Article Published in the American Council of Vedic Astrology Journal

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The Systems’ Approach to Interpreting Horoscopes

 

David M. Hawthorne, M.S., J.B.

 

In this article you will learn a simple, practical approach to Vedic

astrology. The Systems’ Approach to Interpreting Horoscopes, as developed

by Professor V.K. Choudhry of Gurgaon, India, is based on classical Jyotish

principles, and was tested under the empirical studies of more than 50,000

charts over a 20-year period. The Systems’ Approach is easy to learn and

apply, and simplifies the process of reading charts. It is fast, precise,

and gives you confidence in your analysis. More than 700 Vedic astrologers

worldwide are now practicing the Systems’ Approach. This is Vedic

astrology in its most contemporary form.

 

 

THE MAIN POINTS OF SYSTEMS’ APPROACH

 

 

Events and indications in life are ruled by the four elements of astrology:

the planets, houses, signs and planetary periods. During their operating

periods, the planets bless the person with the significations ruled by them

relative to their strength and placement in the horoscope. The main points

are:

 

1. Identify the Most Effective Point (MEP) of every house. The Most

Effective Point is based on the rising sign degree. For example, if the

natal chart rising sign is 10 degrees, 15 minutes (regardless of any sign

from Aries to Pisces), then the Most Effective Point of every house is 10

degrees, 15 minutes.

 

2. Note the five-degree orb. Whenever a planet is within five degrees of

any other planet, or is within five degrees on either side of the Most

Effective Point of any house, whether by conjunction or aspect, in either

the natal chart or by transit, then the planet’s benefic or malefic

influence is considered close and applicable. Benefic and malefic planets,

however, can co-exist without problems (whether by conjunction or aspect),

when they are safely outside the five-degree orb from each other.

 

3. Determine the functional nature of planets. Planets operate as either

functional malefics or functional benefics in any given chart. The

functional malefic planets are Rahu and Ketu for all rising signs, along

with planets ruling mooltrikona signs falling in the dusthana (inauspicious)

houses – which are the sixth, eighth, and twelfth houses, as counted from

the ascendant. Under Systems’ Approach, the mooltrikona signs are 1, 4, 5,

6, 7, 9, and 11 -- Aries, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, and

Aquarius. These signs are ruled by Mars, Moon, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter

and Saturn, respectively.

 

This is an important key to accurate readings. In the future, simply note

whether any mooltrikona sign (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, or 11) falls in the

inauspicious sixth, eighth, or twelfth house; and, if so, the rulers of

these houses become functional malefics for that rising sign specifically.

This explains why some people have good results with traditional malefic

planets, and poor results with traditional benefic planets. In other words,

Sun, Mars, and Saturn are not malefics for every chart; and, Mercury,

Jupiter, Venus, and Moon are not benefics for every chart.

 

The application of this principle shows that the number of functional

malefic planets varies for each rising sign, as indicated in the following

list.

 

Aries: Rahu, Ketu, and Mercury

Taurus: Rahu, Ketu, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars

Gemini: Rahu, Ketu

Cancer: Rahu, Ketu, Jupiter, and Saturn

Leo: Rahu, Ketu, and Moon

Virgo: Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, Mars, and Sun

Libra: Rahu, Ketu, and Mercury

Scorpio: Rahu, Ketu, Mars, and Venus

Sagittarius: Rahu, Ketu, and Moon

Capricorn: Rahu, Ketu, Sun, and Jupiter

Aquarius: Rahu, Ketu, Moon, and Mercury

Pisces: Rahu, Ketu, Sun, Venus, and Saturn

 

Note: If a planet is not a functional malefic, then it is a functional

benefic. There are no neutral planets in this system.

 

ANALYSING THE PLANETS AND HOUSES

 

Natal chart and transit interpretations are always done with reference to

the ascendant. Interpretations are not done using any other sign, house, or

lord independent of the rising sign.

 

Measuring the strength of the planets: There are 30 degrees in every sign.

