Predicting Big Changes with Vedic Astrology

We are all curious about our future; whether and when our personal situation will change. Most of the time our lives remain the same; but occasionally there’s a big shift. Using the techniques of Vedic Astrology we can identify a number of unique birth chart factors that predict major change in a person’s life. These events can be further classified as being either Desirable or Undesirable. Which way it goes depends on the characteristics of whichever astrological factors are involved.

The Vimshottari Dasha, commonly referred to as the Planetary Period System, is a predictive formula that reveals the timeline of when karmas indicated in the birth chart will be activated. Per the rules of Vedic Astrology, there are certain houses (sectors) of the chart that are strongly associated with life changes. During the time periods when one or more of these parts of the chart are “turned on” by an associated planet’s dasha (period) or bhukti (sub-period), we know a major shift is coming.

The 8th house is specifically the house of Big Changes (including the biggest change: Death). Thus, the dasha or bhukti of the planet ruling your 8th house sign, or the dasha or bhukti of a planet residing in this sector of your chart, is a clear indicator that something significant is scheduled to occur. What exactly happens is dependent on the intrinsic nature of the planet ruling your 8th house sign, where it resides in your chart, and what other planets it is associated with or aspecting. For instance, if your 8th house ruler is Jupiter, the planet of Prosperity, and it resides in your 11th house of Gains, and is associated with the planet ruling your Ascendant, you may be in for a big inheritance. On the other hand, if the ruler of your 8th house is Mars, the planet of Combat, and it resides in your 7th house of Partnership opposing your Ascendant, you could be facing a divorce, or a lawsuit from a business partner, or a serious illness.   

Another house that similarly can signal a major shift is the 12th house, the house of Endings and Loss. If the period or sub-period of the 12th house sign ruler, or of a planet in your 12th house, is coming up, the prediction is for something or someone to be dropping out of your life during that time period. What or who it will be is determined by an analysis of the planet, its position, its house rulership, what it represents in the divisional charts, etc. Whether the “ending” signified by the 12th house is experienced as a negative event, or simply the completion of something that has run its course, is likewise dependent on the qualities and chart positions of the planets involved.

Then there are certain planets that due to their natural characteristics can induce change in and of themselves. In traditional Vedic Astrology, the nodes of the Moon, called Rahu and Ketu, have been given this portfolio. Rahu specifically indicates Transformation, often attended by a sense of urgency. In the planetary period system, when the Rahu period or sub-period comes along there is a high likelihood of a least one important transition in your life. But again, whether this is experienced as a positive or negative event depends on the analysis of Rahu in the chart. For instance, a high proportion of people get married during their Rahu period; marriage is, after all, a major transformation in one’s life.

The change brought about by Ketu is rather different. Ketu signifies something that must be surrendered; a sort of renunciation of what Ketu connects with in the natal chart. When a Ketu major period or sub-period occurs, a change is in store, and it usually indicates something leaving your life connected with the house position of Ketu in your natal chart. Since Ketu is the inlet point for past life karmas, the change generally has a connection with past issues that still need resolution. Due to the “unseen” quality of Ketu, the event is usually something that happens without choice, i.e., beyond your control.

Another way that planets create change in our lives is through Transits. With this technique of prediction, the current (or future) sign positions of the planets in the zodiac are transposed to the natal chart, creating another set of factors that induce events in your life. The magnitude of these influences can be gauged by how they match up with critical points in the natal chart. When a strong planet transits over one of your natal planets, or opposite to it, there is a high probability of a significant, even life-changing event.

In traditional Vedic Astrology, Saturn is considered the “Great Malefic,” i.e., capable of causing extremely unpleasant events. Usually when Saturn transits over your Ascendant Degree, or Saturn opposes your natal Sun, you can prepare yourself for what will likely be a rough time. Whether this turns out to be life changing depends on whether or not there are other simultaneous negative influences in play. Conversely, knowing when Jupiter, the “Great Benefic,” will be transiting an important planet or point in your chart tells you when the cards will be stacked in your favor, and you can plan your advance. But for Jupiter to really change your life for the better, additional favorable factors need to be present, such as the dasha of the 9th or 5th house lord, which would activate your karma for Good Fortune.

In modern astrology, Uranus is the planet that is most associated with Big Change. Uranus is the planet of Rebellion, Unexpected Circumstance, Sudden Events, Disruption. Uranus moves very slowly, taking 84 years to make a complete circuit of the zodiac. Therefore, most of us experience Uranus transiting over each of our natal planets only once in our lifetime. Uranus transiting over the Ascendant Degree, or opposite to it, is well documented to coincide with notable events in a person’s life. When contacting an important natal planet Uranus brings disruption to whatever that planet represents. This doesn’t always have to be unpleasant. For instance, Uranus transiting over natal Venus the planet of Art, Love and Finance can give you artistic inspiration, or sudden infatuation, or an unexpected windfall. But when Uranus transits over your natal Saturn, the planet that signifies your Reality Structure and Stability, it’s highly likely that you’ll soon be facing a new reality.

