by TRANSFORMATIONAL LIFE-COACH RIMA DESAI
Tag Archives: astrology
REFINE YOUR DESTINY ~ KARM(a) THEORY
Please note that the original term is KARM, not KARMAS (western version). Hence you will see me use the term Karm or Karm(a)s often in the text today.
Did you know that 2019 has been one of the most potent year of our generation, astrologically speaking. Have you found this year to be exceptionally challenging? The two karmic planets in Vedic / Sidereal Astrology made a huge impact in our lives this year.
2019 to 2022 is one of the most popular time for Vedic Astrologers since some of transits happening in the sky have never happened in our millennium! As I made my astrology video on Saturn-Ketu (South Node) conjunction in Sagittarius, one of my viewers emailed me, asking me to make a video on how to repay our karmas? What a wonderful question! I’d love to answer that today.
What is KARM(a) exactly? Karm in the Indian language means ‘Action’ or ‘Deed’. However, karm is not our outward action alone. Karm is also our inward action. What does this mean?
This means that every thought which is generated from our belief systems and perceptions and the intentions behind our actions make up karm as well. A collection of Karm over time makes up our destiny. In other words, the larger, intense, transformative life experience we have in our current birth are often an expression of our ‘BANKED’ karma from many previous life times.
TYPES OF KARM(a)s
There are 4 main types of Karmas:
- Sanchit Karm(a)s: The full range of karm collection for an individual soul, until current day
- Prarabdh Karm(a)s: Karms that have matured or ripened from the bank of sanchit karms. Not all karms ripen at the same time. Karms ripen when they are ready to give their fruits. (Just like our Fixed Deposits or Investments have a maturity time).
- Kriyaman Karm(a)s: The karms that we are creating by our thoughts and deeds in the present moment
- Agam Karm(a)s: Karms that are yet to mature or manifest in the future
The Two Karmic Planets
Saturn and Ketu (South Node) are the two karmic planets in Vedic Astrology. Saturn ruling the sign of Aquarius (along with North Node Rahu) and Ketu co-ruling the sign of Scorpio along with Mars are the two most important planets responsible in giving us the fruits of our Sanchit Karms. They govern the painful, deep teachings or transformative experiences in our life. I would not call them negative planets. After all, they help us REPAY our pent up karmic debt and help our soul progress towards a higher state of existence!
7 ways to repay our karmic debts
- Surrender to our destiny – The painful experiences, people, and events in our life are often the culmination of our Prarabdh karms. e.g. people we trust the most betray us or money we lose when unexpected, being or feeling abused, etc. Those people are merely ‘nimit’ (means / medium) to have our ‘karm phal‘ (fruits of our karms) reach us. Should we surrender to our lord, destiny and life then, humbly accepting our karmic lessons, we are able to resolve that debt much more easily and avoid further entanglement.
- Penance – Repenting for known and unknown deeds that inflicted pain to another is one of the most powerful way to repay our karmic debts. When we are pain we often say to ourselves that we haven’t done bad to anyone but truly if we were to remember and list the rude words, actions and harmful deeds we have done to the planet, animals, people in all our life years and the hurt it caused in their heart and soul even if momentarily (often lasting very long), we will surprise ourselves.
Jainism propagates asking for forgiveness from every single living being on the planet with true intention (Intention is everything, words mean nothing to the universe if our intention is not aligned!). I highly recommend Landmark Forum’s activity where they ask us to go back to our parents, siblings, ex lovers, friends, everyone we know who we have felt hurt by us and who we feel deeply have hurt us. No matter how much we justify to ourselves that the apology is not required or may not be received well, in reality it is what some people in our lives have been waiting for years. I did that activity with over 18 people in my life and found not only how long they had kept the hurt within but also how much I mattered to them! By healing my heart and theirs as well, it brought massive spiritual shifts for me as well as them! - Voluntarily Repay – We can take charge and do what it takes to repay the debt even if painful. E.g. if we have not returned someone’s belongings or money, even after years into it, we can go ahead and finish that circle of debt or serving other needy people to repay old debts we held towards others. Another example is – if we have had difficult people in our lives, know that our karm is often calling attention to healing that life experience from this birth or past. Taking the lead to do what it takes to heal the relationship can help you repay the debt at least from you end. If the other person doesn’t receive or respond it, that’s their incomplete debt, but you having done your part, complete your end of the duty! Remember, the universe hears and sees our intentions, every single second!
