Astrologers

(This is an old writing)
Lately I've been programming hard, like I got that update out, and it's working fine for many people by the way, and now I'm writing a large implementation of the Degrees of the Planets in the Varga charts. So anyway, I don't always read everything. But it seems we're discussing what makes an astrologer and is it the 1st lord in the 12th.
So this inspired me to write this about what I know about what makes an astrologer by chart:
We can understand things going from the outside towards the inside.
Outwardly we know a real astrologer must be able to actually understand and perceive the sweeping effects of nearly invisible complex systems of universal controls which they perceive both scientifically as planetary orbits, and spiritually as the unfoldment of divine will.
On top of having a thus demonstrated powerfully complex and energized mind, this person must also have strong courage because Jyotish will take you to the land of death, rebirth, spiritual meaningfulness, embarrassing and revealing realizations about the often pathetic state of many souls, and other nerve jolting experiential realms, mostly mentally based.
"Wide perception and nerves of steal". Guts actually.
So often we will find that persons who are top notch in this field and it's allied fields may have one intense planet combined with enough Mars to mobilize them into action. One thing is for sure, you cannot do anything in life without energy to do it. Jyotish takes nerve-mind energy in large gulps and swallows.
The one intense planet thing means that the Panch Mahapurus Yogas principle is always point one. Anyone with one really well placed planet could be involved with Jyotish in the sense that it could give the energy required in one of Jyotish's areas of life such as intuition, awareness, psychology, event prediction, the counselor, and so on. Each of these requires the presence of one strong planet to cause or activate them fully into a significant state of existance in reality. In other words, you cannot find a seer who has no good placements. They would not be a seer if that were true. You will find the "seeing" placement, and it shall be strong.
About Mercury: Mercury is the swiftness of the message. This is the primeval nature of this planet. It is not a settled character. It is young, active, and most of all very able to carry information regardless of content, from one place to another, negotiate the connections to be made at all ports, construct all bridges, gather all documents and publish all reports. Non-committed in terms of content, but very committed in terms of handling and transmission.
So an astrologers Mercury should be not under the influence of Saturn in the sense that Saturn will slow down the speed of the transmitted messages in the intellect, thus making study harder, communications slower, and all matters of thought more difficult. This is one idea. So sometimes it is expressed that having Mercury in the 6th from Saturn in the chart is good in the sense that this is where Saturn has the least aspectual strength, thus is at it's lowest point of control over Mercury, thus lowest ability to impead the swiftness of all Mercurial matters.
Furthermore, Mercury should have high Ashtaka Varga bindus, such as 4 or more. And of course higher shad balas and other strength systems are desireable.
The thing about Mercury in the fouth from lagna or Moon derives from the concept that the King is the 10th house and his ministers the 4th house, and thus Mercury in the 4th somewhat leans towards saying that the native is intelligent enough to have their intelligence used here in this way, in advising to the King.
Astrologers used to always work for the kings and had these kinds of placements. Actually, this nowadays represents serving the people in general, but usually the "paying powerful". What it really indicates to me is simply that one will tend to use their intelligence being an important under worker especially in areas of information and communications or dialogs of some sort, but under to something rather established and strong, usually.
It also indicates that "knowledge is dear" as "Mercury in 4th" naturally speaks this signification. That is of course good since astrology is a science so fundamental that it is practically dispersed by corollary study to every nook and cranny of the possible mental world. Whoa. It's big.
So, that's some of the Mercury stuff. But that's not the whole picture by any means really.
Someone could get into astrology because they have a big teaching Jupiter.
Someone could get into astrology because their Ketu forces psychic perception onto them.
Someone could get into astrology because their Saturn is so strong that for them astrology becomes an amusing lovely black toy of absolute proof of the blackness of the material lie. Whoa.
Rahu can easily take one into astrology since His is the world of the enchanting, the magical, the maya, the trick, the cheat, the surprise, the gamble, the smoke and mirrors, the mysterious, strange and uncontrollable, all of which things are felt at times by the clients, the astrologers, the onlookers of Jyotish. Is this mystical managerie of numbers, charts, wheels and lists of points from a foreign place a super seeing science? Rahu, Rahu. Rahu makes one extremely sensitive, as if walking in a war zone lifelong, like walking in a foreign open marketplace where nobody speaks your language, but everything is beautiful, but anything terrible could happen at any moment. Sensitized, Rahu can take one beyond astrology to ultra sensitivity, or isanity, when it is placed in a very intense way in a chart.
Certain nakshatras and Gods are associated more strongly with Jyotish and where their significations appear strongly in a chart and supported elsewise then we can see their effect.
For example, the Satabhish nakshatra is said to be one which is promoting of the astrology line, along with it's other research oriented significations.
My practical experience with many astrologers charts is that many have Mercury in the 4th, that is common, either from Lagna or Moon.
I find that sensitive, caring and spiritual people, and folks committed to foreign cultures such as those who implement Vedic ways in the West actively and take all the hardship associated with that willingly, these kinds of good hearted people are often nodally influenced. Either Moon or Lagna or these Lords or a group of planets, something in their chart which is significant and telling, is nodally conjoined.
