Career Astrology – Preface to New Book

Here is the draft of the preface to a new book I am working on, called Career Astrology.

Astrology of Career

By Vic DiCara

Preface

In this compact book I will explore the nitty gritty details and techniques involved in accurately assessing the difficult task of determining a person’s most ideal career from their horoscope. Let’s get a few important topics clear right away:

Many, many, many articles and books have been written using the horoscopes of famous people as examples of how to assess an ideal career. It goes something like this, “Here is the horoscope of a famous Hollywood actress. These are the astrological reasons why she is an actress…” That sort of thing is not useful. It is too easy, and it is not real-life at all. In real life situations you are looking at the horoscopes of people whose career you don’t know! You have to figure out their career by looking at the horoscope. It is a whole different ballgame from being handed a horoscope stamped “Actress” and being asked, “OK explain why she is an actress.”

So in this book, we are not going to fall into this easy trap. We are going to do just the opposite. I will hand myself a horoscope marked “Actress” and will set about to figure out how the horoscope might show her to be a zillion other things besides an actress! Then we will have to figure out why she wound up an actress and not one of the other possibilities we saw in the horoscope. This is a hell of a lot more tiring and exhaustive, but it will really teach us how to asses a horoscope for it’s ideal career.

Another thing is that principles which only work in one or two horoscopes aren’t worth much to a real astrologer trying to guide real people in the real world. We need to find principles that work on all horoscopes, or at least on the significant majority of them. To get there we are going to have to take what worked on our first example horoscope and see what results it gives us when applied as is to our second example horoscope, and so on. In so doing we will weed out what theories that were coincidentally accurate vs. theories that are truly accurate.

Being this thorough isn’t easy, but it gives very strong results fairly quickly. So we don’t need to look at more than about a half dozen horoscopes before we will gain a truly outstanding grasp of how to assess career.

Now, some technical stuff to get out in the open ASAP:

1.       You already need to know the basics of how astrology works. This book is going to jump headfirst into nuts and bolts practical working details relevant to professional grade astrologers. At the very least you should already be intimately familiar with all the material in my “101” textbook, Symbolic Keys of Astrology. If you have also surveyed my “201” textbook, Unlocking the Meanings of a Horoscope, all the better.

2.       I use “ancient” astrology. I don’t necessarily always call it “Vedic” astrology mainly because that lumps me in with a large group of astrologers who I am not really sure if I ought to jump to be lumped in with. Also, I do like to believe that the ancient principles of astrology recorded in Sanskrit were fairly universal to the entire earth, not just an “Indian thing.” I also believe that ancient principles are better because (a) ancient people were more in touch with spirituality and mysticism than we are, and (b) a great deal of confusion caused by an erroneous application of the tropical zodiac created the necessity that was the mother of the invention of all the more modern astrological ideas and theories. If we avoid the erroneous application of the tropical zodiac, we zero out the need for all those inventions and can rely soundly on the very mystical wisdom and knowledge of the ancient seers.

3.       Let me clarify what my idea of “ancient” astrology is.

a.       Sidereal zodiac. Do not get me wrong, I absolutely do not think that the tropical zodiac is “wrong” or “bogus.” The tropical zodiac is also used by ancient astrology as recorded in Sanskrit texts. However it is used for calculation of seasons , and the creation of the seasonal calendar, not for Natal astrology. The Sidereal zodiac and the Tropical zodiac both have their uses in ancient astrology, the error is to use one where the other is supposed to be used. The tropical zodiac defines the seasons and months of the practical year. To use a sidereal zodiac for this (which by the way is the common practice in modern India) is wrong. The sidereal zodiac defines the twelve portions of the zodiac stars out in space, which the planets actually move through. It is to be used for natal astrology and the interpretation of planets in signs and houses. To use a tropical zodiac for this purpose is wrong and generates the confusion that necessitates all the flurry of new inventions in modern astrology.  The tropical zodiac does have some effect on natal interpretation, because it factors into several of the calculations to determine the sixfold-strengths of the planets (ṣaḍ-bāla). But the actual charts used for natal interpretation are to utilize the sidereal zodiac, in the opinion of ancient astrology as I understand it. So in this book you will find only the sidereal representations of zodiac charts.

