Note from the President of ACVA

By Professor Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi) President, ACVA

February 2025

Dear Friends of ACVA –

We hope that you like the excellent articles in this month’s issue, and that you are maintaining your peace of mind in these turbulent times.

The fires are extinguished in Los Angeles now, but other intense, unusual weather is disrupting many communities. And armed conflict, across the globe, is ruining lives. Our prayers and sympathy go out to all in distress. Mars will resume direct motion on February 23, 2025. This will be generally helpful for reconstruction – however that concept is applied. May peace prevail!

I wanted to comment on the nature of Saturn, still in Aquarius until 3/29/25, and Venus exalted in Pisces. Both of these planets in their dignities now, create about 16 hours of special yogas throughout the day during the next six weeks or so. When either of these two planets are rising, culminating, setting, or at their deepest night position (cusp of the fourth house), they form creative, two-hour time periods.

Venus forms “Malavya yoga” which promotes cordial relationships, equitable transactional business, and general creativity and peace. Saturn in Aquarius now forms the very useful “Sasha yoga.” Sasha yoga promotes serious, consistent focus, and foundation building. Saturn now in Aquarius suggests to me that we can create value by forming committed connections with groups of friendly strangers with a common altruistic cause. That’s one connotation of Aquarius rasi. Aquarius is the constellation associated with the elevation of human consciousness.

I expect  that there will be less cruelty expressed in the world at large, at the end of March 2025.

So, we still must keep our wits about us, during the eclipse cycle of March 13, and March 29. More on that in the next edition of the ACVA News. 

Also, now in mid-February,  there is a rare and obscure conjunction of Rahu with Neptune. As it is the nature of Rahu to exaggerate and aggravate and disrupt the standard expression of whatever he contacts, combining with Neptune is a potent brew of suffering, deceit, and malfeasance on many fronts. By the time you read this, these grahas will be separating. It is to be hoped that the worst effect of this contact is past, and that the misery will abate. I do realize that the outer planet Neptune is not mentioned in the ancient shastras, but a lifetime of observation of the damage that Neptune can cause, prompts me to mention this.

If you’re still with me, I would like to invite you to The Cosmic Patterns Convergence, in Orlando, Florida, 3/6 – 3/9/2025. I will be speaking on the subtilties of the bhavas – “Hidden in the Houses.”

My friend, colleague, and fellow ACVA alum, Joni Patry will be there too. Please join us! Here is the link to register:  https://cosmicpatternsconference.com. I am honored to be able to represent Jyotisha at this mostly Western astrology conference.

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Professor Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi)

President, American College of Vedic Astrology

Maha Shivaratri

By Professor Juliana Swanson

ACVA Provost and Dean of Academics

The Great Night of Shiva, known as Maha Shivaratri, will be celebrated on February 25th in North America, and on February 26th elsewhere in the world. Shivaratri is celebrated each month by yogis during the deeply waning Moon phase in the chaturdashi tithi, the 14th day after the Full Moon (and a few days before the New Moon). Every month, Shivaratri is a time for deep contemplation and inner quiet, a time to journey within and bask in the true inner light that exists beyond the world of form.

Maha Shivaratri is the most special among all the Shivaratris that happen in a year. Maha Shivaratri takes place in the month of Phalguna in the days leading up to the New Moon in Aquarius. Lord Shiva presides over this astrological sign, which is symbolized by the Water Bearer who pours forth the “water of life." Known as kundalini shakti, this “water” is the essence of spiritual power, wisdom, purity, peace, and rebirth.

The immortal rishis of India understood that the days around the New Moon in Aquarius are a special time for connecting with the inner light of Shiva. Physiological and bio-energetic processes can become activated at this time through spiritual practices like fasting, pujas (fire ceremonies), chanting, holy baths, and meditation. This is related to the Sun and the Moon alignment that takes place not only “up there” in the heavens but also “down here” in our sublime energetic system of the higher chakras during this lunar cycle.