The nodes give exoticness and foreigness, deep and mysterious, awesome and attractive. The nodes are the belly dancers of the planets so to speak. Nobody can not look, it's too exotic and sexual to not look. This effect the nodes give. If a person is currently involved with Jyotish in the West, they may be of this type as you do have to be somewhat of a Merlin or Gypsie outcaste type to pull it off since really, most people will think you're into something totally dumb and useless. It's alienating. You have to have a deeper reason for your belief, and you do, and that is some nodal thing in your chart. Some connection to the foreign.
Naturally early Aries with the placement of the Asvini nakshatra is a good place to have something significant since these brothers are very much supportive of investigations into the Vedic allied sciences.
The "voodoo" placements are supportive of Jyotish, such as Debilitated Moons, or 8th house placements, Scorpionic placements, and so on.
There must be somehow light, enough light for the brain to function, the person cannot be a doofus. Remember, air signs help to bring brilliance to the mind (Moon and Mercury placements in Air Signs) because they raise it up high in the air where it can see, receive messages, floating above the material impediments, speak down on everything else, get a clear signal, travel quickly or swiftly. Ahh.....
Ketu and Rahu are like big antennas too however, and can provide an "upline" to God even from a deep cave. Get that? There's your telephone line out if you're buried deep. They are always anti the Gods, ready to do something really intense to the established order of the signs and planets. They're armed and dangerous, as are the less effective but highly malefic outer planets three.
So enough light. Let the light shine. We need some serious Golden or Greenish or whatever color the Mercury and Moon are shining within, light shining on the workbench of the natives inner mind space for them to read the Journals of Jyotish is required. My light is a little blue with Moon in Kumb.
But there must be some acceptance of external control. Solar and radiant people, with no dark side, no afflictions, and not nodal, they are not going to be under anything. They are carefree and materialistically simple minded people, whether powerful or not, rich or poor, those without faith in any higher controls and no interest in same could never love astrology.
So there has to be some respect in the chart seen for religion, for higher orders, the 9th house, the Jupiter, the first/nine connections, or similar stuff. Sometimes however this is replaced with what apparently is a replacement for this purpose, and that is namely 8th house affected matters, since this Lord has the capability to "freak and compel" people into interest in the occult. Their relationship is more one generated by ghastliness, hence they can go very deep, and be very nice about it, but at the same time sometims seem almost resigned to it all, which can scare others who are not so interested in the deep dark depths.
Jupiter in the second causes one to speak with authority and tends towards, if he's otherwise allowed by the chart, speaking about religious matters, matters of higher wisdome, guidance, truth. He's noble. Then there are various lordship placements that are favorable and unfavorable for this pursuit.
In this way, everything combines and in all subsystems of the scienc there are placements better for a thing and those worse for a given matter in life like Jyotish. It's a matter of seeing how many stack up.
Like in my case:
Jupiter in the 9th in Sag: Good for religion
Lord of 10th in 9th: Gives up rise for higher purposes
Moon in Satabhish: Good for research/science
Satabhish pada 2: apparently supportive of astrology by text
Asc in Asvini: Good for these areas
Lord of 5th in 2nd: Speaking from the intelligence
Lord of 12th from 6th in 2nd: Speaks about stopping problems
Venus in the first: Lives with brahmins
Jupiter in the 9th: Believes in pilgrimages
Mercury in 6th from Saturn: The intellect is more free to move
Mercury high in AV bindus:
Saturn conjoins the midheaven: Won't get an easy rise in life
Moon conjoins Ketu: Will be an outcaste
Rahu 7th from Moon: Will partner with strange people, will associate mentally with foreign elements and persons.
Moon conjoins Ketu: Thinks of very lofty matters like philosophy or if the chart is overall stupid, then lofty imaginary nonsense.
and so on.
My point is, you see many things and allow them to stack up.
Some things are special too. Like I have a special Jupiter, at 9-5-40 Sag, it's in 7 oif it's own/exalt. signs in the Vargas, it's in Mridu Shastiamsha, in the first in Navamsa in Gemini. It aspects my ascendent off only by 2 degrees, and it is off by one degree only in it's aspect on my Navamsa lagna which is at 10-54 Gemini. Parts of this Jupiter placement are parts of the predictions given for Tri Kala Gya yoga in Ramans book. So that's supportive of Jyotish big time. It's also mentioned- the Jupiter in Mridu Sastiamsha in Jataka Tattwa as being indicative of one who is utterly following his Guru.
So this is true, I've always been a very staunch follower and faithful Aries type boy behind my Gurus, to this day, and on into the future as far as I can see and feel.
So that is supportive of Jyotish, because when you see my chart, you have to see the connection the Moon has to foreignors, and lonliness to the max. So put that together, into foreign stuff and lonely. OK, so he lives in the wrong country.
Then, this like totally unstoppable ninth house. OK, so he's in to the really strong and Jupiterian religious thing. Yep. Then, Saturn is there in the 9th- OK, so we know now that the religion is old. OK. Pinned it. The guy is into the old religions of India and into those foreign ways and stuff and is therefore lonely where he lives, but goal oriented to be a renunciate and ascetic.
That's all there. So such a person would be open to astrology right?
So it's a matter of combining things.
I gotta go do something else, Aries away, zoom zoom zoom....
Peace and Superior Experiences of Illumination,

