--- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "hugheshugo" > <richardhughes103@> wrote: > > > > The idea that planets can go "retrograde" is all due to the > > ludicrous maths involved in making the earth appear to be > > the centre of the solar system, it really isn't. > > It sounds a lot like the math involved in saying > that one's spiritual teacher is "the best," or > that one's spiritual path is "the best." Those > beliefs are based on the person who thinks that > appearing to be at the center of the universe, > too. :-) > > Personally I think that astrology is hogwash, > *except* as tricksterism. That is, some people > whose intuition and "seeing" skills are present > but latent can *trick* themselves into utilizing > their latent ability to "see" by gazing a chart > of the position of the planets.
Barry, it is understandable why some people have questions about the validity of jyotish or western astrology. But, one cannot deny the power of the Sun. If the Sun were to flame out, life on Earth would die as well. If the Moon was not in its orbit, I'm sure there would be changes in the Earth environment as well. For example, the tidal system of the oceans would not be the same as we know it. Through practical observations, the ancient rishis have found these gross and subtle effects that the planets, or "grahas", have on people's lives. For example, there are certain planetary combinations in a person's chart that can show a person's potential for wealth, health, marriage, and spiritual path. I believe this jyotish knowledge has value in that it guides people in what steps to do at certain points in their lives. Yes, intuition has its value and understandably so. It is a resource that can make jyotish even more effective. When I took up the study of jyotish, I tried to explain the value of jyotish to my coworkers by stating that jyotish is the most advanced technology for determining the future. Why? Because the human brain is the most advanced biological computer that Nature can provide. At the present time (perhaps, even for the life of the universe) there is no man made computer that can match the brain's power. In other words, jyotish is the software for the human brain to use for predicting the future.