Planets in the first five degrees of a sign are considered in infant state

and are rendered weak. Similarly, planets in the last five degrees are

considered in old age, and are also weak. Just as an infant or elderly

person cannot protect or provide for others, these planets need to be

strengthened when they are functional benefics in a chart.

 

The results of planets vary in degree of strength as per their longitudes.

That is, when planets are in their infant state their power is 0%, 20%, 40%,

60%, 80%, and 100% when they are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 degrees, respectively.

When planets are in their old age state their power is 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%,

20% and 0% when their longitude is 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 degrees,

respectively.

 

Weak Planets: Planets are considered weak if they are: 1. In their signs

of debilitation. 2. Are combust. 3. Are in the state of infancy (first

five degrees of a sign). 4. Are in the state of old age (last five degrees

of a sign). 5. Placed in an inauspicious house (the sixth, eighth, and

twelfth) in the natal chart or by daily transit.

 

A weak planet does not have the ability to fully protect either its general

or particular significations. The general significations refer to the

subjects ruled by the planet. The Sun, for example, rules father, status of

the native, heart, digestive system, etc., irrespective of the house

lordship of the Sun in a natal chart. The particular significations refer

to: 1. The significations of the house where the planet's mooltrikona sign

is placed, and, 2. The house where the planet is placed in the natal chart.

 

Afflictions: The afflictions to the planets and houses are caused by the

close conjunction or aspect (within five degrees) of the functional malefic

planets in a natal chart. Whenever a weak planet is afflicted by a

functional malefic planet, the results of its significations manifest with

delay, or suffer altogether. Afflictions in the natal chart cause damage

during the entire sub period of the weak planet or of the afflicting

planets. Afflictions to the weak planet during the transit influences cause

only short-term damage, and last only for the duration of the operating

transit influence.

 

Exalted Planets: Whenever planets are placed in their signs of exaltation

they are considered to have additional strength. Whether or not they are

placed on the exact point of exaltation has very little relevance. The

exaltation power, however, is reduced if the planet is weak in infant or old

age state, or if it is closely afflicted by functional malefics in the

chart, or if it is badly placed in either the sixth, eighth, or twelfth

house.

 

Combust Planets: When the Sun is a functional benefic planet, its

conjunction with other well-placed functional benefic planets is considered

good. It gives exponential growth relative to the significations of the

planet in close conjunction with the Sun. However, the combust planets

will suffer when they are under the transit malefic influences. On the

other hand, when the Sun is a functional malefic and is closely conjunct

with other planets, then the planets involved suffer. This is because the

planets become afflicted by the conjunction of the functional malefic Sun

permanently -- due to their natal chart positions. The combust planets also

suffer in transit afflictions.

 

Measuring strength of the houses: The strength of the houses and the signs

is gauged through the strength of their lords and the conjunctions and

aspects to the Most Effective Point of the houses.

 

Analyzing non-mooltrikona signs: Until and unless there is a close malefic

influence on the Most Effective Point of a house containing a

non-mooltrikona sign, the significations of that house will not bother a

person. That is, generally people will not seek astrological consultations

or remedies relevant to the significations of those houses containing

non-mooltrikona signs.

 

Use of divisional charts: The divisional charts are used for judging the

strength of a planet while studying its impact in a particular field. Any

planet occupying its sign of debilitation in a particular divisional chart

will fail to protect its significations in the natal chart in its sub

periods. We consider the lord of the ascendant of the divisional chart.

If, for example, the ascending sign of the dasamsa (profession chart) is a

mooltrikona sign of a particular planet, the same planet is also considered

as a prime determinant of the profession. However, if there is no

mooltrikona sign in the ascendant of the dasamsa, we then consider the

position of the primary and secondary determinants of the professional

affairs of the natal chart in the dasamsa. For judging the strength of

the primary and secondary significators, we have to see if these planets

have gone to their signs of debilitation in dasamsa.

