s associated with two benefics, Mercury and Jupiter, and aspected by another benefic, the Moon. Although association with a debilitated planet (Mercury) can contaminate Ketu, note that Mercury’s debility is relieved by the presence of Jupiter in its own sign, so that becomes a non-issue compared to Jupiter’s strong support.

In the D9, Venus is supreme, forming the amsha version of Malavya yoga in its own sign in a kendra. The sole aspect of Saturn is little cause for worry, since it has little strength in either the rashi or the navamsha.

In the D10, Ketu is in a positive house with Mars. Although a malefic can cause trouble (she’s already been targeted by frightened conservatives as their whipping-girl), Mars and Jupiter are in Parivartana yoga. Under exchange, we can let these planets swap places in our mind’s eye and thus see Ketu accompanied by Jupiter in its own sign. And therein lies the power of this dasha lord to propel her into public service.

In the D10, Venus is in its own sign, this time in a trikona. Admittedly it’s aspected by a debilitated Saturn but that isn’t enough to defeat a strong planet in a positive house.

AOC may be here for a long while, so Republicans might as well roll up their sleeves and develop a strategy to deal with her. As a woman and a visible minority, wielding her intelligence like a sword against some of the most obvious inequities of American society, she is the face of a youthful cohort that may force the GOP to review its policies and platform.