Being good at astrology versus being bad at it

The more you know about life, the better you'll be actually at astrology.
The planets, signs and houses, stand for or signify many things each in astrology.

They combine together in astrology, and you read these combinations.

For example, mars combining with the moon. One is energy, mars, and one is mind and emotions, moon.

When you combine those, you can get "energized mind and emotions", and that would be correct. You can also get "emotions more energized than every 11 other people", and that would be statistically correct by probabilities through human society.

But now, they stand for many other things. Like, Mars stands for soldiers, brothers, the arms, arms as in weapons, and has influence attributes like harshness, rashness, suddenness, spontanaeity, aggression, lawlessness, cops, firemen, warriors..

The moon also covers things like provisions, mothers, mothering, caring, providing, nurturing, being soft, being vulnerable, being visible, the masses, the oceans

So when you start to combine ALL of those, actually with math the possibilities become endless, also because those are partial lists.
So it's one thing to learn a large list of karakas or significations for each planet, sign and house, but it's another thing to know what those things actually are.

For example, unless you experience a Ketu moment, you won't know it. Unless you know what a soldier is, you won't understand what that means. Contrarily, the more you know about death, begging, being abandoned, being outcaste, the more you will truly know what Ketu stands for. The more you know sports, energy, the military, rashness, aggression, the more you will know Mars.
There are 9 planets, and 12 each of signs and houses. That's 33 main things. Nature and circular math are based on the number 3. 

That's an aside.

So you have 33 things to learn a long list for each. 33 lists to learn. 

At least 3 things each, so 99 memory items to link to a planet sign and house

Then you start combining, and when multiples conjoin, then you really start to have weird problems- who's in charge? How does each influence the others.. are there any special rules to know?

Yes! But again it comes back to life, knowing life.

Here's why! As you get to know the planets, their offices called Signs, and the houses which are parts of your life mainly, you realize they act like WHO THEY ARE. So Mars acts like a guy soldier dude, the Moon acts like a mommy queen, and the others...
So the special rules arise from these personalities and things about the planets materially, like, Jupiter is gas, so the signification of expansiveness goes to this expansive gaseous planet and we find these things caused in humans where jupiter affects- and expansiveness, and often a sense of "it's hot air", people find they preach.

So as you hear the rules of astrology, they sink in best if you get life because they mimic life, or actually, life mimics the universe, and the planets are the hands on that clock, like it or not.

