The Moon swells and expands this week, asking us to respond to her increased flow. The most powerful full Moon of the year occurs late in the week and Saturn goes direct after four and half months of retrograde motion. Let out the exhale and find your release.

Monday is influenced by Mercury as the Moon moves through Jyeshtha nakshatra, Indras constellation. With Moon transiting its debilitation sign, Scorpio and in Jyeshtha, extreme sensitivity and overwhelm can occur easily. The sensorial level of our being is easily impacted as well as the mental and emotional bodies. The mental body is extra sensitive right now in general- as Mercury and Sun are combust with Ketu's gaze. Frazzled and fried? What can you do to turn down the heat and defrag the system? Hint: Less is more. Remove anything unnecessary from your plate.

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Just as Tuesday begins, Moon jumps into Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra. Nirrti, the dark goddess, arrives with her upheaval and removal tactics. Mars and Jupiter give their gaze, offering some clarity and tenacity to an otherwise delicate time. Can you get focused and clear? Aim high and meet your mark. Stay out of the chaos and overwhelm by landing and grounding as much as possible in the physical body. This will take courage but try to land on your feet. Mars moves to the edge of Gemini and is sandhi (in the gap). Soften your action steps and relax the mind. Meditation is an excellent use of your time today.

PurvaAshada nakshatra starts the day on Wednesday, sharing the powerful flow of Apas and her watery ways. Her strength can be a blessing or an overwhelming inundation. If you've been feeling the pressure, it's time to open the floodgates and find the release valve. This may come with emotions and tears, but let them flow and cleanse you. Mercury begins to separate from close conjunction with the Sun and our mind begins to get some relief as well. Feeling the frustration still? Mars is at the edge of Gemini, still tickling our mental body with red and reaction. What is underneath the agitation? Find the need and see what action steps need to be taken for greater ease. Today, uproot and pull up old, inner weeds.

Just before midnight, Moon shifts to UttaraAshada.

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Day of the guru, Jupiter, arrives as Moon transits UttaraAshada. As Thursday arrives, Moon moves to Capricorn mid-morning, receiving drishti (gaze) from five planets simultaneously. Sun, Mercury, Mars, Rahu and Saturn offer a recipe for overwhelm and intensity, yet the Vishvadevas offer their support  through resources and aligning with our truth. Look for flashes of insights and awareness regarding your gifts and inner wisdom. Listen carefully and align with your highest knowing. Trust your inner light to guide you. Catch yourself in the emotional extremism before you go down the rabbit hole. What do you need to do in order to ground and land in your body more fully?

As the waxing Moon peaks, another planetary shift occurs. Mars moves to its debilitation sign, Cancer, joining Mercury and Sun here. On July 30th at 13:14, the warrior, fire planet moves to the watery and emotive sign of Cancer and will be here until mid September. These two forces naturally oppose each other as Mars is reactive and action oriented and Cancer is connected to feelings and the emotional body. Mars is not a thinker or a feeler, he is a doer.

Conflicts between thoughts, feelings and actions occur in this cycle, however there is opportunity to bring light and greater awareness to our heart wisdom. If you feel irritation and anger, it's time to dig deeper. What are the needs underneath the outbursts? What expression needs to be released, rather than repressed? How can you tend to your emotional body wisdom with greater compassion and clarity?

Ask yourself "Where am I pushing too hard?" Matters with home, heart, mother, land and property feel the extra level of fire and complexity right now. Be gentle and soften your heart wherever possible. Find ways to balance your action and non-action, as there may be confusion with how to move forward in this cycle with rest and activity. For those with prominent placements or strong influences of Mars in your chart, this is somewhat of a rest cycle for you. Pushing too hard will be counterproductive. Make your heart and home the priority.

Moon is in the 15th tithi (purnima) and final phase of the waxing cycle as of the morning of July 30th. However, the fullest part of the Moon is not until Friday early in the morning. Late afternoon into late evening, Moon passes through the most sacred nakshatra of all, the little known 28th nakshatra, Abhijit. The domain of Abhijit is in between UttaraAshada and Sravana nakshatra- from 6 degrees 40 to 10 degrees 53. Use this time for meditation and sharing your intentions with the universe. As Moon shifts to Sravana late in the evening a more expansive sacredness arrives. Align with your intentions and seek clarity with your path.

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Friday begins with a sense of auspiciousness as Moon transits Sravana nakshatra. The fullest full Moon of the Vedic calendar, called Guru Purnima, is dedicated to gurus, teachers and honoring our spiritual lineage. The exact time of the full Moon is 03:42 am Pacific Time, while Moon is in Capricorn and Sravana nakshatra. This is the second full Moon of July and a powerful time to align with deep intention, sacredness and dharma. Attend to the wisdom within, honor your teachers and lineage, while using ritual to solidify your intentions. How can you clarify your path and commit to your purpose more fully?

Sravana is Vishnu's constellation and he brings an expansiveness that can be transcendental and awakening. Vishnu's purpose is to uphold dharma, which he does through sound. Open your mind and see what you find. Root through the feet and let your body wisdom help you listen.

Late evening, Moon shifts into Dhanishta nakshatra and the Vasu Devas come out to shine.

Saturday is the day of Saturn, but Moon moves through a Mars ruled constellation, Dhanishta. Moon shifts to Aquarius mid morning, a sign ruled by both Saturn and Rahu and gives a nod to the 11th house of gains and friendships. Moon receives gaze from Jupiter and Venus as well as Mars. Passion, anyone? There is also a certain bright and shining light shared with this nakshatra. Natives often have a very distinct glow which is a gift from the Vasu Devas. They support our ability to be seen, noticed and wealthy- through our action steps. They bring the jyoti, the light and love us to align and activate dharma. Take an action step towards your dharma today that will make the Vasu Devas proud! Let your heart wisdom and emotional body guide you.

Moon shifts to Satabisha nakshatra early evening. Just before 22:00, Saturn goes direct. I'll be doing cartwheels!! What about you?! This ends over four months of slow, intensified returns that have kicked up grief, sadness, loss and fears. Let out your breath, sigh with relief, notice where you've been holding on and seek release. Structure, focus, movement and stability begin to move in a forward direction. Find a new dance, step wisely, acknowledge your path and the road you have traveled. Find a place within where you can cultivate some new joy. Read more about Saturn in Scorpio.

Sunday is ruled by Rahu and Varuna as the Moon transits through Satabisha nakshatra. Moon is waning and enters the 3rd tithi today, called tritiya, a Vishnu ruled Moon phase. Satabhisha and Varuna guard Natural Law, the laws of the universe. Nothing gets past Varuna's gaze and scrutiny. There is a certain healing and sacredness with this nakshatra, as well as harshness and an intensified critic. Can you dance with the devil but find your own drum beat?

Moon shifts to the first half of Bhadrapada late afternoon. Keep dancing, even if it feels impossible. Let Ajaikapada help you balance overwhelm, uncertainty and upheaval. Stomp and kick up some dust. Count your steps and work your way through Monday with PurvaBhadrapada and Lord of the Dance.

Even though Jyotish astrology is considered to be soli-lunar, in many regards the Moon is considered the most vital piece of the karmic life map. The Moon shares crucial insights about our inner landscape, our internal realms. Here we navigate our feeling and emotional body experience- a very unique attribute of being a human.

The Moon (Chandra in Sanskrit) is the intelligence and intuition of each being. It is the nourisher of life, who offers us soma, divine nectar. The Moon represents the universal Ma and the Mother within, as well as our inner intelligence. The Sun is connected to our soul and the sheath that houses the soul, whereas the Moon is connected to the wisdom and intelligence within the soul.

In the Jyotish chart, the placement of the Moon will show how aligned the being is with sacred intuition. The Moon will share what nourishment is available to the being as well as how it will utilize its inner intelligence. In Vedic astrology, the Moon is given great importance and is of equal, if not more, importance than the Sun in many regards. For if the Sun is strong, but the Moon is weak, how will the soul be nurtured and supported?

Moon is intimately connected to the Mother, the nurturing quality of life. It shares the essential intelligence of life that gives us comfort, nourishment, emotional support, as well as our requirements for love and affection. The connection of Moon to our emotions and our psychological state is not by accident. After all our emotional body and its harmony is intimately connected to our relationship with prana, the life force. Feelings make for a joyful life or a challenging life and they move quickly- just like the Moon!

Our father plays a major role in our creation. In the Vedic understanding, he is the seed that sparks our life. However, it is the Moon’s qualities that are like the soil. Mother offers the womb, the nurturing and the container for the seed to grow. The Mother gives the vital ingredients for sustaining life it self. Without her, we will be lost, misguided and lack the ability to live life fully nourished. Our connection to Moon, to Ma, to mother, directly impacts our ability to live in harmony with life and feel the support and nurturing life has to offer.

How well are you able to be nourished? The Moon sign is the determining factor of our nourishment and wisdom. Assessing the Moon in your jyotish chart will share many important details about your inner wisdom, emotional body, the connection you have with your Mother and if you are able to receive the sacred wisdom of life.

Have you been following along with my previous Jyotish Basics articles? Get your first lesson is here.

Step #1:

Identify Your Moon. First, notice where the Moon is located in your chart. The abbreviation is likely MO.
What sign is it in? The Sign will share a lot about your Moon's disposition, but there are a few other factors to consider. What is the symbol of your Moon sign and the element that rules over it? What can you assess about your Moon with these details? Follow these guidelines for extra support.

Step #2:

Who Rules Over Your Moon? The planetary influence upon your Moon sign is another vital piece of information. What is the planetary ruler of your Moon sign? No two planets express themselves the same way. A Mars ruled sign acts very differently than a Saturn ruled sign. What can you determine about your Moon sign based on its planetary ruler?

Step #3

Where Does Your Wisdom and Nourishment Come From? The house (or bhava in Sanskrit) that your Moon sits in shares vital information about what you need for nourishment and inner support. Is your Moon comfortable in its home? Does it feel safe? What type of support does the house give you? The support will be on an emotional body level, which is a vital part of your receptivity, the ability to feel the nourishment of life.

1st House: Sense of self, worldly house, being seen, ego, appearance, intelligence.
2nd House: Nourishment, wealth, support, gems, speaking, voice.
3rd House: Communication, writing, courage, the arts, creativity, self expression, using the hands.
4th House: Home, land, mother, emotions, spirituality and moksha.
5th House: Children, creativity, romance, intuition, knowledge.
6th House: Enemies, bad habits, healing, disease, legal issues, competition, debt.
7th House: Relationships, others, partner, sexuality, desire, travel, trade.
8th House: Death, disease, transformation, transcendence, vulnerability, mysticism.
9th House: Dharma, guru, wisdom, education, foreign travels, fortune, religion.
10th House: Career, achievement, success, father, action, fame, social status.
11th House: Gains, wealth, income, friends, desires, fulfillment of desire.
12th House: Endings, loss, liberation, marriage, retreat, foreign lands, alone time.

Step #4

Putting it all together. It's time to combine all the layers now and derive some meaning from it all. What can you determine about your Moon sign based on all the previous steps? What type of emotional body wisdom are you aligned with and how do you seek your nourishment in life? Remember the Moon will support how you feel nourishment in your life. This is the inner wisdom and support that comes from your mother and the feminine powers within your family lineage. What gifts and resources are present? What challenges?


Aries: Mesha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the ram. Qualities are leadership, pioneering. Need to work on flexibility, anger issues, “hitting one’s head against the wall”. Body parts are head, brain and nerves. Odd, Male, ruled by Mars. Pitta. Correlates to the number 1 in the chart.

Taurus: Vrshabha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the bull. Qualities are strength and stability. Need to work on issues with being “bull headed”, stubborn and going beyond the material realms. Body part is neck, face and parts therein. Even, Female, ruled by Venus. Kapha. Correlates to the number 2 in the chart.

Gemini: Mithuna in Sanskrit, symbolized by a couple holding a mace and a lute. Translates as couple (male and female) or copulation, companion. Qualities are extremely creativity, communication and artistry. Need to work on issues of mental body and taking effective action steps. Body parts are arms and hands. Odd, Male, ruled by Mercury. Vata. Correlates to the number 3 in a chart.

Cancer: Karka translates as female crab in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well. Qualities are sensing and feeling, with depth and compassion, heart centered. Need to work directly with emotional body awareness, co-dependency issues, mother issues. Body parts are heart, breasts, chest. Even, Female, ruled by Moon. Kapha-vata. Correlates to the number 4 in a chart.

Leo: Simha translates as lion in Sanskrit, the symbol of Leo. Qualities are leadership, dominance, authority and power. Need to work on ego issues, needing authority and power, as well as father issues and ancestral issues. Body parts are stomach and abdomen. Odd, Male, ruled by the Sun. Pitta. Correlates to the number 5 in a chart.

Virgo: Kanya means a girl, a virgin or daughter in Sanskrit. It is symbolized by a woman in a boat holding grains and fire in her hands. Qualities are purity, cleanliness and perfection, creative, entrepreneurial. Need to work on the critic and inner judge, overly puritanical beliefs. Body parts are hips, loins, buttocks. Even, female, ruled by Mercury. Vata-kapha. Correlates to the number 6 in a chart.

Libra: Tula means the balancing scales in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well. Qualities are ability to see both sides of situations, good business skills, able to weigh and measure options, able to work with equality issues. Need to work with decisiveness, clarity and not swinging to extremes, going beyond the surface, as well as finding one’s own beliefs and ideals. Body parts are lower abdomen. Odd, Male, ruled by Venus. Vata-Kapha. Correlates to the number 7 in a chart.

Scorpio: Vrschika means Scorpion in Sanskrit which is also its symbol. Qualities are depth, going beyond the surface, occult and mystical knowledge, passion. Need to work with emotional body awareness, polarities and extremes, mother issues, one’s darkness and shadows. Body parts are genitals and anus. Even, Female, ruled by Mars and Ketu. Kapha-pitta. Correlates to the number 8 in a chart.

Sagittarius: Dhanu means bow in Sanskrit. The symbol of Sagittarius is a man holding a bow and arrow, the lower part of his body being that of a horse. Qualities are oriented towards seeking knowledge, wisdom and growth as well as spirituality. Need to work with being overly dogmatic, taking effective action steps, working with depth on the mental/emotional levels. Body part is thighs. Odd, Male, ruled by Jupiter. Pitta- Kapha. Correlates to the number 9 in a chart.

Capricorn: Makara translates as sea monster in Sanskrit which has a head of a deer or goat and the body of a crocodile, which is also its symbol. Qualities are hardworking, persevering, steady. Need to work with “doing less accomplishing more”, self care, not pushing so hard to get an outcome. Body part is knees. Even, Female, ruled by Saturn. Vata-kapha. Correlates to the number 10 in a chart.

Aquarius: Kumbha translates from Sanskrit as a vessel that holds water, a water pot. The symbol here is a man holding a pot. Qualities are ingenuity, out of the box approach to life, oriented towards gaining and acquiring. Need to work with balancing both shadow and light, working with shadow parts, finding the silver lining and excessive drive to acquire. Body part is calves. Odd, Male, Saturn and Rahu. Vata. Correlates to the number 11 in a chart.

Pisces: Mina translates from Sanskrit as relating to the ocean and large expanses of water. The symbol here is two fish tied together with their heads and tails in opposite directions. Qualities are expansiveness, universality and deep compassion for others with strong spiritual inclinations. Need to work on emotional body issues, grounding expansiveness into clear goals and action steps, actualizing dreams. Body part is feet. Even, Female, ruled by Jupiter. Kapha. Correlates to the number 12 in a chart.

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* This Article is relevant for reading a North Indian Style chart only.

Unlike Western, or Tropical astrology, Jyotish, or the Sidereal approach to astrology, does not place the most importance on the Sun sign. The rising sign is actually considered the most important piece of the overall chart, as it organizes the placement of the all the planets, the karmas, and the intimate details of the chart as a whole. Jyotish is actually soli-lunar based, meaning that equal importance is given to the Sun and the Moon. I will share more about the Moon sign in my next article, but for now I will focus on the Sun sign and its role.

In Jyotish, the Sun represents father and masculine energy. His attributes are likened to the king. He shares rank and position, power and authority, as well as respect and ruler-ship. The Sun will give us our dharma, the proper path to follow for our enlightenment. Traditionally, the father is supposed to help guide the child on their path of dharma. It is the father who is responsible for instilling self-esteem and ultimately gives the spark of life via his sperm.

The Sun is also responsible for illuminating the Moon, as well as the other planets. The Moon directly reflects the Sun's light and shares this filtered light- which is nourishing, supportive and doesn't burn. In fact the glow of the Moon is said to offer soma, or divine, healing nectar. Together, Sun and Moon represent God and Goddess, who together create life and our experience of reality. Read more about the importance of the Sun.

The Sun is our father energy, the part of our being and our karma that was given to us from our father and his lineage. This of course plays a vital role in our human experience as well as how we use our power in life. The masculine is the container that supports the expansiveness of the feminine. We need the power of the masculine to take action, to be seen for our gifts and to share our gifts with others. Our father energy plays a very important role in how we shine and share ourselves with the world.

How do you shine? How do you show up for yourself and others? Do you allow yourself to be seen? In what ways? Your jyotish chart is a powerful resource for exploring your Sun energy, your masculine self, as well as uncovering the birth karma you acquired from your father.

Use my previous step by step articles to explore the basics of your birth chart. Step one here and step two here.

The Sun sign shares how your light is able to shine and what its purpose is for shining. Remember that the Sun sign shares the gifts of your father- for better or worse. Ultimately, the challenges we face are also resources, so thank the positives and negatives!

Your Sun sign is a powerful resource for unlocking the mystery of your inner power. Let's take a deeper look at your father energy and the light of the soul shining within you.

Step #1:

Identify Your Sun. First, notice where the Sun is located in your chart. The abbreviation is likely SU.
What sign is it in?

Step #2:

Who Rules Over Your Sun? The planetary influence upon the sign is a vital piece of information. What is the planetary ruler of your Sun sign? Mars acts very differently than Saturn. What can you determine about your Sun sign based on its planetary ruler?

Step #3

Where Does Your Sun Light Shine? Next, determine what house (or bhava in Sanskrit) your Sun is placed in. The house of your Sun shows how it will share its solar energy- and in what capacity. Each house has very specific meanings, so use this to refine your understanding of how your light shines and what is important for you to share with the world in this lifetime.

1st House: Sense of self, worldly house, being seen, ego, appearance, intelligence.
2nd House: Nourishment, wealth, support, gems, speaking, voice.
3rd House: Communication, writing, courage, the arts, creativity, self expression, using the hands.
4th House: Home, land, mother, emotions, spirituality and moksha.
5th House: Children, creativity, romance, intuition, knowledge.
6th House: Enemies, bad habits, healing, disease, legal issues, competition, debt.
7th House: Relationships, others, partner, sexuality, desire, travel, trade.
8th House: Death, disease, transformation, transcendence, vulnerability, mysticism.
9th House: Dharma, guru, wisdom, education, foreign travels, fortune, religion.
10th House: Career, achievement, success, father, action, fame, social status.
11th House: Gains, wealth, income, friends, desires, fulfillment of desire.
12th House: Endings, loss, liberation, marriage, retreat, foreign lands, alone time.

Step #4

Putting it all together. It's time to combine all the layers now and derive some meaning from it all. What can you determine about your Sun sign based on the previous steps? How does your light shine? What parts of your father support this self expression? What power are you here to share? Where do you need more power and strength? Use the resources below to further explore these questions in relation to your Sun sign.

Aries: Mesha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the ram. Qualities are leadership, pioneering. Need to work on flexibility, anger issues, “hitting one’s head against the wall”. Body parts are head, brain and nerves. Odd, Male, ruled by Mars. Pitta. Correlates to the number 1 in the chart.

Taurus: Vrshabha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the bull. Qualities are strength and stability. Need to work on issues with being “bull headed”, stubborn and going beyond the material realms. Body part is neck, face and parts therein. Even, Female, ruled by Venus. Kapha. Correlates to the number 2 in the chart.

Gemini: Mithuna in Sanskrit, symbolized by a couple holding a mace and a lute. Translates as couple (male and female) or copulation, companion. Qualities are extremely creativity, communication and artistry. Need to work on issues of mental body and taking effective action steps. Body parts are arms and hands. Odd, Male, ruled by Mercury. Vata. Correlates to the number 3 in a chart.

Cancer: Karka translates as female crab in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well. Qualities are sensing and feeling, with depth and compassion, heart centered. Need to work directly with emotional body awareness, co-dependency issues, mother issues. Body parts are heart, breasts, chest. Even, Female, ruled by Moon. Kapha-vata. Correlates to the number 4 in a chart.

Leo: Simha translates as lion in Sanskrit, the symbol of Leo. Qualities are leadership, dominance, authority and power. Need to work on ego issues, needing authority and power, as well as father issues and ancestral issues. Body parts are stomach and abdomen. Odd, Male, ruled by the Sun. Pitta. Correlates to the number 5 in a chart.

Virgo: Kanya means a girl, a virgin or daughter in Sanskrit. It is symbolized by a woman in a boat holding grains and fire in her hands. Qualities are purity, cleanliness and perfection, creative, entrepreneurial. Need to work on the critic and inner judge, overly puritanical beliefs. Body parts are hips, loins, buttocks. Even, female, ruled by Mercury. Vata-kapha. Correlates to the number 6 in a chart.

Libra: Tula means the balancing scales in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well. Qualities are ability to see both sides of situations, good business skills, able to weigh and measure options, able to work with equality issues. Need to work with decisiveness, clarity and not swinging to extremes, going beyond the surface, as well as finding one’s own beliefs and ideals. Body parts are lower abdomen. Odd, Male, ruled by Venus. Vata-Kapha. Correlates to the number 7 in a chart.

Scorpio: Vrschika means Scorpion in Sanskrit which is also its symbol. Qualities are depth, going beyond the surface, occult and mystical knowledge, passion. Need to work with emotional body awareness, polarities and extremes, mother issues, one’s darkness and shadows. Body parts are genitals and anus. Even, Female, ruled by Mars and Ketu. Kapha-pitta. Correlates to the number 8 in a chart.

Sagittarius: Dhanu means bow in Sanskrit. The symbol of Sagittarius is a man holding a bow and arrow, the lower part of his body being that of a horse. Qualities are oriented towards seeking knowledge, wisdom and growth as well as spirituality. Need to work with being overly dogmatic, taking effective action steps, working with depth on the mental/emotional levels. Body part is thighs. Odd, Male, ruled by Jupiter. Pitta- Kapha. Correlates to the number 9 in a chart.

Capricorn: Makara translates as sea monster in Sanskrit which has a head of a deer or goat and the body of a crocodile, which is also its symbol. Qualities are hardworking, persevering, steady. Need to work with “doing less accomplishing more”, self care, not pushing so hard to get an outcome. Body part is knees. Even, Female, ruled by Saturn. Vata-kapha. Correlates to the number 10 in a chart.

Aquarius: Kumbha translates from Sanskrit as a vessel that holds water, a water pot. The symbol here is a man holding a pot. Qualities are ingenuity, out of the box approach to life, oriented towards gaining and acquiring. Need to work with balancing both shadow and light, working with shadow parts, finding the silver lining and excessive drive to acquire. Body part is calves. Odd, Male, Saturn and Rahu. Vata. Correlates to the number 11 in a chart.

Pisces: Mina translates from Sanskrit as relating to the ocean and large expanses of water. The symbol here is two fish tied together with their heads and tails in opposite directions. Qualities are expansiveness, universality and deep compassion for others with strong spiritual inclinations. Need to work on emotional body issues, grounding expansiveness into clear goals and action steps, actualizing dreams. Body part is feet. Even, Female, ruled by Jupiter. Kapha. Correlates to the number 12 in a chart.

I just shared an article that gives five simple steps to reading your Jyotish Chart. Did you miss it?

Now that you are starting to peel back the layers of your karmic map, it's time to make a little meaning out of what you're reading.

Look at your first house and notice the number there. This number correlates to your rising sign.

Aries is a number 1.
Taurus is a number 2.
Gemini is a number 3.
Cancer is a number 4.
Leo is a number 5.
Virgo is a number 6.
Libra is a number 7.
Scorpio is a number 8.
Sagittarius is a number 9.
Capricorn is a number 10.
Aquarius is a number 11.
Pisces is a number 12.

Each of the signs (or rasi in Sanskrit) have very unique and special meanings. There are twelve signs in the zodiac, which are also constellations in the sky. In Jyotish, or Sidereal astrology, we use a fixed twelve house zodiac. The signs are constantly moving through the fixed zodiac in the sky. This is why your exact birth time determines what sign was positioned on the Eastern horizon when you took your first breath. The sign on the Eastern horizon at the moment of your birth is your rising sign, or lagna in Sanskrit. This is significant as it organizes how the entire chart will be oriented. Your rising sign determines how your karmas will express themselves in your life time. Your natal chart shares these intimate details.

To understand how each sign expresses themselves, we must explore their meaning from several different levels.

#1

First of all, the meaning of each rising sign is influenced by a ruling planet. Some signs have more than one planetary influence though. This will add a blending of flavors layered on top of each other. (I will discuss the meaning of planets more in an upcoming article, but for now it's important to understand that each planet has a very specific expression and offering). Here is a list of the nine planets and their correlation to the signs.

Sun: Exalted in Aries, debilitated in Libra, mulitrikona and own sign in Leo.
Moon: Exalted in Taurus, debilitated in Scorpio, mulitrikona in Taurus and own sign Cancer.
Mars: Exalted in Capricorn, debilitated in Cancer, mulitrikona in Aries and its own signs are Aries and Scorpio.
Mercury: Exalted in Virgo, debilitated in Pisces, mulitrikona is Virgo, and its own signs are Virgo and Gemini.
Jupiter: Exalted in Cancer, debilitated in Capricorn, mulitrikona is Sagittarius, and own signs are Sagittarius and Pisces.
Venus: Exalted in Pisces, debilitated in Virgo, mulitrikona is Libra, and its own signs are Libra and Taurus.
Saturn: Exalted in Libra, debilitated in Aries, mulitrikona is Aquarius, own signs are Capricorn and Aquarius.
Rahu: Exalted in Taurus and Gemini, debilitated in Scorpio and Sagittarius, mulitrikona is Virgo and its own sign is Aquarius.
Ketu: Exalted in Scorpio and Sagittarius, debilitated in Taurus and Gemini, mulitrikona is Pisces and own sign is Scorpio.

#2

Each sign also has a unique symbol. These symbols are very metaphoric and they tell the story of the sign. We can think of them as an explanation of our wants and needs. They tell us about our life purpose, how we express ourselves, and also how to get greater support and fulfillment in life. These symbols are ancient and elaborate and should be researched for greater insight. Take the symbols literally and imagine how they might share a story or a theme. For example Sagittarius is symbolized by a bow. A bow and arrow is created to hit its target, to not waiver. It must stay true to course in order to meet the mark. This is relevant for the Sagittarius sign as it has a difficult time changing course. What does your symbol share about your personality?

Aries: Mesha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the ram.
Taurus: Vrshabha in Sanskrit, translates as its symbol, the bull.
Gemini: Mithuna in Sanskrit, symbolized by a couple holding a mace and a lute.
Cancer: Karka translates as female crab in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well.
Leo: Simha translates as lion in Sanskrit, the symbol of Leo.
Virgo: Kanya means a girl, a virgin or daughter in Sanskrit.
Libra: Tula means the balancing scales in Sanskrit which is its symbol as well.
Scorpio: Vrschika means Scorpion in Sanskrit which is also its symbol.
Sagittarius: Dhanu means bow in Sanskrit. The symbol of Sagittarius is a man holding a bow and arrow, the lower part of his body being that of a horse.
Capricorn: Makara translates as sea monster in Sanskrit which has a head of a deer or goat and the body of a crocodile, which is also its symbol.
Aquarius: Kumbha translates from Sanskrit as a vessel that holds water, a water pot. The symbol here is a man holding a pot.
Pisces: Mina translates from Sanskrit as relating to the ocean and large expanses of water. The symbol here is two fish tied together with their heads and tails in opposite directions.

#3

The twelve signs are each ruled by specific elements as well. Use their natural element as a resource of refinement. The element dictates the basic expression of the sign and is instrumental in understanding what drives the person. Fire planets are motivated, passionate and action oriented. Water signs are fluid, gentle and feeling-oriented. Earth based signs are grounded, solid and "of the earth".  Air signs are moveable, change frequently and have a certain lightness. For example, Aries is a fire sign. Therefor it is not unusual for an Aries ascendant to have issues with fire. This can manifest as anger, agitation or aggression, as well as acting without thinking. What does your element share about your tendencies?

Aries: Fire
Taurus: Earth
Gemini: Air
Cancer: Water
Leo: Fire
Virgo: Earth
Libra: Air
Scorpio: Water
Sagittarius: Fire
Capricorn: Earth
Aquarius: Air
Pisces: Water


Now that you have some tools to study your own rising sign, what can you assess about its meaning? What does your rising sign express about who you are? Your likes and dislikes? Your story and personal mythology? Take each of these layers, step by step, and assess your rising sign from these three angles. Take notes, pause, contemplate and repeat this cycle. This is the beginning of using your jyotish chart as a tool of self-referral, self awakening. By bringing presence to who you are and how you are in the world, you begin to awaken. This awakening can lead to monumental inner and outer changes.

Your Jyotish chart is a unique karmic map that shares the wisdom of life- past, present and future.

Your chart holds the key to understanding who you are on a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual body level, while also sharing intimate secrets about your healing and transformation process.

Though jyotish is a Vedic science that takes hours, years and even life times to fully explore and understand, there are some very basic steps for starting to peel back the layers of your own jyotish chart.

I share more elaborate and specific details in my weekly Jyotish Basics Classes, but here are five simple steps to get you started right now.

1) Identify Your Rising Sign.

Using the North Indian Style diagram above, notice where the first house is in your own chart. This is also where your rising sign is located. The small number in the first house indicates your rising sign. What is your rising sign?

Aries is a number 1.
Taurus is a number 2.
Gemini is a number 3.
Cancer is a number 4.
Leo is a number 5.
Virgo is a number 6.
Libra is a number 7.
Scorpio is a number 8.
Sagittarius is a number 9.
Capricorn is a number 10.
Aquarius is a number 11.
Pisces is a number 12.

2) Finding Your Sun and Moon.

Now count counter-clockwise around the chart, locating the first through the 12th houses. What houses are your Sun and Moon in?

SU is the abbreviation used for Sun. The Sanskrit abbreviation is SY for Surya.
MO is the abbreviation for the Moon. The Sanskrit abbreviation is CH for Chandra.

3) What Are Your Sun and Moon Signs?

Now that you have identified the houses that your Sun and Moon are in, identify what signs they are in. Remember the numbers in each house indicate the signs. What is your Sun sign? What is your Moon sign?

4) Identify All Nine Planets in Your Chart.

Use the common abbreviations below to identify the nine planets. What houses are they in?

Common Abbreviations:
AS = ascendent, your 1st house. MO = Moon. SU = Sun. SA = Saturn. ME = Mercury. MA = Mars. VE = Venus. JP = Jupiter. Ra = Rahu. Ke = Ketu.

5) What Are Your Planetary Signs?

Once you identify the planets and what houses they sit in, the next step is to determine what signs each of the nine planet is placed in. Where do your Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Rahu and Ketu sit in your own chart?

Remember that this process takes time- so go slow and remember to breathe! At first, just stick to the identification process. Meaning making comes next!

Truth be told, understanding the basic principles of reading a jyotish chart is very different than being able to find meaning in the many elaborate pieces. Being able to integrate the many layers of the jyotish chart and knit them together with your own understanding is quite a different skill! This is where time, study, meditation and contemplation are essential. Practice is essential for honing this craft! For those who want to practice and increase their jyotish skills, you will need to be diligent in your studies. Reading books, taking classes and spending time studying charts is essential.

Perhaps the most important part of learning and growing through jyotish wisdom, however, is studying your own chart. Your own karmic map is your reference point for all other understanding- even understanding other charts. Your jyotish chart is the core of your own awareness and will help you unlock your own inner knowing. First and foremost, study your own chart and use it as a reference for understanding yourself, in relation to world.

As the Vedic texts state, Aham Brahmasmi, I am the totality.


Ready to learn more? Join me for my August Jyotish Basics Classes!

Don't have a copy of your chart? Get one here.

* This Article is relevant for reading a North Indian Style chart only.