9/29 Benefits of Astrology/Jyotish g4sf

September 30, 2004

Starlight Unlimited

m.kincaid

(641) 472-0000.

" The Benefits of Astrology "

Dear Friends:

I think sometimes, we get so focused on finding the Astrological 'reason' why we're this way or that; we forget to look for the benefits in Astrology.

Because if we consciously look for 'them' we're much more apt to find them. A famous world Vedic Scholar once said: " whatever we put attention on grows stronger in our lives " .

This means if we put attention on the 'benefits', they'll be more apt to happen.

They happen sometimes, anyway; even before I knew where to look, they do come spontaneously, sometimes, but, since I discovered that they're 'there', I've found they come even more profusely.

o The first benefit of Astrology....is what I like to call the 'taste of Astrology'....

We hear about 'Astrology', whether Western or Eastern, but, we 'hear' something about 'it', something about the ideas,.... and we get a ....buzz....

" Ah,.... Gemini's are like this.....

And Taurian's, ....are like that.... "

And we feel something tingling inside....

What is this?

It's the 'sound' of Astrology being " struck " , like a cosmic instrument,.... and our finely tuned, nervous systems.... vibrates...with those ideas....

Why?

Because we 'are' made out of Astrological 'stuff'....

Especially if the 'strumming' gets close to our own Astrological 'natures'.

Let's say we were really born in the Sun Sign of Gemini.

Then, when we hear about Gemini, even if it's just the simple ideas and expressions of Gemini, we'll relate to 'it'....

Why?

Because we're made out of Gemini 'stuff'.

What this means is that the vibrations of Gemini, or the vibrations that is about 'Gemini' is sooo familiar to what we are that....we feel 'at home'.

And feeling at home, is one of the symptoms of 'Jyotish or Astrological referral'.....

Then, we pick up a book on Astrology and we read all about the different Signs or Constellations.

And boy, if our tuning fork, inside doesn't start hopping!

When we get through the entire book, there were so many 'ahas' that we received, we put it down, thinking, 'mmmmm, there must be something to this Astrology thing'.

Why? because when we read all about even the general 'signs', we literally got enlivened some very particular and precise Astrological 'areas' of our own....selves.

We got so inspired, somehow, that we go to one of the internet sites on Astrology, and we read up, more about it.

Maybe we even read about the different Planets and how they also, in addition to the Sun, also, exist in the 'different signs'. And, though we may not quite know what that means, still,

we're intrigued.

Because we have an emotional nature inside. We have intellects, we have egos, we have personalities, we have physical natures, bodies, etc. etc. etc.

And everything we read about, did have 'some kind' of correlation with 'us',....inside...

We are beings, with souls, or consciousnesses, we have emotional and intellectual natures. And we do have bodies, relationships with friends, family and co-workers.

It's all there.

Or, we could say, it's all 'in there'.

So, when we read about these various 'Astrological configurations' again, we have an Astrological 'buzz',....and something 'leaps' inside of us,....

Though we don't know why.

But, where there's bliss, there's charm, and where there's charm, there's movement,...

and where we see and experience more happiness, we're automatically found moving in that direction....

This, in essence, is the description of the path of good Astrology and/or Jyotish.

So, we take a leap,....we contact an Astrologer,....again, western or eastern....and we ask to have our Astrological 'charts' read,....or 'done'....

We're in new territory of course, but our previous 'bliss' gives us confidence...

I remember like yesterday the very first time I had my Astrological chart, done.

Actually, I was a little shy so I sent away to get a computerized, Western Chart.

There were over 20 pages, and like a good book, I devoured every line!

Now, I know why, because this, even computerized version, was more and more, about the 'real' me!

" You have the Sun in Virgo, (according to my Western chart), therefore you'll be like this...

You have the Moon in Libra, therefore you'll be like this.... "

On and on and on, I never realized there was so much more than just the Sun, Signs...