- Life-Coaching, SRT, Hypnotherapy – The power of the subconscious mind, opening our Akashic records and emotionally changing our life-stories / emotional lifestyle is huge! By strengthening our mind emotionally, we build mental resilience, learn to be humble and dissolve old soul contracts that are unhealthy. You will find that by seeking these services, a massive shift entails not only in your vibrational message but heals the core existence of everyone around you.
- Deeds of Service – Serving the needy, diseased or underprivileged people with physical deeds of service (preparing, distributing, serving food or visiting them, spending them with them, sharing affection, etc.) helps with the blessings that can dissolve tough karms. Remember though that the universe notices our intention. If our intention to help is to receive recognition, name or fame, then our deeds are credited towards karmic backlog.
6. Godliness aka Virtuous Living – need I say more about this? The emphasis of visiting a place of worship, worshiping a Godly figure, etc. is to build a virtuous character, so as to proceed towards more and more intentional living and humble expressions of ourselves. By being humanitarian or simple in our existence, we simplify the perceptions we hold towards life and difficult times. It builds our inner resilience and appreciation of life however it is!
7. Blessings from an Enlightened Soul – Last but not the least, there is an uncanny ability of karmic debts being resolved with the blessings of a highly enlightened soul. When priests / gurus that are truly humble, highly spiritual and sorted in their existence, they are able to perish the negativity we hold in our energetic stamps of life. It is like having a strong antidote to a virus.
How did you like this post? Did it add to your knowledge and understanding of karm(a)s? What would you like to add to it? Please contribute and hear my video, soon to be attached below.
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When Rahu met a Super Star
It is funny how in today’s world of ‘Rahu’ Kaal (The immortal North Node) we consider that a hero who can show much physical strength and power, often shown in movies with special physical powers as that of Spiderman, Ironman and so on. And even though there is emphasis on the internal strength and concentrated energies to activate and sustain those super powers, yet there is just a heavy bodily element there.
The Super Star I am talking about today is nothing like that. He possessed no particular bodily powers and in fact, did not need any. Dated back to 599 B.C. he was and continues to remain one of the most inspiring figures in Indian History. Originally known as ‘Vardhaman’ (birth name), he gained the title of * MAHAVIR (Maha = Super or Great, Vir = Courageous). Thousands of Jain followers bow to Mahavir Bhagwan (Bhagwan = God) on this special day of his Birth (Mahavir Jayanti; Jayanti = Birthday). As per the English calender it fell on April 1, 2018.
For those who are new to JAINISM- It has been comparatively a small but extremely powerful SECT within the Indian cultural setting. Jains are followers of Jainism – a religion that focuses heavily on liberation of the soul by means of conquering the 5 senses and living a life of renunciation and unconditional love. Lord Mahavir was the 24th, last of the Tirthankars (Guide, Spiritual Teacher) of Jainism in this Era of the Earth’s cycle.
I have been lucky to be born in a highly religious Jain family, a family which owned a Jain Temple in India which was open to public. Not only did we pray diligently, we did several group satsangs (spiritual meetings) and attended religious teachings where we were taught and guided by inspiring stories of Lord Mahavir and other previous Jain Lords.
So What makes Lord Mahavir a Super Hero after all?
Mahavir Bhagwan was born in the city of Vaishali (current day Bihar) in a wealthy, kingly family of King Siddharth and Queen Trishala. The birth of a great man was expected by the 14 auspicious dream symbols his pregnant mom received in her sleep.
Despite having several wordly pleasures and services at his command, he exhibited a kind, virtuous nature and deep respect of his parents since childhood. As per his parents’ wishes he married beautiful Yashoda at a young age and had a daughter with her. Vardhaman had immense love from family, good health and unimaginable prosperity and yet he continued to feel disconnected, detached from all those worldly pleasures. He donated tons and tons of gold and charity with ease to several of his people. 2 years after his parents’ demise, he renounced all his worldly pleasures, prosperity, personal bonds and became a homeless ascetic in the search for TRUTH and ENLIGHTENMENT.
For 12.5 years after that he spent his life in a single piece of cloth (to give up sensual pleasure, Jainism taught giving up all that belonged to one’s senses and using the bear minimum needed for survival), with no other bodily belongings (no shoes, no jewelry, no possessions or belongings) and deeply meditated in the jungles with silence and discipline. His massive courage was depicted by his unconditional patience and kindness towards animals, humans and demons who made every attempt to harm him and break his indomitable meditative pose. He was whipped, burnt, bitten, hurt, hammered into by cruel deeds and yet he remained unwavering in his resolve to be at peace and silence. In his meditations he received deep revelations about God, Godliness and liberation from Life and death.
