Overview of the Systems’ Approach to Interpreting Horoscopes —
as developed by Professor V.K. Choudhry, MBA

Planets, houses, signs and planetary periods rule events and indications in life.

During their operating periods, the planets bless the native with the significations ruled by them relative to their strength and placement in the horoscope.

The Systems’ Approach improves the accuracy of analysis, accelerates the analytical process, and helps in identifying the results of analysis in an unambiguous manner, consistently without confusion. The main points are:

  • Identify the Most Effective Point of every house. The most effective
    point is based on the rising sign degree. For example, if the natal
    chart rising sign is 10 degrees, then the most effective point of
    every house is 10 degrees.
  • Note the five-degree orb. Whenever a planet is within five degrees
    on either side of the most effective point of any house, whether by
    aspect or conjunction, in either the natal chart or by transit, its
    results are shown whether positive or negative.
  • Determine the functional nature of planets. That is, determine the
    functional malefic (FM) and functional benefic (FB) planets in a
    chart. Rahu and Ketu are functional malefics for all charts. The
    other FMs are those planets whose Mooltrikona (MT) sign falls in the
    dusthana (inauspicious) houses, that is the 6th, 8th,
    and 12th houses from the ascendant.

MOOLTRIKONA SIGNS

Mooltrikona Sign(5) Leo(4) Cancer(1) Aries(6) Virgo(9) Sagittarius(7) Libra(11) Aquarius

Planet
Sun
Moon
Mars
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Saturn

For example, when you look at the natal chart, simply note whether any of these numbers (mooltrikona signs) fall in the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses from the ascendant. If they do, then the planet that rules that particular house becomes a functional malefic for that specific ascendant.

The number of functional malefics in a natal chart varies for each ascendant. The following list shows the functional malefics for each rising sign.

Ascendant Functional Malefics
Aries Mercury, Rahu, Ketu
Taurus Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Rahu, Ketu
Gemini Rahu, Ketu
Cancer Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu
Leo The Moon, Rahu, Ketu
Virgo Saturn, Mars, the Sun, Rahu, Ketu
Libra Mercury, Rahu, Ketu
Scorpio Mars, Venus, Rahu, Ketu
Sagittarius The Moon, Rahu, Ketu
Capricorn The Sun, Jupiter, Rahu, Ketu
Aquarius The Moon, Mercury, Rahu, Ketu
Pisces The Sun, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu

If a planet is not a functional malefic, then it is a functional benefic. There are no neutral planets in this system.

Natal chart and transit interpretations are always done with reference to the ascendant only. Interpretations are not done using any other sign, house, or lord independent of the rising sign.

ANALYZING THE STRENGTH OF PLANETS

Planets are considered weak if they are:

  • In their signs of debilitation
  • Are combust
  • Are in the state of infancy (first five degrees of a sign)
  • Are in the state of old age (last five degrees of a sign)
  • Placed in malefic houses (6th, 8th, or 12th)
    in natal chart or by transit

A weak planet does not have the ability to fully protect either its general or particular significations.

The general significations refer to the subjects ruled by the planet. The Sun, for example, rules father, status of the native, heart, digestive system, etc., irrespective of the house lordship of the Sun in
a natal chart.

The particular significations refer to the significations of the house where the planet’s mooltrikona sign is placed, and of the house where the planet is placed in the natal chart.

Whenever a weak planet is afflicted by close aspect or conjunction with a functional malefic planet, the results of its signification manifest with delay, or altogether suffers.

Afflictions in the natal chart cause damage during the entire sub period of the weak planet or of the afflicting planets.

Afflictions to the weak planet during the transit influences cause only short term damage, and last only for the duration of the operating transit influence.

AFFLICTIONS

The close (within five degrees) conjunction or aspect of the functional malefic planets in a natal chart causes the afflictions to the planets and houses.

MEASURING STRENGTH OF THE HOUSES

The strength of the houses and the signs is gauged through the strength of their lords and the conjunctions and aspects to the most effective point (MEP) of the houses.

MEASURING THE STRENGTH OF THE PLANETS

Infancy/Old Age

There are 30 degrees in a sign. Planets in the first five degrees of a sign are considered in an infant state and are rendered weak. Similarly, planets in the last five degrees are considered in old age, and are also rendered weak. Just as an infant or old person cannot protect or provide for others, these planets need to be strengthened when they are functional benefics in a chart.

