Ascendants and their Character traits!!

If you have been following my previous blogposts, by now you should have some idea of what an 'ascendant' means and how it says a great deal about your personality.

Below are the 12 ascendants and their character traits in brief.

ARIES: Enthusiastic, Dynamic, Courageous, Confident, Quarrelsome, Dominating.

You are ambitious and adventurous. You have pushful and aggressive nature. You are fond of argument and have leadership qualities. Sometimes, your extremism leads to mental and emotional instability. Any attempt to dominate or control you gets your hackles rising. However the sincerity of your passions makes up to some degree for the rashness of your actions. You have the impressive ability to rise to the occasion in times of emergency.


TAURUS: Soft spoken, Grounded, Dependable, Straight forward, Cheerful.

Taurus zodiac is represented by 'The Bull' and just like a bull, you are strong and silent. You have this amazing quality of bearing emotional and physical pain, even for years, without grieving or complaining. Infact more the troubles come your way ,the stronger you come out to be. Your ideas are always sensible and practical. You are not the one who build castles in the air. You are fond of beauty,music and good food. One of the typical personality traits of a Taurus is passivity. You are always there for people when they call on you but you will never be the one to call on them in the first place and its not because you keep any ego issues, but simply because you are passive.

GEMINI: Sharp minded, Humorous, Calculative, Helpful,  Social, Moody.

One of the main traits of the Gemini twin sign is curiosity. You are always searching for activities and diversions to put life's puzzle together. The one thing about your sign which is not found in any of the other zodiacs, is that youth is retained. You people remain enthusiastic throughout life. Because of the twin sign, the evil side of the Gemini enjoys playing pranks on people. In fact, you enjoy anything that will bring you amusement and some lightness. You also always try to be updated and aware about what's happening in the world. You are a little insecure and sometimes take decisions in a haste.

CANCER: Honest,Talkative, Very emotional, Restless, Protective, Dreamy, Sympathetic.

Being a watery sign, you are dynamically emotional. People like you are in tune with the feelings of others as you tend to feel things so deeply yourself. You have a very good imagination and are fond of travelling. You are always in a fix, not very determined. Also many a times it so happens with you that when you are having the happiest moments of your life, you get a bad news.You have an excellent memory and are more of a speaker, than a listener.Though short-tempered, you are receptive to new ideas and adapt easily to the new environment.

LEO: Outspoken, Fearless, Egoistic, Image conscious, Bossy, Strong willed.

Leo zodiac is represented by the Lion and hence being a Leo, you are born to rule.You are frank, generous and ambitious.You are also very self aware and body conscious.You are fond of pleasure and luxury even with limited resources.You have the endurance to make through any difficult task. Strong but stubborn, you are often heard saying, "I cannot tolerate negative or wrong things".You are creative and like transparency.You are unlikely to fall a victim of flattery.You are however quite dominating and also egoistic at times.

VIRGO: Sharp minded, Nervous, Peaceful, Diplomatic, Soft spoken, Social.

If you belong to Virgo astrological sign, you are soft and friendly. You are not arrogant and treat everyone with respect. You have a good grasping power and impress everyone with your conversational skills. Your mind usually doesn't rest very often as you keep pondering over one thing or another.You also dwell quite a lot in the past and do not let  go of it very easily.You take your own sweet time to open up with people and mostly wait for the other person to initiate things. You are down to earth and compassionate.You are quite critical of other people's faults and are not very tolerant.

LIBRA: Gentle, Courteous, Cheerful, Empathetic, Harmonious, Easy going, Lazy

With the symbol of Scales on your side, you’re a seeker of balance and justice.You have a pleasing smile. Part of your charm is being able to make other people feel important.You always find something to like in everyone. Infact at times, you think of others more than yourself. You hate conflict.You'll do anything to avoid an argument,or to stop one. It's not that you're afraid of being hurt, it's that you're afraid of hurting someone else's feelings.You're a peace maker.When confronted with two opposing sides, you'll find a happy medium.You crave harmony and hate show-off. Being ruled by Venus, your are very fond of music,dance and movies.