So as you hear the rules, the more you know about life, the more you'll get the rules. They will make NATURAL SENSE. They are not artificial from LIFE. The LIFE YOU KNOW signifies THEM and they signify the life you know. You can learn one from the other and vice versa.

Co Signification is what I call this. All matter, thought, action, is related to each other in all directions by wave bounce effect, this is always and unconditionally. No wave disappears and nothing is immune to being hit. We are all related always in all directions through matters gross and subtle nature and forces, we are literally in a wave pool.

So you can read anything, and then extend out from there. As an arrow flying has a path, so ALL THINGS tell a path. A piece of paper on the street has a path to how it got right there, and you can see parts of that as markings upon it, and again, the more you know, the more you can see.

A persons chart reveals basically everything about them but our ability to read it is the same as saying:

Take 9 executives, memorize and get to know their minds and ways
Take their 12 total offices, same thing

Take 12 other offices of life parts, same thing

After all this get to knowing you need to do, you then look at real charts of real peoples sky maps, and read what effects will be produced by all above said players interacting as you see it on the chart.

What do you say?

What you say, is called astrology. We are reading your map of lifes main attributes which are reflected in the sky because our lives are made solely of this environment in every way and from a buildup of that through history... and so the big is the dictator, it is significant, it significates.

I am not saying the planets are active thinking gods. Their presence significates the position of an important universal power to US at this point here in time. We are produced of here, we can read here. Nothing is separate in the wave pool, it has been found to work, that these, the largest objects around us, their wave relationship with the sun, are effective upon our flesh as well, we are formed under the pullings of these planets, and we live under their entire light and power system. Our seasons, rain, health and life come from them. We are beings dependent mainly on PLANETS for LIFE.

So, Astrology is real, how good you are at it is based entirely on learning it, THEN how much you GET LIFE and how much you know about things. The more an astrology studies LIFE as well as astrology, the more they will be able to successfully do it. They will have more confidence if they study people, and see that it is always working perfectly, as I have.

I am so convinced.

I live in a different world than most people. I know God the One exists because I can read it in everyones charts I have, which is thousands.

Therefore I think in a way which is based on an intimate kind of acceptance of this superior beings ongoing constant presence in all things everywhere, and a sense therefore of surrendering because we are in it after all. 

ie, you ARE going to DIE

That's ITS decision, that I KNOW you can't tell me is yours. 

Nope. 

That's UNI acting for sure.

Same with disease, Earthquakes, Pestilence, pain, and so many annoyances we don't want but get anyway.

Everything you don't want but get anyway, is Uni being herself, just controlling everything for the gradual surrender of all. Forward motion. But we object in our ego heads.

But the truth is She the One the Uni, God, Father, has one control aspect over all despite all our choosing, and that aspect is always functioning, and it is the needs of the One, the total. 

The total may need you to cause a car crash. You hate the aftermath, insurance, money, courts, possibly guilt, but it came. It came. You HAVE to take it. But you can resist, and feel bad, or surrender, and know that all is in the One's control.

This is basic enlightenment, but it's hard to follow. It takes ongoing practice.

Astrology is one thus with gathering knowledge about all things, people, and interactions of all things, and the standard results, then aligning that knowledge with the planet, signs and houses and then reading it off charts, combining knowledge of life with the markers, then telling the person the mix result.

That's how astrology is done right, by well learned wide minded widely experienced elders or serious persons of any age who carry that weight of taking all life seriously, dispassionately, for the sake of the client, so they can get a clear, real unbiased reading from you.

Peace!

Das Goravani

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Who Can Be a Jyotishi?

Jyotish is a broad pursuit. It's not even as confined as "intellect" - it's even broader than that thing is. In general, careers are a very broad subject since to be fulfilled they require the cooperation of all parts of ourselves.

In my own chart, Venus in the first as it is is said to cause "living with priests" which I have done alot of, in two different major religions. Then my Moon apparently is in a good pada of Satabish for this, and Aquarius is a good Moon sign for Jyotish, being as it lends itself towards "fixed revealed old high knowledge" being a "fixed air sign ruled by Saturn". Then I have a very strong ninth house and karma dharmadipati yoga therein. Then I have alot of the TriKalaGya Yoga, which gives good vision. So everything adds up. If you look at my life for real, separate from astrology, if you knew me well, you would know that I have no choice but to do something to spread Veda. It is all I am- it is my life, and my rule, my lord, my food, my all. It is my autocratic overlord dictator, and I love Him for His control over me. So then, it all goes together, "oh, one such as this, so absorbed as he is in all these subjects, has no choice but to do this somehow or another, well or not, it hardly matters, because they're gonna do it just the same".
So if we look at the whole chart, then we can begin to arrive at things.

