Many people have questioned whether the sidereal astrology of Jyotisha is meant for Easterners, and tropical astrology is meant for Westerners. The truth of the matter is that Jyotisha is knowledge from Vedic seers, which is timeless and universal. Vedic astrologers say that there are two forces, Daivaand Purushakara, fate and individual energy, and the individual energy can modify and even frustrate fate. Moreover, the stars often indicate several fate possibilities. For example, the astrology chart might indicate that one may die in mid-age, but that if through determination (self-effort) it can be overcome, one can live to a predictable old age. Thus astrology does not say that events must and should happen, but gives the benefic and malefic tendencies which can be directed or modified through conscious effort.

Then, how would one define astrology? It is the philosophy of discovering and analyzing past impulses and future actions of both individual and nations in the light of planetary configurations. Astrology explains life's reactions to planetary vibrations. It can also be defined as a science of correlation of astronomical facts with terrestrial events. Astrology has been called the science of indications, but it does not follow that the stars rule our destiny. The stars record a destiny that has already been formed. They are then a symbol (in our birth chart), not a force, or if their actions constitute a force, it is a transmitting energy, not an originating power. The planets do not dictate, but indicate the energies that are influencing a situation in a given time.

The birth horoscope reveals the general path of destiny by way of the disposition of the planets. The timing of events is indicated by the Dasa and Bhukti periods because they show when each planet will come into its relative strength or weakness. The exact timing is further determined by the transiting planets (where the planets are today) which are influencing the Dasa or Bhukti lords. The Dasa and Bhukti cycles are unique to Vedic astrology and are an essential component to the astrologer's accuracy of prediction.

June Outlook
In the month of June, the new moon takes place on June 15, 1996, at 9:35 pm, Washington, D.C. The disposition of the planets are: the rising sign is Sagittarius, and retrograde Jupiter is in Sagittarius, well-placed and powerful. Jupiter has strong benevolent aspects on the Sun, ruler of the 9th house, and Moon, ruler of the 8th house. Both Sun and Moon are in Gemini occupying the Nakshatra of Mars. Mars, Mercury and retrograde Venus are all situated in the 6th house. Mars, ruler of the 5th and 12th houses is aspecting the rising sign and Jupiter very strongly. Saturn is conjunct Ketu in Pisces and both occupy the Nakshatra of Saturn. Saturn is aspecting Mars, Mercury and Venus in the 6th house and Saturn is also aspecting the rising sign and Jupiter. The rising sign is fortified by the presence of Jupiter which indicates a strong presence of government and its ability to make decisions. Foreign affairs will receive good light. Of course, the position of Ketu and Saturn in the 4th, and Saturn's aspect on the 6th house are all indicative of problems in the areas of health, education, debt, increase in price of agricultural commodities, and international tensions. Jupiter in the rising sign and its aspect on the Moon and Sun gives rise to expansion of knowledge, philosophy and spirituality.

The current major transit of Saturn in Pisces will continue through April 1998. While Saturn is a slow moving planet and generally considered the planet of destiny as well as the planet of suffering, because it is in Pisces, the sign of Jupiter, it allows the attention of the people to shift from suffering to that of philosophy and spirituality.

No doubt Saturn's transit in Pisces does indicate that most people will face many challenges in their lives which will motivate them to look for an answer. When they cannot find solace in the answers they receive from mundane or material sources, they will begin to look to nature or God to find solace. That is why, as the Saturn transit progresses in Pisces, an element of transformation will enter the minds of people who are open, to return to nature (Saturn is the planet of nature).

Added to this, Saturn is aspecting Jupiter in 1996 which is an important phenomena. When major planets like Saturn and Jupiter interact, a kind of bloodless revolution begins to take place, and results in a change which is positive, uplifting and optimistic. In this transformation process, Jupiter, planet of knowledge and wisdom, has an important part to play so that these changes come from the heart. Fortunately, when Saturn moved into Pisces in February 1996, Jupiter was already occupying Sagittarius, its own house, where the Jupitarian qualities of expansion and growth, wisdom and understanding are strongly manifest. Therefore the two planets Jupiter and Saturn begin to bring about emotional, psychological as well as intellectual changes which will make our planet Earth a spiritual center for the 21st century.

The month of June has many good aspects. However, Venus is retrograde through the month which is not a good period for balanced emotional states, therefore not considered favorable for events like marriage which are wholly influenced by the emotional state of the parties concerned.

Sri Chakrapani Ullal is a world-renowned Vedic astrologer from South India. He can be reached at: 12044 Kearsarge Street, Los Angeles, CA 90049 Ph: 310/476-9942 Fax: 310/471-3205.