Greetings from the president of ACVA

Happy Holidays!

Hoping that this note finds you and your family doing well, or at least well enough. To our many Turkish students suffering in the turmoil of that country’s political situation, we send extra prayers of support.

 Things are ramping up here at ACVA, Inc. Jupiter’s ingress into Aquarius may be part of the reason. Since late last month, Jupiter has been transiting Dhanistha nakshatra, which you probably know is appropriate for studying the ancient shastras. Since ACVA’s curriculum is Shastra-based this may be why we’ve had recent record enrollments. 



          Jupiter’s advent into Kumbha rasi is a distinct improvement over his previous placement, don’t you think? There’s reason for optimism. Aquarius/Kumbha is associated with consciousness, among many other concepts. It seems that we humans now have an opportunity for raising our own consciousness, and for literally choosing to think higher thoughts and to choose to entertain more elevated ideas. Creativity with the object of benefitting the greater good; evolution for the collective, through the agency of individual ideas; altruistic thoughts which somehow improve the general populace – these are some of the best attributes of Guru in Aquarius. We contribute to global peace and prosperity, individually, through our thoughts, and awareness of the concept that “The world is my family” – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. 

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Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi)

President, American College of Vedic Astrology

IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION

Greetings to ACVA friends, students, and graduates,



          In grateful recognition of service to Jyotisha, the Board, Leadership Team, Faculty and Staff of the American College of Vedic Astrology are pleased to present two distinguished awards to two distinguished people.



            The 2021 “Jyotisha Ratna” award for Excellent Contributions to the Field of Astrology was presented to Dr. Sisira Amarasinghe at the Sedona Vedic Astrology Conference, in November. Dr. Amarasinghe has selflessly donated his considerable talents in the complex world of I.T. to keep the mechanism of our online college running smoothly. We are grateful for his essential work, and for his brilliance and generosity. Here is a link to the award presentation to Dr. Sisira on Youtube: https://youtu.be/QfzHNl7FsJE.

          Dr. Sisira K Amarasinghe, Ph.D., is an Information Systems Engineering specialist with extensive academic and industrial experience in a range of domains covering Enterprise IT, Biomedical, Automotive, and Industrial Automation. He became interested in Vedic astrology a few decades ago and has been continually pursuing numerous activities relating Vedic astrology including studying, teaching, research and consulting for more than a decade. He was honored by ACVA in November 2021 with the title of Jyotish Navaratana for his contribution to the field of Astrology and ACVA. He is also an Ayurvedic Wellness Counsellor certified by Kerala Ayurveda Academy, USA.

            In recognition of Mrs. Shoba Mohan’s heroic work as CEO of ACVA, the college has awarded her the elite title of “Jyotisha Vibhusan” which translates to “The Beautiful Ornament of Jyotish.” Shoba brought her experience and talents from a career in the corporate world to see ACVA through a difficult period and bring stability in leadership from 2015 to 2021. Here is a link to view the award presentation at the Sedona Vedic Astrology Conference on Youtube: https://youtu.be/MeQthUTnEw0.

          Upon retirement as a banker, Shoba Mohan, MBA, joined the ACVA family. She believes that Vedic Astrology links Cosmic energies with humans. Her inspiration was her mother, who was an extremely well-read palmist and numerologist, one who had a chance to study many famous palms in her time. Shoba enjoys teaching, coaching, and contributing as the CEO of ACVA. Shoba received ACVA’s Jyotish Seva Award in 2015 and Jyotish Navaratna Award in 2019. Most of her work in Astrology has been via in-person lectures and instructional videos. She has spoken at various seminars, including the International United Astrology Conference at Chicago, 2018, where she spoke on Nakshatras, noteworthy to Western and other astrologers. Shoba is a mother of 2 girls and a grandmother of 4, she spends her spare time traveling around the globe with her husband Krishna. Although retired as CEO, Shoba will continue as one of the ACVA instructors.

            Congratulations to both of you, and our sincere gratitude for your labor of love.

