Here is a look at the
best that Western and Indian (vedic or jyotish) astrology has to offer. Both
systems have their merits but are fundamentally different in some areas. Here
is an overview of the main differences of the two systems.
Tropical vs Sidereal zodiac system
Readers of this blog will be more familiar with the Western or tropical system and its star signs where the Sun enters pioneering Aries on around 20th March each year before moving to stable and loyal Taurus on around 20th April. This Western system of astrology follows the tropical zodiac system where Sun`s apparent movement around the earth defines the position of the signs. In today’s representation of astrology, forecasts and analysis are often reduced to sun sign astrology, which considers only basic relationships of planets to a person’s birth chart.
In Vedic astrology, the sidereal system is used. This means that the moment a planet changes signs depends on the whether or not the planet actually occupies the constellation in the sky. Indian astrology takes into account the gradual precession of the vernal equinox which is the gradual shift in the orientation of the Earth's axis of rotation. This means that the signs of the zodiac are aligned to the position of the corresponding constellations in the sky. Currently, there is a difference of almost 24 degrees between a planet’s position in the tropical system and the sidereal system!! For example, people born on the 1st August might pride themselves on being a Leo with the Sun at about 8° degrees, however, according to vedic astrology, the true position of the Sun on the 1st August is at around 14° degrees of Cancer. Also, in India people are more likely to give you their Moon sign when you ask them what their star sign is. Vedic astrology is a Moon-based system and chart analysis and especially forecasts are based on the nakshatra of the Moon. For example, in the tropical chart, I have a Libra Moon but this turns into a Virgo Moon in the sidereal chart. Both positions resonate with me (maybe because my Moon is also in the 6th house), however in Indian astrology, the sign that rules the nakshatra is of importance. In my case, this is the Sun as my Moon is in the nakshatra of Uttaraphalguni. This is crucial for prognosis.
The continual shift of the earth axis (procession) also means that the position of the planets in the Western zodiac will continue to shift more and more from that used by Vedic astrologers at the rate of about 1 degree every 72 years. The last time the two systems were aligned was around 285 AD.
Nevertheless, while the planets in the chart change degrees and more often than not also signs, the aspects in the birth chart as well as the aspects of the transits to the chart remain the same!! Some astrologers even ignore sign interpretations and focus only on the aspects.
Placidus vs whole house systems
Tropical vs Sidereal zodiac system
Readers of this blog will be more familiar with the Western or tropical system and its star signs where the Sun enters pioneering Aries on around 20th March each year before moving to stable and loyal Taurus on around 20th April. This Western system of astrology follows the tropical zodiac system where Sun`s apparent movement around the earth defines the position of the signs. In today’s representation of astrology, forecasts and analysis are often reduced to sun sign astrology, which considers only basic relationships of planets to a person’s birth chart.
In Vedic astrology, the sidereal system is used. This means that the moment a planet changes signs depends on the whether or not the planet actually occupies the constellation in the sky. Indian astrology takes into account the gradual precession of the vernal equinox which is the gradual shift in the orientation of the Earth's axis of rotation. This means that the signs of the zodiac are aligned to the position of the corresponding constellations in the sky. Currently, there is a difference of almost 24 degrees between a planet’s position in the tropical system and the sidereal system!! For example, people born on the 1st August might pride themselves on being a Leo with the Sun at about 8° degrees, however, according to vedic astrology, the true position of the Sun on the 1st August is at around 14° degrees of Cancer. Also, in India people are more likely to give you their Moon sign when you ask them what their star sign is. Vedic astrology is a Moon-based system and chart analysis and especially forecasts are based on the nakshatra of the Moon. For example, in the tropical chart, I have a Libra Moon but this turns into a Virgo Moon in the sidereal chart. Both positions resonate with me (maybe because my Moon is also in the 6th house), however in Indian astrology, the sign that rules the nakshatra is of importance. In my case, this is the Sun as my Moon is in the nakshatra of Uttaraphalguni. This is crucial for prognosis.
The continual shift of the earth axis (procession) also means that the position of the planets in the Western zodiac will continue to shift more and more from that used by Vedic astrologers at the rate of about 1 degree every 72 years. The last time the two systems were aligned was around 285 AD.
Nevertheless, while the planets in the chart change degrees and more often than not also signs, the aspects in the birth chart as well as the aspects of the transits to the chart remain the same!! Some astrologers even ignore sign interpretations and focus only on the aspects.