SCORPIO: Frank, Bold, Notorious,Stubborn, Well-informed, Ambitious, Dominating

You are a fearless fighter,broad minded and have a strong will power. You also have good leadership qualities. You are like the volcano not far under the surface of a calm sea, may burst into eruption at any moment. You are thoughtful in conversation and dignified. You are determined and secretive. You are self-reliant and seldom seek out the advice of others, preferring to find the answers yourself. You cannot fake anything and speak exactly what you feel, even if sounds rude to the other person.

SAGITTARIUS: Knowledgeable, Straightforward, Kind, Religious, Alert, Reliable, Truthful

Being a Sagittariun, you desire to know something of everything. You are quite active and often restless. Much like the two other fire signs, Aries and Leo, you're dynamic and charismatic. You make friends easily. Infact in a room full of strangers, you'll be one of the firsts to break the ice through a small talk. You think logically, and this makes you a convincing speaker.You are fond of debates and are always prepared to speak on any topic.You love adventure, change, exploring new territories, and are not content with the same safe, familiar little world all the time. Freedom-loving, you cannot tolerate being dominated.

CAPRICORN: Honest, Sincere,Thoughtful, Self-reliant, Insecure, Lazy

You believe in the principle, " My life, my way". You are patient and determined. Being a Capricorn, you see your life in black and white. You tend to feel uncomfortable in what you can't see or understand. You would wait as long as it requires to analyze a situation before acting upon it and hence you are not impulsive. You also have a good sense of humor and don't mind taking jokes on yourself. You are quite conventional and stable. Your believe that self sufficiency is strength so you do not like to ask others for help. This is also because you like to take full credit for what you achieve. But you are a lazy bone.

AQUARIUS: Intelligent, Helpful, Analytical, Confident, Hard working, Passionate.

You are outgoing, friendly and possess good organizational and communication skills. You are an intellectual and have a healthy outlook towards life. You just don’t want to be like others and take pride in the fact that you’re so unique. If you’re not able to live your life on your own terms, you aspire to a future time when you can fulfill your dreams to the fullest in exactly the way you want. Even though sometimes your opinions are too different, you are always respected for speaking your mind honestly. Although on the outside you appear aloof and detached, you're inwardly sensitive and caring.

PISCES: Imaginative, Knowledgeable, Outspoken, Kind, Creative, Reliable

You are versatile and intuitive, have quick understanding, observe and listen well, and are receptive to new ideas and atmospheres. You are also secretive and fond of sarcasm. You dislike disciple and confinement. The nine-to-five schedule is not for you. You are kind and compassionate. You are vocal about your feelings. You are gifted artistically. You are not very ambitious and tend to understand things by absorption rather than logic. You are loyal, home-loving, kind and generous. You support your friends unconditionally and expect the same support from your friends if the need arises. You have a forgiving nature.

ATMAKARAKA- Discovering the soul's desire:

A lot of times what happens is that we are not able to understand what we really want in life. It is not only about our career goals, but other things or desires which can give us a lot of happiness and satisfaction, if we would know about them. But we don't have an idea. Why? Because we don't have the time to look within. We are so busy in talking to others that we don't have the time to speak to our own soul.

In Astrology, Atmakaraka has the answer to this question. Atma means 'soul' and karaka is the 'significator'. Thus Atmakaraka is the significator of the soul’s desire. It is believed that a soul is reborn because it has unfulfilled desires that were not achieved in the previous life and it is born again to get another chance to satisfy them. But what are these desires? How will they be fulfilled? All this and much more is revealed by the Atmakaraka planet.

Since Sun represents the soul, it is considered to be the natural atmakaraka for everyone. However its the personal atmakaraka, famously called as the char(moveable) atmakaraka that shows the desires of the soul and its journey in this birth. Sun is the original significator of the soul, but the lesson the soul has to learn in this birth, is governed by the char atmakaraka.