Once of the most powerful stories of Lord Mahavir’s monk life is when he was passing through a jungle path and all villagers had warned him to stay away from that path for the venomous and outrageous snake (Chandkaushik) would immediately kill all those who walked that path. When Lord Mahavir exhibited invincible courage and walked that path with a heart full of unconditional love and peace for the snake, the villagers did not expect him to see him alive again. The snake tried all he could to defeat and scare Lord Mahavir with his fierce moves, bites and behavior. Not only did the snake bite heal itself on Lord Mahavir’s feet but he shed white milk liquid from his body instead of blood when he was bitten. With his loving heart, Lord Mahavir held up his right palm to bless the snake and eventually with his unconditional love, he melt all of the snake’s anger and even healed the snake’s past life emotional patterns of rage and pride. The snake bowed to Lord Mahavir and the villagers could then safely travel that path never to worry again about being attacked.
Many a stories have been told about Lord Mahavir’s UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, irrevocable KINDNESS and unshakeable internal will power. There were days and weeks he spent on forced fast with no food to be found anywhere as he refused to eat Non-Vegetarian (organisms with 3 or more senses) or Underground food (roots have unlimited amounts of micro-organisms) of any kind. He liberated Chandanbala from her shackles and ultimately attained Kevalgyan (ULtimate, Universal Knowledge) owing to his constant dedication to peaceful instrospection. Kevalgyan is attained only by those who are completely conquered the 5 senses, have no sensual desires left to fulfill.
He then sermoned for several years, enlightening not only humans of all languages but even animals and other organisms by his own single speech and dialect (He was internally so powerful that each organism understood his speech in their own language). His spirit was then liberated from the birth-death cycle forever and became an enlightened, liberted soul, inspiring, motivating and guiding millions of Jain followers for centuries later.
My love for Mahavir Swami (Swami = Lord) is very deep. When I was in my early 20s and had visited Jodhpur, Rajastan, my family went up to the top of the fort to get the view of the city and tour the fort. I however, sat a full 2 hours in Mahavir Swami’s temple, looked at him, meditated and cried for wanting to be like him, with him, following his path. Post that deep connection that I had found with him in that temple, Lord Mahavir visited me in my dreams early in the morning on the way back to my home. The bright, bold Halo around his head and his charismatic presence and words are still fresh in my mind – soul after a decade and a half.
It was Lord Mahavir who gave us the words – “LIVE and LET LIVE” which meant do no harm to others not only by action but also by thought (don’t judge, don’t criticise, don’t anger) and allow others the freedom to self-expression and life.
Today across the world Lord Mahavir’s Jayanti (birthday) was celebrated with pomp and joy. My celebration of this day was by a Loving Silence for a few minutes and stories of Mahavir Swami’s courage and kindness to my young daughter.
So if you ask me who is my role model, you know that it is no human born in this era! So what or who do you call a SUPER HERO, a SUPER STAR? One that embodies unlimited physical strength to win others through physical power or one that exhibits ultimate Soul Power merely by Unconditional Love, Kindness and Will Power?? What kind of power would you want your children to learn? How do we resolved conflicts in our lives??
* Please note that many Indian names and words don’t traditionally end in an ‘a’ . The ‘a’ in the end is what I have found as an adaption by the western world. There is nothing like Yoga in traditional Indian dictionary or dialect. It is Yog (Exercise of the Soul), It is Mahavir not Mahavira and so on..
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Making BIG Money – ‘The Secret’
Big Money! The green notes, “paisa duniya ko gumati hai” (money runs the world – in Hindi). “Sahi kaha” (as in rightly said).
But it is the dark truth that we need money and we need more. The daily demands of living are increasing and so are our debts. Why don’t our pay cheques then catch up as well? What really is the secret to making more money quickly and easily?
My money awareness started about a year ago, when I realized I had really nothing much to ‘bank’ on. For ten years I had no work permit, I was living off my husband’s hard earned money with little, almost no savings. My self-esteem had obviously no ropes for staying at home, I was given little value and I myself felt like I wasn’t contributing enough.
I find it weird that in U.S.A. so many thousands, (no exaggeration) of men and women blindly plunged into I.T. as their new career in this new land simply because it promises jobs and a great income to start with. I have seen many people totally oblivion to I.T., get a starter in big companies. They do so by submitting ‘fake’ certificates acquired from India and by doing short, quick courses to get important prior knowledge to start off. Firms in USA hire us Indians/Asians because not only are the certificates convincing but also was the fact that Asians are extremely smart and hard working. No lies. We are intelligent, we know how to sweep our way through the tunnels of success no matter what!
