Astrology and our lives

Piyadasa Godellewatte

Volatility of life: Life is a biological product networked in to a body-mind complex. Mind controls the body and the body keeps us alive through proper functioning of body parts. Life is highly volatile to its internal functional system as well as to external factors.

It is common knowledge learned in the primary school that biological reproductive process is a function of four elements: heat, moist (water), air and earth. Body’s chemical, mechanical and electronic functions are sensitive to these four elements.

From birth to death we tend to fall sick, face severe distresses, and some times suffer from various kinds of body deformities and even face premature death. Some possess inborn immunity against these volatilities, some do not. Food and drinks we take in, air that we breathe in and our atmospheric contacts provide nutrients to nourish body parts and support their functions.

This is a complicated process. Thus, our lives depend on the nature and strengths of our body parts, composition of the four elements of heat, water, air and earth in our body system and the ability to absorb and digest nutrients to perform body functions.

Any deficiency in any of these aspects can cause psychological imbalances (both attitudinal and temperamental), mental disorders, health hazards, intelligence and remembrance weaknesses, sexual urge and fertility issues, and many more.

On the external front, life is affected by geophysical events, climatic and weather changes, dwelling conditions, disasters, socio-political conditions, and so on.

Astrology and its relationship to life: Astrology is a discipline that addresses and explains the root cause of biological existence, causes affecting the body parts and their functioning; and time periods that sensitivities to body parts, as well as to life, are likely to occur. Astrology is also a discipline that addresses and explains factors underlying the geophysical and environmental events; and time periods that such events are likely to occur.

Astrology had been the main guiding factor underlying the concept of just-governance by ancient rulers, understanding behind philosophical direction and scientific research, underlying architectural designs, and guiding factor in human behaviour. Births of extraordinary personalities have been viewed as products of astro behaviour (Secret Language of Stars and Planets, Geofrey Cornelius and Paul Devereux - 1997). Thus, astrology is a subject closely linked to one’s life.

Foundation of Astrology: The historical root of astrology goes back to the prehistoric era (Robert Hand, 1996). But, the horoscopic astrology that we talk of today is based on the writings of the Astronomer- Astrologer Claudius Ptolemy (Tetrabiblios - Four Books, 2nd century B.C) in the West and on the writings of Rishi Brhat Parashara (Hora Shastra} and Rishi Jaimini (Jasimini Sutra) in India.

Though there is a difference in the base point used for calculation of planetary movements the basic foundation, logic and analysis of both systems are identical. [Western method uses the ecliptic equator (tropical time) as the base point and calls it ‘sayana’ (including arch-ray) method, whereas, the Indian method uses the celestial equator (sidereal time which excludes the arch-ray) as the base point and calls it ‘nirayana’].

Horoscopic Astrology (both Western and Indian) bases its validity on several key assumptions.

The basic assumption is that the cosmic energy transmitted from the eastern horizon to a particular place at a particular point of time; and the composition and the mix of elements of water (apo), heat (thejo), air (vayo) and earth (pathavi) transmitted from planets to that place at that point of time, decides the basic structure of the mind-body complex of an individual born at that place at that point of time.

The same assumption is applied to physical objects, environment and people’s attitudes of geographic area to which cosmic force is directed at different time periods. (Note: for certain purposes Milky-Way is taken instead of the equator to analyze the impact on a place in the solar system)

In this process, astrology assumes that:

* In the Earth’s daily rotation of a 360 degree cycle each point of place on the Earth passes through twelve 30 degree compartments called zodiacs and in the process, each zodiac receives a specific element of water, heat, air or earth emitted from the direction of the eastern horizon.

* These elements are transmitted in the form of waves in one of the three modes (patterns) identified as cardinal (chara), fixed (thira), or mutible i.e. combination of cardinal and fixed (ubhaya).

* Each planet that orbits (or transits) 360 degree cycles around the Sun also passes through similar twelve 30 degree zodiacs and transmits similar elements in similar three modes.

* Each planet has lordship to one or more zodiacs and emits one of the four elements pertaining to the zodiac of lordship to the concerned point of place.

* When different planets orbit around the Sun at different speeds the four elements transmitted to the Earth in different patterns produce different combinations of elements depending on their placement in terms of longitude and latitude and their aspects to each other planet.

* Behaviour, growth and responses of body parts from birth to death are continuously sensitive to the direction from which the four elements of water, heat, air and earth are transmitted, their mix and their mode of transmission.

* The Earth’s geo-physical objects, environments and attitudes of people in different geo-physical areas are also sensitive to the direction and the mix of transmission of these four elements.

A horoscope depicts just this information placed on a 360 degree circular chart or a box chart.

Relationship of Zodiacs and Houses to life: If a horoscope is drawn on a box chart the middle box shown as Ascendant (Lagna) shows the direction of the eastern horizon in relation to the given place of birth at the given point of time. The Ascendant shows the thirty degree affected area, the strength and the nature of the cosmic energy transmitted from the direction of the eastern horizon, to the native at birth.

The outer 12 boxes named in zodiac signs (Aries, Taurus, and so on) show the 30 degree compartments in the 360 degree planetary orbit circle as viewed from the place of birth of the native. The starting (zero) point is fixed to the Aries. Each zodiac represents particular parts of the body as well as particular characteristics of human behaviour.

Similar to the zodiac signs there are also 12 houses in a horoscope. The starting point of houses is linked to the Ascendant not to the starting point of zodiacs. Houses also represent specific parts and functions of human body as well as specific inclinations of human activity.

