How To Practice Good Astrology, 3/1/06 from Mark Kincaid

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends:

 

 

Wrote this article on Astrology for my new Astrology

book recently. Thought you might like a little peek!

 

enjoy

 

 

Mark Kincaid

 

 

 

 

People ask me all the time, How can Astrology help me know what to do? This

is a very good question, because there are too many things to think about,

ponder and be able to decipher what to do.

 

Astrology on the other hand understands that what we should be 'doing' often

times, is right in front of our face. In other words, there is this

fascinating idea that what we're going through, now and in the future, which

is of course, intimately connected to our charts, are the Dasa periods.

 

Every moment, we're in primarily 3 levels of these dasas, the Maha

dasa, antardasa, or middle and smallest bhukti. These 3 together

represent quite a bit of what we're going through. And, in addition to these

just being our karmas, there's much we can learn by paying

attention to our dasas, and realizing, yes, this is what I'm going

through.

 

Of course, it's good to understand one's basic chart, in general. It will

give us the greatest clarity as to the broad strokes of our

life purpose, but the particular path which is always kind of hard

to read always,....does follow the 3 flavors of the main dasa periods.

 

Now, these dasas, which are related to the quality and situation of

those planets in our charts,then,shows us what it is 'we' should be

doing, working on at any one time.

 

So, we're in a Saturn Mahadasa, and we really felt an amazing shift

when we went into Saturn. Jupiter, which was before,seemed so easy

and now, it's soooo different.

 

This then, is our first lesson. We look at the quality and 'lesson' of our

birth chart Saturn and that will give us a very good clue as

to not only what karmas we'll be going through but what lessons we'll

need to be paying attention to.

 

Then, the other 2 dasas, round out that basic quality of dasa, inner

feeling level that explains very well, how we're feeling. Now, add

on top of this, the effect of the every day Transits, and we'll really be

getting a clue as to what we're supposed to be doing and

paying attention to.

 

The transits, especially what Jupiter and Saturn are doing, represent

the broad strokes of the steps of Nature's progress and prosperity.

For example, in 2000, when Jupiter & Saturn collided in Aries, and

then seemed to shadow each other, first into Taurus, and then, back-

words, Retrograde motions, until just recently Jupiter went into

Libra where he won't be negatively aspected by Saturn for a number

of healthy years.

 

So, why is this important? Because Jupiter & Saturn represents the

two steps of progress and prosperity, that co-exist at every stage

of evolution. For example, Jupiter's the first step, we take a step,

we're expanding, and then what do we do? We plant it, we stop, plant

our foot, before we take our next step. That, 'planting' foot, is

our Saturn step. So, we rest, set it, and then, based on that stab-

ility, we take our next step, which of course is a Jupiter step.

 

Like that, step after step after step, Jupiter & Saturn lead us

along. So, find the signs in your chart, where Jupiter and Saturn

are, right now, in the transits, and 'they' will tell you where your

steps of Expansion & Contraction will be.

 

Okay, we're living our charts, we have strengths, or Benefics, and

we have weaknesses, or Malefics. Maybe we already have a kind of

handle on these, but the lessons of those configurations will pop up

in great coordination with our dasas and transits.

 

For me, this last year as Saturn first moved in Cancer, I felt it

moving so mischievously into my 10th House. I remember even thinking

hey, that's my Saturn, it looks like a big boulder inching it's way

across the road of my 10th house. I even exclaimed, 'Hey,look at that

as I ran all around it laughing and giggling. Having watched Sani,

now, for over 15 years, going through all the other signs before, in

my chart, this was the latest unfoldment of interesting Saturn, stuff.

 

Then, when it went back into Gemini, I immediately felt better, and

then I thought, "uh oh, I'd better get a better clue as to what this

lesson is. Also, at the same time, Jupiter was moving through Virgo,

which was my 12th house, and I felt that deep inwardness, and thought

better of doing much outwardness.

 

In fact, I had a very blissful, inward year, because I felt that

quality of the transit, and I felt inward. So, I went with it, took

more care of my inner life, extra meditating, saved some money, again

12th house stuff, and everything was fine.

 

Then, Saturn went back into my 10th house, and this time, I realized,

Saturn is not just a boulder inching it's way across the planes of

our houses, of life, no, it's trying to tell us something. So, what?

 

Then, I got it, of course, Saturn is telling me, us, exactly where we

need more silence, in our daily life. If we heed that lesson, then,

what let's see, so I did that, really made sure I felt very still, no

matter what I was doing, and that seemed to eliminate that pesky

little boulder experience.

