by Lynn Hayes
An article in Yahoo News yesterday was entitled “Solar eclipse pits superstition against science,” but to me there is no better example of the split between traditional Vedic astrologers and “modern” transformational or evolutionary astrologers. I welcome my Vedic astrologer readers to chime in on this topic and look forward to an interesting discussion.
From the article:
Indian astrologers are predicting violence and turmoil across the world as a result of this week’s total solar eclipse, which the superstitious and religious view as a sign of potential doom.
But astronomers, scientists and secularists are trying to play down claims of evil portent in connection with Wednesday’s natural spectacle, when the moon will come between the Earth and the sun, completely obscuring the sun.
In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to “swallow” the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its life-giving light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.
Pregnant women are advised to stay indoors to prevent their babies developing birth defects, while prayers, fasting and ritual bathing, particularly in holy rivers, are encouraged….
In point of fact, the effects of the eclipse ARE likely to be felt more powerfully across India since that is the path of the total eclipse. Because astrology is so much more accepted in India, there are many more astrologers and many more of them follow the traditional line of thinking. In the West, astrology was lost for many hundreds of years and when it was reclaimed over the past few hundred years it was able to grow and evolve along with the consciousness of the masses. It’s interesting to me that Indian astrologers sometimes use this fact to support their claim that Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, is superior to Western astrology. But as you’ve heard me say a million times, as the lives of humans evolve it makes sense that astrology does too.
We now have many more choices than our ancestors did. We are no longer, in the West at least, forced to marry spouses chosen for us by our parents. We are no longer forced to pursue a career path chosen by the chief of our tribe. We can make those choices for ourselves, and as the world of choice opens up to us we find there are many more choices to be made that can transform our lives. Will be choose to face a time of change from a place of fear? Or will we choose to walk courageously towards that change, eager to learn what lessons await there? This is the difference between fearing our fate and creating our destiny.
I have to laugh at these predictions of war and violence as a result of the eclipse. Has anyone read the news lately? War and violence are sadly nothing new in our world. Certainly there could be emotional stress for some of us that is heightened as a result of the eclipse, and this kind of stress can manifest as violence. But the eclipse is a natural phenomenon just like all of the other astrological experiences that we have, and one with the potential to help us to release blocks and uncover the mysteries of who we are at the deepest core of our soul.
posted July 21, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Predicting war and violence in India is like predicting snow in Wisconsin but being outside in a total eclipse, even in the contemporary West, is a very uncomfortable experience and you can really feel doom in the air.
posted July 21, 2009 at 3:45 pm
where is my post which you claim is “not lost”?
posted July 22, 2009 at 3:35 am
Thanks, Lynn…although not a ‘Vedic’ astrologer (or a practitioner of Jyotish), have studied it to the point of setting up my natal Vedic chart and trying to work with it…certainly an interesting ‘hands-on’ experience.
Wasn’t expecting to get into it full bore, as I realized that to ‘master’ the art to a satisfactory level it’d be best to apprentice to a real master who, after noting my efforts and the level of my character / sincerity measured up to his standards, would gradually start laying out the ‘secrets’…because after all this is the traditional eastern way…right ? Some westerners have taken this path, I’ve heard and some do both western and eastern astrology. Great if you can swing it. All that has to be quite exacting of your patience / perseverance…your character.
That said…I’m one who is a ‘believer’ in the power of Vedic astrology (though not through the practice of each and every Vedic astrologer). How many are accurate…how many not…who knows. It’s a matter of your ‘luck’ as a client, I suppose. So I don’t pay much attention to the spoutings of most Indian astrologers (and they really spout on re. eclipses).
One type of Indian astrology that to me is really astounding is that practiced by the Tamil Hindu sage Agastya, who lived 4 – 5 thousand yrs ago…and who left an enormous amount of readings / ‘predictions’ far into the future…even into our current times and beyond. It’s possible (for a very small fee…less than USD3.00 till recently) for individuals, westerners also, to access these readings written on palm leaves…to see if your own is among them (they may not be, but seems it would have been your fate to have gone there to enquire and they were there).
They’re noted for being very accurate…but it’s possible for predictions to be avoided (you may recall Lynn’s repeated statements re. the importance of ‘choice’). You might then ask “how can it have been a prediction, if you can avoid it?” There are some obvious answers to that.
Superstition ??? I’ve viewed documentary tapes of authentic interviews of people who have gone all the way to India to have their ‘leaves’ searched for and the contents divulged to them. Exceptionally convincing !!! And not an East Indian scam. You can check it out at this URL — http://home.att.net/~thehessians/Agastya.html ….. .
posted July 22, 2009 at 5:39 am
Well, Vedic astrology is hardly one system. Actually it is an amalgam of so many different astrological systems that they can’t be counted on both hands.
We’re trying to build a comprehensive website on Vedic astrology and our sections include yearly astrology, birth astrology, horary astrology, KP astrology, Lal Kitab, marriage astrology, and they’re all so different. Yet they carry the common soul of true Vedic astrology.
Since you’re an ardent fan of Jyotish, I would request you to have a look our site. We’ve brought many Jyotish charts and calculations to the world online.
Regards
http://astrobix.com
posted July 22, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I don’t think it matters which system you use. For years I thought the inscribed surface of the coin was the yang side, and read the I Ching accordingly, and it still worked. I tend to prefer sidereal astrology for gardening, but Placidean for everything else. The point is: As above, so below. You line up the starting and ending points of your two systems and then the changes in one mirror the changes in the other. After that, it’s about the user’s ability to let the system elicit the unconscious wisdom.
posted July 22, 2009 at 6:02 pm
As an astrologer with primarily knowledge of Western astrology, but as a student of the Vedas and other wisdom from India, I think we should take the best and leave the rest. My teachers advise that the energy of the sun is dimmed at the time of a solar eclipse, leaving the inward-pulling moon relatively stronger. This makes an eclipse the perfect time for meditation and contemplation, as we align with nature. Many animals do not eat during an eclipse and sleep more. If we support the earth and ourselves by eating lighter and quieting our minds, we bring blessings to all (even those who may expect catastrophes).
Thanks, Lynn, for bringing it up.
posted July 22, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Sorry. That last post was from me. Somehow my name and URL got lost.
posted July 23, 2009 at 1:57 am
Astrobix…I wouldn’t say myself that I’m “an ardent fan of Jyotish,” just a ‘believer.’ Sorry, I didn’t mean to give that impression.
With Jyotish one may be better able to be more concrete re. ‘events’ than with western astrology…while with the latter it is easier, I think, to see the psychological workings of the mind. This is a matter of degree, mind you.
But then again, there is such a thing as ‘Buddhist psychology,’ which compared to western psychology sees the psyche differently…and even with the latter there is a chasm of difference between clinical and, say, Jungian psychology.
So, for working with Buddhist psychology perhaps Tibetan astrology might be more helpful, but then with a little innovative thought, maybe western could be made to apply.
My plate is rather limited, so have elected to not carry on with Jyotish (though I do use aspects of another type of eastern astrology).
Anyways, good luck with your ‘comprehensive’ website.