Archive for category: Astrology

Is your newspaper horoscope often wrong? You may not be the sign you think you are!

Horoscopes in most North American newspapers are based on Western astrology, which calculates your Sun sign differently than Eastern (Vedic) astrology. That difference could mean that in Western astrology you are, for example, a Sagittarius, but in Vedic astrology you are actually a Scorpio—a difference that could have huge implications for both your horoscope and your life!

Why the difference in Sun signs between Western and Vedic astrology? Well, it’s very long and a very old story but, in a nutshell, it has to do with the fact that the Earth wobbles on its axis. Two thousand years ago there was no difference: In Roman times, astrologers all over the world decided that Aries would be considered the first sign of the Zodiac and everyone agreed as to the position of the 12 constellations (astrological signs 30 degrees each) comprising the 360-degree Zodiac belt.

However, over the past 2,000 years the wobble of the Earth has changed our planet’s position by approximately 22 to 24 degrees* . . . which represents almost an entire sign of the Zodiac! Vedic astrology uses mathematical calculations to adjust for this change, which accounts for the discrepancy between Western and Vedic Sun signs and planetary positions. So, now you know why you may not be the sign you think you are, and how a little wobble can make a world of difference in your life and in determining your Sun sign! We’re not saying that one system is better than the other, but it certainly helps explain why the things your newspaper horoscope says about you doesn’t always add up!

The following chart shows the approximate dates for the Vedic Sun signs as of 2020-2021. To know for sure your Vedic Sun sign, especially if your birthday falls at the border of a sign, it would be preferable to have your natal chart drawn up based on your exact date, time and place of birth.

2020
Pisces:            March 12th - April 12th
Aries:              April 12th - May 12th
Taurus:           May 12th - June 13th
Gemini:          June 13th - July 14th
Cancer:           July 14th - August 15th
Leo:                 August 15th - September 15th
Virgo:              September 15th - October 15th
Libra:              October 15th - November 14th
Scorpio           November 14th - December 14th

2020/21
Sagittarius:    December 14th, 2020 - January 12th, 2021
Capricorn:     January 12th - February 11th
Aquarius        February 11th - March 13th
Pisces:            March 13th - April 12^th

* We go by the calculations referred to as ayanamsha of Sri Yukteswar with an approximate 23-degree difference.

If you would like to know what your Vedic Sun sign is and have your birth chart analyzed according to Vedic principles and calculations, book a 60-minute consultation with us in person, by phone or via Zoom. Call us at 1-866-428-3799 from Canada or the U.S. to set up an appointment. From anywhere else in the world, call us 1-819-428-4298, or click here. We are here to help!

By Vedic palmist-astrologer Ghanshyam Singh Birla

To help make the best of this year, I would like to share with you the birth chart of 2020. I will show you from an astrological perspective the theme of the year and what is the key to making this year the most happy and productive.

At midnight on January 1^st, Virgo was rising. This is auspicious as it relates to Mercury, the messenger of the gods bringing words of wisdom to humanity. In a birth chart, the ascendant is key because it shows why we have taken birth at that particular time. In the birth chart of 2020, the ascendant shows us the focus and theme of the year. Mercury, the lord of the ascendant in this year’s chart, is sitting in the sign of Sagittarius in the 4^th house, which is the house of Mom, home, homeland . . .  Ideally, it is where your heart finds peace, comfort and contentment.

The thing is, in addition to Mercury, the 4^th house is packed with many planetary energies – Jupiter, Ketu, Sun, Saturn and Pluto, the god of transformation. Due to the very intense and demanding grouping of all the planets, this crowded house could lead to feelings of discomfort instead of the comfort promised by the 4^th house.

And because each planet in the 4^th house is associated with other house(s) in the chart, those areas could be a contributing factor to the discomfort we feel. For example, in the 2020 chart we find: Gemini in the 10^th house, which is related to our work; Capricorn in the 5^th related to our creativity and children; Aquarius in the 6^th related to feelings of stress; and Pisces in the 7^th related to the needs of our partners and colleagues. In short, the affairs of 7 out of the 12 houses in the chart are impacting the 4^th house. If we are not mindful of what is happening with our 4^th house, all that activity could easily disturb our feelings of comfort and peace.

So, how can we sail smoothly through this year? How do we bring comfort to our 4th house of home and happiness when it is being bombarded by so many demands? The key is the 7^th house. Why? Because in the 2020 birth chart, Pisces is in the 7^th house with its great friend and benefic ruler, Jupiter, sitting in the 4^th house.

