By Vaughn
Paul Manley, M.A.
Monday's quiz shows the chart of someone with Aquarius ascendant
who recently began his nineteen year Saturn mahadasha on July
6th, 2007. Saturn transited into Leo shortly thereafter on
July 15th, 2007.
Natal Chart
Transits on October 15th, 2007
Because Saturn rules his ascendant, Saturn becomes a temporal
benefic. Saturn's aspects by transit therefore would appear
to more beneficial. However, in Jyotish the planets natural
status, as either a benefic or malefic, predominate over its
temporal status. This is evidenced by the fact that the classic
texts are replete with quotes about the benefits to planets
aspected by benefics and the ill effects of aspects by malefics.
For instance, sage Parashara writes in the Brihat Parashara
Hora Shastra:
If a benefic is retrograde in the 6th, the 8th, or the
12th house receiving an aspect from a malefic, death will
occur within a month of birth. This is true only when the
ascendant is not occupied by a benefic. Ch. 9, v. 3
This type of interpretation based on the aspects of natural
malefics or benefics is common in Jyotish. Generally, aspects
by malefics (Saturn, Mars, Rahu, Ketu, or Sun) indicate challenges
and aspects by benefics (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Moon) indicate
benefits, as well as the softenening of other malefic influences.
This is true in natal chart interpretation as well as in the
interpretation of transits.
I find that this principle holds true. For instance, Jupiter's
transit aspecting any ascendent, whether Jupiter's a temporal
malefic or benefic, will bring a certain degree of growth,
expansion, new opportunities etc. At the same time, Saturn's
transit aspecting any ascendent, whether Saturn's a temporal
malefic or benefic, will generally represent a certain degree
of personal challenges and the need to take responsibility
for one's physical health.
With Saturn as the ascendant lord aspecting the ascendant
by transit, as in the example above, Saturn gives a mixed
effect that's mostly challenging in my opinion. Saturn's nature
is to constrict, and in terms of physical health it constricts
the prana or life force. It can represent having more responsibilities
and less vitality to meet them. The positive side to this
transit as the 1st lord aspecting the ascendant is that Saturn's
influence can give the discipline and committment to meet
the challenges. In other words, the person becomes more likely
to take responsibility and develop health regiments that improve
their health.
In the case above, the
person has had increased health challenges since beginning
his Saturn mahadasha and especially since Saturn transited
into Leo. His health issue is complicated by the fact that
Saturn's placed in the 8th house and hemmed in by Ketu and
Mars. In addition, Rahu is also transiting over his ascendant.
He's facing a chronic health challenge that's debilitating,
but not life threatening at this point.
Copyright 2007. Vaughn Paul
Manley. All Rights Reserved.
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