The Top 5 Mistakes an Astrologer Can Make
Ancient Indian Astrology also known as Vedic Astrology is a divine and responsible profession. A person does not usually approach an astrologer when everything is going smoothly. He may come with fear about marriage, confusion about his career, loss in business, illness in the family, or anxiety about the future. At that moment, even one careless sentence from the Astrologer can disturb his peace of mind.
During my many years of astrological practice, I have observed that mistakes do not always happen because an Astrologer lacks knowledge. Sometimes they arise from haste, overconfidence, personal prejudice, poor communication, or the desire to impress the client. A technically correct observation can also become harmful when it is expressed without maturity.
Every Astrologer may make an error in calculation or judgment. Astrology is a vast ocean, and no human being can claim to know everything. However, certain mistakes can be avoided when we understand the responsibility attached to this sacred knowledge.
In this article, I would like to discuss five serious mistakes that an Astrologer can make—and how we can avoid them. The purpose is not to criticise Astrologers. It is to help every sincere student and practitioner become more careful, compassionate, and useful to society.
Mistake No. 1: Predicting Without Properly Studying the Horoscope
This incident happened during the first quarter of 1995, a few months before I started the Dhilip Institute of Professional Astrology. Opposite my office lived an Astrologer who was also running a charitable trust. For obvious reasons, I have changed his name. Let us call him Mr. Srirajan. Mr. Srirajan was differently abled, but he had been practising astrology for some time. He never fixed or demanded a consultation fee. An open metal box—the kind once used for carrying cinema film rolls—was kept beside him. Clients could place whatever they wished in it. Whenever I visited him, I would see several ten-rupee notes and, occasionally, a fifty-rupee note inside.
Since there was no fixed fee, the crowd was always large. At least thirty people would be waiting in the main hall while he attended to clients in a smaller room. I sometimes sat beside him, not merely to observe his astrology, but to understand the psychology of people and the way consultations were conducted.
Mr. Srirajan never insisted on a computer-generated horoscope. Whatever the client brought was acceptable to him. Sometimes the horoscope was incomplete. Occasionally, the client did not have a horoscope at all. They would simply mention their Moon sign and Janma Nakshatra, and he would make some prediction based on that limited information.
I clearly remember one particular incident. A client arrived with a notebook containing about seven horoscopes of one single family, hand written horoscopes one after another. He asked a question about the first horoscope. Mr. Srirajan opened the page, glanced at the chart and immediately gave his answer.
The client then turned to the next horoscope and asked, “When will this person go abroad?” Mr. Srirajan looked briefly at the chart and replied, “He will go abroad next year.”
The client continued turning the pages, asking one question about each horoscope. All seven horoscopes were read in less than ten minutes. In those days, I would sometimes stare at a single horoscope for hours. Therefore, I was greatly impressed by the speed of Mr. Srirajan. I thought he must have attained such mastery that he could understand a horoscope within a few seconds.
After the client left, I asked him, “In the second horoscope, did you examine the Dasha and Antardasha before predicting foreign travel?” He replied honestly, “No. I just guessed. I do not even remember that horoscope now.” I then asked him about the position of a particular planet in that chart. He stopped me and said: “See, I do not have the time or energy to study every horoscope fully. The clients do not expect that from me either. They give me ten rupees, twenty rupees or thirty rupees. So I tell them whatever comes to my mind.”
He even joked about the method he sometimes followed. He would use a general prediction based on the Moon sign and say something such as:
“Jupiter is transiting the tenth house from your Moon. There may be pressure in your workplace, and you may lose your job. Do not worry; you will find another job.” According to him, when so many people were waiting, he had to complete every consultation quickly. There was simply no time to study the horoscope properly.
I asked him, “Do you examine the Bhava chart?” He replied, “If it is available, I will give it a glance. Otherwise, I will use the planetary positions in the D1 chart.”
A Kind Man—but a Risky Method
Mr. Srirajan was undoubtedly a kind-hearted person. By the end of the day, he collected enough money to support his charitable trust. From that point of view, he was doing good work for society.
I even noticed something unusual. Occasionally, a poor person would ask him a question and then take ten rupees from the open box instead of putting money into it. The person would say, “I am going to have some tea. Thank you,” and leave. Mr. Srirajan never objected.
When I asked him why he permitted it, he simply replied, “Overall, I receive enough money. That is sufficient.”
Such was his generosity. This story is therefore not intended to criticise him as a human being. His kindness deserves appreciation. However, kindness cannot replace the careful study of a horoscope.
The Lesson I Learnt
A low consultation fee does not reduce the responsibility of an Astrologer. Whether a client pays ten rupees or ten thousand rupees, the Astrologer’s words can influence an important decision concerning marriage, employment, business, health or family life.
The client may forget how much he paid, but he may remember the prediction for many years.
An Astrologer should therefore not make serious predictions merely by guessing, by looking only at the Moon sign, or by noticing one transit. The Astrologer should always study BPHS Volume 1 and 2, Brihat Jataka, Bhrugu Sutram and other classical text books and rely on statements made by the Maharishis of ancient India.
