Note from the President of ACVA

By Professor Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi) President, ACVA

August 2025

Hello again, dear readers -

“May we speak what is True, what is beneficial, what is timely.” I remind myself of this essential precept continuously in these arduous times. Maybe you do, too.

I hope you stay cool, wherever you are. It was 118 degrees here in Phoenix recently! We all carry on, though, somehow, don’t we?

Mr. Marc Boney offered ACVA members and friends a terrific webinar on Jaimini astrology on August 9th, with many well-presented examples of the effects of Chara Karaka Dashas. I learned a lot of specific, useful information. Marc will be elaborating on this topic again in our Jyotish Insights webinar series in September. See our coming attractions.

ACVA’s new Membership Program is getting off to an enthusiastic start. Thank you to those who have recently signed up to support our mission. If you haven’t already done so, please become a Member of ACVA. Your support and friendship are so valuable towards fulfilling our mission, especially in the near future. Please consider joining our growing community of dedicated students, scholars, and seekers of the wisdom of the sacred science of Jyotish. Thank you in advance! Here's the link for more information on member benefits: https://acvaonline.org/membership/

We hope that you enjoy reading, and benefit from, the brilliant articles in this month’s edition. ACVA appreciates the talents of our wise and generous contributors. If you would like to be considered for publication here, please contact Alan Annand, our editor-in-chief.

Sending you and your families every best wish. Please enjoy your study of Jyotish!

Onward and upward, your friend, Charlotte (Jyoti Devi)

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Professor Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi)

President, American College of Vedic Astrology

Ganesh Chaturthi

By Professor Juliana Swanson

ACVA Provost and Dean of Academics



Ganesh Chaturthi is a Vedic holy day that commemorates the birth of Lord Ganesh, who is also known as Ganesha, Ganapati, or Vinayaka. His sacred birthday celebration always occurs on the fourth day that follows the New Moon in the Vedic lunar month of Bhadrapada (which takes place from August 23 to September 21 this year). Cultural festivities as well as pious observances like pujas make up a big part of this important celebration which can go on for up to ten days. Ganesh brings forth a multitude of divine blessings for his devotees during this time.

Ganesh is invoked first in Vedic rituals because he is the lord of new beginnings. He has been depicted in a variety of forms that always include his enormous elephant head, big ears, and four arms. He is widely esteemed as the remover of obstacles, the giver of boons, the deva of wisdom and intelligence, a benefactor of writers and teachers, and the patron of arts and sciences.

Ganesh is the patron of Vedic astrology, and Vedic astrologers pray to him to invoke his wisdom and guidance. According to legend, Lord Shiva taught astrology to his consort Parvati, and she taught it to her second-born son, Ganesh, who therefore became in charge of astrology. He is also known as "Graha Pati," lord of all the grahas (planets). Any of his mantras may be repeated to remove afflictions from any planet. His mantras are helpful to remove anxiety and fear, and to enhance prosperity and peace of mind. His name Ganapati (Gana Pati) is translated as the “Lord of the Ganas (Categories)” because he oversees all the classifications between the microcosm and macrocosm.



Ganesh is an aspect of the Divine Power and the inner guardian to our spiritual being. He resides in our root center, the muladhara chakra, and therefore He also resides in the roots of the trees and within the forces of gravity on the Earth. When we walk in nature, we can feel our connection to Ganesh in our own energy roots and their connection deep in the Earth. He is closer to us and perhaps more accessible on Earth than any other aspect of God. We literally walk on him while he is holding us up! Reciting his mantras during a walk can be highly beneficial for centering and grounding.

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The Observatory

By Dr. Lynn Bootes, MD

ACVA Dean of Students and Registrar

registrar@acvaonline.org

Sun in Leo Edition – August 17 to September 30, 2025

Dear Readers,

We’re entering Eclipse season soon, and approaching the September Equinox, when living beings, the skies and the waters all over the globe make a seasonal shift of energies. The Lunar and Solar Eclipses, New and Full Moons, will have peak tides associated with the Eclipse season. On September 19, the partial Solar Eclipse occurs only 36 hours before the Equinox, a season associated with storms all over the Earth. My rule of thumb is that I don’t plan outdoor events or travel to storm hot-spots at those times. On the other hand, the change of seasons means there are opportunities for auspicious dates to commence study, engage in trade, and give attention to health matters.