b.      Whole sign houses. Unequal house systems are useful, but according to how I understand ancient astrology they are not at all the primary system to be used for natal astrology. So in this book you will see all charts presented and examined using whole sign houses.

c.       Outer planets. There are 7 planets in ancient astrology. Additionally there are the two nodes of the moon which are extremely relevant. These are the 9 planetary points I will utilize in the course of this book. There are other planets besides these in ancient astrology. They are called sub-planets (upa-graha). However they are too sophisticated for the current scope of study. We will leave them out of this and pray it is not a grave error to do so. Modern outer planets take a third-row seat behind these sub-planets, in my opinion. So we will not discuss them in this book. We want to narrow down our variables to the most tried and true: 7 real planets and 2 lunar nodes.

d.      Aspects are by degree! I know every “Vedic” astrologer and his or her mother’s uncle thinks things like “Planets aspect the 7^th house from them” but that is only partially true, regardless of how many people think this way. The correct thing to say is that planets aspect their degree in the 7^th sign from them, in other words the aspect 180° from their position, and the amount of influence from their aspect varies depending on how near to far the aspected cusp or planet is from that exact 180° focal point. It is something like the “orb of influence” theory more recent astrologers have come up with, but is more sophisticated. For a full examination of true Vedic planetary aspects you can consult my book, Unlocking the Meanings of a Horoscope, which has an entire chapter dedicated to the subject.

e.      Dashas are by nakshatra year! Not by modern calendar year. Again, I know that every astrologer and his mother’s brother’s aunt believes that the Moon dasha is 10 calendar years long, however it is not true. Or at least, it is not what the ancient texts tell us. The ancient text specifies to use nakshatra time for predictive astrology. The modern calendar year is 364 and a quarter “days” long. The nakshatra year is the equivalent of just about 359 “days” long. That makes for a bit of a difference. It is not a huge bone of contention in this book, because what we are examining primarily is dasha-independent. However I want to make it clear where the dasha dates I will use come from, just so everyone from here to Jupiter doesn’t write me saying, “there are typos in your book, you calculated the dashas wrong according to my such-and-such-software.”

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com
© 2011 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

The Sun: Soul, Health, Authority & Career

The Sun is the center of the entire solar system, the source of all our light and heat.

If you expand on that sentence you will understand everything the astrological Sun controls:

- The Soul

- Health

- Authority Figures

- Your Public Role / Career

THE CENTRAL SOURCE OF LIGHT – The Soul

Because the Sun is the central source of light, he controls “The Soul.”

What is a “soul,” anyway?

It sounds like a religious term, only because religion uses that word a lot. Consciousness, and self-awareness are less religious sounding words which pretty much mean the exact same thing as “soul.”

Consciousness is just like light, because both light and consciousness allow you to see things. When there is light, you become aware of what is around you. In the pitch black, you can not even see your own hand right in front of your face. You and I are full of this “light.” Right now you are reading these words, aware of the thoughts and images they are creating in you. You are “shining light” upon them, increasing your awareness of their meaning. At this very moment, you are aware that you exist. You can look in the mirror or look at your own hand, and be conscious of yourself.

The Sun controls the source of that awareness: which is the definition of the word “soul.” In the West, the proper name for the Sun is “Sol.”

So the Sun is your soul, and therefore:

- Your identity or “ego”

- What you are aware of and how “aware” you are.

Ego, or self-concept, is a spontaneous and natural result of being aware. Yes you can have “too much” ego. Self-absorption and “egomania” are products of a malignant astrological Sun. The natural Sun creates self-confidence and a clear sense of self.

People who talk about existing without any ego whatsoever are, to be rude, just blowing air out their asses and thinking the fart sounds “far out.” To exist as an aware being but not have an ego or identity is as possible (or desirable) as the Sun shining with darkness! Indeed the vast majority of people who set out on the path to eradicate “self” and “ego” most often wind up extremely frustrated. Why? Because it is completely unnatural. Don’t try to destroy your own identity, just purify it of selfish intention! An unselfish ego is the most beautiful thing we can become – as beautiful and bright as the Sun.

