Is the Zodiac Northern Hemisphere Biased?

It’s a complete misconception that the seasons have anything to do with the signs. Erase that misconception.

There is the equator and the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the path of the Sun, and the equator is the center of the Earth. The equator is the “horizon” of space. The Sun spends half of the year above it and the other half below it. When it crosses the equator coming upwards that represents “sunrise” on a cosmic-yearly scale (and is therefore the “beginning” of the zodiac). When it crosses the equator coming downwards, that represents “sunset.”

The elements and modes which give meaning to the signs do so with reference to their relation to these celestial (not northern or southern hemisphere specific) directions: celestial East, West, North and South. You can find out about this in detail if you download this class: Understanding the 12 Signs

The main portion of the character of the signs comes from their planetary ruler, anyway, not the elements and modes. And this is determined by speed / distance from the Sun – again nothing to do with anything northern or southern hemisphere specific.

I hope this clarifies

Does the Sun Revolve Around the Earth???

Let’s get some basic astronomical and physical concepts ironed out.

First of all motion is relative. If Car A is going 50kph and Car B is going 45kph. Than Car B is moving backwards at 5kph relative to someone looking at it from Car A. And someone sitting in Car A experiences the car itself as standing still. Even though to anyone outside the car, it’s not standing still at all.

That is a basic concept of physics. Now let’s apply it to astronomy. If you are standing on the Sun (with your super-duper heat shield, of course) – the Sun is standing still for you, and everything else is moving around it. That like being in Car A; it makes Car A stand still and Car B and the rest of the world move. If you are instead standing on the Earth, its the Earth that stands still and everything else moves around it, similar to being in Car B. If you stand somewhere else, somewhere in outer space, you see that everything is moving. It’s like standing on the road and seeing both Car A and Car B moving. The Earth is moving around the Sun and the Sun is moving around some other stars and the whole thing is circling around the galaxy, and the whole galaxy is… “etc.”

It’s not that geocentric astronomy is “wrong” it’s just geocentric, centered on the Earth. Heliocentric astronomy is not “right” it’s just heliocentric, centered on the Sun. And non-centric astronomy is probably only a philosophical concept, since it’s not possible not to be somewhere within the universe you observe. It’s not wrong for the person in Car A to feel like his steering wheel is not flying around at 50kph. It’s correct, relatively speaking.

All motion is relative.

Now, in astrology we are concerned with life on earth. Therefore it is geocentric. The astrological symbolism of the Sun very strongly suggests that ancient astrologers / astronomers knew that the Sun was, from one perspective, a truer “center” of the planets. But that is not very important because we don’t live on the Sun! We live on Earth. The math of astrology is practical astronomy. It is astronomy in its practical relevance to an observer on Earth. It is intentionally geocentric because it is meant to examine how celestial time proceeds from an earth-based vantage point.

In geocentric astronomy / classical astrology there are three principles to consider: space, planets, and the earth.

Space is the area  through which the planets move. There are two types of space: sidereal and tropical – stellar space or earthbound space. So many cultures had two measurement systems, one for the stars (for example ancient India measured space by 27 stars segments), another for the “signs” (12 of them) of earthly space.

Planets are the visible points in the sky that move through space.

The Earth is the thing we are standing on. It has two important poles: above/below and east/west. Based on the four extremes of those poles there are four quadrants of the “sky” (the earth’s local space). Reflecting the two poles into each of the four sections, each section acquires three distinct divisions (one for the pure quadrant and two for the quadrant mixed with each pole). Thus altogether the Earth’s sky possesses 12 sections. We call these houses.

Now, as to how they are moving… we are standing on the Earth – so we cease to perceive that it is spinning on an axis and rotating around the Sun, just like a person inside a moving car does not perceive the dashboard and chairs to be moving. Instead of seeing the Earth moving around the Sun, we see the Sun as another “planet” that moves through space. Instead seeing the Earth spinning on it’s axis we see space itself (containing in it the moving planets including the Sun) spinning around the Earth.