Worthy opponents encourage everyone to up their game.

~~~

See the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

 

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Nodal “weather” forecast: March 2019

March 1st, 2019 · Astrology, Instruction, Science

As I explained in my initial post for this series, I’m conducting an experiment in visual display to help people appreciate the role of the nodes as proxy agents. The nodes act on behalf of planets (1) with which they’re associated, (2) by which they’re aspected, (3) whose sidereal sign they occupy, and (4) whose nakshatra they occupy, in descending order of effect.

I’ve assigned numeric values for magnitude of effect to generate some topography in the visual display: association gets 8 points, aspect gets 4, dispositorship by sign 2, and dispositorship by nakshatra 1. Readers with better ideas are free to submit suggestions. Please consider this a work in progress.

Here’s the logic behind this graph: For the first week of March 2019, Rahu occupies sidereal Cancer ruled by the Moon (2 points), and Punarvasu nakshatra ruled by Jupiter (1 point). Meanwhile, Mars in Aries and Jupiter in Scorpio each aspect Rahu (4 points each).

Then on March 8th, Rahu moves into Gemini ruled by Mercury while remaining in Punarvasu. Mars and Jupiter no longer aspect Rahu, so its “power level” drops, as seen in the graph. But in the middle of the month, the Moon transits Gemini, engaging Rahu by association (8 points), which causes a brief “blip” in Rahu’s effect.

Their collective influence is shown in the blue band for Rahu. Note, this graph reflects magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic planets. Hopefully, this “nodal weather report” may evolve into that.

Meanwhile, for the first week in March while Ketu is still in Capricorn, it’s ruled by Saturn (2 pts), and Uttara Ashadha ruled by the Sun (1 pt). During this week, it’s associated with Venus (8 pts).

Then on March 8th, Ketu moves into Sagittarius while remaining in Uttara Ashadha. But once it changes sign, it comes into association with Saturn (8 pts). Meanwhile, the Moon transits Capricorn in the first week of the month, and Sagittarius in the last week, thus engaging Ketu by association (8 pts), causing brief surges in “power” for Ketu.

Their collective influence is shown in the red band for Ketu, again, indicating magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic influence.

As a general observation, we can say that Rahu exerts its greatest influence in the first week of March, affecting anyone with the ascendant, luminaries or key planets in the first pada (0deg00-03deg20) of Capricorn. Ketu exerts its greatest influence in the last week of March, affecting anyone with the ascendant, luminaries or key planets in the last pada (26deg40-30deg00) of Sagittarius.

Just to get all of this in perspective, here’s the graph of nodal influence for the first quarter of 2019. Thus far in the year, the greatest “power surge” of nodal effect came in the first week of February, when both Sun and Mercury were associated with Ketu, and a New Moon occurred in Capricorn.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Kala Sarpa: the astronomical rationale for “yoga”

March 1st, 2019 · Astrology, Instruction, Science

As I discussed in last month’s article, one of the great uncertainties among devotees of jyotisha is whether Kala Sarpa is a yoga or a dosha. The existential question is: does it promise success or threaten destruction?

As I explained in that article, there are multiple consequences when the chart is split in two by the nodal axis, and the planets constrained to roughly half of the zodiac. (For those unfamiliar with Kala Sarpa, see this definition on my website.) To recap that previous article, here’s what I found after analysing over 600 Kala Sarpa charts:

  • Lunar phase. In the average “normal” chart, bright moons are just as common (25%) as dark moons. But in Kala Sarpa charts, bright moons are infrequent (7%) while dark moons are far more common (40%). Since the Moon is a significator of the mind, its weakened avastha under Kala Sarpa constitutes something of a flaw, or a dosha.
  • Combustion. Among average charts, 22% have a “seriously” combust planet within three degrees of the Sun. But in Kala Sarpa charts, up to 26% of them have a “seriously” combust planet. Combustion is also a detriment to a planet’s avastha, such that whatever the planet represents may be harmed to some degree, thus contributing to dosha.
  • Retrogression. Whereas 70% of normal charts have at least one retrograde planet, only 45% of Kala Sarpa charts have a retrograde planet. Since retrogression enhances the brightness or “aura” of a planet, it’s a positive avastha. But under Kala Sarpa conditions, bright planets are reduced dramatically, producing a sense of loss, or dosha.

Such are the astronomical conditions that diminish the avasthas of the planets, causing dosha – blemish or defect – in certain life experiences.

But the Kala Sarpa can also be a yoga-maker, because when planets are restricted to just half of the zodiac, the odds of two or more of them occupying the same sign increase. And as more planets come into association, the more opportunities there are to form yogas.

