The Foundations of Chart Interpretation in Vedic Astrology by Komilla Sutton

The Foundations of Chart Interpretation

The Lagna 2/3

The ascending sign and the ascendant ruler are the first things to study in any chart. This alone will reflect the focus of life, as well as the qualities - both physical and spiritual - that you can expect from it. Each ascendant has planets that are either negative or positive for them. Lagna is known as Janma Lagna or Udaya lagna and Moon lagna is known as Janma Rashi We need to inform our clients about their lagna. Many aspects are revealed through it.

The Principle of Houses and Their Rulership

The Bhavas are categorised into various types of houses, which require study and understanding. Each Lagna determines which signs rule which houses, thereby establishing the chart's basic structure. The type of houses the planet's rule explains the functional roles of the planets for each lagna. Plus, what each house represents. This is the technical part of the Jyotish knowledge and is unnecessary to share with the client. My take on house rulerships and lagna is that this is the chart we are born with, so while recognising the negativity in the chart, we must learn to make the best of it. This is the role of the astrologer in analysing and expressing it.

The Kendras - The Cardinal Houses

The first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses are Kendras or cardinal houses. Planets placed in cardinal houses get energised, and planets that rule Kendras are strong. Benefics like Jupiter, Venus, Moon, and Mercury will not give auspicious results because they rule the kendra houses. If their only qualification is that they are beneficial and rule kendra, then they do not expect positive results from them. Malefic, like Saturn, the Sun, Mars, and the waning Moon, has positive results due to the rulership of the kendras. They help the dynamic principle of the Kendra houses through their rulership. This rule does not always work, and we should not stress over applying it. Usually, I take the planets ruling these houses as dynamic. And planets placed here are well-positioned.

Trikona - The Trine Houses

The 1st, 5th and 9th houses are the trikona houses. Their rulers are always auspicious and bring wonderful results. The ascendant is kendra and trikona, so its ruler is always benefic. Trine house lords bring good luck even if they also rule negative houses. The Lord of the 5th is not as powerful as the lord of the Ninth.

Upachaya - The Developing Houses

The 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th are the upachaya houses. The quality of these houses improves over time, and planets gain strength throughout an individual's life. The planets ruling the Upachaya houses are negative (for the 10th house, refer to the cardinal rules). They can harm the houses where they are placed. Of the Upachaya, the 3rd is the weakest, and the 11 th is the strongest.

Sama - Neutral Houses

The 2nd, 8th, and 12th houses are neutral houses; they usually give results from the other houses that the planets rule. They will be very challenging if they are placed with negative rulers or own the trik or Trishadayadhisha houses. In practice, the 8th and the 12th house rulers are usually malefic.

Dusthana - The Unfavourable Houses

6th, 8th and 12th houses are considered dusthana houses. They are also known as trik houses. The 6th house lord causes injury and disease, the 8th house lord destroys the significations of the house it is in, and the 12th house lord causes loss.

Trik Houses

The 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 12th houses are trik houses, and their rulers are malefic. Trishadayadhisha lords - the 6th, 8th and 11th are the givers of negative results.

Trishadaya Houses - The Most Malefic Rulership

The Trishadaya houses are the 3rd, 6th, and 11th. They are so malefic as they represent desire, anger, and greed, which are contradictory to the trikona houses and their promotion of dharma. We must understand that these houses are also upachaya, so their qualities can improve with time. While these houses represent humanity's weaknesses, they can also promote its drive, help individuals overcome obstacles, and enable them to make the most of life.

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Marakas - The Death-Inflicting Planets

The rulers of the 2nd and the 7th houses have death-inflicting qualities.

Conflicting House Rulerships

Some houses reflect differing energies - the 10th house is Kendra and Upachaya; the 2nd house is Sama and Maraka. These houses invariably reflect both the qualities of the house. The 2nd house ruler will reflect the quality of the other house. Its rulers, such as Mercury for Taurus rising, govern the 2nd and 5th houses, so Mercury typically brings all the positive energy of the 5th house. Mercury will enhance the house where it is placed. However, it is also a Maraka planet; when the time is right, during its dasha, it can lead to transformation, health issues, and even death.