Examine what is Jyotish: Seeing the truth, that others fear, that others cannot see, that others aren't sure they believe- to see, and surrender, and walk in such knowledge, is not easy on the mind or nerves. One must be a high being to be a Jyotishi. VarahaMihira, the great Jyotishi himself and author, says that the Jyotishi should be handsome, as physical goodness and foibles are reflections of the inner being as well. I am not saying this strongly, but mentioning it in passing as another thing to consider, to broaden our ideas on this subject. It's an interesting point.
There is a high requirement of intellect, and a high requirement of character. To accurately read many persons or things, you must be above them. If you are on many levels a banal and mundane average person, then how can you actually be involved in mysticism? I say it this way not to challenge those on the list, but to add that view when reviewing yourself or others on the subject. There should be some yoga, some sadhana, some past associations with goodness, some spirituality, in the person.

Ideally, the Jyotishi should be a brahmin actually. That doesn't mean "Indian" and does not refer to the caste of birth, because that alone is not enough to guarantee that you indeed are representing that caste in your adult life choices. I have met many Indians who say "they are brahmins by birth" but are engaged in unbrahminical lives and careers. So that is not what I mean.

I mean, a brahmin is clean, truthful, full of knowledge, always learning, always trying to apply their knowledge to help others, never offends real Saints, Sadhus, Brahmins, Priests, etc., is equipoised towards all, is the well wisher of all, is especially interested in helping others in a few key areas which Brahmins have forever been involved with, namely Educating others, Medicine, Spiritual Matters, and Astrology. Brahmins are resource persons- if you have problems and go to them, you should feel some relief of your problems or queries upon leaving. Brahmins are very discriminating and particular, because they know the way things should be done for ultimate happiness and success of the souls involved. They are Gurus, Teachers, LightPosts, Healers, Lovers, and Compassionate.
So we should see something of these things in the chart. Also, never mind just the chart, look at the person. See what they do, see their lives. Is it going in this direction at all?

But you wanted to know about being a really good Jyotishi- that is of course hard to say. There may be some who are really good who don't have the best yogas outlined for Jyotish. There are always the exceptions and odd cases which show the attribute, but are not mentioned per se directly in the books. The tri kala gya yoga, which I mostly have, for example, is formed of a very prominent Jupiter. Of course, Jupiter is good for higher wisdom and all brahminical pursuits. Mercury properly placed is of course good too. There should be some religion in the chart, or some connection to mysticism and the hidden meanings of life. For these, the 8th, the nodes, sometimes Scorpio, and so on, can help. A conglomeration or conflagration of factors need to ultimately be present.

If you cannot see anything in the chart which is STRONGLY pointing towards religion, Brahminical traits, or mysticism, then I think one would have to wonder if the person has the goods internally. For example, there are signs which are duller, and those which are sharper- like Capricorn is not noted for being brainy say, and Leo is not noted for being sensitive. See, so the signs play a big part. The lagna, lagna lord, the Moon, the 9th lord, Jupiter, Mercury, the 10th Lord, all must be congenial that the person take up such a thing as Jyotish.

Someone quoted the aphorism pointed out previously by Sanjay or was it Mr. Rao, anyway, somebody said that Saturn associating in some way with the 11th house is helpful. I have that. It's my 11th lord. But that is always true for Aries lagna. But I have it in the 9th with the 9th Lord Jupiter who is very strong and the final dispositor for the whole chart. So my "desires" are highly "tamed" by the house of religion, which is strong. Indeed, I have been heavily "corralled" by my religion since I can remember.