THE CENTRAL SOURCE OF WARMTH – Health

In general, living things are warm and dead things are cold. The Sun generates all the heat and warmth in the solar system. Therefore the Sun is the source of health, the fuel of life.

Have you ever noticed that light and heat are inseparable?

Light = consciousness – which comes from the soul. Heat and warmth = health. Heat always accompanies light, and visa versa. What does this tell us about the soul? The soul generates both our awareness and our vitality – just as the Sun generates all our light and heat.

What does this tell us about health?

Vitamins, minerals and exercise are definitely important for being healthy. But nothing is as important as having a “strong spirit” – a “healthy soul.”

There are many vital organs and systems in a healthy body, and the Sun relates to them all in an overall way. But there are two that the Sun most specifically controls:

- The heart: The central vital organ upon which all physical health relies.

- The bones: The central core upon which the rest of the body is built.

THE CENTRAL SOURCE OF GRAVITY – Authority

The Sun keeps every other planet “in line”… literally. Every planet stays “in line” with its own orbit only because of the authority of the Sun’s massive gravity. Because the Sun puts everything it its place, he generates all the authority figures:

- Governments & Kings

- Bosses

- Fathers

Anyone who commands the authority to lead others gets this power from the Sun.

Authority figures are not supposed to by tyrants. Only a malignant Sun creates tyrants and abusers. True authority figures may always be strict and stern, yes, but their purpose is loving – they wish to bring light and warmth to others. Governments, bosses, and fathers truly represent the Sun when they exercise their authority only for the sake of increasing the knowledge, awareness, experience, health and vitality of the people they are in charge of.

THE DAY-MAKER – Career

Since the Sun creates the light of awareness, the warmth of health and the gravity of authority it is fitting that the Sun also creates the daytime. During the day things are bright are clear, it is warm and people tend to follow the rules of authority. At night things become more unknown in the darkness, it gets chilly and we can “catch a cold,” and thieves feel far more at liberty to go about their practice.

What do most people do during most of the daytime?

They work.

During the day we go out and are seen in public. We earn money mainly so we can keep ourselves fed, sheltered, healthy. We conform ourselves to the rules and governances of our workplace. Thus the Sun, the creator of the day, controls our career.

SUMMARY

The Sun is the source of light and therefore is the soul – which sheds “light” on things, granting us awareness of ourself and our world. This self-awareness is the core of our identity, our “ego.”

Being the source of warmth the Sun gives health. Health primarily relies on a strong spirit/soul, but is also physically centered in the heart. Strong bones are also important.

The Sun’s massive gravity puts him in the center and keeps everything else “in line,” revolving around him. Thus the Sun is the ultimate authority figure and controls all governments, bosses, leaders, and fathers.

The Sun creates the daytime – in which we work and play our visible role in society. The Sun therefore controls our career.

The Sun is the center of the entire solar system, the source of all our light and heat.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

The 10th House – Some Very Unusual Information

Parashara’s Encyclopedic Scripture of Astrology

The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

Chapter 13, Verse 11

“The Tenth House”

ORIGINAL SANSKRIT

raajyaM caakaasha-vRittiM ca

maanaM caiva pitus-tathaa.

pravaasasya RiNasyaapi

vyoma-sthaanaan-niriikShaNam.

WORD FOR WORD TRANSLITERATION

raajyaM – sovereignty, lordship, kingliness; ca – and; aakaasha – open space, out in the open; vRittiM – choices, selections, borders; ca – and; maanaM – what is held in the mind: ego, honor, pride, prestige; ca – and; eva – certainly pituh – father, the provider of food; tathaa – thus; pravaasasya – blown to distant places, living away from home; RiNasya – what has flown away, debt; api – even; vyoma-sthaanaan – the house of the sky; niriikShaNam – should examine.

TRANSLATION

The “House of the Sky” [10^th House] primarily reveals one’s chosen public role (“Career”) and the level of sovereignty and prestige one attains thereby. It also describes the father, and can even describe one’s debts and the likelihood of living far away from “home.”