The nature of those yogas, however, does depend on what houses such planets in association rule. But since so many yogas are positive, Kala Sarpa facilitates their appearance. Following is a discussion of some of those possibilities.

Pravrajya yoga

Pravrajya Yoga is formed when at least four of the visible planets are contained within one sign. The nodes do not count, but they can join in, once four planets qualify as Pravrajya. These three scenarios should make this definition clear:

  • Three planets plus a node in any one sign does not form the yoga, for example, the chart of Lee Harvey Oswald, who has the Sun, Mercury and Venus with Rahu in Libra.
  • Four or more planets in one sign does form the yoga, for example, the charts of Charles Baudelaire (see discussion below), Charles Bukowski, Marie Curie, Deepak Chopra, Charles Manson, and Nikola Tesla.
  • Four or more planets plus a gratuitous node also forms the yoga, for example, the charts of Garth Brooks and Brad Pitt.

Pravrajya yoga suggests a singular focus in one particular domain of life. Traditionally, it’s been associated with spiritual endeavors, since it’s also called Sannyasin yoga, wherein great concentration is a good and necessary quality. However, not everyone with Pravrajya yoga is destined to be a yogi, and it requires a special combination of planets and house lords in good bhavas to really make the native a sannyasin.

We can calculate (see my book Kala Sarpa, Appendix 3) that the odds for an average chart to have four planets in one sign is just 5.3%. However, once we restrict the planets to roughly half the zodiac, the chances jump to 19.3%. In other words, Kala Sarpa charts are more than three times more likely to have Pravrajya yoga.

Graph 1 below illustrates the consequences of crowding planets into roughly half of the zodiac. The values shown here reflect theoretical (calculated) frequencies for comparing the average chart to those with Kala Sarpa.

As noted earlier, Kala Sarpa increases combustion by a few percentage points compared to the average chart. And as discussed above, Kala Sarpa more than triples the chances of forming Pravrajya yoga.

But as a consequence of having four planets in one sign, the chance of planetary war also increases. Since this is another astronomical phenomenon that affects planetary avasthas, it too merits a closer look.

Graha yuddha

Graha yuddha, or planetary war, occurs when two true planets (Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, or Saturn) conjoin within one degree of longitude. If they’re separated by more than one degree, even if only 01 deg 01 min of arc, it’s not planetary war. And the luminaries are never involved in planetary war.

We can calculate the odds for planetary war, both in the average chart and those with Kala Sarpa. First consider the outer planets, which enjoy complete freedom of movement relative to the Sun. Among themselves, and with the inferior planets, Planet A engages in planetary war with Planet B within one degree of approaching exactitude, and one degree of separating, for a possible two degrees out of 360. In other words, that’s 1/180 or a mere 0.6% of the time.

Between the inner planets Mercury and Venus, the chances of planetary war are higher. From Earth’s perspective, Mercury is always within 28 degrees of the Sun, while Venus is never more than 48 degrees from the Sun. Even if Mercury was as far east of the Sun as it could get, and Venus was as far west as it could get, the two are never more than 76 degrees apart. Therefore, ignoring the complications of retrogression, Mercury and Venus form planetary war within a two-degree arc of their entire 76-degree range, or 2.6% of the time.

Under Kala Sarpa, the chances of the outer planets forming planetary war are roughly doubled. However, between Mercury and Venus, the odds remain essentially unchanged, since they’re astronomically restricted to a range that is already less than what’s imposed by Kala Sarpa.

There are 10 different pairs of graha yuddha possible among the five true planets. The theoretical chance of planetary war in the average chart is 7.6%, but under Kala Sarpa, it’s 12.4%. (These percentages are displayed in the “Graha Yuddha” columns in the previous graph.)

However, in an analysis of 600 charts, the observed occurrence of planetary war is 13.6%. In other words, Kala Sarpa almost doubles the actual incidence of graha yuddha compared to the average chart.

Technically there’s always a winner in planetary war, but the result is often similar to a heavyweight fight that goes a full 15 rounds. By the final bell, both opponents are virtually on the ropes. Just as in real war, graha yuddha harms both parties to the conflict. Thus, Kala Sarpa raises the odds of damaging one planet or another, and therefore, some aspect of the life.

However, when we compare the incidence of Pravrajya yoga and graha yuddha across three different populations – the general public, as well as both ordinary people and famous people with Kala Sarpa charts – an interesting phenomenon emerges.

