In Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, planets can be strong, weak, or in average condition. Planets gain strength by being exalted (in their sign of greatest potency), in their own sign, or by being retrograde. We have Venus and Saturn in Libra. Venus is at home in its own sign of Libra and Saturn is exalted […]
Ganesh Chaturthi 2013
One of the most widely celebrated festivals in India is the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, or the holiday which marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Ganesh is the elephant headed deity who is the son of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati. It’s the beginning of a joyous ten day festival in India. This festival […]
Jupiter in Punarvasu Nakshatra
Those people who are in a Jupiter planetary cycle (dasha or bhukti) in Vedic Astrology, or Jyotish, can begin to wipe some of their tears dry. Jupiter has just moved out of the arduous and transformational Ardra nakshatra (constellation) and into nurturing Punarvasu nakshatra. Jupiter in Punarvasu nakshatra heralds a relatively smoother time for those […]
Krishna Janmashtami 2013
The holidays in the Vedic tradition are calculated according to the Vedic calendar. This is a lunar based calendar. Holidays do not necessarily fall on a particular date, but rather are honored each year based on the lunar month and the phase of the Moon, according to Vedic astrology, or Jyotish. Each lunar month is […]
Planetary Placements for August and September 2013
In the previous blog, I described planetary strengths and weaknesses taking place in Vedic astrology or Jyotish. How we are impacted by these planetary placements for August and September 2013 will depend on our current planetary cycles. Our experiences are also contingent on our rising sign or ascendant in our natal chart. While it would […]
Planetary Strengths and Weaknesses
In “A Tale of Two Cities”, Charles Dickens writes, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” The same can be said for present day. All around, people are undergoing huge transitions. They are making changes in life, willingly or unwillingly. From the viewpoint of Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, this is […]
Mars and Jupiter Planetary War in Gemini
Astrologically, we have moved from having five planets in Gemini to three in the system of Vedic astrology, or Jyotish. The three planets currently residing in Gemini are its ruler, a retrograde Mercury, along with Jupiter, and Mars. This makes the air sign of Gemini a little less crowded, but still problematic. The zodiac is […]
Five Planets in Gemini in Vedic Astrology
We utilize nine planets in Vedic astrology, or Jyotish: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun, and the South nodes Rahu and Ketu. Both Western and Vedic astrology have 12 houses of the zodiac, each comprised of 30 degrees each. Typically, we expect the planets to be spread out over the 360 degree arc of […]
Saturn Comes Out of Retrogression in Libra
Om Sham Shri Shanischaraya Namaha Of the nine planets (nava grahas) utilized in Vedic astrology or Jyotish, Saturn is the slowest moving of them all. Known as “the slow mover”, Saturn typically inhabits a sign for 2.5 years. Definitely enough time for us to feel its impact in all our lives. Saturn has been retrograde […]
Mercury Retrograde in Gemini
You’ve heard the battle cry recently, “Oh no! Mercury is retrograde!” It’s reverberated a few times a year when this astronomical phenomenon occurs. With Mercury retrograde in Gemini, Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, offers a somewhat varying perspective than Western astrology. In Vedic astrology, retrogression is seen as a sign of strength. When a planet is […]