COMMENTARY

The great sage Parashara calls the 10^th House “The Sky House” because it exists in the highest part of the sky, more or less directly above our heads. It is thus the polar opposite of the 4^th House – which was in the deepest part of the sky hidden under the ground beneath our feet. Most of the meanings of the 10^th House derive from this basic fact that it is the polar opposite of the 4^th House. Keep that in mind as you continue reading.

Prestige & Ego (Maana)

The 10^th House describes the person out in the open – fully visible in public. This is the opposite of the 4^th House, which describes the person in private, and their internal emotional realities. The main difference between the person you are in private and the person you are in public is that in public you fake a lot of things so that other people like you. In private you are true to yourself, but in public you compromise yourself and conform to other people. Why? So that you gain their respect!

So the main word the great sage uses to define the 10^th House is “maana” - the prestige, honor, and respect one gets in public. This Sanskrit word almost always has a negative connotation, a lot like our English word “ego.” The 10^th House describes a person’s “ego” – not in the sense of their true inner identity – but in the false, assumed, costume-like ego that one adorns in order to operate profitably (or at least painlessly) in the public world.

It is therefore the house of ahamkara – the “false ego.” Has anyone ever asked you in anger, “just who do you think you are!?” If so, you could answer them by simply describing your 10^th House.

The degree of respect, prestige, “fame”, and “ego” one receives from the public is the domain of the 10^th House.

Career – Choice of Public Role (Aakaasha-vritti)

Since the 10^th House is up in the most public and visible area of the sky, the sage calls it aakaasha-vritti – “the border of space.” The word vritti equally refers to “borders” as it does to “choices.” So there is double meaning in this Sanskrit phrase. It indicates what one prefers to be out in the visible world. The 10^th House defines the role one chooses to play in society, and therefore it has become famous even with amateur astrologers as the “House of Career.”

The sage previously pointed to the 7^th House as the indicator of how one interacts with other people. So, to some extent the 7^th House shows our ability to trade and be mercantile. But it is the 10^th House which clearly defines the role one chooses to play in the public world – which is the real definition of “career.”

Often the 6^th House is brought up when considering work and career. This is because the 6^th House can indicate the nature of services performed to others, and can therefore relate to employment. However it is important to sort out what is primary and what is secondary in astrology so that one doesn’t interpret secondary factors as being of equal or greater importance to primary factors. The 10^th House and the 10^th House alone is the primary indicator of the career one chooses. Additional secondary characteristics of ones trade (seen in the 7^th House) and employment (seen in the 6^th House) supplement this primary information.

Sovereignty  (Raajya)

Since the 10^th House is physically higher in the sky than any other house, it is like the sovereign king who stands above all the citizens. So, examine the 10^th House of a horoscope to understand the areas and extent to which a person can stand above others as a self-sufficient authority commanding honor and respect, a source of guidance and protection to others.

Father (Pituh)

There is confusion amongst astrologers over which house represents the father. Some say the 9^th House, while others point to the 10^th. The sage, Parashara, here expresses his opinion that the 10^th House, not the 9^th, is the main place in which we see and understand the father. Since the 10^th House is the polar opposite of the 4^th House, which represents the mother, it makes perfect sense that the 10^th House should represent the father.

The sage uses the word pituh to refer to “father.” This Sanskrit word is closely connected to the root word for “food.” Therefore it describes the father as the person who supplies the family with food. In other words, as we say in English, it is the father in the role of the “bread-winner.”

Doubtlessly fathers are important in other respects as well. In some ways the father can operate as the person who plays a big role in helping the child establish his or her connection to morality. Thus in some cultural settings, the 9^th House can give additional information about the father in this specific role, but the main and primary location of the Father, in Parashara’s opinion, is clearly the 10^th House and nowhere else.

Distant Places (Pravaasasya)

The topics mentioned thus far are the primary themes of the 10^th House. Now the sage will mention some secondary characteristics.