That of course is helpful. If a person is a "loose goose" with their life, then that is not so conducive for Sadhana, which is so helpful for becoming eligible to receive the keys to the higher planes of consciousness. When we are overly Venusian, or too much involved in Sense Gratifications of a gross type, then it may be harder to think the clear thoughts required, because we are then too much gummed up by the numbing satisfactions offered by food, sex, drugs, sleep, etc. Yogis practice some austerities partly in order to stay sharp. Believe me, if you have never done a Vedic lifestyle, it does make you very sharp- referring to rising early, cold bath, arotik, japa, sastra katha, Sadhu Sanga, Arcan, etc...

So the American lifestyle per se, is not so conducive to being a Yogi or Brahmin. The plastic, the cheap foods that are lifeless, the numbing drone of the materialistic television, etc., all of this, is anti-austerity, anti-brahmin, and kills the spark in the soul. Of course, you can have all these things and remain sharp, so long as you don't over-partake in any one of them.

We have to be honest with ourselves when considering "Should I become a full time Jyotishi" or even part time. We have to consider if we are able to help others, give guidance, be an example, be a "Vedic Counselor" so to speak. If we are not ready, then better to admit it and keep trying.
The best way to become a Brahmin is to surrender to a real one, and do what they say to do. This is what it means to become a disciple, or sadhaka, or "Shisya" as a disciple is called in Sanskrit. However, that brings us to the next question:

Like I said earlier, the problem seems to be that of the Guru--a jyotish guru.....but days of idealism are long gone, and commerce is the name of the game today.....People don't part with their trade secrets so easily. There are countless number of shops where I live, some even offer Crash Courses! But nowhere a guru is to be found who (in the words of authors of Light on Life) would fire the spark of jyotirvidya inside his/her student's consciousness.

I think that overall, Mr Rao is a Jyotish Guru, and he lives in Delhi, and there are others, such as VK Choudry and others. Mr Rao talks too much for me, and too much about himself and his life. Personally I require a quieter environment as I am nearly autistic in my sensitives to sound and speaking. My Gurudeva (not a Jyotish guru, my Spiritual Guru) was very soft spoken and had few, but meaningful, words. I like that approach.

Jyotish, the science, can be learned from books and so on. The Guru can help. The main teachings of the Guru are about YOU, not the science. The real Guru allows you to spend some time around Him, doing menial services like cleaning or work. Then there is some teaching and discussing. During all of this, the real Guru can see your nature, what is important in YOUR mind and desires, and after awhile, can give you an often painful experience of being cut down to size. The first duty of the Guru is to kill your ego as much as possible. This is not Jyotish. It is spiritual life. Any flaw in your thinking and way of acting, it is HIS duty to point out agressively, with no uncertain terms. It is not all lovy dovy under a real Guru.

Then, if you stick, you can really then get into things well because you become more usable by the divine, because you are less full of yourself, and thus more empty to receive the teachings. An empty purified cup you are, placed before the Lord by your Guru. It is "feminine" to be a real disciple. One must be subservient, humble, and so on.
That is the main qualification for receiving Vedic knowledge of all varieties. When you can live at the ashram of your Guru, and only for the benefit of the Guru, and have nothing of your own, and no future plans, nothing. In that state, you are liberated largely, and much can be revealed to you. Of course, if you are dumb, then nothing will sink in. The real Guru does not accept dumb disciples. The real Guru scrutinizes the prospects and weeds out the unqualified. Same with Gurus. The prospects should examine and find a real Guru, not a pretender money maker.
The real Gurus do exist, but are you willing to give up home to go there?

The best time for finding a Guru and going to His or Her ashram and living for some years is the late teens and early twenties, before marriage, before attachment to family and duties takes over our lives. This I had the fortune of somehow falling into by the Lords grace. This stage of life Vedicly is called "Brahmacarya" and refers to the student years of life. Traditionally, the young are sent to the Gurus ashram for such trainings at a certain point. This is nicely shown in the Ramayan videos for example.

It is much like the modern military. If you take late teenagers- they are in the prime of health, not yet attached or duty bound, full of energy, idealistic, easily shaped and contoured by strong authorities into something- either soldiers or Brahmins- it's quite similar. I underwent intense austerities in order to find and stay with my Gurus for some years. It takes great desire. The result is unmistakable. There are not alot of white people who can say the things I say, and it is only because I've actually paid my dues years ago, that I can do it. I gave my life wholly from age 19 to 25- I had no money, no home, no nothing. I did what I was told, which included travelling to foreign countries and doing difficult things. Once I was told to live in Hong Kong, collect funds, and hold temple functions and thus preach. I did it. I was 19. I was alone. I hated it, but I did it. This kind of thing really makes you into a tool for the Lord. I learned everything, and it was hard- austere, gruelling at times, blissfull most of the time though.
Make no mistake, intense and real Hare Krishna devotess do the real thing- it is not like some of the other groups- ours is "free" to join, but you don't go home- you give up your home, just like the scriptures recommend for the Brahmacari stage of life. We did it exactly like it says- shaved heads, dhotis, the works. AND IT WORKS.

