Spiritual Path Astrology

Jyotish is the Science of Light: the Astrology of India, commonly called Vedic Astrology. It is considered one
of the five limbs of the Vedas, the system of sciences of ancient India. Coming from a culture known for its
intense spirituality, it is not surprising that within Vedic Astrology there are techniques for analyzing an
individuals spiritual path. As a life-long meditator and now professional astrologer, obtaining insight into
ones spiritual journey through chart interpretation has become one of my specialties.
The birth chart is a 360-degree flash-photo of the Heavens taken at the time, and from the place, of your
birth. This pattern of stars and planets can be read on more than one level. The most common usage is
strictly material and mundane: dealing with the everyday concerns of success and failure, health and
disease, partnership and children.
But as the spiritual aspirant knows, underlying the forms of the mundane world there exists another level, an
energetic level, which both creates and supports the manifest universe.
The normal interpretation of the birth chart addresses the physical existence of an individual by sectioning
the chart into twelve houses, where each house represents a particular department of life. This provides the
structure of the chart; the apparent space that surrounds one, within which the events foretold by the pattern
of planets amongst the 12 constellations (signs) are experienced. But for the spiritual aspirant we want to go
to a deeper level, viewing the lifetime as part of an ongoing process: the education of a soul. Since the
material world is nothing but an expression of the spiritual energies, necessarily there has to be a
correspondence between the soul level of interpretation and the mundane events-level. Ideally, by being
conscious of both levels, one stays engaged in everyday activities while simultaneously maintaining the
perspective of the eternal souls need to evolve by having the experiences of the human plane. Being
conscious of the soul level brings a new dimension to everyday events, turning daily existence into a spiritual
path.
It is admittedly difficult to talk about a level of existence to which we have trouble making a direct connection
using the human intellect. For this reason all spiritual traditions create an esoteric language, a language of
symbols designed to be more closely analogous to the energy patterns of the formless world than what is
possible using everyday language. Typically this language takes the form of stories, a mythology, the
structure of which mimics the structure of the transcendent world. The mythology of the Vedas is one such
esoteric language, which finds concrete expression through the observable relationships between the
celestial bodies. Thus a connection is made between the tales of the gods and goddesses of Hindu
mythology and the deeper implications of an individuals astrological birth chart.
In Vedic Astrology the clearest expression of this connection occurs in the descriptions of the nakshatras, the
signs of the Lunar Zodiac. These lunar signs, 27 in number, were the ancient basis of Vedic Astrology. We
can say that the Lunar Zodiac, with its 27 signs, underlies the more familiar 12 sign Solar (sun sign) zodiac.
In their original form the nakshatras are rich with imagery and knowledge, which although not lost, is not
much used by modern astrologers dealing with solving the mundane questions of everyday survival. For the
aspirant who seeks to translate the outer experience into grist for the mill of Spiritual Work, an interpretation
of the birth chart at this level gives a better understanding of what part of the path one is following in this
particular lifetime.
For instance, a common theme in human life is suffering. Believing in an all-loving Spirit, it is hard to
understand why there would be so much suffering in the world. The commonly held viewpoint is that the
sufferer is paying for past transgressions of moral codes, i.e., paying for ones sins and bad karmas. Or that
the suffering is there to help us become disenchanted with the world of the senses and thus turn our eyes to
the Divine. But in some spiritual traditions, and in Vedic mythology, we encounter an additional viewpoint:
that of consciously choosing to suffer because in so doing one accrues spiritual merit; one purifies oneself
and thus becomes a more suitable container for a higher expression of the spiritual energies.
We find a version of this concept illustrated by the stories connected to Indra, the wielder of the celestial
thunderbolt, who holds the post of Ruler of Heaven. Indra is always getting into trouble; hes a lover of
intoxicants and has numerous illicit affairs. But still he manages to retain his exalted post by doing tapas, i.e.,
austerity or penance: he periodically undergoes great suffering, putting himself at great risk, and performs
acts of great bravery as he goes forth to battle the demons. In an individual birth chart, the connection to
Indra and tapas shows up in a person born with an emphasis (an important planet or point in the chart)
located in the later degrees of the sign Scorpio. In this part of the zodiac is located the nakshatra called
Jyeshta, which is ruled by the deity Indra. Jyeshta manifests in ones life as the suffering of having to assume
heavy responsibility. The responsibility is often attended by the theme of protection, i.e., like Indra, having to
go forth and do battle with the forces of evil. Individuals with Jyeshta emphasis in their charts ordinarily
manifest this energy by being police officers or soldiers. On the spiritual level, the realization required is that
of voluntarily taking on personal sacrifice, battling the forces of ignorance so as to maintain the Celestial
Order. In return, such a soul is granted a post giving authority over others and consequently even more
responsibility.