Then, I had my Jyotish or Eastern chart done. I was attending an Ayurvedic course, in India, in 1988, and during the section on combining Ayurved and Jyotish, I snuck into Delhi, and looked up a professional Astrologer.

I had already read a number of Eastern Astrology books, and knew a little bit about my 'chart', but nothing I had ever read was anything like when a real person looked at 'me' through the eyes of my Astrological chart!

" Let's first verify your chart " , he said. Your parents, your mother, you are very attached to her, though she is very strong and independent..... "

I thought he was going to pause, but he kept going. " Your father, too, you are very close to, but there's some estrangement, between the two. You love him deeply, but some 'strange' distance between you two..... " Again, he hardly paused.....or skipped a beat.

" And your brothers and sisters....very interesting....you have 5 other brothers and sisters.... and...... and..... you are the eldest. "

Well that was it, I couldn't sit still any longer, I burst out: " How can you know these things? "

I didn't think he was psychic or anything like that. " It is just the great wisdom of Jyotish that gives us this ability to see into the nature of the life. "

Well, I just knew he had to be psychic, whatever he said, hehe.

Anyhow, I let him continue.

He talked for over an hour, and each moment after another, I was awed, and deeply moved, by these continual, one after another, ...of what I now like to call, 'Astrological ahas'....

This is the first and very wonderful, glorious 'benefit' of Astrology, and it's when we hear, or read, but somehow, get to experience, something about our Astrological 'selves'.

It happens in many ways, but especially when we have our own 'charts' read, it then, tends to come in droves!......

I left the man after that, and wondered around 'town' for awhile.

How could Jyotish know all those things?

How could he guess I've done this and that? (He guessed I'd have a strong Education and Philosophy study in college, and that I'd become a teacher, in my career)....

This experience left me stirred for a long time.

Though it obviously didn't hurt, that even the Ayurvedic course I had attended, encouraged us to go home and learn more about our own Jyotish charts.

" YOU will be your own best Jyotishee! " .....someone had said.

Though I could hardly believe it, after my own taste of my chart, but.... I was inspired enough to try.

Over the next 12, and then 24 months, I devoured every book I could get a hold of.

I talked to everyone I knew who liked Astrology or not, didn't matter.

I was on fire, to pursue this...

Why?

The quality, now looking back, that drew me in, and of course, millions of others, is that though, normally we have no explanation why?, we're living the life we are, we do, however, really wish we knew why.....

Why are we this tall?

Why is our personality so different then everyone else in our house?

Why are we drawn to particular things.

Why and why and why and why......

So many questions and soooo few answers....

I think Samuel Jackson, in the recent movie, 'Unbreakable " , said it very well when he was talking to the other movie actor, and character in the movie, Bruce Willis.

" Do you know what the scariest thing is?

To not know your place in this world,....

to not know why you're here,

......

....that's just an awful feeling...

I almost gave up hope,..

There were so many times ...I questioned myself...

but then, I found....(and here let's say Jyotish)....

......

& Now.... I know who I am...!

I'm not a mistake....

It all makes sense! "

I, like millions of people, really relate to these words.

In fact, it was this intense lack of knowing, that propelled me into Astrology.

The cool thing, then, was it worked!

I was especially surprised, because growing up an Education and Philosophy student, I'd already studied every known Philosophy of Man, and none of them, stirred in me, such intense, wonderful, 'knowingness', as learning my Astrology.

Now, I know why.

Because Astrology, is about life.

Life, itself, is Astrological.

We live in an Astrological Universe....

We always have.

We do now, and we always will.

We are nothing but a product of Sun's, and more Sun's, planets, Earths, Moons, Mars' and Jupiter's....

These 'realities' make up the who and where and what, of whom we are.

The language then, that has studied the significance of this 'reality',....that language, should not be surprisingly....accurate.

Well, it is.

Perhaps because we live in a sea, of millions, .... no billions of other fellow surfers, who also are lost, don't' know themselves and really wish they did.