The Mooltrikona of the Planets

The Mooltrikona of the planets determines which house receives prominence.

Mooltrikona Signs

Mool means root, essence and Trikona trine. This is a range of degrees in Rashis where the planet functions well, and it is strong but not so much as in its exaltation point. As most planets rule two houses, the Mooltrikona sign determines the effect a planet has on its rulership. For example, for Leo lagna, Mercury rules the 2nd and 11th houses; however, its Mooltrikona is Virgo so that Mercury will have the effect of the 11 th house. When analysed, the planet's Mooltrikona houses have greater significance, but it is essential not to overlook the other houses and the planets' respective rules.

Planet Mooltrikona Sign

Sun 4° to 20° Leo Moon 4º to 20° Taurus Mars 0° to 12º Aries Mercury 16° to 20° Virgo Jupiter 0° to 10° Sagittarius Venus 0° to 15° Libra Saturn 0° to 20° Aquarius Rahu Ketu does not have mooltrikona signs. The Moon has its mooltrikona in Taurus, and since the Moon rules only one sign, it produces the effect of the house that Cancer rules. We must know the impact of Mooltrikona at the foundation level of chart interpretation. However, it is not necessary to discuss it with clients.

Role of Malefic Planets

Even if planets are malefic or maraka, they can still bring opportunities. . The 2nd house brings money and savings · 3rd house confidence, communications, siblings, · 6th house ability to be competitive, overcome obstacles

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3. The 7th house will bring relations, love and partners · 8th house, the ability to transform for moksha, · 11 th house earnings and profiting from life. . 12th house foreign travel, desire for moksha.

Lagna Nakshatra and its Lord

Each sign can have three underlying nakshatras, and when analysing the lagna, great attention must be paid to them. Usually, the lord of Lagna nakshatra is not a positive planet for the Lagna; however, due to its rulership of the lagna, it will give positive results during its dasha. The Lagna nakshatra indicates the way the mind operates for the chart, as well as the underlying influences of the nakshatra on the rashi lagna. Both must be taken into consideration for a thorough analysis. If the Lagna is 15°20' Cancer, the Lagna Nakshatra will be Pushya. Saturn rules Pushya. The Moon and Saturn will influence the chart. The influence and qualities of Pushya will be evident in this Cancer Lagna. Although Saturn is not always an easy planet for Cancer, they can cope with its qualities. Also, during the Maha dasha or bhukti1 Of Saturn, the individual enjoys success and a rise in status. To analyse the lagna nakshatra, study the rules given in the previous lesson for the lagna lord plus the following:

• The strength and dignity of the lagna nakshatra lord. Is it exalted, debilitated, Mooltrikona, or in a friend or enemy sign?
• The house position of the lagna nakshatra lord. In the dusthana houses, it will bring problems to the Lagna.
• Study the chara karaka of the lagna nakshatra; if it is Atma or Amatya karaka, it enhances the strength of the planets, whereas if it is gnati karaka, it can create problems. If it is Dara karaka, then relationships are important.

The Nakshatra position of the lagna may or may not be discussed with the client, but the astrologer needs to be aware of it. Elon Musk: Lagna is Gemini, Nakshatra lagna is Punarvasu, lord is Jupiter, which is retrograde in Taurus in the 6th house. The 6th house position may give him a feeling of competitiveness with everything and everybody. He can also feel blocked within himself. The Retrograde Nakshatra lord makes Elon eccentric and larger than life, and he feels that people do not understand him or his personality, which can lead him to try to over- express himself.

Chart for Analysis - Elon Musk

Elon Musk, Founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and Leader of DOGE

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States & Strengths for Planets & Houses