Astro-Location

Where Should I Live?

Nearly every practicing astrologer has heard of the late Jim Lewis' research in relocational astrology trademarked as Astro*Carto*Graphy™. Today's astrologers owe a great debt of gratitude to Jim Lewis and his precursors, as he and his kind have forever enriched and changed the way we practice astrology.

Jim Lewis ingeniously built upon research in relocational astrology that already was a century ripe. The idea had fascinated astrologers well back to the 1800's. Before Lewis, the precursors of relocational astrology were A.J. Pearce in the 1870's, L. Edward Johndro, in the 1920's and 1930's, and the famed sidereal astrologer, Cyril Fagan, who extensively researched and wrote about it in the 1940's. The idea of movement in time and space is germane to the realm of astrology, and the concept of moving the astrological chart played itself out in the varying progressions and transits that astrologers utilize in their work. But the great minds of Pearce, Johndro and Fagan extended this sense of movement to localities outside of the birth locality. It was Jim Lewis, however, who galvanized these ideas into a revolutionary modern tool he called Astro*Carto*Graphy.

Continuum magazine succinctly summarizes Lewis' immense contribution to relocational astrology in a tribute entitled: "Jim Lewis and Astro*Carto*Graphy". Continuum explains: "Lewis' contribution was to take time and place beyond the narrow focus of a single horoscope and recast them onto a world map. Lewis' Astro*Carto*Graphy, then, is an angularity map that displays orbit tracks of the lights and planets for all horizons and meridians...for the birth moment. The premise behind it, again, is that people will experience the intrinsic natures of the planets at locations where their natal planets fall angular. Lewis himself received many thousands of letters, corroborating this notion, from customers who were so impressed with the technique that they felt compelled to write to him and explain the detail of their lives. He advertised that changing one's locale could substantially change the prevailing conditions of one's life circumstances. It's true. There is no advertising hype behind it." Those of us who have practiced what Jim Lewis developed can attest to the veracity of that statement!

Although Jim Lewis was a tropical astrologer, the techniques he developed in Astro*Carto*Graphy were never zodiac specific. One can be a tropical astrologer, or sidereal astrologer, or use any of the several ayanamsas (difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiac) available, or invent one's own, and the relocation technology is still relevant! How can this be so? Let us examine the fundamental principles of how Astro*Carto*Graphy measures the planets as they come to the angles, that is the horizon and meridian of a given locality.

Astro*Carto*Graphy:  How It Works

On any given day the planets have a specific spatial relationship with one another irrespective of where one is born on the planet. This planetary relationship changes slowly over time due to the slow orbital speeds of the planets. The planets also have a specific relationship to any given locality dependent on the rotation of the earth, and because the earth rotates so much more quickly than the planets move, this relationship constantly changes over the course of twenty four hours as planets quickly rise in the east, culminate overhead, and set in the west, at the observers locality here on the early sphere.

Even though the Sun, or any planet for that matter, may not be rising or culminating or setting at the locality of your birth, at the time when you came into space, that is the moment you were born, it was specifically rising, culminating and setting somewhere on the earthly sphere! In fact, on the day at the time you were born, somewhere in the world all of the planets were rising, culminating, setting, and falling. Astro*Carto*Graphy measures this, and this measurement is profoundly simple. Just as parallels of latitude (north and south) and meridians of longitude (east and west) locate a place here on the early sphere, their celestial counterparts of parallels of declination and meridians of right ascension assist us in measuring planets on the heavenly sphere. By extending the earth's equator into the heavenly sphere as a celestial equator, we can locate the planets in parallels of declination north and south along the celestial equator, and in parallels of right ascension east and west along the celestial equator. In this way the declination of a planet corresponds exactly with terrestrial latitude, and the right ascension of a planet corresponds exactly with terrestrial longitude! This system measures all of the planets through lines of extension to all terrestrial locations where the planets appear on the four angles: the ascendant, the MC, the descendant, and the IC. It's that simple, yet profound.

