Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish Newsletter February / March 2009

[Guest guest]

I offer you this newsletter to enhance and deepen your experience of

Vedic Astrology. In these newsletters, expect to find a combination of

helpful articles, book reviews, Jyotish links and more. The purpose of

this newsletter is to educate and titillate the Jyotish-loving public.

The opinions given within are solely those of the author.

 

In this issue, I offer two new Jyotish articles: Shortcuts to Chart

Interpretation and Nakshatra Rulerships and Grahas in the Chart. Renay

Oshop draws brilliant relationships between the periodic table and the

elements of ayurveda. And I review two books: Conversations with

Yogananda and The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs.

Additionally, I recommend my favorite source of Chinese herbs.

 

Please visit my website, www.Jyotish.ws at your convenience. The best

articles from these newsletters are archived on this site. I offer

access to an excellent yagya program.

 

- Michael Laughrin (michael)

 

 

The Periodic Table and The Elements of Ayurveda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Renay Oshop

 

Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of South Asia, has a philosophy of

matter (Sankhya) that is based on the five elements of space, air,

fire, water, and earth. There are notable parallels between this

well-established system and the more recent Western philosophy of

matter as displayed in the Periodic Table.(1)

 

Space is the primary element in Ayurveda, from which all others are

derived. Similarly, the space element Hydrogen is the first element of

the Periodic Table.

 

Why do I call hydrogen THE space element? Here are supporting quotes:

 

" Hydrogen is estimated to make up more than 90% of all the

atoms--three quarters of the mass of the universe! " (2)

 

" Hydrogen gas is so light that, uncombined, hydrogen will gain enough

velocity from collisions with other gases that they will quickly be

ejected from the atmosphere. " (2)

 

All very exciting stuff.

 

Some might say that they were taught that the space element is well,

just space, without atoms. We would not be the first to debate this.

Kanaada in Vaishesika theory stipulated long ago that space is atomic.

Indeed even the tanmaatraa of sound in space is understood by current

Western physics to require atoms to move around to make that sound.

Also, space is well described in Ayurveda as being nuclear energy.

Energy is matter. Hydrogen is used to make nuclear energy. So, I feel

confident that in the analogy of the five Ayurvedic elements to the

Periodic Table, space IS matter, space is hydrogen.

 

It is also interesting that, just as in Vedic theory, hydrogen (space)

goes on to make air:

 

" Stellar hydrogen fusion processes release massive amounts of energy

by combining hydrogens to form Helium. " (2)

 

We can extend the " air element " to include other very significant

gases such as nitrogen and oxygen and their p3 and p4 equivalents.

These subsequent air elements seem to be led by helium because,

 

" ...all natural gas contains at least trace elements of Helium. " (3)

 

Moving on, fire can be represented by such active alkali metals as

sodium and potassium.

 

" Alkali metals are famous for their vigorous reactions with water, and

these reactions become increasingly violent as one moves down the

group. " (4)

 

I cannot think of a better description of pitta, which is fire and

water together.

When these air, fire and space elements combine, we get water

compounds such as H2O, NaCl and all other natural non-earth compounds

that we see on our planet.

 

What is the earth element in the Periodic Table? Seemingly, it is one

or more of the alkaline metals such as calcium and magnesium, the p1

and p2 equivalents (including Carbon and Silicon), and their compounds.

 

Indeed,

 

" The alkaline earth metals are named after their oxides, the alkaline

earths, whose old-fashioned names were beryllia, magnesia, lime,

strontia and baryta. These oxides are basic (alkaline) when combined

with water. 'Earth' is an old term applied by early chemists to

nonmetallic substances that are insoluble in water and resistant to

heating-properties shared by these oxides. " (5)

 

Vedic culture achieved the Bronze Age in 4000-3500 B.C.E.(6) Thereby,

a sophisticated understanding of the five elements up to earth was

firmly established in everyday life. They were even able to create steel:

 

" Ancient Indians employed a process called 'Andamusha' to convert iron

into steel. Carbonic acid plays a major role in achieving hardness in

Iron. Our ancient blacksmiths knew this method. They used to place

Iron balls in an earthen furnace (Bakayantram) and fill it with

carbonic acid and heat it. They were manufacturing steel by this

method. " (7)

 

There is much else to say, with many supporting references, that may

have to wait for another venue. Briefly, the theory of electricity,

atomic and molecular structure, and theories of motion were all also

developed by Vedic culture using this same five element theory as a

base some 1000-3000 or more years before the Western system's similar

achievements (which are mostly of the last 300 years).

