This post would be very technical and dry. But I write this in case advanced learners come across this post. I also welcome already successful and professional astrologers to hear my point of view. Yes, this is my 2 cents worth - actually cheaper than that since it is literally free. But this doesn't mean it isn't valuable to me. I have spent a long time pondering about whether I should pursue Vedic astrology or continue going deeper into Western. For the time being, I will focus on Western because it resonates with me more now. I might go deeper into Vedic in the near future if fate allows.
It saddens me to see a minority of Vedic astrologers criticising Western astrologers for not adjusting their charts according to the 'precession of the equinoxes' to monitor the literal positions of the planets.
It saddens me further to see a minority of Western astrologers countering with why their ancient counterparts have not included Uranus, Neptune and Pluto in their readings.
I will address the former issue in this post and leave the latter issue for another time.
In case there are beginners here, let me explain the precession of the equinoxes. This is best done with youtube videos because it is very hard to use words to describe a 3D picture. Just watch the video below. It will help you visualise what this entire thing is about:
I thought this video was hilarious at the end. So let me summarise. The Tropical year tracks the seasons of our planet accurately, but the Sidereal year tracks the exact position of the Sun in the zodiac accurately. The tropical year is a bit shorter than the sidereal year. So as the years go by, the Tropical zero degree Aries will lag further and further behind the Sidereal zero degree Aries. So after some time, Tropical Aries 0 will be at Sidereal Pisces 29, 28, 27 etc. Currently, the Ayanamsa, or the angular difference, is 24 degrees. So this means that if my Western sun sign is Scorpio 24, my Vedic will be Scorpio 0. No problem there. But what if my Western sun sign shifts to 23 Scorpio? In other words, what if I was born one day before or earlier? Then for Vedic, I will become a Libra 29 or further back.
So which chart is correct? My short answer: both. It depends on which perspective you want to take.
I know quite a few Vedic astrologers who achieve a high level of accuracy in predictions. Similarly I have seen Western astrologers come to the same conclusions without adjusting to precession. Yes, it is possible to arrive at the same conclusion using different methods.
Western astrology not only includes the 3 outer planets, but also incorporates 12 astrological or precession ages to 'compensate' for the lack of adjustment. This adds another layer of meaning to a Western chart. For example, we are now reaching the end of the Pisces age and the start of the Aquarius age. So the sign Aquarius as well as its rulers Uranus & Saturn will be more prominent in every chart. Some Vedic astrologers also consider Uranus & the Age of Aquarius as part of their analysis.
On the other hand, Vedic (& also Chinese) astrology uses the lunar mansions and planetary periods to deepen their analysis. Vedic astrologers also use Divisional Charts, which advanced Western astrologers call Harmonic Charts. Different names, same thing.
So my conclusion: why don't we respect and learn from each other instead of criticising our differences? The world will be a so much better place if we do that.
Of course, if you are already a very successful astrologer, there is nothing wrong with promoting your school of thought. When your students or clients ask you why you subscribe to this school instead of that school, you may end up explaining and defending your point of view, which naturally requires you to point out weaknesses in other schools of thought. There is nothing wrong with that. Insisting on your point of view while respecting other points of view can be a very hard balance to strike.
If you go overboard, your lack of respect may backfire. If you say your point of view is just as valid as others, your customers and clients might as well go to your competitors. If you respect others too much, they may climb over your head. This is the sadness of human nature. We must be better than that. Take the higher road.
