For all those running a WordPress blog, please note - do not mark any spam comment as “spam” while moderation. Just delete it. If you don’t, it will just sit there in the wp_comments table. The performance of your WordPress installation will go down as the size of this table increases.

Why am I ranting about WordPress installation and size of a table instead of writing a post on Astrology? This is because of spam comments, which I realize are almost 80% of all the comments that I receive. I had to undertake a massive cleanup exercise and while I have taken all precautions, I am afraid I might have deleted some genuine comments. If it was one of yours, I apologize.

In the past one week, how many of you have seen the following error message on the blog?

I believe that things should be fine now, but if they are not, please let me know by dropping a line.

My subscription cheque for “The Astrological Magazine” has been returned with a note from them:

We regret to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, the publication of The Astrological Magazine will stop with the December 2007 issue. All unexpired subscription amounts will be refunded shortly. We thank all our subscribers for their kind co-operation in this matter.

Cynics may find satire and irony in this statement, but its very sad indeed for the followers of this magazine.

A not so recent post in the forum referred to demonic nakshatra where the member was worried that most of the planets in his/her chart are in demonic nakshatra. From the post, I gather that by demonic nakshatra the member is referring to the gana factor on horoscope compatibility - dev, manushya and rakshasa.

In my knowledge, The only place gana factor is referenced in within horoscope compatibility. This factor requires that the gana of the woman (refer to the nakshatra where the Moon resides in the kundali) should be better than the man she intends to marry.

I have not seen anyone referring to this factor while interpreting a chart or while making any predictions. I went back and re-read some of the books and notes that I have and could not find anything to this effect.

Thoughts?

My primary motivation behind writing this article is to reason out and derive the principles for predicting foreign travel by way of Vedic Astrology and try to fit the description for the cases that I know of. Over the years, I have rummaged through various books and magazines, but have not been entirely satisfied with the content. My analysis may not be entirely correct and I am even ready for nasty comments for the content of this article Please help me in this exercise of my own learning. I will be more than happy to look at your comments and incorporate appropriate changes in the main article for benefit of all.

Traveling to new places, meeting new people either for purpose of business or just for pleasure helps gains knowledge and broaden our horizons and perspective. It makes us wiser. For a long time now, Indians have chosen to go abroad for the same of employment - to avail of opportunities for professional satisfaction and to make more money. Arguably this trend is reversing in the last few years as the economy revives in India but visiting other countries is still considered as desirable and a source of excitement for a lot of people.

There are various reasons why people move from one place to another:

• Journeys within a geographical region due to nature of work - what we colloquially call “traveling job”.
• Business travel to a foreign land.
• Tourism or pilgrimage.
• Change is residence due to profession or after marriage if the spouse is settled in a different place.

Astrologically, the rules to be considered for predicting travel are:

• 12th House: In a horoscope, 12th house shows separation. Malefic influences on 12th house make a person wander from place to place.
• 3rd and 9th House: While 4th house represents comfort of a house, 3rd and 9th being 12th (causing separation) and 6th (alien-ness) from 4th denote journeys. 3rd house should be considered for short journeys and 9th for long journeys. I think this is due to the fact that from 9th house we also look at religion and hence pilgrimages, which usually were very long in olden times. Moreover, malefic influences on 4th house, by way of occupation will make one leave his/her birth place, i.e. travel to a foreign location.
• 7th House: A lot of sages have mentioned in their works that residence in foreign countries should be looked at from seventh house.
• Movable and Watery signs: Position of lords of above mentioned houses in these signs indicates travel.
• Rahu and Saturn: These planets influence travel in their dasha and antardasha. Rahu signifies the foreign element in the chart, something that is unconventional and out of ordinary.
• Sun: While positioned in any of the houses - 3rd, 7th, 9th and 12th, Sun influences journeys.

To understand the conditions that lead to foreign travel, combinations between these planets and houses are important. Ascendant lord in moveable or watery sign along with 9th and/or 12th house lord would indicate foreign travel. Combinations with 3rd house lord would indicate short travels instead of long, overseas travel.

Influence of 7th house lord is necessary for settling in a foreign country. Influence of Rahu or other malefic planets on 4th would give the same result by causing estrangement and would show a person leaving the comforts of residence. These combinations along with other combination of journeys would mean a one way ticket to a foreign country. Correspondingly, beneficial influences on 4th house in combination with 9th house would indicate increased attachment with the original place of residence and the person would come back home.

The timing of journey is always governed by 9th or 12th house lords and planets influencing these houses either though aspect or occupation of the house. Influence of lord of difficult houses - 6th house and in particular 8th house would indicate problems with travel, e.g. an unfavourable Mars in a chart in this scenario would indicate possible accidents while traveling.

All comments are most welcome.

Apologies for not being able to write any new posts for a long time. A combination of personal and professional issues did not allow me to work on the site other than performing routine maintenance. I have been going through all the comments though and this one caught my attention where the person is concerned if Mercury would affect married life in a negative way.

This is a fairly generic statement and should be understood as such. The simple answer is unless Mercury is itself afflicted (because is it most mutable planet and assumes nature of planets associated with it) and is afflicting 7th house as a cruel, malefic planet, there should not be any problems with respect to marriage.

I have also read in one of the astrology books that Mercury has absolutely no effect whatsoever, either positive or negative, on capacity to have children. Mercury governs creativity of thought. What gets created with this ability is books, literature and other forms of communication that can transcend time and affect people for generations to come. Hence this planet should not be seen in a bad light.

Please let me know if this argument makes sense.

To Ishan I would like to say that strengthening mercury would help definitely help you in your problems. Please have faith. The results may not be visible immediately but situation will improve in a longer run.