James:      Today I'm going to do my best to answer your question about how to evaluate which horoscope features are more important than others. We'll examine a list of astrological priorities I've devised for planets, houses, and the chart as a whole.

Martin:      Good. That's a big problem for me James trying to figure out what influences take precedence.

James:   It's a difficult subject, and not very easily answered. So be patient and don't hold my feet to the fire on this, okay?

Now, before we get to the priorities, I want to talk about an important subject that is often misunderstood retrograde planets. First, we'll discuss the three week period of Mercury retrograde that occurs twice a year, and is happening right now. Then we'll discuss the meaning of retrograde planets in the natal horoscope.

Finally, I'm going to talk about what are called Aorbs of influence The orb of influence is the amount of degrees involved in a planetary aspect. There is a big difference between Saturn aspecting the Moon within twenty-two degrees versus Saturn aspecting the Moon within three or four degrees.

Martin:   That makes sense.

James:   Last week, I asked you to notice the planetary effects relating to each day of the week. Did you do that?

Martin:   Yes. I noticed on Tuesday (Mars' day) that the students in my art class were irritable and grouchy.

James:   That reminds me of an astrology class that I taught on Tuesdays. It felt very stressful. There was always some sort of friction going on. The easiest and smoothest day to teach, in my opinion, is Thursday, the day of Jupiter. Wednesday seems like a good teaching day, because it's ruled by Mercury. But I find that my nerves are too sensitive on Wednesdays. Also, people can also be a bit scattered on Mercury’s day.

Martin:   Well, I noticed that last Wednesday there were a lot of computer breakdowns and communication problems at school.

James:      That's because on Wednesdays, Mercurial energies are intensified and we are now in a Mercury retrograde period.

Martin:   So, that's a double whammy, no? On Thursday I stayed home and read astrology all day so I didn't notice much.

James:      Perfect. Thursday is Jupiter’s day. You didn't stay home reading science or math. You read a spiritual subject. Thursdays are great for Ahigher knowledge.

Martin:      Friday I went to a Christmas party. People’s spirits were pretty high.

James:   Yes, well Friday is Venus' day. Good for dating and lovemaking.

Martin:   So, is it important to use these daily influences?

James:   I think it's a good idea to be aware of daily rulerships. I don't make too a big deal about them, but I definitely take them into account when people are in difficult dasas or bhuktis.

Martin:   How?

James:   If someone is in a rough period or subperiod of Venus, that person will most likely have very stressful Fridays. A person in a seriously afflicted Jupiter period, will have difficult Thursdays.

Martin:   What should the person do?

James:      During an afflicted Jupiter period, take Thursdays off. During an afflicted Moon period, take Mondays off. Keep the planetary day as a day of rest. Also, try to pray, meditate, chant mantras, fast, or take walks in the country. Anything that will relieve the strain, and anything that may appease the planet involved will help.

Martin:   What if it's impossible to take the day off?

James:   Just be aware that the day may be more stressful and try to do the bare minimum of hard work. When the workday is over, go straight home and jump in a hot bath or do whatever relaxes you. Indians often fast or drink juices on a day they are trying to ameliorate. At the least, they avoid alcohol or meat eating on that day.

Martin:   What about Saturdays? When I was observing the days of the week in relation to their planetary rulers, I noticed that Saturday didn't feel Saturnian at all. Saturday felt great.

James:      That's an interesting point and I think you're right. Saturdays don't feel very Saturnian to me either. My best guess is that both Saturday and Sunday are affected by cultural influences. Because our entire society stops working on weekends, both Saturday or Sunday seem to feel more easy and restful. But I can't say for sure. Cultural effects, of course, fit into the realm of free will.

Now, have you noticed any effects of the Mercury retrograde?

Martin:      Absolutely. A friend told me that right after fixing the starter in her truck, she returned home and quickly blew a head gasket, which is now going to cost her over $1,000.

James:   I had a typical Mercury retrograde experience the other day. A client called for her reading and I was late, so I told her I would call her back in about five minutes. After five minutes I called back, but her line was busy for the next thirty minutes. My blood was starting to boil. What could the lady have been thinking to talk on her phone for thirty minutes knowing full well I would be calling back so soon? Well, when I finally got her on the phone and asked her what happened, she said, AWhat do you mean what happened? I've been sitting next to the phone waiting patiently for your call. The phone lines were just messed up, typical Mercury retrograde.

Martin:      That's funny. A couple days ago, I tried calling a friend and for some reason the phone lines wouldn't connect. I had to call her number about five or six times before the phone rang. Then when I finally reached her and was telling her to have her phone line checked out, the phone died.

James:   If I ever wanted to try and prove that astrology works, I would quantify the effects of Mercury retrograde. They are so reliable.

The most important thing to advise clients about Mercury retrogrades is not to make major decisions or major purchases in the ten days preceding and during the retrograde. I would also wait until the Mercury retrograde is over for at least a week before making important decisions and signing contracts, and so on. Also, never, never, never let a person schedule surgery right before, or on, a Mercury retrograde if there's a choice. Aside from the fact that a mistake could be made, the healing process is horrendous. Mercury retrogrades dramatically slow down the body’s ability to heal. It's very frustrating.

A friend of mine needed heart surgery a few years back, and he had to decide whether to have surgery just days before the Mercury retrograde or to wait over three weeks until it passed. If he waited, he was in danger of dying. If he went ahead with the surgery, he was going to heal very slowly.

Martin:   What did he do?

James:   He went ahead with the surgery. The healing process was torturous. He kept asking his doctor why he was so weak for so long. So, advise your clients not to have surgery before a Mercury retrograde, if they can help it.

Now I'll tell you a story that will illustrate why you shouldn't make a major decision on a retrograde. My brother bought a house during the last retrograde, and when I asked him why he couldn't wait, he said he was sure the house was great and the price was great, and so on. I advised against it, but he was sure he found the right house.

Martin:   What happened?

James:   A few weeks later, after he had moved in, he discovered that he didn't like the floor plan at all. The reason he didn't realize it sooner was that on the day he decided to buy it he had just visited three or four houses that were so terrible it made the house he bought look like a mansion. Typical Mercury retrograde_

Now, let's go into detail about retrograde planets in the natal chart. My understanding and experience of retrogrades, as well as my mentors' teachings, differs radically from the teachings of traditional textbooks on this matter. This is an issue that you better pay very close attention to, otherwise you will wind up like the majority of astrologers Correct in Hindu astrological theory of retrogrades, but sorely lacking in predictive accuracy of them. In Jyotish, there is an intricate planetary weighting system called Shad bala, literally Asix fold source of strength, which reveals the relative strength of every planet. Shad bala takes several hours of calculations, although a computer now does the process in a split second. In that system, a planet gets extra points (in its power weighting) for being retrograde. However, if you apply that concept literally in your horoscope analysis, you will miss the true meaning of retrogrades.

Martin:   So, retrograde planets are not stronger than forward-moving planets, even though they are considered stronger in shad bala?

James:      That's right. But I have to qualify my answer. A retrograde planet has a certain kind of extra strength because when a planet is retrograde, it is closer to the Earth. This causes the energy or vibrations of the retrograde planet to be an underlying prevalent force in the person's awareness and thinking process throughout his or her entire life. The statement that a retrograde planet is more powerful is misleading, however, if you expect that planet to readily and powerfully manifest its results in the outer world.

Martin:      Then how does this underlying force of a retrograde planet affect a person?

James:   Well, a person with a retrograde Venus, for example, spends his or her life constantly analyzing, processing, and thinking about love matters. A person with a retrograde Jupiter is continually approaching matters from a philosophical and ideological context.

Martin:   So, the planet is more powerful on an internal level?

James:   Yes. The energy of the retrograde planet is an intense force within the person's consciousness and internal processes. It creates a distinct psychological reality in the person.

On the outer level, the manifest level, a retrograde planet is never strong and active. It is neutral or passive. Of course, the planet has the potential to produce powerful effects if, and this is one large if, the person consciously decides to activate the energy of the planet. I'll give you some examples. And later on, you can test what I am teaching now. But don't do a test with only two or three charts. Use fifteen or so.

Let's say a person has an unafflicted benefic, like Venus or Jupiter, in the 5th house. You’re thinking, wow, this person is going to have wonderful children. If the ruler of the 5th house is retrograde, however, having children is not a foregone conclusion. It's not that the retrograde 5th house ruler has prevented children or harmed the childbearing process, but that the 5th house energy is latent. The 5th house energy must be consciously activated.

Martin:   So, the person can have children, but doesn't have to?

James:      Exactly. The person has choice.

Martin:      Whereas, if the person had a forward-moving 5th house ruler along with one or two benefics in the 5th house, he or she would definitely have a child?

James:   Yes. Assuming, of course, that the 5th house ruler wasn't massively afflicted. And assuming that Jupiter, the karaka (indicator) of children wasn't massively afflicted.

As another example, take the placement of a retrograde 7th house ruler in a chart where the 7th house is otherwise well-disposed. First off, the person may not feel any need to get married. Second, a person with this placement who has been married and divorced once often feels no desire at all to marry again.

Martin:      Would you predict that the person will not marry a second time?

