LittleWing
does anyone study / use / know about vedic astrology or panchang ?? (are they the same ?)
vedic astrology
Minderwiz
Panchaang is the traditional Hindu calendar - and 'Vedic' is the traditional Indian, practice of Astrology.
I've not really studied Vedic Astrology much - the main difference that I am aware of is that Vedic Astrologers use the sidereal zodiac, rather than the tropial zodiac. In simple terms they have a different starting place, so if you are Cancer Sun sign in the tropical Zodiac (western) you might well be Gemini in the Sidereal zodiac
This site and the associated web-ring might be useful for you:
http://www.robertkoch.com/
I've not really studied Vedic Astrology much - the main difference that I am aware of is that Vedic Astrologers use the sidereal zodiac, rather than the tropial zodiac. In simple terms they have a different starting place, so if you are Cancer Sun sign in the tropical Zodiac (western) you might well be Gemini in the Sidereal zodiac
This site and the associated web-ring might be useful for you:
http://www.robertkoch.com/
LittleWing
thanks very much minderwiz - i will check out the link. i have a good basic knowledge of astrology but i gave up learning because i wanted to put more time into my yoga study - this has lead me to wondering about this ........
dadsnook2000
A different approach
Vedic astrology utilizes cyclic phases and an extensive array of planetary combinations/signs/houses rules or interpretations that are quite different, on the surface, from many western forms of astrology. You might find yourself learning astrology all over again. But then, there is a great deal to learn within what we call western astrology that much/most conventional astrologers never take time to think of or have the curiosity to explore. You can work without natal charts, you can work without signs or houses, you can work without mid-points, you can do serious astrology without a computer and without doing chart calculations. Its a question of how much mental punishment you want to take on or to avoid. Dave.
Vedic astrology utilizes cyclic phases and an extensive array of planetary combinations/signs/houses rules or interpretations that are quite different, on the surface, from many western forms of astrology. You might find yourself learning astrology all over again. But then, there is a great deal to learn within what we call western astrology that much/most conventional astrologers never take time to think of or have the curiosity to explore. You can work without natal charts, you can work without signs or houses, you can work without mid-points, you can do serious astrology without a computer and without doing chart calculations. Its a question of how much mental punishment you want to take on or to avoid. Dave.
LittleWing
Thanks Dave - I find the whole concept of me being a completley different star sign pretty wierd ................ who's right - how can they both be??
Minderwiz
I've seen a number of explanations about why both Sidereal and Tropical Zodiacs work - some link it to the difference in societies - the Western society being more 'pacy' than Indian. However, I'm not particularly convinced by that because the Tropical Zodiac was established long before 'Western Society' came into existence.
Traditional Astrology both Eastern and Western gives perhaps less emphasis to signs than the modern 'personifications' do - signs are seen more as combinations of elements and modes. Planets and Houses are more important in a reading. So under both systems you could have the same planets in the same houses (depending on using the same system for houses) but not necessarily in the same signs.
Both Tropical and Sidereal use 12 equal signs of 30 degrees each - so both zodiacs are 'artificial' in the sense that neither corresponds directly with the actual constellations that bear their names. So the issue is more on the lines of having different starting points but basically meaning the same thing. As much of Astrology is the art of reading the indicators in the chart experienced Astrologers using one or other of the systems will probably come to similar conclusions. Remember that 'reality' is not nescessarily what you can see, hear, taste, smell, or touch.
Dave makes a very interesting point about cycles. Western Astrology also used to make considerable use of cycles but now they only seem to come up in Business Astrology or occasionally Mundane Astrology. We seem to have lost one element of our own tradition, which is apparantly, alive and well in Vedic Astrology.
Traditional Astrology both Eastern and Western gives perhaps less emphasis to signs than the modern 'personifications' do - signs are seen more as combinations of elements and modes. Planets and Houses are more important in a reading. So under both systems you could have the same planets in the same houses (depending on using the same system for houses) but not necessarily in the same signs.
Both Tropical and Sidereal use 12 equal signs of 30 degrees each - so both zodiacs are 'artificial' in the sense that neither corresponds directly with the actual constellations that bear their names. So the issue is more on the lines of having different starting points but basically meaning the same thing. As much of Astrology is the art of reading the indicators in the chart experienced Astrologers using one or other of the systems will probably come to similar conclusions. Remember that 'reality' is not nescessarily what you can see, hear, taste, smell, or touch.
Dave makes a very interesting point about cycles. Western Astrology also used to make considerable use of cycles but now they only seem to come up in Business Astrology or occasionally Mundane Astrology. We seem to have lost one element of our own tradition, which is apparantly, alive and well in Vedic Astrology.
dadsnook2000
Tropical & Sidereal
After being active in astrology for some 10 years or so I had reached a point where I was finding that some aspects of conventional practice were not valid, or at least not essentially true most of the time. I listened to, and tried, all types of progressions and forms of prediction, listened to the "experts" pontificate about how to find the exact time when several aspects would best combine to represent an event. Nothing worked 95% or 100% of the time. Then, I discovered Sidereal Astrology. Presto, a big jump in timing accuracy and simplicity of interpretation BUT a ridiculous amount of calculation (this was before computers). Then as I got into that form of astrology down I also discovered its inadequacies.