 

 

Capability of planets to bless with their significations: It is necessary

to study both the natal chart and the transit position of the planet. The

planet will be able to bless the native with both its general and particular

significations if it is strong in both the natal chart and in transit.

 

 

 

PLANETARY PERIODS AND RESULTS

 

 

The planets, according to their strength in a horoscope, give the results of

the significations and houses ruled by them in their main and sub periods.

Though various types of planetary periods for specific combinations in a

nativity are mentioned in classical texts, the Vimshotri Dasha system has

been mentioned for general applications and is used exclusively under the

Systems’ Approach.

 

During the sub period of a planet, the following three significations are

operating: 1. The general significations of the planet. 2. The particular

significations of the house where the mooltrikona sign of the operating

planet is placed. 3. The significations of the house where the planet is

placed.

 

The results of the general significations of the sub period lord depend upon

its functional nature, strength, placement, and any close aspects or

conjunctions to the sub period lord.

 

Results of main and sub period lords: Events take place during the periods

of operating planets. The following table is useful in analyzing results of

the main period (mahadasha) and sub period (antardasha or bhukti):

 

 

Main Period Lord

Sub Period Lord

Results

 

Functional Malefic

Functional Malefic

Will cause suffering

 

Functional Malefic

Functional Benefic

(If well placed and strong)

Will bestow good results

 

Functional Malefic

Functional Benefic

(If weak or afflicted)

Will create only hope (that does not get fulfilled)

 

Functional Benefic

Functional Benefic

(If well placed and strong)

Will bestow very good results

 

Functional Benefic

Functional Benefic

(If badly placed and weak)

Will bestow average results with misfortune during unfavorable transit

influences

 

Functional Benefic

Functional Malefic

Will cause mild sufferings

 

Functional Benefic

Functional Malefic

(If involved in close conjunction or aspects with other weak planets)

Will cause grave concerns/tragic happenings

 

 

IDENTIFYING TRANSIT INFLUENCES:

 

Transits refer to the planetary positions at any given time after the date

of birth. Transiting planets are studied with reference to the natal chart

ascendant and position of the planets in the natal chart, and not with

reference to the natal Moon sign.

 

Significant events are triggered by the transit of planets over the natal

planetary positions. Whenever a functional malefic planet transits a weak

natal position, it triggers an undesirable incident concerning the planet

and the house involved. This is more so when the weak natal planet is also

weak in transit. The afflicted planets and houses are those with which the

functional malefic planets form exact or close conjunctions and aspects.

 

 

The result of a particular house will be influenced by a transiting planet

when it is near to its Most Effective Point, depending upon its functional

nature whether benefic or malefic. The impact of transit functional malefics

is on both functional malefics and benefics. The subjects governed by the

planets are their general and particular significations. The significations

of a functional benefic planet are harmed when it transits the natal

position or close aspect of a functional malefic planet.

 

 

Whenever planets in transit form conjunctions amongst themselves, the events

occur depending upon their functional nature in connection with the house

with reference to a particular ascendant. Whenever the functional benefic

planets transit auspicious natal positions, they trigger happy incidents.

During the main periods of the functional benefic planets, benefic transit

effects are more pronounced, while malefic transit effects are mild.

Similarly, during the main periods of functional malefics, the benefic

transit effects are mild while the malefic transit effects are more severe.

 

 

Reading transit results: The sub period lord sets the trends. However,

transit effects can supersede the trend results of the sub period lord and

create significant events. The malefic effects of slow moving functional

malefic planets, i.e. Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu, are more pronounced

when during the course of their close conjunctions or aspects, they become

stationary, or move more slowly as compared to their normal speed.

 

In essence, the sub period planet sets the trend as per its mooltrikona sign

lordship, house placement, and other influences on it in the natal chart.

The transit planets then cause influence whenever they come into contact

with the sub period planet’s natal or transit position. Whenever the

transit planets transit over the natal functional malefic planets, then the

significations ruled by the transiting planets suffer badly. Whenever a

transiting functional malefic planet transits the Most Effective Point, it

affects the house in which it is located and all the houses that it aspects.