 

Then, I began to feel Jupiter emerging from my 12th house, and I

thought, mmmmm, I wonder what this next year of Libra will be like.

Well, because Jupiter is one of my best planets, and I've had much

good luck with most of it's movements I thought, "Hey, this may be

a very special year.

 

So, Saturn's telling me slow down, and Jupiter's telling me speed up.

What an interesting co-existence of opposite values. Saved up some

more money this last spring and summer, and began to feel this very

interesting pull, towards..."something's going to be changeing deeply,

soon." Though I had no idea what it was,and what an interesting

summer/fall we had, with Mars stuck in Aries, and both Rahu and Sani

aspecting strange positions.

 

Can't remember when there was such an interesting combination. Poor

World which had to face major hurricanes and natural disasters during

this time. I watched as that Tsunami in Asia happened, and then,

when the US had hurricanes, Katrina, Rita, and what was the 3rd one,

one after another, almost exactly, when the Moon, went from Pisces,

where Rahu was, and then, transited, Aries, where Mars was, and as

the Moon approached Cancer, where not only Saturn was, in Cancer,

water, anyway, but right now, both Rahu and Mars, also were aspecting

Cancer, and water.

 

So, we need to know all these things. These natural Transits effect-

ed us all very much. Natural disasters, gas prices went up, and

millions of people were thrown off.

 

What do we do then, when we're experiencing 'malefic' signs either

due to our Dasas or Transits.

 

Well, the concept of Malefics & Benefics is such a fascinating part

of Jyotish. The Benefics tell us where our strengths are, and the

Malefics tell us where our weaknesses, challenges and problems are.

But, these weaknesses, aren't just meant to be lived, and suffered

through, there's another deeper purpose to these periods in addition,

to just giving us our karmas.

 

We may not have the energy, or drive, or clarity of mind to go ahead

especially during 2 or more simultaneous malefic dasas or transits,

but I've been telling people for years now, "Malefic" periods are

good opportunities for self-healing, or improving ourselves.

We can try and go ahead like normal, hopeing for the best, but that

so often crashes and burns, when we try that, especially as the dasas

or transits move into negative flavors.

 

Then, it occurred to me, maybe a better interpretation of these

periods is to think of them as healing times. That's what I did when

I realized between Jupiter in Leo, and Jupiter in Virgo, Jupiter was

much less stellar, in my 12th house.

 

So, I went with it, I didn't ignore what was already going on, but

I did make some actions to better interpret what that time might be

like, and I didn't go for more debt now, and I let myself be kind of

inward, and the year finished in glorious fashion.

Same thing with Saturn, I stopped running around that boulder think-

ing how cute and funny this big rock is. Instead I looked there,

found this really impenetrable, Sani force there, and allowed myself

to be as silent as that rock.

 

It was fascinating too, because Mars in Aries, represented a very

dynamic time, but I was able to enjoy that, but holding on to the Sani flavor

too.

 

Now, Jupiter's moved into Libra, for the first time, in 5 years,

Sani's not negatively affecting Jupiter and what fun it's been watch-

ing so many of the World's stock markets taking off. US, India, so

many are climbing up the charts!

 

So, maybe it's a good idea to follow these subtle meanings of our

dasas and Transits. Seems to give good indication of what we're

going through anyway.

 

And, besides, I'm tired of doing it the 'other', 'my' or the ignorant

way!

 

Keep in mind, then, try and pay attention and see if you're going

through any "Malefic ness", at all. Malefic ness is a sign from Nature

that we're not quite right with that, or this planet.

 

If we're feeling hot, irritable, angry, and accident prone, what does

all this mean? Well, we should have our charts looked at, but good

chance that Mars is acting mischievously.

 

And when you take this to heart, adjusting, and doing some pitta, or

fire pacifying things, like Ayurved's so good at, then lo, and behold

things completely settle down.

 

Take advantage, and learn to utilize the Benefics, and their easy

going, progressive, spontaneously, successful qualities, but,...

especially pay attention to the Malefics messages, and aspire to

understand and adjust until that complete Maleficness is gone!

 

I had this first experience when I went into Saturn, Mahadasa in 91.

 

Seemed okay to me. In fact, I found a great wife, in late 1990. I

knew my Saturn Mahadasa was coming up the following year, and I knew

it, Sani was in my 12th house, but how bad could it be, right? It

was after all, my yogakaraka planet, (Libra Rising), but nothing I'd

ever studied in Jyotish, (since 1988), prepared me for the huge lash-

ing that I got in those first 4,5 years of Saturn Mahdasa.