Speed is not proof of mastery. Sometimes it is only the result of incomplete analysis. Impatience is always punished with mistakes. If an Astrologer does not have sufficient time to study a horoscope, it is better to say so honestly. He may request the client to return later or restrict himself to a general observation. But he should never present a guess as a definite astrological judgment.
Mr. Srirajan’s experience is not merely an interesting story from my past. Through this single incident, I can explain several serious mistakes an Astrologer may commit—perhaps more effectively than through pages of theoretical advice.
First, an Astrologer should never attempt to read several horoscopes at the same time or examine them one after another in great haste. Imagine a chess grandmaster playing a simultaneous exhibition match against fifty players. However brilliant he may be, he cannot give sufficient time and concentration to every board. Even a world chess champion may overlook an important move and commit a blunder. A horoscope is far more complex than a chessboard because every judgment can influence a human life.
The Astrologer needs a detailed horoscope that has the maximum information. The more the better it gets. A three page handwritten horoscope is not enough, though in India these types of horoscopes are considered sacred, whereas the computer horoscope that runs into 50 pages is thrown around.
A skilled Astrologer should know not only how to read a horoscope, but also when to pause, when to investigate further and when to admit that more time is required. Speed may impress the client for a few minutes, but careful analysis can protect the client from making a wrong decision that may affect many years of life. When the Astrologer is tired, he should admit it and take rest before he resumes the consultation. There should be sufficient gap between the horoscope readings.
Study the Person also — Kaala, Desha and Patra
Properly studying a horoscope also means understanding the person whose life it represents. The principles of Kaala, Desha and Patra—time, place and the nature or circumstances of the individual—must always be considered. Before making a prediction, the Astrologer should understand the client’s age, education, occupation, financial position, family background, beliefs, emotional nature, present environment and immediate circumstances. The same planetary combination cannot produce an identical result for everyone.
A person born into a royal or wealthy family will experience a combination differently from someone born into an ordinary family. If a horoscope indicates a tendency towards addiction, the form it takes may depend upon the person’s wealth, social circle and access. A rich person may have access to expensive substances that an ordinary worker cannot afford, while the same tendency in another person may appear through alcohol, tobacco or some other compulsive habit.
The planetary indication may be similar, but its actual expression is shaped by the person’s circumstances. The Astrologer must also consider the client’s faith and mental disposition. Advice suitable for a deeply religious Hindu may not be appropriate for a Muslim, Christian, atheist or someone following another path.
The underlying astrological principle may remain the same, but the remedy and manner of guidance should respect the client’s beliefs. If the person is highly emotional, the Astrologer must communicate difficult indications with additional care. The horoscope may explain how much of that emotional nature arises from Karma, but the person sitting before us must still be understood as a human being.
Therefore, it is often helpful to learn about the client’s background and present situation before interpreting the horoscope. Knowing how to read planets is not enough; a responsible Astrologer must also know how those planets are likely to operate in the client’s actual life. The horoscope shows the pattern, but Kaala, Desha and Patra show the form that pattern may take.
To do this, of course the Astrologer needs to spend a lot of time. Haste makes waste. Patience is a virtue. Patience is related to the Karma Karaka Saturn. Astrology is about Karma, so Astrology is so much the nature of Saturn.
The Classical Proof That Came to My Rescue
Whenever I used the expression Kaala, Desha and Paatra, I occasionally met with resistance from clients. They would ask, “Does the horoscope not reveal everything about the person? Why should we give you clues about our background?” Some would even say, “You are the Astrologer. You should find out whether I was born to a king or an ordinary person. You should discover which faith I belong to without asking me.”
Fortunately, such objections arose only in a few consultations during my three decades of professional practice. Nevertheless, I needed a clear classical authority to explain why understanding a client’s background is not a weakness in astrological analysis. One particular shloka always came to my rescue—and, thankfully, it came from Maharishi Parashara himself.
Maharishi Parashara states that when the lord of the 10th house occupies the 9th house, a person born into a royal family may become a king, while someone born into an ordinary family may become equal to a king:
राज्येशे भाग्यभे जातो राजा राजकुलोद्भवः।
तत्समोऽन्यकुलोत्पन्नो धनपुत्रादिसंयुतः॥
Rājyeśe bhāgyabhe jāto rājā rājakulodbhavaḥ,
Tatsamo’nyakulotpanno dhanaputrādisaṃyutaḥ.
This shloka proves that the same planetary combination does not necessarily produce the same external result in every person’s life. The person’s family, social position and surrounding circumstances influence the form in which the planetary promise manifests. One person may inherit an actual kingdom; another may rise to a king-like position through wealth, authority, leadership or public recognition.
Therefore, asking about a client’s age, family, occupation, faith, financial position and present circumstances is not asking for clues to manufacture a prediction. It is gathering the essential context required to interpret the horoscope correctly. The horoscope reveals the planetary promise, while Kaala, Desha and Paatra determine how, where and in what form that promise is likely to manifest.
I invite you to share your views. Your observations may help us identify further mistakes that every sincere Astrologer should learn to avoid.