How to find out the Char Atmakaraka? It’s very easy. The one with the highest degrees, out of the 7 planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus) in your horoscope, becomes your Char atmakaraka.  The planet that becomes your char atmakaraka defines your goals in life. For e.g. If you have the Sun as Char Atmakaraka, it indicates that the desires to fulfill are success, fame and power. You must give up ego and maintain humility. Mars as Atmakaraka indicates that one becomes brave, courageous and the greatest challenge is to use his bravery in the right direction and avoid cruelty...and so on for the other planets. One needs to imbibe the positive values of the planet throwing off its negative traits. So once you know your char atmakaraka, you would know your purpose in life and the desires of your soul. This also helps you in your spiritual progress as you would know which traits you need to shed off to head more strongly towards moksha.

It is very important to understand that the fulfillment of the worldly desires is a part of the process of ending the reincarnation process. Our soul is treading the wheel of desires and the fulfillment of one set of material desires create an ever-increasing appetite for more and more. These desires never get fulfilled. The true motive of the soul is to get off this wheel and achieve self-realization, peace and eternal happiness. The struggle between the real and the false has to be understood. The false desires are those which we search for in the outside world. The true desires are satisfied from within, within our soul.

Atmakaraka shows the path through life lessons (delivered during planetary period of the Atmakaraka planet). The fact that the soul is born to earth shows that there is a worldly mission for the soul to complete before it is ready to understand the higher self. There cannot be a fast track to moksha so it is important to recognize and complete the material goal- both the good and the unpleasant. Unless you achieve that, you cannot go into the inner world and find your personal treasure of happiness. Atmakaraka will show you both the soul’s material goals and the spiritual ones.

Below is the life lesson shown by each planet that becomes the atmakaraka:

Sun: Sun as an AK indicates that the native has to learn to overcome his ego and should become humble. That’s how he should live his life. It shows the material desires of Success, Fame, and Power.

Moon: Moon as AK indicates that the native should be caring and compassionate, like a mother. He should work towards attaining stability in life. He should not be too emotionally vulnerable to be exploited by others.

Mars: It indicates that the native should be courageous and strong-willed but should refrain from all forms of violence.  He should try out various adventures and explore the sporty side of life. The spiritual lesson to learn is patience and calmness.

Mercury: Mercury as AK indicates that the native should be soft spoken and not harsh or rude with people. His speech and communication skills should be good. He should be an intellectual and try to be truthful at all times.

Jupiter: Jupiter as AK indicates that the native should always respect his teachers/Guru, priests and elderly people. He should try to acquire knowledge and should always be well-informed. He should be wise and work towards spirituality.

Venus: Venus as AK indicates that the native must have a very clean character and refrain from illegitimate sex/lust. He should be of loving nature, maintain good relationships with people and enjoy his life to the fullest.

Saturn: Saturn as AK indicates that the native should follow all his duties and live a disciplined life. He should not be lazy and should refrain from drinking and drugs.  He should spend his life in the service of people.

So the basic thing you all can do is to look up for the planet with the highest degree in your horoscope and learn your life lessons. For in-depth analysis, do consult an astrologer.

Saturn's transit in Sagittarius: Order or Chaos?

Saturn, the master of discipline and righteousness moves to the majestic Jupiter’s sign Sagittarius on 26^th Jan 2017 where it will rest for around two and half years. Things will change for sure, but for the better or worse?

I have been consistently getting requests to make some predictions for this crucial event. Considering the nervousness and anxiety regarding this shift, I have mentioned below some of the results of Saturn’s move on all the rising signs.

Here you go!!

Aries: Gains from elders and teachers. But remember that Saturn likes to do things slowly and thus you will be getting the results but gradually at their own pace. Be patient.

Taurus: Not a very favorable period for you since Saturn occupies your eighth house. You will have to work hard to achieve success. Avoid shortcuts. Good time to work on spiritual growth.

Gemini: You need to invest more time and effort in your personal and love relationships. Time to effectuate the business idea you have been thinking about since long.

Cancer:  In legal matters, there will be progress and decisions are likely to be in favor. Take care of your health. If you are looking for a change in job, there would be fresh opportunities coming up.

Leo: Good time to go for love marriage. Start making efforts in this regard as things are quite favorable for the same. 

Virgo: Mixed results for you. You may get bored at home easily and will want to travel more. Do not invest in property as matters related to the same may take a lot of time to fructify.

Libra: Saturn being in 12th house from its own house may initiate relocation or a lot of travel. Your dedication towards your life goals will also increase. Get going.