James:   No. Again, it's the person's choice. The person simply doesn't feel as compelled to enter a long term committed relationship if the ruler of the 7th house is retrograde.

I believe that a retrograde planet, more than any other feature, is nature's way of leaving a certain realm of life completely up to a person's free will.

Martin:   More so than a realm that has mixed astrological indications?

James:      Absolutely. In fact, it's through retrogrades that I'm able to determine whether a particular feature of life that is strong in the horoscope is more likely to be a hobby or a profession.

For example, take a horoscope that contains a powerful 3rd house, where two or three planets (mostly benefics) occupy the house, and perhaps one of those planets is in its own sign. In that case, the person will likely be involved in music, dance, or drama, or some action-oriented career like public relations.

Martin:      Regardless of 10th house indications?

James:   Yes, because the 3rd house is clearly dominating the chart. But, if the ruler of the 3rd house is retrograde, the 3rd house energy may manifest as a hobby during the person's first thirty years. After the age of thirty or so, the person has matured and starts using some free will rather than following every impulse and desire. Then the person consciously decides whether to make use of the artistic talent that was always apparent, but never acted upon due to the retrograde 3rd house ruler. You'll see how this works when we start analyzing horoscopes.

Martin:   Can you give me examples of a retrograde planets ruling all twelve houses?

James:   Yes, but this isn't something for you to memorize as much as it is a reasoning process that you consider on your own as you think about the meanings of all the houses.

If the 1st house ruler is retrograde, the person's outgoing tendencies are curtailed. The person is introspective or introverted, and has a harder time gaining recognition or fame. I actually consider a retrograde ruler of either the 1st or 10th house to be harmful, because the person is slower in actualizing his or her abilities and worldly power.

If the 2nd house ruler is retrograde, money comes in slower. If the person has literary or teaching talent, he or she probably won't want to write or teach until a later age.

Martin:   After the late twenties?

James:      Right. If the 3rd house ruler is retrograde, the person won't be overly ambitious. Desires will be less. There is less chance of having younger siblings, and less chance of pursuing music, dance, or drama.

Martin:   But those could be hobbies in the early years?

James:   Yes, but that's only if the chart indicates some propensity for the arts. If the 4th house ruler is retrograde, there is less chance of owning land or dabbling in real estate. Also, the person might have less desire to gain higher educational degrees.

Martin:   Does that mean the person has problems gaining degrees?

James:   Not at all. Remember that the retrograde status doesn't mean a planet is afflicted. It just indicates a latent or passive energy. If you start thinking of retrograde planets as afflicted, you're going to make an awful lot of mistakes in your practice.

If the 5th house ruler is retrograde, the person will not feel compelled to have children. Sports, politics, spiritual techniques, and other 5th house matters would probably remain hobbies until after the age of thirty. One thing I don't like about the 5th house ruler being retrograde is that it generally weakens the poorvapunya (past life credit) connected to that planet. In other words, if the ruler of the 5th house occupies the 10th house without affliction, it means there is past life credit connected to career. But if that 5th house ruler is retrograde, the poorvapunya factor is weakened or even nonexistent.

I don't see a 6th house ruler that is retrograde having a terribly significant effect. The only thing that might be held back for a time would be a healing or medical profession. I don't know that enemies or law suits are affected at all by the 6th house ruler being retrograde.

Other than what I've already said about the 7th house ruler being retrograde, the only thing I can think to add is that it could impede becoming a merchant or business person until the late twenties or early thirties.

If the 8th house ruler is retrograde, it could slow down the ability to get money from wills, legacies, insurance companies, and one's spouse.

Martin:      Would it slow a person down from becoming an astrologer?

James:   It could. Before the late twenties, the person might consider astrology or psychic practice as merely a hobby. My 8th house ruler is retrograde, and I knew nothing about astrology until my late twenties.

A retrograde 9th house ruler could lessen a person's desire for travel. The person might also consider religion and philosophy a hobby rather than a profession.

If the 10th house ruler is retrograde, the person is slower to choose a career and slower to actualize a career. This is one of my least favorite retrograde placements.

If the 11th house ruler is retrograde, there is less likelihood of having an older sibling. Friends and groups are not a high priority, and it may take a longer than usual for the person to realize his or her major goals and ambitions.

Like the placement of a 6th house ruler being retrograde, I can't think of any significant effect of a retrograde 12th house ruler. Maybe the person has less sexual desire and less desire to visit remote foreign countries.

Martin:   What about less desire to pursue enlightenment?

James:      Maybe. I'm not positive. At any rate, I trust that you get the concept that retrograde planets don't cause harm and they aren't afflicted. But they do slow things down and make for an introverted, rather than extroverted, energy.

Martin:   What about retrograde planets in houses, James? I have trouble understanding how they work.

James:   Let's talk about them. Since a retrograde planet functions in a more latent or introspective way, it can either help or hurt the house it occupies depending on its essential benefic or malefic nature. If a planet is benefic by nature, it almost always strengthens or benefits the house it occupies, correct?

Martin:      Correct.

James:   And if a planet is retrograde, it is a more latent, or introspective, influence. In other words, it is less action-oriented. So, what would you prefer to have in your chart, retrograde Jupiter or Venus in the 10th house, or forward-moving Jupiter or Venus in the 10th house?

Martin:      Forward-moving.

James:   Of course. Career luck is going to be wonderful with either Venus or Jupiter in the 10th house, but if Jupiter or Venus are retrograde they're not going to give their full effects to the career. Follow? 

Martin:   Yes.

James:      These are already good placements, don't get me wrong. But they would be even better if they were in forward motion.

Martin:   But, if retrograde Venus is in the 10th house, do you still predict that the person may have an artistic career?

James:      Absolutely. The person has powerful Venusian energy in the career house, even though Venus would be stronger or more active if it were forward-moving. If Mercury is retrograde in the 10th house, I would expect the person to have a Mercurial career (writing, teaching, lecturing, and so on). So, even though a retrograde planet is more intense on a psychological or internal level, you can't ignore the fact that whatever house it occupies will be affected by its energy, its vibrations.

Martin:      Then it's only the houses that the retrograde planet rules that are held back in the person's early years? Those are the realms that may become hobbies instead of professions?

James:   Yes, only the houses that are ruled by a retrograde planet are extremely dependent on the person=s desire, the person’s free will.

Now let's consider a malefic planet that is retrograde in a house. If Mars or Saturn occupying the 4th house causes serious suffering to the mother, and retrograde planets are more latent and introspective, and less action-oriented, would you rather have these malefics in the 4th house retrograde or forward-moving?

Martin:      Retrograde.

James:   Of course. Will retrograde Mars or Saturn in the 4th house cause problems to the person's mother? You bet your life they will. But they will not be nearly as severe as they would if the planet was forward-moving.

Martin:   So, what do tell a person with retrograde Saturn in, say, the 7th house?

James:   I tell that person everything I would tell someone with forward-moving Saturn in the 7th, but I would lessen the intensity of my words because the person's love problems would not be as great. I tell the person he or she is paying back love debts from past lives and will have difficulties in marriage, will likely be divorced, will have to give more than receive in love matters, and will feel restricted and oppressed in marriage. But I also say that the suffering will not as intense as it could be and that the karma being paid back may not last an entire lifetime. The person clearly has a chance of creating a good marriage, after paying back karmic love debts, assuming there are no other 7th house or Venus afflictions.

Martin:   On a scale of one to ten, ten being worst, how would you rate forward-moving Saturn in the 7th and retrograde Saturn in the 7th in terms of negative effects?

James:   I would rate forward-moving Saturn in the 7th house as a ten and retrograde Saturn in the 7th house as a seven. But remember C I'm talking about these influences in isolation. A person could have Saturn in the 7th  house, aspected by benefic Jupiter or Venus. This would alter matters a lot.

Martin:   The 7th house becomes a mixture of good and bad?

James:   Yes. I would most likely still predict divorce, because malefics in the 7th house cause major problems, no matter how well-disposed. But, I would also predict a happy marriage, eventually.

Martin:   In other words, the karmic love problems wouldn’t last a whole lifetime. James, what about Mars in the 7th house? How would you rate those positions, in their retrograde and forward motion?

James:   Mars in the 7th is definitely not a good placement for marriage, but it's less severe than Saturn in the 7th. Of course, either Mars or Saturn in the 7th indicate divorce, but the person with Mars in the marriage house doesn't suffer so bad and for so long. A person with Saturn in the 7th is treated very unfairly and disrespectfully, and because Saturn gives staying power, the person may take the abuse for years and years.

A person with Mars in the 7th typically fights and argues for a few years and then gets a divorce. But I'd certainly prefer to have a retrograde Mars in the 7th as opposed to forward-moving Mars. I'd rate the level of suffering about a seven for forward-moving Mars in the 7th, and a five or six for retrograde Mars. If the person has retrograde Mars in the 7th, there's a good chance of eventually having a decent marriage. And if that retrograde Mars is well-aspected by some benefic, other than Moon or Venus, the person will almost certainly have a happy marriage, eventually.

Martin:   Why are Moon and Venus exceptions?

James:      Because if Mars is aspected by the Moon, it means that Mars is opposite the Moon, and that's like having Mars in the 7thhouse.

