How to read birth charts - Step by Step Tutorial

There are two parts in Vedic Astrology :
1. Mathematical : To plot all planets in a birth charts by calculating their transits at time of Birth.
2. Predictive : To derive meaning from the planet's positions i.e. reading birth charts to predict future events.

Today we are going to learn the 'Predictive' part of Astrology i.e. how to read birth charts. This will like a crash course and like a reference to the learning astrologers. If you all have any doubts regarding what I write here, you may raise questions in comments or contact me. My contact details will be given at the end of this post.

A brief background:
Astrology is science and no superstition. It is an interplanetary or cosmic science that deals with the play of cosmic energy. The ancient Sages who have derived the rules of astrology were sages of a high psychic development and they have examined the complete celestial phenomena on our planet by their divine sight.

In the study of astrology, the most important and difficult part is the proper judgment of 12 houses in a horoscope. The twelve Bhavas/Houses represent the entire life journey of the individual. In order to analyse the chart properly and thoroughly, each house must be carefully seen. Sometimes it so happens that many of the principles of astrology given in general do not hold good in actual charts. In such situations, conclusion must be drawn by further analysis of the relations and interrelations of planets made in that birth chart.

Let's Start :
Predictive astrology is divided in 4 parts :
1. Planets
2. Houses
3. Rashis
4. Nakshatras

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Planets :
Sun / Surya:
The Sun, according to the Vedas, is the parent of all existing phenomena in the
solar system. He is the ruler of all the planets that rotate around him. The Sun is
considered to be the soul of Kala Purusha (Kala = time, Purusha = being; combined, it means the being that binds himself to Time).
Its colored is blood red, its nature is bile-dominated, and it is the lord of the direction East.
It is the ruler of the zodiacal sign, Leo, and is exalted in the sign Aries, debilitated in Libra, and exiled in Aquarius. The Moon, Mars, and Jupiter are its natural friends, and Venus, Saturn, Rahu (dragon’s head, or the north node of the Moon), and Ketu (dragon’s tail, the south node of the Moon) are its natural enemies.
Nakshatras Kritika, Uttra Phalguni, and Uttra Khad are ruled by the Sun.
The Sun gives us vitality and the power of resistance and immunity. It is responsible for our physical makeup – the body’s constitution. The Sun gives life force, the power of will, intellect, brilliance, prosperity, success in worldly affairs, wealth, personal, conduct, activity, cheerfulness, good fortune, wisdom, ambition, fame, the understanding of the phenomenal world, and the knowledge of medicine. It also governs our relationship with temples and holy places.

The human spine is specially influenced by the Sun. Pingala Nadi, which represents the Sun, originates at the base of the spine on the right side, is solar in nature, and terminates in the right nostril. The Sun is connected with the right eye in men and the left eye in women. The Sun rules the heart, liver, lungs, head (brain), nerves, and bones.
The Sun also represents kings, government officials, rich and famous people,
personnel of royal families. Gemologists, artists, dramatists, jewelers, and creative people. Copper is its metal but it rules over gold, almonds, peanuts, coconut, mustard seeds, wool, red flowers, red sandalwood, and what in India are called “red” cows. It shows its influence from twelve to twenty-four years of age.

An afflicted and ill-aspected Sun gives low and high blood pressure, indigestion,
jaundice, cholera, fever, diabetes, appendicitis, hemorrhage, cardiac thrombosis,
eruptions on the face, typhoid, tuberculosis, mental problems caused by thinking too much, diseases of the head, epilepsy, and disorders caused by aggravated bile.