In Graph 2 below, the first pair of columns shows that, for the general population, theoretically 5.3% will have Pravrajya yoga in their charts, while 7.6% will have graha yuddha. However, in actual Kala Sarpa charts, the observed incidence of both Pravrajya yoga and graha yuddha jumps dramatically, as seen in the other two pairs of columns.

Note the difference, however, between ordinary and famous people with Kala Sarpa charts. Although both groups have the same observed incidence of Pravrajya yogas (18.8%), the presence of graha yuddha is radically different. Whereas planetary war occurs 16.0% of the time in Kala Sarpa charts of ordinary people, it appears only 9.5% of the time in charts of famous people.

Although many other factors contribute to fame, we might speculate that, although Kala Sarpa favors the formation of Pravrajya yoga, famous people are more fortunate in the disposition of those particular planets. In a famous person’s chart, the planets in Pravrajya yoga tend to be spread out more evenly, thus avoiding planetary war and the damage it does to affected planets and the departments of life ruled by them.

Aside from Pravrajya yoga itself, the potential consequence of four or more planets in association is that they may in turn form multiple other yogas, depending on the ascendant and the houses ruled by those planets. As an example, consider the following case study, just one of 36 presented in my book as examples of how to interpret this complex pattern.

Charles Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire was a French poet best known for a single collection of poetry, Les Fleurs du Mal (Flowers of Evil) which was widely admired by fellow artists while simultaneously condemned by authorities for offending public morals. He studied law but chose a literary career, much to his family’s despair. He received an inheritance but squandered most of it within 18 months. He was in chronic debt throughout his life, lived in cheap hotels, and once moved six times in one month just to avoid his creditors.

He was tormented and complicated – a Catholic Satanist, a debauched mystic, a cynical sensualist who searched for purity among prostitutes, yet reveled in sexual sadism. He contracted syphilis at an early age and developed an addiction to opium to ease the pain of his affliction. Between that and heavy drinking, he was in poor health for much of his life. By age 41, signs of insanity were evident, and by age 46 he scarcely knew his own name. He died at age 47 in his mother’s arms.

Baudelaire has six planets in his Pisces 8th house. Overall, this remarkable cluster, aside from forming Pravrajya yoga itself, contains 11 Raja yogas and six Dhana yogas! Surprisingly, since all five true planets occupy the same sign, no pair of them is close enough to engage in planetary war.

Lagnesh Sun forms Raja yogas with every other kendra/trikona lord: twice with Mars, and once each with Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus. Mars is yogakaraka for Leo lagna and forms multiple Raja yogas with other kendra/trikona lords: twice with lagnesh Sun, and once each with Jupiter, Saturn and Venus. As a trinal lord, Jupiter forms Raja yogas with every kendra lord: Sun, Mars, Saturn and Venus.

As money lord of the 2nd and 11th houses, Mercury forms two Dhana yogas with each of the trinal lords Sun, Mars and Jupiter, although all six yogas are weak due to Mercury’s debilitation.

Saturn is totally combust in the 8th, the only planet weakened by proximity within this remarkable cluster of planets. Although kendra lord Saturn forms Raja yoga with trinal lords Sun, Jupiter and Mars, these are the least desirable of Raja yogas since Saturn is also a maraka lord.

Kala Sarpa: a mixed blessing

In summary, the astronomical parameters dictated by of Kala Sarpa have astrological consequences. As we saw in my previous article, the crowding of planets into half the zodiac restricts the brightness of the Moon and that of the true planets by curtailing, respectively, its lunation cycle and their retrogression phases. Similarly, Kala Sarpa forces the planets into clusters, risking combustion and planetary war.

Meanwhile, however, this same crowding phenomenon greatly increases the chances of planets forming Pravrajya and multiple other yogas, eg, Raja, Dhana, etc, that lend power to a chart and, with God’s grace, success or fame to the native.

Thus, we’re reminded of the infamous (and ambiguous) Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. At best, Kala Sarpa might be viewed as a mixed blessing, albeit one that requires careful judgment as to its final outcome.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology and a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies.

He is the author of several non-fiction books. Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotisha that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition. Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotisha. Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

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Nodal “weather” forecast: February 2019

February 1st, 2019 · Astrology, Instruction, Science