Martin:      Chandra lagna (discussed in Class One).

James:      That's right. Moon ascendant.

Martin:   And if Venus aspects Mars, then Venus gets harmed by the aspect that Mars throws onto it.

James:      Right. And Venus is the planet of love. So we don't want that.

Martin:      James, what about retrograde malefics in upachaya houses (3rd, 6th, 10th, and 11th), where malefics are welcomed?

James:      Malefics in upachaya houses are excellent. This is probably a judgement call, but I would prefer a retrograde malefic to occupy the 3rd or 11th house rather than a forward-moving malefic.

Martin:      Why?

James:      Remember when I said that although malefics are welcomed in the upachaya houses, they cause some harm there as well?

Martin:   You said malefics hurt siblings if they occupy the 3rd or the 11th (11th being the eldest sibling).

James:      That's right. Well, if a malefic planet is retrograde in the 3rd or the 11th, then it's harmful nature is subdued and siblings are not hurt at all. Or, if there is damage to siblings, it is extremely slight. As for the 10th house, I would absolutely prefer a retrograde Saturn in the 10th house because so many people with forward-moving Saturn in the 10th use the Saturnian energy to simply hold themselves back.

Martin:   That wouldn't happen with a retrograde Saturn in the 10th?

James:   No. Retrograde planets are always a latent, less action-oriented influence. The vast majority of people have trouble with forward-moving Saturn no matter where it exists in the horoscope. Retrograde Saturn is a blessing for most people.

Martin:      Except that it holds back the power of the two houses that it rules.

James:      That's true. You can't have everything, can you?

Martin:   What about retrograde malefics aspecting other planets and houses?

James:   An aspect that a retrograde malefic throws onto another house causes the exact same damage as a forward-moving malefic that throws its aspect. As far as aspects that a retrograde planet throws onto other planets, it causes the same damage as a forward-moving planet, but there are certain exceptions, which are interesting. When you see a retrograde planet aspecting another planet, you need to look at whether the aspect is applying or separating because this will often have a big effect.

Martin:   What do you mean?

James:   Say that there is a conjunction involving retrograde Mars and forward-moving Venus, that occurs within a three degree orb. If Mars is retrograding away from Venus, then the aspect is Aseparating, and Venus is not as badly harmed as it would be if the two planets were moving toward one another. For example, if Mars occupies five degrees of Gemini and is moving backwards, Venus would be better off in eight degrees of Gemini (i.e. past Mars) rather than, say, two degrees of Sagittarius (i.e. moving toward Mars).

If Venus occupies two degrees of Gemini, while retrograde Mars occupies five degrees of Gemini, then Mars is backing up toward Venus and Venus is approaching Mars, and the aspect is applying which is greatly intensified for good or bad.

Martin:   How could it ever be good?

James:   Well, in this Venus-Mars example, the aspect is bad for Venus but wonderful for Mars. Mars is strengthened tremendously by being close to benefic Venus. So, an applying aspect here gives Mars even greater benefit.

I see cases all the time where a planet that is aspected by a retrograde malefic is not nearly as harmed as expected because the aspect it receives is separating. The places where it happens are almost exclusively with conjunctions and oppositions. I've seen many cases where retrograde Mars or retrograde Saturn is opposite Venus, within about four or five degrees, and the person doesn't have the typical damaged love life that these aspects indicate. Whenever this happens, it’s always because the aspect is separating, rather than applying.

Martin:   But this doesn’t happen when Mars is throwing its 4th or 8th house aspects, or when Saturn is throwing its 3rd and 10th house aspects? (For details on planetary aspects, see Appendix A.)

James:   I haven’t noticed it have such a big impact there, but I can tell you that when it comes to conjunctions and oppositions, the effects are quite noticeable. Let me give you an example of a separating opposition aspect. If Jupiter occupies ten degrees of Taurus, and retrograde Saturn occupies fourteen degrees of Scorpio, then Saturn is backing up towardsJupiter.

Martin:      Then, it’s applying.

James:   Yes, and therefore the aspect hurts Jupiter intensely and strengthens Saturn intensely (because Saturn receives the strong aspect from benefic Jupiter). If, however, Jupiter occupies twenty degrees of Taurus, while retrograde Saturn occupies fifteen degrees of Scorpio, then the aspect is separating and you may be surprised at how ineffectual the aspect is. So, try to remember this issue when you analyze charts with retrograde planets.

Another point I want to make about retrograde planets is something I learned from my first astrology teacher. A retrograde planet generally represents an energy that a person may have misused in a past lifetime. I'm not talking about abusing the energy in a way that was harmful or devastating to other people, because if that happened the planet would likely show up this lifetime in an extremely weak or afflicted condition. I'm talking about using a planetary energy in an imbalanced way.

Martin:      Imbalanced?

James:      Imbalanced, exaggerated, ignored. The person somehow misused the planetary energy, and the result is that in the current life he or she is constantly compelled to focus on the significations of that planet in a serious, rather consuming way.

Martin:      Which occurs naturally because retrograde planets are closer to the Earth than other planets.

James:   Yes. And the process of how this all-consuming focus comes about is interesting. A retrograde planet signifies a latent influence, an influence that is almost completely overlooked or neglected in the beginning stage of life. Later on, it comes to the forefront and stays there until the person dies. I'll give you two examples.

If Venus is retrograde at birth, then the child is simply unaware of the concept of romantic love in the earliest years. The child soon learns about parents, siblings, intellectual matters, homes, money, and so on. After encountering many different areas of existence, the child suddenly finds out about romantic love and because it has taken so long to discover that realm, because Venusian matters are so latent, it is somewhat shocking for the child. The person then spends the rest of his or her life making up for the initial loss. Then everything in life, all experiences really, are seen through the context of how they relate to, or how they affect, romantic love.

If Jupiter is retrograde, the child learns the concepts of religion, philosophy, and morals last. Because these matters were originally missing, it's shocking when they are finally noticed and the person spends the rest of his or her life filtering everything though philosophical eyes. All experiences are related to the meaning of life, religion, ethics, and so on. I've never done statistical research on retrograde planets, but I can't tell you how common it is for spiritual seekers to have a retrograde Jupiter.

Martin:      When does this happen to a child?

James:   Very early. Maybe in the first two to four years. This is not so much a rational process as an organic or instinctive one. If it was rational, a person probably wouldn’t decide to spend an entire life focusing psychologically so heavily on one realm.

Also, I believe it is significant when a person runs the dasa of a retrograde planet later in life, say after the age of thirty-five or forty. Then, the person has the maturity to focus on the energy of that planet which was imbalanced in past lives and finally learn to get it straight. And when you are analyzing a person's dasas, I think it's important to look at them as a whole. In other words, take notice of the order of the realms of life that are going to be in focus, particularly after the age of thirty.

Martin:   Why thirty?

James:   Well, that's the age when people generally become adults, because of the ASaturn return. The Saturn return, as far as I know, is a Western astrological concept. It takes Saturn between twenty-nine and thirty-one-and-a-half years to transit all twelve houses. Once those houses are transited, you've learned at least some degree of all the possible lessons in life. That's when people start using some free will, rather than following every impulse and desire that happens to arise.

In the cases of spiritual disciples, I often see two or three dasas in a row that entail spiritual activities during adulthood. I think that's significant and I think it should be told to the client. In cases where the horoscope indicates a person has seriously misused, for example, love activities in past lifetimes, I often notice two or three dasas in a row that relate to love matters. This is very significant, because three dasas in a row takes up twenty-three years, if the periods are short (i.e. Sun, Moon and Mars), and fifty-two years if they are long (i.e. Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury).

Martin:   That gives the person a long time to learn the proper use of a particular realm.

James:   Or, to suffer a long time while paying back the bad karma caused in past lives.

Martin:   Is there a way to know which is happening, based on the horoscope?

James:   Well, anything related to past lives is speculative. Since we have no provable experience of past lives, I'm a bit wary of making very definitive statements about those matters. But, I do believe that if a person has an extremely afflicted planet, he or she probably abused that realm of life in past lives.

Martin:      Obviously.

James:   No, not obviously. You and I are not experiencing our clients' past lives, we're looking at symbols on a piece of paper, so we don't know anything for sure. For all we know, the person may have a very afflicted 2nd house causing terrible money karma in this life simply because he or she has always had many Aeasy money lifetimes and now wants to find out what it's like to be poor. When we predict details of someone's life, the person's life (in time) bears out whether we are right or wrong. The reasons for what happens to a person is simply our belief. No matter what our understanding of karma is, and how it works, it's pure speculation on our part.

With that in mind, I believe that if a person has badly misused, say, career energy in some past lifetime and has not yet paid back that debt, he or she will pay the price in the current life. One way the person could pay back a lot of career debt would be to run through several rough dasas connected to the career house during adulthood. Maybe the person runs the dasa of a planet that is fallen in the 10th house. That causes career problems for a good ten or twenty years, depending on the period. If that period is followed by a dasa of the ruler of the 10th house, and that ruler is tightly conjunct with, say, the malefic Sun or the ruler of the 12th house, that's good for another ten or twenty difficult years within career, depending on the dasa involved.

