2-All re. Jyotish-Astrology is a Path of Enlightenment

[Guest guest]

" Jyotish-Astrology is a Path of Enlightenment "

 

 

Dear Friends;

 

I thought you might like to receive a recent article I wrote for the

Astrology book I'm writing. It's about the spiritual components of

our Astrology.

 

enjoy

 

 

Mark Kincaid

 

 

 

2/13/06

 

 

One of the most fascinating aspects of Astrology is that it reflects

for each one of us, our own, personal, unique 'path of

enlightenment'.

 

We've all heard about the possibility of Enlightenment, and the

many formal, religious, and spiritual paths that are promoted as

ways of becoming Enlightened.

 

However, Jyotish, itself, may be one of the most powerful

systems for developing Enlightenment.

 

This is because Jyotish has this unique ability to help us see,

exactly what our own, precise path is in this life.

 

Our charts represent 'that' unique script or blueprint, which is

one of the best ways of seeing our spiritual path.

 

In addition to the obvious 'Spiritual' components of the Astrology

chart, there is also a hidden Wisdom, there inside our charts, as

if our charts were the intimate helpings of a great Guru, in our

quest for Enlightenment.

 

For example, our charts capture very clearly, exactly who we are,

and what our strengths are.

 

However, due to the rules and principles of Astrology, our charts

also make judgements, and has opinions, ie. these planets are

good, while these others are not so good, or malefic.

 

Sometimes we take for granted this natural value system of

Jyotish, we forget, it represents the inherent value-judgement of

All-mighty Nature, herself.

 

If we have a Mars over there, maybe in our 4th house, the

symbolism of it might be that it represents difficulties,

disharmony at home, and with our Mother.

 

Then, we when we look back and realize we indeed, do have

these challenges especially in the area of our home-life; then,

we're inspired to take heed, and learn from this amazing ability of

Jyotish-Astrology.

 

But, where do these rules come from?

 

Originally, Jyotish can trace back the Eastern Astrology to the

time of the ancient Indian Seer, Parashar. Parashar was

supposed to have 'cognized' through his consciousness, the

inner workings and realities of the entire system of Astrology,

called Jyotish.

 

However, today, with the advent of science, we can look at this

ancient knowledge in a slightly different way.

 

If it represents 'Truth', about in fact, the laws of nature,

incarnation, and life on Earth, then, these rules, and principles of

Astrology should be verifiable.

 

This, is what happens to us, when we have our charts, 'read' or

even when we study our Astrology.

 

The ideas, principles, and theorems, if you will, of

Jyotish-Astrology, get confirmed in our every day experience, of

ourselves; and our lives.

 

This validates that not only is Astrology real but that it's also

scientific.

 

Now, in regards to Jyotish-Astrololgy, being itself, a unique path

of Enlightenment, this is true, because the specific insights and

revelations about ourselves, as seen through Jyotish, are very

special and profoudly helpful in that these ideas and opinions,

help us become greater people, and attain success in life.

 

Especially, when we reflect on the area of Spiritual development,

Jyotish-Astrology has a unique perspective for each one of us.

 

If you look at individual charts in this way, you can see the unique

paths that, not only are we all on, but especially, the unique

prescriptions, remedies and help that go along with that natural

Astrological blueprint.

 

Our charts, are not just this static, impersonal opinion or mirror

of our lives; but our charts represent the way Nature, herself, or

the way a 'Guru' would see us.

 

The opinions of Astrology represent the opinions of Almighty

Nature. If you have Mars over here, the 'opinion' is that your Mars

is out of balance, and being out of balance, and unless changed,

will lead to this or that problem, challenge, grief and even

disease.

 

Because this kind of 'work' has been going on for hundreds and

even thousands of years; there's already a huge history of

evidence that shows that Jyotish-Astrology works.

 

So, we then, take the advice of either a professional Astrologer,

Jyotishee, or even book , because we see the 'truth' in it's

perceptions.

 

If we did have that Mars in the 4th house, and if we've already

noticed that we are living a Marish kind of challenge and trouble

with our family, home, hearth or Mother; then, we can be inspired

by this deep, 'truth' and then, take to heart the natural advice, and

prescriptions that follow next.

 

The general advice, is that 'we' are the problem, of our 4th

houses, if we have our Mars there.

 

This itself is a great insight, because Mars, generally is the

planet of 'blame' and where we have our Mars, and where it

aspects we find ourselves, 'blaming' others for our problems,

set-backs, or situations.

 

But, our chart's say, it's our fault; and though we also need to

look at the chart of both the Mother, and the other family

members for their legitimate contribution to this or any other

problem, this insight from Jyotish, begins us along a path,

or re-examining ourselves, and learning how to take

responsibility, for this unique challenge that's coming to us.

