Vic DiCara / Vraja Kishor

IMO it is not a good jyotish stone. A pearl needs to be iridescent white. A Yellow Sapphire has a different crystalline structure corresponding to Jupiter... it is not simply a matter of color. I would not like to use a golden pearl for anything at all... it doesn't even sound like it looks very pretty.

Don't worry about the "organizations" and institutions and what they are doing or not doing. Dharma is spread by dharmic souls, institutions are not primary. Dharma is the fire element. It spreads like fire. Anyway, we are in the ascending small dvapara yuga, and I believe that this winter 2012 solstice is going to herald it in with trumpets and you're going to see the waning of america as well as of the judeo-christian religions and thought processes beginning markedly at that time.

A strong planet in a befeficial state doesn't really need help, but if you are trying to build the bionic man or superman, give it a try. I would rather spend my energy helping a benefic planet who is weak, though.

I think there's something wierd going on with threads in this forum. Because now your reply appears in a thread that it doesn't seem to belong in. Please state the source for your statement that the moon is combust when 12º of the sun. This is the amount I learned for Mercury retrograde. I was never taught that the moon combusts. This is because of the very nature of combustion itself. Astronomically combustion occurs when a planet is the furthest that a planet can get from earth. Thus it weakens. Furthermore the sun's brightness blots it out. This is not true for either the moon nor the nodes. Therefore they do not combust. However when the moon gets within a much wider degree of the sun she becomes malefic and looses most of her natural good qualities. It is a similar effect but not "combustion" Perhaps there are different rules for this in muhurta or in a school other thn mine? (parashari)

I think there's something wierd going on with threads in this forum. Because now your reply appears in a thread that it doesn't seem to belong in. Please state the source for your statement that the moon is combust when 12º of the sun. This is the amount I learned for Mercury retrograde. I was never taught that the moon combusts. This is because of the very nature of combustion itself. Astronomically combustion occurs when a planet is the furthest that a planet can get from earth. Thus it weakens. Furthermore the sun's brightness blots it out. This is not true for either the moon nor the nodes. Therefore they do not combust. However when the moon gets within a much wider degree of the sun she becomes malefic and looses most of her natural good qualities. It is a similar effect but not "combustion" Perhaps there are different rules for this in muhurta or in a school other thn mine?

I just stumbled across and interesting fact concerning Nakshatras on the Gandanta borders... There are 3 types of nakshatras: Creation, Maintenance, and Destruction. The first nakshatra Ashwini is Creation, the second Bharani is Maintenance, the third Krittika is Destruction, and the cycle keeps repeating. Whenever you repeat the cycle from Destruction back to Creation (i.e. the border between Kritika and Rohini, for example) you will get a Gandanta Water-to-Fire border in the Navamsha. This will happen for 3 repetitions, and on the 3rd repetition the Destruction-to-creation border coincides not only with a Navamsha gandanta, but also with the main zodiacal navamsha (i.e. the 3rd repetition is the border between Ashlesha and Magha, which coincides with the navamsha border between Pisces and Aries AND with the zodiac border between Cancer and Leo). This pattern repeats through the entire zodiac.

Interesting post, Suchandra. I do believe that we are witnessing the death of America. I believe that this is not only caused by America's own chart by also due to the Galactic Winter Solstice happening 12.21.2012 - which is connected with America in so many ways... On 12.21.2012 the Sun will be at the galactic center (6º40" Sagittarius) on a solstice for the first time in 12,500 years. The last time it caused a flood which destroyed Atlantis, the previous cultural capital of humanity. And ushered in the ages of decline which hit their nadir around 500AD during the dark ages. Since that time we have climbed gradually, but have become obsessed with technology. We are in a new age, but have yet to full cast off the shadow of the dark age we left. The global events centered on 12.21.2012 will change that and will user in the ages of ascension in which humanity will gradually regain a more perfect way of existing on earth. The Mayan calendar ends at 2012... On the winter solstice of 2012 the Sun will align with the center of the Moola stellar nakshatra where the exact galactic center is presumed to be (6º40' Sagittarius) . Between 12/21/2012 and 12/22/2012 the Sun will cross this point in connection with a solstice. There is also a strong alignment of planets Venus, Mercury and Jupiter on the Rahu-Ketu axis. And the two superstar "malefics" - Mars and Saturn - are exalted. The candidates for American Presidency have Mars and Saturn in suspicious positions related to this event. I feel that there is a very strong possibility of an ice age descending from the southern tip of Iceland and progressing down the eastern coast of North America. Or some similar cold / ice related event heralding the beginning of a substantial change in our way of living which will be difficult and catastrophic at first but which will eventually be beneficial. As a reality check I have to note that I am dealing with time scales on the level of 25,000 years. So even small inaccuracies will produce deviations of a few years. Safe to say we a currently in the margin of error, but 12.21.2012 remains the focal point or mine (and most astrologers') calculations.