 

Thus, the glories of understanding the Periodic Table are equal to

that of the five Ayurvedic elements.

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table_(extended)

2. http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/1.html

3. http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/2.html

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkali_metal

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_earth_metal

6. class notes, History of Ayurveda, RMIYA, January, 2009

 

 

 

Shortcuts to Chart Interpretation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Michael Laughrin

 

First of all, thanks to my two main teachers, Narendra Desai and Hart

de Fouw. Here are three shortcuts to chart interpretation:

 

Rule Number 1:

 

The karaka of a house creates problems when placed in the house that

rules the same thing as the karaka (planet).

 

This seems to only apply to odd numbered houses, i.e., 1, 3, 5, 7, 9,

and 11. Also it mostly seems to apply only to the person who is

jointly ruled by the karara (planet) and the house.

 

A. Sun in the 1st house is not good for the owner of the chart in

question. Logic would seem to dictate that the planet of

self-confidence (the Sun) would be even stronger when placed in the

house of self-confidence, but the opposite seems to be true. Also,

men with the Sun in the 1st house are often bald.

 

B. Mars in the 3rd house - both Mars and the 3rd house stand for

younger brother. Generally, those with this placement either have no

younger brothers, or have a bad relationship with their younger

brothers (especially the one just under the native in age), the

younger brother dies early, or the sibling has physical or mental

problems.

 

C. Jupiter in the 5th house, based on jyotishical " common sense, "

suggests many children and happy children. However, in real life, the

rule for this combination is that the native will have no sons or, at

most, one son (although that one son will often be an exceptional

person--learned, intelligent, respectful, devoted to elders and

traditions, kind, generous, and benevolent).

 

D. Venus in the 7th house - Venus rules love, sex and marriage and the

7th house rules love, sex, and marriage. If we put the two of them

together, what we get is too much passion and not enough love of a

spiritual nature--and not enough devotion--either to the partner or to

the marriage itself.

 

E. Sun in the 9th house is not good for the native's relationship with

his father. See, the Sun rules the father but it also rules the Self.

So, with the karaka of father in the house of father, who should one

be devoted to - his father or his own self? This will definitely

create problems with the male parent.

 

F. Jupiter in the 11th house

Jupiter rules many things, among them children, wealth, professions,

higher education, the guru, the Law, religion and tradition - but also

Jupiter rules the elder brother. Generally, one with Jupiter in this

position has no older brother, or has a bad relationship with the

brother, or there are health problems for the brother. However,

Jupiter in this position is very good for the 5th house of children

and is also good for money and intelligence.

 

For some reason, the even numbered houses - 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 -

do not seem to have this difficulty.

 

Rule Number 2:

 

When examining a given house, one must also examine the house that is

the same number of houses away from the house under consideration as

that house is from the Ascendant.

 

A. The 1st house from the 1st house would be the 1st house, but in

this case, we look at the 10th house also to gage the strength of the

1st house.

 

B. The 2nd house from the 2nd house is the 3rd house. When trying to

decide the native's speaking abilities, one must also look at the 3rd

house as well as the house of speech itself--the 2nd. In my opinion,

the secondary house gets half as much " juice " as the primary house

under consideration.

 

C. The 3rd house from the 3rd house is the 5th house. One with a

strong connection between the 3rd and the 5th house will have good

manual dexterity, will often be gifted in one or more arts (such as

music, painting, sculpture, engraving, etc.) and generally has good

relations with the younger sibling.

 

D. The 4th from the 4th is the 7th house. According to Hart de Fouw

(and I believe he got this idea from Sheshadri Iyer), the main house

of education is the 4th house. So, when one wants to judge the

educational prospects of the native, any connection between the 4th

and 7th houses generally gives a good education. I, for example, with

Capricorn Lagna, have both the Moon and Mars debilitated, but partly

because I have the ruler of the 4th house (Mars) in the 7th house, I

do have a B.A. degree.

 

E. The 9th house is the 5th house from the 5th house, so, when

analyzing the prospects of the native having children, please also

take the 9th house into account.

 

F. The 6th house from the 6th house is the 11th house. Even though the

11th house is the house of gains, it is a secondary disease house (6th

from 6th) and a secondary house of loss (the 12th from the 12th house.)

 

G. The 7th house from the 7th house is the 1st house. This makes a

lot of sense because any planet in the 1st house will fully aspect the

7th house. (Note: Narendra Desai always stressed how very important

the 7th house was. It is the 4th from the 4th house, it is also the

10th from the 10th house, and all planets in the 7th house fully

aspect the Ascendant.)