 

Hey, I knew it was in my 12th house, and with my 10th house, Moon,

but really, those descriptions were pretty awful. Maybe I was immune? Maybe

it wouldn't be so bad, hehe. I'd just finished a great Jupiter period, and

that was glorious, Jupiter/Pisces, in the

6th, meditation teacher, taught many hundreds and thousands of people

all about consciousness and the like so how bad could it be!

 

In fact, I'd even saved up $ 6,500.00 to start my new marriage, so

I was on easy street, right? Well, in that very first year, of Sani

Mahadasa, I lost that little nest egg I'd saved up, couldn't find

any re-modeling work which I was doing at the time, and so here I

was newly married, 3-step children, and no money!

Aghast!

 

Okay, I can get through this. I mean I'm a meditator,I have been

studying Saturn for over 3,4 years now, really, how bad could it get?

Gulp, it really can. Over the next 3 years, my wife and I got

pregnant but then after a 4 month pregnancy, the baby stopped funct-

ioning.

We kicked around for awhile, kind of climbed out of our financial

hole, but then, I couldn't find any work, again!

 

Eventually, we separated, got divorced, went bankrupt, and then, my

Father died.

 

That was it, I'd had enough. I turned to Saturn, and said, "Hey, I

know it's you,... I thought I was in-tune with you!" Ever talk to

one of the planets before? Well, it can be quite humbling. Saturn

started laughing, and he laughed, and laughed and laughed.

 

Ever hear God, or a God, 'g' small, laugh at you? It's a really,

humiliating experience, and it went on and one and on. Must have

lasted for 2 or 3 minutes. I was devastated.

 

When it stopped, I sheepishly looked up, and said, "Okay, I get it,

what do you want from me?" And Saturn said only one thing: "More,

silence,...more silence....." as his voiced trailed off.

 

That, my friends was my real, true understanding of nature. When

you get beat up a lot, and you know enough to know life is just

giving back to you, your own karma, when things like this happen, it

can be very humbling.

 

Fortunately, I was done. I was through with doing it 'my' way, and

now I was really willing to listen. The prospect of my continuing

with another 12 years or so, of Saturn Mahadasa, like this was

terrifying.

 

You know the expression,"until a seeker of truth, gets tired of doing

it their own way, knowledge never comes"? Well, I was ready, and I'd

been given a direction, so I looked into my experience and in every

way possible began my real study, and growing understanding oh how,

exactly I could grow in more and more silence, each day.

 

This was interesting, because I'd already been meditating for over

25 years, which itself was a little embarrassing.

 

But, it made a kind of sense, because my Sani was in my 12th house,

and with my Moon, so I got the fact, that 'he' was still acting

malefically.

 

So, listen to your Malefics! They represent the thoughts of God,

trying to get through to you!

 

After about 2 years, I noticed a big change. I went back to my

original plan and worked, with special attention on saving money

again, and after another 2 years, I had more money, but I also felt

like I had more inner peace.

 

Did you know there are about 4 cycles of rest and activity that go

on in Nature, all of which may be related to Saturn?

 

There's the daily cycle, each day we go to bed, and depending upon

how well rested we are, the next day is either smooth, and full of

energy, or it's awful, strained, with many problems.

 

Then, I discovered the best of all cycles. The Moon's monthly cycle.

Each day the life rests and then, acts, but the Moon creates another

simultaneous cycle going on, that also has it's dynamic and inward

components.

 

Ever watch the Moon and notice when it's getting smaller and smaller,

it kind of feels like a rest cycle, or meditation, or inward cycle?

 

So, I watched those 2 cycles, and after even 5,6 months I started

noticing I could be more with both these cycles. And, that started

producing amazing changes.

 

Finally, I studied the Yearly cycle. Never thought about this, but

all the squirrels, and little animals of the forest no how to get out

of the way of Nature, squirreling their nuts away, and preparing for

the onslaught of severe weather, snow, no food, and the like.

 

How have we come to forget all this? I think it's our sense of

superiority, that we're so proud that we've created electricity,

and shelter, so that we can stay busy, stay up late at night, and

not rest!

 

So, what happens, we have dis-ease, and disease. The US, has the

highest standard of living in the World, and the most ill-health!

What an irony.