As I explained in my initial post for this series, I’m conducting an experiment in visual display to help people appreciate the role of the nodes as proxy agents. The nodes act on behalf of planets (1) with which they’re associated, (2) by which they’re aspected, (3) whose sidereal sign they occupy, and (4) whose nakshatra they occupy, in descending order of effect.

I’ve assigned numeric values for magnitude of effect to generate some topography in the visual display: association gets 8 points, aspect gets 4, dispositorship by sign 2, and dispositorship by nakshatra 1. Readers with better ideas are free to submit suggestions. Please consider this a work in progress.

Here’s the logic behind this graph: For the whole of February 2019, Rahu occupies sidereal Cancer ruled by the Moon (2 points), and Punarvasu nakshatra ruled by Jupiter (1 point). Meanwhile, Jupiter in Scorpio aspects Rahu (4 points). From February 6-28, Mars also aspects Rahu (4 pts). And on February 17-19, the Moon transits Cancer, engaging Rahu by association (8 points).

Their collective influence is shown in the blue band for Rahu. Note, this graph reflects magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic planets. Hopefully, this “nodal weather report” may evolve into that.

Meanwhile, throughout February 2019 Ketu occupies Capricorn ruled by Saturn (2 pts), and Uttara Ashadha ruled by the Sun (1 pt). From February 1-12, the Sun transits the second half of Capricorn, activating Ketu by association (8 pts). Mercury does the same February 1-7 (8 pts). Venus enters Capricorn February 25-28, contacting Ketu by association (8 pts). And Moon transits Capricorn February 3-5, again engaging Ketu by association (8 pts).

Their collective influence is shown in the red band for Ketu, again, indicating magnitude of effect only, with no distinction between benefic vs malefic influence.

As a general observation, we can say the nodes exert greater power in the first half of February, and that there’ll be a “power surge” in February 3-5, whose effect would be more pronounced for anyone with the ascendant, luminaries or other significant planets in the first navamsa (0deg00-03deg20) of Cancer or Capricorn.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology. He’s also a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, and the author of several books.

Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotish that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition.

Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotish. His Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume written for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

→ No CommentsTags: ······

Kala Sarpa: the astronomical rationale for “dosha”

February 1st, 2019 · Astrology, Instruction, Science

At the core of the mystique surrounding Kala Sarpa is the existential question: is it a yoga, or is it a dosha? Does it promise success or threaten destruction?

That question can only be answered via yoga vichara, the careful analysis of a configuration in order to determine its nature, its strength, and its ultimate import. Although such analysis is de rigueur for any practicing jyotishi, such is not the scope of this article. Here, I wish only to present some recent findings regarding the astronomical realities of Kala Sarpa in the birth chart, and how some of them have a bias for the notion of dosha.

The formation of Kala Sarpa in a chart has consequences. By definition, the chart is split in two by the nodal axis, and all of the planets constrained to roughly half of the zodiac. I say “roughly” because there are four classes of Kala Sarpa: two in which the planets must occupy only the five intervening signs between nodes, and another two classes in which planets may occupy the same sign as either or both nodes. For those unfamiliar with the definitions of these four classes, see this article on my website.

Over the past year and a half, while conducting research into Kala Sarpa, I examined 600 such charts – over 200 famous persons, and almost 400 clients from my own files. My analysis of their commonalities and differences produced some startling conclusions, all of which are covered in my recent book.

For this article, however, I want to focus on just three astronomical phenomena that are modified by the formation of a Kala Sarpa in the horoscope. Their occurrences in turn influence the avasthas of the planets, whose strength or weakness are germane in assessing the overall tenor of a chart. These astronomical factors are: lunar phase, combustion, and retrogression.

Lunar phase

Unlike the Sun, the Moon doesn’t emit light of its own. We see it with the naked eye only because sunlight reflects off the lunar surface. As the Moon revolves around Earth, it goes through apparent phases. When in the same part of the sky as the Sun, it’s mostly invisible because sunlight can’t reflect off that half of the Moon facing us. But as the Moon advances through the zodiac, we see a crescent of sunlight reflected from its surface. The greater its angular separation from the Sun, the more Moon we see in its waxing phase. When from our perspective the Moon is opposite the Sun we see it as full. As the Moon closes the angular distance from the Sun, we see a diminishing crescent in its waning cycle until it seems to disappear completely in the Sun’s aura.