The Sun itself is in its own sign Leo from August 17 to September 16, and generally at maximum power and influence. On August 20-22, when the Moon is in its own sign Cancer, there are opportunities for auspicious muhurtas.

Mercury is the star of the show this month. It’s completed its retrograde phase in Cancer on August 11 and spends the remainder of August alone in Cancer (except when visited by the Moon). On August 31 it picks up speed and moves into Leo, where it begins a complicated dance with the Sun, Ketu and Venus. Mercury reaches exact conjunction with Ketu on September 11, and with the Sun on September 14 near the end of Leo. During the entire month of September, one can’t expect to see Mercury in the sky since it’s within 12-14 degrees of the Sun (combust).

Mercury also makes a Budha Aditya Yoga, when it shares a rashi sign with the Sun, from August 31 to September 15. Mercury, although invisible to the naked eye, moves into its own and its exaltation sign Virgo, followed by the Sun, on September 16. Another period of Budha Aditya Yoga is in effect from September 16-30. Mercury in Virgo will be in the Vedic whole sign 1:7 aspect to Saturn in Pisces for the rest of September, with the exact opposition by degree on September 17. This complicated dance results in flashes of mental clarity and brilliance, while at other times the heat of the Sun or the mundane reality of Saturn may dominate. There are also some fascinating combinations of Mercury with Venus, Mars and Jupiter to consider.

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Sherlock of the Skies discovers Ed Sheeran (Part 1)

By Pratik Mehta

Vedic Astrologer

Picture this. You’re thoroughly enjoying your hard-earned, low-key weekend, chilling in your lounge chair, meditating Gen Z style by swiping through Instagram reels. You stumble onto this new song that’s going viral, we’re talking 120+ million views in less than a month kind of viral, sung by this equally viral English songwriter dude named Ed Sheeran. You hear the song, watch the video and, before you know it, this peppy little number is growing on you, not just because of the music but because its creator is beaming with joy in the multitude of clips that have been stitched together into this mosaic style video.

The next thing to cross your mind is, what daśā is this dude currently running? You google him to find that he’s one of those mystery charts whose place and date are known but the birth time is anybody’s guess. Bummer. But wait, the universe then whispers in your ears, Hey you! Why don’t you use your powers of deduction and knowledge of Jyotiṣa to see if you can narrow down Ed’s rising sign! If you can manage to do that, you can call yourself Sherlock of the Skies. Funky title for a Jyotiṣi but inspiring enough to give it a whole-hearted shot. So, here goes nothing. 

Canvassing the crime scene

Learning from scores of Sherlock adventures, the first thing to do is inspect the crime scene. In this case that would entail getting to know key facts and figures about Mr. Sheeran’s life thus far. Thankfully there is this little technique called Googling that helps speed up that process.

Here are some noteworthy facts to consider:

• Ed Sheeran’s current estimated net worth is $200 million.
• He occupies the #3 spot in the all-time music hall-of-fame with 14 number # 1 singles in the UK which puts him just behind the King of Pop himself, Elvis Presley (21 hits), and the legendary heartthrob boyband The Beatles (18 hits). And let’s not forget that he’s only 34 years old as we speak, so he might just make it to the top before he hangs up his hat.
• He has multiple songs with streaming counts in the billions, with “Shape of You” leading the way. Released 6^th January 2017, it has roughly 6.5 billion views on YouTube.
• Mr. Sheeran got married in January 2019 and is blessed with two daughters Lyra and Jupiter born August 2020 and May 2022, respectively. Yes, you read that right. The younger one is called Jupiter. What are the odds, Sherlock of the Skies, running into a girl named Jupiter on his first cast?