Most importantly, Astro*Carto*Graphy is locality specific, not zodiac specific. To further explain, Astro*Carto*Graphy uses a world map to measure the planets on the earthly sphere only in reference to the planets rising and falling on the four angles at given localities. This local activity of the planets is an observable phenomenon (except the IC, of course). It is determined by local observance, not by the zodiac or  ayanamsa the practitioner uses. Like ancient astrology it returns us to an observance of the night sky, replete with the rising and setting of the heavens! It is therefore a valid technique for tropical, as well as sidereal astrologers. No one group of astrologers can claim a monopoly for Astro*Carto*Graphy, for the one thing we astrologers all share in common, and upon which our eyes must agree, is the local observance of the planets as they rise on the horizon in the east, culminate directly overhead, and set in west, as they fall out of our line of sight. Jim Lewis developed a tool, which completely sidesteps the tropical/sidereal zodiac debate and returns us to an observable astrology we all can agree upon. As I am both a practicing sidereal and tropical astrologer myself, this is, in my opinion, is the definitive tool where East meets West, where ancient astrological techniques meet modern techniques utilizing the full potential of each zodiacal preference!
 
Let me show you how easily this modern tool of astrology can be incorporated into your practice of Jyotish (aka Vedic astrology) and how easily the ancient tool of Jyotish can augment and enrich your current practice of relocational astrology. You need not draw up special relocational maps. The Astro*Carto*Graphy maps developed by Jim Lewis, and marketed by several fine astrological software programs work perfectly regardless of zodiac. The Vedic relocational astrology I have researched and developed over the last several years is what I call JyotishLocality.

In the Eastern school of astrology we have a tradition honoring our gurus and teachers. The ancient Vedas of India say we owe a debt of gratitude to our forefathers. I honor and pay homage to FDIC sage Parser for his gift of Jyotisha and I honor and pay homage to Jim Lewis. Knowing Jim's fierce dedication to independent astrological thinking through our service together on the AFAN steering committee, I would like to think he would be pleased with the rise of a new star in the realm of astrological independent thinking as relocational astrology moves eastward. JyotishLocality: the right angle on relocation.

Ancient astrologers from both the Eastern and Western traditions observed that planets near the angles of the astrological chart (near the horizon and meridian) were imbued with great power to influence the life of a person. The principle fundamentals of Astro*Carto*Graphy are built upon this ancient principle. But the genius of relocational astrology lies in the principle that if you cannot bring the planets to the angles of your chart because of the time you were born, then by all means bring the angles to the planets by relocating in space to the various localities on terra firma where the planets were on the angles at the time you were born! In this way you can bring Venus and Jupiter, or Mars and Saturn, to the horizon or meridian of your chart.

The conventional wisdom of contemporary relocational astrology suggests it is best to enhance the classic benefic planetary lines of Jupiter and Venus, and to prudently be prepared, or to avoid classic malefic lines, such as Mars, Saturn and Pluto. For example, the Jupiter line of angularity on the eastern horizon is said to increase personal influence and popularity, increasing a person's optimism. On the other hand, the Saturn line of angularity on the eastern horizon is said to increase personal power but decrease self-esteem and popularity in the person. Venus angular on the eastern horizon is said to enhance the personal image, refine personal aesthetics and create an atmosphere of indulgence. Mars, however, angular on the eastern horizon, is said to increase a virile, machismo image, magnifying competitive and confrontational energies in the person's life, often subjecting the person to physically challenging and harsh life circumstances. As you can see, the conventional wisdom certainly favors the benefic planetary lines of angularity.

Vedic astrology also generally favors the benefic planetary energies of Jupiter and Venus over Saturn and Mars but there are important exceptions to this general rule and very important distinctions about which planetary energies to embrace and which to avoid. To understand this let's begin to weave a basic understanding of Jyotish, commonly called Vedic astrology, into our current understanding of relocational wisdom.

JyotishLocality: Preferred Planetary Placement

The astrology of India is a sidereal-based system of astrology, which incorporates several distinct factors, which are currently not in practice with today's contemporary Western astrologers.

Ancient Jyotishis (practitioners of Vedic astrology) observed and recorded that planets near or on the kendras (angles), bring great power to influence a life, just like today's contemporary western astrologers utilize the angles for the most obvious and distinguishing characteristics of a person's life. The Ascendant (1st angle) indicates the appearance, the IC (4th angle), indicates the family of origin, the descendant (7th angle) indicates the significant other or spouse, and the MC (10th angle) indicates the profession. The same principles of relocational angularity of the planets apply equally to Vedic relocational astrology, for as previously noted, relocational astrology is locally specific, not zodiac specific. It makes no difference what ayanamsa (difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiac) the astrologer uses, the calculations of the planets angular lines will always be the same.