A “dark moon” is one whose light is minimal, ie, when the Moon is in the same or adjacent sign to the Sun. Conversely, a “bright moon” is one whose light is at or near maximum, ie, when the Moon is in the opposite, or next-to-opposite sign from the Sun. Under Kala Sarpa conditions, bright moons are infrequent because the two luminaries can’t be opposed unless both are close to opposite nodes. Conversely, dark moons are more frequent under Kala Sarpa when the two luminaries are restricted to just half the zodiac.

When we count signs inclusively from one luminary to another, a Full Moon occurs when the reciprocal count (from one to the other, in either direction) is 7/7, but the Moon is still bright, or “fullish,” when the count is 6/8. On the other hand, a New Moon occurs when the count is 1/1, but the Moon is still dark, either waxing or waning, when the count is 2/12. 

Graph 1 illustrates the difference between lunar phases in the average chart versus a Kala Sarpa chart. Note that a New Moon (1/1) occurs in only one relative sign out of 12 (8.3%) while the same is true for Full Moon (7/7). For the other phase relationships – 2/12, 3/11, 4/10, 5/9 and 6/8 – the chances are two relative signs out of 12 (16.7%), because there are both waxing and waning phases.

From this graph we see that Kala Sarpa charts have a bias for “dark Moon” charts as opposed to “bright Moon” charts. Thus, natives with Kala Sarpa charts generally lack one source of planetary strength, ie, a bright Moon. Since the Moon is the karaka for the manas (the sensory mind), this suggests a disposition for dysfunctionality of some kind – mental, emotional, and/or physical – that may afflict the native for a lifetime.

Here is the first piece of “astro-logical” evidence (based on astronomy) that substantiates Kala Sarpa’s general perception as dosha rather than yoga.

Combustion

Combustion occurs when one of the true planets (Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, or Saturn) appears so close to the Sun that the solar corona eclipses the visibility of that planet. Shastra stipulates individual orbs of combustion for each of the planets, in both direct and retrograde motion. For functional purposes, however, many astrologers use a simple classification for all planets: total combustion within three degrees of orb, moderate combustion at three to six degrees, and mild combustion at six to nine degrees.

Under this latter definition, let’s consider total combustion for the planets. For instance, how often will Mars be within three degrees of the Sun? The answer: given three degrees on one side, and three degrees on the other, that’s a combined range of six degrees out of 360 (1/60), or 1.66% of the time. Without trying to factor in the effects of retrogression, we can say this is likewise true of the other two outer planets, Jupiter and Saturn, who enjoy “uncoupled” movement with respect to the Sun.

With the inner planets, the odds are different. From Earth’s perspective, Mercury and Venus are always in the Sun’s general vicinity, Mercury never more than 28 degrees away from the Sun, Venus never more than 48 degrees away. Again ignoring retrogression, we estimate Mercury will be totally combust, in six degrees of its 56-degree range (28 degrees on either side), for 10.7% of the time. Similarly, Venus is totally combust, in six degrees of its 96-degree range (48 degrees on either side), for 6.25% of the time.

Based on these parameters, we can calculate that for any large but random group of charts, 22.0% of them will have a combust planet. However, if we restrict our consideration only to Kala Sarpa charts, 25.7% of them will have a combust planet. Again, these percentages are approximate, and are based on a relatively simplistic model.

However, working with my database of over 600 Kala Sarpa charts, I tabulated the actual frequency of total combustion (3-degree orb) for the true planets: Mercury 9.1%, Venus 3.3%, Mars 5.0%, Jupiter 2.8%, and Saturn 5.5%. But when I compared the theoretical frequencies of combustion for the average chart (see discussion above) versus the observed frequencies in Kala Sarpa charts, I found a significant variance, as shown in Graph 2.

Because Kala Sarpa restricts the outer planets to roughly half of the zodiac, this dramatically increases the chances of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn becoming totally combust. However, the diminished frequency of combustion among the inner planets obviously requires further analysis.

In any event, the net effect remains the same – in the presence of Kala Sarpa, combustion is overall more prevalent, and this weakens the true planets. Again, this substantiates the notion of Kala Sarpa as dosha, since it vitiates one of the key planetary avasthas.

Retrogression

In Jyotisha, a retrograde planet acquires strength by virtue of its relative brightness, which is greater during its retrogression phase.

