Jyotish, the Sanskrit term for Vedic astrology, means "light".   It is the science that sheds light on the reality of life.  The whole idea of astrology is to provide a symbol system that can help a person see his life as it is, outside of his programming and beliefs.

We all have beliefs.  Many people are very attached to their beliefs, and those beliefs, in turn, become the foundation of their story about themselves.  So a conservative person who has been raised in an environment where the right to bear arms is an important element of their traditional American values, might have a story like this.  "I'm an American, duck-hunting, gun-toting, conservative, Republican.   I'm proud of it.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!"

 We all have stories like this.  You might not be a gun-toting duck hunter, but you still have your story.   "I'm a mother. I work hard.  I put my self second and my kids first."  Or "I'm a vegetarian, yoga practicing, meditator."  Whatever your story, it is simply a projection of your beliefs about yourself.  But the interesting thing is, it is quite possible, that your beliefs about yourself could actually be wrong!

This is especially true when a person holds negative ideas about themselves, such as I am poor, or I am not lovable, or I am always sick.  The fact is, that each person possesses unlimited intelligence, energy, insight, and creativity.  Each human being is an amazing and unique expression of unfathomable intelligence.  So the idea of any human being believing that he or she is limited is ridiculous.  Yet, most of us hold on to limiting beliefs of some type or another.

In the context of spiritual evolution, the great saints and mystics say that every belief you have about yourself is false. That's because the self is really non-dual, pure consciousness.  It's not even a relative thing, so it can't be described or categorized.   That said, there is still a practical point of view, and from that perspective, we do have beliefs about ourselves that are useful and beliefs that aren't.  Some of our beliefs about ourselves match our wiring and some don't.

I was once doing a reading for a client.  I described his career from four different angles.  Normally, when looking at the career patterns from four different angles, I usually see different career possibilities.   For example, from the Sun's perspective, the career might look like a musician.  From the Moon, it might look like an architect.  And from the Ascendant, it might look like a cook. Usually, people have a variety of talents and interests and these are all reflected in the chart.  However, this man's chart was different.  From every angle, his chart looked like a teacher's chart.  I said, "From all four lagnas your career looks like teaching.  What do you do for a living?"  He said, " I am a doctor."

I was very surprised, and a little taken aback.  I thought to myself,  "What did I miss?  Did I get this wrong?"  I searched the chart frantically to find some evidence of a healer, but found nothing.  Again, I thought, "He's not going to like what I am about to say.  Doctors are high up on the totem pole in terms of respect and status, while teachers are not given enough respect, status, or financial validation."  I pulled myself together and decided to stick with the chart, in spite of his story about himself.  I said, "You're not happy as a doctor!"  I braced myself in case this statement caused him to disagree.  Instead, he said, "You're right, my mother and father wanted me to become a doctor.  I have never really liked medicine.  I have always wanted to be a teacher!"  Interestingly, a few years later, he retired from medicine and became a teacher.

The chart shows how you are wired, emotionally, mentally, professionally, physically, and spiritually.   If you are paying attention internally, and are being honest with yourself, you will follow your desires along the lines indicated in your horoscope.  That direction is a sure path leading to self actualization, and even to self realization.   But not everyone is clear about who they are or even what they really want. 

We all receive programming from our family, religion, national culture, and media.  In the case of the doctor, he allowed his parental programming to dominate, producing a story about him being a doctor.  That story wasn't even based on his own desires, but the desires of his parents.  And it led him down a path that was not in line with his true wiring, and therefore, not in line with being happy with his life.

The great teacher, Anthony de Mello, used to like to tell stories.  On this subject of erroneous beliefs, he told the following story:

There was once a Lion who was an orphan.  Somehow, as a cub, he grew up with a herd of sheep.  As he grew up, he imprinted on the herd and believed himself to be just like them, a sheep.

One day while the herd was grazing, another lion came into the clearing.  He saw the first lion with the herd of sheep, so he ran over to him.  Of course, all of the sheep ran away as fast as possible.  When the new lion reached the first lion, he said,  "What are you doing?  You don't belong with a herd of sheep."  The first lion said, "Of course I do, after all, I am a sheep myself."   The second lion said, "Come with me."  So they both trotted off into the forest.  When they reached a stream, the second lion found a calm part of the stream and said, "Look at yourself in the water." They both looked at their reflections in the water.  He said, "You are just like me, a lion. You are not a sheep!"  It only took the first lion a moment to realize his true nature, and that realization changed his life.  (For more about Anthony de Mello, google him on You Tube)

On the practical level, the horoscope is one of the most powerful tools for revealing your wiring, and that gives you insight into your true nature.  It allows you to step outside of yourself and see yourself  in symbol.  Like the lion, seeing his own reflection in the water, it only takes an instant to realize what is real.  Once you get it, everything changes, including your story.

But if that all seems too deep and too heavy, then, as they say down under, "No worries mate!"  Just roll over and go back to sleep.  There is no rule that says you have to be true to yourself.  It's usually a lot more enjoyable, but there is really no rule. You can just adopt the philosophy of Ashleigh Brilliant, the noted philosopher and scholar  who said,  "I have abandoned up my search for truth, and am now looking for a good fantasy!"