The Vedic Sage Parasara, in his masterpiece Brihat Hora Shastra further says that each of the planets has a preferred kendra (angle) where the planet gains its greatest directional strength. This system of planetary strength is called dik bala (directional strength). Parasara explains that each of the planets has a direction (North, South, East and West) in which it is most powerfully placed. Here is a table of these directional strengths.

Planet		Directional Strength
Mercury	East	1st Angle	Horizon East
Jupiter	East	1st Angle	Horizon East
Moon	North	4th Angle	Lower Meridan
Venus	North	4th Angle	Lower Meridian
Saturn	West	7th Angle	Horizon West
Sun	South	10th Angle	Upper Meridian
Mars	South	10th Angle	Upper Meridian

Relocational astrology suggests that as planets come to angularity, as we move they become more powerful. Vedic relocational astrology, or JyotishLocality, agrees whole heartedly, and further suggests that each planet have an angle at which it is most powerful. This implies preferred planetary lines of angularity for all of the planets.

For example, as you can see from the table, the Sun likes it directly overhead, on the MC, the upper local meridian or 10th angle. That is the Sun's preferred and most powerful placement according to dik bala, directional strength. This will be the most powerful planetary line of angularity for the Sun, more powerful than the ascendant, the IC, or the descendant lines of angularity. This directional strength of the Sun is so obvious it is almost indisputable. The Sun appears strongest overhead and it casts little or no shadow. Both ancient and modern astrologers agree on this point. JyotishLocality further suggests that each of the planets will correspondingly be most powerful on its preferred line of angularity. The Moon's most powerful preferred placement is the IC line of angularity opposite the Sun. Saturn's most powerful line of angularity is in the west and Jupiter's line in the east, and so on and so forth for all of the planets.

Although, as we have seen, relocational astrology is predicated upon the principles of local planetary angularity, JyotishLocality agrees, and further gives preferential treatment to one line of angularity over the others for each of the planetary lines. This preferred line further increases the power of the planet. But as a planet becomes powerful we need ask ourselves powerful for what? Modern relocational astrology suggests that the characteristics indicated by the specific planet will become more powerfully enhanced, such as optimism and friendliness for Jupiter's planetary lines, realism and increasing sense of isolation for Saturn's planetary lines. JyotishLocality again agrees on these powerful enhanced planetary indicators according to the nature of the planets involved. But Vedic astrology further indicates that as planets become more powerful, the astrological houses these planets are associated with also become increasingly more powerful. In fact, in Vedic astrology, the astrological houses a planet owns, singularly will determine whether that planet will be powerful to help you, or to hinder you. Thus again, some planets are preferred over others!

Yoga Karakas: Preferred Planetary Energies

As you have read, ancient and modern astrologers alike agree that the angles, or kendras of the chart are preferred planetary placements of power. The ability of a planet to make itself prominent in the life is attributed to its angularity. The four angles are powerful, that is why they are considered beneficial planetary placements. If a planet becomes powerful on an angle, then certainly the purpose behind this power is also a powerful consideration, for ultimately the purpose is a determining factor on whether the planet will become beneficially disposed or not. Therefore the astrological houses of purpose are of special importance in Vedic astrology. These houses of purpose are called the dharma houses, and they ultimately determine whether the power of any given planetary angularity will be a positive or negative force in a person's life!

The dharma houses, commonly called the trines in Vedic astrology, are the 1st house, the 5th house, and the 9th house. The Sanskrit word dharma implies the inherent purpose, the duty of the soul to fulfill itself. The purpose behind anything reveals its intent. The intent of the soul is sacred, thus in Vedic astrology these astrological houses are especially auspicious. The 1st house does double duty as both an angle and a dharma house, called a trine. It is supremely auspicious because the planet that rules it is fully indicative of the self. The purpose of these trinal houses reveals the dharmic path of the soul through many lives. This makes these soulfully purposeful houses. Further, the planets that rule these houses are purposeful benefic planets, that is they are unusual for the astrological chart in question, whether these planets are the benefics (Mercury, Venus and Jupiter) or the malefics (Mars and Saturn).