As mentioned, the 7^th house relates to all our partnerships, including our spouse and colleagues. The placement of Pisces in the 7^th house, with its benefic ruler, Jupiter, sitting in the 4^th house, could potentially bring a lot of satisfaction. But with all the intense planets surrounding Jupiter, our partnerships could be drawn into the fray and blamed for our discontent.

So, what is the key to staying peaceful and happy throughout the coming year? By using the 7^th house to connect with our Purush—our higher, most spiritual self! In addition to our partnerships, the 7^th house corresponds to the subconscious—the 90 percent of our consciousness hidden below the surface. In Indian tradition, the 7^th house is the house of our “jinn” or genie—our real self, and the relationships we attract that are intended to help us discover this integral part of ourselves. We can tap into this unseen aspect of our being by connecting to our heart with tools of inner exploration, such as meditation, self-reflection, prayer, yoga, tai chi, martial arts, and by finding our passion and devoting ourselves to it wholeheartedly. In doing so, we will soften our expectations that others be the source of our comfort. Finding an inner spiritual anchor can "take the heat off" our loved ones, and help us become a source of stability and inspiration to ourselves, those we love and everyone around us.

If we use the energy of our 7^th house to stabilize our 4^th house, we can create a heaven on Earth that will begin within our own heart and radiate outward to encompass our home, our friends, our work place, our colleagues and even strangers we meet on the street. It is a sure way to make 2020 a wonderfully happy and inspiring year for ourselves and those we love, and to ensure we do our bit to make the world a better place. And fortunately, we have the support of Mars, the noble warrior, placed in the powerful sign of Scorpio, in the 3^rd house of courage. Consequently, we have the force within us to support all our worthy intentions.

To sum up, the theme and focus of 2020 is finding a sense of peace and inner comfort. This can be done by melting our heart and remaining emotionally stable through steady feelings of love, no matter what is happening around us. This will bring an immense sense of comfort not only to ourselves, but our friends, family, and colleagues alike.

Just a reminder, the birth chart for 2020 reflects the general theme of the year. Reviewing your own natal chart will reveal any personal obstacles you might encounter while dealing with the year’s theme. As always, the team and I will be here throughout the year to help you in any way we can!

Wishing you a very happy, peaceful and prosperous 2020, and may God bless you!

To get more insights about 2020, watch Ghanshyam’s analysis of the New Year’s chart on our YouTube Channel.

The full moon of February 19th peaks at 10:53 A.M. EST, but will appear full right through the evening.

It is also happens to be a Supermoon! According to NASA, Supermoons occur when the full moon is at its closest point to the Earth. This particular full moon will be the nearest, largest, and brightest full Moon of the year!

The full moon is a great gauge of our emotional energy. Our passions and feelings run very deep during a full moon, but are extra-charged whenever the full moon in Leo, which it is right now. It’s good to be aware of this fact because we may find our emotions being pulled in opposite directions. Moon in Leo tugs our feelings towards our personal needs, however, with the Sun being in Aquarius we are being pushed to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of our professional life.

So, today, make sure you maintain equilibrium between these two important areas of your life—the personal and professional. This doesn’t mean to hold back, you should fully express your enthusiasm and passion in both your work and in your relationships.

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The coming year will be a year of change, challenge and opportunity for us all. In fact, looking at the astrological chart for 2019, it is fair to say that the dawn of 2019 will likely initiate a revolution in our personal lives. Why? Because in 2019 our 4^th house—the most intimate and personal of the 12 astrological houses—will be jam-packed with powerful planets that can be as transformative and volatile as they are influential. The key thing to remember about the 4^th house is that it is directly related to our sense of comfort and security—it pertains to home and hearth, to our homeland, to our mother and all that nurtures us; it is where we take refuge from the world and is the cornerstone of our happiness and contentment of our heart. In order to feel safe, secure and loved, it is essential that our 4^th house is balanced and stable. But, as we are about to see, maintaining balance and stability in the 4^th is going to be a major challenge in 2019, a year that promises change.