 

Most ancient religions and Philosophies believe in this sort of

thing. In the West we say: " As you sow, so shall you reap, while

in the East, they'd just say: " It's your karma to have this problem. "

 

Unfortunately, that doesn't quite satisfy Mars!

hehe

 

Because Mars' tendency is to blame, we still want to blame

someone else, our Mother, for not being there, or God, himself,

for not....

doing a whole host of things.

 

But, once we start along a path of self-examination, from Jyotish,

we start gaining the unique perspective that everything in our

charts; really do fit us!

 

This system of finding the exact '1to1' Correspondences

between each and every detail of our lives, and each and every

detail of our charts; quickly goes to confirm for us that we may, in

fact, be the true source of our problem.

 

Especially, when we take to heart some of the many Jyotish, or

Astrological remedies or prescriptions of self-improvement, and

lo, and behold, we begin to find relief and resolution of a deep,

and previously confusing reality.

 

Like this, our Astrology also represents the already, unique path

of Enlightenment, that we're on.

 

Our Suns and Moons which represents ourselves, our 'I', Self

and self-confidence as well as our 'emotions', feeling, mind, and

even intuition. In addition our Sun & Moon represents our

relationship with our Father, and Mother, and even, and

especially our relationship with our heavenly Father and Mother.

 

If we begin to look at our Sun and Moon in this way, you will see,

the actual karma that you have associated with God-the Father,

and Mother-Divine.

 

In additon, like the previous Mars situation, there is a natural

opinion as to what we can do to strengthen our Sun or Moon,

and as a result get closer to our heavenly Mother-Father.

 

For example, let's say one's Sun is in the 12th house, which is in

some ways a good place for the Sun, spiritually, because the

12th house reprsents the transcendental Absolute, Being, reality.

 

However, the lower quality of the 12th house is also very likely,

and people who have their Suns there, often lack self-confidence

in their every day life, and natural outer pursuits.

 

So, there is a Jyotish remedy for this situation, to literally,

" Strengthen the Sun. "

 

The Jyotish system of Astrology, is also, extrmely blessed

because it's a part of the ancient Vedic system of knowledge

which itself, believes in the possibility of Self-Development and

achieving Enlightenment.

 

In fact, all the various systems of Vedic Knowledge, from Rig

Veda, to Yoga, Ayurved and even Jyotish all have their

fundamental goal to find the 'Self' within each human being.

 

Coincidently, the 'Self' inside of us, is the Sun, too.

 

So, any technique that strengthens the Self, will also strengthen

our Suns!

 

Then, look at the Moon in the chart. The Moon represents our

Minds, emotions, intuition, and relationship with Mother,

nourishing, compassion, careing and even Mother Divine.

 

Our karma and relationship with her, is captured quite nicely by

that 'Moon' in our charts.

 

So, if our Moon's are small, tiny or Waning, then, we have a basic

weakness of the Moon, that will make it very difficult to find our

Mother Divine.

 

We may, however, crave her. We may feel attached, and very

vulnerable with our Earthly Mother, who is too, a symbol of our

Mother, and a symbol of our heavenly Mother, as well.

 

The Jyotish prescription then, will be to find ways to 'strengthen'

the Moon, in our charts, as a way or technique of

self-development and Enlightenment.

 

If we have a spiritual inclination, then part of our recomentations

pertaining to our Moons may be to pursue some path of Bhakti,

or love, which will go right to our hearts, emotions and Moon.

 

This is also why quite often you'll hear Jyotishees recomend

'giving' to the poor, for example, because that activity has some

chance of strengthening our actual Moon in our charts.

 

More powerful techniques of Moon development include the

classic, techniques of Yoga and Meditation, because they

directly, put us to 'expand our minds' and contact the actual

being, of Mother Divine, in the transcendental realm .

 

Even if we don't know that we're meditating to find God, that

deep, inner, unbounded awareness that we experience, deep, in

meditation, will literally expand our minds, and improve the

qualities of our hearts, and therefore Moons.

 

When the mind, transcends, and even moves in that direction,

each step of the mind, towards that deepest goal, is a step of

increasing charm, happiness, and bliss.

 

This is why the Veda, historically describes the pure

Consciousness as 'Sat, Chit & Ananda', because the very nature

of the transcendental reality, is unbounded bliss, or ananda.

 

So, when you open yourselves and your heart to this very sweet

experience, you naturally begin to grow and strengthen your very

Moon!

 

In addion there are a number of other spiritual Astrological

componets, including your Jupiter, Saturn, and especially 9th

and 12th houses, which are intimate parts of your unique

spiritual path.

 

For example, I have a Libra rising in my chart. This means that

Mercury rules both my 9th house of Gemini, and 12th house of

Virgo. For most of my early life, I as if, wanted to try and find

God, thorugh my mind.

 

I didn't know it at the time, but I had this intense intellectual thirst

to know all about religions, God and spirituality.

