Now the other part of the question from this previous post, “inclinations to the metaphysical and the occult”!
I would never advise anyone to consciously choose the occult path. Even with an experienced teacher there are just too many problems. Energy is energy and its use binds you. I have written about these in my past posts. I personally and my clients have faced too many issues arising from the spirit worlds. But if, by karma, you are required to do it then I would suggest that you start Devi puja first. The best way is to use the Devi Mahatmya, the siddhakunjika and the navavarna mantra. Unless you fortify your energies and seek the protection of the Devi you cannot and should not dabble in the occult. You might think why waste 2 years on a mantra but it is the only strength you will have in this line of work. This is a serious warning, heed it.
Astrologically there are a few combinations which indicate involvement with the occult. As always you have to look for patterns in planetary positions. Single placements cannot be used to predict, always patterns, the chart as a whole will be involved. If you analyse your birth chart you will get the manifested context, from the D-9 Navamsha chart you will get the potential and the subconscious tendencies of the person and from the birth moon chart you will get the emotional context. The charts talk about your energies and possibilities, it is your conscious thought process which gives the final direction. You can be a healer or the sufferer, the energy is the same, just its direction is different. You can channelise the energies you have been given, the choice always remains in your hands. You do not need brute force for this, just a slight change in thought processes will result in change.
Now here are just a few combinations to get you thinking, first the planets and then how the houses contribute to a personality involved in the occult.
Ketu and his role in your chart, the most important indicator, analyse everything about him in the chart. Where is he placed, with whom, where is the owner of his house placed etc. Ketu is detached, unwanted things, ghosts, spirits and disembodied energies. If he gets his ‘head’/direction from a malefic planet he can manifest these energies in the house (and to some extent the sign too) he is placed in. E.g. Ketu in the 5th is going to link your creativity with the astral beings, either you serve others in their troubles with the ghosts or suffer yourself!
Ketu owns the three Nakshatra, Ashwini, Magha and Moola, so if your ascendant degree or birth Moon lies in these there is a good chance that you will be familiar with the occult side of life. (These persons desire companionship with distant, unknown, disinterested, unattainable, unrequited type of unions, often partners from different worlds!)
Rahu is the counter part of Ketu. Both these forces are responsible for your life on this earth. They represent the summary of your karmic balance at the present moment. They are astral forces not ‘imaginary planets’. So Rahu is the force which attracts you to things/ objects of desire. Some typical placements are, Rahu connected to the 8th house, or ruler of the 8th house or Rahu with the moon or ascendant lord. Rahu grants that sort of ‘fools rush in where angels fear to tread’-type of fearlessness. He is so fixated on his object of desire that he disregards everything else. A Rahu personality should always try and use his intelligence and curb his headlong rush before he falls flat on his face, only then will he be extraordinarily successful in life.
Now the Moon, this represents your mental strength and comfort. If the Moon is strong, you can easily work with spirits. A badly placed Moon will make you susceptible e.g. Moon with Saturn will scare you. However Moon in Scorpio though debilitated can grant high levels of psychic ability. Moon with Rahu/Ketu, is very easy access to the astral worlds.
Ascendant lord is the most important planet in your chart. He tells you how you and your environment interact. If he is well-placed you are more well-adjusted to your surroundings and more confident because of this. If this planet is placed with Rahu/Ketu you are going to have interactions with the astral/occult forces. It might take some time for you to understand what is happening (Rahu/Ketu mature at 48yrs of age) and thus it is possible that you will suffer damage before this period.
Venus and Jupiter are the forces of knowledge and wisdom. If these are well placed in your chart you will have the necessary knowledge, both esoteric and ritualistic to deal with any situation. If these are conjoint or aspecting Rahu or Ketu, they grant occult knowledge and after their maturity, also the necessary strength and sense to navigate the astral waters without much damage to yourself. But just remember if they are conjunct with Rahu/Ketu they also will mature late at the age of 48yrs, till then you will not be able to come to terms with your occult/spiritual leanings.
Mercury will contribute here by providing the databases and the intellectual analytic power. You might know the theory of everything (provided by Venus and Jupiter), but Mercury will give you the ‘working intelligence’ to use this wisdom. To convert the esoteric principles into working practices is the domain of Mercury.
Sun as usual provides a sense of self-ego. If he is well placed he will help by granting the necessary confidence and fearlessness. But if badly placed will add to to karmic burdens are you will perform your actions with an exaggerated sense of ‘I am doing this’.
A well placed Mars is important too. He is the natural ruler of the 8th house of the zodiac, Scorpio, the house of mysteries, so if well placed can grant the strength to explore these depths. And these depths are often scary and you have to traverse them alone. Mars being the pioneer and the ‘first’, is not afraid to enter the unknown and uncharted realms of the occult. Malefics give problems but also grant the energy to fight the problems. Remove a thorn with a thorn!
Finally Saturn, he has a restrictive role in most cases, but ultimately he is the natural owner of the 10th and the 11th houses of the zodiac so linked to your profession, social status, your name and fame, the work you will be performing in the society, your interactions with large impersonal like-minded groups, your gains and profits, your salary etc. If you are to gain all these things through the ‘occult’, then you might want to give your Saturn a quick once-over. Also if he can do good by restricting the activities of ghostly energies in your life if placed in a position where he can restrict Ketu.
Jyotish, in my opinion, cannot be taught by rote, you cannot just memorise combinations, you also need to get a ‘feel’ of the patterns and combinations. You are a Doctor, you cannot diagnose 100% based on textbook knowledge. Your intuition and experience also operate.
You might think now, just for checking just the occult tendencies why read the entire chart? You go to the grocers only when you need to go shopping. Occult is not like that. When you start interacting with these energies you change for ever. Once ‘seen’, it cannot be ‘unseen‘. It will always remain at the edge of your conscious awareness. So again, get into this only if you feel that you are karmically required to and there is no other option. And if you have to get into this, first do your Devi mantras and keep on doing them.
(Will continue this in my next post on houses involved in occult tendencies and another one on Rahu/Ketu and the Gandant Nakshatra gap.)
psychologically astrology 