Astrology is the belief that the alignment of stars and planets affects every individual's mood, personality, and environment, depending on when he was born. Astrologers print horoscopes in newspapers that are personalized by birth date. These horoscopes make predictions in people's personal lives, describe their personalities, and give them advice; all according to the position of astronomical bodies.

A science will tell you astrology doesn't work. Believers will tell you it does. Who is right? They are both right. 

It depends on what you mean by the word "work".

The term “astrology” is derived from the Greek words “Astron” meaning “star” and “logos” meaning “word” or “study of.” Thus, astrology can be translated as the “study of the stars”. The origins of astrology can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians and Egyptians, who observed the movements of celestial objects and their impact on earthly events. Over time, astrology spread to other cultures such as the Greeks, Romans, etc each developing its own unique astrological systems and techniques. 

Today, astrology continues to be studied and practiced around the world, with many different schools of thought and approaches. It remains a popular subject for those interested in understanding the connections between the cosmos and human life.

Indian astrology

Indian astrology, also known as Vedic astrology, Jyothishasthra, or Jyotish, is an ancient most system of astrology that originated in India thousands of years ago. It is based on the principles of the Vedas, which are the ancient texts of Hinduism. Jyotish is a Sanskrit word that means “science of light,” and it refers to the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and planets, with respect to the Earth. It is the amidst the most ancient sciences, among which Indian astrology is the long-lived astrology which was then known as ‘Jyotish’. Jyoti means light and ‘isha’ being lord, which thus deciphers into “The light of Lord” or “The light of knowledge”. The scriptures called ‘Vedas’ illuminate Jyotish as ‘The eyes of the Vedas’ i.e the knowledge enclosed in the Vedas can only be enlightened from the light of Jyotish.

know about Vedic astrology

1) Origins of Vedic astrology

Rooted in the Vedas, India’s ancient system of knowledge, Vedic astrology is based on the belief that the stars and planets have a powerful influence on our lives. 

According to Hindu teachings, life is meant for spiritual growth. This growth is, in part, facilitated by karma, the concept that every thought and action has a corresponding reaction.

The Vedas say that a person’s karma is directly related to the position of the planets and stars, and thus astrology is the method of understanding one’s karma by analyzing these positions.

2) How we are affected by the planets

As described in the Vedas, everyone and everything is under the control of time.

By its influence, individuals are pulled inevitably through various stages of existence, before they eventually die and are pushed on to the next life, the condition of which is determined by their accumulated karma. 

According to modern science, time and space are interconnected to create the fabric in which we exist known as space-time. Large objects, such as planets, affect this fabric, influencing everything around them.

3) Destiny vs. free will

Our future is determined by two things, according to the Vedas: destiny and free will. 

Destiny refers to the various situations we encounter in life, while free will is how we react to them through thought and action. How we react creates further karma, which then determines the future set of situations we will be destined to face. In other words, our destiny is created by our free will. 

The Vedas recognize four goals of human life, dharma, artha, kama, and moksha.

Dharma can be basically defined as the mode of conduct most conducive for one’s spiritual growth. Fulfilling dharma, brings meaning, purpose, and honor to a person’s life.  

Kama translates literally as “desire,” and refers to the need for sensory and emotional happiness. All beings, in some way or another, are seekers of joy, and should pursue such joy without harming themselves, or others. 

Artha, though translating as “goal” or “purpose,” is more specifically related to the acquisition of wealth or sense of security. In order to experience the happiness of attaining one’s goals, a person must have the necessary resources of wealth in order to do so. 

The final goal, moksha, means “liberation,” and relates to people’s spiritual development until their eventual freedom from the cycle of birth and death. 

4) Qualifications of a Vedic astrologer

In a world filled with psychics and fortune-tellers, it’s important to note that the techniques of Vedic astrology require many years of academic study and training. 

The best astrologers are ones who have actually developed their skills over lifetimes. Even then, its practice is so nuanced and in-depth, complete mastery is near impossible. 

Beyond its technical aspects, Vedic astrology is ultimately a spiritual science, and therefore requires a certain level of intuition that is generally only present in those who maintain certain standards of spiritual practice. In order to read horoscopes and then give advice on how to best approach life’s obstacles from a spiritual perspective, an astrologer should be living a life in which a strong standard of spiritual discipline is maintained. 

In fact, the astrologers of ancient India were considered to be great sages who were honest, humble, magnanimous, detached, and treated all equally. Their main purpose was to help guide individuals on the path of spirituality. 

Though they are much harder to find these days, astrologers who maintain a similar standard of spiritual integrity still exist.