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Shakata Yoga

By Odelia Eskinazi

Vedic Astrologist and Author

Some endings barely register. They pass quietly, and life moves on. But others hit hard and stay with you, leaving a space that feels empty and raw. You find yourself crippled, caught in grief that seems like it may never lift. You refuse to believe what happened, clinging to a past version that no longer exists. And yet, over time, that same space can become fertile ground where something new begins to grow. In retrospect, it’s often the moments that stripped away everything I once depended on, what I loved or believed in most, that led to the most powerful transformations.

It’s no coincidence that the study of Vedic astrology was bequeathed to me during a difficult time in my life, at the start of my Jupiter mahadasha. At that time, transiting Saturn was exactly opposing my natal Moon, determined to aggravate the gloom and doom. Since then, Jyotish has never ceased to amaze me nor to nurture the “perpetual student” within. With its vastness and depth, there is always something new to learn. Above all, it truly lives up to its name, illuminating our paths and expanding our awareness through its revelations and quiet, sublime guidance.

One of the great strengths of Jyotish, among its many remarkable attributes, is its rich collection of yogas. Yogas are a unique feature of Vedic astrology, playing a central role in its interpretive and predictive power. Our birth chart is essentially a map of our prarabdha karma, the karma that has ripened and is ready to be experienced during this incarnation. Like all elements of the birth chart, yogas also carry karmic significance, shaping an individual’s destiny, personality, and life events. Some are highly auspicious, bringing blessings, opportunities, and a notable rise in life. Others indicate potential challenges or hardships that prompt growth and transformation.

Among the thousands of yogas described in classical texts, some are specifically associated with reversal: contrasting experiences, unexpected shifts, fluctuations, and transformation. They reflect the unpredictable, often paradoxical nature of existence, where circumstances can change abruptly, and outcomes unfold in ways no one could foresee. Shakata Yoga is one of these.  

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Speaker: Marc Boney

Professional Astrological Teacher, Writer and Consultant



Marc Boney is an internationally renowned astrological teacher, writer and consultant. He received his training in Jyotisha primarily from K.N. Rao, one of the world's foremost practitioners. Marc has been a featured speaker at international conferences, and is the author of 32 e-books available on Amazon. He is an adjunct faculty member of the Institute of Astrology, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, of New Delhi, India, and recipient of their Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to advancing Vedic astrology in the West. Marc holds an MA in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and, prior to becoming a full-time jyotishi, held positions in corporate human resources. http://marcboney.com/

2.  ACVA webinar – 11 October 2025 – Ernst Wilhelm 

SATURDAY 10am Pacific, 11am Mountain, Noon Central, 1pm Eastern

Topic: Lajjitaadi Avasthas

Lajjitaadi Avasthas are based on the natural relationships of the planets, plus a couple other things. They’re very simple to see in the chart, and endless in their ramifications. They are my favorite technique of Vedic astrology. The first time I taught a course on Lajjitaadi Avasthas, many students, who had been studying astrology for 30 plus years made the similar comment, “This is the missing link we have always been looking for!” I have taught more hours on this than any other subject, and it has become my belief that if we’re not using Lajjitaadi Avasthas, we’re not playing with a full deck and so not experiencing the full brilliance of Parashara Astrology.

In this introductory course I’ll teach the formations of these Avasthas and give basic interpretations as to what they’re doing. The depth of these Avasthas is profound. I’ve taught three courses each of over 100 videos long on Lajjitaadi Avasthas, and I could do another two such courses – they’re that deep. If you want to use astrology to really change your life and the lives of others, Lajjitaadi Avasthas are the key to really getting in there and doing the job. 

Webinar Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cugF7jkJSmW4T1wra_Ftkg

Speaker: Ernst Wilhelm

Vedic Astrology Researcher

Ernst Wilhelm has been diving into classical astrology texts from India for 30 years, seeking the best of what astrology has to offer in predictive accuracy. He has extensively researched Jaimini and Parashari Astrology, and developed Kala Vedic Astrology software to facilitate further research into Vedic Astrology. Coming from a healer background, he believes that if astrology isn’t healing, it’s not worth doing. He’s convinced that the depth of human, psychological and spiritual truths known by the ancient jyotish rishis of India is beyond that found in any other system of knowledge.

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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



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