Please use the EKDK Global Astrology Forum. https://www.astrologyekdk.com/forum to share your experience.
Mistake No. 2: Starting the Reading Without Confirming the Ascendant
There are many methods of reading a horoscope. Some Astrologers begin from the Moon sign, while others give importance to the Sun sign or another reference point. However, when a complete horoscope is available, the most important reference point is the Ascendant—or Lagna.
The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, the great foundational text of Vedic Astrology, primarily explains the horoscope from the Lagna. The houses, their lords, planetary ownerships, functional benefics, functional malefics, Yogakarakas and Maraka Grahas are all determined with reference to the Ascendant.
For general predictions, the Moon sign may offer approximately 50 per cent accuracy, while the Sun sign may provide only about 25 per cent. However, when a client provides a complete horoscope, why should an Astrologer depend mainly upon these secondary reference points? The Lagna must be used to its maximum potential.
Birth Time Is Not Just a Number
The Ascendant changes according to the time and place of birth. Therefore, before beginning the reading, the Astrologer should ask a basic but extremely important question: Is the recorded time of birth accurate?
The client may confidently say, “My birth time is 10:30 a.m.” But how was that time recorded? Was someone looking at the clock at the exact moment of birth? Was it written down immediately, or remembered several hours later? Was it rounded off to the nearest five, ten or fifteen minutes? Could there have been a mistake while copying it into the hospital record, family notebook or computer software?
The client may have made no mistake personally. Nevertheless, the time given to the client could itself be inaccurate.
When the Ascendant Is Near the Border
The danger becomes much greater when the Ascendant is situated close to the border between two signs. A difference of only a few minutes may move the Lagna into the previous or next sign. This is not a minor correction. It can produce a kaleidoscopic change in the entire horoscope.
When the Lagna changes, the ownership of every house changes. A planet that was favourable under one Ascendant may become unfavourable under another. A friendly planet may become neutral or function like an enemy. The Yogakaraka planet may change. The Maraka Graha may change. The interpretation of marriage, children, profession, health, wealth and longevity may also change substantially.
The planets may remain in the same zodiacal signs, but their houses and responsibilities can become completely different. It is like entering the correct address into a navigation system but starting from the wrong location. Every direction that follows may appear systematic, yet it can take us towards the wrong destination.
The Horoscope Must Explain the Life
When there is uncertainty about the Ascendant, the Astrologer should not rush into prediction. The first duty is to examine whether the given Lagna can explain the important events that have already occurred in the person’s life.
The Astrologer may study major events such as education, employment, marriage, childbirth, business, foreign travel, illness, accidents, financial rise, loss of wealth and the death of close family members. These events should be compared with the relevant houses, house lords, divisional charts, Dashas, Antardashas and transits.
If the given Ascendant repeatedly fails to explain important events, the neighbouring Ascendant must also be tested. This process is known as birth-time rectification. The purpose is not to adjust the horoscope merely to suit our prediction. It is to discover which Ascendant most convincingly reflects the person’s actual life.
Known events are the examination already completed by the horoscope. Future predictions should not be attempted before checking whether the horoscope has passed that examination.
Do Not Build on an Uncertain Foundation
An Astrologer may possess excellent knowledge of Dashas, transits, Yogas and divisional charts. But if the Ascendant itself is wrong, even an intelligent analysis may produce a wrong conclusion.
A magnificent building cannot remain reliable when its foundation is uncertain. In the same way, a detailed prediction cannot become dependable when the Lagna has not been verified.
Therefore, the second serious mistake an Astrologer can make is to accept the given birth time and Ascendant blindly. Whenever the Lagna is close to the border of two signs—or whenever the recorded birth time is doubtful—the Astrologer must pause, investigate and test the horoscope against past events.
First confirm the Ascendant. Then study the horoscope. Only after that should the Astrologer begin predicting the future.
Mistake No. 3: Creating Fear in the Mind of the Client
A Prediction That Made a Young Man Stop Trying
Many years ago, when transit Saturn was in Kanya Rashi—Virgo—a qualified young man, whose Moon Sign was Thula Rasi (Libra Moon) came to meet me for an in-person consultation.
As I began studying his horoscope, I noticed that he was passing through Sade Sati, the challenging seven-and-a-half-year transit of Saturn. Saturn had already been in Virgo for more than a year.
I told him, “You have been experiencing Sade Sati for approximately one year.”
He immediately replied, “Yes, Sir. I am aware of it. That is why I have been jobless for the past year.”
I asked him, “Who told you that you are jobless because of 7.5 years Saturn?”
He looked surprised by my question.
I explained, “There are countless employment opportunities in this world. A difficult period may cause you to lose a job. It may delay your progress or compel you to accept a position below your expectations. But that does not mean you must remain jobless throughout the entire period. How can a qualified young man like you remain without work for one full year?”
He then told me what had happened.
Even before Saturn entered Virgo and triggered his Sade Sati, he had consulted another Astrologer. That Astrologer had warned him: “Your Sade Sati is about to begin. Once it starts, you will lose your job. You will become miserable. There is no future for you. You may leave now.”