 

H. The 8th from the 8th is the 3rd house. Some Jyotishis count the

3rd house as a secondary death house. Others count it as a secondary

house of longevity (the 8th house is a house of longevity as well as a

house of death).

 

I. The 9th from the 9th house is the 5th house. Interestingly enough,

both of these houses are considered " Lakshmi " houses or houses of

luck. Also, both are houses of karma and of children and of wisdom.

 

J. The 10th from the 10th, as we have noted in " G, " is the 7th house.

One must also examine the 7th house when one wants to decide on

career prospects for a client.

 

K. The 11th from the 11th house is the 9th house. Both houses are

prime money houses and any connections between these 2 houses will

most likely indicate great wealth.

 

L. The 12th from the 12th is the 11th house. " What goes up must come

down " seems to apply here. 11th house is the house of income

(although the 2nd house is the house of money in the bank). The 12th

house is the house of outgo. Income is like breathing - what comes in

must then go out.

 

Rule Number 3:

 

When a client asks a question about someone in his/her life, rotate

the chart to the house in question, and then read this chart as if it

the chart of the relative.

 

If the question is about the younger brother, read the native's chart

with the 3rd house as the Lagna, the 4th house as the 2nd house, the

5th house as the 3rd house, etc.

 

One can see the karma, more or less, of the spouse by reading the

native's chart with the 7th house as the temporary Lagna. Therefore

the 8th house becomes the money house for the spouse, the 11th house

is the house of children for the spouse, and the 3rd house is the

house of luck, travel and spirituality for the spouse.

 

These are just a few of the tricks that I use. Rule number 3

definitely came from Narendra Desai. Rule number 2 came from both

Hart de Fouw and Narendra Desai. And rule number 1 was taught to me by

Hart de Fouw.

 

 

 

Nakshatra Rulerships and Grahas in the Chart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Michael Laughrin

 

The truth of the matter is that nakshatra rulers are as important in

the interpretation of planets in the natal chart as are the sign

rulers of the various planets.

 

For example, here is the chart of a client I know well. (See Chart O1

at http://www.jyotish.ws/materials )

 

The Sun is in Taurus, indicating a person who is easy-going, dominated

by kapha, likes to eat and likes to take it easy. These are all true

except that he is more dominated by pitta, and kapha is second. His

Sun is in the star (nakshatra) of Krittika, which is ruled by the Sun

itself. Logic suggests that he should be sharp, smart and impatient,

and prefers to give orders rather than take them. These are all

absolutely correct. So, in this case it seems that the star ruler is

more important than the sign ruler.

 

His Moon is at about 14 degrees of Scorpio, in a sign ruled by Mars.

The Moon is neecha (debilitated) here. This suggests that he might be

sneaky, passive-aggressive, sensitive, and perhaps afraid of the

water. All of these are kind of true. But, the Moon is the star of

Anuradha is ruled by Saturn, indicating one who is patient, steady,

purposeful, and with a tendency toward depression. Again, these are

true. For the Moon, it seems that Mars may have a slightly stronger

effect than Saturn.

 

Mars is also neecha in his chart at about 18 degrees of Cancer. So,

the ruler of Cancer is the Moon. This suggests kindness, softness,

nurturing qualities, and perhaps a lack of physical aggressiveness.

All pretty much true. However, as Mars is in the star of Ashesha,

ruled by Mercury, this suggests one who is verbally aggressive,

clever, good at business and has good manual dexterity. All of these

are very apt, and the Mercury qualities of Mars seem to outshine the

Moon qualities.

 

Mercury is in Aries at around 17 degrees. Mercury in a sign of Mars

should have, more or less, the same effects as Mars in the star of

Mercury (see the previous paragraph). But Mercury is in the star of

Bharani which is ruled by Venus. The combination of Mercury's and

Venus' energies suggest a musician (he has played five musical

instruments and Mercury rules instrumental music), a poet, one who

pursues a line of business related to the arts (he worked in music

stores, taught music and sold nature pictures for several years). It

also might indicate a painter and he has studied painting to a minor

degree. For Mercury, it seems that Mars and Venus have approximately

equal effects.

 

Jupiter is at about 26 degrees of Virgo and is retrograde. This

suggests wisdom combined with cleverness. But the nakshatra ruler of

Jupiter is, again, Mars, indicating one who might be assertive in his

beliefs. He has taught meditation, has given several sermons, and has

started several publications.

