Namaste!
The basic concepts are quite simple, really, but the following description may gain as well as suffer from the simplicity contained therein.

In astrology we are concerned with the observation of the positions of certain bodies and points of significance in space in relation to the Earth, as well as to each other, and with the correspondences between these relative positions and the events which occur on Earth and elsewhere.

To make the necessary observations and to translate them into terms of correspondence with events occurring on earth, both physical and subtle, our ancient sages evolved a rational procedure that is based on five main factors:

1. The Zodiac - A fixed background to which all cosmic bodies are referred. This background is divided into 12 equal parts called Rashi(s).

2. The Nakshatr(as) - These are also called asterisms, and are subdivisions of the fixed background or Zodiac into smaller equal parts marked by the fixed stars. The so-called fixed stars themselves move too, but their motion with respect to the planets is very small.

3. The Solar System - the Sun, the Moon and the planets which, like the Earth, comprise our own solar system. The motions of these bodies from point to point within the fixed background and in relation to the Earth. In what is known as heliocentric astrology, these positions are observed in relation to the Sun.

4. The Houses - Visualized divisions in space, radiating out vertically from any particular point on Earth's surface, and marking out divisions of space, traversed by this point during each twenty-four hours, as the Earth turns on its own axis. By "vertical" I mean that the demarcation lines are perpendicular to a linear plane that is tangential to the curved surface of the earth at the point under consideration.

5. Time - Any given moment at which an event occurs, and other moments of significance.

1. The Zodiac

In order to determine the planetary and other positions accurately, we use the fixed background called Zodiac as a plane of reference. This zodiacal belt, with the earth as its center in geocentric astrology, is divided into twelve equal sections by lines radiating outwards from the earth at angles 30 degrees apart.

These twelve equal sections or divisions of the Zodiac are named and numbered as follows:

Division  Vedic or Hindu  Western
Number    Terminology     Terminology

   1      Maysh(a)         Aries
   2      Vrishabh(a)      Taurus        Note: The a's within
   3      Mithun(a)        Gemini              parentheses are
   4      Karak(a)         Cancer              pronounced only
   5      Singh(a)         Leo                 subtly.
   6      Kanya            Virgo
   7      Tula             Libra
   8      Vrishchik(a)     Scorpio
   9      Dhanush          Sagittarius
  10      Makar(a)         Capricorn
  11      Kumbha           Aquarius
  12      Meen(a)          Pisces

We now arrive at the first great difference between Western astrology as derived from the Egyptians through the Greeks and Romans, and Vedic astrology -- an original science the records of which are continuous and unmixed with other cultures. This involves the determination of the first, starting point of the circular Zodiac, or the first degree of Mesh(a) or Aries.

The original Zodiac as created by the ancient star-scientists corresponded with the constellations or groups of those fixed stars that are found approximately 30 degrees apart in a belt which appears to encircle the Earth at the Ecliptic.

Originally, the first degree of Mesh(a) or Aries coincided with some fixed star within the constellation Mesh(a). Vedic astrologers have always used this fixed zodiac and still do. Western Tropical astrologers, on the other hand, use the Vernal Equinoctial Point as the first degree of Aries and this results in a Zodiac which continuously changes position with respect to the stars, due to what is known as the Precession of the Equinoxes.

Since this point of difference is vital, it is necessary to understand the reasons for this difference and to explain what is meant by Precession of the Equinoxes. The Earth has four separate and distinct motions. It rotates like a top around its own axis, making a complete rotation every twenty-four hours approximately. It travels in a path or orbit, nearly elliptical in shape, around the Sun, traversing this path in approximately a year. Thirdly, the Earth is tilted at an angle of approximately 23 degrees and at this angle revolves slowly as a top does when coming to rest, tracing as it does so, the figure of an inverted cone whose apex is the South Pole and and whose circular base is traced out by the North Pole. The Earth completes this cycle in approximately 25,870 years. This motion is also called the wobble of the spinning Earth caused by the forces produced by the Sun and the Moon. The fourth type of motion is the motion through the cosmos of our entire solar system and of the galaxy containing it, etc. Let us consider this motion later.

It follows that if the Earth were not tilted, the Sun would appear to remain at the Equator at all times, that is, if the imaginary line connecting our North and South planes were perpendicular to the plane containing our orbit around the Sun. But, since the Earth is tilted with respect to this plane, the Sun each year appears to move back and forth across the equator from one hemisphere to the other. The point in its journey northwards where the Sun crosses the celestial equator is called the Vernal Equinox. It occurs about March 21 each year. The celestial equator is the projection of the Earth's equator into the sky and is parallel to the daily east-to-west paths of the stars as they appear to wheel around the celestial poles.

The point at which, on its return journey southwards, the Sun crosses the equator again is called the Autumnal Equinox and occurs about September 23 each year.