 

But, there's a deep, inadequacy at trying to know, or find God

through the intellect alone. And, even though 'it' lead me to

become a Philosophy major, and I devourced every intellectual

idea, philosophy, religion, and system and belif about God, there

was some kind of deep dissatisfaction about this path, for me.

 

Now, I see, #1, why I wanted to 'know' all about God and

spirituality, but I also saw how basically inadequate that the

Mercury intellect is to secure that deep realization.

 

At some point, in my many intellectual pursuits, I came across

this little book called: " How to Know God " , and I immediately got

excited, of course.

But, even with my background, I was totally not prepared to run

across this paggage, which said: " the Key to Spirituality is the

actual experience of God. "

 

My mind went blank. Could this be true? No one ever told me

that God could be experienced!,.... I thought.

 

That in one moment got me out of my prior habit of trying to

'understand' God, intellectually.

 

I immediatley, started on a path of self-discovery that would

eventually lead me to meditation, and ways of pursuing the

spiritual and Enlightenment which far transcended intellectual

activities.

 

Fortunately, I had some good luck, due to my Guru, or Jupiter, in

my chart, so I found meditation, I even found some great real,

Gurus, who in turn would transform my whole understanding of

my path of Enlightenment.

 

Finally, I'll end with these two aspects of our Spiritual paths, in

the placement of our Jupiter and Saturn.

 

These are the 2 primary spiritual planets in Astrology. Jupiter

represent the reality of Guru, God, as a teacher, and our

openess to teachers, and the process of learning, even being a

good student, or disciple is an intimate part of the strength of our

Jupiters!

 

So, if we know that we want to strengthen or improve our

Jupiters, then, we open ourselves up to the many ways in which

Jupiter functions.

 

Jyotish, itself, is a form of Guru, that will easily enliven the Gurus,

or Jupiter in our charts. Striving to be a more open student, will

also help. The old story of bringin an apple to your teacher,

comes from this ancient understanding that the student has a

roll to be the best student possible.

 

Because, when a student is being a good, receptive student then

that melts the heart of the teacher, and he in turn is inspired to

give more.

 

Other things that will strengthen the Jupiter inside of us, and our

charts, will be such things as the writings of famous, saints,

sages, seers and prophets.

 

All of those, are Gurus, and their expressions of truth, will enliven

our own Jupiter within.

 

Guru represents God, him/herself, and when you open your

inner heart to God, himself, and learn to hear the words of God,

your inner voice, from within, then that too, will strengthen the

Guru, Jupiter in you.

 

Ever hear of that recent " conversations with God " , famous book,

series. This phenomena of learning to 'hear' the words, and

thoughts of God, is a real and practical way, also, to enliven the

Guru, within.

 

Every one who's ever had this experience, or learned how to

have this experience, attests to the fact that they feel more

blessed, and this experience is an actual technique and aspect

of a path of Enlightenment by opeing oneself up to one's Guru,

within.

 

Finally, Saturn is the other main spiritual Astrological component

that expresses our relationship path. For example Saturn is that

which rules silence. So, paths of renunciation, sanyassis,

monks, and nuns are all Saturn paths.

 

Finding the specific, unique configuration of your Saturn will help

you understand the specific details of your 'path' of spirituality,

which Saturn represents.

 

Most people today, have malefically functioning Saturns, which I

believe is very symbolic of the deeply, materialistic age that we

live in.

 

When we live in an age, where matter, and materialistic

tendencies, and realities, dominate, even activity is preferred,

especially over silence, and " being still " , then, Saturn becomes

negative as it functions malefically.

 

But, immediately begin appreciating, silence, balance, and the,

integration of silence along with activity, and immediately Sani,

gets strengthened.

 

There is this saying in Christianity, " be still " and " discover the

kingdom of Heaven within. "

 

Before I learned meditation, I had no idea what this meant.

Even my family priests and religious teachers who had so little

personal experience of meditation, contemplation or

communion, couldn't explain this.

 

As a result of such little inner poise, or power of silence, Sani,

then, acting malefically, gives us losses, frustrations, sufferings

and misery.

 

Immediately, however, even after 3, or 4 days of meditating, you

can begin to feel better, more still and happy from within, and

this is because Saturn is an important spiritual planet.

 

Find the Saturn in your chart.

 

Figure out what the unique lesson is for you and your Sani, and

this will help you emmensely, in your own unique spiritual path.

 

All the other aspects of our charts, our Mercury, Venus, even

Rahu and Ketu, also are reflective of the unique path of

Enlightenment that you are already on!

 

When we learn to balance, in fact, each and every part of our

charts; then our path towards enlightenment, or even success, in

this World, will dramatically, improve, become more smooth,

effortless and fulfilling!

 

 

Jai Guru

 

 

 

Mark Kincaid