My struggle has been the choice between doing what I love and doing the ‘smart’ thing as others call it. They all say, it is smart to get into I.T. as the pay cheques start anywhere from $4000 a month! But I.T. is not anything close to what I love doing. I am an all in and out people person and love Psychology to the core. However, in USA my degree is considered as good as useless because for one, I studied from a developing, 3rd world country and for two I do not have a Ph.D. required for practising as a Psychologist. Even to teach, I would have to go through a whole process to get my teaching certification, learn the latest Psychology terms, pass exams and more. Studying another Masters of Psychology from USA even for one year, would cost me up to $28,000.
Here was what my thought process was 3 years ago: “I studied Masters in Psychology from Mumbai, India. Studied thick books, tough terms, as good as law and toiled all those years for nothing?! To stay home for an entire decade and rot in my brain and life with no success?” I was going through a major identity crisis alike many other immigrants. I felt outcasted career wise, there was no place for me to set foot.
Life had swept my career off my sweep in a jiffy and held me captive for 10 years. After being released from 10 years of that prison, not only was my mind blank, my heart was blank too. The clouds of confusion had gotten under the thick boots of determination.
Don’t get me wrong, I am the typical Type A, go getter personality. So, I could not possibly sit there allow life to consume me. It sure did but while it was demolishing the empire of dreams I once had, I began to write a new story. I was building a mini castle of faith and joy for myself.
I was enrolled as a student in Transformational Life-Coaching Certification from SWIHA, I started holding camps for children from home, I was writing and publishing articles in well-known networks and yet I was earning close to NOTHING. Fast forward a few years, I received my Green Card in 2016 and started working in a day-care. In no time, I was working in a Montessori and now in USA’s largest Charter School working with Special Needs’ Children as a one-on-one Para. I typically get to work with low functioning, high autism, ADD/ADHD or other special needs’ children. Finally, my passion and talents from psychology were beginning to come together.
I am also Life-Coaching Women one-on-one now, helping them realize their passions and follow their dreams, making tons of inspiring Facebook Videos for women and holding side classes for preschool children from home. I am sure not making a whole lot of money YET, but my heart is fulfilled with how I am giving back my gifts and talents to the world and doing what I desire. No regrets if I die tomorrow!
It impacted my self-esteem deeply and to know that we were going deeper into the debts we held in USA was even more stressful. In other words, no money to invest, no starter support, no educational support, no work experience to show for a decade, only my WILL-POWER, MY SPIRIT. But what if God offered me all the other things at the cost of not having WILL-POWER, not having a STRONG DRIVE? What would I chose?
I would chose my internal drive at the expense of giving up all other resources and that is exactly what my career path has proven to me, I have proven it to life.
I have proven that I won’t compromise my passion for a paycheck, my will power for support, my internal drive for outside resources. If I have a choice of either, I will always chose the former. I have now, after 10 years, set myself on a tough journey of building my career by myself, as a Single Mom, in a foreign country, with lack of capital or other important resources but I know that I can CREATE my own network, my own resources and the Universe will have my back for living a life where I am TRUE to my TALENTS and my PASSION.
Do you relate to my story? Do you have a similar strong drive to share your gifts with the world? Everyone who tells you – “It won’t happen” is your ultimate RESOURCE to make it happen. Because they said it to you, now you can do it even more, even better~ Go for it Wonderful Woman ~ Follow your passions!! Watch my VIDEO HERE
What if we were to use our intelligence to enrich our lives over and beyond the money factor? For sure, some of us are made for IT and have that carved deeply in our ‘passion’ book. But for scores of others, it is just a ‘job’ that starts with another ‘draggy’ day and ends with another pay cheque. Do you really enjoy the feeling of working 9 to 5 or rather 7pm to 9 pm for that pay cheque, pension plan or bill that gets paid? Or would you rather have MORE MONEY THAN YOU CAN SPEND and enjoy every bit of earning that money, love your life for it and not feel half as stressed or weighed down by the challenges that the work presents.
I want you to hear my video above, hear my inspiring story, see what life has in store for you!
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Top 10 Questions to ask your astrologer regarding compatibility
Someone asked me a smart and relevant question related to Astrology: How does astrology help in marriage prospects because I have seen people match their horoscopes and be very unhappy and vice versa?
Let us get to the answer. We will talk on why horoscope matches don’t work and the correct method to match horoscopes. Yes, I can agree with it. Horoscopes may be matched with the best points or the astrologer may have said this is an excellent match and yet the couple may be unhappy and vice versa.