All planets revolve around the Sun from west to east, in what is called their direct motion. Because the Earth moves at a different speed than the other planets, it appears to overtake the superior (outer) planets, meanwhile being overtaken by the inferior (inner) planets. From Earth, those other planets periodically appear to slow down, stop, and reverse their direction against the backdrop of the zodiac. When a planet appears to move backwards, it’s said to be retrograde, or in a state of retrogression.

Based on observation, the average proportion of time planets are retrograde is: Mercury 19.2%, Venus 7.2%, Mars 9.5%, Jupiter 30.2%, and Saturn 36.4%. At any given time, one planet or another will often be retrograde. Roughly 70% of charts have a retrograde planet. Thus, the vast majority of charts have at least one strong planet due to retrogression.

However, once we shift our analysis to Kala Sarpa charts, the observed frequency of retrogression is subject to radical change, with certain qualifications.

We don’t expect to see much difference in the retrogression of inner planets, with or without Kala Sarpa. That’s because Mercury and Venus are only retrograde when they’re nearest the Earth. And when that happens, they’re usually in the same or adjacent sign as the Sun.

But with the outer planets, retrogression only occurs when they’re at least five signs away from the Sun. Note: this doesn’t mean outer planets opposing the Sun are always retrograde; it only means that when outer planets do go retrograde, they’re always on the other side of the chart, not necessarily opposite the Sun, but generally five or more signs removed from it.

So in a Kala Sarpa chart, if the Sun is in the 1st house, and the nodal axis is in the 4th/10th, the outer planets can’t be retrograde because they’re on the same side of the nodal axis as the Sun.

Assume the nodes remain in the 4th/10th, but the Sun moves to the 3rd house. Now the outer planets could be on the other side of the chart, say the 10th or 11th, therefore possibly retrograde while still within the Kala Sarpa. But they can’t be in the 7th, 8th or 9th houses, on the wrong side of the nodal axis. In this example, roughly half of the outer planets’ arc of retrogression would be eliminated under Kala Sarpa.

Based on my analysis of over 600 charts, the observed frequency of retrograde planets under those limits is: Mercury 20.2%, Venus 6.5%, Mars 3.3%, Jupiter 11.4%, and Saturn 16.1%. But when I compared the observed frequency of retrogrades in normal charts vs that observed in Kala Sarpa charts, I found another major variance, as shown in Graph 3.

The astronomical limits imposed by Kala Sarpa therefore restrict the retrogression of outer planets. Consequently, whereas 70% of normal charts have at least one retrograde planet, only 45% of Kala Sarpa charts have a retrograde planet. Again, this is further evidence of Kala Sarpa’s capacity to diminish yet another planetary avastha, thus vitiating the potential strength of a chart, reducing its chances of manifesting yoga as opposed to dosha.

Kala Sarpa: a mixed blessing

As we saw in this article, the crowding of planets into roughly half the zodiac restricts both the brightness of the Moon and that of the true planets by curtailing, respectively, its lunation cycle and their retrogression phases. Similarly, because Kala Sarpa forces the planets into proximity, it increases the chances of combustion, another astronomical phenomenon that compromises the avasthas of the true planets.

Thus, we can see that Kala Sarpa deserves at least some of its reputation for dosha-like consequences, because it has the potential to vitiate the avasthas of the planets. But as I’ll discuss in next month’s article, Kala Sarpa also has its upside, astronomically-speaking, in the formation of other yogas.

Although none of this is complicated, neither was it obvious until subjected to analysis. Once we’re aware of it, however, we must acknowledge that Kala Sarpa is a complex phenomenon. At best, it might be viewed as a mixed blessing. The challenge, as always, is to assess these diverse and sometimes contradictory indications in order to determine a likely prognosis for the life of the native whose chart contains a Kala Sarpa.

~~~

Alan Annand studied with Hart de Fouw, and is a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology and a former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies.

He is the author of several non-fiction books. Kala Sarpa is a first-of-its-kind reference book on a unique pattern in jyotisha that is not discussed in shastra yet is part of India’s rich oral tradition. Stellar Astrology, Volumes 1 & 2, offer a wealth of time-tested techniques in the form of biographical profiles, analyses of world events, and technical essays. Parivartana Yoga is a reference text for one of the most common yet powerful planetary combinations in jyotisha. Mutual Reception is an expanded companion volume for western practitioners, covering the same subject of planetary exchange through the lens of traditional astrology.

His New Age Noir crime novels (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) feature astrologer and palmist Axel Crowe, whom one reviewer has dubbed “Sherlock Holmes with a horoscope.”

Websites: www.navamsa.com, www.sextile.com

You can find his books on Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

 

 

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