Let’s begin at the beginning. As we rang in the New Year Virgo was rising and, as you likely know, Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which is in the fiery sign of Sagittarius in the 4^th house. However, Mercury is not alone in the 4^th house—indeed, it has plenty of company. Sun, Saturn and Pluto—all extremely powerful celestial bodies—are also in the 4^th. That’s a total of four planets in the 4^th house, and whenever four or more planets take up residence in a single house—a phenomenon known as a stellium—the affairs of that house exert an intense, even obsessive influence on our lives. Such concentrated focus on one house can consume all our attention, time and energy, which can unbalance us and lead to dramatic and unexpected upheaval in our lives, especially the areas of our lives most affected by that house. In the case of the 4^th house, it is our personal and home life, including our sense of safety and security, that will come under intense planetary influence.

To better understand those influences, let’s take a moment to consider the nature of the planets that are parked in the 4^th house. First, there is vacillating Mercury, which can behave either as a benefic or malefic planet. Then we have Sun with its nuclear-level heat that can naturally initiate movement and change. Then we have Saturn (sometimes referred to as the planet of “blessings in disguise”) that often pushes us to take a hard, honest look at the way we think and behave, thus forcing us to change, grow and mature. Finally, there is the tiny powerhouse planet of Pluto, a relentless instigator of change known as “the God of transformation and rebirth”, which often demands us to undergo a major catharsis before allowing us to move on with our lives. And of course, all this potential change is taking place in the sign of Sagittarius, which is represented by the truth-seeking archer, whose penetrating arrow is aimed heavenward in a constant search for honesty and uprightness. So, as you can see, all the elements of revolutionary change will be at work in the 4^th house in 2019. And it is a revolution that could easily challenge our sense of personal security, stability, comfort and happiness.

But, as they say, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. In other words, being aware of what the planets are up to in our 4^th house allows us to prepare for any changes coming our way, ensuring that we can use that transformative energy to our advantage. Usually, the best way to manage the extreme influences of a stellium is by drawing upon the balancing influences of the planet (or planets) in the opposite house—in the case of the 4^th house, the opposite house is the 10^th, the house of our public persona, work and career. Unfortunately, in the 2019 chart, there are no planets in the 10^th house to help balance out the intense 4^th house energy and maintain an equilibrium between the 4^th and 10^th, between our personal and professional lives. This means it will not only be easy for personal dramas and emotional upsets to disrupt our private lives, but for those private problems to spill over into the workplace and negatively impact our career. Therefore, in the coming year, we must endeavor to create the balance needed for a peaceful, happy and successful life from within ourselves: we must balance, strengthen, stabilize and protect our 4^th house by drawing upon the most loving, caring and peaceable qualities residing in the depths of our heart.

When we focus on being kind, loving, peaceful and compassionate (especially with our loved ones at home), we shore up and fortify our 4^th house. In doing so, we will remain calm, even-tempered and good-natured no matter how tumultuous or stormy our life becomes, or how many changes we must endure—be those changes emotional, financial, romantic or professional. Indeed, with a stable 4^th house, any changes we choose to make (or are forced to deal with) in 2019 will serve to make us stronger, wiser and better people. Achieving balance in the 4^th house—in our private life—helps us generate positive energy that radiates into our “public life” 10^th house, allowing us to shine at work through our increased focus, creativity, productivity and effectiveness. In short, being healthy, calm and kind at home will allow us to be more brilliant and successful in our career and have good relations with everyone we meet. This is the type of change we want to strive for in the coming year—it will enable us to balance our 4^th and 10^th houses and effectively use the power of the four planets in the 4^th house to our greatest advantage.

And the best way to strengthen our 4^th house is by developing both a healthy and balanced lifestyle, a lifestyle supported by an optimistic outlook, a peaceful state of mind and a caring, generous disposition. Throughout 2019 it is extremely important for us to set positive goals both at home and at work, and then do all we can to achieve those goals by following a nutritious diet, getting plenty of exercise and rest, being ever-mindful of the needs and concerns of others, and remaining in touch with our spiritual nature through a regular practice of meditation, self-reflection and/or prayer. Fortunately, the Cosmos will help us in this regard as Jupiter—the planet of illumination—is in the 3^rd house in the sign of Scorpio sitting with Venus, aspecting our 9th house of higher wisdom.

To sum up, if we remain anchored to our heart, 2019 will be a great (and perhaps magical) year for transforming even the most difficult changes and challenges into incredible opportunities and amazing success stories! To quote the enlightened Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda: “Opportunities in life come by creation not by chance. When you are attuned with your soul, you will be able to think correctly about everything you do.”

Namaskar! Have a happy, prosperous and healthy New Year!