If the Earth, although tilted, did not slowly revolve, its axis describing the cone-shaped figure like a spinning top coming to rest, the Equinoctial Points described above would remain in the same position with reference to the fixed points in the cosmos each year. However, it is due to this motion that the Equinoctial Points change position in reference to fixed points in the cosmos at the rate of approximately 50.25 angular seconds per year. Despite this fact, Western Tropical astrologers continue to use the Vernal Equinox as the first degree of Aries

Now, the ancient sage-scientists recorded their observations and the rules of the correspondence between planetary positions and events on earth for thousands of years based on a fixed Zodiac. It follows then, that if one uses a moving Zodiac with respect to the fixed background, then the rules of interpretation must also remain in a state of flux, experimentation and much debate and discussion. Indeed, this is very true of the state of affairs in the system which, for only a little over 1700 years has used a moving Zodiac. The ability of event prediction suffers the most.

It is true that every 25,870 years or so the Vernal Equinox will coincide with the fixed star in the constellation Aries which originally marked the beginning of Aries. The last time this phenomenon occurred was about the year 240 CE. Since then, the Vernal Equinox has retrograded away more than 23 degrees. This is why Vedic, Chinese, African and Arab astrologers -- more than 90% of the world's astrologers -- continue to use the relatively-fixed Zodiac that will nearly always be the same with respect to the stars, on the basis of which the hundreds of thousands of rules of horoscope interpretation are based.

At the time the fixed Zodiac was adopted for astrological purposes, it had been observed that each of the twelve sections that divided the cosmos into segments or zones of 30 degrees each, indicated certain definite characteristics peculiar to each section. These properties were decisively identified with the particular section of the sky in which they were observed and each segment of the Zodiac thus was eventually distinguished and described by the specific conditions observed to exist in it.

The characteristics assigned to the segments of the cosmos are as true today as they were thousands of years ago. That these properties and conditions, unique to each segment of the skies mapped out by fixed stars, should move around with the changing position of that arbitrary point in the cosmos called the Vernal Equinox is illogical and unscientific to the point of absurdity.

The error, however, was a natural one and originated with Ptolemy. It is a trap into which modern astrologers fell because they followed the lead of modern astronomers in using the Equinoctial Points in defining the Zodiac and its divisions. Of course, as has been explained these points are continually moving in relation to the fixed celestial points. The rules of astrological interpretation have been written for thousands of years with respect to the fixed celestial points.

But, modern astronomers redefined their constellations about sixty years ago. The International Astronomical Union redrew the boundaries in skies, adding a constellation which they named Ophiuchus. This is the result of their recent revision. The table below lists the dates when the Sun is in the newly defined astronomical constellations of the Zodiac. The dates fluctuate by a day from year to year:

                *------------*    *-------------*
                Constellations         Dates
                *------------*    *-------------*
                Capriconus        Jan 19 - Feb 15
                Aquarius          Feb 16 - Mar 11
                Pisces            Mar 12 - Apr 18
                Aries             Apr 19 - May 13
                Taurus            May 14 - Jun 19
                Gemini            Jun 20 - Jul 20
                Cancer            Jul 21 - Aug  9
                Leo               Aug 10 - Sep 15
                Virgo             Sep 16 - Oct 30
                Libra             Oct 31 - Nov 22
                Scorpius          Nov 23 - Nov 29
                Ophiuchus         Nov 30 - Dec 17
                Sagittarius       Dec 18 - Jan 18
                *--------------------------------*

The Zodiac, therefore, is used first as a plane of reference to facilitate the description of te positions of celestial bodies in such a way that their relationships among themselves can be determined. Secondly, the Zodiac is used to divide the skies into zones of apparently specific indications.

To repeat, each of these divisions extends through an arc of 30 degrees; twelve segments therefore completing the 360 degrees of a complete circle. If a planet or star be situated, say, halfway between th beginning of Aries and the beginning of the next segment Taurus, then the position of that planet or star will be described as being fifteen degrees of Aries. If the planet be situated one-third of the distance between the beginning of Gemini and the beginning of cancer, this position will be designated as ten degrees of Gemini.

Positions of planets are described in this manner in degrees, minutes and seconds of the segment in which they are located. Each segment is called a Rashi. One could call it a constellation also, except that the modern astronomers have redefined their constellations just sixty years ago and this can cause the same confusion as would be caused by calling these segments "signs" since Tropical astrologers started using "signs" just about 1700 years ago to describe the zones in the moving Zodiac.

2. The Nakshtr(as), or Asterisms
Ancient astronomers observed that numerous changes occurred with the 30-degree zones, or Rashi(s), mapped out by the Zodiac. They found it necessary to sub-divide each of the twelves sections of the Zodiac. Using the belt of fixed stars which encircle the earth as markers, the divided the zodiacal background into 27 segments, the boundary of each being marked by a particular fixed star located near the zodiacal belt. These segments are known as the Nakshatr(as) or Asterisms.

They begin at the same point in the Rashi of Mesh(a). or Aries, which marks the beginning of the Zodiac, and since each extends over an arc of 13 degrees, 20 minutes, all 27 of them make up the full circle of 360 degrees. Each Nakshatr(a) is further sub-divided into quarters of equal arc. These quarters are called Pada(s). This way, we have now discussed total of 108 divisions superimposing the 12 Rashi divisions.