The strength and the impact of each planet, either individually or in conjunction with other planets or with aspects to other planets, is judged in relation to its angle of ray, speed relationships of planets, and planet’s placement in a particular zodiac and in a house.

World renowned expert on Time and Space, Cambridge Professor Stephen Hawkins describes light as both a wave and a particle (A Briefer History of Time, 2005). This description fits in well to the operation of transmitting the four elements of cosmic energy through wave modes (patterns).

Astronomical basis of astrology explains that the Sun, Moon and planets move within a band of about 8-9 degrees north and south of the ecliptic path. It is this band of cycle that is divided into twelve zodiacs within which planets move in spiral pattern emitting elements in fixed, mutable and mixed patterns.

Prof. Stephen Hawkins makes some new observations on the spiral behaviour of the Milky Way (our galaxy) and on the spiral behaviour of the solar system which is likely to cast new implications on universal phenomena as well as on current astrological interpretations.

A.T. Mann (New Vision of Astrology, 2002) explains how our body’s chemical composition reflects the cosmos and contains traces of every element identified in astrological analysis.

He states that DNA molecules made up of twelve components in four acid bases in three different forms is similar to the twelve zodiacal language of four elements in three modes.

He explains that the spiral solar system moving through time and the planets making their spiral orbit around the central filament of the Sun is the spiral DNA molecule in every living being. Thus, current scientific explanations bring astrology closer to our lives.

Application of Astrology to life situations: Horoscopic Astrology has many specialized subdivisions to address astrological impact on different aspects of life. An overview of some of them is given below.

* Natal Astrology (Jataka Shastra): This division uses horoscopes to analyze the impact of planetary movements on events of mind-body complex of individuals from birth to death. It explains that ones planetary position at birth influences ones i. mind, and tells his personality characteristics and temperament; ii. health, and foretells likely health hazards and when, iii. education and career inclination, and shows his inborn capacities and career inclinations, iv. family life, and tells his attachment to parents, marital urge, matching partner, fertility and family distresses.

* Electional Astrology (Muhurtha popularly called Neketh): In this division, horoscopic information is used to identify best auspicious times to initiate an activity to get maximum fruition from the life activities.

The purpose of this analysis is to target favourable cosmic energy emitting from planetary ray combinations to the person and to the point of action.

* Universal Astrology or Mundane Astrology (Samhita or Lokayathana Astrology): This aspect of astrology deals with predicting geophysical phenomena and events affecting geographic regions, countries, weather and people’s social attitudes.

This aspect of astrology had been significantly used by Egyptian, Greek and Roman rulers as well as South Asian and South-East Asian rulers until astrology was declared heretic, believers persecuted and astrological literature destroyed in the later part of Roman Empire. Egyptian-Greek-Roman concept of just-governance symbolized by falcon’s head in rulers’ courts and Indian Dharma Sastra were entirely based on astrology concepts.

Modern researchers have attributed the wisdom of the Buddha, Lord Mahaveera, Confucius, Plato, Aristotle and others in the 6th and 5th century era B.C to the impact of peculiar planetary conjunctions during that period, particularly of Jupiter and Saturn conjunction. Bible refers to astrologers in the statements “Where is the new born king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Mathew 2:1-12).

* Marital Astrology analyses the physical and psychological factors of marital partners to assess their compatibility in terms of sexual urge, fertility, health and temperamental behaviors.

* Astro Psychology is a new discipline becoming rapidly popular in the west used for relationship analysis and dispute resolution.

* Astro Medicine analyses the planetary impact on health for early diagnosis of impending health hazards, prescribing appropriate medical remedies and for scientific research for medical discoveries. Hipocrates (460-377 BC), father of western medicine, had been an astro analyst who discovered that extract of willow bark is a good medicine. This is the origin of Aspirin which is still called the divine medicine. Eastern Ayurveda and Unani medical treatment is astro based.

* Astro Architecture (Vastu Vidya) is used to design buildings targeted to benefit from planetary movements. Early Egyptians had been masters of aligning buildings, temples and especially the pyramids to fixed stars.

Their ability to survey and align buildings with stars had been accurate, often within minutes of arc of the perfect alignment. International experts who studied the architectural design to relocate the ancient temple submerged under the Aswan Dam have found that the precision of alignments were so perfect that twice a year sunlight penetrated to the innermost sanctuary of the main temple and used stars as charts (Quirke, 1992). Analyzing astrological impact of architectural designs on health and safety is popular in India and Sri Lanka even to-date.

Reliability of Data used for horoscope analysis: There are a large number of publications that describe astronomy and its application to astrology.

Data relating to planetary movements is collected and documented by astronomers in observatories located in different parts of the world, among which the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the US Naval Observatory are foremost. A large number of astrological ephemeris translating astronomical information for use by astrologers, are available.

Future of Astrology: There is a reawakening of astrological studies and practice in the West as well as in the East. Academic and professional institutions have been established to conduct courses that lead to producing professional practitioners, among which Kepler College of Seattle University, USA that awards B.A. and M.A. degrees in Astrology, American Federation of Astrologers, British Astrological Associations, Federation of Australian Astrologers and a large number of astrology training institutions in India are noteworthy.

(The writer is a Research Astrologer, has held positions of Mission Economist of USAID/Sri Lanka, Director, National Planning of Ministry of Finance and Planning in Sri Lanka and Visiting Lecturer at Sri J’pura University).