The results of planets vary in degree of strength as per their longitudes. That is, when planets are in their infant state their power is 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% when they are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 degrees, respectively. When planets are in their old age state their power is 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, and zero when their longitude is 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 degrees, respectively.

Exalted Planets

Whenever planets are placed in their signs of exaltation they are considered to have additional strength. However, whether or not they are placed on the exact point of exaltation has very little relevance.

Combust Planets

When the Sun is a functional benefic planet, its conjunction with other well-placed functional benefic planets is considered good. It gives exponential growth relative to the significations of the planet in close conjunction with the Sun. However, the combust planets will suffer when they are under the transit malefic influences.

On the other hand, when the Sun is a functional malefic and is closely conjunct with other planets, then all the planets involved suffer. This is because the planets become afflicted by the conjunction of the functional malefic Sun permanently — due to their natal chart positions.

The combust planets in such cases also suffer in transit afflictions.

IDENTIFYING RESULTS OF MAIN/SUB PERIOD LORDS

Events take place during the periods of operating planets. Therefore it is very important to understand the method of analyzing the main period (dasa) and sub period (bhukti) results.

The following chart is useful in analyzing results.

RESULTS OF SUB PERIOD LORDS

Main Period Lord Sub Period Lord Results
Functional Malefic Functional Malefic Will cause suffering.
Functional Malefic Functional Benefic
(If well placed and strong)		 Will bestow good results
Functional Malefic Functional Benefic
(If weak or afflicted)		 Will create only hope (that does not get fulfilled)
Functional Benefic Functional Benefic
(If well placed and strong)		 Will bestow very good results
Functional Benefic Functional Benefic
(If badly placed and weak)		 Will bestow average results with misfortune during unfavorable
transit influences
Functional Benefic Functional Malefic Will cause mild sufferings
Functional Benefic Functional Malefic
(If involved in close conjunction or aspects with other weak
planets)		 < Will cause grave concerns/tragic happenings

RESULTS OF SIGNIFICATIONS

The results of the general significations of the sub period lord depend upon its functional nature, strength, placement, conjunction and aspects to the same.

The significations of the house of placement are touched when transit planets create benefic or malefic influences on the sub period lord.

During the sub period of a planet, the following significations are operating:

  • The general significations of the planet. For example, the Sun rules
    father, social status, position with the government, male child,
    digestive system, heart, blood pressure, etc.
  • The particular significations of the house where the mooltrikona
    sign of the operating planet is placed. For example, if a malefic
    planet is conjunct or aspecting the most effective point of a house,
    the significations of the mooltrikona sign and house will not
    prosper. They will be subject to the problems indicated by the
    lordship of the afflicting planet.
  • The significations of the house where the planet is placed.

ANALYZING RESULTS OF NON-MOOLTRIKONA SIGNS

Until and unless there is a close malefic influence on the most effective point of a house containing a non-mooltrikona sign, the significations of that house will not bother a person. Generally people will not seek astrological consultations or remedies relevant to the significations of those houses.

CAPABILITY OF PLANETS TO BLESS WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS

Study both positions, that is, the natal chart and transit position of the planet. The planet will be able to bless the native with both its general and particular significations, if it is strong both in the natal
chart, and in transit.

Under the Systems’ Approach the analysis is always done with reference to the placement of planets, their strength and weaknesses and their mutual relationship with reference to the ascendant.

USE OF DIVISIONAL CHARTS

The divisional charts are used for judging the true strength of a planet while studying its impact in a particular field.

Any planet occupying its sign of debilitation in a particular divisional chart will fail to protect its significations in its sub periods.

TRANSIT INFLUENCE

Transits refer to the planetary positions at any given time after the date of birth. Transiting planets are studied with reference to the natal chart ascendant, and in relation to the original position of the
planets in the natal chart.

Take, for example, a natal chart with a Sagittarius ascendant. In this chart, the sign of Libra is placed in the 11th house. Now, suppose the 11th house lord, Venus, is placed in the 12th house of loss. Then, during the sub period of Venus, there could be loss relating to 11th house significations — such as elder
brother or income, or there could be trouble to friends.

