The Moon-Mind Exchange
Exploring the link between Vedic astrology, ayurveda and mental health
by Pamela McDonough
One of the more fascinating elements about the ancient astrological science of Jyotish, or Vedic astrology, is its total integration with the other sciences of India, particularly ayurveda, the natural medicine of India. Traditionally, an ayurvedic physician trained in Jyotish would first analyze the patient’s horoscope for health before seeing the patient.
A Vedic astrologer can also analyze one’s horoscope for physical health as well as mental health. For the former, Jyotish can shed light on the likelihood of certain kinds of illness; for the latter, it can help explain emotional tendencies. Once empowered with this health knowledge, one can visit an ayurvedic or traditional physician to begin preventative treatment, or a healing protocol.
The moon in Vedic astrology is a key planet of the horoscope and can be assessed for emotional constitution. The moon connects to the mind, emotions and intuition. By knowing its placement and condition, we can better understand our emotional well-being.The transiting planets (where the nine planets are at any point in time in the zodiac, past, present or future) can determine physical and emotional health during certain times in one’s life. According to Vedic astrology, people are born with a certain set of emotional patterns. As they experience the planetary transits relative to the moon, they can undergo shifts in their emotions and exhibit changes within their ayurvedic constitution, or dosha.
When certain planets, by transit, connect with the moon in your horoscope, you may go through a range of positive and negative emotions. For example, transits from Saturn to the moon in your horoscope can be emotionally heavy and create melancholy. Saturn also carries with it the air element, or the vata dosha type. Vata (wind) dosha is responsible for all movement in the mind and body. When Saturn connects to the moon or mind by transit, it can manifest as scattered thoughts or difficult emotions such as anxiety, panic attacks and severe depression. It’s helpful, especially when experiencing an emotionally difficult transit,to understand when that planetary influence is going to pass.
A Vedic astrologer can assess the strength of the planets in your horoscope. For example, the severity of the influence of transiting Saturn (and other planets), can be determined by how strong the moon is at the time of one’s birth.
Jyotish helps assess health issues, both mental and physical, and ayurveda provides the cure. By understanding key planetary transits and the condition of the moon at birth, people can be better prepared for emotional influences, both positive and challenging, and make decisions accordingly. Such knowledge allows people to develop a plan, and if necessary, create a support system for particularly difficult times, and overall, to be more effective and productive in life.
Pamela McDonough is a Vedic astrologer and artist.
Learn more about her work or schedule a reading at yantramandala.com.
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