Sam Geppi - Yoga and Vedic Astrology: Sister Sciences of Spiritual Healing (Essentials of Vedic Astrology Book 1)

Yoga and Vedic Astrology

Copyright 2015 by Sam Geppi (Sadasiva)

ISBN - 978-0-9968482-0-6 (print)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the email address below.

Published by Vedic Academy Press
San Francisco, Ca
www.vedicacademypress.com

Ordering Information
Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the contact information above.

Printed in the United States of America

Cover Design by: Jera Publishing

First edition

Acknowledgements:

I wish to first thank my Satu Guru Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, to whom this book is dedicated. I would also thank the Sivanada organization, Swami Sitaramananda, David Frawley (Vamadeva), Dennis Harness, Dr. Pillai and Astroved, ACVA, CVA and all of the many students and colleagues who have supported my work over the years.

I would also like to thank the following people for their assistance.

• Ruchi Khanna
• Raj Vuppu
• Carol Hook
• Milana May
• Marie Fowler
• Gwen Burdick
• Avani Sukhadia

Special thanks to the following Book Patrons:

Valli Wells, Vedic Astrologer

Business Contact: ,

www.AstroVed.com/LAC

Roy Rupessh - TuneUrLife Inc.

Wellness, Match-Making, Career, Education guidance and remedies. www.tuneurlife.com

Michael Phillips

www.ddadb.com

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my Guru Mata Amritanandamay Devi, without whom nothing is possible for me.

http://amma.org is a website with more information about this amazing being.

Contents

Introduction

Vedic astrology is a science a serious science. Maybe you dont believe that. You will in about 20 minutes as you read Chapter 1. Maybe you do believe Vedic astrology is a science, but you have no idea why or how it works. You will also know this once you have read Chapter 1.

Vedic astrology is based on the same principles of yoga, Ayurveda and the other Vedic sciences. These sciences assert that our reason for incarnation is to learn that we are not simply a mind/body phenomenon. We are not limited beings of time and space. We are infinite and without boundaries. Our human struggles are a function of the limited self falsely imposed on to our deeper infinite self. We are struggling to get free and access the full power of who we are. Just as a nightmare wakes us from sleep, our life struggles are wake-up calls that force us to look for deeper meaning.

Of the three main Vedic sciences, Vedic astrology is probably the most misunderstood, especially here in the West, where many regard astrology as superstition or folly. This is understandable as most Americans encounter astrology through a horoscope or other fluffy, trivial media. There is no surprise that when an astrologer starts to speak about astrological science, most scratch their heads in disbelief.

Putting all feelings about astrology aside, who among us has not at one time or another gazed up at the night sky and been moved by the mysterious, awesome, yet familiar nature of the universe? From our vantage point here on Earth we can see the Orion Nebula, believed to be the birthplace of our Sun, or the Pleiades cluster of stars, newly hatched worlds in the making, and many other sky objects, and we are humbled by them.

But we need not look far into the heavens for inspiration, as some of the most beautiful sky objects are the closest to home. Venus shines like a diamond in the night sky and as a Morning Star, when it rises before the Sun. Jupiter is also radiant and breathtaking, and of course our lovely Moon. We are blessed and equally humbled by our own solar system, with its rhythms and daily magic.

However, besides providing us with a breathtaking light show, planetary and stellar movements also have an effect on us. The first thing human beings learned was to pay attention to the heavens. Many of mankinds earliest drawings, cave paintings and writings were astrological records of some sort. Astrology was the first science. Lunar cycles in particular are what allowed our forefathers to discover the best time for the planting of crops and to align with the daily rhythms of life on Earth.

Soon, auspicious times for every event as well as the deeper motivating forces behind the universe were to be understood by studying the rhythm of all planetary movements and our relationship to them. Actually, our bodies are approximately 75% water, just like the Earth. We are in fact star-stuff, refined in a sentient form, conscious and miraculous. We are children of the stars.

In our modern world, most of us live in urban areas. Given that we are not directly immersed in nature every day, it is easy to forget that we are residing on a large round globe that makes one revolution per day and moves around a large ball of fire at the center of a larger system of planets. How often do we stop to remember that during the sunrise or sunset it is not the Sun that is moving, it is the Earth that is turning? We must be careful, as we are so conditioned by the unnatural environments we live in that we run the risk of losing sight of what is real.

A day is not just an arbitrary measurement of time based on our work and sleeping schedule, it is the time it takes our planet to rotate once on its axis. The same is true with a month; it is the 30 days it takes the Moon to wax from new to full, then back to new again. A year is the time it takes the Earth to complete its annual orbit around the Sun.

These are not just heavenly cycles; they are human ones. Our bodies run on the same 24-hour cycle as the Earth. Every morning the Earth turns to face the Suns life-giving energy. The Sun energizes all creatures that receive its light and warmth. By evening, as the Earth falls into shadow, our minds and bodies prepare for the evenings rest and rejuvenation, presided over by the Moon. Our blood flow, circadian rhythms and natural body clock are timed accordingly.

Whether we remember it or not, our brains are wired for waking in the light and sleeping when darkness falls. Many other earthly cycles such as high and low tides, womens menstrual cycles and the mating habits and rituals of many other Earth creatures are determined by the Moons monthly orbit.

Few would dispute these claims as they are confirmed by logic and observable events, however forgotten they may be in most of our daily lives. Westerners like logic and observable events, but when discussing other planets and their effects or the deeper psychological understanding possible through astrology as a science of divination and prediction, most people lose faith.

It is hard for many to accept that astrology evolved into a profound science that not only includes mundane issues like seasons and earthly cycles, but that also encompasses a deep understanding of the energetics behind all of creation. Modern arrogance has a tendency to dismiss the wisdom of ancient civilizations because they lacked our modern technology, with all its implied sophistication. But we should not mistake our advanced technology to mean an advanced understanding of the world, or even to mean an understanding of the technology itself. Just because I can turn on my computer or drive a car does not mean I understand how they work.