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Foundations of Astrology: Chart Elements

Mar 18, 2025

Lecture Notes on Astrology: Foundations of a Chart

Key Concepts

  • Sun, Moon, and Ascendant: Foundation of an astrological chart.
    • Sun: Represents the causal aspect of being, intelligence, and soul's impulse.
    • Moon: Reflects light, relates to emotions, memories, and astral body.
    • Ascendant: Represents the physical form and the vessel through which energies operate.

Importance of the Ascendant

  • Role: Sets the stage for planet functions and areas of life.
  • Variation: Changes every two hours, creating different life experiences even for those born on the same day.
  • Definition: The sign rising on the horizon at the moment of birth.

Influence of the Ascendant

  • Example: Cancer Ascendant ruled by the Moon, influencing 9th house-related affairs (teaching, ethics, etc.).
  • Example: Leo Ascendant ruled by the Sun, focusing on the house it occupies.
  • House Importance: Each house represents specific life aspects (e.g., 12th house for contemplative work).

Benefic and Malefic Planets

  • Benefics: Gentle and giving, includes Jupiter, Venus, Mercury (if not with a malefic), and waxing Moon.
  • Malefics: Bring stress and require effort, include Saturn, Mars, Sun, Rahu, Ketu.
  • Sun's Role: Minor malefic but represents self, usually less negatively impactful.

Understanding Planetary Roles

  • Benefic Influence: Supports ease in life areas (e.g., Jupiter in 10th house).
  • Malefic Influence: Requires earning success through hard work (e.g., Saturn's endurance).
  • Balancing Effects: Both benefics and malefics can be positive or negative based on dignity and placement.

Complexity in Astrology

  • Friendly and Enemy Planets by Sign:
    • Based on ascendant, planets may support or obstruct dharma.
    • Example: Aries has Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter as friendly, and Mercury, Venus, Saturn as less supportive.
    • Tables Available: Tables to determine friendly/enemy planets based on sign.

Notable Concepts

  • Yoga Karakas: Complex influence patterns in astrology (briefly mentioned).
  • Fame and Recognition: Secondary to fulfilling dharma and personal skills.
  • Planetary Dignity and Placement: Crucial for interpreting influence correctly.

Upcoming Topics

  • Gender and Strength of Planets: Next lecture topic.
  • Individual Planet Analysis: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and others to be covered.

These notes provide an overview of how foundational elements like the sun, moon, and ascendant form the basis of an astrological chart, the role of benefic and malefic planets, and the complexity of interpreting planetary influences based on ascendant and placement.

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