*** The short form of this story is that you can do great astrology without either Tropical signs or Sidereal signs, that only the angles and the planets there can be used, that calculations don't have to be complex (just have to use the right ones), that even aspects and mid-points can be dropped. Is this really true? Yes. If you pick the tools that work for you (and everyone is different) and throw out everything that truly doesn't work for you -- then you are left with just a few highly dependable tools which you can trust and refine. At that point you have learnt your craft.
*** You have to always maintain a tough self-standard, remain curious, try anything. Intuition will often tell you when to use one tool and ignore another. Some people will not reflect their natal charts in terms of progressions and predictions. Some people are driven (seemingly) by new moon charts. You have to be able to spot what type of patterns seem operative in an individuals chart and to use that as a basis. Dave.
After being active in astrology for some 10 years or so I had reached a point where I was finding that some aspects of conventional practice were not valid, or at least not essentially true most of the time. I listened to, and tried, all types of progressions and forms of prediction, listened to the "experts" pontificate about how to find the exact time when several aspects would best combine to represent an event. Nothing worked 95% or 100% of the time. Then, I discovered Sidereal Astrology. Presto, a big jump in timing accuracy and simplicity of interpretation BUT a ridiculous amount of calculation (this was before computers). Then as I got into that form of astrology down I also discovered its inadequacies.
*** The short form of this story is that you can do great astrology without either Tropical signs or Sidereal signs, that only the angles and the planets there can be used, that calculations don't have to be complex (just have to use the right ones), that even aspects and mid-points can be dropped. Is this really true? Yes. If you pick the tools that work for you (and everyone is different) and throw out everything that truly doesn't work for you -- then you are left with just a few highly dependable tools which you can trust and refine. At that point you have learnt your craft.
*** You have to always maintain a tough self-standard, remain curious, try anything. Intuition will often tell you when to use one tool and ignore another. Some people will not reflect their natal charts in terms of progressions and predictions. Some people are driven (seemingly) by new moon charts. You have to be able to spot what type of patterns seem operative in an individuals chart and to use that as a basis. Dave.
LittleWing
hey guys - i cant contribute much to this thread - but i am enjoying reading 
Minderwiz
As someone who is only getting into Astrology, its great to hear the experiences of those who have been practising for some time.
I freely admit I don't yet have a consistent approach to things and I do try to use a variety of tools to see how they work and if they can improve my skill (such that it is). I tend to think that we have overblown the signs somewhat by giving them almost personalities of their own - so I can see how placing less emphasis on them can clarify things. I can also see that the Angles are the only truly common element to the large majority of House systems. Traditionally planets in the angular houses were accidentally dignified - so the angles do have a special importance and its helpful to hear the experiences of someone who concentrates on those areas of a chart.
The more I do read and explore the more I tend towards the more traditional approach to Astrology and the more I realise that modern western Astrology has lost its anchorage in the natural scheme of things by divorcing itself from its tradition.
That's not to say that tradition is right and that all Astrology since Coley is rubbish. But undestanding why we do things the way that we do and why they are done differently in Chinese of Vedic Astrology helps us put issues into context.
I freely admit I don't yet have a consistent approach to things and I do try to use a variety of tools to see how they work and if they can improve my skill (such that it is). I tend to think that we have overblown the signs somewhat by giving them almost personalities of their own - so I can see how placing less emphasis on them can clarify things. I can also see that the Angles are the only truly common element to the large majority of House systems. Traditionally planets in the angular houses were accidentally dignified - so the angles do have a special importance and its helpful to hear the experiences of someone who concentrates on those areas of a chart.
The more I do read and explore the more I tend towards the more traditional approach to Astrology and the more I realise that modern western Astrology has lost its anchorage in the natural scheme of things by divorcing itself from its tradition.
That's not to say that tradition is right and that all Astrology since Coley is rubbish. But undestanding why we do things the way that we do and why they are done differently in Chinese of Vedic Astrology helps us put issues into context.
dadsnook2000
What if ?
What if you were born a day earlier or a day later? How would the Moon's position (sign and/or house) or aspects change the dynamics of your chart? Would would be different if you were born an hour earlier? Sometimes you can learn a lot about your chart or astrology in general by seeing how the chart would not fit you. What if you have a loose square aspect -- where did those two planets form their last cyclic conjunction? In that context, what role do you have to play in that cycle given that you were born near the square/quarter-phase of that cycle. Does that question apply to your generation or your yearly cousins? I believe that this form of free inquiry can teach us all a lot about astrology and ourselves. Perhaps we might want to start a "What if you were born earlier or later" thread. Dave.
What if you were born a day earlier or a day later? How would the Moon's position (sign and/or house) or aspects change the dynamics of your chart? Would would be different if you were born an hour earlier? Sometimes you can learn a lot about your chart or astrology in general by seeing how the chart would not fit you. What if you have a loose square aspect -- where did those two planets form their last cyclic conjunction? In that context, what role do you have to play in that cycle given that you were born near the square/quarter-phase of that cycle. Does that question apply to your generation or your yearly cousins? I believe that this form of free inquiry can teach us all a lot about astrology and ourselves. Perhaps we might want to start a "What if you were born earlier or later" thread. Dave.