Moon / Chandra:
Moon is the presiding deity of the element water, and rules over the tides of the sea. The sphere of the Moon is the reservoir of rainwater and thus Moon is the ruler of plants and the vegetable kingdom.
The color of Moon is white. Its nature is wise, and learned. It rules peace of mind, comfort, general well-being, and also the fortune of a person. It shows its influence around twenty-four to twenty-five years of age. The Moon gives illumination, intuitive nature, sensuality, taste, youth, love of poetry, fine arts and music, love of jewelry, attractive appearance, wealth and good fortune. It makes us moody, emotional, and sensitive. It rules milk, grains, liquids, growth, fertility, impregnation, and conception.
It influences the infant stage of an individual, which guides his behavior in the later in the later part of his life. It is cold and moist. It also influence childbirth and rules the left nostril, eyesight, the breasts, and the brain (memory). Moon influences travelers, human, fisherman, prostitutes, cooks, nurses, and caterers.
Sun, Mars, and Jupiter and the Moon’s natural friends, and Mercury, Venus, and
Saturn are its natural enemies. In Rohini, Hast, Shravan, Punarvasu, Vishakha, and Purva Bhadrapad nakshatras it gives good and beneficial effect. It also gives
favorable effects if it is in Kritika, Uttra Phalguni, Ashlekha, Jyestha, Uttra Khad, and Revati nakshatras.
For persons whose Moon is not rightly placed in their natal chart or is ill-aspected, success becomes difficult, sometimes it even becomes difficult to achieve a comfortable life on earth. It makes such people weak or sick in their early years.
An afflicted, debilitated, exiled, or weak Moon causes cold, cough, fever, eye
ailments, lunacy, paralysis, epilepsy, hysteria, colic pains, beriberi, intestinal
disorders, throat troubles, bronchitis, dysentery, neurosis, typhoid, and cancer.

Mars / Mangal:
Mars is a masculine, dry, and fiery planet. It is said to be the commander-in-chief of the assembly of the nine planets. It is also personified as the god of war. Mars is a warrior by nature-bile-dominated in temperament – and it rules over courage,
bravery, patience, self-confidence, leadership abilities, physical strength,
forcefulness, violence, animal nature, cattle, land as property, earth, fire, saffron,
musk, mercury (the metal), cuts, burns, bruises, anger, hatred, impulsive nature, and insensitivity.
Mars makes its natives short-tempered, argumentative; lovers of weapons, guns, and explosives; commanders; generals; soldiers; and policeman. It also gives them great technical and mechanical abilities and makes them builders, designers, engineers, and good surgeons.
Mars is fond of law and order – and arrangement. It gives energy ,determination,
great administrative ability, and independent spirit.
Mars gives its best effect from twenty-seven to twenty-eight and up to thirty-two years of age. Its metal is copper; its day is Tuesday.
Sun, Moon, and Jupiter are its natural friends, Venus and Saturn are neutral in
friendships, and Mercury, Rahu, and Ketu are its enemies. It is powerful in Pisces
and Aquarius, Mrighshira, Dhanishtha, and Chitra and its nakshatras. Leo,
Sagittarius, and Pisces are friendly zodiacal signs and Gemini, Taurus, Libra, and
Virgo are enemy zodiacal signs.
If Mars is afflicted or weak, it causes troubles; it makes its natives cruel, violent,
aggressive, rough, and rude. It causes eczema, rashes, disorders of the blood and
bile, cuts, wounds, electric shocks, gunshots, knife wounds, burns, bruises, anger,
hatred, psychic disturbances, poverty, infections, smallpox, plague, tuberculosis,
thirst, piles, ulcers, fevers, poisoning, surgical operations, and diseases of the
stomach, liver, lungs, nose, and ears. Afflicted Mars gives lack of ambition and
motivation, and success in life becomes difficult.

Mercury / Budh:
Mercury is the planet of intellect and communication. It can be seen in the morning and evening as a shining star – and sometimes even during the day because of its power of radiation. Mercury is the smallest planet of our solar system.
Mercury rules education, writers, lecturers, artists, teachers, traders, businessmen, the nervous system, lungs, and intestines. It rules intelligence, speech, selfconfidence, humor, wit, astrology, mathematics, and short journeys.
Mercury rules the zodiacal signs Virgo and Gemini. Friends of Mercury are the Sun, Venus, Rahu, and Ketu, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are neutral to Mercury, and Mercury maintains enmity with the Moon.
It works well with Ashlekha, Jyeshtha, Revati, Rohini, Hast, and Shravan nakshatras and gives auspicious results. It gives inauspicious results in Adra, Svati, Pushya, Anuradha, Chitra, and Magha nakshatras.
It gives its best results when its native is between thirty-two and thirty-five years of age.
When ill-aspected, Mercury gives chronic dysentery, constipation, lack of digestive fire, lung diseases, asthma, restlessness, kidney problems, fear, neurosis, and madness.

