Vedic Astrology Information
Jyotish is one of the main Vedic Sciences. The Vedic Sciences are very different our Western materialist view of the world. Jyotish is the Vedic Science of reading the Soul's Karma's as it has evolved through time. In many ways Astrology is the study of Time, as time is the great womb of creation. It is that which gives birth to all and that to which everything returns eventually. An Astrologer sees what the soul has experienced and what it is likely to experience in the future and how he will likely respond to those events.
The Soul is the true Self. It is eternal and peaceful, without qualities or needs. Yet due to the attachment to thought and action borne from the illusion of separateness, the force of karma brings the soul into a body to awaken through its experiences. The Chart is a portrait of the Soul's Karma, the portrait of the illusion through which we are operating.
In the Vedic Chart there are 3 main types of energy, which generally correlate to the 3 Gunas. (see the Vedic Sciences page) They are:
Tamas - Houses. The houses shows what tangible areas of life will be affected by the different chart indicators. It reveals the physical life of the embodied creature. Their health, their income, their spouse, their career, etc.
Rajas - Signs. The Signs show the mental and emotional forces operating behind the physical life. It shows how they are likely to approach those things in life or feel about them as they unfold.
Sattwa - Planets. The Planets show the great powerful forces operating behind the the mind and through the houses. They are the pure forces of the universe. Theirs are perfect and complete in their highest form.
Every planet resides in a house and a sign. Even signs and houses without planets are governed by the planets that rule them. The way that planet is disposed determines how smoothly that area of life will unfold and how the person will feel about it.
Reading the Chart
Reading the Astrology Chart is a tricky thing. There are many variables, yet many of the most important qualities of a person can be known just by discerning the ascendant, (rising sign) and looking where the Nodes of Rahu and Ketu reside. Knowing this will will not allow you to make predictions or see deeply into the karmas of the person, but you can certainly learn a lot about the nature of the person.
When someone asks "what's your sign" in Vedic Astrology they are referring to your ascendant not your Sun sign, as in the West.
