How To Read The Vedic Chart| Print | by Joni Patry for “The Blast” Astrology Conference Sedona, Arizona September 16 - 21, 2008 Vedic astrology can give more detail and specifics not seen with Western astrology. Here we will analyze some of the specifics used in Vedic astrology. Whole Sign Houses Vedic astrology uses whole signs per house. Each house contains an entire sign of 30 degrees. The cusp of a house is contained within that house. Each sign is ruled by a planet. Therefore, there will only be one sign ruling each house. Ascendant Sets Up The Planetary Rulers For Each House The ascendant sets up the entire chart in terms of how planets affect the individual. Each ascendant sets up which planets will rule each house. The most important effect is the planets that rule each house take on the qualities of the houses they rule. Therefore, the planets will change in their effects for that individual depending on which house/houses the planet rules. Because the outer planets are not used in terms of rulership, each planet, except the Sun and Moon, will rule 2 houses. Rules Trikona Houses Houses 1, 5, and 9 are the most beneficial. These houses are the trikonal houses. The planets that rule these houses give very good effects for the individual, even if they are natural malefic planets. Dusthana Houses Houses 6, 8 and 12 are the most difficult. These houses are the dusthana houses. The planets that rule these houses will cause problems in a person’s life even if they are natural benefic planets. Maraka Houses Houses 2 and 7 are considered neutral. I have not found this to be true. They will bring problems as well. They are considered Maraka houses, and can cause death. Maraka means killer. They derive this meaning because the 7th house is the 12th house from the 8th and the 2nd house is the 12th from the 3rd house. Both the 8th and 3rd houses are the houses considered when assessing the length of life. Therefore, the 2nd and 7th houses indicate loss of life. Upachaya Houses Houses 3, 6, and 11 are Upachaya houses indicating growth and improvement over time. The planets that rule these houses are still problematic. The ruler of the 11th house is considered very problematic when determining the results of a planet in a chart, BUT, planets do prosper very well when placed in the 11th house. Kendra Houses and 12. The planets aspect the houses with or without any planets there.Houses 1. They aspected each other. Saturn will produce great things in this individual’s life. It was considered that planets gave their full aspect when they were opposite each other looking directly at one another.Aries Jupiter . 1. the trikonal house will take priority particularly when the planet that rules the trikonal house is in the moolatrikona sign. 5 and 9. But if a planet rules both a dusthana and a trikonal house. It is called the yoga karaka planet. Capricorn is the sign on the 8th house and Aquarius is the sign on the 9th house. which is their exaltation sign. All planets aspect the house or planets in opposition to them. The moolatrikona sign of Mercury is Virgo and the Moon is Taurus. Planets aspect the entire sign. (air and fire) with the exception of Mercury and the Moon. These planets can be very strong in their results. Saturn will bring good results for someone with Gemini rising even though it does rule the malefic 8th house. therefore. Planets in the same house/sign aspect each other as a conjunction. which means a sign is a house. The Greek word aspektos means “to gaze” or “to glance”. Aspects connect or link the planets. For example: Taurus ascendant has Saturn as the ruler of the 9th house and the 10th house making Saturn the most powerful planet for Taurus rising. Drishtis (Aspects) Ways the Planets are Associated or Connected Drishti means “to glance at”. They are called the kendras. Saturn will give more of the effects of the 9th house. Understanding the meanings of each house will further flavor the effects a planet will produce in a chart. Aquarius as an air sign is the moolatrikona sign. The 9th house is a trikonal house indicating Saturn is a benefic planet for Gemini ascendant. The house that is ruled by the moolatrikona sign will ALWAYS give more effect. The moolatrikona sign will be the masculine sign. but the influence is stronger when . 4. Vedic astrology uses whole sign houses. They create events and changes in life. 7 and 10 are the angles in a chart.Sagittarius Saturn – Aquarius Yoga Karaka When a planet rules a trikonal house and an angular house (Kendra) this planet becomes the very best and most powerful for that chart. they exchanged glances. 8. As the planets rose upon the horizon and gazed on each other across the descendant. The malefic planets for a chart are the planets that rule the dusthana houses 6. Moolatrikona Signs Sun – Leo Moon . For example: Gemini ascendant has Saturn ruling both the 8th and 9th houses.Virgo Venus – Libra Mars . Moolatrikona Signs Carry More Weight Basically the benefic planets for a chart rule the trikonal houses.Taurus Mercury . *The most important rule to remember here is that the planets will take on the qualities of the houses. *An important rule: Anytime a planet aspects a house it rules it will give it an added force for the good of that house. this Mercury carries the meanings of six houses. and sometimes with the special aspects. So. Planets that are out of sign but close in degrees still influence each other. It is similar to the planet being in that house in its own sign. Rahu and Ketu (not recognized by all Vedic astrologers) cast trines like Jupiter to the fifth and the ninth houses. Here Mars aspects Saturn by its fourth aspect. The aspects do not have a meaning by themselves but carry the meanings of the planets. Mercury is impregnated by both natural malefic planets. Aspects are the planets influencing each other by their specific relational distance. 