ACVA Newsletter 2024-11: November 2024

American College of Vedic Astrology

ACVA Newsletter 2024-11, November 2024

Letter from the President

By Professor Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi) President, ACVA

Dear Friends of ACVA –

Hoping that this note finds you and your families doing well in these interesting times.

I’m feeling grateful that the recent election cycle is over, here in the US. We all have read many well-considered predictions on who would win and why – all perfectly logical and feasible. My personal opinion is that the overriding reason for the outcome is connected to the Pluto return in the chart of the USA. If you’re not familiar with the effects of Pluto, you may benefit from doing some research on this powerful little planet, even though it is not referenced explicitly in the ancient shastras. “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.”

Meanwhile, ACVA is looking forward to our annual graduation and awards ceremony to be held virtually on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 9 AM Pacific time, 12 PM Eastern time. The commencement address will be delivered by Marc Boney, who will also be awarded the 2024 ACVA “Jyotish Navaratna” award for his excellent contributions to the field of astrology. Mr. K.N. Rao will receive ACVA’s “Jyotish Vibhushan” award for his lifetime of contributions to Jyotish. This auspicious event will be open to the public. Please register here.

Please remember to register for the annual Maharishi Parasara Conference, featuring many ACVA alumni and friends, including Dr. Dennis Harness, Alan Annand, and Professor Charlotte Benson. This year it will be held virtually, beginning on Thursday, November 21 through Sunday, November 24, 2024. REGISTER: (https://www.parasharaconference.com) Use Discount Code: ‘ACVA108’ (without quotation marks) for a substantial discount for ACVA friends and alumni.

Click here for more ...

Professor Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi)

President, American College of Vedic Astrology

The Observatory: Sun in Scorpio 2024

By Dr. Lynn Bootes, MD

ACVA Dean of Students and Registrar

registrar@acvaonline.org

We begin and end this Sun in Scorpio month with Full Moons, the first being on November 15 at 29 degrees Aries, moving into Taurus hours later. The same day, Saturn stations in Aquarius and begins its slow forward motion. Those of us in the USA have been transfixed by the election of a President and other offices, and now witness the unfolding of these events. Jupiter in Taurus, Sun and Mercury in Scorpio, and Saturn in Aquarius produce a dominance by the fixed signs. A desire for stability and order seems to be in the air.

Mercury will enter its retrograde period, as it does three times per year, from November 25 to December 15, and will remain in Scorpio, making aspects with the other planets in fixed signs. I plan to do my holiday shopping early and prepare for travel delays in those weeks. The New Moon on December 1 takes place during Mercury retrograde.

However much most will desire stability and economic security, Mars in the emotionally difficult sign of Cancer begins its retrograde period on December 6 at 11deg58 Cancer. It will remain retrograde until February 24, by which time it will have moved back into Gemini. If you are looking for passion and fireworks, Mars and Venus are in opposition on December 12.

The non-visible planet Uranus has been visiting Taurus for the past six months, but on December 14, it will move back into Aries, just as we close out the month with another Full Moon on the sandhi of two signs: 29deg17 Taurus/Scorpio.

Generally, this should be a period of rest and repositioning after a very intense year, with more to come in 2025.

Click here for more ...

The Mathematics of Yogas: Kujadosha

By Alan Annand

ACVA Editor-in-Chief of Publications

For any jyotishi experienced in addressing the issues of an East Indian clientele, the following query may well ring a bell. Typically, it comes from a young lady of marriageable age who hasn’t yet experienced the joys of matrimony, and whose unwed state is now of growing concern for her parents, if not indeed for herself.

“Will I ever get married? Or am I cursed with kujadosha? Am I manglik?”

Typically, the jyotishi doesn’t hear all this from the same client. That’s because kujadosha is a North Indian term, while mangaladosha, along with its derivative manglik, is South Indian. But the import is the same.

