Open Letter to Mark Kincaid On Vedic Astrological Matters, Etc.

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Open Letter to Mark Kincaid On Vedic Astrological

Matters, Etc.

 

11:55 AM 4/27/05 Wed

 

Dear Mark,

 

I have watched your activities for some time, mostly

with a good degree of dismay. I say that because of

the general tenor and tone of your writings and so on,

which is more and more becoming eblematic of Vedic

Astrology in the West/USA; in other words, they're

becoming bascially, Jyotish in Western Astrology drag.

 

 

More and more jyotishis in the West have taken to

aping their Western Astrology "betters" by adopting

the aforementioned thinking, which you speak so

glowingly of in your most recent "ad";

"self-improvement".

 

Without question, Vedic Astrology recognizes

self-improvement as much as any of the branches of

Western Astrology does; but Jyotish also recognizes

that there are some things in this life that cannot be

avoided, and indeed, much of Jyotish's philosophical

framework operates on this idea. Therefore, although a

person may be able to use a "remedy" to avoid the more

uglier aspects of a particular combination, it may be

better for that person in the long run to endure the

results of said combination, for the betterment of

that person later on down the line.

 

Having intensely involved with Vedic Astrology since

the late 90s, I have watched as more and more American

Vedic astrologers basically copying the thinking and

even methods of the Western astrologers (aside from

the "quick fix remedy" approaches, the increasing use

of Western Outer Planets in the Vedic horoscope and so

on). Perhaps even more disturbing, is this tendency on

the part of so many American jyotishis to have a

"hippie" type of approach, where all manner of new age

mysticism is brought into what the vast majority of

Indians consider to be a rather straightfoward affair

- going to see an astrologer and getting no-nonsense

information and answers to life's everyday problems.

 

Being one that seems to have some level of

understanding of India, you surely must know that

Indians rarely seek out jyotishis for "the meaning of

life". About a third of all my clients are IN India,

and in some 6 years, I have yet to have one ask me for

such info. In the main, their concerns fall into

pretty distinct, and I would say, mundane, areas:

 

1. Marital prospects, either for themselves and/or

their kids

 

2. Business concerns, which often includes

educational, career, licensing and/or immigration

concerns

 

3. Health concerns, which usually concerns the onset

and duration of a particular ailment or disease.

 

The argument is often raised here in the States that

people here want to understand themselves and the

like, but again, my own experience on the ground,

since the early 90s (when I began my Western Astrology

studies) controverts this. In the main, my native born

clientele aren't that much different from my off-shore

clients - they pretty much want the same things.

 

In short, it is my contention that so many of the

American born jyotishis simply "want" to inject their

own spiritual opinions and the like. Most Americans

have no interest in such things.

 

Among the many problems I have with you, Mr. Kincaid,

is that you continually stray from the heart of

Jyotish, with your long and meandering writings about

the planets, and how one is supposed to "work" with

them in the way Western modern astrologers advocate;

one is hard pressed to find such support in either the

Jyotish classics or in the more modern writings of

such people as KN Rao or BV Raman, etc. While reading

your writings, it is difficult to grasp what you are

advocating, a Vedic or Western astrological approach.

 

Furthermore, I find less and less your writing having

to do with actual research and observation - areas

that would demand brevity of expression and accuracy

as a prerequisite - but more about speculation and

flights of fancy; you don't use preceedant (classical

or modern) to backup your writings and the like, but

rather "individualism" as your authority - something

that is clearly at variance with any Jyotishical

teaching (but is the rage in Western modern astrology,

where anything can mean anything to anyone; this why

Western astrologers can't agree on basic things like

Saturn Retrograde, for example). On several occasions

in your forum, we have gone back and forth on this

point, to which you have yet to respond with any

actual studies, research or case examples to back up

your ruminations. Such things are not only outside the

Jyotish canon, theory and practice, but also puts it

at greater risk for "anybody" to just come in and do

their thing. Here in the USA, the quick fix is in, and

anything that smacks of doing the harder work of

study, reflection and experience is eschewed in the

name of rapidity and indulgence without consequences.

All of this is anathema to Jyotish practice and

thought.

 

The other problem I have with you is in your continual

"hawking" of your products and services. Many native

born jyotishis, including Rao and Raman, have had

choice words for those who would market their

services. I tend to be deeply suspicious of such

people, for my own experience has shown me that those

who give their Jyotish knowledge without thought of

reward, tend to be far and away more accurate and to

the point than those who don't.

 

It is my hope that you put your energy more into focus

on the heart of Jyotish, where it is my contention you

are likely to make the most impact. On the present

course, your and other's actions only serve to muddy

the already murky waters of the Astrological science

and how it's seen by the public.

 

Salaam,

Mu

 

--- Mark Kincaid <m.kincaid wrote:

 

> Become Your Own Best

> Astrologer!

>

>

>

> A friend of mine mentioned to me the other day, that

> it's recently

> been projected that the "4th most in-demand, job, in

> the future, will

> be Astrologers."

>

> I laughed when I heard that. I think it might be

> true!