Scorpio: Family life might be a little disturbed. Just make sure you work on that. Financial gains will be there as you will get some exciting opportunities in your area of work

Sagittarius:  Since Saturn occupies the first house, it’s not a very favorable time for you. Just be fair and honest in all your financial dealings and take care of your health.

Capricorn:  The last couple of years may have been rewarding in terms of monetary gains but now that Saturn occupies the 12th house of your chart, you need to keep a check on expenses. Foreign travel is also indicated.

Aquarius: Very auspicious time for you. Gains and happiness from all ends.  Good time for some charity work you always wanted to do.

Pisces: Saturn’s entry into your tenth house will give you mixed results.  You should avoid stock market or speculation.

Please note that these are just some general results. The precise outcome will vary depending upon your personal horoscope, Saturn’s movement through the different constellations, your planetary periods and many other factors.  

Astrology, Destiny and Free Will

The most fascinating debate of all times is whether Life is a matter of the choices we make, or it is merely destiny and fate. Usually most people have these two thought processes in this regard.

Thought process 1:  If everything is destined, what role do I have to play here? If I don’t have control on anything, how does Astrology make sense? What’s the point of knowing the future if I can’t change it. How does the law of Karma fit into this?

Thought process 2: If I can control everything, why does it so happen that people are born with particular talents and disabilities, or why some people never meet with success no matter how hard they work while others are propelled effortlessly to name and fun, without having to do much?

Both the thoughts make absolute sense and neither of them is completely incorrect. 

The truth is that life is actually a result of Destiny and Free Will. The family and social environment we are born into is destiny which is the outcome of our previous life karmas. Same goes with our health status at the time of birth, our core talents etc. We see that a lot of people are born artists. People having no family history in Music are born singers/performers. There are many such examples we see that show the power of destiny in our life.

But had only destiny been into play, we wouldn’t have been bestowed with the gift of intellect to make decisions at every point of life. It is these choices that we make that build up our present life karma further contributing to our destiny.

The law of Karma says that all that happens in one's life is the result of his own deeds. One can never escape the fruits of whatever he has done. Just like different plants take different time spans to grow up, different actions also take different time spans to bear fruit. And so the result of some act may take more time to fructify than the remaining life span of the person who committed that act. In such cases, the person has to bear the results of such actions in his next life. 

At every moment one is the sum of what one has been, and yet at the same time constantly creating who one is to be.Thus we see that destiny and free will go hand in hand. Thus comes the equation:

Destiny + Free Will= Reality/Result

There are three types of karma:

Sanchit karma is the total accumulated stock of one's past karmas.  This can be seen through the Vedic Horoscope of the individual majorly through the planetary placements in various houses, zodiacs and constellations.

Prarabdha karma, what we call as destiny is that part of sanchit karma which is passed down to us in this birth for suffering or enjoyment. This again is reflected in the Vedic Horoscope of the individual through the major and sub period of various planets and transit influence. These are the situations/opportunities/ adversities that will arrive in the present life span of the individual.

Agami karma which is performed in this birth, out of free will, is the karma of the present life. This part is not reflected in the horoscope as it is the present life action of the individual. This action may be conditioned by the cultural and social environment and belief systems but still the power to act is in your hand. Thus while Prarabdha karma is something which cannot be undone, we have free will available in the form of Agami karma.

When we say that Destiny cannot be changed, or what the Supreme Power has written cannot be undone, we talk about the Prarabdha karmas. This does not mean that one cannot create new karma. Because new karma is always getting created, not just with your actions but even with your thoughts.

The sages created Vedic astrology to help human beings understand the cycles of their lives based on karma they'd created in previous incarnations. The horoscope was designed as a kind of blueprint or a report card for the individual that summarized their level of accomplishment up to the moment they were born. A Vedic Horoscope reveals the karmic status of different areas in their life such as family, romance, career, finances, and spiritual growth. 

The role of Astrology is to make the individual aware of his journey of life, and taking his previous karmic account into consideration draw an image of his future endeavors. By analyzing his planetary positions at the time of birth, the astrologer gets an insight into the situations that will arise in the individual’s life and guides him on how to use those opportunities to the fullest. Through remedies, the individual exercises his free will to solve life’s problems making the most of his strengths at the same time being aware of his weaknesses.