In Vedic astrology, when it so happens that a single planet owns both an angle (houses 1,4,7,and 10) and a trine (houses 1,5, and 9), it becomes a supremely auspicious planet for the person in question, for when purpose and power are combined, it is truly auspicious for the dharma of the soul. Like ancient Greek astrology, ancient Vedic astrology uses the original seven planets (the Sun through Saturn) in its house rulership principles. Modern Vedic astrologers use the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) but not in the house rulership principles. Again, like ancient Greek astrology, Vedic astrology utilizes a whole sign house system. So the planets will rule over each sidereal house/sign in zodiacal succeeding order. This order is determined approximately every two hours by the sidereal sign that is rising in the eastern horizon. So all the planets, with the exception of the Sun and Moon, will rule over two houses, as they rule over two signs each (for example: Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces, Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius, Mars rules Aries and Scorpio). When the two houses that a planet rule are each an angle and a trine, then that planet gains a special status of positively influencing the life of the person. This is because the planet that rules both an angle and trine has that aforesaid synergy of power and purpose behind it because of its house rulerships, to lift it above the other planets and confer upon that planet a preferential status. In some cases two planets are necessary to create this linkage of power and purpose. The preferential status given to such planets is called a yogakaraka in Vedic astrology. Yoga karaka in Sanskrit means the best indicator of planetary combination. It is the best planet, or planets, benefic or malefic, for a given chart and this is entirely determined by what sidereal sign you have rising at birth! Below is a list of the highly beneficial yoga karakas for each of the twelve sidereal planetary ascendants:

Ascendant	Yoga Kararkas
Aries	Sun and Jupiter
Taurus	Saturn
Gemini	Mercury and Venus
Cancer	Mars
Leo	Mars
Virgo	Mercury and Venus
Libra	Saturn
Scorpio	Sun and Moon
Sagittarius	Jupiter and Sun
Capricorn	Venus
Aquarius	Venus
Pisces	Jupiter and Moon

 
JyotishLocality suggests that these are the best planetary lines of angularity for each of the twelve ascendants due to the auspicious house rulerships of the given planets.

So if you are a sidereal Capricorn or Aquarius rising, the benefic Venus is your yogakaraka, and thus your best planetary line of angularity. If you are a sidereal Cancer or Leo ascendant, the malefic Mars is yours yogakaraka, and thus your best planetary line of angularity. It is the same for the sidereal Taurus and Libra ascendants, where the malefic Saturn is the yoga karaka and thus the best planetary line of angularity! When malefic planets such as Mars and Saturn are yogakarakas, they become temporally benefic for those sidereal Ascendants only. This is how Mars and Saturn, usually malefic energies, become highly beneficial lines in Vedic relocational astrology, because of specific status as yoga karakas for Cancer, Leo, Taurus and Libra ascendants! To begin to practice Jyotish Locality, you will need to remember the other yogakarakas for each of the 12 differing ascendants as these are the most auspicious planetary lines!

Devas and Asuras: Friendly Planetary Groups

The concept of yogas (planetary combinations) and especially yogakarakas is fundamental to the workings of Vedic astrology. You have already seen how certain planetary lines of angularity become exceedingly auspicious because of the preferred astrological houses over which the planets in question have dominion. Vedic astrology further divides planetary energies into two planetary camps: Devas and Asuras. Just as the yogakarakas work well with one other, planets from the same planetary grouping have a natural affinity and also work well together.

The planets which rule the fire and water signs in Vedic astrology are friendly members of the Deva planetary group. These planets are the Sun, Moon, Mars and Jupiter. They generally work well together. The planets which rule the air and earth signs are friendly members of the Asura planetary group. These planets are Mercury, Venus and Saturn. They also work very well together. Vedic astrology mimics life. We generally can do no wrong in the eyes of our friends and do no right in the eyes of our enemies! Below please find the table of planetary friendships for easy reference:

Planets	Friendships
Mercury	Asura Planetary Group
Venus	Asura Planetary Group
Saturn	Asura Planetary Group
Sun	Deva Planetary Group
Moon	Deva Planetary Group
Mars	Deva Planetary Group
Jupiter	Deva Planetary Group

JyotishLocality suggests that next in importance to your yogakaraka planetary line of angularity you can't do much better than relocating to the planetary line of friend. The first line of preference, next to the yogakaraka, should be the planetary line of the ascendant lord. No man or woman can be a better friend to oneself than relocating to the planetary line of the planet that represents self! Next in order of importance, will be the planetary lines of the planets from the same planetary grouping. Planetary friends will be supportive and beneficial for the chart as a whole.