Charlotte Benson

President, ACVA

Left to Right, Ramdas Bill Sinclair, Julene Louis, Charlotte Benson, Lynn Bootes

A Farewell from Shoba

December 2021

Thank you, dear ACVA faculty, Leadership team, students and friends,

It has been my pleasure to serve ACVA for over a decade and the time has come to retire. As I leave ACVA in able hands, I am so thankful for my happy memories of working with you all. I know ACVA will be bigger and better than ever, the stream of incoming students will prove me right.

I am humbled by the Jyotish Vibhushan Award and will treasure it as I continue to do ‘Seva’ in teaching and consulting so that Jyotir Vidya flourish around the globe.

Shoba

Down Memory lane (clockwise from upper left) with luminaries Gayatri Devi; David and Shambhavi Frawley, Komilla Sutton; Sedona/ ACVA dinner table with Christina Collins, Charlotte Benson, Dennis Harness, Bill Sinclair, Pandit Samavedula, Komila Sutton, Angela Pennington, Joni Patry, and families; with mentor, Bill Levacy.

STAR GUIDANCE

Winter Solstice 2021 to Spring Equinox 2022

by Lynn Bootes

Registrar and Instructor, ACVA

Dear Readers,

         The flavor of this winter season owes much to the happy event of Jupiter passing into Aquarius and moving rapidly toward Neptune at the end of Aquarius. While Saturn continues to dominate from its own sign of Capricorn, the brightness of Jupiter is finding more expression. Many of us are noticing, amidst the difficulties, that many people are becoming more spiritually aware. Let us hope that continues.

         We begin the Winter season with Venus moving retrograde and very close to Mars, Sun and Pluto in the early degrees of Capricorn. This combination brings to mind intense power plays, currency fluctuations, and deep seated passions. These energies are the strongest between December 19, when Venus first goes retrograde at 2 degrees Capricorn, and March 6, when Venus and Mars reach conjunction at 5 degrees Capricorn, within 2 degrees of Pluto. Mercury joins the dance as it moves through a period of retrograde from January 14 to 29 in these same degrees. On the world stage there will no doubt be much going on both in public and behind the scenes. In our personal lives, we do have the choice to channel the passion and energy of Capricorn into focused work. Venus is a planetary friend of Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, and Mars is exalted in Capricorn. Saturn in Capricorn is in its own sign, and Mercury too is a planetary friend to Saturn. Let's roll up our sleeves and do what needs doing!

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Earthquake on the Plains

EARTHQUAKE ON THE PLAINS – JYOTISH VISITS THE WORLD OF SPORTS

by Lynn Bootes

LINCOLN RILEY'S BIO

          Here is a December treat for our readers and students: a birth chart from the world of American Football – that perennial preoccupation of Americans at this time of the year. For those of you in other lands, please refer to the end notes for a short summary of how this sport works. In my home state of Oklahoma, we are grateful for football so we don't have to murder each other over religion or politics.



          Lincoln Riley is a coach, not a player. He caused an earthquake in Oklahoma on November 27, 2021, when he announced his departure from the University of Oklahoma to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles effective immediately. Our ACVA students may wish to start by looking at the chart on your own, before reading further, to test your skills so far. For future students, graduates and friends, read on and see what you think. Those from Western Astrology will remember that we are using the Sidereal Zodiac, so all planets and chart points are 24 degrees earlier than in the Western Tropical. This is a chart with a rather singular focus, which gives us a chance to look at the distinction between a coach and an athlete, to look for particular combinations (Yogas), and to analyze the events of the fall of 2021 using Vimshottari Dashas and transits.

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OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM!



To contact any one of us - click on our website. 

More to come, stay tuned!

Current Leadership Team members

• Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi) (Board member, President, ACVA’s External Relations Leader)

• Dr. Sisira Amarasinghe, Ph.D (Board member, ACVA Information Technology (IT) Leader)

• Ramdas Bill Sinclair MSW (Board member, ACVA Creativity Leader)

• Dr. Lynn Bootes, MD (Registrar, Instructor Leader)

• Julene Louis (Curriculum Leader)

American College of Vedic Astrology Inc, 2675 W. S.R. 89A #190, Sedona, AZ 86336