Obviously, not many can do this, especially once they are adults and have families and other engagements.

The next best thing is to honor the real path, and try to be in the resultant consciousness without having to go through it. What does that mean? Well, if you hang out with me, you'll see something like this: You cannot go into any old shop or restaurant- for example, you don't eat meat at all, and you avoid places like McDonalds and any shops which are tamasic in nature or content. You don't do anything excessively. You must be clean, regulated, always believe in God, never question the Vedic conclusions, be engaged in meaningful works, avoiding sinful occupations such as animal slaughter, the selling of liquor, and so on. I do not let my relatives who visit bring meat into the house. I teach my children the scriptures to some degree. I struggle to stay as Sattvic as possible. If you perform no struggle, no sacrifice, nothing special, then you are only an armchair devotee. There must be sacrifice in some way. If we serve only our senses fully, then we are not Vedic. We may be running on past good karma alone- using it up slowly through the enjoying process.

Things like smoking and intoxications are not per se completely ruled out, though they are very very carefully dealt with, just as sex is. These are potent Venusian things which can enhance a life in subtle ways at times, or destroy it completely. Generally therefore they are restricted to nil during Brahmacari years and not recommeded for anyone ever.

However, the amount of Venus we all need varies from person to person, and tolerance and compassion should be exercised for those who need more, and who show the signs of their indulgences on their faces, waistlines, etc. "There goeth I but by the Grace of God" is a good motto. Never forget you are not the source of your power. It can be stripped away overnight if you are too proud. Everything we have is borrowed plumes. Faultfinding others is to criticize the workings of the Lord, who is guiding everyone individually and correctly FOR THEM. We should not imitate anyone else, but rather find our own true path towards back to the Lords holy feet and holy services. It is individual.

So I guess it makes sense to go to a good jyotishi and find out for once and for all whether we should pursue this noble path or exert our energies into more conducive pursuits.

I think that if there is this doubt, that is itself indicative of less than 100% devotion to the subject. I think for those of us for whom it is meant, it takes over our lives. At least these are the sure ones- the ones who are hopelessly given over to the thing- whether it is dance, music, Jyotish, whatever. The one's who are full time 100% come hell or high water- well there's no question- they will do it either way.

So if you have doubt, then perhaps the above will help sort it out. I hope so. I hope I help. I share openly about myself in order to shed light in various areas- not to brag or show off. I hope I don't appear too egotistical. I know I do at times. Sorry. I am. This is one of the challenges those with strong Jupiter's have to fight- the tendency towards "largeness of self image", especially when it aspects the Lagna etc.

I have seen Mr Rao tell someone who was heavily involved in Jyotish to give it up for art instead. The person did it and agreed with him. So I guess this happens. Yes, the more advanced the Jyotishi is, the more he or she could tell if you are astrologer material. But remember, it will be their opinion alone. Search yourself as well, and ask others. Mostly ask yourself. You must live your life after all.

Jyotish is not, in my opinion, an "easy" career. It involves you with lots of problems and real life traumas and dramas. It is anything but easy. Psychologists, doctors, counselors, are the most akin careers, and these are high paid, high stress careers. Jyotish is not different, except that, if you are properly prepared with your own balance, vision, sadhana, and liberation from common gross materialism, then you can weather the challenge of helping others in this way. If it's for the money, there are better ways to get way more money, I think. Money cannot possibly be the main reason anyone gets into Jyotish. I have met very-few-to-none really wealthy Jyotishis. Those who charge a good amount are not appreciated for that by many. In other words, alot of negative talk goes around about the high prices of some well known astrologers. I think money should be downplayed. I think the qualities of Brahminism should be the main thing we look for in a Jyotishi. Fees should be a secondary consideration in both parties- the client and Brahmin.

Das Goravani

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