Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Astrological Gift Ideas

Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas... it seems like there is one gift giving occasion after another. You spend hours - sometimes days and weeks - trying to come up with those perfect gift ideas. Just when you think your safe, along comes another gift giving event. It's true. Gift giving does come naturally to some people. For the rest of us, it can be quite overwhelming. So for a fun gift alternative, think astrology! Okay, so not everyone is superstitious or believes in planetary positioning being responsible for their bad day. But everyone does have a sun sign and most people at least occasionally glance at their horoscope. So what should you get that hard-working Capricorn or affectionate Leo? Here are some sunsational gift ideas:

Astrology Guide: Visit Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble for a wide selection of astrological guides. Most of these are printed on a monthly or yearly basis. They include forecasts that tell the recipient what to expect for the upcoming days ahead. These guides teach how to apply astrology's ancient wisdom to navigate through today's world.

Zodiac Charm Bracelet: For women, jewelry always makes a nice gift. Accordingly, Zodiac charm bracelets are ideal for young girls, teenagers and youthful adults. Find out their astrological sign and custom order one made out of sterling silver or gold. You can find these online or at local jewelry stores.

Astrology Birth Charts: Whether they believe in astrology or not, one of the most unique gifts you can give is an astrological birth chart based around the time and place that they were born. It lends unique insight into the true essence of who they are and what the future may hold for them. They are very different from everyday horoscopes, as they are built around the particulars of a person as opposed to a Zodiac sign. Makes for interesting coffee table reading!

Chinese Zodiac T-Shirt: T-shirts have universal appeal, making them a really safe gift to give just about anyone. For a one-of-a-kind gift idea, have your gift recipient's Chinese Zodiac animal screen printed onto a t-shirt or tank top. It's a fashionable and fun astrological gift.

Horoscope Wall Clock: They'll always be on time, thanks to their Zodiac sign! A gift like this creates a great conversation piece. And you'll be happy to know that big, bold wall clocks are one of the hottest decorating trends. So you're not only giving a fun, unique gift, you'll be giving a gift that's in-style.

Astrological gift giving is a terrific way to ensure that the gift you choose will be one that the other person genuinely appreciates. So don't be a lazy Libra! Start shopping for those astro-fun gifts today!

Sagittarius Sign North Node Your Soul’s Mission and Path to Fulfillment

The nodes (south and north node) are two points in an astrological chart that possess priceless information about one's karmic past and soul-destined future.Calculated by using the birth data of the individual, the nodes symbolize the unique life path that one is on and can answer many questions about his own, as well as his partner's, inner struggles and desires -- answers that can transform not only his relationship but his life.

Since there are twelve signs of the zodiac, there are also twelve unique nodal positions -- each pair of nodes (north and south) representing two opposite signs of the zodiac. For instance, a Sagittarius sign north node is paired with an Gemini sign south node because they are opposites. And because they are opposites, they create a clear picture of the dualistic struggle that resides within the Sagittarius north node/Gemini south node individual.

Often, the individual is unaware of the war taking place inside, a situation that could go on for years. As time passes he is dumfounded by his inability to progress in life - professionally, emotionally, and spiritually. He doesn't understand why he keeps repeating the same mistakes over and over again and continues to dwell on the past as he desperately dreams of the future.

All of us have our own set of visible (and invisible) struggles to work through -- obstacles that the Nodes of the Moon can help us isolate and resolve while simultaneously freeing us to move forward on our destined path.

We all know that knowledge is power...and that's why I offer a bit of it to you...to give you the strength and courage you need to not only live, but thrive.

This week I'd like to begin with a brief overview of the Sagittarius sign north node/Gemini sign south node position.

To start, let's take a look at some keywords. These words describe the polarity between these two opposing signs and can offer you a glimpse of the soul journey that the individual with this nodal position is on.

Just remember that the south node represents the comfortable but not necessarily healthy habits within your personality - patterns that have accumulated over lifetimes that now need to be acknowledged and released.

The north node, on the other hand, represents your soul's potential - the direction of the future...the behavioral habits that will lead you to greater happiness and the kind of life that you will find fulfilling.

Here are a few Gemini sign south node traits that should be put to rest, sort of speak, if the individual with this nodal position is to live an emotionally rich life:

Inconsistent, deceptive, nervous, tense, unreliable, distracted, moody, gossipy, easily bored, unfocused, manipulative, scattered, lost in the present, high-strung.

Here are a few Sagittarius sign north node traits that this individual might at first find foreign but eventually will need to embrace if he is to connect to his true soul potential and live the life he was meant to live:

Optimistic, straightforward, truth-seeking, ethical, goal-oriented, futuristic, philosophical, love for freedom, love for nature, love for travel (intellectual, spiritual, and/or physical), desire to teach.

The journey from a Gemini sign south node to a Sagittarius sign north node will not be easy. But then again, neither is anything else in life that’s worth doing.

Obstacles are simply strategically placed hurdles meant to remind us of our inner strength and hidden needs. Therefore, as long as the Sagittarius sign north node individual remembers that his soul is creating the kind of life he needs in order to evolve as a spiritual individual, he will make it through the transformation just fine.

The following are some of the hurdles that the Sagittarius north node individual must overcome in order to feel a sense of direction in his life;

• He must release his fear of commitment

• He must explore who he is at the core; what he believes in and what he is willing to defend

• He must stop participating in gossip and trying to pass others’ opinions as his own

• He must realize that constant duality in thought and action only leads to unsteadiness and confusion

• He must learn to make choices

• He must seek higher knowledge

• He must practice speaking his own truth

• He must let go of all that is superficial within himself and devote his life to searching out the real and natural

For only when the Sagittarius sign north individual masters the lessons mentioned above, will he be able to create the soul-connected existence he so desperately seeks.

The north node path is offering the Sagittarius sign soul an opportunity to gain wisdom, strength, and freedom. But it is still up to him to decide whether to accept the gift.

Having said all that, it might not be such a bad idea for the Sagittarius sign north node soul to surround himself with as many people and symbols that can support his journey. By encircling himself with people who understand him and symbols that exude the Sagittarius sign energy, he invites the support needed to follow his internal voice and path to fulfillment.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Tom Cruise's Numerology Is He On The Way Down

Tom Cruise, now 45, still packs them in at the theater. Certainly the success of "War of the Worlds", and the just released to DVD "Mission Impossible III", would suggest he is still among Hollywood's top properties. But, Paramount chose to end it's production deal with Cruse after 14 years. With wife Katie Holmes and their new daughter Suri, born this year; Tom Cruise seems to have his plate full. The question is, can he handle the new family, and still stay on top of the action movie business?

As a Numerologist, if I want to see what's coming in someone's future there are (3) calculations which I look at: their Life Cycle, their Letters of Transit, and their Personal Year. These values give me clues about what's coming for a person in a general way. Looking at these shows that Tom Cruise appears to be entering a period where his career may take a downturn for a while.

His Life Cycle

Tom Cruise entered his second life cycle in 1997, and it will run through his 62nd birthday in 2024. This is a pleasant time for his creative works, but it's also a time when many opportunities are being wasted in order to party and have a good time. His social life has become a dominate factor for him now. Cruise is often restless and bored during these years. He continues to appear incredibly lucky in the eyes of people around him. The challenge of this cycle is the chance of disruption in his home life. Tom appears to have weathered the storms of his divorce and new marriage, though his career may suffer a little for it.

His Transit Letters

Tom Cruise has a fair amount of change in his transit letters going on. He begin a period under the letter 'U' in July 2004 which will end next year in July 2007. He will derive joy and satisfaction from his new family during this time. Though this is a creative time for him, it is not a good period for financial success. His confidence will need a boost during this time. He should seek out his true friends for help and advice to weather this storm.

He just started a two year period under transit letter 'T' last July, which runs through 2008. Tom will be more sensitive and aware of the feelings of others under this letter. His marriage will prosper during this time. He also needs to guard against possible health problems while under the affects of this letter.

Cruise has been under the influence of a single 'I' for some time which will end next year in July 2007. This marks a time of dramatic ups and downs in his life. It is a time filled with creative opportunities, but also delays and nervous anxiety. In July 2007, he will begin a time under the double 'I' transit letters which will last for some years. These years will bring great difficulty in starting plans and projects in his life. His movie career may bog down during these years.

Running through this entire period is a transit letter 'M'; a letter calling for hard work and practicality. He needs to be careful and pace himself, using his energies wisely during this period.

His Personal Year

2006 is a personal year (9) for Tom Cruise. This is a time for winding up old task and commitments, and preparation for new opportunities in the following (1) personal year. This is a bad year for starting new projects, which should be delayed until 2007.

Summation

The theme I draw from the combinations above is that family and social time are going to dominate for a while, and that Tom Cruise's letter don't support starting any major projects in the future. The upcoming time under a double 'I' turning point looks to be a major stumbling block for starting plans and projects. I think that it will be a while before we see any more major work out of Tom Cruise. Fortunately, he can afford the time off.

Sagittarius Sign North Node - Your Soul’s Mission and Path to Fulfillment

The nodes (south and north node) are two points in an astrological chart that possess priceless information about one's karmic past and soul-destined future.Calculated by using the birth data of the individual, the nodes symbolize the unique life path that one is on and can answer many questions about his own, as well as his partner's, inner struggles and desires -- answers that can transform not only his relationship but his life.

Since there are twelve signs of the zodiac, there are also twelve unique nodal positions -- each pair of nodes (north and south) representing two opposite signs of the zodiac. For instance, a Sagittarius sign north node is paired with an Gemini sign south node because they are opposites. And because they are opposites, they create a clear picture of the dualistic struggle that resides within the Sagittarius north node/Gemini south node individual.

Often, the individual is unaware of the war taking place inside, a situation that could go on for years. As time passes he is dumfounded by his inability to progress in life - professionally, emotionally, and spiritually. He doesn't understand why he keeps repeating the same mistakes over and over again and continues to dwell on the past as he desperately dreams of the future.

All of us have our own set of visible (and invisible) struggles to work through -- obstacles that the Nodes of the Moon can help us isolate and resolve while simultaneously freeing us to move forward on our destined path.

We all know that knowledge is power...and that's why I offer a bit of it to you...to give you the strength and courage you need to not only live, but thrive.

This week I'd like to begin with a brief overview of the Sagittarius sign north node/Gemini sign south node position.

To start, let's take a look at some keywords. These words describe the polarity between these two opposing signs and can offer you a glimpse of the soul journey that the individual with this nodal position is on.

Just remember that the south node represents the comfortable but not necessarily healthy habits within your personality - patterns that have accumulated over lifetimes that now need to be acknowledged and released.

The north node, on the other hand, represents your soul's potential - the direction of the future...the behavioral habits that will lead you to greater happiness and the kind of life that you will find fulfilling.

Here are a few Gemini sign south node traits that should be put to rest, sort of speak, if the individual with this nodal position is to live an emotionally rich life:

Inconsistent, deceptive, nervous, tense, unreliable, distracted, moody, gossipy, easily bored, unfocused, manipulative, scattered, lost in the present, high-strung.

Here are a few Sagittarius sign north node traits that this individual might at first find foreign but eventually will need to embrace if he is to connect to his true soul potential and live the life he was meant to live:

Optimistic, straightforward, truth-seeking, ethical, goal-oriented, futuristic, philosophical, love for freedom, love for nature, love for travel (intellectual, spiritual, and/or physical), desire to teach.

The journey from a Gemini sign south node to a Sagittarius sign north node will not be easy. But then again, neither is anything else in life that’s worth doing.

Obstacles are simply strategically placed hurdles meant to remind us of our inner strength and hidden needs. Therefore, as long as the Sagittarius sign north node individual remembers that his soul is creating the kind of life he needs in order to evolve as a spiritual individual, he will make it through the transformation just fine.

The following are some of the hurdles that the Sagittarius north node individual must overcome in order to feel a sense of direction in his life;

• He must release his fear of commitment

• He must explore who he is at the core; what he believes in and what he is willing to defend

• He must stop participating in gossip and trying to pass others’ opinions as his own

• He must realize that constant duality in thought and action only leads to unsteadiness and confusion

• He must learn to make choices

• He must seek higher knowledge

• He must practice speaking his own truth

• He must let go of all that is superficial within himself and devote his life to searching out the real and natural

For only when the Sagittarius sign north individual masters the lessons mentioned above, will he be able to create the soul-connected existence he so desperately seeks.

The north node path is offering the Sagittarius sign soul an opportunity to gain wisdom, strength, and freedom. But it is still up to him to decide whether to accept the gift.

Having said all that, it might not be such a bad idea for the Sagittarius sign north node soul to surround himself with as many people and symbols that can support his journey. By encircling himself with people who understand him and symbols that exude the Sagittarius sign energy, he invites the support needed to follow his internal voice and path to fulfillment.

Now, if you’re reading this article and it's your mate that has the Sagittarius sign north node, and you do that for your mate, well...that's just about the greatest gift that you could ever give him/or her.

Why? Well, because there's nothing like the feeling one gets when he realizes that he has found someone who really gets him -- a true friend...lover...and the irreplaceable soul companion he's been searching for his entire life.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Numerology's Life Path (1) the Path of the Leader

Ever meet someone who is self-sufficient, doing something about their Life, and is bad at taking advice from other people? Chances are, they are part of the 11% percent of the population living on Life Path (1) the Path of the Leader. These individuals have birthdays which when summed, and then reduced by Fadic addition give us a (1) result.

(For example Tom Cruise born on July 3rd, 1962 ; 7 + 3 + 1962 = 1972 = 19 = 10 = 1)

Talents and Abilities

Leaders main goal in life is to learn to depend on themselves; to stand on their own two feet. They will always opt to take action, rather than think about their problems. They have very little patience, and hate waiting for things. Leaders have strong core beliefs and opinions about the world that they will fiercely defend. They are good at starting task and projects, and their ability to focus on what they want to accomplish serves them well. They tend to be ambitious, with a driving need to get ahead in life.

Their leadership ability and forthright attitude lets them make snap judgments about things with ease. Their self-assurance and originality make them popular with co-workers. They are usually bad team players, and do their best work alone. They resent it when other people override their decisions. Stubborn and strong willed, they want to handle their own problems in life. They avoid outright opposition to their plans where possible to avoid wasting time.

Problem Areas for Leaders

Leaders tend to be impatient, poor at handling criticism, and too much of a projectionist. They hate arguments, and will sometimes delay taking action to avoid them. This trait can lead to anger and frustration for them. Leaders hate psychoanalysis -- it feels too much like taking their problems to others.

Procrastinators bewilder them; and leaders don't understand them. Also, in areas of love and romance, their burning desire to lead often deserts them.

Famous Life Path (1) Leaders

Famous people with this Life Path include:

Tim Allen, Maya Angelou, Fiona Apple, James Arness, John Astin, Burt Bacharach, Erykah Badu, Drew Barrymore, David Blaine, Michael Bolton, James L. Brooks, Nicolas Cage, Jennifer Capriati, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tom Clancy, George Clooney, Sean Connery, David Copperfield, Tom Cruise, Ice Cube, Daniel Day-Lewis, Brian Dennehy, Danny DeVito, Jakob Dylan, Kenneth Babyface Edmonds, Eminem, Sally Field, Tom Hanks, Angie Harmon, Holly Hunter, Elizabeth Hurley, Samuel L. Jackson, Billy Joel, Scarlett Johansson, Magic Johnson, Wynonna Judd, Larry King, Calvin Klein, Matt Lauer, Joanie Laurer, Matt LeBlanc, David Letterman, George Lucas, Tim McGraw, Alanis Morissette, Jack Nicholson, Shaquille ONeal, Joe Pesci, Dan Rather, Robert Redford, Paul Reiser, Geraldo Rivera, Alicia Silverstone, Jerry Springer, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Christy Turlington, Veronica Webb, Kate Winslet, Tiger Woods, and Noah Wyle

The Palmistry Report

Palmistry, or Cheiromancy is a very popular and accurate way of divining.