If you take the time to notice the realms activated by the dasas during the person's adult life, you'll sometimes, not always but sometimes, notice an important theme running through the person's life.

Martin:   So I can look at the dasas not as separate, isolated periods, but as portions of a whole life, which may have a thread running through it?

James:   Yes. Sometimes, you'll see the thread or the theme as plain as day. I definitely advise paying attention to this point.

Martin:      Among the ten thousand other things I'm busy paying attention to?

James:   See how simple it is?

Now, let's talk about the question you asked last week regarding priorities. You asked how one goes about prioritizing the features that make a planet strong and powerful, or weak and afflicted. As I mentioned then, this is something that takes years of practical experience with horoscopes and I have serious doubts that it can be learned quickly.

Martin:   What I'm looking for is some kind of pecking order. Like, in poker a royal straight flush beats everything. A flush beats a full house. A full house beats three of a kind. Can you do that with the astrological factors?

James:   The problem is that Jyotish is filled with nuances and subtleties, upon more nuances and subtleties. Any prioritization system I give you has to be taken with great caution because there are always going to be mitigating aspects and extenuating circumstances. I'll try to help you, but don't take what I say as gospel. Very little of Jyotish should be taken as gospel anyway, because many paths can lead to the same goal. Many astrologers get excellent results using completely different systems or even using different weighting methods within the same system.

Martin:   Is that why you told me to read so many books by other authors even though they don't always agree with you?

James:   Yes. If you can't be open minded with Jyotish, you're in the wrong field. I respect anyone who achieves predictive accuracy in astrology, no matter what approach or techniques the person uses. What I don't respect is someone who masquerades psychic ability for astrological technique. That happens a lot and it gets my goat because it helps to muddy our field, which is muddy enough already.

So make sure you approach what I say as a general guide and don't be surprised if the list of items I cover is incomplete. Better yet, expect the list to be incomplete and don't be surprised if, or when, other astrologers disagree with my sense of priorities.

Martin:      That's a fair disclaimer, James.

James:   It's an emphatic disclaimer. In my opinion, you've asked an almost impossible question. And while we're on the subject of disclaimers, let me reiterate an important one that definitely applies now. Nothing in astrology is foolproof. I've seen every single astrological technique, fundamental or otherwise, fail at least a few times. And every single astrologer I've ever met, or heard about, has made wrong predictions. Every one. So, if I mention some feature that makes a planet magnificently powerful and you've seen a few horoscopes that contradict that fact, don't assume that what I've said is wrong. Always test many horoscopes before drawing conclusions.

Martin:   Wait a minute, James. You're saying that no matter how long I study, or practice, I'm always going to be making mistakes. If that's true, how can I ever feel confident enough to charge money and practice professionally?

James:   First of all, my guess is that the best astrologers have around a seventy percent accuracy rate, give or take ten percent. Second, if any client expects you to be one hundred percent accurate and accepts everything you say as gospel truth, that person needs some lessons in practicality. We're talking about divination, and divination is not a Aclosed science. We have to leave room for free will, prayer, the grace of God, and human error. I suggest that you constantly strive for predictive perfection, but use some common sense about what is and what isn't your responsibility as an astrologer. And remember that human error occurs in all humans, not just the ignorant or unlucky ones.

Martin:   Isn't it my responsibility to be accurate in my chart analysis?

James:   Yes, but if you consider it your responsibility to be accurate all the time, you better forget about ever practicing professionally. Or you can learn to massively rationalize, and ignore reality, which is what some astrologers do.

Martin:   What do you mean?

James:      Some astrologers believe not only that astrology can predict everything perfectly, but that their abilities with astrology is perfect.

Martin:      That's ridiculous, isn't it?

James:   Of course it is.

Martin:   So, what is your definition of an astrologer's responsibility?

James:   I see the practice of astrology as a probabilities, or percentage, game. I definitely don't consider it a hard science. Therefore, if I see a bunch of horoscopes where Saturn occupies the 5th house and the overall majority of those people are childless, or have very few children, or only had children in their older years, then I will tell any client who has that same placement that he or she will probably have similar results.

Martin:      Unless there are other astrological features contradicting that fact?

James:   Of course. But, contrary to what many clients and astrology students think, I am not responsible for knowing everything about a person's life or that person's future. I'm only responsible for knowing the implications, the likelihoods, and the probabilities of much (definitely not all) of the person's life.

Martin:   What if you come across some astrological feature that you've never seen?

James:   If I see one or two dramatically unfamiliar features in a horoscope, I don't worry about it. I simply give the client my opinion about its meaning while clearly explaining that because that aspect is new to me, I can't be sure of what it will produce. Having one or two of these situations in a chart reading is not a problem because there is so much more to analyze and discuss.

Martin:   But what if the unfamiliar aspect seems really important?

James:   If the aspect seems incredibly significant and its meaning eludes me, I may tell the person to get other opinions. I even have a list of astrologers I use as referrals for clients who come to me for astrological work outside my expertise (investment astrology, kidnapping cases, law suits, and so on). If the unclear feature seems like it could be dangerous or life threatening, which sometimes happens, I will advise the person to see a good psychic, if they can find one. But I never take the position that I have to know everything. Each astrologer has his or her own specialty or expertise, and each astrologer has his or her own blind spots. I recognize this and am not uncomfortable saying the words I don't know.

Now, a much bigger problem occurs when I see a horoscope which as a whole is unclear. That's a serious problem.

Martin:   What do you do?

 



James:  I tell the person straight out that their horoscope is very difficult to read. This usually occurs because the indications are extremely  mixed, and I explain the meaning of mixed indications. Most of the time, the  person exclaims, Well, that's exactly how my life is mixed (or  confused).

Martin: In which case you've scored a point on the accuracy  meter?

James:  Absolutely. I've immediately gained some trust from the  client for speaking the truth of what I've seen. Then comes the hard part, reading the chart. Now, I tell the person that because the chart as whole is  unclear or without definite themes, the best I can do is to interpret each and  every aspect individually, and ask the client to help clarify how these features are actually functioning. I actually ask for help and I ask for the person to  involve him- or herself in the reading.

Martin:  So, you're actually asking the person to take some responsibility for getting a valuable reading?

James:  That's a great way of putting it. Yes, I am. Please  understand, however, that as an astrologer it is your responsibility to learn  all the essentials of Jyotishe well, and to have analyzed hundreds of horoscopes (of friends, relatives, and so on) and achieved a good level of accuracy before you call yourself a professional. But, as I said, I don't  consider astrology a hard science.  I consider it a game of probabilities and likelihoods, and I treat it like that. I consider perfection impossible because of the vastness and very nature of astrology. I leave omniscience to God, and  only God.

I meet way too many astrology students who are capable enough to practice  professionally, but won't do it because they believe they have to achieve  perfection. These people have never achieved perfection in any other realm, so I  have no idea what makes them think that astrology is any different. In one respect, it's fine to study astrology without practicing it. On the other hand,  it makes no sense to hold back incredibly valuable knowledge because it feels uncomfortable to be imperfect. It's kind of like having water in a desert and  watching people who are dying of thirst walk by and saying I have some water here to quench your desperate thirst, but the water is a little murky so I'd prefer not to give it to you. Just keep starving.

Martin:  So, what about a list of priorities, regarding those astrological features that take precedence?

James:  Okay. I've made a list for you, but I want to say  something about planets in exaltations, falls, and ownership signs first,  because these are often misunderstood. A lot of people who see my list are going  to wonder why the number one benefit of a planet is not its placement within its exaltation or own sign. Every time I give a workshop, I meet students who  believe that the most powerful or most weakening effect a planet can have is the condition of exaltation or fall (e.g. the Moon is exalted in  Taurus and fallen in Scorpio.). This is definitely false. This impression was partly created by the explanations in my first textbook. When I gave explanations for the planets in all of the houses, I didn't want the reader to  think that, for example, Venus in the 7th house was always good or that planets in the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses (dusthanas) are always bad. So, I gave explanations of planets in exaltations, falls, and ownership signs. Because the explanations  were so prevalent, because they took up so much space, they gave the mistaken impression of being of enormous significance to many readers, as if the benefits of an exalted planet couldn't be seriously mitigated by being tightly aspected by Mars or Saturn, or any other malefic.

Martin:  But exaltations and falls are enormously significant, aren't they?

James:  Yes, if - and this is one huge if - the exalted planet in question isn't tightly aspected by one or two malefics. Or, if the fallen planet in question isn't tightly aspected by one or two benefics. That would change the equation dramatically, and sometimes completely.

Martin:  Completely?

James:  Sometimes completely. When a planet is tightly aspected by another planet  within three or four degrees  the planet that is receiving the aspect is intensely affected, for better or worse,  depending on the benefic or malefic essential nature of the planet throwing the aspect. I've analyzed so many charts where fallen Mars is tightly conjunct exalted Jupiter, and guess what happens? Exalted Jupiter is completely ruined, while fallen Mars becomes phenomenally powerful and well disposed  because it is receiving not just Jupiter's close rays, but Jupiter's close exalted rays. In terms of priorities, a tight aspect  received from a benefic or malefic planet is far and away more significant than the sign placement (exaltation, ownership, or fallen sign) of a planet.

