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.

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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 30's, and lastly, 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 these great minds of Pearce, Johndro, Fagan, logically extended this sense of movement to differing localities other than the birth locality. But it was Jim Lewis who galvanized these ideas into a revolutionary modern tool he called Astro*Carto*Graphy.

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Continuum magazine succinctly summarizes Lewis' immense contribution to relocational astrology in a tribute entitled Jim Lewis and Astro*Carto*Graphy. Continuum explains:

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"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 letter corroborating this notion from customers who were so impressed with the technique that they felt impelled 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."

 

For those of us who have practiced what Jim Lewis developed, we 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? In beginning to answer this question, 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.

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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 24 hours as planets quickly rise in the east, culminate overhead, and set in the west, at the observers locality here on the earthly 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 when you were born, it was specifically rising, culminating and setting somewhere on the earthly sphere at that moment! In fact, on the day, at the time you were born, somewhere in the world all of the planets rise, culminate, set, and fall. Astro*Carto*Graphy measures this, and this measurement is profoundly simple. Just as parallels of latitude, that is north and south, and meridians of longitude, that is east and west, locate a place here on the earthly 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.

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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 what zodiac or what 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 the west, as they fall out of our line of sight. Jim Lewis developed a tool that 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 the modern techniques, utilizing the full potential of each zodiacal preference!

 

As this article progresses I will show you how easily this modern tool of astrology can be incorporated into your practice of Jyotish, commonly called 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. I call this Vedic relocational astrology I have researched and developed over the last several years Jyotish Locality®.

 

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 page 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.

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The Right Angle on Relocation

 

Ancient astrologers, from both the eastern and western traditions, observed that planets near the angles of the astrological chart, i.e., near the horizon and meridian, were imbued with great power to influence the life of the 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.

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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 the optimism of the person. The Saturn line of angularity on the eastern horizon, on the other hand, 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. On the other hand, Mars, 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.

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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.

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Ancient Jyotishis (practitioners of Vedic astrology) observed and recorded that planets near or on the kendras (angles) bring great power to influence the 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 or 1st angle indicates the appearance; the IC, or 4th angle, indicates the family of origin; the descendant, or 7th angle, indicates the significant other, or spouse; and finally the MC, or 10th angle, indicates the profession. The same principles of relocational angularity of the planets apply equally to Vedic relocational astrology, for as previously said, 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.

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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.

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• Mercury and Jupiter gain directional strength in the East, the 1st angle, and the horizon east

• Moon and Venus gain directional strength in the North, the 4th angle, and the lower meridian

• Saturn gains directional strength in the West, the 7th angle, and the horizon west

• Sun and Mars gain directional strength in the South, the 10th angle, and the upper meridian

 

Relocational astrology correctly suggests that as planets come to angularity as we move they become more powerful. Vedic relocational astrology, or Jyotish Locality®, 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 this list, 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. Jyotish Locality® 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.

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Although, as we have seen, relocational astrology is predicated upon the principles of local planetary angularity, Jyotish Locality® 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. Jyotish Locality® 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 that a planets owns will determine whether that planet will be powerful to help you, or to hinder you. Thus again, some planets are preferred over others!

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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, which 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 force for positivity or negativity in the life of the person!

 

The dharma houses, commonly called the trines in Vedic astrology, are the 1st house, the 5th house, and lastly 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 always especially auspicious. The 1st house does double duty as both an angle and a dharma house, called a trine, for it is supremely auspicious, as the planet that rules it is 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 for the astrological chart in question, whether these planets be the benefics (Mercury, Venus and Jupiter) and even if these planets are the malefics (Mars and Saturn)!

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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 become 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, of course, determined approximately every two hours by the sidereal sign that is rising in the eastern horizon. So all the planets but the Sun and Moon will rule over two houses, as they rule over two signs each, i.e., 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 yoga karaka 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 12 sidereal planetary ascendants.

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Ascendant Yoga Kararkas