This is why so many new enthusiasts, to Astrology are so excited about it.

There's nothing so compelling as 'that' (Astrology), which enlivens,....our own Astrological Selves!

This then, is the first and in some ways, most powerful Astrological Benefit:

#1....... " Discovering your Astrological Self " !

Because, as Samuel Jackson said, 'Not knowing .... is just the worst'.....

Knowing, then,....is at least...better,...than not knowing.....

Remember the Oracle lady in the other movie, Matrix?

She told Neo to turn around and said: " See that plaque? That says: 'Know Thyself'.....

The key to life is knowing yourself! "

I of course, had heard this expression in my old Greek Philosophy classes. There was supposed to be a Greek Oracle, that talked about knowing 'yourSelf'....

but most of the times, this was treated as some sort of archaic folk lore, and certainly not a prescription, for dynamic action, as in the case of Neo!

And certainly, no one ever explained to me, that there might be an Astrological component to this!

But, then, after about 2 years, one day, I was walking around, thinking about my study, and happened to glance down at my hand,....and then,....poof!

I realized.... " Wowwwwww,.... my chart.... I mean, it fits me! "

I of course knew this, but at this very moment, I really got it.

Every place I looked on my hand, was like a different house, or area of my chart.

I knew what Capricorn in the 4th house meant.

I knew what Jupiter in Pisces in the 6th house meant.

On and on, I realized I had flushed out each and every detail of my chart, and at the end, it had come to explain each and every part of my life....

And that's when I had my big....'A HAAAAAA'......!

Now, I know, there's an amazing zing, or bliss that comes from knowing who and what and even, why, we are!

For years after that, every day, every time I'd have a conversation, every time, I'd think of doing this, or doing that.... every moment,....I realized...was due to this or that part of my chart....

And instead of feeling limited, or smaller,....this 'realization', somehow, made me feel,.... bigger!

Everyone, therefore, should know their Astrological Selves!

Knowing is, in fact, at the very basis of doing....!

In fact, how well we 'know' ourselves, determines how successful we are in life!

So, even if you want to compare this 'value' of Jyotish or Astrology, in practical terms; as it turns out, knowing is the key to practical success in life!

If we don't know who we are, or if we don't know enough about what we're like,....then, all kinds of opportunities, come our way, and looking back we realize we really weren't able to take maximum advantage of that past...

But, later, after learning who we are, things come up, and we have an edge now.

We know we're hear to do this or that,...and when those 'things' come up, we pounce on them, and they turn out to be right, correct, blissful, or successful.....

Such a contrast to all the times, where we try ventures, or projects and they fall flat.

Many of them were because they really didn't suit us!

So, discover yourself!

Come to know yourself, as well as any trained, professional Astrologer.

It's my experience, that truely, everyone is really, 'there own best Jyotishee'!

We're all meant to at least know enough about ourselves, that we can take wonderful advantage of that knowing....

Benefit #2.....

Let's see, what's the next best benefit?..... mmmmmm

I'd have to say, there then comes a kind of power of discrimination when you learn about the basic 'Benefic' and 'Malefic' aspects to one's chart.

In other words, Jyotish and/or Astrology says, these are your positive or benefic Planets and these are your negative or malefic ones.

Even before I learned, 'why' this was supposed to be true, a kind of blessing came to me, even just knowing these two kinds of categories...

#2, Embracing Our Strengths...or benefics

When you realize 'ahhhh, these are my good planets, and these are my strengths'....

you begin to embrace them more!

When I realized I had two strongest planets, Jupiter and Sun, and they corresponded with my inquisitive, learning, and teaching nature, and my strong, independent spirit, it was like two great pillars of light...appeared inside...

The benefics are those parts of us, that are finished, developed, strong and powerful.

Being aware of what your strongest Planets are will, not only allow you to know them, but, you'll find youself, as if, enlivened in those very areas that are sooo perfect for you to have.