 

Then, I started to notice, things started really feeling good. Maybe

I'd gone into better dasas or transits. Nope, that wasn't it. Then,

it occurred, "Hey, I'm really starting to feel better! Maybe this

Saturn thing really worked!

 

Now, I know, listen to the signs of Saturn, or Mars, Rahu, or even

the Moon. They're all the beautiful ways in which Nature, herself

is trying to communicate with us.

 

And, follow one Philosophy! Pay attention to Maleficness, until it

goes, completely away!

 

Whatever, the description, or flavor, is it Malefic? And, if it is,

make whatever adjustments you need to do, until that negative 'sign'

stops!

 

Now, I start to get the sniffles, or maybe a sore throat, I don't

wait until I'm sick, I get it. Okay, this is Saturn talking to me.

You know there are all these great remedies of Ayurved, to maintain

good health. I'll mention just one.

 

There's an oil treatment, called Nastea, (hope I've spelled it

correctly). But, this is an oil treatment where you prepare some

oil to take internally. Actually you just massage the insides of

your nostrils, one at a time, and the oil, immediately seeps into

the sinus areas.

 

The congestion, phlegm, just comes rushing out. Now, when I start to

feel some congestion in the nose, throat or nodes in the neck,

immediately I start this oil treatment.

 

It's also very helpful, during the winter time, when it's so dry

and cold.

 

There are en numerable Vedic remedies that are there, already in Yoga,

Ayurved, Meditation, yaguas, and on and on.

 

Listen to your 'chart'. See if you're in a benefic or malefic

period. And listen, especially, to the signs of maleficness.

 

Dis-ease comes first, and then disease. So, listen to the signs

of maleficness of all the Planets. They're nature's natural warning

system and if heeded will save us much grief, sadness and suffering.

 

In conclusion, I'll list some of the Malefic signs for each planet.

 

 

If we're experiencing any pangs of lack of self-confidence, self-doubt, or

self-worry, these may be due to the Sun, acting malefically.

 

If we're experiencing any worries, anxieties, sadness, phobias, or

unhappiness of any kind, these are definite Moon signs of some sort

of maleficness.

 

Maybe we're experiencing a kind of intellectual, lack of clarity.

Maybe we're having troubles, making decisions, discriminating, or

knowing which way to go. These might be Mercury Malefics signs.

 

Maybe we're experiencing some qualities of lack of love. Maybe

we feel no one loves us, or we can't get the love from our partner,

that we'd like. This is definitely Venus' negative or malefic script.

 

Or, maybe we're feeling extra heat, fire, irritableness, anger,

animosity, and having accidents, frustrations, and problems with any

people, family, friends, co-workers or even strangers. Yep, this

sounds like Mas!, problems.

 

If we're feeling any out of balance quality, or feelings of delay,

frustrations, ill-health, dis-ease, pain, worry, unhappiness, or

grief and suffering; these are definite Saturn signs.

 

Finally, if we're feeling any compulsions, obsessions, or even

addictions these are some of Rahu's classic malefic messages.

 

For each of these very human problems, frustrations, and sadness,

there's an individual Planet there that's trying to speak to us!

 

If we listen and take some steps, to 1) Understand why. It's so

helpful to find the intellectual reasons why we might be going through this or

that.

 

Maybe we've got Mars transiting our first house, and ever since,

we've been feeling very over-heated. Or maybe it's a Sani or Rahu

period.

 

Whatever the reason, #2) once you've identified, the culprit, now,

take some steps, find some Vedic remedies, and seek to balance that

Malefic functioning Planet!

 

All the planets are meant to be benefic! We're not meant to suffer

any true, maleficness.

 

Even the so-called benefic planets, can be found acting malefically,

sometimes, so even so-called malefic planets can be rosy!

 

Talk to those who have good Mars', Saturn's or even Rahu/Ketu in

their charts. Their life experiences are good examples of how even

the malefic planets can be benefic!

 

This is learning and practicing good Jyotish/Astrology.

 

Life is for a self-development and the lessons, assignments, home-

work of all our grades, and subjects are right there, in front of our

noses, begging for attention and understanding.

 

Enjoy and good luck.

 

 

The preceding article was a recent writing that I did for my new

Jyotish book that I'm working on this Winter.

 

Thought you might like a little peek!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Mark Kincaid

 

 

 

ps... Also, check out the new Nature's Astrology web site.

 

It's coming right along, too.

 

www..com

 

 

Jai Guru

 

 

 

 

Mark Kincaid

 

Nature's Astrology

641 472-0000

www.naturesaastrology.com