Humanistic Astrology

Did you know that the 360 degrees of the Zodiac has 360 different symbols? These Sabian symbols (a set of astrological notations representing each degree of the zodiac ) can be used for divination. Discusses origins of the symbols. Learn from the great Dane Rudhyar, a Titan in the field of Astrology.

Rudhyar integrated Jungian Psychology with Astrology and called it Harmonic Astrology. He postulated that the stars do not cause the effects ( like Dante who said planets impel and they do not compel ) and that but were pictures synchronistically aligned to human beings. Detailing psychological forces working in individuals. He did not override human freedom in responding to these forces. His magnum opus "The Astrology of Personality" was published in Lucis Publishing.

Astro Software Books

If you want to calculate the longitudes of planets and create an Astro Software, then the best book for you is Laplace's CelestialMechanics. You can find out the mean longitudes of the planets, calculate the perturbations, the epicycles and then calculate the Heliocentric Longitudes of planets. You can use Laplacian equations to then reduce it to the Ecliptic Coordinates and then reduce them to Geocentric Coordinates, thus computing the true longitudes of the planets. A must for Astro software developers.


Kepler's Formulae

Kepler represents Old Astronomy. If you want to creat an Astro Software, you have to solve the Kepler problem. The Kepler Equation, M = E - e Sin E, may sound easy, but it is a transcendental equation and the most difficult amongst Kepler's equations. We can find out the True Anomaly of the planet, that is the angle between the planet and perihelion. The next step is to find the Argument of Perihelion, which is the angle between the Node and perihelion.


Laplace - Advanced Astronomy

Laplace's Celestial Mechanics is one of the best books ever written. If you read this magnificent book, you can handle Astronomy and Maths easily. 

A good book to possess !

Vedic Astrology, a guide to the fundamentals of Jyothish, is a great book by Ronnie Dreyer, for those hungering for the knowledge of Jyothish. Ronnie Dreyer has made the tough subject light by explaining in simple terms the mighty science of Astrology. Dreyer is well versed in Western Astrology, despite having profound knowledge of Jyothish. She can fathom the complexities, the pitfalls and the perplexities that veteran Western astrologer encounter while they deal with Jyothish. Throughout the book, there are warnings and hints that guide astrologers in the proper path, saving them from the interpretative calamities experienced by many astro savants.

Vedic Astrology is explained in simple terms to the student, without much technical jargon. Vedic Astrology is similar to Western Astrology and differs only by 23.5 degrees, which is the difference between the Zodiacs now.

Foreword is by James Braha, another veteran Vedic Astrologer.

This book is a must for the novitiate, as it contains immense information to the students of Evolutionary Astrology.

Lunar Mansions !

Astrology has 108 lunar mansions. That is 27 constellations multiplied by 4. Each asterism or Nakshatra is divided into 4 quarters. Nine such quarters tenant a Zodiacal Sign. Beta Arietis ( Aswini ) 1,2,3 and 4, 41 Arietis, 1,2,3 and 4 and the first quarter of Peiades ( Karthika ) tenant the constellation of Aries.

The quarters of Nakshatras are then the lunar mansion and the Sidereal Zodiac has 108 lunar mansions.

The book "Nakshatras, Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology" is a great book by Dr Dennis Harness and Dr David Frawley. It deals with the Sidereal Zodiac and contains a wealth of information about Vedic Astrology. A must for the novitiate.

Both are great scholars of Astrology and can enlighten the students about the great stellar science which is Vedic Astrology. Once the concept of Lunar Mansions is understood, the student can easily grasp the structure of the Sidereal Zodiac, upon which Vedic Astrology is based.

Equation for Saturn in the great Jup-Sat perturbation

We will now deal with the equation for Saturn in the Jupiter- Saturn inequality.

3102 is added to the Year of Birth and then 4660 is deducted from it. Then that value is subtracted by 918 and multiplied by 360. Then that value is mulitplied by 2873 seconds and then the resultant value is minussed from Saturn's longitude ( if his longitude is less than 180 ) and added ( if his longitude is greater than 180 ).

Mathematically,

KY ( kali year ) = Year ( Date of Birth ) +3102
kyb = KY - 4660

x, bhujamsa = ( kyb )/918 * 360
y, bhujajya = sin (x )

satvalue = sin (x ) * 2873

If Mean Longitude of Saturn < 180
Sat's corrected Long = Sat's long - satvalue

If Longitude of Saturn > 180
Sat's corrected Long = Sat' long + satvalue


Western Astronomy gives the perturbation amplitude as .812 degrees which is similar to the Indian value of 2873 seconds. Similar values are not exactly the same and hence neither borrowed from each other !

Computation of Ayanamsa

In India, Chaitra Paksheeya Ayanamsa is widely followed. The Indian Govt gave the job of standardising the Almanacs to the great N C Lahiri. It is also known as Lahiri's Ayanamsa.

The Year of Coincidence of the Tropical and the Sidereal Zodiacs was at 285 AD, according to Chaitra Paksheeya Ayanamsa. There are 13 other Ayanamsas, with different scholars differing as to the dates. The great Dr B V Raman opined that the two Zodiacs coincided at 398 ACE, but the followers of Chaitra Paksha Ayanamsa are more.

According to Cheiro, the Precession was one degree in every 72 years.

According to C P A, the precession is 50.24645 secs per year.

Mathematically

y = year(xdate)-Year of Epoch

x = 50.25645+(.00022229)*y + ((0.00000000027)*y^2)

Chaitra Paksha Ayanamsa = 22.436+ (x/3600)*y

Computation of the great Jupiter-Saturn perturbation !

In Indian Astronomy, the great Jupiter - Saturn perturbation, is calculated using the formula given below.

The Kali year, ky, is calculated and 4660 is deducted from it to get the kyb, the kali year balance. Its Bhujamsa,x is calculated using the Equation of Bhuja and then its Bhujajya ( Sin x ) is calculated to get the value of Manda Phala, a.

Mathematically, it can be written as

Y, (Year of Birth) + 3102 = ky, the Kali Year of Birth

kyb ( kali year balance ) = ( ky - 4660 )

x = kyb*360/918

b, bhujajya = sin(x)

Since the duration is 918 years and perturbation amplitude is 1187 seconds,

Manda Phala, a = sin(x) * 1187

( Example - My year of birth is 1955. Add 3102 and we get 5057. Less 4660 is 397. 397*360/918 is 155.6 and its Bhujamsa is 25 degrees roughly ( 180-155). So Sin (25 ) is 0.41. Manda Phala, therefore is 0.41*1187 seconds or Vikalas. )


This value, Manda Phala, a is added to Jupiter's mean longitude, if Jove's long is less than 180 and subtracted if Jove's long is greater than 180.

In the West, this discovery is attributed to Laplace. The duration of the perturbation of 918 years is known as Laplace period. Its amplitude of .332 degrees is similar to the Indian value of 1187 seconds.

Laplace gives the equation 2 nj - 5 ns, bringing to light the 5:2 Resonance in the orbits of the two celestial giants. 2 revolutions of Saturn = 5 revolutions of Jupiter = 60 years !