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Unmasking a Heavily Afflicted Planet 
May 31, 2008 |
| Vedic
Astrology Diary Archives |
By Marc
Boney, M.A.
An astrologer needs to be able to see matters in a balanced
way since every indication in a chart can have both a positive
and a negative side. However, this becomes more difficult in
those cases where appearances are deceiving.
I recently came across a chart that dramatically illustrates
this point. At first glance, the Moon in Penelope’s chart
(not actress Penelope Cruz) looks heavily afflicted. There she
sits in the 7th house nestled beside first rate malefics, Saturn
and Rahu, and in the sign of her debilitation, Scorpio. But
there is more to her Moon than meets the superficial eye.
Penelope's Chart
To only see these factors is to be taken in by her debilitated
and smoky deception. This "femme fatale" is a double
agent with many identities. Lift a veil, and you’re bound
to encounter another. Do not be deceived. She’s not as
notorious as she looks, and I plan to expose her little masquerade,
and reveal the many positive potentials seeks to hide.
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall
in " Here's Lookin' at You, Kid"
Just for fun, picture a late 1930’s black and white film
noir set. A stark room (more like a cell really) is dimly lit
by a single naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling. Seated
in the center of the room, head bowed, is the Moon, played by
a young Lauren Bacall. Periodically, she looks up to glance
furtively towards the door. Small beads of perspiration are
beginning to form on her forehead. She shifts uncomfortably
in the folding metal chair.
Into the room strides a no-nonsense Vedic astrologer Jyotishi
played by Humphrey Bogart. In his hand is a well-thumbed copy
of sage Parashara's classic text, Brihat Parashara Hora
Shastra. For a moment, they merely exchange looks, sizing
each other up. Tension fills the room. Her lips curl in a half-smile,
then stop short in something more like a sneer.
Moon: “So are you going to tell me
I'm trash like all the other jyotishi's? Isn’t that how
you guys always work? Well, I can save you the time, I already
know I'm trash.”
Jyotishi: “I’ll ask the questions
here, Miss." (Pausing with a sigh) “Look,
we can do this the hard way, or we can do this the easy way.
Cooperate, and nobody gets hurt. It’s up to you. I’m
just looking for a few simple answers to a few simple questions.”
Moon: “Sure, why not? I’ve
got nothing to hide.” (Mocking) “You gonna
frisk me?”
Jyotishi: (Sharply) “Save it for
the boys downtown. Now why don’t you start by telling
me who you really are?”
Moon: (Bored) “Can’t you see
for yourself? I’m a debilitated and badly afflicted Moon.
Everyone can see that.”
Jyotishi: (Dryly) “Yeah, sure you
are. But there’s a bit more to it than that, isn’t
there?”
Moon: (Feigning surprise) “I don’t
know what you mean. Why are you looking at me that way? I’m
a fallen woman, and that’s all there is to it. You can’t
hold me here like this just because I’m no good.”
Jyotishi: (Shaking his head) “I was
hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but I’m afraid
you leave me no choice.”
He begins to circle around her, arms clasped behind his back,
an expression of thoughtfulness on his face. He suddenly wheels
on her and says forcefully:
“Isn’t it true that you’re actually quite
capable of bestowing favorable karmas in your dashas and antardashas!!?”
Moon: (Sardonic) “Yeah right, in
my condition? Give it a rest. Everybody knows I’m garbage.
No decent astrologer would even give me a second look.”
The Jyotishi calmly opens to a page in Parashara's text. A worried
expression crosses her face.
Jyotishi: “That’s funny. It
says here that the brighter you are the more benefic you become,
and the way I see, just a few days past fullness is pretty bright.”
Moon: (Flaring in anger, defiant) “So
what if I’m bright! Lot’s of woman are bright! You’ve
proved nothing! That doesn’t stop me from being a femme
fatale! Just look at the creeps I’m hanging out with (Saturn
and Rahu). (Smirks) If that’s all you got
on me, the suits will have me out of here by sunset.”
Jyotishi: (Smiling, enjoying the game) “Yes,
I’m sure they will. But if you don’t mind, just
a few more questions.” (Now in a silky tone) “Tell
me, Miss, does the name "Neecha Bhanga" mean
anything to you?"
She gasps audibly, then tries desperately to cover her reaction.
Moon: “Neecha Bhanga? Neecha Bhanga?
No…no…I’m quite sure I’ve haven’t
heard that name before.” (Recovering her composure,
and flashing an impudent smile) “Is he rich?”
He smiles at the bravado, and opens Parashara's text again,
while she squirms uneasily in her chair.
Jyotishi: “Oh, but I think you do
know him. I think you and Neecha Bhanga are intimately acquainted.
But we can come back to that.” (Shifting abruptly,
as if on to another topic) “Tell me Miss, aren’t
you exalted in the sign Taurus?”
Moon: (Insolent)“Yeah, so?”
Jyotishi: “And doesn’t Venus
rule Taurus?”
Moon: “What of it?”
Jyotishi: “And couldn’t Venus
be said to be in a kendra from the lagna in this chart, being
in the 1st house, and in the 7th house from your own position
as well?”
Moon: (Guarded, suspicious now) “I
suppose, but what does any of this got to do with me?”
Not responding, he turns and begins to walk away from her, then
suddenly spins and confronts her in harsh tone, his face just
inches from hers.
Jyotishi: “You’re lying, you
little minx! You know perfectly well what it has to do with
you! It cancels your debilitation twice over! It makes you much
better than you seem! Now give up this little charade!"