The Astrologer showed him no mercy and offered him no hope, explanation or practical guidance. The young man left the consultation carrying this doomsday prediction in his mind. Sometime later, he lost his job. It was not his decision. The management decided to fire him.
Immediately, he thought, “The Astrologer was right.”
Since the prediction about losing his job had come true, he assumed that everything else the Astrologer had said must also become true. He accepted that he had no future and would not find another job. Therefore, he stopped applying for one.
He remained at home, watched television and movies every day, and started drinking with his friends. The prediction did not merely frighten him. It gradually changed his behaviour and took away his willingness to make an effort.
I asked him only one question: “Do you accept that Sade Sati is a difficult period?”
“Yes, Sir,” he replied.
I then told him, “But look at what you have been doing for the past year. You have not worked. You are on a holiday for 1 long year. You have been watching movies, spending time with friends and enjoying yourself. From that point of view, you appear to be passing through one of the best periods of your life!”
He understood the irony immediately.
I explained that Saturn does not ask us to sit at home, waste time and surrender to circumstances. Saturn represents discipline, responsibility, patience, hard work and humility. If the period is difficult, we may have to work harder for a smaller reward. We may have to accept a job below our expectations. The salary may be less, the position may not satisfy our ego, and progress may be slow. Nevertheless, we must continue working.
I advised him, “Start applying for jobs immediately. Since the planetary period is not highly favourable, the first job you receive may not match your expectations. The salary may also be lower than what you earned earlier. Accept it and continue working. Stop wasting your time watching movies and drinking with friends. That is the discipline Saturn expects from you.”
His Dasha and Antardasha were also not supportive, so I prepared him to face delays and compromises. I also prescribed suitable astrological remedies to help him pass through the difficult period with greater strength.
Within one month, he found a job. The job may not have been his ideal opportunity, but it brought him back into a disciplined and productive life. More importantly, he stopped believing that Sade Sati had sentenced him to seven and a half years of misery.
When a Prediction Becomes a Suggestion
- What really kept this young man jobless for one year?
- Was it Saturn alone—or was it the fear planted in his mind by an Astrologer?
The first part of the prediction came true: he lost his job. But the more damaging part was the belief that followed. Because one event happened, he accepted the entire prediction as his unavoidable destiny. He stopped trying, and the prediction began to fulfil itself through his own behaviour.
This is one of the greatest dangers of creating fear in the mind of a client. A careless prediction can become a powerful suggestion. The client may unknowingly begin making choices that help the negative prediction come true.
An Astrologer should certainly warn a client about a difficult period. However, every warning must be accompanied by proper direction. Had the earlier Astrologer said, “You may face instability in your career, so control your expenses, strengthen your skills and remain prepared to accept a less attractive job,” the same prediction could have protected the young man instead of paralysing him.
The Astrologer’s responsibility is not merely to identify the approaching storm. The Astrologer must also tell the client how to carry an umbrella, where to find shelter and how to continue the journey. Never use Astrology to convince a person that there is no future. A difficult time may reduce opportunities, delay success or demand sacrifice—but it must never become an excuse to stop trying.
An Astrologer’s words do not disappear when the consultation ends. They may remain in the client’s mind for several months—or even several years.
A client generally approaches an Astrologer during a period of confusion, anxiety or suffering. At such a vulnerable moment, words such as death, divorce, accident, bankruptcy, imprisonment or incurable disease can enter deeply into the mind. If these words are used carelessly, the client may begin living under the shadow of a prediction that may never happen.
A Prediction Can Become a Mental Prison
Suppose an Astrologer casually says, “I see an accident in your horoscope.” From that moment, the client may become frightened whenever he travels. A small delay, an unusual sound from the vehicle or even a minor scratch may increase his anxiety. Before every journey, the prediction may return to his mind.
Similarly, if an Astrologer says, “Your marriage will end in divorce,” every disagreement between husband and wife may appear to confirm that prediction. Instead of trying to solve an ordinary relationship problem, the client may begin preparing mentally for separation. The Astrologer may forget the sentence within a few minutes. The client may remember it for the rest of his life.
Do Not Convert a Possibility into a Certainty
A difficult planetary combination does not always produce the most extreme result connected with it. The same planetary indication can manifest at different levels depending upon the strength of the horoscope, Dasha, Antardasha, divisional charts, transits, Desha, Kaala, Patra, personal choices and supporting planetary influences.
A combination indicating stress in marriage does not automatically mean divorce. It may produce misunderstanding, temporary separation, pressure from relatives or the need for greater adjustment.
A combination connected with health does not necessarily indicate an incurable disease. It may simply show physical weakness, a recurring complaint, medical expenditure or the need for timely examination.
A difficult financial period does not always mean bankruptcy. It may indicate reduced profits, delayed payments, an unsuitable investment or a temporary shortage of cash.
Therefore, an Astrologer should never jump from an indication to its most frightening possible outcome.