Remember that the horoscope only reveals our karmic status up to the moment of our birth. But from the moment of birth, our attitudes and behaviors in this life modify the future course of our karma, for better or worse. By living with full awareness, making wise choices, and acting effectively and compassionately, we can to a large extent override the vectors of destiny that were set in motion when we took our first breath. Vedic astrology does not tell us what will happen in our future. It tells us what might happen unless we consciously act to prevent or modify it. Think of a traffic light: it signals when it's time for us to stop or go. But it's our stepping on the brake or accelerator that makes the car move. The choice to act and the act itself come from us, not from the stars.

The horoscope is a beginning point for spiritual practice, a platform to work on. It’s not a judge's sentence that leaves no chance for an appeal. This physical body we value so much is the least of what we are. In fact we're multidimensional beings who have lived before and will live again to suffer or enjoy the results of the action we're performing right now. 

So when we try to find our fortune in the stars, we need to remember that we ourselves are the authors. Astrology is the roadmap. But we need to travel, and travel a lot, all by ourselves.

Super Moon's Play with the Earth: The event and its effects

Everyone is looking forward to the splendid phenomenon of Moon’s interesting play with Earth on 27th-28th September 2015 and that has already created a lot of buzz all across the globe.

This is quite justified as it is the 4th consecutive Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse in the last two years, a rare occurrence called a tetrad.

Not just this, it is also the second and most powerful Super Moon this year, when the Moon comes closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit. This means the Moon will look BIG and RED.

In the US, Canada, and Central and South America, it will begin on the evening of September 27, 2015. In Europe, South/East Asia, Africa, the Arctic, and in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans it starts after midnight on September 28, 2015.

Since we have the Harvest Moon, Super Moon and Blood Moon this time all together, let’s first understand what these terms mean before we move to their interactions with the folks on the planet.

Harvest Moon: the full moon that is closest to the Spring/Autumnal equinox. Good time for new beginnings.

Super Moon: when the moon is closer the earth due to its rotation and orbit. This is usually a time where the energetic effects of the moon and emotions run high and are felt stronger.

Blood Moon: when the earth casts a shadow on the moon causing the suns light to hit the moon and make it appear red. (The actual color depends on the earth’s atmosphere, the amount of dust etc. )

The effects of this phenomenon on the people on Earth will be high on emotional affairs. Due to Moon’s powerful interaction with the Earth’s energy, it may cause emotional disturbances like depression, a sinking feeling of helplessness, mood swings etc. During this phase, there is also a heightened sensitivity giving rise to a greater awareness of the spirit world and the life beyond the materialistic sphere. 

Also since the eclipse occurs in Aries, it may also result in aggression and outbursts of anger. So an advice for everyone should be to maintain their calm and just adapt to the fresh energy with acceptance to make full use of it in the positive direction. It is over to us all how we want this rise in consciousness to change our world. Think of this Eclipse as a gateway into a new beautiful world where we will all have a deeper understanding of humanity, our ways of contribution to mankind and what life is all about.

Baahubali: The Astrological Symbolism!

The movie Baahubali is breaking all records making its way to be the highest grosser of the year. 

Interestingly, this movie has a lot of instances where we see a direct connect of the story with higher means of life. Yes I am talking about Astrology. Let us see how the movie relates with the phenomenon throughout its play.

When the movie begins, we see Sivagami crossing the river drowning herself but keeping the baby to the surface. Here we see a very strong emotional connect between a mother figure and a son. In Astrology, moon denotes ‘mother’/’’grandmother’. Also it symbolizes all water bodies. This scene indicates that how the amplified power of Moon (Mother +Water) could save the child from getting drowned. Also the soldiers running after her could do no damage signifying the fact that Mars(representative of warrior/soldier) debilitates or loses strength in Moon’s zodiac sign Cancer, a primary rule of Vedic Astrology.