Dropping her pretended ignorance, but with no less of a defiant
attitude, she bolts from the chair, turning away from him.
Moon: (Venomously) ”All right, so
maybe it does! But two little cancellations doesn’t make
me Ms. Goodie-Two-Shoes, and you know it!”
Jyotishi: (Unperturbed) “Quite true,
but shall we go on pretending that the mutual aspect between
you and Venus doesn’t cancel your debility?”
She sags back into the chair, defeat momentarily registering
on her features. But she recovers quickly, a challenging look
returning to her eyes.
Moon: “Okay, so I’m not really
that debilitated, but if you care to check your “bible”
there, you’ll see that Parashara classifies me as a functional
malefic for a Taurus lagna, and as a maraka because I'm in the
7th house. That still gives me beaucoup qualifications to play
the villainess.”
Jyotishi: (Chiding tone) “Come now,
must we persist in this little game? You know as well as I that
Parashara also says that debilitated planets posited in, or
ruling the 3rd house give raja-yoga in their periods and sub-periods
if the lagna lord is in exaltation, or own sign, and aspects
the lagna. Are you telling me that you failed to notice that
this condition applies to this chart?”
Moon: (Looking more and more desperate) “Okay,
okay, but what about those afflictions? You know I’m very
impressionable. Are you going to tell me that hanging out with
the likes of Saturn and Rahu improve a girl’s disposition?
(Sarcastic) “In case you haven’t noticed, Mr.
Rahu isn’t exactly putting his best foot forward either.(In
its sign of debililitation, Scorpio)"
Jyotishi: “Point taken, doll-face.
But aren’t you conveniently overlooking a few things about
these associates of yours? They’re not quite the pure
evil-doers your overactive imagination likes to portray them
as, now are they?”
“Even a beginning Jyotishi knows that Saturn is the
best planet for Taurus, becoming a first-rate yogakaraka for
this lagna since it rules the best kendra and the best trine.
And here Saturn additionally falls in an angle so that it’s
fully capable of giving its promised raja-yoga effects. But
I think you also realize that Saturn doesn’t fall in just
any angle, but in the 7th house, where it gets dig bala, or
directional strength.”
“And yes, Rahu is debilitated, but you know as well
as I do that it gets cancelled three times for the same reasons
that you do since its exaltation sign is also Taurus.”
“And what about the principle that the Moon's Nodes
become yogakarakas themselves when they fall into an angle with
the lord of a trine. We both know this Saturn and Rahu form
a little thing called raja-yoga, baby-cakes, so you can stop
with the phony-baloney."
“And speaking of raja-yogas, Saturn’s mutual
aspects with Venus, the lagna lord gives another one (1-9),
as does the mutual aspect with Mercury (5-10).”
“In fact, Venus conjunct Mercury in the 1st house
is also a raja-yoga (1-5), and you are in mutual aspect with
this combination as well.”
“So let’s see, that makes five raja-yoga combinations
that you are connected with, in addition to the one you form
as a debilitated 3rd lord. Now, are you still going to tell
me that these associations are really so terrible after all?”
Moon: (Looking around, as if seeking to escape)
“Hey, a malefic is a malefic, I don’t care how
you dress’um up! You should know that!
Jyotishi: “Granted, cutie-pie, but
how is it that you failed to mention that you receive the aspect
of all three natural benefics as well? (Venus, Mercury,
and Jupiter). And so well placed, with Venus in own sign,
and Jupiter exalted”
“And then there is your dispositor, Mars, exalted
in the best trine, and in an exchange with Saturn, the yogakaraka,
giving yet another raja-yoga (9-7).”
Moon: (Burying her head in her hands, and bursting
into hysterical tears) “Stop! Stop! I can’t
take it any more. You’re right, I’m an imposter.
I confess. I’ve been living a terrible, terrible lie.”
After a while her tears subside, and she leans back in the chair.
(Looking relieved now)
“I guess I always knew that someday, someone would
come along who would see right through me, who would realize
that I’m not really the tough-talking gangster-moll that
I pretended to be.”
(Resigned, the-chip-on-the shoulder attitude completely gone
now)
“So okay, I’ll admit it, I can bring good results
in my dashas and antardashas. Is that what you wanted to hear
me say?
Jyotishi: “It ain’t for me
toots, it’s for all those new jyotishis out there who
could be easily misled by a shady lady like you. And I think
Penelope’s going to want to read a transcription of our
conversation as well."
Moon: “So what happens now, you gonna
throw the book at me?”
Jyotishi: “Negative. You’re
free to walk, sugar. But if I hear you’re passing yourself
off again as strictly a debilitated and afflicted planet, I’ll
haul you in on those good-lookin’ games of yours faster
than you can say karakamsha.”
Rising from the chair, she tosses her head and saunters to the
door, her swagger returning a little. She pauses, her hand on
the knob. Half turning, she gazes at him over her shoulder,
a little misty-eyed:
Moon: "You know, you tell a lie long
enough and you begin to believe it yourself. I guess I should
thank you for forcing me to own up to my good side."
Jyotishi: “Forget it, doll-face,
we all make mistakes.”
She turns again to leave, but half way through the door, stops
and faces him again.
Moon: (Plaintively, her voice small) “Call
a girl sometime?”
Jyotish: (Smiling broadly) “You dames
are all alike! Sure, it’s a date. But loose the black
leather. We both know it’s an act."
They laugh together, as the camera fades out.
reprinted with permission
Copyright 2008. Vaughn Paul
Manley. All Rights Reserved. |
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