WHY HOROSCOPE MATCHING DOESN’T WORK or DOESN’T SHOW THE RESULTS IT PROMISED
- Firstly, do not judge a marriage from what is seen in public. A couple could look like the best couple in social gatherings and on facebook but the complete opposite may be true.
- Astrology is an accurate study but astrologers are not! Just like there are great doctors and also terrible ones, there are great astrologers and other terrible ones. Hence, the analysis could have missed the mark.
- The point system – ‘gunak’ has a loop-hole. The Indian method of matching 32 points is a false system of matching horoscopes. At least, by itself it says nothing about the couple’s life. Yet, astrologers do it for one of the several reasons:- They don’t know any better. There are many ‘google’ astrologers. By that I mean, they became astrologers by wearing an astrologer’s dress, just googling information from here and there but in reality they know little astrology.- All they care for is the numbers! Many are there just to make money. So they care less of giving you a real analysis or doing their job. They know what sells with the general public and so they use it to play with the public’s psyche. In reality, there is NOTHING like DAILY FORECASTS in astrology. That is ‘fake’ astrology.
Same is with gemstones, mantras, havans, and the point system to match horoscopes.- There are other astrologers who may not reveal the truth. So many of us consult astrologers for the SOLE REASON of hearing something ‘good’. We just want Hope and somehow feel that a few magical words will turn our life around. Astrologers know that many times revealing the truth could mean LOSING CUSTOMERS and hence losing business.- There are more than a dozen times when people DO NOT FOLLOW the suggestions given by astrologers regarding a certain match. E.g. astrologer may have said that this is a great match but marry after 2 years. The family or couple selectively focuses on the ‘great match’ advice and leaves out the latter.The couple marries early and then they feel doomed! Note that there is a reason why a good astrologer says what s/he does. If you are not ready to make the advised changes or follow the advice given, do not seek the guidance in the first place because it is a waste of your money and time. More so, it takes your faith away from astrology, which is worse!
- Typically, a horoscope match will give an overall analysis – in general, will the couple survive well together, have a great marriage or fall apart. Asking for a more detailed analysis from the astrologer helps. Mr. and Mrs. A’s Horoscope may match very well but this doesn’t mean they will sheltered from day to day arguments. So when you mean couples are unhappy, do you mean they are unhappy because they expressed that or you thought they are unhappy because you interpreted it that way? Remember that there could be couples that quarrel day in and out and yet Love being with each other and there could be couples that be very cordial with each other but could be highly dissatisfied in themselves.
- Matching a couple positively doesn’t mean that they will be happy for all of the life-time they spend together. It could mean basic things like – overall sense of comfort, ability to have children, ability to share a roof, a sense of satisfaction. The more questions you ask the astrologer for clarification on specific points, the more it will help.
THE CORRECT METHOD TO MATCH A HOROSCOPE
- Only a handful astrologers have the real skills and knowledge of authentic astrology. This is understandable because to make an analysis one has to make such detailed and multiple calculations and compilations that it would require true genius and expertise to do so.
- I have learnt this exact same technique from 3 expert astrologers and I have seen this work pretty well: The position of the moon in the both individual’s chart must be assessed. How far are the moon signs away from each other, what is the condition of the moon in each person’s chart and cross check moon positions as shadowed onto the other person’s chart.
- The Sun’s position in both charts. Since women are now ambitious, career oriented, working in the outside world, both their sun positions must be checked for compatibility
- The houses of marriage, D-9 chart, planets relevant to marriage in general astrology and in each individual’s chart must be assessed for compatibility by cross checking their influence in each other’s charts.
If you do not have deeper knowledge of astrology, these techniques may be tough to understand. However, at the least you will know to ask your astrologer – “How compatible are our moon signs and sun signs?”
Top 10 Questions to ask your astrologer for compatibility: ~ by Rima Desai
- How compatible are our moon signs?
- How compatible are our sun signs?
- How compatible is our overall chart?
- What will be the 3 best things between us if we get married?
- What will be the 3 worst things between us or 3 biggest obstacles if we get married?
- When is the best time to get married – legally bond into this relationship?
- What does this person seek out of the relationship?
- What do I look for most in a relationship?
- Do you suggest this match or can I find a better match than this?