Leic de Hamon (Louis Hamon, aka Cheiro), the famous nineteenth century palmist was named Cheiro after it.

Palmistry The art of Palmistry can be traced back as far as the Stone Ages. Pictures of human hands are frequently found in cave drawings, indicating their special interest in this part of the body. These paintings can be seen in the Lascaux Caves in France, the remarkable Santander caves in Spain and in several caves in Africa.

The ancient Vedic scriptures contained an abundance of information on palmistry. K.C. Sen, an eminent Indian palmist, says the earliest writings on palmistry were ancient Sanskrit. These verses have been preserved and are still guarded from the public eye. Cheiro, the famous palmist, claimed to have seen one of these manuscripts in the early 1900’s.

Palmistry is also mentioned favourably in the Old Testament:

“...and he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? of what evil is in my hand?” 1 Samuel 26:18.

“He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know his work.” Job 37:7.

“Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor”. Proverbs 3:16.

“Behold, I have graven thee on the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me” Isaiah 49:16)

Before the birth of Buddha in 563 B.C., leading seers of the time gathered at the royal palace. They were drawn by extraordinary indications revealed in the stars. They were ecstatic to find the mark of the wheel on Buddha’s hands and feet, indicating his future greatness. Palmists in India still look for this special mark in the palms of babies.

Gypsies came into the picture around the eleventh century, though they had been practising palmistry for centuries before.

Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor, enlisted the gypsies as spies.

Word of this soon spread and when Gypsies arrived at the gates of Paris in 1427 they were not allowed inside. However, the citizens of the city, intrigued and excited by these romantic strangers, rushed outside to have their fortunes told.

The tradition of crossing a Gypsy’s palm with silver, dates back to this era.

The church claimed the Gypsies were in league with the Devil. To counter this, the Gypsies explained that the Devil was afraid of both silver and the sign of the cross. Therefore, if you made a sign of the cross over a Gypsy’s hand with silver you would be protected. Needless to say, the gypsies kept the silver.

Interest in using palmistry for psychological analysis is a product of the last century. The first major work on this subject was Julius Spier’s The Hands of Children, which appeared in 1944. Not surprisingly, the introduction was written by Carl Jung. This was quickly followed by works from Noel Jaquin, Charlotte Wolf, and in 1990, by Andrew Fizherbert.

Since the Second World War, research on palm patterns has been going on at the Kennedy Galton Centre near London. This research has lead scientists to confirm that health factors can be determined in the hand.

The current research into dermatoglyphics (the study of skin patterns) is potentially the most exciting development in the history of palmistry.

Although palmistry dates back to the Stone Ages, its greatest period is just beginning. Now that scientists are proving its validity, palmistry may very soon become a main stream reality.

Introduction

Palmistry is a science based on the study of the hands. It can help individuals in self-discovery, relationships, career options, recovery from depression and a host of other self development issues.

It’s up to the individual to discover all the opportunities that present themselves when the world is viewed from a perspective of knowledge instead of chaos.

One of the unique characteristics of palmistry is handprints taken at different times in a person’s life, provide palm readers with “before” and “after” snap shots of the individual’s progress through time.

This can be a great tool to chart the progress in attitude/habit forming and help pinpoint specific conditions in an individual’s life. This can help the individual see how a certain belief or habit was formed in their life and help them to change or modify their belief or habit.