The moon is never combust. This is a principle evident from any classical Jyotisha scripture. The nodes also do not combust. The debilitation or exaltation of the sun does not affect it's combusting effect on planets that are susceptible to combustion. When a planet is combust, it's external significations are destroyed, but it's internal significations are absorbed into the sun and made a strong part of the person's essential character. For example my Mars (lord of my 3rd and 11th and natural significator of siblings and competition/warfare & energy) is fairly seriously combust. I therefore have no brothers or sisters, and almost no friends. Yet the friends I do have are extremely good souls and extremely true frieds, but by this or that reason we are separated (mainly by distance). I also have no inclination for sports or competition or fighting. YET... I am a very friendly and brotherly person with a LOT of personal energy and ability to command and lead. This is an example of how combustion ruins the external significances of a planet but strengthens and internalizes the internal significations. ~~~~ Your moon is empty and your sun is debilitated, that is indeed another situation, but it does not pertain to combustion.

Your confusion is due to you not clearly separating two types of heavenly motion: 1) the stars AND planets move relative to the earth's ROTATION. 2) the planet move in relation to the stars due to their own REVOLUTION around the sun. The phenomena of "rising" and "setting" is caused by #1, the earth's daily spin or rotation. That is the whole reason why there is a "first house, second house" etc. and it's the same reason that the sun and moon rise and set and so to all the other stars and planets (well, *most* of the stars). For example, Jupiter is now in Sagittarius. As the earth spins the Zodiac constellations rise on the eastern horizon and move through the sky up... across.. and down in to the west. When Sagittarius rises so does Jupiter (roughly) and when it sets so does Jupiter. Now there is another phenomena which makes things somewhat confusing. The Second motion of the planets (in relation to their revolution in orbit around the sun) sometimes makes them appear to rise and set - particularly venus, for example. She is visible in the evening for 9 months and gradually gradually moves lower and lower till she disappears entirely for a while. Then soon later she becomes visible in the morning rising higher and then lower till 9 months later she disappears again. Currently you can see her in the evening, shining beautifully.

Fear feeds the nodes. Everyone is petrified of Kaal Sarp yoga. If you are not so afraid of it, it loses most all of it's power. Very happy and successful people have Kaal Sarp Yoga... Paul McCartney of The Beatles for example. You may find the following of further interest: barbarapijan ('dot') com/bpa/Topics/Kala_Sarpa_Yoga.htm vedicastrologer ('dot') net/answers/kalasarpa_yoga.php

You did a nice job. Retrograde effects strengthen the ability of the planet to exert influence. It has a slight effect on intentions (not strength) as you noted, it *slightly* modifies a planet's nature. This is slight. The exchange with Saturn will be reluctant to give good results, however. Saturn will resist cooperating with the moon for this native. Although the Moon will have a better effect on Saturn than visa versa. Thus the natives emotions are inclined to lack wisdom and restraint. But through emotions the native is likely to gain wisdom. In some ways this does suggest Bhakti Yoga towards Sri Krishna, with Shivji as an important guide on that path. I would not consider the exaltations and debilitations of the nodes very prominently.

As I said, It's not my policy to give free readings, especially not on the internet. However you should simply know that in the main, Jupiter in the 9th House is highly positive because he is in a place congruent with his natural significations. Also, being retrograde / vakri does NOT deter him. A lot of western concepts regarding retrograde have confused Vedic astrology on the subject. We simply consider vakri to be an indication of increased strength... the logic being astronomical in nature.

I would experiment with this concept. But off the bat it doesn't sound promising, as it violates more basic rules. For example, water can be either 4 OR 12 houses away from fire. So in the example of Aries / Pisces your theory would be in line with more basic rules in that it would be a 2/12 relationship with is one of passive disharmony. But in the example of Aries / Cancer your theory would be out of line with basic rules because it would be a 4/10 relationship which is a "contrast" relationship which is always a significant or strong relationship, but which would depend upon other factors to determine the nature of the relationship. ALL 4/10 relationships are formed by incompatible bhootas / elements - so your theory seems out of line with more accepted methods.

Really, you should have a full reading done if this is a major concern. Vakra strengthens a planet - this is because when a planet appears to move backward it is physically closest to us on earth. Jupiter in the 9th House is generally fortuitous - more or less so depending upon the lagna, etc. I am not sure if free readings are generally given on this forum, but it is not my practice to do so.

Binita, The entire koota system is overused (unless you are 13 years old marrying a 16 year old boy?). Far more important is to consider four cornerstones of compatibility FIRST, and THEN use the kuta system within the context of what those four cornerstones reveal. Mangal-dosha also mellows with age. It is very strong in the teenage years and thus was very important in marriage compatibility of yore, when marriage was at a very young age. In the 20s it mellow. By 28 it is quite soft. The four cornerstones are the relative positions of: Ascendants Moon Sun Venus

Aussie, The reason why there is no ABSOLUTE exaltation signs for the nodes is that they are not REAL planets. They do not own any signs, therefore - and by extension they are not ABSOLUTELY exalted in any sign. Sri Krishna has Ketu in his ascendant, which is Taurus. Acaryas describe this as a highly desirable position. Thus Taurus and Scorpio are generally good spots for the nodes. Gemini is thought to be a good spot of Ketu as well. Personally I think it is "barking up the wrong tree" --- trying to apply a method of evaluation that works for a real graha to something that is NOT a real graha. The strength and attitudes of the nodes is not highly dependent on constallation position to the same degree as it is for the real planets. For the nodes, their speed, their aspectors and the conditions of their dispositors are far more important.