by Pamela McDonough
As a Vedic astrologer, I have had many people ask me, “What’s my dharma?” Interestingly, no single word in the English language translates this word exactly. Some of the common translations are described loosely as “right action” or “our innate purpose.”
We can think of dharma like this: the dharma of the bee is to make honey, the dharma of the river is to flow and so on.
There are 12 zodiac signs and 12 houses in the horoscope. Each house signifies specific areas of our lives. The ninth house of the horoscope is the house of dharma. This house is called pitru bhava (house of the father), and key meanings of this house connect to our dharma, our teachers/gurus, our father, good fortune and spirituality.
Jupiter is the natural ruler of the ninth house, and Jupiter’s influence can give direction and purpose to our lives, helping us to find our own dharmic path. It is particularly important in our horoscope for Jupiter to connect with the planet that rules our charts, our Sun or our Moon.
My Jyotish guru calls the influence of Jupiter in the horoscope the “akash touch.” Akash (or ether) is the fifth of the five elements in Ayurveda. Jupiter is the only factor in the system of Vedic astrology that carries the key element of ether. This influential element is a vital ingredient for us to understand our dharmic path in life. For those who do not have the direct touch of Jupiter, there are other ways to uncover this element. An experienced Vedic astrologer can help you connect the dots and find your dharmic path through careful analysis of the birth chart.
Your time of birth determines where Jupiter is placed in your birth chart. For those fortunate enough to have Jupiter placed in the ninth house of their horoscope, it can indicate a very blessed lifetime. Natural teaching ability, wisdom, love of learning, excellent teachers, deep spiritual experiences and an expansive nature can be some of the outcomes for this placement, along with the knowledge of our dharmic path. Jupiter in the other houses of dharma in our horoscope (one and five) can also support these auspicious influences.
To discover the influence of Jupiter in your own horoscope, have a Jyotish reading done. Having an understanding of the akash touch can help you navigate your life and help you find your dharmic path.
Pamela McDonough is a Vedic astrologer and artist. Learn more and schedule a reading with Pamela by visiting yantramandala.com.
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