The names of the twenty-seven Nakshatr(as) are:

1 Ashwini        10 Maagh(a)            19 Mool(a)
2 Bharani        11 Poorv(a) Phalguni   20 Poorv(a) Ashadh(a)
3 Krittik(a)     12 Uttar(a) Phalguni   21 Uttar(a) Ashadh(a)
4 Rohini         13 Hasta               22 Shravan(a)
5 Mrigashir(a)   14 Chaitr(a)           23 Dhanisht(a)
6 Ardra          15 Swati               24 Shatabhish(a)
7 Punarvasu      16 Vaisakh(a)          25 Poorv(a) Bhadrapad(a)
8 Pushya         17 Anuradha            26 Uttar(a) Bhadrapad(a)
9 Ashlesh(a)     18 Jyeshth(a)          27 Revati

We will learn later that it is necessary to sub-divide the 3d20m quarters into still-smaller divisions as finer properties and characteristics of the star groups are illuminated in the discussion.

[NOTE OF GRATITUDE: I am very grateful to all who have sent e-mail in support of this humble effort to assemble some basic information about astrology. Your kind words are appreciated.]

To be continued.

Jai Maharaj Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer
%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:% *-=Om Shanti=-* %:%:%

Week beginning Friday, July 12, 1996

by Jai Maharaj
Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer
jai@eskimo.com

* January 19 - February 15 * Capricornus
   Boost self-image by reflection and reasoning.
Material acquisition has little value!  Numbers 3, 6.

* February 16 - March 11 * Aquarius
   Good prospects emerge if seeking new deal, position.
Domestic chore is difficult.  Color green!

* March 12 - April 18 * Pisces
   Coax relative or friend into giving help!  Health and
nourishment are highlighted, so is light travel.

* April 19 - May 13 * Aries
   Beauty and charm anchor not only desire but open new
horizons.  New friendships are indicated!

* May 14 - June 19 * Taurus
   Big, bigger, biggest!  Size, volume enter picture.
Rewards or acts of charity inspire best attributes.

* June 20 - July 20 * Gemini
   Mediate and lead others to accord at gathering, but
dispute may bring undeserved blame.  Duck!

* July 21 - August 9 * Cancer
   Money matters may take away from fun.  Perseverance
will pay.  Good guy, stranger surprises!

* August 10 - September 15 * Leo
   Disclaimers figure: weather conditions, unavoidable
circumstances.  But victory near weekend!

* September 16 - October 30 * Virgo
   Patience required with younger person seeking
approval.  Could be a proposition or cry for help!

* October 31 - November 22 * Libra
   Love sentiments postpone need for negotiation as good
times are had!  Benefit from old promises.

* November 23 - November 29 * Scorpius
   Backbiting foe may resurface, but ignore latest trick
to win!  Discourage friend who offers aid.

* November 30 - December 17 * Ophiuchus
Upper-body ailment or pain is easily managed.  When was
the last physical exam?  The metal iron.

* December 18 - January 18 * Sagittarius
New energy and enthusiasm are not wasted, grab first
opportunity that arises!  Hectic Tuesday.

When all the guessing is over, get the facts about your
future! Thorough, individual Jyotish consultations are
available from Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer

.

by Jai Maharaj
Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer
jai@eskimo.com

* January 19 - February 15 * Capricornus
   Do you have a garden, perhaps grow flowers?  Seeds,
planting, fruits and vegetables are in the bag.

* February 16 - March 11 * Aquarius
   Singer or entertainer keeps mind occupied.  Attempts
at writing, creativity could prove successful!

* March 12 - April 18 * Pisces
   Those associated with the legal profession could prove
beneficial!  Guard against colds, allergies,.

* April 19 - May 13 * Aries
   Ability to hold on to assets comes into play. Let the
shops keep the goodies for you a bit longer!

* May 14 - June 19 * Taurus
   Auspicious period to begin new projects, finish old
ones!  Emotional outbursts may create pitfall.

* June 20 - July 20 * Gemini
   Training or educational goals need evaluation.  Some
changes are inevitable, but maintain course!

* July 21 - August 9 * Cancer
   Ridding one of parasites may be easier.  If all else
fails, look a mooch in the eye and bid goodbye!

* August 10 - September 15 * Leo
   Contribution to community and charitable causes will
elevate self!  Children, dependents figure.

* September 16 - October 30 * Virgo
   Naughty thoughts may motivate one to meaningful
actions.  Love and passion for adults, perhaps!

* October 31 - November 22 * Libra
   Money matters continue to dominate scene, but
solutions exist.  Have all avenues been explored?

* November 23 - November 29 * Scorpius
   The number 7 and color blue will help manifest
potential powers!  One with logical mind gives in.

* November 30 - December 17 * Ophiuchus
   Obstacles seem insurmountable, but are temporary.
Seek assistance from people in authority!

* December 18 - January 18 * Sagittarius
   Personal needs and desires need more attention,
please!  Take sad or grieving friend under wings.

When all the guessing is over, get the facts about your
future! Thorough, individual Jyotish consultations are
available from Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer