THE SUN – (SURYA)

The Sun, being the center of our planetary system, represents the central position: the
king, the soul, the government, the masculine principle and our vital energy (together
with the Moon). Without the Sun, life on earth wouldn’t be possible, therefore it
represents the life force and energy. Even though the Sun represents our true nature
(the soul or Atman), due to human beings’ spiritual ignorance, it manifests more as
the individual self or ego. The Sun represents what the individual identifies with.
According to the sign and house in which it is located in the birth chart, we can
understand which areas will be important for the person, or areas the individual has to
experience to find out his true nature and Self. Because of its fiery nature, the Sun is
considered a malefic planet in Jyotish; it hurts or damages the areas it affects.
By identifying with a particular area of life which is not the true self or soul, it brings
a fall of consciousness, leading to the experience of suffering, which will eventually
lead us to develop humility and recognition of our true nature.
The Sun represents the authority figure, the king, the government or the boss. A
strong Sun in the birth chart will indicate a person with some authoritarian and leader
personality, who will tend to be in an important position in society or have some
relationship with the government. It also represents the father or paternal figure. A
strong Sun usually indicates a rich or powerful father or a good relation with him.
A strong Sun in the chart indicates a mature soul with a developed consciousness,
strong personality, and good self-esteem. A too-strong or predominant sun can
indicate an overly authoritative person, or someone who is too self-centered, always
wanting to be the center of attention, someone who has difficulties working with or
under other people, and, in general, a lack of humility.
A weak or afflicted Sun will usually indicate a difficult relationship with the father or
that the father has some problem, or a low self-esteem, low vitality or health
problems.
The Sun rules the heart, blood circulation, the sight, right eye, head and headaches,
hair growth or baldness, the abdomen and digestive fire, dryness and fever. The
ayurvedic constitution is Pitta or fiery.

THE MOON - (CHANDRA or SOMA)

The Moon is considered the most important heavenly body in Vedic astrology, due to
its influence on the mind and emotions. These are the instruments by which we
perceive the world, and act and relate with it, being the cause of the play of karma.
The Moon reflects the energy of the Sun and balances its fire with her fresh, cooling,
nourishing and vitalizing light and nectar.
It represents the mind, emotions, prana, water and liquids. Moon also represents the
mother. Its position indicates the type of relation with her and her well-being, factors
that have a deep effect on a person’s psychology and life. It also represents the
nourishment, food and material needs for survival, all of which are provided by the
mother. Therefore, a strong Moon is a great strength in the chart and helps to
overcome difficulties in life.
The waxing and waning cycles of the Moon are well-known for their effect on all life
on earth: plants, ocean tides, climate, the female cycle, fertility and emotional moods.
The Moon cycles directly affect the psychological and physiological state of humans
and all living beings. Statistical studies have shown that mentally disturbed people
feel more affected or aggravated during the full Moon.
Being born during the waxing Moon usually leads to a more extroverted mind and
personality, while the waning Moon leads to a more introverted mind.
The position of the Moon in the birth chart indicates the way the person thinks and
feels, his important subjects in life and his relationship with the external world.
A strong Moon in the chart reflects mental and psychological stability, good
concentration and capacity of well-being and emotional satisfaction.
An afflicted Moon usually reflects emotional difficulties, mental or psychological
disturbances or health problems.
The effects of a weak Moon can be overcome by meditation and spiritual practices,
living in calm places, in contact with nature, and by white or light colors.
The exact degree of the Moon at birth determines the successive planetary periods
known as Maha Dashas, and it is an important factor to predict the energies and issues
that will predominate over the course of time.
Moon represents female fertility, blood and body fluids, the lungs, breasts, milk and
the chest area. The ayurvedic constitution is Kapha or phlegmatic, and partially Vata
or airy.

MARS – (KARTIK, MANGAL or KUJA)

Mars represents energy, courage, initiative and action. It also represents war and
aggression. Depending on its position it can be a positive spiritual energy to overcome
obstacles and grow spiritually, or it can become a destructive force, causing harm,
injuries, accidents and uncontrolled passions. Mars is action-oriented, related to
initiative, youth and the conquering of enemies. It can lead to a very dynamic, active
and enthusiastic personality, or alternatively, to one who wants to dominate others by
force.
Mars also represents brothers, technology, technical or mechanical skills,
mathematics, computing, athletics and sports, medicine and surgery, blood pressure,
police and military people, dictators, fire and explosions.
A strong and well-placed Mars in the birth chart indicates a spiritual warrior—a lack
of fear to face the difficulties and enemies of life, internally and externally; control
over one’s own body and aggression. An afflicted Mars can indicate a fearful,
aggressive or violent person.
A weak Mars can lead to an uncontrolled dissipation or loss of the vital energy in
many directions. It can create muscular weakness. Physical exercise is a good way to
strengthen Mars energy.
Physically it represents the marrow, muscles, physical strength, the head, testicles and
virility, and has a Pitta or fiery ayurvedic constitution.

MERCURY – (BUDDHA)
Mercury represents the intellect or Buddhi, the capacity for discrimination,
communication, language, learning, youth, childhood, plays, sports and friends.
Mercury has a constant desire for learning, but it also creates a duality in the mind,
always comparing between the pairs of opposites. The Moon represents the
subconscious or emotional mind, but Mercury represents the pure analytical and
rational mind.
A strong and well-placed Mercury indicates good intelligence and capacity for
learning, oral or written communication skills and good speech.
Mercury, when too strong or predominant, can lead to repressing the emotions with
reason, and can make for a very critical nature.
A weakly-placed Mercury can lead a person to rely more on emotions and instinct
rather than on reason, and it can bring some difficulties in learning, speech, the skin,
nervous system, and diminish the capacity to retain knowledge.
Mercury can behave as a benefic or malefic planet depending on its association with
other planets.
A person can have a good intelligence, but use it on a selfish and destructive way, if
afflicted by malefic planets.
Physically it represents the skin and breathing passages, and it has a Vata or airy
ayurvedic constitution.

JUPITER – (GURU or BRIHASPATI)

Jupiter represents the teacher, the “Guru,” the one who leads us from the darkness of
ignorance to the light of knowledge. He stands for wisdom, knowledge, learning,
goodness, good luck, good karma and expansion.
In the Vedas, Brihaspati is called the Guru of the Devas, the celestial or angelical
beings. He is represented as a priest—full of wisdom, righteousness, justice,
goodness; desirous to bless and give prosperity to everyone.
Jupiter also represents children, mainly the eldest son, and in case of woman, it
represents the husband.
It is considered the most benefic planet because of its nature of giving and expanding,
without expectations.
Jupiter usually blesses the areas related with its placement, but for some ascendants
like Taurus, Libra or Capricorn, it can be adverse or bring inauspicious effects,
because it is the ruler of difficult houses. The position of Jupiter in a birth chart will
indicate the ways of spiritual learning, type of faith or religion, teachers and material
prosperity.
A strong and well-placed Jupiter in a chart is an indicator of optimism, faith, interest
in religion of philosophy, sense of righteousness and justice, positive contacts with
teachers, wise or religious people, and good prosperity, caused by some good past
karmas and spiritual tendencies. It is very common in the charts of religious people,
priests, teachers, philosophers, judges, lawyers, or prosperous people.
But in some cases, an excessively strong Jupiter can lead a person to not make any
effort to improve his life situation—an excessive optimism that can lead to spiritual
stagnation.
An afflicted Jupiter can indicate difficulty in getting a spiritual teacher, or sometimes
even getting a wrong, dishonest or fake teacher, or a difficult relationship with
teachers in general. It can bring lack of faith and optimism in life, or a more
materialistic view of life, or material difficulties that don’t allow the mind to expand
into a more spiritual awareness.
An afflicted or weak Jupiter can indicate marital difficulties or husband’s bad health,
or difficulties to have children.
Physically it is related to the fat tissues, accumulation of fluids, obesity, liver,
pancreas and the sugar and fat metabolism, the hips and the feet. Its nature is Kapha or
phlegmatic.

VENUS – (SHUKRA)
Venus is also a spiritual teacher, but he is the teacher of the Asuras or demons—
beings who were spiritually evolved at some past time, but fell from grace due to
strong materialistic or selfish tendencies. Venus helps them find their path of return.
Venus represents the feminine, the beautiful, refined; attraction, the desires and
human passions; the sexual and marital relationships. Venus is also associated with
wealth, clothes, jewelry, music, dance, the fine arts, creativity, semen, love, attraction
and sexuality.
For a man, Venus is a significator for woman or the spouse, whose characteristics and
relationship can be assessed from the position of Venus in the birth chart.
A strong and well-located Venus tends to bestow artistic talents and creativity,
physical beauty, good sense of esthetics and harmony, prosperity, wealth and divine
grace. A well-located Venus has a spiritual potential of transforming the energy of
love and sensuality into devotion, cosmic love and a feeling of the divine grace. If
there are no other spiritual indications in the chart, a too-strong or dominating Venus
can lead to an excessive attachment to sensual pleasure, and the material objects of the
world and its physical pleasures
An afflicted or debilitated Venus usually brings a difficulty to obtain pleasure or
enjoyment in life, which can lead a person to look for exaggerated means of sensual
gratification to compensate. It can also indicate weakness or diseases of the
reproductive organs, or sexual disorders. In some cases, if there are other spiritual
indications, a debilitated Venus can lead a parson to a sincere spiritual path,
developing a strong devotion, looking for God’s love alone.
Physically it represents the reproductive organs, urinary tract and semen. Its ayurvedic
constitution is Kapha and Vata.

SATURN – (SHANI)
Saturn represents austerity, discipline, restrictions and sufferings. He is also a spiritual
teacher, but one who teaches through restriction, hard work, purification, service and
humility, leading the person to face his weaknesses and more negative tendencies, to
recognize and change them.
Saturn makes us face and work out the negative karma we created in the past in the
form of restrictions and sufferings, which will lead us eventually to recognize our
negative patterns and develop responsibility and self-discipline to change them.
Saturn represents longevity, old age, concentration and meditation.
The position of Saturn in the chart indicates the areas of struggle and difficulties in
life, though in Vedic astrology it is considered a very important planetary energy for
spiritual advancement and evolution.
A strong and well-located Saturn in a chart will indicate a good capacity to endure the
hardships of life, the capacity for hard work, a strong sense of responsibility,
seriousness, self-discipline, austerity or “tapas.”
An afflicted Saturn can show a difficulty in facing responsibilities, or trying to evade
them, which leads to more suffering. It can cause mental depression, loneliness,
feelings of isolation, addictions and chronic diseases. The more one tries to escape
from Saturn’s restrictions, the more intense those sufferings become, leading
eventually to extremely difficult situations. Saturn’s restrictions lead to
disappointment and detachment from the worldly happiness, which eventually leads to
the search for true happiness within the spirit.
The best way to relate with Saturn’s energy is to understand and accept his restrictions
consciously through self-discipline and self-purification.
Saturn moves slowly, an indication that his lessons will have to be learned over a long
period of perseverance and hard work. But after that, Saturn can give immense
blessings and spiritual strength.
He usually tends to postpone or delay things and the areas of life that it affects in the
chart.
A strong and dominant Saturn can be found in the birth charts of hard-workers,
servants, politicians, yogis and ascetic people.
Its energy can be positively channeled through fasting, selfless service, seclusion and
meditation.
Physically it is associated with the nerves and it has a Vata or airy ayurvedic
constitution.
RAHU and KETU (the nodes of the Moon)
Rahu and Ketu are not physical planets; they don’t have a physical mass, but are very
powerful energetic points in the sky. They are the points of intersection between the
path of the Sun and the path of the Moon, causing the solar and lunar eclipses. They
are very important on the spiritual level, as they are related with the unconscious
shades, unresolved karmas and conflicts coming from previous lives. They are
mythologicaly represented by a snake that was cut in two: the head (Rahu) and the tail
(Ketu). This inner conflict manifests as two antagonistic, opposite forces in the sub-
conscious mind that generate conflicts, dualities, fears, compulsive desires, rejections
or phobias, and karmic situations which lead us to face them and work them out.
When we can understand and connect those two antagonistic forces, the
“Kundalini”—the inner spiritual power and strength—awakens, leading to inner
healing, peace of mind and spiritual illumination.
Therefore, Rahu and Ketu can be the cause of great conflicts, dissatisfactions and
diseases, but by understanding and working them out spiritually, we can connect them
and transform them into a great spiritual power.

RAHU – (the north node)

Rahu is related with the unconscious desires, dissatisfactions, fears, obsessions,
ambitions and unresolved issues from previous lives that need to be experienced in
this life. The houses and signs where Rahu is located indicate areas where there will
be mental restlessness, hypersensitivity, strong desires to experience that area, but
fears to do so and dissatisfaction with it at the same time.
It tends to create very strong but unconscious desires, without really understanding
their causes, which can lead to compulsive behavior, addictions, fantasies, unrealistic
imaginations or suggestions.
Rahu represents the unconventional, illegal, dark but desired; also foreigners, people
out of the social system and its norms, or “outcasts.” It can also be transformed and
sublimated into a spiritual energy, knowledge of the occult side of the mind, or
knowledge of psychology. Understanding and control of this energy leads to esoteric
knowledge and awakening of the Kundalini power.

KETU – (the south node)

Ketu is represented by a Sadhu, a mendicant ascetic monk, one who rejects the world
and its vanity, instead looking for the essential truth alone. Ketu indicates areas where
detachment has to be developed, areas that will be the source of some suffering—with
the purpose of being spiritualized, searching for life’s very essence. Ketu is
considered a very important planet for spiritual evolution, because it represents the
capacity for renunciation, detachment from the ephemeral, and a search for the truth
and the essence of life. It also represents Moksha, liberation from the cycle of births
and deaths and attainment of illumination.
A predominant Ketu can be seen in the charts of monks, ascetics, renunciates, and
psychic and clairvoyant people.
The placement of Ketu in the birth chart indicates areas that have been experienced in
excess in previous lives, now causing feelings of dissatisfaction and rejection towards
them.
Ketu can cause damage and restrictions in the areas it affects, but it is also a way of
spiritual learning.
An adverse Ketu can cause ruptures, breaks, accidents or diseases, but alternatively it
can bestow intuitive knowledge coming from past life experiences.