Placidus vs whole house systems
While some Western
astrologers also use the whole house system in their work, most tend to use the
Placidus house system. This is the most commonly used house system in modern
Western astrology. Using this house system, the 1st house begins with the
ascendant, the 4th house with the Immum Coeli (IC), the 7th house with the DC and the 10th house with the Midheaven (MC) . The
paths drawn for each degree of the ecliptic to move from the nadir to the
horizon, and from the horizon to the Midheaven, are trisected to determine the
cusps of houses 2, 3, 11, and 12. The cusps of houses 8, 9, 5 and 6 are
opposite these.
Vedic astrology mostly uses the whole sign house system, where each house occupies a whole sign with 30° each. The ascendant designates the rising sign, and the first house begins at zero degrees of the zodiac sign in which the ascendant falls, regardless of how early or late in that sign the ascendant is. in fact, this was the main system used in the Hellenistic (Greek) tradition of astrology, and is also used in Indian astrology, as well as in some early traditions of Medieval astrology. It is thought to be the oldest system of house division (1).
Forecasting in Western and Vedic astrology
Vedic astrology mostly uses the whole sign house system, where each house occupies a whole sign with 30° each. The ascendant designates the rising sign, and the first house begins at zero degrees of the zodiac sign in which the ascendant falls, regardless of how early or late in that sign the ascendant is. in fact, this was the main system used in the Hellenistic (Greek) tradition of astrology, and is also used in Indian astrology, as well as in some early traditions of Medieval astrology. It is thought to be the oldest system of house division (1).
Forecasting in Western and Vedic astrology
While making
predictions in Western astrology, the transit of each planet, solar arc
directions and progressions in relation to the birth chart are the main
reference points. So for example, a Saturn, Pluto or Uranus transit to the Moon
or the Sun is one of the heaviest transits that completely transform people’s
lives, often for the better.
In Vedic astrology, along with planetary transits, vimshottari dasha is used most widely. Vimshottari dasha system is a 120 year long cycle of planetary positions based on the position of the Moon in one of the 27 divisions, or lunar mansions, called nakshatras. In this system, each planet is assigned a different mahadasha or major period, ranging from six to twenty years. For example, dasha of Venus lasts twenty years and will bring the karmic pattern that Venus reveals in the horoscope into the lime-light of the native's life. The remaining planets also influence life’s events in every dasha. This sub-periods is called Antardasha – the sub sub period of which is called Pratyantar dasha. Western astrology does not use this system for predictions.
Length of the dashas
In Vedic astrology, along with planetary transits, vimshottari dasha is used most widely. Vimshottari dasha system is a 120 year long cycle of planetary positions based on the position of the Moon in one of the 27 divisions, or lunar mansions, called nakshatras. In this system, each planet is assigned a different mahadasha or major period, ranging from six to twenty years. For example, dasha of Venus lasts twenty years and will bring the karmic pattern that Venus reveals in the horoscope into the lime-light of the native's life. The remaining planets also influence life’s events in every dasha. This sub-periods is called Antardasha – the sub sub period of which is called Pratyantar dasha. Western astrology does not use this system for predictions.
Length of the dashas
·
Ketu
(south node) 7 Years
·
Venus
20 Years
·
Sun
6 Years
·
Moon
10 Years
·
Mars
7 Years
·
Rahu
(north node) 18 Years
·
Jupiter
16 Years
·
Saturn
19 Years
·
Mercury
17 Years
Different
points of view
In Western astrology
the psychological experience and transformative nature of the transits, solar arc and secondary progressions and the
belief in the philosophy of ‘we live and learn’ play a major role. Vedic astrology often
seems to be a lot more black and white. However, for many Vedic astrology is a much more
reliable forecasting tool for when a person’s karmic tendencies are likely to
unfold.
I tend to use the sideareal zodiac in chart analysis, however, I strongly believe that both Western and Indian techniques of chart interpretation and forecasting can be applied together. I don't consider the different tools as two mutually exclusive systems. Just like some astrologers prefer to use solar arc directions, while others swear by secondary progressions, I believe that Indian forecasting tools (Dasha system) can be very accurate but at the same time, I will not discard a Pluto transit over the Sun, Moon or Ascendant - or indeed a natal Uranus in the one of the angular houses.
I tend to use the sideareal zodiac in chart analysis, however, I strongly believe that both Western and Indian techniques of chart interpretation and forecasting can be applied together. I don't consider the different tools as two mutually exclusive systems. Just like some astrologers prefer to use solar arc directions, while others swear by secondary progressions, I believe that Indian forecasting tools (Dasha system) can be very accurate but at the same time, I will not discard a Pluto transit over the Sun, Moon or Ascendant - or indeed a natal Uranus in the one of the angular houses.
1 - James Holden, Ancient House Division, Journal of Research of the American Federation of Astrologers 1 (1982), pgs. 19-28. Also see Rob Hand, Whole Sign Houses: The Oldest House System, ARHAT Publications, 2000.
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