Living a life that goes through changes just seems to be part of the human condition. With the help of Vedic Astrology’s predictive techniques, we can at least anticipate when we will have to face such transitions, as well as what form they will likely take, and thus be better able to prepare ourselves for when they occur.

12 thoughts on “Predicting Big Changes with Vedic Astrology

  1. Vid

    Hello and namaste 🙏
    Thank you for your insights and knowledge! A nice write up ! Am doing self study , an interest triggered about 4 yrs back !
    A question I had , can we expect major changes in a chart ….If transit rahu ketu mo e over natal rahu ketu. Irrespective of placement ?
    Thank you again,
    Namaste,

    1. ronberger Post author

      The conjunction of Rahu and Ketu over their natal positions is a special case, and occurs once every 19 years. The “nodal return” is often interpreted as the beginning of a new cycle of the dispensation of fate. Rahu re-energizes the natal Rahu; Ketu re-energizes natal Ketu. The details will differ in each case, and are found in their respective sign & house positions in the natal chart. This cycle repeats for everyone at approx. age of 19, 38, 57, etc. The effects of the nodal return will differ depending on what dasha the individual is running at the time.

  2. suraksha

    What can one expect during Jupiter antardasa in moon mahadasa(natal chart : Jupiter is lord of eighth and 11th house and occupies an exalted position in cancer 3rd house in combination with moon)

    1. ronberger Post author

      The sub-period of the exalted lord of the 8th / lord of the 11th = potential for Unexpected Gains, or Big Changes (probably positive) in Gains. With both in the 3rd house, with the 3rd house lord Moon, the likelihood is for Big Changes/ Gain in your local conditions, through your own efforts, and/or your relationship with 3rd house people, i.e, sibling, close relative, neighbor. The 3rd house is considered a “mild dusthana” i.e., sometimes not giving favorable results. Therefore, despite the appearance of a favorable situation, the other planets in the natal chart, as well as any transits affecting natal planets during the Jupiter sub-period, also have to be taken into account.

  3. Florina

    What can you expect from Moon mahadasha (Moon is 8th house ruler, sitting in the ascendant with Saturn, Neptune, Uranus)? I am in Moon-moon period now until October, Saturn is transiting my ascendant. I just want a beneficial change in my life, feeling stuck. Also, my moon is in 1st house in ALL divisional charts, does this mean that all my life the focus will be on me and always feeling like I need improvement?

    1. ronberger Post author

      Ruler of the 8th in the Ascendant puts emphasis on 8th house significations & activities for this life. Moon in Ascendant is naturally emotional. Moon with Saturn is very serious, responsible, and burdened. The current transit of Saturn through your Asc becomes “double Sadie Satie” i.e., a time for serious reflection, making long range decisions, and general feelings of being Oppressed by your Circumstances. Best advice is to Be Patient, Play the Long Game.

  4. T.D Raina

    How we can judge the following qualities in a birth chart of a person

    1. Extra ordinary strength of will

    2Courage of conviction.

    Apart from this .. which house in a birth chart represent CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ONE^S LIFE.

    1. ronberger Post author

      The first house (rising sign) indicates “Self.” The fixed signs are the ones that are most “immovable.” A strong malefic planet, like Mars or Saturn, will stand against any adversity. Therefore, having one of the fixed signs rising, such as Leo or Scorpio or Taurus, with Mars or Saturn conjunct the Ascendant, will give you a person who is strong-willed. Example: Donald Trump. But these aren’t the only situations. For instance, Sagittarius is also known to be strong-willed, or in any case, devoted to personal truth. For Opportunities in Life, any part of the chart showing a strong Jupiter, the planet of Opportunity, will function this way. Challenges in life are shown by oppositions, especially the opposition of Malefics, such as Mars or Saturn.

    1. ronberger Post author

      The Moon Major Period activates the Moon’s position in your chart, along with the house where the Moon’s sign Cancer lies. Any transit to these two sectors of your chart, or opposite, can cause events. You will also be more sensitized to Moon’s transit itself. Therefore when the Moon by transit hits important planets in your natal chart, the potential for events on those days is increased. The actual nature of the event(s) will depend on what other factors are stimulated simultaneously.

    1. ronberger Post author

      Gems can be prescribed for many different reasons. Usually Sun and Venus are considered incompatible, and their gems would not be worn simultaneously. But if the recommendation was for health reasons, i.e., Sun is for Vitality and Venus for the Uro-genital system, then they may be worn simultaneously. Gems can also be worn at alternate times during the day, or the week. I.e., wear the Sun’s gem on Sunday and Venus’s gem on Friday.

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