What Is Vedic Astrology?
by Marty Cottler, Ph.D.
Vedic Astrology is an ancient
Indian system used to assess, forecast, and improve the quality
of our lives. Vedic Astrologers interpret the observed conditions
of the cosmos at the time of our birth to gain insight into the
themes and patterns that are influencing us. These insights are
then used to clarify our direction in life and help us lead more
productive, creative and fulfilling lives.
A Vedic Astrologer uses information
from our birth charts to understand what is important to us,
to highlight what we are attracted to and what we have an aversion
for. This information is viewed in context of what the chart
reveals about our daily lives. Our sense of self, relationships,
education, career, finances, health, and spirituality are all
intertwined with our likes and dislikes. Vedic Astrology is a
tool that can clarify where certain themes and fixed patterns
are playing out; patterns that are activating pleasure or pain,
joy or suffering.
Relationship compatibility
is especially important, since all components of life involve
relationships. The Vedic Astrologer can analyze a person’s
relations with biological family, “acquired” family,
friends, neighbors, employers, employees, business partners,
teachers, students, and so on.
The Sanskrit word for Vedic
Astrology, Jyotish, translates as “the knowledge of light”.
Jyotish is one of six branches of the Vedas. The Vedas are the
source teachings of Indian civilization and spirituality. Their
origin predates recorded history (at least 5,000 years ago).
At first, the information we now call the Vedas was cognized
by “seers” (Rishis), who passed on their wisdom by
telling it to the next generation. This oral tradition continues
to this day, but the information has also been written down.
The Vedas pose questions and seek answers to our ultimate concerns
about life: birth and death, suffering, consciousness, and the
eternal. Because most of us cannot readily grasp the wisdom summarized
in the Vedas, the sages developed six branches (Vedangas) to
help us. Jyotish is one branch that was created to help us see
our way through life.
Many of us in the West separate
our everyday mundane activities from our religious and spiritual
beliefs and experiences. The cosmology of the Vedas and Jyotish does not make this separation. The sages of the Vedas understood
that our human essence is the same immortal and eternal being
who pervades the entire universe. Many call this “God”,
others the “Self”, while some refer to this being
as “Consciousness”.
Every part of our lives embodies
this essence. Our daily activities – working, playing,
loving – can be as spiritual as any meditation practice,
IF we are aware of our source. Actually, the opposite also seems
true: our spiritual practices can be as mundane as our other
daily activities if we are not aware of our source.
Our identifications are the
key. If we over-identify with our bodies, or with our desires
or possessions, then we are not aligned with our source and
we suffer. But who lives without identifying with “our
things”? Very few. For the rest of us, work remains. Jyotish was developed to help us with our homework.
The Vedas present a matrix
that Jyotishis use to further understand our lives. Two parts
are the four aims of life, called the purusharthas, and the
four stages of life, termed the four ashramas.
The purushartas are dharma or purpose, artha or acquisition, kama or pleasure, and moksha or letting go. The birth chart shows which aims we are over-
or under- utilizing. For example, many of us accumulate more
than we ever need, and have a difficult time letting go. Others
may find meaning in enjoyable activities at the expense of
introspection.
The four ashramas are brahmacharya or student, grihastha or householder, vana-prastha or forest
dweller, and sannyasa or renunciate. On one level, the stages
are outer roles we assume at specific times in our lives. The
student stage predominates during our school years. The householder
stage from partnering, parenting, and career to retirement.
The forest dweller stage correlates with retirement. The stage
of renunciation occurs when one leaves behind all attachments
and identifications, including the pleasures of retirement.
On another level, these four stages are dynamic experiences
that are not bound by chronological age. All four are at play
throughout our lives, and each stage can manifest within as
well as outwardly.
A Jyotishi assesses how the
four stages are intertwined with the four aims in the context
of our daily lives. Emphasis is placed on understanding where
we have imbalances, and how we can attain a more integrated
life.
Many of us in the West judge
such a system as fatalistic or deterministic. The word karma is frequently (mis)used to describe this type of deterministic
system. Karma is viewed as our fate, something we are stuck
with.
From the perspective of the
Vedas, karma means both action and reaction. Destiny is not
predetermined. It is determined by our actions, which we can
change. Therefore, a central assumption in Jyotish is the existence
of free will, without which all helping disciplines would be
useless. A Jyotishi emphasizes the need to consciously use
free will to identify and lessen the negative patterns in our
lives, and to cultivate experiences that bring joy and fulfillment.
In sum, the purposes of a
Jyotish consult are to learn more about the themes and patterns
that are influencing our lives, and discuss measures that may
help lessen suffering and enhance well-being. The ultimate
goals of Jyotish are to help us lead lives more in harmony
with our deepest nature, and enhance our awareness of the light
of consciousness.
Marty Cottler earned a Ph.D.
in Psychology in 1981. He first encountered Jyotish in 1995
at Ammachi’s ashram in India, and has been awarded Jyotish
Certification by the American Council of Vedic Astrology.
Marty can be reached at (530)272-2239.. His office is located at 10565
Brunswick Road, Suite 6, Grass Valley, CA 95945.
On Tuesday, October 12, 2004
from 7:30 to 9 pm, Marty will be giving a free presentation
on Vedic
Astrology at Wild Mountain Yoga Center, 574 Searls Ave, Nevada
City.