Maha Shivaratri commemorates Lord Shiva as Nilakantha, the Blue-Throated One. His story is related to the legendary Samudra Manthan which occurred when the devas and asuras got together to churn the great cosmic ocean to obtain more of the elixir of life, known as amrita. Lord Shiva was tasked with swallowing the pot full of halāhala (also called kālakūṭa, a metaphoric "poison") which came out of the celestial waters during the churning process. The halāhala was so noxious that Shiva's throat turned blue. Thus, Maha Shivaratri every year represents a powerful time for purification within all of us and in the world.

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The Observatory

By Dr. Lynn Bootes, MD

ACVA Dean of Students and Registrar

registrar@acvaonline.org

Sun in Aquarius: 13 February - 15 March 2025 (Dates for EST/EDST)

Welcome to the Sun in Aquarius edition of the Observatory. This season of the fixed air sign gives us the most “frozen” of opinions and actions, at the least appealing time of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the heat of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Look for the exact conjunction by degree of the Sun with Saturn in Aquarius on March 12, but be aware that Saturn in its own sign will be limiting the Sun’s radiance all month. A positive is that some more enduring ideals may be identified.

Mars enters the month moving retrograde in Gemini, where it’s in the sign of its “own worst enemy” Mercury, amplifying irritability and power struggles. Mars stations and goes direct on February 24 but remains in Gemini through this month, continuing tendencies from the prior month. What we say or don’t say matters, so this is a good time to think and think again before reacting, speaking or writing.

Mercury in Aquarius makes an exact conjunction to Saturn on February 25. The two are planetary friends, and while Mercury’s critical function is amplified, that can be put to good use for those who write or work out details of laws and contracts. This is also a good time to commit to a rigorous program of study or discipline such as Jyotish study at ACVA.

On February 27, Mercury moves into Pisces, its sign of debility. Mercury sweeps past Rahu on March 1, and catches up to Venus for an exact conjunction on March 12. Venus in its exalted sign will improve Mercury’s chances of getting totally muddled in the next few months.

Venus spends the entire month in its exaltation sign of Pisces and also in a Parivartana yoga with its dispositor Jupiter in Taurus. These two benefics have the potential to support each other in artistic and prosperity-inducing ventures, as well as compassionate projects with concrete action. Mercury in Pisces can add creativity. Anytime the Moon is in an earth or water sign, there’ll be the potential for auspicious events to take place.



Venus, however, stations and begins its short and uncommon retrograde period March 12. This can be a positive event in some circumstances, but Rahu and Neptune combine with Venus and Mercury in Pisces March 1-4 and remain a quadruple combination in Pisces all month. There’s the potential for changes in value of money and for deception in the markets, but also a chance to re-examine relationships and make amends with loved ones.

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The Mathematics of Yogas: Kesari and Gaja-Kesari

By Alan Annand

ACVA Editor-in-Chief of Publications

It’s a truism in the medical world that the best guarantee of longevity is to be born to healthy parents. For those who take their health for granted, the next-most-desired aspect of a perfect life is to be born rich or, if that’s not possible, with a birth chart containing multiple wealth yogas.

Although there are variations on the theme, a typical Dhana Yoga demands a combination of two planets involving (1) lord of a dharma house and (2) lord of a dhana house. The dharma houses, associated with luck and good fortune, are the 1st, the 5th and the 9th. The dhana houses, associated with money, are the 2nd and the 11th.

Combinations can be formed by either an association of the two requisite planets, or a mutual aspect. In the latter case, that’s usually from opposite signs; for Mars and Saturn, also when Saturn is four signs following Mars.

Given the simplicity of Dhana Yoga, one might assume all ascendants have an equal opportunity to form yogas among their dharma and dhana lords. But in reality, this isn’t so. Depending on the ascendant, it might be easier, more difficult, or downright impossible, for certain combinations to form.

The simple reason is, not all planets enjoy unlimited freedom with respect to each other. Although all planets can associate with each other, not all planets are capable of mutually aspecting each other from opposite signs.

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Prasna without Astrology

By Michael Laughrin

Nature is giving us clues as to what’s happening all the time. Such a sign is called “nimitta” in Sanskrit, which translates as “omen” in English.