- Any relevant questions that you may have like – related to in laws, travelling, joint assets with this person, etcMY PERSONAL OPINION:
I believe that marriage is more of a karmic bond. I feel that the marriage or that ‘soul’ chooses us to fulfill its give and take from past births and it is not truly our ‘conscious and objective’ decision when we decide to legally bond with someone. It is definitely helpful to match horoscopes beforehand if that seems like a good ‘safety’ check but personally I feel, it is not as much in our control as we assume it to be.
https://mystyrimz.wordpress.com/2015/08/15/astrology-want-to-show-your-chart-why/
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When NOT to get an Astrology reading
O how we are attracted to the play of Planets in our lives. Since we can remember, humans have turned to astrology for guidance and hope. And don’t these planets impact us? Of course they do! The sun’s rays impacts us? If yes, then so does every other planet in our solar system. Astrology is real, it works! However, if one gets a wrong reading, is misguided or feels misled, then that doesn’t mean astrology is wrong. It simply means that not all astrologers are informed or talented enough to be able to provide the ‘authentic’, ancient astrology or that it may have been a mismatch or that just like other industries, some astrologers are ‘commercial’ and some are sincere, learned astrologers. Whatever the case, it is important to not ‘judge’ this ancient science with the lack of one’s knowledge or a bad experience.
One of the big reason why astrology pulls us towards it is that we ‘believe’ that it will give us HOPE for a better future. That is often the reason many people show their charts to astrologers. Seek an Astrology Consultation from Rima.
Astrology may be able to give us hope but it was primarily built to guide people in seeking important answers related to guiding their soul’s spiritual advancement, choosing a career, being mindful of one’s karmic backlog and finding solutions to life’s problems related to relationships or etc…
This is not a post for anyone in specific, it is to all those who have in the past, and still consult me with their charts – if you want HOPE, you do not need to show your chart to gain it. A horoscope cannot guarantee anything is going to be ‘better’. Neither can it change things magically. In fact, it could point out the several problems that the individual must address. What happens then to one’s psyche?
In my consultations to people, it has helped my clients to be affirmed of challenges they perceive, have or feel and finding more ‘internalized’ solutions as vs. external, superficial remedies like gem stones or havans.
Working on our ‘character’, our ‘sanskars’, our attitude towards things can do a lot more for us than having a chart read simply for ‘HOPE’ of things turning in your favor. What if I see something worse coming up? Then what do you want the astrologer to tell you?
“Showing one’s chart cannot guarantee a better future, working on oneself can!!!”
Ways to work on oneself: Life-Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Spiritual living, Meditation, Social Service, Life-style change including food and exercise.
When can astrology help?
Astrology is a wonderful, scientific tool which can be used towards one’s benefit in many ways. It can help provide insights into which career or which field of study to pursue, the purpose of one’s birth, what did the soul pledge to do before it chose that body, best time for marriage, child birth, how to reduce certain health or financial hazards and best move through challenging planetary times…
I hope this information helps you make better choices for a brighter future. Remember there is no escape from Self-Work: In our years of life, we have thought ill of people, judged others, been critical, harsh, boastful, greedy, deceived others, acted out of insecurity, etc. Through life-coaching and other modalities, when we clear out our past, we 100% create a pathway for a Brighter Future and then, it doesn’t matter what our chart says!!!
Also know that when a solution is mentioned from an astrological point of view, that is probably the ‘best’ solution for your particular context. Clients sometimes hope for ‘easier’ solutions. Imagine if I am ill, you are giving me medicine for my ailment but I don’t like this medicine, could I ask for an ‘easier’ medicine? … when we show our charts, it gets easier for us if we are ‘willing’ to make the changes mentioned. The astrologer is not a magician: cannot change things around for you. Short cut solutions do not work. They are simply quick fixes that produce weak results.
However, if you are ready to receive GENUINE guidance and are committed to self work, want to grow spiritually and personally, be guided sincerely, then yes, there is a lot to gain from an astrology reading!
Seek an Astrology Consultation from Rima
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Great Myths & Misconceptions of Astrology. Things you probably never knew!
Last week, when I created my Astrology Study Group on facebook, 27 people wrote to me, asking me to look at their or their kids’ or husbands’ charts. I have been that person who has always been attracted to Astrology even though my family never depicted that. In terms of Astrology, my passion is to help people understand the TRUE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF ASTROLOGY. We are highly MISGUIDED in our knowledge and use of Astrology. There is so much I can say about this. Truly! and some of it, I have explained in my video at the end of this article. Do hear the video, there is lots of great information on Astrology in it. Below are some MISCONCEPTIONS we have on Astrology.
When predictions fail, we doubt astrology
If you have a bad experience with a doctor, do you stop believing in the field of medicine or do you simply change your doctor?Astrology is a very accurate and ancient science. It is also a highly complicated subject to understand. It is said that one can never learn astrology in one birth, there are so many complex calculations to be done that only 1% of the world’s population could ‘Master’ this skill. In fact, Astrology is more the work of a Spiritual Soul than that of someone who has learnt it. Hence, when predictions fail, when astrologers tell you things that do not come true, it does not mean that Astrology is wrong. It only means that the Astrologer is not well-equipped.