The Same Truth Can Be Expressed Responsibly
An Astrologer need not hide a genuine warning. If a difficult period is clearly indicated, the client should be advised to remain careful. But there is a great difference between giving a useful warning and creating fear.
Instead of saying: “You will meet with an accident.” The Astrologer may say: “During this period, please be more careful while driving. Avoid unnecessary speed, maintain your vehicle properly and do not travel when you are tired.”
Instead of saying: “Your marriage will end in divorce.” The Astrologer may say: “This appears to be a sensitive period for your relationship. Avoid impulsive decisions, harsh words and interference from others. Patient communication or counselling may help.”
Instead of saying: “You will become bankrupt.” The Astrologer may say: “This is not the right period for major financial risks. Control borrowing, avoid speculation and protect your existing resources.”
The first kind of statement creates helplessness. The second gives the client awareness, responsibility and a practical course of action.
Astrology Is Meant to Illuminate—not Terrify
The purpose of Astrology is not to demonstrate how accurately an Astrologer can identify frightening possibilities. The real purpose is to help people understand the nature of a period and respond to it wisely.
Fear weakens judgment. A terrified client may postpone medical treatment, abandon a good relationship, sell a business unnecessarily or avoid an opportunity because of one careless prediction. In such cases, the prediction itself may begin influencing the client’s behaviour.
This is especially dangerous when the Astrologer speaks with absolute certainty. Statements such as “This will definitely happen,” “Nothing can save this marriage,” or “You will not survive this period” leave no room for supporting planetary factors, human effort, prayer, remedies, professional help or the limitations of astrological interpretation.
No Astrologer should behave as though he has received the final authority to pronounce another person’s fate.
Road Signs on the road of your life
Road signs on highways and expressways are extremely useful because they warn drivers about dangers before they reach them. Signs such as “Accident-Prone Zone,” “Sharp Curve Ahead,” “Reduce Speed,” or “Road Work in Progress” give drivers enough time to slow down, remain alert and take necessary precautions. A good road sign does not frighten the driver by declaring that an accident will definitely happen. Instead, it explains the possible risk and shows how to travel safely. Therefore, road signs protect lives by creating awareness, improving discipline and helping drivers make better decisions.
Both drivers receive a warning about the possibility of an accident, but the messages produce completely different reactions. The sign saying, “Accident-Prone Zone—Drive Carefully,” alerts the driver without frightening him. He remains calm, reduces his speed and continues his journey carefully. The warning has served its true purpose: it has increased his awareness and helped him avoid danger.
The other sign declares, “Accident Will Happen—You Are Dead.” It offers neither guidance nor hope. The driver becomes terrified and may even lose control because of fear. An Astrologer’s prediction works in the same way. A responsible Astrologer does not hide a genuine risk, but communicates it with caution and provides practical direction. The purpose of Astrology is to prepare the client—not to paralyse him with fear.
Give Caution Together with Direction
Whenever an Astrologer observes a difficult indication, three questions should be considered: What is the actual level of risk shown in the horoscope? What practical precautions can the client take? How can the warning be communicated without destroying the client’s peace of mind?
The client should leave the consultation with greater clarity—not greater fear. Even when discussing a serious matter, the Astrologer must remain calm, compassionate and measured.
We should remember one important truth: A prediction may take only a few seconds to pronounce, but the fear created by it may remain in the client’s mind for many years.
Therefore, the third serious mistake an Astrologer can make is not merely predicting a difficult event. It is presenting the worst possible outcome as a certainty and leaving the client without hope, direction or practical guidance.
An Astrologer’s duty is to caution without frightening, explain without exaggerating and guide without taking away hope.
Mistake No. 4: Giving Predictions Without Providing Solutions
An Astrologer studies the horoscope and tells the client what is likely to happen. Sometimes the prediction is favourable. At other times, the Astrologer may identify difficulties concerning health, marriage, children, career, business or finances. The Astrologer may even say, “There is a fifty-fifty possibility.”
After explaining all these possibilities, the Astrologer announces, “The consultation is over. You may leave.” But what should the client do with this information?
Merely identifying a problem is not enough. A consultation becomes truly useful only when the client is also told how to face the situation, what precautions to take, what habits to change and what appropriate remedies may be performed.
Imagine a Doctor Who Gives No Treatment
Suppose a patient visits a doctor with pain and discomfort. The doctor examines him carefully, orders blood tests, scans and other medical investigations, and finally identifies the disease.
The doctor then says, “Your diagnosis is complete. You may go now.”
The patient naturally asks, “Doctor, what medicine should I take? What food should I avoid? Is any treatment necessary? How can I recover?”
Imagine the doctor replying, “My duty is only to tell you what disease you have. Finding a cure is your responsibility.”
No patient would consider such a consultation complete. Diagnosis is important, but diagnosis must normally be followed by treatment, precautions and guidance. In the same way, prediction is only one part of an astrological consultation. The next part is helping the client understand how to respond.
Prediction Without Direction Creates Helplessness
Suppose an Astrologer tells a client: “Your business may suffer a serious loss next year.” If the consultation ends there, the client carries home only anxiety. He knows that a problem may arise, but he does not know whether he should reduce borrowing, avoid expansion, postpone a risky investment, strengthen cash reserves or reconsider a proposed partnership.