Let me give you an example. Here is a chart of a man with exalted Jupiter  conjunct fallen Mars.

In a case like this, many astrologers would predict good results from Jupiter  because it is exalted and bad results from fallen Mars. In fact, the opposite is the case. This man, Roberto, reported that his 12th house and 7th house (the houses ruled by Mars) gave extraordinary results while  Jupiter has caused nothing but pain.

Mars, as the ruler of the 12th house has given Roberto wonderful spiritual experiences. Meditation and pursuing enlightenment are his greatest pleasures. He has even traveled to India more than once for spiritual purposes.

 Martin:  Because the 12th house rules journeys to remote  foreign countries?

 James:  Yes. His Mars is so powerful, due to receiving exalted Jupiter's rays, that he gets great benefits from such countries.

 Martin:  What about his wife, the other 7th house signification?

 James: He met his wife at a spiritual retreat and they have been  happily married for more than twenty years. The wife is extremely spiritual and  rather well off financially. She is a typical Jupitarian person, which is exactly what you should expect when the ruler of the 7th house closely conjuncts exalted Jupiter. Mars becomes a very beneficial influence here.

Martin: What about Jupiter?

James:  Do you want to guess what happened when this man went into Jupiter dasa?

Martin:  Well, Jupiter is afflicted because it's so close to fallen Mars, and Jupiter rules the 8th and 11th houses. Did he have accidents (8th house) or problems with an eldest sibling (11th house)?

James: Roberto said that the Jupiter dasa was the worst period of his life. The only realm that didn't go sour was his marriage.

Martin:  The signification of the house that Mars rules.

James:  He even had problems with spiritual matters, because Jupiter rules gurus and spiritual teachers. The worst feature was that he couldn't fulfill any of his desires, even the smallest ones. Everything he touched seemed to go bad.

Martin:  Because the dasa was so bad it hurt everything?

James:  To some extent, that=s true. But in this case, he would have to have troubles with desires because the terribly afflicted Jupiter occupies  the 3rd house, which rules desires.

Also, the Jupiter-Mars dasa-bhukti was dangerous to longevity because  Jupiter rules the 8th house and is taking a beating from fallen Mars.  He could have died in such a period, and I would definitely have prescribed mantra chanting for Jupiter and several yagyas for Jupiter to protect him  if I had seen him before that period and subperiod.

Now, let me finally show you the lists of priorities that I've made for  you.

Martin:  There's more than one?

James:  I made a list prioritizing what makes a planet weak or strong, a list for what makes a house weak or strong, and a list showing what helps or hinders a chart as a whole.

First of all, bear these points in mind. Benefic planets are Jupiter, Venus, Moon, and Mercury. The brighter the Moon, the more benefic, and waxing also  helps. Mercury is somewhat less benefic than Jupiter, Venus, and bright  Moon, but still benefic. Malefic Planets are: Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu,  and Ketu.

Planets conjunct Ketu are hurt far worse than planets conjunct Rahu  (despite what many textbooks say). And houses are generally hurt more by  the placement of Rahu than Ketu.

I don't acknowledge neechabhanga or vargottama, which I  consider generally worthless and which will be explained in detail later on (see  Class Eight). A fallen planet that is retrograde is less afflicted, but still quite bad. Likewise, an exalted retrograde planet is weakened, but  is still good. So, here we go:

Positive Planetary Priorities

1)  Stationary Direct or Stationary Retrograde Beats everything. (Note: Stationary planets are so important that Class Four is devoted to a full  explanation.)

2)  Planet is conjunct, within two or three degrees, with Jupiter, Venus, Mercury or bright Moon, where the benefic planet is occupying  its exaltation or own sign. (Note: Beware dusthana rulers. If planet is conjunct a dusthana ruler, it will cause a wild card effect.)

3)  Planet is aspected, within two or three degrees, by Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, or (bright) Moon. (Note: Beware dusthana rulers. If planet is conjunct a dusthana ruler, it will cause a wild card effect.)

4)  Planet is within two or three degrees of its most intense exaltation degree. (Note: Once a planet is past its highest exaltation degree, it quickly loses strength.)

5)  Moon within one or two days of full (can even mitigate fallen Moon a Scorpio Moon).

6)  Planet occupies exaltation or own sign and is well aspected by a benefic.

7)  Planet occupies exaltation sign.

8)  Planet occupies own sign.

9)  Planet occupies the house of a benefic planet, and is aspected by the benefic owning or exalting the house (e.g. Mercury occupying  Taurus, while aspected by Venus. Or, Moon occupying Virgo, while aspected by  Mercury).

10) Planet is hemmed in by benefics, and not aspected by  malefics.

(10a)  Excellent if it occurs within one sign (Example: in a case where Jupiter occupies the fifth degree of Leo, Mars occupies the tenth degree of Leo, and Venus occupies the fourteenth degree of Leo, then Mars the  planet in the middle is hemmed in by benefics.)

(10b)  Very good if involving three signs. (Example: in a case where Moon occupies Leo, Saturn occupies Virgo, and Venus occupies Libra, then Saturn the planet in the middle is hemmed in by benefics.)

11) Planet occupies 5th or 9th house  (trikona houses), and is well-aspected by a benefic.

12) Planet occupies house 1, 4, 7, or 10 (kendra houses) and is well-aspected by a benefic.

13) Planet is aspected by two benefic planets (even within a  wide orb, say, 10-30 degrees), and no malefics.

14) Planet rules best houses, thereby becoming Rajayoga-karaka.

15) Planet rules good houses, thereby becoming yogakaraka.

16) Planet occupying trikona house (5th or  9th) becomes fortunate.

17) Planet occupying kendra house (1st,  4th, 7th, or 10th) becomes powerful.

James:  So, this list is a general guide to how I see the power of planets. But, remember that some of these factors are so similar that it’s hard  to say definitively one is stronger than another.

Martin:  Well, I can see how the first nine or ten on the list are  far more powerful than the last ones.

James:  Yes, that's true. The first nine or ten are extremely strong influences. Did you notice that a planet in its own or exaltation sign rated in  the middle of the list, not right at the top? Beginning astrologers always think that a planet in such a placement is a phenomenal benefit. As good as it is, there are lots of other influences that make a planet stronger. Also,  I constantly see charts where a planet is well placed by being in its own sign, but is otherwise very badly aspected. So, make sure you don't pronounce  judgement on a planet too quickly. You have to consider all features before  drawing a conclusion.

Martin:  James, regarding number seven, I have a question. Do all aspects have the same strength? For example, Jupiter throws aspects onto the  5th, 7th, and 9th houses from itself. Are its 5th and 9th house aspects as strong as its 7th house aspect?

James:  Generally, yes, I think so. It's kind of a hard question to  answer because I think intuition comes into play here. You have to judge every  horoscope individually. But generally, I would say the power of the aspects of  each planet are the same. The only distinction I would make is with conjunctions. I find conjunctions to be somewhat more powerful than other aspects. The reason I say somewhat is because this distinction only becomes  significant when a planet is aspected by more than one planet, and one of the  aspects is a conjunction. I'll give you an example.

If, say, Venus is conjunct Mars within five degrees, and also receives an  aspect from Jupiter in the opposite house within five degrees, I would give a  bit more weight to the conjunction. This may be a personal preference of mine. I  don't know whether other astrologers would agree or not. But to me, conjunctions are slightly more intense, more powerful than the other aspects.

Martin:  Maybe that's why the texts say Jupiter aspects the 5th, 7th, and 9th, rather than  the1st, 5th, 7th, and 9th,  and so forth.

James:  Maybe so.

Martin:  I have a question about numbers 16 and 17. Is there a  difference between a planet gaining benefit and a planet gaining power? Is one better than the other?

James:  That's a difficult question. The terms benefit and power are kind of used interchangeably, just like the terms weak and afflicted.  In  the instances of numbers 16 and 17, where I define planets in trikonas (5th or 9th houses) as gaining benefit and planets in kendras (1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th houses) as giving power, I personally would prefer a planet to  occupy a trikona rather than a kendra. But both placements are  excellent for the planet involved. I emphasize for the planet involved because no one in his or her right mind desires to have Saturn in the  1st, 4th, or 7thhouse. These are house placements that cause a lot of grief and pain.

Martin:  But, Saturn becomes powerful by being in those angular houses?

James:  Exactly.

Martin:  If those are such bad house placements, then what good is  it for Saturn to become powerful?

James:  If Saturn is powerful, then the houses that Saturn rules become strengthened. If Saturn rules the 2nd house and occupies the 4th or 7th (or any angular house), then the person has more power to make money.

Of course I would prefer for Saturn to occupy either the 3rd or  6th house over the 1st, 4th, or 7th,  because life would be far less painful. Saturn doesn't cause much suffering in upachaya houses (3rd, 6th, 10th, and  11th) where malefics are welcomed. But the houses that Saturn rules  would actually be weak or afflicted by having that ruler in bad houses like the  3rd and 6th. Do you see?

Martin:  Yes. Does this also mean that in a Saturn period or  subperiod, the effects of Saturn would be more powerful if it's in an angular house natally?

James:  Yes.



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Martin:  Okay. James, how do you rate the (natal) strength of a planet that happens to be in its own or exaltation sign in the navamsa (marriage chart)?