Jupiter / Guru
Jupiter is the teacher of the science of light, that is, astrology and astronomy. He is the ruler of the Sun and the Moon and controls the movement of the planets.
Jupiter is a benefic planet, signifier of luck and fortune, and he rules religion,
philosophy, spirituality, wealth, and progeny. He is noble, buoyant, dignified, fruitful, optimistic, jovial, and masculine. If favorable, this planet gives name, fame, success, honor, wealth, progeny and good relationship with progeny, and it brings benefits to whatever planets or house it is associated with.
The color of Jupiter is yellow. Thursday is his day, and north-east is his direction. He is big, old looking, and has a pot belly. He is self-illuminating (this is said also in Western astronomy). One of his names is Guru, which means “heavy’ (in weight) and also “teacher”.
Sun, Mars, and the Moon are its friends. Mercury and Venus are its enemies. Rahu, Ketu, and Saturn are neutral in friendship. Its signs of detriment are Gemini and Virgo. In the Uttra Phalguni, Uttrakshad, Punarvasu, Purva Bhadrapad, and Vishakha nakshatras it gives benefits.
Jupiter is very important for a female, because it determines her marriage and her
relationship with her husband.
Jupiter rules over the liver, thighs, circulation of blood in arteries, and fat in the
human organism. It rules over gold and bronze in metals, wheat and barley in
grains, yellow flowers, fruits of yellow color, onions, and garlic.
Jupiter influences people during the fifteenth, sixteenth, twenty-second, and fortieth year of age.
Diseases connected with an afflicted or wrongly posited Jupiter are liver ailments, jaundice, arthritis, swelling, and tuberculosis.

Venus / Shukra:
Venus is feminine and gentle. An embodiment of love, he is a benefic planet and
governs the refined attributes, romance, beauty, sensuality, passion, sexual
pleasure, marriage, love matters, comforts, luxuries, jewelry, wealth, prosperity, art, music, dance, theater, actors, poets, musicians, the season of spring, rains and
aquatic creatures. In the body he rules over the reproductive system, eyes, throat,
chin, cheeks, and kidneys.
Mercury and Saturn are its friends and the Sun and Moon are its enemies. Mars and Jupiter are neutral in friendship to Venus even though Venus considers Jupiter its enemy. Taurus and Libra are the zodiacal signs whom Venus rules, and Venus gives good results when placed in theses signs.
When rightly aspected Venus is strong, and it brings wealth, comfort, attraction to the opposite sex in the early part of life, a well-proportioned body, and the attractive features necessary for a sensuous nature. It makes its natives tender, gentle, and considerate; lovers of jewelry, sour (pungent) taste, white dress, decoration, perfume, tasty food, and the fine arts. It inspires them to be poets, musicians, and seekers of truth and knowledge (secret sciences). The native loves the company of the members of the opposite sex, artists, and musicians.
When afflicted or ill-aspected, Venus creates problems in marriage. It causes
diseases of the eyes and ovaries. The native may suffer from gout, cysts, swelling of the internal organs, anemia, eating and drinking, venereal disease.
The nakshatras connected with Venus are Bharani, Purva Phalguni, and Purvashada.
Sagittarius and Capricorn are its friendly signs and Cancer and Leo its enemy signs.
Its greatest influence on an individual extends from the ages of twenty-five to
twenty-seven.