The 4^th House described our roots: our home and kin. Being that the 10^th House is the opposite, it describes not our homeland but far off and distant places. The sage uses the word pravaasa which implies being blown away by the wind to a far off destination, like the seed of a dandelion. This imagery is very fitting for the house that encompasses the wild open sky above our heads, full of blowing wind.

Most astrologers consider the 12^th House to represent foreign places – but Parashara does not. This is not to say that the 12^th House does not pertain to foreign places. What it does say is that the 12^th House does not primarily pertain to them. By extension of the 12^th Houses qualities, it affects a person’s relationship to distant lands. But the 10^th House is especially noted here as being even more connected to residing in foreign lands.

Debt (Rinasya)

Debt is another topic astrologers usually ascribe to the 12^th House, but which Parashara rather surprising says is also an issue of the 10^th House! The 12^th House deals with vyaaya which means “loss” or “renunciation” and therefore by extension it indicates expenses and thus by another level of extension, debts. The 12^th House shows how you lose your money, how you spend it. It does not necessarily or directly show the debts you acquire as a result. This is a rather prevalent misconception among all sorts of astrologers.

The 10^th House, however, is highly relevant to debt, equally if not more so than the 12^th! This makes perfect sense because the 10^th House is the polar opposite of the 4^th House – which described our niddhi or “safely deposited treasure.” The opposite of safely deposited treasure is, simply put, “debt.”

Literally, the word rinasya refers to things that have flown off and been blown away. Again showing the impact the windy open sky of the 10^th house has in giving it the ability to scatter things far and wide.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

©2010 Vic DiCara – All Rights Reserved.

Career Assessment in Vedic Astrology

The Vedic Paradigm holds that there are 4 essential roles a person can play in society:

• Intellectual – Thinkers, students, philosophers, scientists, teachers, guides and advisors.
• Leader - Rule makers & enforcers, ralliers, and sportspersons.
• Business - Bankers, merchants, and food growers.
• Tactile - Artists, builders, manual laborers

There are other groups as well, subgroups which are recognized as assisting or playing some role in connection with these four main types. These are those who are:

• Assistants
• “Dirty work” doers
• Rebels

I find it extremely interesting that Vedic sociology recognizes these groups as being somehow helpful and important in society, especially the rebels. But mainly we will focus on the main four.

When a person wants to know their ideal career or life-path – the first thing to do is narrow down the general category they are best suited for. Then, within that category one can start to get details on the specific choices. To make this first step one first needs to know how the zodiac represents these categories of social roles. This is what I intend to explain here in this article.

Fundamental Roles of the Signs

At the simplest level you will find (if you explore the classic text of Vedic astrology with a keen eye, Brihat Parashara Horam Ch.4) that the elements earth, water, fire, and air directly correlate to the four social roles. The fire signs are places generating leaders. The earth signs generate people involved in business roles. The air signs generate tactile people. While the water signs generate intellectuals.

If you were to stop here, however, you would not have a very useful or realistic understanding of how the zodiac corresponds to ones career and social role. Let’s go further.

Each sign is owned by a specific planet, and each planet represents a specific one of the four social roles. Let’s map those out to the signs now.

Roles of the Planets who own the Signs

The Sun and Mars are leaders so their signs – Leo, Aries and Scorpio – gain this trait.

The Moon and Mercury play business roles. Their signs – Cancer, Gemini and Virgo – acquire this trait.

Jupiter and Venus are intellectual they are the teachers of the heavens. Their signs – Pisces, Sagittarius, Libra and Taurus – take on this quality as a result.

Saturn is solid and  tactile. His signs – Capricorn and Aquarius – become infused with this social role.

Now we have two divergent descriptions of the social roles played by the various signs of the zodiac – as you can see the two diagrams above paint different pictures. You will make a big step forward in astrology when you see simultaneous realities rather than “either / or” situations. So let’s combine the two diagrams into a single overlay.

Combination of Signs and Rulers

Now we are starting to see some variation and “full spectrum” which more accurately reflects the true nature of life. We see Aries and Leo remain strongly leadership oriented. But Sagittarius has changed to orange. Indeed is not the “Philosopher-King” the very often used archetype to describe the nature of Sagittarius? A combination of the yellow intellectual with the red leader creates this orange.

