Jyotish means the “science of light,” and what a remarkable science of astrological enlightenment it is. Jyotish has a tradition dating back nearly 6,000 years. While the Jyotish sidereal zodiac is almost a whole sign different from Western astrology, don’t let that bother you. Jyotish considers the Moon and Ascendant far more important than the Sun.
One of the two most exciting features of Jyotish is its ability to time events in your life. Depending on the position of your Moon at birth, your life will begin under the major influence of one of nine planets (seven traditional planets plus the two nodes of the moon). Then, in a fixed sequence, these planets take turns being the major influencers of events in your life. Using this system of lifetime-lordships (the Dasa System), we can fairly quickly get an overview of the types of events you will experience in different segments of your life.
Some people complain that Jyotish is too fated. In the battle of Fate vs. Free Will, Jyotish often seems to emphasize the side of Fate. Strictly speaking, Jyotish simply recognizes that, while there are a few things in life that are definitely “fated”, there are great degrees of variation and choice, and many of our actions and attitudes can change our experience of life.
This leads to the second exciting feature of Jyotish. Because this ancient tradition has worked with energy patterns for millennia, they have also developed effective remedies for difficult situations. I can’t explain or understand how these remedies work, but I (and many of you) have experienced near-miraculous changes by using gemstones, mantras, special ceremonies honoring planetary energies, and specific exercises performed on a weekly basis to help balance specific energies affecting us. If you’re facing intractable problems, be sure to ask me about these the next time we talk!