Astrology is all about Predictions
False! Predictions are possible in Astrology, but Astrology is so much more about diagnosing the problem areas of one’s life, analyzing the client’s strengths and empowering clients to focus their energies on their strengths. Unfortunately, today’s astrologers have made this subject very ‘fancy’ and ‘commercial’ by projecting it as a Science of Prediction. Hear my video to understand this better.
Astrology can help change your future
There are no real remedies to change our luck. As described in astrology, luck is nothing but accumulated karma – both good and bad and there are only 2 ways around it: face it with pain or face it in a spiritual manner. Gem stones are one of the biggest myths. Astrologers direct clients to gemstones mostly for commercial reasons OR due to the lack of true knowledge. Take a logical approach to this – if gemstones could truly dissolve your problems or make them easier, then all of the world’s problems could easily be solved or reduced. The truth is that there is a big psychological ‘trick’ here. We start BELIEVING that gemstones will help which increases our mental strength and start to attract better things. Gemstones, havans, pujas, etc., are not mentioned in ancient astrology as ‘problem-solvers’. To improve our luck, we must face our probems and by live a ‘satvik’ life: serve the needy, be kind by thought and deed, stop eating animals, work on our anger, greed and pride, meditate, use techniques like reiki and life-coaching to emotionally heal yourselves and so on.
Forecasts are true
There is no such thing as the forecasts you read in newspapers. It was created by someone and sustained by other astrologers to ‘hook’ us to their readings and services. Again, apply some logic here: there are BILLIONS of people on this earth, how can 12 zodiac signs and forecasts based on them apply to billions of people?! Trust that original astrology has no place for or description of daily / monthly forecasts like the way it has been projected to us for so many years. For once, read the forecast of another sun sign and find it to be true for yourself! Again, there is a psychological element here: we want to hear something ‘good’ or ‘fear based predictions’ attract us and no matter what is said, our mind finds a way to apply it to our life.
Sun Signs describe your personality
No two people are alike on this planet and hence, no two horoscopes! 12 sun signs cannot describe the personality of billions of people. Astrology analyzes our personality from so many factors: The rising sign in our horoscope, our moon and sun sign, the constellations and so on. It is a long list! Describing personality based on sun signs is just a ‘fancy’ thing.
Mangal Dosh(a) or Manglik is the worst thing to have in a chart
In reality, Mangal Dosh means only this: This person is highly ambitious and has an insatiable drive to contribute to the world. Hence, this person focuses less on family life, has more problems in personal family life but is going to be an achiever, a very successful person in society. This also shows a strong athletic drive, angry or impulsive nature in earlier years of life especially before 35 years. It is good for a Manglik to marry a Manglik for they can understand each other’s passionate nature easily but it is a myth that when a non-Manglik marries a Manglik, it threatens their life. A person with Saturn placed in or influencing the 7th house may also marry a manglik as Saturn is opposite of Mars and so helps to tone down the impulsive, angry nature of mars.Mangal dosh is considered when Mars in placed in certain houses like 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 12th and is a ‘hot’ concept in India. Many people reject marriage proposals to those who have manglik dosh. Many astrologers believe this too.
Saturn is the worst planet and Sade Sati the worst time period
Contrary, Saturn is the best for polishing out our loose ends into a wise, successful person. Yes, it teaches lessons harshly but it always IMPROVES us in some way. Sade Sati does bring hardships and the extent of hardships depends on Saturn’s position in one’s chart and on the overall horoscope of a person. That period of life can make someone go from rags to riches or riches to rags. The toughest time of Sade Sati is the 2.5 years when Saturn sustains itself on the moon. Don’t fear Saturn, be happy that it strikes to teach and polish us.
Astrology works only if you believe in it
False! The planets or combinations in our chart continue to influence our life even if we reject the notion of astrology. However, this influence lasts only as long as our focus is a lot on the material side of life. The moment we start meditating and what I call ‘spiritualizing’ regularly, we start breaking the bonds of our karma. Remember religion is following a certain faith while spirituality is working towards self-realization and reaching the purest state of the soul.
We are doomed to the life written in our chart
Nope! Astrology clearly states that we write our destiny by our thoughts, beliefs and actions and since we create it, we have full control to ‘change’ it as well.
Kaal Sarp Yog is true
In astrology, yog means ‘combination’. There is no such thing as kaal sarp yog. If an astrologer says that you have this yog, change the astrologer.