 

Venus is in the sign of Taurus (ruled by Venus itself) at about 28

degrees in the star of Mrigashira--ruled again by Mars (do we see a

pattern here?). He loves to eat, likes ease, plays music and has a

distinct kaphic side--all Venusian and Taurean qualities. The fact

that Mars is neecha contributed to his very late marriage. Also it

might suggest one who was somewhat intense about relationships and

therefore scared potential partners away.

 

Saturn is at 28 degrees of Gemini. The sign is ruled by Mercury and

the star is ruled by Jupiter. Saturn and Mercury together suggest

business. He was a salesman for around 15 years and has had his own

business since 1989. Saturn and Jupiter together indicate higher

metaphysical studies (he has meditated for over 40 years and religion

has been a " hobby " for many years) and also the Law--nothing there.

 

So, we can see that, indeed, the nakshatra ruler is at least as

important as the sign ruler. Please pay adequate attention to it when

you analyze a chart.

 

 

 

Book Review: Conversations with Yogananda by Swami Kriyananda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review by Michael Laughrin

 

The author of Conversations with Yogananda, Swami Kriyananda (a.k.a.

J. Donald Walters) says that he has almost a perfect memory. As one of

Paramahansa Yogananda's most important Western disciples, he spent

many years with the Master and, because of his memory, we can benefit

from the great wisdom of the first Vedic master teacher to America in

the 20th century.

 

The form of the book is quite interesting. It includes 461 vignettes -

little stories - from the author's live experience with his teacher

that serve to illustrate all aspects of Yogananda's teachings in

parable form. Past lives, sex, money, spiritual practice, obstacles to

inner development, and the personalities of the disciples are but a

few of the topics that are mentioned. The reader will learn a fair

amount about Yogananda's early life as well as the time he spent in

California.

 

The effect on me was extremely uplifting and soothing. It reinforced

in me the ancient Wisdom teachings that I have been hearing for the

last 40 years or so. This volume serves to keep the true seeker on

the straight and narrow; to raise the beginner in metaphysics to the

level (at least intellectually) of an initiate; and to serve as a

practical guide on how to deal with issues in daily life that may have

some impact on the life of one who is trying to gain Enlightenment in

this life. It is truly wonderful and I do think that all of you should

read it.

 

 

 

Book Review: The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs by Ron

Teeguarden

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review by Michael Laughrin

 

The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs is by far the clearest

book on Chinese herbology that I have ever seen. Mr. Teeguarden

logically presents the fundamentals of the traditional Chinese

medicine philosophy:

1. Yin and Yang

2. The three treasures: Jing, Qi (chi) and Shen

3. The five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, Wood

 

Then he presents the important tonic herbs in three traditional

classes: superior herbs, supportive herbs and inferior herbs. The

second half of the book is devoted to herbal combinations and which

herbs to use for specific health concerns.

 

I cannot say enough about this book except to buy it. If you read it

two or three times, it seems to me that the intelligent reader will

have a good working knowledge of the basics of the more important

Chinese tonic herbs.

 

 

 

Recommended Herbs: Dragon Herbs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Michael Laughrin

 

My wife and I have been using herbs from Dragon Herbs, of Los Angeles,

California, for about nine months now.

 

These herbs are, to me, the very highest quality herbs I have ever

used. The price is reasonable.

 

One thing about Dragon Herbs is that they offer a free phone

consultation with a licensed acupuncturist with no obligation to buy

anything. My experiences are that, when I took the herbs as

recommended by the herbalist, I felt like I was in heaven for the

first 2 or 3 days. In the past, this type of experience has only

happened to me from deep meditation.

 

Quite simply, I find Dragon Herbs to be the very best herbs I have

ever experienced. Also, it is my impression that the Dragon Herbs

company itself has the very highest standards of integrity, honesty,

wisdom, honor and helpfulness.

 

They are on the web at http://www.DragonHerbs.com or call them at

888-55-TONIC.

 

 

The Luckiest Day of the Year Is Coming In April

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The luckiest day of the year, Akshaya Tritiya, is formed when the sun

is exalted in Aries and the moon is exaulted in Taurus, and the moon

is in its third lunar day (between 24 and 36 degrees ahead of the

sun). In the US, this happens on Monday, April 27 this year,

especially before 2 PM CT.

 

This is the luckiest day to begin any benevolent endeavor such

marriage, starting a business, investment, building a house, going on

a big journey, etc.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish Newsletter

 

Website: Jyotish.ws

 

Michael Laughrin, Michael, business phone: (440) 582-9848;

cell phone: (440) 263-2159

 

To , send an email to: jyotish_ws-

 

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