James:  I give it a little weight, but not very much. I know that  all the texts, mine included, say that a planet that is strong in the navamsa greatly strengthens that planet's power in the natal chart. But that hasn't been my experience. I imagine some other astrologers would disagree, but that's how it's been for me.

Martin:  Also, you didn't mention the varga (divisional chart) summary. I've heard you mention in lectures that if a planet is in its own or exaltation sign in many of the divisional charts, then a planet becomes very strong.

James:  Good point. There are sixteen varga charts, and although I believe Westerners should only use a few of them, because they are so  sensitive to birthtime error, the planets in the signs of the vargas will be accurate regardless of minor birthtime errors. I've  noticed that if a planet occupies its own or exaltation sign, or a combination  of the two, in about eight or nine varga charts, then that planet becomes  strengthened in the natal chart. I haven't found that the planet becomes phenomenally strong, but its power is definitely increased. Likewise, if a planet is fallen or in its detriment sign (the sign opposite it's rulership sign) in many charts, then the planet is weakened in the natal chart. But it takes about seven or eight significant varga placements before I notice significant effects. 


One of the most important things to be aware of regarding the varga chart summary is that sometimes not always but sometimes if a planet occupies a very weak degree, like the first or last few degrees of a sign, it  may occupy the same sign in ten or fifteen varga charts, and that can  make it quite powerful. Usually, planets in a very early or late degree are seriously weakened. But, occasionally there is this interesting varga effect that makes the planet strong. An example of this occurs with Robert De Niro's Sun in Leo. His Sun, which occupies the first degree of Leo, is in its  own sign ten times and it is exalted twice (see De Niro’s varga summary on previous page). If you start looking at varga chart summaries, which a  computer can do in a second (I don’t know if all Jyotish programs  calculate the varga chart summary, but the one I use Haydn’s  Jyotish does) you'll see what I mean. Now, let's look at influences that  harm a planet.

Negative Planetary Priorities

1)  Planet is conjunct, within two or three degrees, of Saturn, Mars, or Sun, which are occupying their fallen signs. (Example:  Venus conjunct fallen Mars in Cancer).

2)  Planet is conjunct or aspected within two or three degrees by Saturn, Mars, Ketu, Rahu, or Sun. (conjunct with Saturn or Ketu is the  worst).

3)  Planet is within two or three degrees before its most intense fallen degree. (When the planet is past its worst degree of  fall, it's affliction is quickly diminished.)

4)  Planet occupies fallen sign and is aspected by a  malefic.

5) Planet occupies the house of malefic's fallen sign placement and is  aspected by that malefic (e.g. Moon in Aries, aspected by Saturn. Or, Mercury in Cancer, aspected by Mars.).

6) Planet occupies 6th, 8th, or 12th house (dusthana), and is aspected by a malefic.

7)  Planet is aspected by two malefic planets (even within  10-30 degrees), and receives no benefic aspects.

8)  Planet is in its fallen sign.

9)  Planet is hemmed in by malefics, and not aspected by benefics:

(9a) Devastating if this occurs within one sign.

(9b) Very bad if involving three signs. (Example: Venus in  Leo, flanked by Rahu in Cancer and Saturn in Virgo.)

10) Planet occupies the 8th or 12th house (dusthanas), and is not well aspected or in its own or exaltation sign (which is actually good).

11) Planet occupies 6th house (dusthana).

12) Moon is very dim (e.g. in same house as Sun, or in house preceding the Sun).

13) Planet is opposite its own sign (called detriment in the West).

14) Planet rules bad houses and becomes functional malefic (Note: Do  not ignore essential nature of planet).

15) Retrograde planet is considered latent, or slow to produce outer  effects.

16) Planet in either the first or last two or three degrees of a sign.  (Note: Sometimes this is devastating, sometimes there is very little effect. Use intuition and look for corroborating factors.)

Martin:  James, if a planet is stationary, which you say is the most  powerful placement of all, and that planet is also afflicted or badly aspected, does the stationary status cancel out the negative effects of the  afflictions?

James:  No. As I told you before, planets that are mixed give mixed  results. But if the planet is stationary, it will have some enormous power as  well as whatever afflictions exist. You'll see how this works when we talk about  stationary planets. Now let’s look at the positive effects that can help a house.

HOUSES: Positive Elements

1)  A rajayoga (royal union) involving one or two  planets in a house.

2)  Exalted planet in a house (near most intense degree of exaltation).

3)  House occupied by two benefics (not aspected by any malefic).

4)  Planet is in its swakshetra (own sign) in a house.

5) Ruler of a house tightly (within two or three degrees) conjunct a benefic, where that benefic is exalted or in own sign.

6) Ruler of a house tightly conjunct (within two or three degrees) with a benefic.

7)  Kendra Trikona Adipathi Yoga in a house (a conjunction of  a ruler of an angular house (1, 4, 7, 10) and a trinal house (5 and 9).

Martin:  What about the ashtaka varga system, James? Some astrologers say that if a house has a lot of points, then it becomes very strong.

James:  The ashtaka varga system is explained in my first book  as a rating system where there is a total of 336 points (some astrologers use a system with a different total), so that the average rating is twenty-eight points per house. The way I was taught (and which I agree with) is that the ashtaka varga system is used to determine the power and benefit of planets transiting houses, not the power of the house in general. In other words, if a house has, say, thirty-seven points, which is quite a bit more than twenty-eight (the average), then the effects will be powerful and  beneficial when a planet transits through that house.

Martin:  Even when transited by malefics?

James:  Yes. Now I don't mean that Saturn or Mars transiting a Ahigh point house will only produce good effects, but they will definitely give some significant benefits that otherwise would not occur.

Martin:  But those malefics would still harm that house during the  transit?

James:  Usually, yes. The job of malefics is to cause problems and obstacles (so we grow and evolve, and so on). But if the points in the house are high, then the negative effects are somewhat lessened, and there will be  some very good effects as well. I know some astrologers would make extreme statements, like if the points are very high, there will only be good effects. And if the points are very low, say nineteen or twenty, that there will be only  bad effects even when the house is transited by benefics like Venus and Jupiter. But in my experience these are exaggerations. And not accurate. Ashtaka  varga is a weighting system for planets transiting houses. Maybe if  there were sixty or seventy points in one house, the effects would only be good, but the most points I've ever seen was forty-something, and that's extremely rare. In my practice, a really strong house in the ashtaka varga has somewhere between thirty-five and forty points. Forty is incredibly high.

Now, all that being said, I must admit that any house that has a lot of ashtaka varga points does gain a certain general strength because planets will be transiting that house on and off for a whole lifetime. And a house with  relatively few points will suffer because planets will be transiting that house  throughout all of life, causing many problems, particularly when malefics transit that house. Let's look at how a house can be harmed.

HOUSES: Negative Elements

1)  Fallen planet in a house, near most intense degree of fall (e.g. Venus near the twenty-seventh degree of Virgo or the Sun near the tenth degree of Libra).

2)  Ruler of a house tightly conjunct a fallen malefic planet.

3)  Ruler of a house tightly conjunct or aspected by a malefic planet (conjunct with Saturn or Ketu is the worst).

4)  House occupied by one or two malefics, unless in upachaya house (3, 6, 10, & 11).

5) Malefic planet in the house opposite its own sign (e.g. Saturn in  Cancer). (Note: A planet in an enemy sign is a weakness, but not of great significance.)

6) Ruler of a house is retrograde (this is not an affliction, but it  does hold back house significations during first thirty or so years).

7)  Ruler of a house is in first or last two degrees of a sign.  (Sometimes devastating, sometimes not. Use intuition and look for corroborating features.)

CHART AS A WHOLE Negative

1)  Both Moon and ascendant ruler are weak and afflicted.

2)  Saturn tightly conjuncts or aspects ascendant ruler, Sun, or Moon.

3)  Ketu tightly conjuncts ascendant ruler, Sun, or Moon.

4)  Saturn sits very close to the ascendant degree.

5) All, or most, benefic planets in the chart are weak and afflicted  (e.g. conjunct malefics, occupying dusthana houses or fallen signs, and  so on).

6) Chart is completely devoid of themes. Planets seem isolated and have no relationship to each other. No one house appears to be strong.

7)  Very early or very late ascendant degree (0, 1, or 28, 29).

8)  Very afflicted 5th house (house of the mind) along with a very afflicted Moon or Mercury (planets of the mind).

James:  Now, I want to make it clear that I do not consider a chart  that has lots of planets in dusthana houses (6, 8, and 12) to necessarily  be afflicted. I've already said that many planets in the 8th house make a person metaphysically oriented, while many planets in the 12th house make a person spiritual and interested in enlightenment.

Martin:  Then many planets in the 6th house would make a  person interested in health matters.

James:  That's right. And remember that if there are many planets in the 8th house, then the 2nd house receives the aspects of those planets and becomes extremely energized. If there are many planets in the  12th house, then the 6th house receives the aspects of  those planets and becomes energized. So even though planets occupying dusthana houses are harmed, don't assume that a chart as a whole is afflicted just because many planets occupy dusthana houses. It depends very much on how the planets in the bad houses are aspected and what signs they  occupy.

