Eastern Astrology for Beginners
Welcome Beginners!
A Letter from the Creator…
Greetings and Welcome!
I was once at the point exactly where you are now: on the brink of diving into a vastly complex yet incredibly rewarding metaphysical subject but unsure how to begin. I understand how challenging it can be to start. But after 20 years of practicing Eastern Astrology, I aim to bridge that gap for you and provide a clear pathway to Mastery.
This page is designed to provide a complete novice without any knowledge of Astrology at all a reference page to work off of as they complete the Learning Series of the LEA program. We'll cover the astrological terminology, glyphs, the chart, how it's laid out, how degrees work, and Planetary Rulers. I expect this page to grow larger over time as readers like you ask questions and provide feedback. I will note, however, that I will not entertain people that request techniques or practices that I do not use and have validated personally at this phase of development. It is my goal to keep the path direct, unobscured. Too many paths are overwhelming, plain and simple!
But before we begin, I wanted to take a moment to explain what astrology is to me. Your birth chart is a snapshot of the heavens at the exact moment in time you were born. At the exact moment that you drew your first breath, the heavenly bodies aligned in just the right way to indicate not only who you are as a person; but also, what major life events will come your way, and what trials and tribulations you will face. As you develop as an Eastern Astrologer, you too will be able to look at that snap shot, and see these major life events coming.
I am not a “fatalist” as many other Eastern Astrologers tend to be. I believe in free will! I see no point to trials and tribulations if the outcome is predetermined after all! And I believe that everyone's ultimate purpose in life is to evolve spiritually. So, while I am not fatalistic, I do however believe that major life events are not only indicated in the person's birth chart but when these major events occur can be determined by the Dasha System, which is unique to Eastern Astrology, and by transits, which are used in all astrological disciplines. These major events are the moments that trigger life lessons, those moments for growth and evolution. But truly, even the subtler energies impact us daily.
My ultimate goal here is to bring Eastern Astrology to the West! Let's face it, most of the literature available on the subject is just not easily palatable. The greatest Hindu works just don't translate well to English speaking audiences! And while Astrologers are revered in India, they are not in the Occident (the West). Their tone is authoritarian, confident, and direct to the point, LIKE A DOCTOR! And because Astrology lacks credibility in the West, their words are viewed as too rigid, harsh even, and off putting. It is the subtle difference between declaring during a chart reading that, “You will write books!” vs. “I believe you will write books.”
So, I suppose in a way I am hoping that the Great Astrologers of the East (and trust me there's a lot of talent there!!!) will learn to communicate more effectively with the West through observing my work here as well.
Thank you for reading! Let us begin!
Toj Hermetica – 20210502
The Occidental Jyotishi, Creator of Learn Eastern Astrology
Be sure to gradually learn these Symbols and Glyphs over time. Astrology is a Symbolic Language; the Archetypes are in the Symbols, and symbols transcend language barriers.
In time, you will be surprised by the number of Symbols you retain!
At the top of the graphic, we have the Zodiac laid out with oppositions sharing a line: for example, Aries and Libra oppose one another in the chart. Remember the Zodiac in pairs.
Then, we have the Planets with their associated symbols starting with the row with the Sun and Jupiter. While yes, the Moon, it's Nodes (Rahu and Ketu), Pluto, and the Sun are not “Planets” in the official sense, they are all considered Planets in Astrology and will be referenced as so on this site. You might also notice that Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are not a normal aspect of Eastern Astrology. I included their glyphs as I will cover their use in depth at a later date. There is a nuance to using them, and it is essential to not distracted with them early on. Eastern Astrology is a full system even when excluding the outer planets. I assure you all!
The Chart
Moving to the chart, I will only be providing information with Southern Indian Astrological Charts. My apologies to the readers who prefer to view Eastern Astrology in the Northern Indian style. The Southern style translates easier for the Western Astrologers and is how I practice.
Looking above, we have the celestial pathway of the Planets. This is the backdrop of the Eastern system as each zodiac sign is also a House ruled by a Planet. There are 12 Zodiac Signs and thus 12 Houses. Both are the lens that the Planetary energies shine through to influence our lives. Pisces will always be the top left corner. Aries will always be the next after that going clockwise, and so on. In Eastern Astrology, the Zodiac stays in place, but the Ascendant and the houses will move according to the time of the day and year. The earth spins after all!
In this chart, there are 360 degrees, like any circular chart. Each House/Sign covers 30 degrees of that 360. (360/12 = 30)
Learn these Symbols and where they reside over time. And remember, the chart goes clockwise!
Planetary Rulers
Posted above, we have the 12 Signs and Houses again. Look at the Planetary Symbols in place. These are the Rulers of the Signs.
The Lord of Each Zodiac Sign is placed in the chart above in their respective Homes. This time, starting on the right side of the picture going clockwise, we have the Sun in Leo, Mercury in Virgo, Venus in Libra, Mars in Scorpio, Jupiter in Sagittarius, and Saturn in Capricorn. Now, continuing on the left side still going clockwise, we have Saturn in Aquarius, Jupiter in Pisces, Mars in Aries, Venus in Taurus, Mercury in Gemini, and the Moon in Cancer to finish it out. House Rulerships are the backbone of the Eastern Astrology that I am teaching here. You will need to memorize the Rulerships to understand which Planet owns each house and to properly determine the disposition of the area of life governed by that House. Give yourself time. Be patient! And I strongly recommend visualizing the chart and its rulers in your imagination. Build a giant white board in your mind and place them where they belong, little by little.