A useful consultation should convert the prediction into practical guidance: “This period is not suitable for aggressive expansion. Avoid unnecessary borrowing, protect your working capital, examine every agreement carefully and maintain an emergency reserve. Concentrate on your core business until the difficult period passes.”
The first statement merely predicts a problem. The second helps the client prepare for it.
Astrology should not leave a person standing helplessly before destiny. It should help him respond to destiny with awareness, discipline and courage.
Remedies Are Part of Classical Astrology
Astrological remedies are not a modern commercial invention. Maharishi Parashara, Sage Bhrigu and other respected authorities of classical Astrology have discussed different forms of remedial measures. Depending upon the horoscope and the nature of the affliction, these may include Mantra, Japa, Homa, Pooja, Dana, charitable service, worship of the appropriate deity, observance of discipline and other prescribed acts.
In certain cases, a properly selected gemstone may also be considered. However, a gemstone should never be recommended casually. A gemstone strengthens the planet connected with it. Therefore, the Astrologer must first determine whether strengthening that planet is truly suitable for the particular Ascendant and horoscope. A powerful remedy prescribed incorrectly may not produce the desired result.
If a person repeatedly creates problems through anger, advising a Mantra while ignoring his behaviour is incomplete. The spiritual remedy and the practical correction must work together. A remedy may therefore include prayer, charity and ritual, but it may also include controlling expenditure, avoiding speculation, improving professional skills, seeking medical attention, attending relationship counselling, apologising to someone or fulfilling a neglected duty.
Remedies Do Not Cancel Karma
An Astrologer must never create the impression that a remedy is a magical payment made to cancel every consequence of Karma. Remedies may reduce the severity of a difficulty, strengthen the mind, improve clarity, create favourable circumstances or give the person greater capacity to endure a challenging period. However, they do not replace common sense, sincere effort or professional help.
If a horoscope indicates a health concern, the Astrologer may suggest an appropriate spiritual remedy—but must also advise the client to consult a qualified medical professional. If a marriage is under pressure, prayer may help, but honest communication and counselling may also be required.
If financial trouble is indicated, a Pooja cannot replace proper budgeting and responsible financial decisions.
The Astrologer should bring together astrological remedies, practical precautions and necessary professional guidance.
The Remedy Must be Specific to the Horoscope
The Astrologer should be well versed with remedies that are mentioned in very ancient books of Astrology. The remedies should not be too general. The remedies should be given considering the horoscope in its entirety. Also we should stop giving remedies that appear as jokes like throwing 10 coconuts into a flowing river. When did the Maharishis speak of such remedies.
The financial position, age, health, faith, location and practical circumstances of the client must also be considered. A remedy that is easy for one person may be impossible for another.
A sincere remedy need not always be expensive. Feeding the needy, helping an elderly person, supporting a student, caring for animals, visiting a temple, reciting a suitable Mantra or changing a harmful habit may sometimes be more meaningful than an elaborate ritual performed without understanding or involvement.
The purpose of a remedy is not to display the Astrologer’s knowledge or increase the client’s expenses. Its purpose is to help the client move in a constructive direction.
A Complete Consultation Has Three Parts
A responsible astrological consultation should answer three essential questions:
- What is likely to happen?
- Why is this period or pattern appearing?
- What can the client do about it?
The first question is prediction. The second is explanation. The third is guidance.
A weather forecast does not stop the rain, but it allows us to carry an umbrella, postpone an unnecessary journey or protect what may be damaged. Similarly, an astrological prediction should help the client prepare—not simply make him wait fearfully for an event.
Therefore, the fourth serious mistake an Astrologer can make is to diagnose the problem and end the consultation without suggesting any course of action.
That is the difference between mere prediction and meaningful guidance.
Now you understand why the slogan of Dhilip Institute of Professional Astrology (DIPA) is "Practical Solutions. Not Mere Predictions."
Mistake No.5 : Working without the essential tools of Astrology
A Sunday Astrologer I Met in 2005
In 2005, I met a man whose regular profession was painting buildings. On Sundays, however, he worked as a professional Astrologer.
He came to my office to obtain printouts of nearly a dozen horoscopes. He liked the basic horoscope format we printed using the astrological software I had developed between 1988 and 1996.
One day, out of curiosity, I asked him about his astrological practice. He told me that he was very popular in Tambaram, an area away from the centre of
Chennai. I congratulated him on his interest in becoming an Astrologer. There is nothing wrong with a building painter studying Astrology and eventually becoming an excellent Astrologer. A person’s regular occupation does not determine his ability to learn this great subject.
However, when I began discussing Astrology with him, I made a disturbing discovery: he was not even at the level of a beginner.
He knew the twelve zodiac signs, the names of the Nakshatras, how to count houses and a few simple ideas about connecting Dasha and Antardasha.
Even the students attending the beginners’ course that I conducted every year knew considerably more than he did.
