Astrology has deep roots in the past and is one of the arts known to man since ancient times. Over the years this art flourished in various traditions, such as Greece, Egypt, Persia, India and several more.

 

In India from antiquity until today this art is transmitted from teacher to student combining theory with practice, after all semi-learning in an art like this can adversely affect humans.

 

A classic story that gives a picture of nature from the seven basic planets that Vedic astrology deals with is as follows :

The Sun and the Moon are the two main planets and rulers in this universe, a couple where in the various subjects it expresses, it represents the ascetic and female sexes.

As the main rulers in this universe they owned it and are represented by the signs of Leo (Sun) and Cancer (Moon).

At one point Mercury, which expresses communication, asked the Sun to have a point of its own in this universe, so he took the sign next to the Sun, the virgin.

Asking accordingly from the Moon, she took the zodiac sign next to her twin. Seeing this, Venus, where she represents desire, asked for a corresponding space and took the sign of Libra next to the Sun and Taurus next to the Moon. Mars where it expresses the action, took similar action here and took the sign of Scorpio next to the Sun and Aries next to the Moon.

Jupiter, where he expresses wisdom, considered that a similar share belongs to him, so he took the sign of Sagittarius next to the Sun and Pisces next to the Moon.

Seeing the above events, Saturn as practical and realistic, but also slower in his action, asked for a share and took the last two zodiac signs that were left free, the Capricorn next to the Sun and Aquarius next to the Moon.

 

The nature and characteristics of each planet are many of course, but with stories like this here we can start to have an idea of the nature and character of a planet.

A planet when in good condition on a chart, without harmful effects and with a strong nature, can yield the maximum of its quality, while conversely it can increase its inverse harmful properties.

 

We place great emphasis on the status of each planet for each horoscope, in order to strengthen our beneficial planets and appease the harmful ones, where they differ in each person.

 

Vedic astrology deals with the above seven planets and two more where they are called Rahu and Ketu, and is the northern and southern nodes of the Moon.

 

To have an image of the influence and relationship of these planets in our lives, we draw the horoscope where there is a map with 12 houses, and they correspond to the 12 signs.

 

Based on the time, date and city of birth we find the zodiac sign that rises at the time of birth so we have the horoscope representing the first house on a map and then we place the planets in the different houses on the chart depending on the zodiac signs that are also at the moment of our birth.

 

A chart is like a whole universe in itself expressing nature to each of us.

The horoscope expresses our life in everyday life, the Moon our inner world, the Sun the nature in our soul, as well as each house on a map creates another universe with its corresponding interpretations in our life.

 

In Vedic astrology, although there are many different traditions and approaches, it is common to take the position of the horoscope and the position of the Moon seriously.

 

Although when we refer to the signs we have in mind 12 of them, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces in Vedic astrology there are 27 constellations (Nakhastras) where among them the Moon orbits within 27 days.

 

Knowing the constellation that the Moon is in when we were born we can calculate the times when we will have a strong influence from every planet in our lives where in total this time we call Vimsottari Dasha lasts for 120 years in a human life.

 

During this period each planet strongly influences its own time, such as the Sun for 7 years, the Moon for 10 years, Mars for 7 years, Rahu for 19 years, Jupiter for 16 years, Saturn for 19 years , Mercury for 17 years, Ketu for 7 years and Venus for 20 years.

 

The era we call Vimsotari dasha is one of the reference systems, (probably the most common in use) in time in human life, while there are several other similar systems.

 

Knowing the corresponding season we are going through on our chart we can give ‘light’ to the corresponding point that makes it relevant.

For example in the age of Jupiter comes the virtue of wisdom most relevant in our lives, and if Jupiter is the ruler of the fifth house where he expresses the apprenticeship, the right judgment, in this age these virtues will be more intense in our lives, while there are many details in giving an accurate example since it depends on the relationship that each planet has with our map, what it symbolizes to us, the situation it is in and several other factors.

 

Examining the situation of each planet, its relationship with our chart, its friendly or not influences, which houses it rules, how strong and effective it is or not, which seasons its influence will be strong, what happens to the 12 houses on a chart, where the planets are currently in the universe, and with some more parameters we will be able to have a clear picture of our being, to 'read' in more detail ourselves, to see the different eras and how much we will be able to to benefit from them.