Saturn / Sani:
Saturn (In Sanskrit - Shani) is darkness, the enemy of light. When it is well placed in the seventh house, or well aspected, it gives its natives integrity, wisdom, spirituality, fame, patience, ability to lead, authority, long life, organizational abilities, sincerity, honesty, love of justice, awareness of right and wrong (because it rules the inner conscience), nonattachment, and asceticism.
When it is ill-posited or ill-aspected it brings miseries, sorrow, delay, obstruction,
disappointment, disharmony, disputes, dejection, difficulties, despondency, and
destruction (death). It makes its natives undisciplined, irresponsible, dishonest, dull, addicted to drugs, sadistic, greedy, lonely and afraid. Accidents, humiliation, prison, lawsuits, suicidal tendencies, fear of theft, thefts, blame, enmity, pessimism, and premature aging are also attributed to an ill-aspected or ill-posited Saturn.
In the body, Saturn rules the nails, hair, teeth, bones, and nervous system. Diseases of the ears, jaundice, gout, deafness, depression, anxiety, insanity, and
asthma are also connected with a Saturn that is ill-aspected or badly placed in the
birth chart.
Saturn rules over the zodiacal signs Capricorn and Aquarius. Mercury, Venus,
Rahu, and Ketu are its friends and the Sun, the Moon, and Mars are its enemies.
Jupiter is neutral in friendship. Its friendly zodiacal signs are Taurus and Gemini and it works well and gives good results in Sagittarius and Pisces. Enemy signs are Cancer, Leo, and Scorpio. Saturn gives its best results – or worst results – between thirty-six and forty-two years of age.

Dragon's Head / Rahu
Rahu is regarded as similar to Saturn in its effect. Smoky blue is its color, instinctual
and animalistic its nature. Rahu is interested only in achieving all that gives
pleasure, and even if it achieves all it wants, it is never satisfied (which is true of our
animalistic nature).
Although Rahu rules no sign of the zodiac, the zodiacal sign Virgo is its sign. Virgo
is in fact assigned to Mercury, but Rahu being akin to Saturn and Mercury being a
friend of Saturn, Rahu thus has authority over Virgo. Friendly signs are Gemini,
Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Cancer and Leo are its enemy signs. Mercury,
Venus, and Saturn are friendly planets. Rahu is an enemy of Sun, Moon, and Mars.
Rahu gives auspicious results in Taurus and Libra.
Rahu is capable of giving power when rightly posited or exalted, and it gives fame,
success in politics, money, and physical beauty (i.e., attraction).
Rahu gives its effects between forty-two and forty-eight years of age.
Although it gives beneficial results while posited in the above-mentioned signs, and
houses, the gains obtained during its major period do not last long, and one always
feels anxious and dissatisfied, even if one gets everything one desires.
Rahu creates physical and mental illnesses that cannot be diagnosed and cured
easily. It gives suicidal tendencies, fears, phobias, poisonous bites, murder, theft,
imprisonment, and diseases like cholera, dysentery, skin diseases, swelling of the
uterus, and constipation.

Houses :
An astrological student must bear in mind that all the differences in a person's life can be found in these houses from a birth chart and by this our venture is a prediction made from these.

The First house is called Dhanu Bhava. It deals with or represents the beginning of life, childhood, health, environment, personality, the physical body and the character.

The Second house is called the Kutumb bhava which represents native's family, face, right eye, food, wealth & savings, literary gift, manners and source of death, self-acquisition and optimism and childhood education.

The Third house is called Parakram bhav and it rules brothers and sisters, intelligence, cousins, bravery and other immediate relations. Nowadays, combined with 6th house, it also represents special abilities in sports and computers.

The Fourth house indicates peace of mind, home life, mother, conveyances, house & property, office, landed and ancestral properties, education and neck and shoulders.

The Fifth house indicates education, children, grandfather, intelligence, past karma, emotions and fame.

The Sixth house rules over debts, diseases, enemies, miseries, sorrows, illness and disappointments, competition.

The Seventh house represents wife, husband, marriage, urinary organs, marital happiness, sexual diseases, business partner, diplomacy, talent, energies, foreign settlement (wtih 12th house) and general happiness.

The Eighth house indicates longevity, legacies and gifts, unearned wealth, cause of death, disgrace, degradation, widowhood, long term diseases, debts and details pertaining to death.

The Ninth house rules father, luck, righteousness, preceptor, grandchildren, intuition, religion, sympathy, fame, charities, leadership, journeys and communications with spirits.

The Tenth house indicates, occupation, profession, temporal honours, foreign travels(with 7th and 12th house), self-respect, knowledge and dignity and means of livelihood.

The Eleventh house represents means of gains, elder brother and freedom from misery.

The Twelfth house rules losses, expenditure, prison, waste, extravagance, sympathy, divine knowledge, Moksha and the state after death.

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(The post is still getting written)