Scorpio is a deeper orange. It has more red. It is more about leadership than philosophy, but is similar to sagittarius in that it is a blend of the two.

Virgo remains pure green – pure business. Cancer has become greenish, indicating a sign where intellectualism moves towards practical results helpful for sustaining the home and family. Taurus has moved similarly – a sign where business advising and philosophy is favored.

Capricorn becomes a teal. Combining blue and green – a sign where one works practically, solidly and hard for financial ends. Libra is most interesting. Blue blends with Yellow creating brown, a balanced color – anything is possible here!

Pisces remain the only purely yellow, intellectual sign. And Aquarius remains the only purely blue, tactile sign.

Qualities of the Lunar Mansions

Now we will look at the qualities possessed by the lunar mansions. If you don’t know what lunar mansions are, you can start with this article –  The Beautiful Math Behind the Zodiac Divisions.

The lunar mansions are the only places in the zodiac which take into account the three sub-roles in society which I defined in the outset. I represent them here as follows – light grey is the assistant, medium grey is the dirty-worker, and dark grey is the rebel. To be fair there are two planets which also represent the rebel role in society – these are Rahu and Ketu. But since they own no signs, they do not yet come into our discussion.

This data – which roles are played by which lunar mansions – that I have made a visual representation of here, comes from the authoritative book, Light on Life, by Heart de Fouw. I am not aware of the original Sanskrit source.

Combining the Lunar Mansions

When we overlay the lunar mansions traits with the traits of the signs we start to get very interesting and useful information.

There is too much to point out in words here. A pleasant and relaxed consideration of the graphic (which you can enlarge, btw) with your eye will reveal all details. I will point you to look at how the lunar mansions change the areas of the signs they occupy. Look at leo, for example – The front part of it is a more practical, tactile sense of hands-on leadership (represented by red combining with blue, making purple) to a more philosophical, ideological leadership in the second mansion of the sign (orange, the yellow of the lunar mansion blends with the red of leo). To a small section at the very end of leo which is the purest red place in the entire zodiac (so far, at least)!

Go on and examine the interplay of colors in this way and let the knowledge come easily into your mind through your eyes.

Navamsha

Next we should consider the navamsha. Again, if you are uncertain what this is, the article I cited above is a helpful place to start. The Beautiful Math Behind the Zodiac Divisions. That article also links to two further articles to give you more details if you desire them.

We will assign to the navamshas the essential root characteristics of the signs they represent. Thus every water sign in the navamsha is yellow (intellectual influence), every earth sign green (expressing it’s business influence, etc.).

Next we will take these and overlay them onto the combination we have created so far!

The Total Picture

This illustration gives you a rich and rather complete visual picture of exactly what influences predominate for each 3º20′ of the zodiac! If you know about how colors combine you will be enjoying all the information you get from contemplating it!

Notice the pure yellow section at the very beginning of Pisces? See how certain lunar mansions and navamshas combine to change the nature of a particular spot within a sign? For example, look at Taurus. It started out pure green (business). Got a brighter yellowish green from it’s owner being an intellectual. Then there is a lunar mansion at the front of it, called Krittika, which makes it still yellower. And within that lunar mansion, the 4th quarter – the navamsha of Pisces within Taurus is quite a bright yellow. In this specific area of Taurus there would be a whole lot more intellectualism than a few degrees down in the Gemini Navamsha, for example.

Now you take the planets in an individuals chart, knowing already what roles they represent. And see how the color of that role affects the specific spot in the zodiac they occupied when the individual was born. Especially take the 10th lord, since the 10th house pertains to career. Look at the “color” created by the 10th lord in the position of zodiac it occupies. What does this tell you about the person’s ideal career? A lot!

Factor in the other planets – especially consider the color occupied by the Ascendent and the ruler of the Ascendant, as well as the Moon.

Now you are ready to give some helpful and clear advice!

Addendum

Updated Varna Wheel

I wasn’t happy with the color fidelity in the first set of graphics. This is the color scheme I am now using. The principles are identical, only the graphic elements have been made more accurate and easily identifiable.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com