Realising the seriousness of the situation, I offered to teach him Astrology free of cost. He immediately replied, “There is no need for that, Sir.”
I was surprised.
He then explained his reasoning: “Whatever I say, they will believe, Sir. Why should I study more? Most people know nothing about Astrology, so I have no difficulty convincing them.”
I had no answer.
The Danger Is Not His Original Profession
The problem was not that a building painter had become interested in Astrology. A painter, driver, businessman, engineer, doctor or homemaker can become a highly capable Astrologer through sincere and systematic study.
The real danger was that he had already presented himself as a professional Astrologer without acquiring even the knowledge expected from a serious beginner. He did not feel the need to study because his clients knew less than he did.
A client’s ignorance should never become the Astrologer’s qualification.
The public may not know whether the Bhava chart has been examined, whether Shadbala is sufficient, whether the relevant divisional chart supports the prediction or whether an aspect has been calculated correctly. That trust places greater responsibility upon the Astrologer.
The Essential Tools of Astrologer
Can a mechanic properly service a modern car without the correct tools? Can a dentist treat a difficult tooth without proper instruments? Can a surgeon perform an operation using only his eyes and hands?
Knowledge and experience are essential, but they cannot replace the right tools. Even the most experienced surgeon requires scans, reports, surgical instruments and monitoring equipment. Similarly, an Astrologer cannot depend only upon intuition, memory or a roughly drawn D1 chart. The important astrological details must be available before a serious horoscope reading begins.
A Horoscope Is More Than the D1 Chart
Many Astrologers examine the D1 chart, glance at the D9 chart and begin predicting. These charts are certainly important, but they do not contain all the information required for every area of life. The D1 chart provides the general foundation of the horoscope. However, the remaining divisional charts reveal specialised areas such as marriage, children, profession, property, parents, spiritual development and other important matters. Depending upon the client’s question, the relevant charts from the Shodashavarga—the sixteen divisional charts—should be available for examination.
An Astrologer need not use all sixteen charts for every question. But they should be available so that the appropriate divisional chart can be consulted whenever necessary.
Trying to answer every question using only the D1 chart is like a doctor trying to diagnose every illness using only a thermometer.
Shadbala: How Strong Is the Planet?
Seeing a planet in a favourable sign or house is not enough. The Astrologer must also know whether that planet has sufficient strength to produce its promised results. Shadbala measures planetary strength through six important sources of strength. It helps the Astrologer understand whether a planet is capable of functioning effectively in the horoscope.
The Truth about Conjunctions of Planets
Two planets may appear equally favourable when seen only in the D1 chart. However, their Shadbala values may reveal a considerable difference. One planet may have the strength to protect its significations, while the other may struggle to deliver the expected result.
Without examining planetary strength, the Astrologer may see a promise in the horoscope but fail to determine whether the planet has the power to fulfil it.
Vimsopaka Bala and the Quality of a Planet
Vimsopaka Bala helps us assess the strength and dignity of a planet across the divisional charts. This becomes highly relevant while judging how a planet may operate during its Mahadasha and Antardasha. A planet may appear well placed in the D1 chart but occupy weak or unfavourable positions in several divisional charts. Another planet that appears ordinary in the main chart may receive considerable support through the Vargas.
If an Astrologer wants to judge the happiness, sorrow, progress and challenges likely to arise during a planetary period, the condition of the Dasha lord should be examined beyond its position in the D1 chart. Vimsopaka Bala provides an important part of this deeper understanding.
Never Ignore the Bhava Chart
The Bhava chart should never be ignored. Yet, even today, I estimate that only about 20 per cent of Astrologers regularly use it.
The Rashi chart shows the signs occupied by the planets. The Bhava chart helps us understand their actual placement in the houses. A planet shown in one house in the D1 chart may move into the previous or next Bhava when its precise degree and the house boundaries are considered.
This can significantly change the interpretation.
A planet appearing in the second house in the Rashi chart may actually influence the first or third Bhava more strongly. If the Astrologer ignores the Bhava chart, the prediction may be based upon the wrong area of life. This depends where the planet is in the Bhava Chart.
In my experience, the equal house system provides the most practical and reliable Bhava chart. Once the Ascendant degree is known, the same degree becomes the starting point for understanding the structure of every house.
The D1 chart tells us where the planet is situated by sign. The Bhava chart tells us where its influence is operating by house. A complete reading requires both.
Finger Counting Is Only a Rough Method
Many Astrologers calculate planetary aspects by counting signs with their fingers. They say that Jupiter aspects the fifth, seventh and ninth signs from itself, while Mars aspects the fourth, seventh and eighth signs. This method may be useful for an initial observation, but it is only a rough method. It does not reveal the exact strength of an aspect.
A planet placed at the beginning of one sign may not strongly aspect another planet placed near the end of the expected sign. In another case, two planets may form a powerful degree-based relationship even though simple sign counting does not make its strength obvious.
A computer-generated aspect table provides the exact angular relationship and the strength of the aspect. It may reveal that an aspect assumed to be powerful through finger counting is actually weak. At other times, an aspect that appears ordinary may be exceptionally strong.
