Vedic astrology classes
learn vedic astrology
Vedic Astrology Classes
Dennis teaches all of his classes and workshop in the time honored oral tradition of Shruti, which in Sanskrit means that which is heard. In this way there is a direct connection between the teacher and student. All classes and workshop are available through a platform of live interaction so that students can participate in a real time learning environment regardless of location nationally or internationally. Your instructor, Dennis Flaherty, is one of the foundational people who have brought the astrology of India to the West these past three decades. All classes and workshop are recognized toward CVA certification through the Council of Vedic Astrology (CVA), the oldest Vedic astrology organization in the West.
Your instructor, Dennis Flaherty, is one of the four foundational people who co-sponsored the International Symposiums on Vedic Astrology that brought the great teachers of Vedic Astrology to speak to live western audiences the last two decades. He continues that tradition each year by offering distance learning classes in Vedic Astrology at the Northwest Institute of Vedic Sciences. Dennis is one of the founding members of the CVA. He is an approved teacher of the CVA and all classes and workshops count toward CVA certification.
The Master Mentor Series:
Distance Learning
The mentoring class is only available as an option for our audio course students after obtaining permission from the instructor. It is a live interactive class that aspires to build the student's Vedic chart interpretation skills in a structured progressive learning environment. The mentor class is offered three times yearly and is comprised of four classes for each series. Course materials are provided for each of the classes. Please call for more information.
Mars: Self Determinism in the Culture of Speed
“Dressed in red, with a red body, who has four arms, the son of the Earth, whose vehicle is a ram, who carries a trident, a spear and a mace in his hands, with a coral crest, jewels on his head, making the gesture that gives boons, May divine Mars ever grant us grace!” So goes the invocation to Mars, who many Vedic astrologers consider to be one of the greatest malefic grahas as he grasps the three weapons suggesting his propensity to violence. Mars must be examined carefully for his malfeasance or his magnificence, for when Mars brings his results, he brings them suddenly and spectacularly.
Mars’ hands are truly quicker than your eyes, as everything with Mars happens in a “New York Minute,” and his shock and awe are worshipped in today’s cult of speed. When malefic, Mars and his moons bring fear and panic, conflict and war. The rise of the international arms and finance industries, and their lobbies, reap record profits based on such fears to personal and national security and financial security issues. The goal of the created fear and panic of the day is to gain greater control. When malefic, Mars must always act suddenly to create the fear and panic which drives the collective herd mentality into the chosen direction reaping the desired profit that comes with control. From the rush to war, to the fast buck, to the quick-fix, you will see his malefic effects in action. Mars at his closest approach to the earth in 60,000 years extinguished over 20,000 lives in Europe through one of the hottest summers on record in 2003. More lives than that are lost every year in the rush to war and conflict and speed-related traffic accidents.
Thankfully, Mars’ fourth and final hand offers a benefic boon, the gift of self-determinism, the ability to chart our own destiny. When Mars is benefic, Mars is an advocate, not a bully. For certain charts, Mars becomes highly benefic. When Mars is a benefic his energy and enthusiasm can light up the world! When benefic, he represents the courage and valor of all true spiritual warriors who lead the struggle against fear and ignorance. This class will teach you to quickly grasp and determine whether When Mars is malefic, or a benefic influence. You must do so quickly to survive in today’s cult of speed.
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Instructor: Dennis Flaherty
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM PDT
Includes teleconference and class recording.
​Tuition: $110
Mastering the Malefic Planets in Vedic Astrology
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The natural malefic planets are well known by all practicing Vedic astrologers. They are Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu, and the Sun. The root of their maleficence stems from their limited luminosity. Vedic astrologers pay close attention to these natural malefic forces, as they are the indicators of the trials and travails of this world. Astrologers are constantly tracking what domains of life the malefic planets are influencing by transit and aspect. However, there are times of great travail and difficulty to be noted when the effects of these planets explode exponentially, and these are the most critical of times that destroy people’s good will and trust.
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In this class Dennis will teach you the effects and the timelines of the natural malefic planets. You will learn the timelines and conditions that accelerate their effects exponentially, and the times and conditions of propitiation that mitigate those negative effects. The study of the malefic planets is truly the study of inclement celestial weather, and every student of Vedic astrology must be ably prepared to forecast, discuss and remedy these calamitous celestial times.
Engaging in crucial conversations with clients concerning the malefic influences is the backbone of humanistic Vedic astrology. If we are unwilling, or unable to do that, we risk becoming nothing more than a good weather conversationalist, as Mark Twain noted: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it”.
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Instructor: Dennis Flaherty
Date: Sunday, April 18, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM PST
Includes teleconference and class recording.
Tuition: $110