Your Life Is In Your Hands

Palmistry, like a doctor’s examination, is strictly a diagnostic reading. It can point out the forces that operate within individuals, and summarize the logical results of these forces. They can be accepted as they are, or can be changed over time.

Why Palmistry?

Why use Palmistry in the first place? The most logical reason is most individuals have at least one hand. It’s convenient and personal. The lines on each individual’s hands are different and highly personal to that individual.

Goethe, a famous philosopher, and Richard Webster, a New Zealand psychic and palmist, both claim that the lines in the hand are a map of the individual’s brain.

A Palm Reader’s Role

Professional palmists explain to the client how a palm reading session will work, before a reading begins. Most individuals visit a palmist because of a problem they have not been able to resolve. They may be nervous and perhaps a little apprehensive.

To ease the individual’s anxiety, professional palmists try to be empathetic to the individual’s concerns. During the reading, they will attempt to focus on the individual’s need for information.

It takes two to produce a good reading. There must be a positive rapport between the reader and the individual. As in many other areas, psychic impressions from the palms are never 100% accurate. It is not an exact science, but a solid indication of the past, present and future.

Although palm readings are rarely ever 100% accurate, professional palmists generally achieve a 70% - 80% accuracy rate.

Mindset is critical to a reading. In many cases, an individual may have one thought or worry that consumes them. In these cases, the individual may be so consumed with their one focus that they miss the information that has been provided for them. Their mind will be constantly trying to find information that relates to their concern.

At the end of a reading, the client should evaluate the palmist. A scale based on percentages works well as an evaluation tool. If the reading was 70% - 80% correct, the individual should feel comfortable and confident that they received a positive reading. They should also report what they feel was incorrect, to the reader.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

The Meaning Behind Astrology Symbols

Astrology symbols are not the discovery of the century. People knew about the astrology symbols for many years. For many years astrology symbols have been used to stand for the different signs of the zodiac. Once you have learned the meaning behind astrology symbols you realize that they are easy to remember and to recognize. The astrology symbols represent certain zodiac signs so that zodiac signs can be distinguished from one another.

Aquarius is believed to be the most discernable astrology symbol. This astrology symbol is always presented with figures, which resemble water. Someone can relate the waves on the astrology sign’s image with an aquarium but not with water. However, the Aquarius astrology sign is probably the easiest to remember.

Other easy to remember astrology signs are Taurus and Aries. The Taurus astrology sign image represents a bull. Its name can be easily remembered because the Spanish word for bull is the same. A sphere with two bull-like horns is usually the picture of the Taurus astrology sign. On the other hand, the Aries astrology sign is associated with a goat and its image shows horns on a goat’s head.

In the zodiac, there are two twin astrology symbols. That is why Pisces and Gemini are often mixed up. Sometimes their images are quite alike. The figure of the astrology sign Pisces is usually presented with two fish. The image of the Pisces astrology sign is always a pair of fish. The Gemini astrology sign, for its part, is presented with an image that resembles the Roman numeral II.

One of the most clearly recognized visual images of the astrology symbols is the one that represents the Leo astrology sign. A lion’s mane or simply a lion is the astrology symbol of the Leo.

Virgo and Scorpio are also quite similar astrology symbols. These two astrology symbols both resemble the letter M. These remarkably different astrology symbols are represented by icons, which look quite alike. The difference between the images is that the Scorpio astrology symbol has a “tail” that sticks out to the point of an arrow outwards. Virgo’s “tail” stands inward and has no arrow at its tip.

Cancer and Sagittarius are two astrology symbols, which are easy to be distinguished. While the Cancer sign is quite feminine, the Sagittarian sign is masculine. The Cancer’s astrology symbol consists of two circles that intersect each other. The Sagittarius astrology symbol is represented only by an arrow that points up and right.

Capricorn is probably the most strange astrology symbol. I am not sure why but its astrology symbol represents a goatfish. A goatfish is not the most pleasant picture that is possible but I think the image it not so bad. It looks like the letters VS.