> Certainly it's been my experience that becoming a

> professional Astrologer,

> is the best thing I've ever done. I used to be a

> Meditation teacher, which

> I loved a lot. However, when I discovered

> Astrology, I found an even more

> comprehensive knowledge that actually incorporates

> every aspect of life.

>

> See, not everyone's ready for, quote: 'meditation',

> or a spiritual life.

> Most

> people just want to become a greater success, in

> this life!

>

> Well, Astrology understands that and has in fact,

> very insightful things

> to say for any individual that wants to become more

> of a success in life.

>

> All of us, in these Astrology 'groups' are learning

> such amazing things re-

> lated to Astrology and life.

>

> #1, the symbolisms of Astrology, 'fit'! In fact,

> there's a very precise

> 1to1

> Correspondence between all the details of our live's

> and our Astrological

> charts.

> This is what's underlying all our questions and

> answers, and what it means

> to have the Moon in the 3rd house, with Mars &

> Venus. Or, why am I so

> unconventionally creative? Or, why do I have so

> many accidents? Or, why

> am I attracted to engineering? Or, why do I have

> tensions with my Mother,

> but not my Father? Or, why do I ......?

>

> For every conceivable question; there's a clear and

> precise Astrological

> reason!

>

> This fact, alone, is why Astrology has continued for

> all these centuries.

> It Works!

>

> Each one of us, however, needs to know this.

>

> In the past, it was enough to just go to a

> professional Astrologer, whenever

> we

> had questions, or problems in our life. Now,

> millions of individuals are

> wanting

> to know their own Astrology, for themselves!

>

> In this spirit I am starting a new , that

> will be totally focused

> on

> learning each and every aspect of our Astrology. It

> will be primarily

> Jyotish, or

> Eastern Astrology, based, though many of the best

> ideas of Western

> Astrology,

> including the possibility that our Astrology is also

> about our futures, and

> latent

> opportunities, in life, will also be discussed.

>

> #2 This leads me to my second point. Astrology

> traditionally has been

> about

> one's 'fate' or pre-determinism. In other words, it

> was based very strongly

> in the

> feeling that this life, that our Astrology charts,

> are mostly about the

> things that 'will' happen.

>

> I remember when I first started studying Jyotish way

> back in 1988. Every

> book you'd pick up would have approximately 195

> pages on the Astrology, or

> how

> our charts fit us. And, then, at the very end, 5

> pages on something called

> Remedial

> Measures. Almost like an afterthought, I thought,

> tacked on at the end.

>

> Even back then, I thought this percentage was very

> imbalanced. Perhaps it

> was

> because of my strong, meditative background. Even

> in 1988, I'd already been

> meditating for over 18 years and growing in all the

> values of profound

> self-improvement.

>

> So, the idea of Jyotish remedial measures, of course

> made sense. Over the

> years,

> however, I realized the % was all wrong. Eventually

> I realized it should be

> more like,

> 50/50! It's not enough to just intellectually

> 'understand' why we're the

> way we are.

> The nature of human life, includes the fact that we

> want to grow. We want

> to improve

> ourselves, and accomplish certain things, which are

> really about the

> 'transformative'

> side to life. 2% is not nearly enough!

>

> Now, many years later, I realize even spending 50%

> of your time, discovering

> why

> we're the way we are, is not really necessary. Now

> I understand one needs

> to spend,

> only as much time, figuring out the 'whys' of

> Astrology; till one desires

> the ability to

> change.

>

> Today, I constantly run into people, who after just

> one conversation about

> how their

> Saturn or Mars, or Rahu, is causing their problems;

> then say: "Okay!, What

> can I do

> to improve my Saturn!" Maybe it should be more like

> 30/70%. Spend 30% of

> your time

> figuring out 'why' and then spend 70% of one's time

> and energy, in improving

> the

> malefics, in our charts!

>

> Whatever the percentage, the age of self-improvement

> is upon us, and

> Astrology can

> lead the way. However, Astrology needs to stop

> becoming so wrapped up in

> 'fate' and

> pre-destiny, and begin focusing on transformation

> and self-development.

>

> It's really what we're here to do. We're not here,

> to just go through the

> motions, and

> live our lives, from a level of puppet,

> pre-determinism. No! We're meant

> to grow.

> We're meant to evolve. The fascinating thing is, we

> can still choose, to

> evolve more slowly.

> But, the 'choice' is up to us!

>

> #2 Therefore the second most important aspect of

> Jyotish and Astrology is

> self-improvement.

> I like the word transformation because some say that

> Jyotish/Astrology rules

> the 8th house.

> And some like to describe the 8th house, not as

> fate, or death, or 'fixed'

> qualities, like obsessions,

> and addictions. Some call the 8th house, the house

> of transformation!

>

>

> Look at the United State's chart. Several very

> important planets in the 8th

> house of

> self-transformation. And, if there was any quality

> that has dominated the

> life of America;

> it's been self-improvement.

>

> In the early days it was progressing, rapidly across

> the plains of America.

> Later that thirst to grow, became more internalized

> and

=== message truncated ===

 

 

Mu'Min M. Bey

Western and Vedic Astrologer

Check out my site:

muminbey.tripod.com

"The Future of Astrology, is Here..."

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