Although clients often pose questions to their astrologers, there are some prerequisites for a prashna (the Sanskrit term for question). The client must want to know the answer with great intensity and unity of purpose. This is not a game. One should never use prashna of any kind just to fool around, or test the astrologer. Otherwise, the whole system will not work.

Following is a description of two methods, the first of which has its origins in Tajika, and was taught to me by Hart de Fouw, my primary teacher of Jyotish.

If you observe your breath, you’ll find that, every 90 minutes or so, the dominant nostril changes, by which I mean, the nostril that is drawing in more air than the other nostril. Taking note of this flow at the time of a question is vital, although it should be noted that this method is only good for “yes” and “no” questions.

Here are the rules for this procedure:

1. If the day of the week is ruled by a malefic, ie, Tuesday, Saturday or Sunday, then we get a “yes” to the question asked if the right nostril dominates. This is because the solar nadi controls the right (male) side of the body. But if the left nostril dominates during a question on such a day, the answer to the query is “no”.
2. If the day of the week is ruled by a benefic, ie, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, then we get a “yes” if the left nostril dominates. This is because the lunar nadi controls the left (female) side of the body. But if the right nostril dominates on such a day, the answer is “no”.

Here’s another system, this one taught to me by Narendra Desai, the greatest jyotishi I’ve ever known. This method combines prashna with nimitta in a simple way. 

1.     You (and/or the querent) must desperately want to know the answer to his/her question.

2.  At the moment of the question, the astrologer should observe his/her environment. And whatever the eye or ear is drawn to, there is a clue (nimitta) for your answer. 

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Speaker: Barry Rosen

Barry has been practicing Vedic astrology since 1987 and has spoken at major symposia, eg, the Sedona Vedic Astrology Conference, and the British Association of Vedic Astrologers in London. His teachers include Komilla Sutton, Marc Boney, Robert Koch, and Sanjay Rath. In the last seven years, he’s moved beyond his specialty in mundane/financial astrology to teach diverse courses in relationships, career, dashas, transits, ayurveda, and more. He is the author of five books on Vedic astrology, including the 2018-2020 Vedic Almanac series, all available through Amazon.

Email: support@appliedvedicastrology.com

website: https://www.appliedvedicastrology.com 

Webinar Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P8IdTLDTQ3CTMj5DKnZcYA

Speaker: Alan Annand, ACVA Editor-in-Chief of Publications

Alan Annand is a Canadian astrologer, palmist and author. A former tutor for the British Faculty of Astrological Studies, he’s a graduate of the American College of Vedic Astrology, and Editor-in-Chief for ACVA Publications. He’s a longstanding student of Hart deFouw, and has practiced astrology for over 40 years. His books on jyotisha – Kala Sarpa, Kama Yoga, Parivartana Yoga, and Stellar Astrology, Vols 1-4 – have been praised for the quality of their research and writing. He’s also a crime novelist, whose New Age Noir mystery series (Scorpio Rising, Felonious Monk, Soma County) features a Vedic astrologer/palmist. Website: https://www.navamsa.com/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AlanAnnand

Webinar Registration link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Qqh5t4S6T-GLMZlq9Z2pUw

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American College of Vedic Astrology



ACVA Leadership Team



• Prof. Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi) - President, ACVA’s External Relations Leader

• Dr. Sisira K. Amarasinghe, Ph.D. – ACVA Vice President, Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Technology

• Prof. Juliana Swanson - ACVA Provost and Dean of Academics

• Dr. Lynn Bootes, M.D.- Registrar, and Dean of Students

• Julene Louis – Curriculum Leader

• Arjun Kodikannath – ACVA Corporate Communications Officer



• Alan Annand – ACVA Editor-in-Chief of Publications

ACVA Staff

• Dr. Arjuna de Silva, MBBS (ACVA LMS & IT Operations Manager)

• Sudath Mudalige (IT Administrator)



• Susheel Erramilli (Social Media and Digital Marketing Coordinator)

To contact any one of us



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