100 percent in their influence. These are all considered full aspects. The variation is determined by asking: 1. They mutually aspect each other and are in each other’s sign (mutual reception). Mars in Capricorn and Saturn in Aries. This complete connection is called sambandha. Jupiter can be a functional malefic for Taurus ascendant because it rules the difficult eighth house (dusthana). Saturn. they impregnate those planets/houses with all the energy they possess. Jupiter aspects the fifth and the ninth houses.50 percent that are rarely used. This happens with the opposition and conjunction. and is a very powerful connection. and the tenth house (kendra). For example. and Jupiter. Mercury has a potent punch and much complexity with its aspects. As they cast their aspects to houses and the planets therein. Is it a temporal malefic or benefic? This is based on the houses these planets rule in a chart. They mutually aspect each other by opposition. The planets carry the meanings of the houses they rule. Aspects are the connectors of planetary energy. Saturn aspects the third and the tenth houses. Another example would be the Sun in Aquarius and Saturn in Leo. They mutually aspect each other. but not with the meaning of a trine as in Western astrology. Outline 1. There are weaker aspects of 75 . *Planets can mutually aspect each other. It is a two-way connector. . and are in each other’s sign. This means that if one planet aspects another planet it will alter that planet’s meaning. For example. Mars can be a functional benefic for Cancer ascendant because it rules the auspicious fifth house (trikonal). If the planets are also mutually aspected it is even more powerful. The aspects Mercury casts either by conjunction or opposition will have all these houses attached to them. When planets are in each other’s sign of rulership it is called mutual reception or parivartana. So Rahu and Ketu convey their malefic energy to the planet or house they aspect. The meaning of each planet varies from chart to chart. The example above with Mars in Capricorn and Saturn in Aries is in sambandha. but all aspects are cast in forward direction. and Saturn aspects Mars by its tenth aspect. Vedic astrology uses special aspects for the planets Mars. It will carry with it the houses that both Mars and Saturn rule (the houses they rule determines if it is a functional benefic or malefic) and the houses Mercury rules itself. if Mercury is aspected by Saturn and Mars.the orbs are closer. and the eleventh house. Is it a natural benefic or malefic? 2. Mars aspects the fourth and the eighth house from itself. Natural malefics become functional benefics if they rule trikonal houses (1. There are weaker aspects that have effects of 75-50 percent. Mars’ special aspects are 4. Charts to be Analyzed Condoleezza Rice Birth Chart . Example: Jupiter 29 degrees of Scorpio. Aspects are always counted in a forward direction. and Sun. 14. Planets aspect houses even though no planet resides there. 9). 13. 3. Ketu. Planets are either natural benefics or natural malefics. and the matters ruled by that house. 7. aspecting the natal planets. 6. Aspects have no meaning of their own. and Mars at 0 degrees of Sagittarius. They have a two-way connection. 17. Venus. Sambandha is when planets are mutually aspected and in mutual reception. reinforcing each other. the planet is still considered benefic. 6. 19. Planets can mutually aspect each other. and 8 signs/houses from its position. It operates like a planet in its own sign in the house it aspects. and 10 signs/houses from its position. (7). Rahu and Ketu’s special aspects are 5 and 9 signs/houses from their position. 10. 8. 16. Planets carry the meanings of the houses they rule. 20. The aspects from the Moon give further clarification to the chart. Planets in opposite signs/houses are in aspect. Rahu. The transiting planets. Natural benefics become functional malefics when they rule the dusthana houses (3. 12). and Moon. 4. 12. 9. only the energy of the planets. and not a trikonal. 5. Planets in the same sign/house are in aspect (conjunction). When a planet rules both a dusthana and a trikonal. 11. Saturn’s special aspects are 3. Mercury. The natural malefics are Mars. A planet that aspects a house it rules empowers that house.2. The trikonal house outweighs the dusthana house. 8. Planets that are out of sign but very close in degrees still influence each other. 15. (7). Aspects are connectors of planetary and house energies. Full aspects are considered 100 percent in influence. (7). This means a complete connection. Jupiter’s special aspects are 5. Most do not consider these. and 9 signs/houses from its position. 18. The natural benefics are Jupiter. Saturn. 5. trigger life events. John Paul II Birth Chart Adolf Hitler Birth Chart .