 

 

Take, for example, a natal chart with a Sagittarius ascendant. In this

chart, the sign of Libra is placed in the eleventh house. Now, suppose the

eleventh house lord, Venus, is placed in the twelfth house of loss. Then,

during the sub period of Venus, there could be loss relating to eleventh

house significations -- such as income, friends, or elder siblings.

 

Even the death of the elder sibling could occur if, by transit, the

functional malefics Rahu and Ketu form a close conjunction or aspect to any

of the following: 1. The Most Effective Point of the eleventh house. 2.

The natal position of Venus. 3. The transit position of the sub period

lord, Venus.

 

 

 

 

ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

 

 

The key issues in analyzing a horoscope are: 1. Identifying the functional

nature of planets in a nativity. 2. The techniques for judging the strength

of a planet. 3. The distinction between the weak and/or afflicted planets.

4. The impact of weak and/or afflicted planets. 5. The orb of longitudinal

difference for judging the impact of conjunctions and aspects. 6.

Identifying the impact of the Most Malefic Planet. 7. The Most Effective

Point of various houses in a chart.

 

How to analyze a chart: Note the ascendant degree, which becomes the Most

Effective Point of every house. Underline the functional malefic planets.

Identify the conjunctions and aspects within a five-degree orb from each

other. Put a circle around the planets and houses that are afflicted due to

the close influence of the functional malefic planets. Note the weak, badly

placed, and afflicted planets, and/or the sub period of the functional

malefic planets (for trend results).

 

A functional benefic planet becomes weak if placed in any of the malefic

(sixth, eighth, or twelfth) houses. The Systems' Approach also considers

the strength or weakness of a planet that is placed in the mooltrikona sign

of another planet.

 

Problems are always with regard to the weak, badly placed and afflicted

planets or the sub periods of the functional malefics. Short-term problems

are indicated by the malefic transit over the weak natal planets. Good

results are identified for the significations of the well-placed strong

planets having good and close conjunctions or aspects.

 

The best thing an astrologer can do is to indicate, in the shortest possible

time, the strong and weak areas in a chart and prescribe the appropriate

remedies.

 

ASTROLOGICAL REMEDIES

 

The problems in life are caused by weak or badly placed functional benefic

planets or afflictions to them. To help people overcome their problems, the

astrologer advises appropriate astral remedies, such as meditation and

spiritual practices, color and gemstone therapy, the wearing of a kavach or

amulet as a protective shield, and the participation in pujas and yagyas,

etc.

 

The strengthening astrological remedial measures are suggested for all the

functional benefic planets even if they are not weak and afflicted in the

natal chart. The strengthening measures provide a preventive cover to the

planets against their transit weakness. Similarly, the propitiating

remedial measures are advised for all the functional malefic planets even if

they are not forming close afflictions in the natal chart. The propitiating

remedial measures provide a preventive cover for transit and natal

afflictions.

 

When planets indicate tragic happenings, people usually do not perform

astral remedies to protect themselves against the expected losses. (The

weakness of Jupiter and the lord of the ninth house is always a contributing

factor in this regard).

 

The indications of time can only be modified with the help of the astral

remedies. Until and unless the astral remedies are performed, the extent of

the services of the divine science of astrology is very much limited. The

planetary relationships give results as per the indications in case no

preventive remedies are performed.

 

 

 

EXAMPLE CHART

 

 

JOHN F. KENNEDY, JR.

 

 

 

This is the chart of the son of President John F. Kennedy, the late John F.

Kennedy, Jr., who tragically died in an airplane crash at sea on July 16,

1999. His wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren, were also killed in the

accident.

 

The rising sign is Leo. The Most Effective Point of every house is 18:39

degrees. The functional malefics for this chart are Rahu, Ketu, and Moon.

The functional benefics are Sun, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn.