In classical astrological geocentric astronomy, the Earth is the fixed reference point. And all of space revolves around us, moving through the twelve divisions of our sky, as the planets additionally move within space.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

The Ptolemaic geocentric model of the Universe according to the Portuguese cosmographer and cartographer Bartolomeu Velho (Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Astrology “ABC”s from Ancient Sanskrit Texts

Learn how to think, not what to think

There are several medieval and ancient Sanskrit astrology textbooks that have a great wealth of knowledge – but are completely misunderstood by readers without the cultural background required to correctly approach them. This handicap is not the special curse of non-Indian’s by any means! All humans since the dark ages have lost the intellectual culture required to make good use of Sanskrit literature.

The most important point of that culture to understand is this: Gurus do not come to teach you what to think! They come to teach you how to think!

Thus, the statements in the Sanskrit astrological texts (or “scripture”) are examples given by gurus to illustrate to us students the way to think like a guru! We are not supposed to Xerox, memorize, or cut-and-paste these statements. We are supposed to enter into them and discover their spirit.

I hope that I can now manage to share with you a few examples of how to use Sanskrit knowledge, particularly the knowledge in the Astrological texts, as a result of the grace my guru has kindly shown me. I will give examples of very basic “ABC”-level statements from a text entitled Brihat Jataka (“The Encyclopedia of Natal Astrology”) and will show you how to not just read or memorize the statements but instead to enter into them and understand the thought process which the examples in those statements serve to illustrate.

If you are familiar with the basic meanings of the planets this will all make amazing sense to you, I think. If not you may first want to start by learning about the planets.

Another obstacle we have to overcome is the impulse to jump to final conclusions prematurely. For example, a guide will make some statement to illustrate the nature of what happens when, say, the Sun is in Virgo… our first impulse is to say, “Wait, I have the Sun in Virgo (or I know so and so with the Sun in Virgo) and that’s not how things are for them.” I will say three things to help us deal with this short circuiting impulse:

• A single factor (such as Sun in Virgo) is just a single fact. The final conclusion is made when we understand how that single factor resonates with the many other factors in the horoscope.
• It is good to see how the principle plays out in the real world – but be sure to consider all the astrological factors (or at least many of them), not just one before drawing a conclusion on how practically useful the knowledge is for you.
• We can have some amount of faith - it is very important. The points mentioned may not always be at the fore of existence for an individual, but they are always there in some degree and in some permutation. With faith we have the patience to search for the full understanding rather than dismissing what initially confuses us.

Now lets dive into gaining a deeper, more useful insight into the Sanskrit astrological texts:

SUN IN VIRGO

Remember, Virgo is a sign that belongs to Mercury. The following bullet points are statements from Brihat Jataka (as translated by Ernst Wilhem) about this very basic placement. Between the bullet points, I will explain what the author of Brihat Jataka was thinking, what he was illustrating by his statement.

• The individual will be a writer, painter, poet,mathematician, and well up in other subjects of knowledge,

Sun (Career) + Mercury (communication & intelligence)

Thus, the Career operates in fields related to communication and intellect.

• but he will possess a feminine body.

Sun (Self) + Mercury (Beautiful)
Thus the body (visible self) operates in a beautiful way.

MARS IN GEMINI OR VIRGO

Remember, both Gemini and Virgo belong to Mercury.

• One will become spirited

Mars (passion) + Mercury (intellect) – Thus one’s thoughts are full of passion and ambition – one is “spirited.”

• and intolerant,

Mars (selfish) + Mercury (diplomatic relations) – Selfishness enters into ones diplomatic relations, so one appears “intolerant.”

• will get many sons and

Passion (Mars) + Intellect (Mercury) leads to enjoyment/copulation/children.

• no friends.

Mars (selfish) + Mercury (friendly) – Selfishness enters into ones ability to have friends and can spoil it.

• He will be doing good to others,

Mars (insight/incisive) + Mercury (intelligence) = knows that to do good karmas is in ones own self-interest, therefore does good deeds for the sake of getting good karma in return.

• and be clever in music, singing and in the knowledge of warfare

Mars (insight/ incisive) + Mercury (intellect) = insight in the arts (particularly martial arts)

•  The individual will be a miser

Miser means keeping money, not spending.

Mars (Practicality, Utility) + Mercury (Party) = one prefers not to party, but rather to be pratical and do things that have utility and purpose. Therefore he does not enjoy and expend.