So you see, JyotishLocality follows the same principles of modern relocational astrology when it comes to assessing local planetary lines of angularity. It then distinguishes the planetary lines by giving preferential treatment to the planetary line of angularity, which has dik bala, or the directional strength for a given planet. It further qualifies planetary lines preferentially in the order of yogakaraka, ascending sign ruler, and lastly by planetary friendship lines of angularity. Each technique from ancient Vedic astrology enriches our understanding of modern relocational astrology, giving, in my opinion, a more distinctive and in-depth analysis of each of the traditional seven planetary lines. JyotishLocality is just that profound and yet simple!

Planetary Dasas: Preferential Planetary Periods

Vedic astrology has a time tested unique feature which has no equivalent in modern western astrology - planetary dasas. The dasa system is a system of planetary periods lasting anywhere from 6 to 20 years each, somewhat the eastern version of planetary progressions.

The classic dasa system utilized by today's Vedic astrologers is the Vimshottari dasa system. Each person will start life in one of 9 planetary periods, including the seven original planets and the two Nodes of the Moon. According to the principles of Vedic astrology, you will receive the indications, and thus the karmic results, of each of the planets in your chart over the course of the time, as you change from the planetary period of one planet to that of another. There is no need to discuss how to calculate the planetary dasas, as any of the several fine Vedic astrology software packages will easily calculate these planetary periods for you.

The premise behind the planetary periods is that some planetary periods deliver better results than others do. This has much to do with how powerful the planet is in the chart, i.e., the planets are in their own sign or exaltation, and how powerfully the planetary period lord is placed, i.e., whether the planet is in one of the aforesaid angles or trines. The periods of well placed planetary friends are generally said to give the most favorable and supportive results. JyotishLocality will take the dasa system one step further!

JyotishLocality suggests that if you are running the planetary period of a planet that is friendly to your chart, then this planetary line usually becomes the best possible line of angularity to embrace if you are relocating during the planets dasa. The concept is simple. If a person is running a planetary cycle of a planet friendly to their chart, say the planet Mercury for example, for a Taurus sidereal ascendant, then they are experiencing the karmic results of the planets Mercury during his cycle, which generally would be favorable for a Taurus sidereal ascendant. This is because Venus, the ascendant ruler, is a friend to Mercury in the system planetary friendship groupings. If the person wanted to move in Mercury's cycle, Jyotishlocality would suggest the Mercury lines of angularity, especially the eastern horizon line, as there Mercury receives dik bala, his most powerful directional strength. The reasoning is again straightforward. Mercury's cycle will generally bring about auspicious results for a Taurus sidereal Ascendant, and these results will greatly be enhanced and magnified by relocating to a Mercury line of angularity. This, in my opinion, will bring about the greatest possible planetary confluence, linking the current planetary period lord, with the planetary period's lord best line of angularity. This technique of JyotishLocality is be employed only when the current planetary period lord is from the same planetary friendship group as the ascendant lord. But what happens when the current planetary period lord running is not that of a planet from the same planetary friendship group. What does JyotishLocality have to say then? JyotishLocality Upayes: Remedial Relocation Measures

When a person is running the period of a planet that is not friendly to the ascendant lord, the results of a such a planetary cycle are generally not as favorable for the person, unless other mitigating factors are involved. Vedic astrology utilizes a number of remedial measures to ameliorate difficult planetary energies. These are called upayes in Sanskrit. These upayes range from the use of prayer and mantras to the use of spiritual ceremonies (yagyas) and gemstones to propitiate difficult planetary energies. In ancient India, people did not relocate as readily and as easily as we enjoy today in modern western culture. Because of our recently acquired mobility, JyotishLocality can now be employed as an additional remedial measure! This technique of JyotishLocality is again very simple and straightforward. If a person is wishing to relocate, and is running a difficult planetary period, simply suggest moving to a line of planetary angularity friendly to that person's chart! In my opinion, this, along with other suitable measures, will help propitiate the negativity of the difficult planetary cycle by realigning the person's energy with the positive resonance of a friendly planetary line of angularity!

For example, a person with a sidereal Leo ascendant is running the cycle of Venus. Venus is not part of the planetary friendship grouping that is friendly to the ascendant lord, the Sun. So if the person wanted to enhance their lives by relocation, Jyotishlocality would suggest that they first move to their Mars line of angularity, for Mars is the yogakaraka for the Leo ascendant. Jyotishlocality further suggests the Mars line of angularity on the upper meridian, the MC, as this is where Mars gains dik bala, or directional strength. We would further suggest the planetary lines of the ascendant ruler, the Sun, and Jupiter, all of which are from the same planetary friendship grouping. These lines will bring out the best planetary resonance for the Leo ascendant.

