Along the Lines of the Personal Behavior posts: order of operations

June 4, 2006

There is something I don't often get from Jyotish books or lessons on

interpretation: the order of operations, the linguistics of Jyotish.

In case these terms are not very accurate or descriptive of what

confounds me I will use an example.

Often times it seems students are prompted to see "confluence" when

learning to parse factors from a natal chart and integrate these into

an interpretation. Interpetation is a creative act, not just creative

in the sense of an art requiring skill and tact, but also in that the

Jyotishi is making a story out of a collection of planetary/

astronomical facts. He is participating with the creative aspect of

Nature. When discussing a matter with a client, say partners, he or

she must look at the 7th House, any tenants of the house, the ruler of

the house, the natural significator of the house, and any planets

aspecting any of these. He must also look at these from the Moon and

perhaps from the Sun, and maybe see the 7th from the significators and

in the Navamsa. It seems like some teachers encourage collecting all

of this data in piles and then putting like with like. Now this seems

like it would be mostly satisfactory for simple cases, but I feel like

the method delivery is important as the punchline if you want to

really get at the grain of the chart. How to determine what is Apples

and what is Oranges? What is in parentheses and therefore interpreted

first and what comes last. What is communcative and what is

transitive? What is the direct object?

I took a class with a teacher who did address this in which the

student was urged to look at strengths of each planet first but

perhaps this begs the same question. She also emphasized the Lagna as

the anchor, the aperture, the point of usage for the chart. What I am

wondering is are there any Jyotishi, perhaps those working on the

research end, who can address this question of order of operations

beyond that answer every astrologer has a "style." Interpretation

seems to be about reading the language of the planets. Anthropomorhpic

and myths are one level and help get at the meaning of Sun in 4th in

Aquarius, but what of weaving that with the whole of the chart? What

is the best flow chart for the sentences, the best yantra that can

yield the "one taste." What reading of ruler of 10th in 4th best

decides the way the ball will fall in this game of plinko, between

interpreting it as "working from home" or "working in real estate."

This may not be as articulate as I want it, but I welcome follow-up

posts. Thanks!

David

June 4, 2006

David Engisch wrote:

>I took a class with a teacher who did address this in which the

>student was urged to look at strengths of each planet first but

>perhaps this begs the same question.

>

Hi David,

I agree, that it does in fact "beg the same question" and therefore any

'system' regardless of how perfectly structured, logical or orderly may

still leave you holding the same bag of "apples and oranges".

The word I use is "synthesis," and I remember asking this exact question

of a teacher about 30 years ago--how to see the chart in a holistic way.

His answer to me was to read about 2000 charts and then I might find out.

This actually worked for me--but perhaps it is not the way for

everyone. I would say that our approach to a chart should be as unique

and varied as we are individuals--meaning that if one is a very orderly

and analytical Mercury/Saturn type then his most natural approach should

be with very exact rules ( the order of which are by his design and to

his liking). And if one is a Lunar or Neptunian type, then following

one's intuition is a good way to approach it.

I now advise students to find the first thing in the chart that grabs

their attention and go from there-following their respective natural

inclinations. It might be a stellium of planets in the 11th house, an

exact Jupiter conjunction to the MC or a Moon/Rahu configuration in the

12th house. In my opinion, reading a chart is similar to meeting a

person for the first time--something about them will focus your

attention to a specific area--perhaps their particular gait, a hand

gesture, a certain air of confidence or insecurity etc. That initial

'meeting' or focus of attention will serve as a key to unlock the entire

personality just as it will serve to guide you through the rest of the

chart.

I find that there is a definite cohesion and interconnectedness in the

chart and therefore answers to questions like "lord of 10 in 4" may be

found by looking elsewhere in the chart. If for instance the chart shows

a very strong social life by way of an active and well placed Moon,

Venus and Jupiter and "working at home" requires many hours spent in

isolation, then I may veer away from this as a possible answer.

Best,

Steve

June 4, 2006

Dear David and all,

One should focus on getting a personaliy picture first, from a horoscope. Then the actions and exact implications of the actions can be judged easily.

For example, an individual has mars in capricorn in lagna, saturn in third in pisces and tenth lord venus in tenth itself in libra.

Now, a picture comes out that the person is physically strongly built, has a tendency to go for valourous acts, exercises and keeps fit but is very disciplined and comfortable with the implementation of his actions.

On the other hand, if mars in capricorn is in lagna, but saturn is in sixth and venus in twelfth, then his same physical strength will be devoted not towards valourous acts but to satisfy his competitive spirits and to defeat his self-created enemies. There is a distinct difference between valour and competition with rivals. He will lack discipline, both physical and psychological.

Valour involves positive and helpfull intentions, like a person entering a burning house to save someone. Whereas competition is something selfish and to much extent more negative than valour.

His actions will also not be directed towards right goals always and he will waste his energies in wronfgull and unnecessary pursuits. Legal problems and health will always drain his energies of mars.

I may not have been able to put in the correct words, but the concepts should be slightly clearer now.

About Mary's question of advising one to bring changes in behaviour, it is always tried by the astrologers, but the truth remains that behaviour and thinking cannot be changed easily unless and untill the planetary transits and dashas support the change.

Regards,

Ashutosh

-

David Engisch

valist

Sunday, 04 June, 2006 06:00