• fearless

Mars (bravery) + Mercury (intelligence)

• and desirous of wealth

Mars (conquering property) + Mercury (commerce) – The passion to conquer and control enters into ones commercial interactions, one becomes “desirous of wealth”

MERCURY IN VIRGO

Virgo belongs to Mercury, and Mercury is “exalted” in a portion of Virgo. Brihat Jataka says that one born under this combination will become (bullet points):

• unselfish,and generous

Mercury (balanced and flexible) is strong in this sign. This leads to a person who is flexible to others needs, “unselfish and generous.”

•  a learned scholar

Mercury (intelligence, education) is strong

• endowed with many qualities

Mercury (master of arts and sciences) is strong – so one has an intellect that is open to education and thus one learns many things and thereby develops many good qualities.

• happy and forgiving

Mercury (diplomatic and witty) is strong

• He will know how to convince others by reasoning

Mercury (intelligent communication) is strong – therefore one can communicate diplomatically and intelligently, and use that rather than force or coercion to accomplish ones goals.

• and will be void of any fear.

Mercury (intelligence) is strong – “fear of unknown” is diminished.

JUPITER IN SAGITTARIUS OR PISCES

Jupiter owns both these signs – Sagittarius and Pisces (we don’t consider new planets like Uranus in Sanskrit texts). So remember that this placement basically indicates a strengthened Jupiter. The Brihat Jataka says the individual will become:

• the head of an assemblage

Jupiter (the teacher at the front of the class) is strong in these signs. This placement enables and encourages the individual to be in a similar position, at the front of a group giving instruction and guidance.

• or the ruler of a province, a minister to a king, or a general

Jupiter (the guide, wise leader) is strong. The idea all these specific statements illustrate is that one with Jupiter in these signs is enabled to be a guide and leader for others.

•  and will be wealthy

Jupiter (prosperity) is strong.

VENUS IN LEO

Leo belongs to the Sun. Brihat Jataka says the individual born under this combination will

• get money through wife or women

Venus (Women & Money) + Sun (Career). So the career brings money when women/cosmetics/beauty/sensuality/arts are involved.

• exalt his excellent wife as the most high

Venus (Wife) + Sun (Royalty). So one is inclined to treat the spouse/opposite sex like they are royalty. This also implies loyalty and submission to the opposite sex/spouse.

• and will possess few sons

Venus (Fertility) + Sun (Sterility).

SATURN IN TAURUS

Taurus belongs to Venus.

• Practicing illicit intercourse with women of low caste not fit to be approached

Saturn (perverted/low class) + Venus (women & sexuality). Here the guru makes a specific statement, don’t tie your brain to the specific statement itself, but to the concept that it illustrates! The concept is that one will be fond of women (or to remove the male bias, “spouses”) who are not really worthy of ones fondness for one reason or another. Maybe they are old, maybe they are low class, maybe they are uncultured and unrefined and insensitive. But still one has fondness for them for some strange reason. Probably the strong, persistent desire to be with women prompts one to accept any and every woman. “Perversions” are enjoyable and attractive from this placement.

•  not at all wealthy

Saturn (Poverty) + Venus (Wealth)

• having many wives

Saturn (Perversion) + Venus (sexuality). Saturn is an insatiable, unstoppable force. One is inclined to enjoy many partners when this force contacts Venus energy as it does for example when Saturn is in Venus’ Taurus.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

Benefics Aspecting Malefics

Image via Wikipedia

Question

 

So now…when a planet is in aspect to a malefic planet, does that mean the aspect is always bad?

ex mercury sag sextile mars libra. is that good or bad?  or merc conjunct uranus

Answer

“When a planet is in aspect to a malefic” – from your examples (mercury sextile mars) it seems you are talking about the benefic planet influencing the malefic. Right?

Generally this is a GOOD thing. It will make the inherent strength and sterness of the malefic be more generous and good-natured.

The opposite, having malefic planets influence benefics, is generally BAD. It makes the inherent goodness and generousity of the benefic has self-serving aims, or to become restricted and less abundant.

Mutual aspects are, of course, two way streets. Interpret accordingly, the affect to the malefic is beneficial, while the effect to the benefic is undesirable. Similarly with conjunctions, which are always mutual effects, as in your second example (Mercury conjunct Uranus)

Source(s):

http://vicdicara.com