Gun Milan is great to test compatibility.
In Indian astrology, 2 charts are matched to test on 36 points. It is assumed that the more the points meet, the better the compatibility. This is a great myth! Gun milan can tell you very little of how well you will settle with your partner in the marriage. There are other very important methods to test compatibility.
All Astrology is the same. Astrology is just one large subject with no branches
False! Linda Goodman is a classic example of Western Astrology which is very different from Indian, Vedic Astrology. China and Korea have their own astrology as well. It seems that each culture has some form of astrology which validates the truth in it but astrology notes in India date back to as early as 9th Century B.C. or even before!
Kundlis or Horoscopes can tell only certain broad things about us
False. Except for when you wake up, gargle and drink tea, your chart can sketch every minute crease on your skin. This means that your chart can tell your likes, dislikes, relationship with siblings, hidden desires, secrets, about your parents, friend circle, no. of spouses, nature of the spouses, directions you are likely to live in, passions and careers, school studies and so on.. Hence, be wary of sharing your birth chart the way in which you share news about your shopping.
A good astrologer will tell me about my life-span and warn me about accidents / all negative events in my life
False! A good, genuine, knowledgeable astrologer will NEVER mention these life-events to any client. Astrology has not given the RIGHTS to an astrologer to tell a person when they will die or something horrible will happen. Never!
It is hurtful to read posts of people who said the astrologer told them that they will no good or that they will meet a horrible accident in a few years, etc. Well, astrology was made to EMPOWER people, to give them true direction and hope and to believe that there is GOOD in every person and in everyone’s life. Ethically, astrologers are supposed to focus only on the GOOD and even if some negative news were to be shared it for the good of the client, it must be put in a way that the person feels POSITIVE and HOPEFUL.
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Is our destiny already written when we are born?
Is our destiny already written when we are born? What do you think or feel about it? Isn’t this one of the forever debate between the two polar beliefs?
Is our destiny written from the nail to the wall or is it totally our free will that guides it. Is it in our minds and heads to get it all right or are we rolling inside a bubbled path?
There may or may not be evidence to prove either way and yet we have our strong beliefs that shakes not at any shiver. Is it true that faith can move the unmovable and change the course of destiny???
Astrology & Destiny
The definition and understanding of astrology has deranged over time partly due to faulty practice and partly due to loss of authentic knowledge. Ancient Vedic / Sidereal Astrologers have stated that astrology is not a restrictive guide. It believes in the influence of planetary energies on one’s body but the soul’s will power supersedes these energies.
What does this mean?
This means that the horoscope can mention which situations and events are most likely to show up in a person’s life (a probability calculation) and clearly highlight the areas of life with preceding karmic debt (prarabdh or nikachit karm); but the probable life-path is not guaranteed 100% simply because, if the individual chooses to meditate one’s soul’s power over the planetary energies, it can. This would definitely require ‘shram’ – hard work just like any other milestone to overcome but it is absolutely do-able.
Prarabh or Nikachit Karmas (‘Karms’) as in accumulated consequences: good or bad are highlighted by several indications in the chart e.g. through the 5th house, through the south node Ketu’s and Saturn’s position, through nakshatras (constellations), etc.
However, earning money, health, children, career, etc. are much more changeable – within a person’s range of will power. Hence, an astrologer can predict the likelihood of the number of children one will have much more accurately as vs. the amount of money one will make.
The chart is supposed to be a guide to the soul, not the written destiny. I believe in my astrologer and guru’s words, “Our destiny is seeded in our thoughts.” ~ HB
Jainism & Destiny
Jainism as a religion also validates two areas of life which are heavily and purely karmic – birth and marriage; the rest it says, is within our control and choice. This means that it says – yes, a major chunk of our life events will be brought to us through our karmas: relationships, enemies, health, illness, debts, etc.. whether good or bad. However, with extra-ordinary efforts, through will power and determination we can supersede these circumstances and change our destiny as well as the soul’s destination.
Jainism too has a detailed description of astrology and clearly proves how it works. Yet, it propagates will power and hard work towards building and modifying one’s destiny a lot more than merely being controlled by one’s stars. For this reason it doesn’t reveal or use astrological information with the general masses.
My idea of a Predestined Life
As for me – I am the person who is ready to steal my goals from the heavens if I have to. I am here to achieve some powerful motives from which no one can stop or deter me. When my eyes are set at a goal, it glitters with winning gold, and until I reach that gold I know that even my breath is committed to be my companion. I have decided my years of life, slated on my soul!
Rima Desai's: Scuba Diving into the Mind's Pool 