Martin:  James, in item number one you mentioned that a chart is  damaged if the Moon is weak or afflicted. So, these terms weak and afflicted are used interchangeably? One isn't worse than the other? And what exactly is the difference?

James:  As far as the difference, a weak planet is one that simply has no power, like one that occupies the very first or last degree of a sign,  and is unaspected and isolated. An afflicted planet is one that is bombarded by a tight aspect from a malefic like Mars or Saturn or Ketu. Or, a planet tightly  combust the Sun. Or a planet in its fallen sign. These are examples of afflicted  planets.

I see planets that are weak cause major problems in people’s lives and I see planets that are afflicted do the same. So I don't make much distinction between the two.

Martin:  What's the story about number eight? I haven't heard you mention that one before.

James:  I have seen a number of charts over the years where the chart  as a whole is fine, but the 5th house and Moon or Mercury is afflicted, and the person is simply crazy. I'm not saying that the person is psychotic necessarily, but when I talk about the chart, or certain features of the person's life (marriage, career, and so on), I find that the person is  simply not dealing with reality.

Martin:  So, if the person isn't mentally stable, or mentally grounded, that ruins the whole chart?

James:  In my opinion, it does. At the very least, it makes it impossible for me to work with the client. The person doesn't hear clearly what  I am saying. And the responses the person gives to the questions I ask don't  make sense. I'd say that's a major failing.

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CHART AS A WHOLE   Positive

1)  Both Moon and ascendant are extremely well-disposed.

2)  Jupiter tightly aspects ascendant degree, ascendant ruler,  Sun, or Moon.

3)  All benefics in the chart are strong and well-disposed (e.g. occupying their own or exaltation signs, not aspected by malefics, not occupying dusthana houses, and so on).

4)  Several benefic planets occupy trikonas (5th and 9th houses).

5) Many planets in kendras (angular houses 1, 4, 7, and 10).

6) Many of the malefics occupy upachaya houses (3, 6, 10, and 11).

Martin:  In item number one, what do you mean by the ascendant being  well-disposed?

James:  This means that there are benefics occupying the ascendant,  or benefics aspecting the ascendant. It means the ascendant ruler is exalted or  in its own sign and not aspected by malefics. Conditions like that.

Martin:  James, when you showed me Roberto's chart with the exalted Jupiter in Cancer tightly conjunct fallen Mars in Cancer, I got the point that Jupiter would be devastated by being so close to a fallen malefic, and Mars  would be tremendously strengthened by being so close to an exalted benefic. But, what happens when the aspect isn't tight. What if Mars is fallen in, say, ten degrees of Cancer while Jupiter is exalted in twenty degrees of Cancer?

James: That's when astrology becomes difficult. In my judgement, if fallen Mars has a ten or twenty degree aspect from exalted Jupiter, then it  would probably produce problems in its periods and subperiods, and for the natal houses that Mars rules, because it's fallen.  But, then again, it  might not. It could possibly be saved by the positive aspect it receives from  benefic Jupiter. It’s really hard to say.

On the other hand, Jupiter, in the case you mentioned, might produce good  effects in its periods and subperiods, and in terms of the natal houses it  rules, but then again it might be hurt by the fallen Mars aspect. Again, it’s very hard to say.

Martin:  This is a really annoying mixed condition.

James:  That's right. Conditions like these make it  difficult to gain a
sense of certainty about the precise results. If I see two or three of these situations in a horoscope, I usually tell the person at the start of the reading that their horoscope is difficult to interpret. I also tell the person that he or she is likely to get rather different interpretations from every astrologer  who reads the chart.

Martin:  Then I guess it's up to the client to try and figure out which astrologer has got it right, isn't it?

James:  Absolutely. With charts that are hard to interpret, I always advise the client that regarding future predictions, the person should trust the predictions that are made by the astrologers who are most accurate in  the interpretation of the natal chart. Of course, everyone wants to believe all the positive and happy predictions that are made, but that's  foolish.

I get an awful lot of clients with conditions like close conjunctions of exalted Jupiter and fallen Mars who are told they are going to have tremendously  good results in their Jupiter periods, and the exact opposite happens. I also see lots of clients with close conjunctions of fallen Sun (in Libra) conjunct  Venus in its own sign who are told how happy they will be when their Venus  period arrives. When that period comes, of course, the person's disappointment is very intense.

Martin:  That's something I don't fully understand. If a person has Venus in Libra conjunct the fallen Sun in Libra, and the aspect is tight, will the entire Venus period be ruined, or just the Venus-Sun dasa-bhukti (period-subperiod)?

James:  Difficult to answer. I would always warn a person with a close aspect like the one you're describing that all Venus periods (or subperiods) are likely to be quite bad for the whole duration. I have to admit, however, that I do see plenty of cases where the Venus period is good,  and only the Venus-Sun dasa-bhukti is horrendous.

Martin:  So this is yet another wild card effect?

James:  Yes.

Martin:  There are too many wild cards, James.

James:  I have three suggestions. One: Ask the person how their  previous subperiods of Venus have been. That will clue you in on what to expect in future Venus periods. Two: Develop your psychic ability and you may be able to intuit what to expect. Three: Get out of metaphysics. Or, at least try not to forget that what you love about astrology is its vast, expansive, mystical,  metaphysical nature_ What were you expecting when you entered a field that is necessarily every bit as vast and mysterious as life itself?

Martin:  This sounds like a love-hate relationship for me. I love making accurate predictions, but I hate making mistakes.

James: Excellent.

Martin:  Why is that excellent?

James:  Because astrology, in practice, is always going to be an imperfect science. If you're not frustrated with your lack of perfection in the field, it means either you don't care, or, far worse, you don't even notice your mistakes. I've told you over and over that one of the biggest problems in modern day astrology is astrologers not asking for feedback to see which of their  predictions (natal and future) are accurate and which ones aren't.

Martin:  Well, I must be doing great because I sure get frustrated a  lot. James, regarding number two in the list of Negative Planetary Influences,  you say that when a planet is tightly conjunct a malefic, it is extremely hurt  and damaged.

James:  Correct.

Martin:  Well, I know that your statement is true, but I've also seen horoscopes where planets are tightly conjunct a malefic and they aren't hurt. In  Bill Clinton's chart, Mercury, the ruler of the ascendent and the 10th house, is tightly conjunct Saturn C and yet Clinton has a great  career and a strong presence. What's the story? Why isn't his Mercury  devastated?

James:  Before I answer your question, I have to state that there is disagreement amongst astrologers about Bill Clinton's birthtime. I favor the birthtime that gives a Virgo (rather than Cancer) ascendant. Although neither  Clinton chart works perfectly, hence all the disagreement amongst astrologers, the Virgo birthchart contains a close Venus-Mars conjunction in the  1st house, with Venus being fallen, which to me reveals Clinton's personality perfectly. The Cancer ascendant, on the other hand, puts Saturn and  Mercury in the 1st house, which I think is not only inaccurate, but  absurd.

I don't want to seem intolerant to those who believe in the Cancer ascendant,  by the way. Some astrologers whom I respect argue for the Cancer ascendant.

Although I can definitely show you some damage that Mercury is causing  in Clinton's life, my final conclusion is that Mercury has escaped the harm  normally expected. In other words, basically, Clinton has beat the odds. I told you that nothing in astrology is foolproof and this demonstrates it. Every time  I do a horoscope reading, there's one or two pieces that don't seem to fit.  That's the nature of astrology. This becomes a serious problem, however, when a  piece that doesn't fit is hugely important.

Martin:  Like an eight-year president who has a weak ascendant and  weak 10th house?

James:  Damn right. I choked on Clinton's chart for quite a while when I saw it. But, there are plenty of other features of the chart that fit quite well.

Martin:  James, if you use the Cancer ascendant, then Clinton has a great career, indicated by the ascendant ruler Moon in the 10th house, aspected by Jupiter.

James:  Yes, but then he has Saturn and the 12th house ruler Mercury in the 1st house. This indicates an introspective, extremely humble and responsible person. In his personal life, and in answering legal questions, Clinton has probably acted more recklessly than any  other president. Can you imagine Jimmy Carter, who has Saturn in the  1st house, acting in a remotely similar way? On top of that, consider the humiliating Monica Lewinsky affair that occurred while Saturn was transiting  the house of Clinton's Moon (the transit occurred from April 1998 to June of  2,000). Does this seem like a Saturn transit of the Moon in the 10th house (Cancer ascendant) or a Saturn transit of the Moon in the 8th house (Virgo ascendant)?

Martin:  Well, it sounds like Saturn transiting the 8th house in terms of all the embarrassment and shame Clinton went through. But it sounds like Saturn transiting the 10th house in terms of how badly it  hurt his career.

James:  I suppose it depends on how you perceive things, but in my view what ultimately happened to Clinton was a two-year devastating, humiliating personal experience that occurred in front of the entire world. People with 8th and 12th house Moons are constantly being humiliated. In the end, Clinton didn't lose his career like Richard Nixon did. What he lost was his dignity and his emotional well-being.

Martin:  Moon in the 8th house.

James:  I'd say it was a textbook example of an 8th (or 12th) house Moon getting hit by a particularly nasty transit.