The last astrology symbol, which is left, is Libra. This astrology symbol looks alike the scales of justice that we see in the courthouses. They are usually associated with balance.

These astrology symbols live for many generations and they will probably wait for many others to come.

Muhurtha An Auspicious Moment Of Time Indian Vedic Astrology

Muhurtha (Electional Astrology) is a branch of Indian Astrology dealing with fixing of 'auspicious moments of time' for conducting important and sacred ceremonies. One can find Indians referring a 'Panchang' or consulting an astrologer for a 'muhurat' when they either want to conduct an important ceremony like marriage, 'upanayan' (thread ceremony for 'Brahmins'),'gruha pravesh' (house warming) etc. or when they would like to embark upon an important work. Even politicians and government departments would consult their pet astrologer and fix a muhurtha for oath-taking or inauguration ceremonies!

Astrology has a necessary relation with time. It deals with the effects of planetary motions including the sun and the moon. Its basic tenet is the confirmed scientific fact of the effects of radiation on all terrestrial phenomena. That the Hindus discovered it ages before is a testimony to the intelligence and accomplishments of that generation. The effect of sun's rays on biological activity and those of the moon on psychological processes is well-established. Agricultural activities like planting, cultivation, growth, maturity and harvest are all dependent upon seasonal changes and solar radiation.

What is muhurtha? Why is it important? This can be better understood with regard to its role in astrology. General horoscopy deals with predictions about a native with regard to the time he or she was born. It is static, fixed and beyond one's control or determination. On the other hand, muhurtha is dynamic. One can choose the most suitable or auspicious times at different stages of life where there are chances of changes in one's destiny. Thus a marriage performed on a particular day may change the course of one's life. This is not superstition. A marriage taking place at an inauspicious time can lead to disastrous consequences or divorce or life-long agony. According to the late Dr.B.V.Raman, the greatest Indian astrologer of the modern age, "While horoscopy prescribes, muhurtha remedies". Muhurtha is prescriptive as well as preventive. The deficiencies noticed in a natal chart can be overcome with the proper application of muhurtha. Thus a child diagnosed (astrologically) as weak in education can be initiated into alphabet learning or first sent to school at an auspicious moment.

Muhurtha, essentially means two 'ghatis' or forty-eight minutes. The essential elements comprise 'tithi'(lunar day),'vara'(weekday),'nakshatra' (constellation),'yoga'(joint motion of sun and moon amounting to multiples of 800 angular minutes) and 'karana'(half a lunar day). These five elements collectively are called 'panchang', that is, 'five limbs'. In considering 'tithi', generally the 4th,6th,8th,12th,14th,full moon('pournami') and new moon ('amavasya') are avoided. In some parts of South India, New Moon day is believed to be auspicious. In regard to 'vara', in general Tuesday and Saturday are considered inauspicious though they are valid for surgical operations. One should note that in Indian Astrology, the weekday is said to commence from sunrise. Of the twenty-seven 'nakshtras', Bharani and Krittika are avoided for all works as they are said to be presided over by Yama, the lord of death. In 'yoga', the 6th,9th,10th,17th and 27th are inauspicious. Of the 'karanas', 'bhadra' is the most unwanted while 'bava' and 'thaithula' are very auspicious.

After taking into account twenty-one 'mahadoshas'(great evils), the astrologer suggests good muhurthas attaching great importance to 'lagna' (ascendent or the rising cusp) and position of the moon. The moon is to be avoided in the 6th,8th and the 12th houses at any cost. Thus fixing a muhurtha is a time-consuming arduous task for an Indian astrologer. For normal purposes, people take into account one or more of 'tithi' or 'nakshatra' or 'chandra bala' or 'tara bala' or 'rahu kalam' or'durmuhurt' or 'thyaja kala'. While in Tamil Nadu, South India, reliance on 'Rahu Kalam' is very common, in North India, people follow a similar one called 'choughadia' for routine works. However, when a muhurta is fixed, the 'panchaka' (five-source energy) should be strong.