Now that we has established the fundamental principles of JyotishLocality, let us see just how well this system functions using actual case examples researched over the last two years from my private client files. Although these are actual case histories, the names have been changed to protect those now living in karmic bliss due to the power and depth of JyotishLocality!

Practicum One:  It Must Must Have Been the Right Place But the Wrong Time

The first chart is that of a man who wished to relocate for personal and business reasons. John was born April 16, 1947, at 11:50 AM, MST, in Bozeman, Montana. Let us systematically establish the aforesaid principles of JyotishLocality so we can begin to interpret this chart for the best locality for relocation. Click here to see John's chart.

John's Vedic chart has a sidereal Cancer ascendant. Mars is the planet who is yoga karaka for the Cancer ascendant. Mars gains dik bala, or directional strength, on the MC, the upper meridian planetary line of angularity. Therefore, according to Jyotishlocality, the Mars line, particularly the MC line of angularity is the best possible relocational planetary line if angularity for John's chart. The Moon is the ascendant ruler and so the planetary friendship grouping of the Sun, Mars and Jupiter are the lines of planetary friends. These are the next best planetary lines of angularity.

Now, according to the principles of JyotishLocality, we will want to examine what planetary period John is running, and whether that planet is friendly to John's chart. When John called me he was just finishing the balance of the planetary period of Saturn, a planet which is not friendly to John's chart. Saturn in John's chart is within degrees of the ascendant. At the time of the consultation he was unhappily involved in a relationship with a woman from the eastern part of Washington. This is where, in fact, his Saturn planetary line of angularity was rising on the eastern horizon! Practitioners of Astro*Carto*Graphy often find that we receive the positive or negative energy represented by the planets from the people who come from the localities where our planetary line of angularity run through. This concept seems to work in JyotishLocality as well. Saturn, in John's Vedic chart, rules the 7th house of relationship and the 8th house of joint finances for a Cancer ascendant. As John's Saturn planetary period of time was finishing, he was simultaneously also finishing the karmas of this very difficult relationship, which involved aspects of deep personal rejection and financial difficulties through the relationship, reflecting the Saturn house rulership. Amazingly he was fulfilling all of this not far from his rising Saturn line of angularity in Eastern Washington just as he was finishing the difficult cycle of Saturn. The synchronicity of JyotishLocality can be incredible!

In examining John's Astro*Carto*Graphy map you will certainly see the Saturn line rising through eastern part of the state of Washington. You will also notice a Mars line, in fact the preferred Mars MC, upper meridian line of angularity running along the whole western coast, going directly through the Puget Sound area of Washington. This would be John's best planetary line according to JyotishLocality. In John's Vedic chart, Mars was with Mercury in the sidereal sign of Pisces, in the preferred 9th trinal house. He was a successful technical writer in the Puget Sound area of Washington. There he had been financially successful on his Mars and Mercury lines of angularity. But, in the Puget Sound area the Saturn rising, eastern horizon, planetary line of angularity was just too close for comfort, even though it went through Eastern Washington. The memories of a long-term difficult relationship were just too much to bear for his Cancer ascendant. The sorrows of the relationship culminating in Saturn's planetary period ultimately made this locality unacceptable. It was time for a move!

I recommended a transfer with his company to the San Francisco Bay area, as his Mars line cuts directly through this locality, as well a Mercury planetary line of angularity for his technical writing skills. John has since relocated to his Mars yoga karaka preferred planetary line of angularity in the San Francisco Bay area, directly on the MC, the local upper meridian, where his confidence and business assertiveness skills are currently flourishing. That is exactly what JyotishLocality would expect, bringing out all the positivism and confidence of a Martian, that is what Mars as a yoga karaka for a Cancer ascendant promises!

Practicum Two:  Fairy Tales Can Come True

The second chart is that a woman who wished to relocate for personal and vocational reasons. Joan was born September 13, 1965 at 4:30 PM, CST, in Dumas, Texas. Joan had just finished a very interesting time in her life, felt she was waiting for her life to take off again, and wanted to relocate to fulfill emerging career ambitions. Once again let's follow the fundamental principles of JyotishLocality in interpreting the best locality for relocation. Click here to see Joan's chart.

