The Basics of Vedic Astrology

The Basics of Vedic Astrology

Because we are born on Earth, astrologically speaking, we view how each of the planets affects us on Earth and see the Earth as the center of the solar system. This is referred to as geocentric. In astronomical reality, the Sun is the center of our solar system. This is referred to as a heliocentric system where the Sun is at the center around which the planets Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all revolve. The Moon is the only celestial body in this system that revolves around the Earth, and, together with it, around the Sun.

Each of the planets has its own elliptic path, and each takes various amounts of time to orbit around the Sun. These times range from Mercury (closest to the Sun), which takes approximately 88 days to orbit the Sun, to Pluto (furthest from the Sun), which completes its orbit approximately every 249 years.

“Pluto is usually farther from the Sun than any of the nine planets; however, due to the eccentricity of its orbit, it is closer than Neptune for 20 years out of its 249 year orbit. Pluto crossed Neptune’s orbit January 21, 1979, made its closest approach September 5, 1989, and remained within the orbit of Neptune until February 11, 1999. This will not occur again until September 2226.” (Rosanna L. Hamilton.) Also, because of Pluto’s very irregular orbit, it can stay in a sign from 14 to over 30 years and its influence in a sign is felt more on a collective than a personal level. It shows in what area of society transformations take place—often with rather catastrophic consequences.

Jyotish emphasizes the importance of the planets that are closest in proximity to the Sun, having a smaller elliptic path around the Sun, taking less time to complete their orbit. Consequently, we are more sensitive to their changing effects. They are referred to as the personal planets. In order of their closeness to the Sun, they are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn respectively.

Of all the celestial bodies, Jyotish places emphasis on the Moon, which takes only 28 days (approximately) to revolve around the Earth, consequently, making us most susceptible to its influence.

Jyotish doesn’t place as much emphasis on the outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, referred to as the trans-Saturnians planets. These planets are located beyond Saturn, which, at one time, was considered the planet most distant from the Sun. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are also referred to as the impersonal planets and, due to their wide elliptic path, take more time to complete their orbit around the Sun. Consequently, we may not be as attuned to their effects as we are to the personal planets. However, as astrological bodies exerting an effect on us, especially on generations and our collective psyche, we include a discussion of them in this text. Also, the interpretation of the personal planets will be greatly affected if they are placed in close proximity to one of the impersonal planets. For example, our Sun will be interpreted differently if the planet Pluto or Uranus is sitting with it.