Our 'benefics' are those parts of us, that are already good, and flowing through them especially during their dasa 'periods', we'll encounter success....

Then, there's the other 'stuff'....

#3 Understanding Our weaknesses....or Malefics...

Once we've understood our strengths, our hearts or minds, immediately move to, well, what planets are responsible for all my problems!....

This is one of Astrologys greatest insights into human life, is,...that there is a direct, '1to1 Correspondence' between all the details of our lives, and all the details of our Astrological charts.

First we have those benefics, and now we understand we have our malefics.

These Malefics, in some way are supposed to be causing 'us', to create or experience, all those problems, heart aches, griefs, losses, and frustrations,...in life.

Again, we don't even need to know 'why', it's almost enough to know, 'ahhhh',... " So, that' why I.... (and then we fill in the blank),....that's why I have accidents, or that's why I can't draw money to myself, or...wow, that's why I can't stay in a committed, relationship! "

Of course, even 'this' aha, isn't enough. But, even without knowing, a kind of shift happens when we understand our Malefic, weaknesses...

Traditionally, this association or discrimination between Benefics and Malefics, at least has been followed up my an assortment of Astrological 'remedies', that are supposed to alleviate in some ways these 'discomforts'.

So, if you have a Mars problem, take this Mars gem, or drink, this tea, do this action, on Tuesday, in honor of Mars,....etc, etc, etc.

Unfortunately, this whole science of 'Jyotish Remedies' got much lost over the last hundreds of years.

In fact when I first started studying Jyotish, over 16 years now, you'd pick up any Eastern Astrological book and you'd read 195 pages on the Understanding part of our charts, and then tacked on at the end, like a kind of after thought, would be 5 pages on remedial measures.

Now, I realize, this is all backwards. We should spend at least as much time at understanding the 'remedial measures' as we do our charts and especially problems!

It should be at least 50/50%, though now I realize, it only takes me 1 moment to see what someone's malefics are, and we could spend the entire 'session' going into all the different ways in which that 'malefic' planet could be neutralized, strengthened, balanced, or transformed too, into a Strength!

This, then, represents the 4th major 'benefit' of the study of Astrology and/or Jyotish, and that is how to Transform any Malefic situation, in your chart, into it's opposite Benefic Strength!

We're doing it anyway.

Let's say we're kind of accident prone, and then later discover that our Mars' are in the 4th house, and the Astrologer says, " Ah, yes, you have Mars in the fourth House, that's why you're accident prone. "

Well, you knew it, but,...somehow you didn't.

Then, the really good Jyotishee, begins to show you literally, how you can change that part of you, that created,...the situation, and karmic consequences of having an accident prone, nature.

Like I said, it's happening anyway.

We have one accident. We blame the circumstances.

We have a second one, we blame our wife!

We have a third, fourth and even fifth one, and we can't help but accept the fact that Nature is trying to tell us something...

Maybe we're going too fast!

Eventually we'll get all the negative, or malefic situations in our lives...

But someone said recently: " better not to live one's life, only on the level of experimentation. "

I think about that now, when I think how different my life had been if I had learned Jyotish, earlier.

It would have taken only 1 or 2 accidents before I was ready to 'learn' what I could do to change myself.

I think of that, and I realize how much grief, and unhappiness, I have avoided, now, as a result of learning all these great Jyotish/Astrological 'realities'.....

I'd like to spend the rest of this wonderful Month of Sun, moving through Perfectionist, Virgo, to focus on these wonderful 'benefits' of Astrology.

If anyone else, has great stories, of how they, too, have experienced Astrological benefits, whether, in reading about one's chart,

having it done, or

even applying any of the many remedial measures to your chart....

let's share them together during these next couple of weeks and compile a wonderful list of concreteness to these benefits...

Someone said once: " Knowledge is the greatest Purifier " , and today, I believe it!

Jai Guru

Mark Kincaid

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