The aspect table should therefore never be avoided. Finger counting may indicate where to look; exact degrees reveal what is really happening.
Planets Can Be Conjunct Across Two Signs
Many Astrologers believe that two planets can be in conjunction only when they occupy the same zodiac sign. This is not always correct.
Suppose the Sun is at 29 degrees of Pisces and Mars is at 1 degree of Aries. The planets are in two different signs, but they are separated by only two degrees. In actual angular distance, they are extremely close.
I estimate that nearly 80 per cent of Astrologers may say, “The Sun and Mars are not conjunct because they are in different signs.”
A careful Astrologer will recognise the powerful degree-based conjunction. Mars is also extremely close to the Sun and therefore severely combust. Ignoring this relationship merely because the sign has changed can lead to a major error in interpretation.
On the other hand, two planets may occupy the same sign but remain separated by nearly twenty-five degrees. They are technically in the same sign, yet their conjunction may not be equally powerful.
The signs provide the background. The exact degrees reveal the intensity of the planetary relationship.
Sarva Ashtakavarga and Shodhya Pinda
Sarva Ashtakavarga is another essential tool. It helps the Astrologer evaluate the comparative strength and support available in different signs and houses, particularly while analysing planetary transits.
However, Ashtakavarga should not end with merely looking at the number of Bindus in each sign. Shodhya Pinda must also be calculated and studied.
Shodhya Pinda has an important role in applying Ashtakavarga to the timing and interpretation of planetary transits. Without it, transit analysis remains incomplete. An Astrologer may know that Saturn, Jupiter or another planet is moving through a particular sign, but may not understand how that transit is likely to activate the individual horoscope.
This subject is large enough to become an entire chapter by itself. The main point is simple: transit predictions should not be made from the Moon sign alone or from general statements meant for millions of people. Sarva Ashtakavarga and Shodhya Pinda help make transit analysis personal to the horoscope.
The Dasha Timeline Must Be Ready
The detailed Vimshottari Dasha timeline should always be available. The Astrologer must be able to examine the Mahadasha, Antardasha and, wherever necessary, the deeper subdivisions operating at the time of an event.
It is not enough to say, “You are running Saturn Dasha,” or “Jupiter Antardasha is favourable.” The relationship between the Dasha lord and Antardasha lord, their house ownership, placement, strength, aspects, conjunctions, Nakshatras and divisional-chart positions must be examined.
A professional horoscope report should therefore keep the complete Dasha sequence readily available. Otherwise, the Astrologer may waste time calculating periods during the consultation—or may be tempted to make a hurried prediction without checking them.
Software Is a Tool—not a Substitute for Knowledge
Modern astrological software can generate divisional charts, Shadbala, Vimsopaka Bala, Ashtakavarga, Shodhya Pinda, Bhava charts, aspect tables and detailed Dasha periods within seconds.
But software does not make the prediction. It only places accurate information before the Astrologer.
A surgical instrument cannot perform an operation without a trained surgeon. In the same way, astrological software cannot interpret a horoscope without a knowledgeable Astrologer. We need both: reliable calculations and the wisdom to understand them.
Depending entirely upon software-generated interpretations is a mistake. Refusing to use accurate calculations and necessary tables is also a mistake.
The Harm Caused by Half-Knowledge
Students of Astrology are naturally eager to begin reading horoscopes. Their enthusiasm is understandable. Practice is necessary for learning, but practising under guidance is different from presenting oneself prematurely as a professional.
Before advising the public on marriage, health, children, career, business, finance or longevity, the student must acquire sufficient knowledge, practise on many known horoscopes and learn to verify astrological principles against actual events.
Hobby Astrologers with incomplete knowledge can sometimes cause more damage than commercial Astrologers. A commercial Astrologer may be criticised for charging high fees or recommending expensive remedies. But a person with very little knowledge may casually give a wrong prediction without even understanding its consequences.
Half-knowledge combined with complete confidence is one of the most dangerous combinations in Astrology.
Do Not Open the Workshop Before Learning the Craft
A person would not open a dental clinic after learning the names of the teeth. He would not become a surgeon after learning the names of the organs. He would not service a sophisticated car after learning only how to open the bonnet.
In the same way, knowing the twelve signs, twenty-seven Nakshatras, nine planets and a few general Dasha principles does not make a person a professional Astrologer.
Astrology is a vast and sacred subject. It requires systematic study, accurate calculations, appropriate tools, supervised practice, humility and continuous research. Even after decades of experience, a sincere Astrologer continues to learn.
Therefore, the fifth serious mistake an Astrologer can make is to begin advising the public without sufficient knowledge—or to conduct horoscope readings without keeping the essential astrological tools and calculations ready.
The right tools cannot replace knowledge. Knowledge cannot justify ignoring the right tools. A responsible Astrologer needs both.
Before touching the horoscope, prepare the complete astrological workbench. Before guiding another person’s life, prepare yourself.
By Guruji E K Dhilip Kumar
Karma Mentor
www.astrologyekdk.com
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