 

Rahu and Ketu, at 18:27 degrees, are exactly on the Most Effective Point and

closely afflict the houses they occupy and aspect, i.e., the first, third,

fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh houses in the chart. (Under Systems’

Approach, Rahu and Ketu aspect the fifth, seventh, and ninth houses from

their positions in either the natal or transit chart.)

 

Rahu, the significator of unexpected events and calamities, afflicts Saturn,

the significator of longevity, and Venus, the significator of wife and

conveyances. Rahu also closely afflicts the first house (personal

calamities), the fifth house, (he had no children), the seventh house (his

wife died with him), and the ninth house (his father was assassinated).

Ketu, the significator of miseries and obstructions, closely afflicts

Mercury, the ruler of the second house of status and continuation of family

life.

 

Sun, the ruler of the rising sign, is well placed in the fourth house and

shows good results relative to mother, fixed assets, and domestic happiness.

The well placed and unafflicted Sun, along with Rahu in the first house,

gave him fame, fortune, position, charisma, and popularity. The Sun and

well-placed lord of the ninth house, Mars, also gave him gains, good

fortune, and executive skills. The lord of the second house, placed in the

third house, gave him status in life through his own self-efforts. The

well-placed Jupiter gave him higher education and a degree in law.

 

Note that none of the planets are placed in the malefic sixth, eighth, or

twelfth houses. This helped provide John F. Kennedy, Jr. with good health,

fame, wealth, status, mental development, self-efforts and initiatives,

education, partners, and good fortune.

 

Unfortunately, even all of these well-placed planets were not able to

safeguard against the close affliction of the Rahu-Ketu axis to the Most

Effective Points of the various houses they occupied and aspected in the

chart. The astral remedies could have helped to reduce the impact of the

malefic influences and severe afflictions indicated in this chart.

 

Timing of Events

 

At the time of his death, John F. Kennedy, Jr. was running the Saturn main

period and Mercury sub period. The main period lord, Saturn, is the natural

significator for longevity and is afflicted in the natal chart by Rahu, the

significator of unexpected events and calamities.

 

The sub period lord (and operating planet), Mercury, is closely afflicted in

the natal chart by the aspect of Ketu, the significator of violent

accidents, miseries and wounds. Note that Mercury is placed in the air

sign, Libra, ruled by Venus. Venus is the significator of conveyances, and

is under the exact affliction of Rahu by aspect from the first house.

 

On the day of John F. Kennedy Jr.’s death, Mercury was transiting the

twelfth house of loss, closely conjunct transiting Rahu. Sun, the lord of

the chart, was extremely weak in transit at 00:15 degrees in the malefic

twelfth house. Moon, the Most Malefic Planet in this chart, was transiting

the first house, over his natal Rahu. In addition, transiting Rahu and Ketu

in the twelfth and sixth houses, respectively, were at 19:10 degrees,

(within one degree of the Most Effective Point), thus afflicting all of the

houses they occupied and aspected -- including the malefic sixth, eighth,

and twelfth houses.

 

_____________________

 

 

 

David M. Hawthorne, M.S., J.B., received his Master’s degree, and the titles

of Jyotish Bhanu and Professor of Astrology, from the Systems’ Institute of

Hindu Astrology, Gurgaon, India.

He is the co-author, along with Professor V.K. Choudhry, of Astrology for

Life: How to Be Your Own Vedic Astrologer. Mr. Hawthorne is a member of

both the American Council of Vedic Astrology (ACVA), and the Systems'

Institute of Hindu Astrology (SIHA). He is also the President of the

International Institute of Predictive Astrology (IIPA), with more than 700

Vedic astrology members from 40 countries worldwide. Mr. Hawthorne can be

reached at Astroview, Inc., P.O. Box 1221, Fairfield, IA 52556 USA. Tel:

641-472-3799. HYPERLINK

" http://www.astroview.com/ " http://www.astroview.com.

 

 

 

 

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