Another theme that is common to religions and spiritual paths is the theme of Bhakti, the devotional path to
the Divine. The eternal soul finds itself trapped in a human body, with the memory of transcendent love.
Having general amnesia about its true state, the individual goes forth in this lifetime seeking a perfect love.
After finally realizing that the most exalted form of love is not to be found in limited, imperfect human
relationships, the spiritual seeker turns to the bhakti path. In the astrology chart indications of the path of
devotion can show up in many places, but one that epitomizes the idea is found in the lunar sign Vishakha.
This nakshatra is located in the last 10 degrees of the sign Libra and extends through approximately the first
3 degrees of Scorpio.
The energy of Vishakha is mostly represented by the desire to achieve a goal. Typically people with this
lunar sign emphasized in their birth chart get obsessed with setting and achieving goals in their lives;
Vishaka is all about desire and obsession and achievement. But there is another interpretation hidden in this
nakshatra that reveals a whole other level of goal setting; the ultimate goal of union with the Divine. The
illustration comes through Vishakhas connection with the story of Radha and Krishna. Radha, as a grown
woman, falls in love with the boy-god Krishna. Being a human, and being married, as well as being a grown-
up, this was in no way an ordinary love, nor could this love be consummated in the ordinary sense. In fact, it
was breaking societal conventions and morals. So Radha was left with an intense longing for what could not
be possessed. This love, this obsession, by a human for God, i.e., for perfection, is the essence of Vishakha,
and in the birth charts of individuals with emphasis on this nakshatra, shows up in their lives as impossible
relationships, which are standing in for the ultimate relationship. Thus, the Vishakha seeker turns to the
bhakti path, enduring the intense pain of separation from the beloved, until that spiritual practice leads to the
break-through of self-realization.
Some of the nakshatras indicate having a particular role to play in the Divine Plan. The spiritual aspirant
whos birth chart has one of these nakshatras emphasized and connects with its meaning can then proceed
on their path with a better understanding of how to play their part in the larger scheme of things. One such
nakshatra is Magha. It is located in the first part of the sign Leo. Magha means mighty and its symbol is the
throne. It is obviously connected with kings and rulers, and those born with this emphasis typically end up
being in charge of something in their lives. But the deeper meaning of Magha comes from its connection with
the Pitris, which translates literally as the ancestors. On the mundane plane, this can show up as concern
or fascination with ones forefathers. But for the seeker there is another meaning: being a vessel for the
teachings of ones guru. For the sacred teachings to stay alive depends on the guru having suitable disciples
to pass everything on to. Thus Magha on the esoteric level has to do with spiritual lineage. Honoring ones
teacher and being faithful to and passing on the traditions is a big responsibility. Taking this mission seriously
is what ultimately gives Magha people position and recognition in the everyday world, as well as the inner
fulfillment that comes from carrying out their Dharma, their duty, in the spiritual realm.
In analyzing the birth charts of actual individuals what we find is that more than one nakshatra is
emphasized. The lunar sign present on the East horizon is always regarded as important, as is the nakshatra
of the natal Moon (called the janma nakshatra or natal star). Any dominant planet, or group of planets in
one nakshatra, also indicates a prominent theme in the chart. These various factors build on each other and
give added dimensions to the dharma or duty of the soul for this lifetime. Using Vedic Astrologys techniques
of timing and prediction the astrologer can tell when a particular dharma shown by the corresponding
nakshatra will be activated in an individuals life. Awareness of the underlying purpose of ones life gives the
spiritual aspirant a perspective from which to view the progression of events as corresponding to lessons for
the evolving soul.