Whereas an astrological “yoga” is a pattern typically denoting some benefit, a “dosha” is one that indicates a blemish or defect. Etymologically, the compound word kujadosha or mangaladosha means the same thing: the blemish due to Mars. But what blemish?

Kujadosha is a pattern wherein Mars afflicts the houses of family or relationship, and is thus at risk of provoking marital discord. This happens when Mars occupies houses 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, or 12, from whence it will either occupy or aspect the 2nd or 7th houses.

From the 1st, 4th, 7th and 12th houses, Mars occupies or aspects the 7th house, thus disrupting the balance of marital equity. From the 2nd, 7th or 8th houses, Mars occupies or aspects the 2nd house, aggravating the security of the family unit. Arguably, Mars in the 7th is the worst of these problematic placements, from whence it disrupts both the family in general and the partner in particular.

However, since Mars is generally irritable in six houses out of 12, what are the prospects that any given horoscope will label its owner as a marriage disrupter? Astrologically, the odds are 50/50. But is a single placement of Mars in a problematic house sufficient to cause such grief?

The short answer is no. With respect to kujadosha, it behooves us to examine the matter a little more closely. For starters, although the pattern occurs with equal frequency among men and women, it’s generally deemed to be more of an issue for women. That’s because society condones men who are aggressive, commanding and forceful (as is Mars’s tendency), and yet discourages women from expressing the same behaviors. And although there are cultural differences between societies, the overarching burden on women is to be “nice” in spite of Mars’s natural tendency.

Click here for more ...

Coming Attractions at ACVA

Maharishi Parasara Conference (Online) Thursday November 21 – Monday November 25, 2024

Faculty for this event include ACVA’s Dr. Dennis Harness, Alan Annand and Charlotte Benson. Friends of ACVA scheduled to appear: Sarbani and Pundit Sanjay Rath, Komilla Sutton, Dr. Andrew Foss, Ronnie Dreyer, Sam Geppi, and Simon Chokoisky, along with many other luminaries.

Use Discount Code ‘ACVA108’ (without quotation marks) for a substantial discount for ACVA friends and alumni.

This will be the largest online Jyotish conference in recent years! Please join us there, online.

ACVA Graduation and Awards Ceremony (Online)

Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM PDT, 12:00 PM EST, 10:30 PM (IST)

This event will be open to public, and please feel free to join us online as we honor the latest round of graduates in ACVA’s certification programs.

In addition, ACVA will also present two awards, as follows:

The Jyotish Vibhushan Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional and devoted service to Vedic astrology throughout their lifetime. This year, we are privileged to present this esteemed award to Mr. K.N. Rao. His unparalleled contributions to the field, encompassing both scholarly excellence and profound spiritual insight, have been extraordinarily distinguished. Mr. Rao’s deep knowledge and divine experience have not only enriched Vedic astrology but have also inspired generations of students, practitioners, and scholars worldwide. His work exemplifies the mission of American College of Vedic Astrology™, and we are thrilled to recognize and honor his extraordinary legacy with this award.

The Jyotish Navaratna Award celebrates individuals who have provided exceptional service and support to the mission of the American College of Vedic Astrology™. This year, we are delighted to honor Mr. Marc Boney, whose unwavering dedication to making Vedic astrology accessible to learners worldwide perfectly aligns with ACVA’s goals. His invaluable contributions to the field inspire us all, and we are thrilled to acknowledge his outstanding service with this award.

Click here for more ...

It is due to the generosity of our patrons that ACVA can continue to offer its current special tuition rates. Thank you.

ACVA is a 501-C3 not-for-profit educational institution that provides a very valuable service to learners of Vedic astrology.

It is due to the generosity of our volunteers and patrons that ACVA can continue to thrive. If you choose to press the "donate" button, your donation will be tax-deductible.

To donate, Visit our Website!!

https://acvaonline.org/donate/

In gratitude,

The Leadership Team

American College of Vedic Astrology