Martin:  But couldn't the personal humiliation could have occurred  because the Moon rules the 1st house of the Cancer ascendant?

James:  That's kind of irrelevant because the Moon is similar to the ascendant anyway. Remember Chandra Lagna, Moon ascendant?

Martin:  Oh, that's right.

James:  Planets transiting the Moon have similar effects to planets  transiting the ascendant. The difference is that transits to the Moon hit the emotional nature of the person.

I'll give you another very basic reason I think the Virgo ascendant fits.  We're considering the Clinton scandal in terms of what happened to his career and personal well-being. But the love affair Clinton engaged in had to have a  devastating effect on his marriage. Hillary was humiliated terribly, and Bill must have suffered and paid an enormous price over that. Guess what dasa the affair occurred in? Jupiter. Guess what house Jupiter rules if the ascendant  is Virgo? The 7th.

Martin:  Marriage.

James:  Of course, the First Lady wasn't going to divorce Clinton  while he was a sitting President, but I wouldn't be surprised if the marriage essentially ended over the affair. We’ll have to wait and see whether Hillary  divorces Clinton six months or a year after his presidency is over.

Martin:  What subperiod was Clinton in when all this occurred?

James:  His problems started in 1998 (during Saturn's transit of the 8th house Moon), while he was in Jupiter-Sundasa-bhukti from  12/1997 to 9/1998. They got worse and worse after entering Jupiter-Moon on September 23, 1998. (For those who use the Krishnamurti ayanamsaC the  only other ayanamsa I consider feasible C the Moon subperiod began  September 8, 1998.)

Martin:  So by the end of the whole mess he was in Jupiter-Moon, with Moon being transited by Saturn.

James:  Yes. I don't want to be dogmatic about the Virgo ascendant.  It's only my opinion, and if I'm wrong it wouldn't be the first time. But I do want to give you another reason I favor the Virgo ascendant. You're aware that Clinton plays the saxophone, right? But he only practices as a hobby. Well, the  Cancer chart, with the ascendant ruler Moon in the 10th house, looks  decidedly like that of a professional performer.

Martin:  Where are you seeing the artistic talent in the Cancer chart?

James:  In that chart, the 10th house ruler, Mars,  occupies the 3rd house (music, dance, and drama) and is conjunct with  Venus (planet of art).

Martin:  But Venus is fallen.

James:  Still, when the ruler of the 10thoccupies the house of art, and is conjunct even a fallen Venus, and the person has the Moon in the 10th house, the quintessential placement of performers, the likelihood of being a professional performer is  enormous. There's an old saying about astrology, See an indication once, it's a possibility. See an indication twice, it's a probability. See an indication  three times, and you can bet on it. I'd say that statement applies here.

Martin:  Where do you see artistic talent in the other chart, the Virgo ascendant?

James:  In that chart, he has Venus in the 1st house, which, even  though fallen, may give artistic inclinations. More importantly, Mars, the ruler  of the 3rd house (art), is occupying the 1st house and is conjunct Venus, the planet of art. Even though both charts give  artistic ability, as I see it, one chart makes it a profession, the other a hobby.

Anyway, no matter which chart you use for Clinton, the horoscope is  problematic.

Martin:  It is?

James:  Absolutely. That's why astrologers disagree strongly about the chart. Regarding your question why Clinton hasn’t fared worse in terms of his 1st and 10th house being ruled by such an afflicted  Mercury, I believe the lesson here is that nothing in astrology is foolproof, and Clinton's chart is a good example of this point. Some people would say that  Mercury became strong because it is conjunct (within about five degrees) Pluto, which I don’t use in Jyotish. It’s possible they’re right. But I’m not sure that’s the true reason for Mercury’s strength.

Martin:  So, you think he beat the odds?

James:  Probably. In seventy or eighty percent of cases where Mercury  (or any planet) is tightly conjunct a malefic, particularly Saturn, Mercury is going to be quite wasted. But Clinton’s isn’t.

My other piece of advice is that this is the kind of case where your intuition as an astrologer needs to come into play.

Martin:  Are you saying that some astrologers might see Clinton's afflicted Mercury and know intuitively that it is not as hurt as it appears?

James: I'm saying exactly that. There are lots of times when I see a  chart where a planet is obviously afflicted, but I get a strong feeling that the  person has escaped the harm. There are lots of times when I'm doing a chart and  I suddenly get a feeling that the person is a doctor, but there's no clear  emphasis on health matters in the chart.

Martin:  What do you do?

James:  I start looking for a medical profession in the chart with a fine tooth comb. Sometimes I find it and sometimes I don't. When my intuition comes in really strong, I'm usually accurate. The problem is that if I haven't been able to find in the chart what my intuition suggests, I am very hesitant to mention what I've felt. Then I feel foolish when it turns out my gut feeling was correct.

Martin:  That's annoying.

James:  I consider it a hazard of the field. Some astrologers are  more comfortable with psychic phenomenon than others. I only want to rely on my intuition if I can confirm it through the birthchart.

Martin:  But sometimes your intuition is accurate even though you can't confirm it in the chart?

James:  Occasionally, yes.

Martin:  That's not so good.

James:  It is what it is.

Martin: James, another question. I notice that in a lot of Jyotish books written by Indians, the author never mentions the planetary orbs of aspects or conjunctions. The Indians I've read don't seem to care  whether an aspect is tight by degree or not. Why is this?

James:  First off, when Indians do that, it is a big mistake. Most of the Hindu Jyotishis I've met don't seem to even notice  the orbs of aspects, although a few of them do. As I've taught you over and over  already, there is a huge difference between an aspect that occurs within, say, three degrees and an aspect that occurs within, say, twenty-four degrees. In my opinion, there is no comparison at all.

I suspect that the reason Indians ignore the orbs is simply because of their style of drawing birthcharts.

Martin:  Drawing birthcharts?

James:  When Hindus draw a chart, they don't list the degrees of the planets inside the horoscope. They list the degrees outside of the map. On top of this, they list the sign degree; they list degrees numerically from 0 to 360. For example, if Mars occupies sixteen degrees of Taurus, they list Mars at forty-six degrees. If Jupiter occupies two degrees of Pisces, they list the planet as 332 degrees.

Martin:  That's very confusing.

James:  Especially in such a visual art as horoscope analysis. Sometimes Westerners practicing Jyotish try to imitate the exact methods  of Indians, but if they draw charts like Indians and can't notice the closeness of aspectual orbs, they are shooting themselves in the foot. But as I said, some  Hindu astrologers do take note of the orbs.

I'll give you two examples of aspects from my own horoscope (see page***)  that show how dramatic tight orbs can be. First, my ascendant ruler, Venus, is conjunct within one degree of Ketu, giving me great metaphysical inclinations while just about completely ruining any sense of self. You can't  imagine how shy and introverted I was as a child. And still am, essentially.

Martin:  And that wouldn't be the case if Venus was ten or fifteen  degrees away from Ketu?

James:  The intensity would be dramatically lessened. Tendencies would be similar, but without nearly the same magnitude.

Another tight aspect in my chart is the Jupiter-Saturn opposition that occurs  within one degree. Saturn rules the 10th house and is aspected by  Jupiter, which even though ruling a bad house C the 8thCis still a great benefic. It is this tight Jupiter aspect onto my 10th house ruler Saturn that has given me fame in my profession. And it is the tight  Jupiter aspect onto the 9th house ruler Saturn that has allowed me to be lucky in gaining higher knowledge. Jupiter is a very divine kind of influence, and I have had so many lucky and protective occurrences in the realms of higher knowledge and career that are blatantly Jupitarian, it makes me laugh.

My favorite one occurred when I was putting the finishing touches on my  second book, Astro-Logos, Revelations of a Hindu Astrologer. I had  read and re-read the book many times, and it had been professionally edited and proofread, and was ready to go to the printer that week. Even though I was certain the book was ready for the printer, a thought arose to let one of my  students read the last two chapters as a final proofing.

Do you know what he found? The astrological mantra pronunciations were all wrong. Instead of writing out the mantra pronunciations myself, I tried to save  time by simply lifting them from a computer file of my first book, which also gave all the mantras. The file, however, came from an unedited draft, and my proofreaders, not being Hindu astrologers, couldn't possibly have noticed the  errors. Because they came from a computer file, I just assumed they were  correct. But they weren't, and I nearly made a huge mistake. It was a stroke of pure luck that I asked my student to proofread the last two chapters.

Martin:  Or divine intervention.

James:  When this happened, I had the strongest feeling of being divinely protected in my career.

Martin:  Which is the way Jupiter aspects work.

James:  Well, it's the way extremely tight Jupiter aspects work. A person with a tight Jupiter aspect will always have lucky intuition in  the realms governed by the planet (and the houses that planet rules) that is  aspected by Jupiter.

Martin:  And this wouldn't have occurred if the aspect was ten or twenty degrees?

James:  There would be some luck connected to the aspect, but not  nearly as much. When you think of aspects, imagine standing ten or twenty feet  away from a fire versus standing a foot or two away. That's how aspects work.  Any questions?

Martin:  No, not yet. We've covered a lot today.

James:  Bas.

 END OF CHAPTER

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