Joan has a sidereal Capricorn ascendant. Venus is the yoga karaka for Capricorn ascendants. Therefore, Joan's Venus line of angularity holds the best promise for relocation. Especially good is the Venus line on the IC (the lower meridian) as this is Venus' preferred planetary line of angularity. It is where she would receive dik bala (directional strength). Next in order of preference would be the planetary line of angularity from the same planetary friendship grouping as the ascendant lord Saturn. This includes the grouping Venus, Saturn and Mercury, in that order.

When Joan spoke to me she has just finished the planetary period of Venus, the dasa of her yoga karaka planet, her potentially best planetary period of time. She was now well into the planetary period of the Sun. Joan's Venus is well placed in it's own sidereal sign, Libra, in the 10th house. Her Venus forms a powerful planetary configuration called Malavya Yoga. Certain yogas, that is certain planetary configurations, in Vedic astrology confer positive attitude and have great power to lift up the life. Malavya Yoga is one such yoga. Venus's Malavya Yoga is said to confer great beauty, poise, refinement and the person is generally well liked by all. Such a planetary yoga delivers its powerful results during the yoga planet's planetary period of time.

Joan had already experienced the results of this yoga, when she entered the Venus planetary period in 1971. Venus cycle was to run for a full twenty years, until 1991. During that period of time she had moved form Texas to the greater Seattle area. Why Seattle? By referring to Joan's Astro*Carto*Graphy map, you will see that her Venus planetary line of angularity on the MC (the upper meridian) goes directly through the greater Seattle area! She came here to be a teacher of children. Venus in her Vedic chart rules the 5th house of children and the 10th house of career! There are no coincidences here, only the law of karma in full effect! Venus here as yoga karaka for Capricorn ascendant was conferring karmic bliss through relocation during her planetary cycle, as the Venus line of planetary angularity on the MC went through the greater Seattle area. As good as this planetary line is, it is not the greatest planetary line of angularity for Venus. That is the IC line for Venus, as she receives dik bala (directional strength) on the IC, the lower local meridian.

What is most astounding in examining Joan's life is that during the Venus major planetary cycle she also left the country to teach abroad. She received great personal recognition when she moved to Oman to teach the children of a royal Sunni Muslim family. Oman is directly on that aforesaid best Venus line of planetary angularity, the Venus IC, lower meridian line of angularity, right smack through the middle of Oman!

All this glory behind her, Joan wanted very much to recapture the fullness of her Venus period of time, but she was no longer in the cycle of Venus, and had well over a year remaining in the present cycle of the Sun. According to JyotishLocality, the Sun is not a planetary friend to the Capricorn ascendant planetary friendship group. Further, her Sun was in his own house, the 8th House of the Vedic chart. It was a time for seclusion, somewhat of a retirement from the high energy of the Venus cycle. In 1997 her Moon planetary cycle was to begin. Although not a planetary friend, the Moon in Vedic astrology really has no true enemies. The cycle of the Moon promises to be a much better period, as the Moon in her Vedic chart is placed in the 4th house, where she gains dik bala and rules one of the angles, the 7th house of relationship.

I recommended that Joan continue to reside in the Puget Sound area, or perhaps relocate to Northern California, as she entered the planetary period of the Moon in 1997. This locality is where the Venus MC, upper meridian, planetary line of angularity is strong. Venus, after all, as yoga karaka is a great friend to her ascendant lord, Saturn. A Venus line will act as a upaya, a planetary propitiation, and offer much support for a Capricorn ascendant during the concluding difficult cycle of the Sun. In concluding her consultation, I recommended staying in the Puget Sound area because her Moon IC was just off the west coast, much closer to the Puget Sound area than northern California.

Conclusion

The Vedas of India explain that "a king without an astrologer is like a man who is blind in his own home." Jyotish in Sanskrit means the knowledge of light. In ancient India, astrology is given special distinction as being the eye of the Veda. Astrology gives us sight through the light of the Divine. The usual processes that go on in the dark proceed very differently when those processes take place in the light. What takes place in the dark can no longer remain the same when the light of astrology shines. We are then no longer blind.

If you are a tropical Western astrologer, think of the techniques of JyotishLocality as shining an additional ancient light on your current astrological practice. If you are a sidereal Vedic astrologer, think of the techniques of JyotishLocality as shining an additional modern light on your astrological practice.

In my opinion, JyotishLocality is one place where ancient Eastern astrology meets modern Western astrology. Don't just take my word for it. Try its dynamic techniques for yourself. Relocational astrology maps can't distinguish the difference between the two systems of astrology. Must we?