Sometime later, we see that Avanthika is scolded for the design on her hand and told that a girl into self-beautification cannot be a good warrior. Venus signifies Beauty,Love and Creativity while Mars shows a passionate warrior. In astrology Mars and Venus are enemies. This is echoed in the movie when the leader of the group reconsiders her decision of sending Avanthika to MahishMati after noticing the beautiful design on her hand. Also, it is shown profoundly in the movie how Avanthika’s look changes when she is shown fighting as a warrior (tied hair, dark intense look), to the stunning glamorous look when she falls in love, singing songs with her partner, hereby signifying the impact of Venus.

We also see that Baahubali (personification of the planet Mars), carries a Shivalinga with him on his way to the top. Lord Shiva is represented by the planet Saturn and the planet Mars is said to be exalted( most powerful) in Saturn’s sign Capricorn. This is illustrated in the movie as it is shown how Baahubali carries the shivalinga, which further increases his strength and he successfully reaches the peak of the hill in all his glory.

In the end we see that Baahubali wins over Bhallala Deva during the war as Sivagami feels that he is wiser than the latter. Here we see that a very interesting astrological principle of permanent friendship between planets comes into picture. In Astrology, Jupiter representing wisdom, knowledge and righteousness is considered to be Mars’s best friend. Baahubali takes care of the innocent people and finds out an effective solution to save their lives while fighting with the enemy. This noble and just nature of Baahubali combined with his passion to save his own people, puts him on the winning side, astrologically revealing the impact of the wisdom given by Jupiter to his friend Mars that makes him the winner.

These are just a few of the numerous instances from the movie that have been presented. The entire movie is symbolic of how astrology completely connects with human affairs in all amazing ways.

How does Astrology work?

In our daily routine, we come across people with different beliefs and mind sets. For astrologers, its not uncommon to meet people who say that they don't believe in 'things like astrology'.

Interestingly, most of the people who say they do not believe in astrology have not studied it and do not understand what it actually is and how it works. If they know the technicalities of it and how amazingly it connects to an individual on a personal level, they would certainly change their minds.

Sadly, these people are only exposed to astrology through newspaper columns about sun-sign or raashifal . To tell you the truth, newspaper horoscopes are nothing more than a bit of light entertainment containing generalized astrological predictions which has no practical use. Its not astrology but entertainment designed to sell newspapers and earn easy money for their writers. If you really wish to see how amazing astrology is, you must have your own personal chart cast for the exact time of your birth and interpreted by an astrologer.

Since the dawn of civilization, the stars and planets have been in use as celestial guides for human affairs. A horoscope is a map of the sky with us in the very center of that map. It shows where the planets in our solar system along with the Sun, and the Moon were in relation to us on Earth at our moment of birth.

No scientific study has ever been able to prove astrology through large-scale statistical study. And yet it works consistently for individual people and personal readings. How can this be? Below's the answer.

See, astrology is the study of all the energies behind life. Though it contains science within it, yet it does not function by purely scientific means. The deep truths about life cannot be easily understood by the mind and explained by means of language. Yet they can be felt and experienced. Anyone who has had a mystical or spiritual experience can attest to this.The truths of astrology can also be experienced although one may not able “prove” them by sheer logic. Because the proof is in the individual, personalized reading and the relevance it has in that person’s life. Remember, astrology is the umbrella you carry when you go out in the rain. The umbrella does not stop the rain but it saves 'you' from getting wet.

Astrology is able to describe how somebody experiences the world, which is directly linked to what is going within them (their energetic make-up). Having a personalized reading with an astrologer can explain you as to why certain things keep happening with you and guide you further to overcome the challenges that life throws your way. It can also reveal hidden talents, indicate what profession would best suit you, what lessons you are supposed to learn and how to align your life in a way that brings real peace, satisfaction and fulfillment. A happy life full of love is every single person’s dream. Astrology is a powerful tool for guiding you to this. Its like a road-map that tells you when to turn left and when to turn right. Life's ways are not easy and we do not have enough time to try out all the roads and then choose the right way. Astrology shows you the right way.

In nutshell, to really understand how astrology works at the root level, one needs to first understand how 'life' works, for which one needs to be well versed with the karmic theory and significance of 'destiny' in an individual's life. But how are karmas/deeds of past/present life connected with destiny? And how is all of this connected with Astrology?

Keep guessing till my next write-up.