Even the death of the elder brother could be caused — if by transit the functional malefics Rahu and Ketu form a close conjunction or aspect to any of the following: 1. The most effective point of the 11th house; 2. The natal position of Venus; or, 3. The transit position of the sub period lord, Venus.

In essence, the sub period planet sets the trend as per its lordship, house placement, and other influences on it in the natal chart. Then, the transit planets cause influence whenever they come into contact with the sub period planets’ natal or transit position.

IDENTIFYING TRANSIT INFLUENCES

The result of a particular house will be influenced by a transiting planet when it is near to its most effective point depending upon its functional nature whether benefic or malefic.

The impact of transit functional malefics is on both functional malefics and benefics. The subjects governed by the planets are their general and particular significations.

The significations of a functional benefic planet are harmed when it transits the natal position or close aspect of a functional malefic planet.

INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SUB PERIOD AND TRANSIT RESULTS

Three areas of significations are operating during the course of a sub period planet. These include:

  • The house it rules.
  • Its own general significations.
  • The house where it is placed.

READING TRANSIT INFLUENCES

Significant events are triggered by the transit of planets over the natal planetary positions:

Whenever a functional malefic planet transits a weak natal position, it triggers an undesirable incident concerning the planet and the house involved. This is more so when the weak natal planet is weak in transit, too.

Whenever the functional benefic planets transit auspicious natal positions, they trigger happy incidents. The natal positions mean the longitudes of the planets at birth and the rising degree of the ascendant. (The rising degree is treated as the most effective point of every house.) Any house, whose lord is weak, is treated as a weak position.

The afflicted planets/houses are those planets/houses with whom the functional malefic planets form exact conjunctions/aspects or close conjunctions/aspects. The close conjunctions are treated where longitudinal difference is around five degrees or less between the two planets.

Whenever planets in transit form conjunctions amongst themselves, the happenings occur depending upon their functional nature in connection with the house with reference to a particular ascendant. The transit effects are to be seen with reference to the natal ascendant, and not with reference to the natal Moon sign.

The sub period lord sets the trends. However, transit effects as mentioned above can supersede the trend results of the sub period lord and create significant events.

The malefic effects of slow moving planets when functional malefics i.e. Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are more pronounced when during the course of their close conjunctions/aspects, they become stationary, or move more slowly as compared to their normal speed.

During the main periods of the functional benefic planets, benefic transit effects are more pronounced, while malefic transit effects are mild.

Similarly, during the main periods of functional malefics, the benefic transit effects are mild while the malefic transit effects are more severe.

Whenever, the transit planets – both the functional benefic planets and the functional malefic planets – transit over the natal functional malefic planets, the significations ruled by the transiting planets suffer badly.

The various planets rule the following type of significations:

The general significations of the planets. For example, the Sun rules father, heart, relations with the government; and Jupiter rules the progenic matters, son, higher studies, liver, etc.

The significations of the house where the mooltrikona sign of the concerned planet is placed.

The significations of the house in which the concerned planet is located.

Whenever, a transiting functional malefic planet transits the most effective point, it affects both the houses in which it is located and the houses which it aspects.

HOW TO ANALYZE A CHART

To start the analysis of a chart:

  • Note the Ascendant degree, which becomes the Most Effective Point of
    every house.
  • Underline the functional malefic planets.
  • Identify the conjunctions and aspects within a five-degree orb from
    each other.
  • Put a circle around the planets and house that are afflicted due to
    the close influence of the functional malefic planets.
  • Note the weak, badly placed, and afflicted planets, and/or the sub
    period of the functional malefic planets (for trend results).

Problems are always with regard to the weak, badly placed and afflicted planets and/ or the sub periods of the functional malefics.

Short-term problems are indicated by the malefic transit over the weak natal planets.

Good results are identified for the significations of the well placed strong planets having good and close conjunctions/aspects.

A functional benefic planet becomes weak if placed in any of the dusthana houses (6th, 8th, or 12th). However, if it is in the eighth house, near the most effective point, then despite weakness it is good, as it aspects the most effective point of the second house.

The systems’ approach always considers the strength or weakness of the planet that is placed in the mooltrikona sign of another planet.

Rahu and Ketu in their exaltation states give materialist benefits. On the other hand, debilitated Rahu involves in exposed scandals and acute physical sufferings.

The detailed analysis can only be made from an individual’s horoscope for his/her own self only and general indications for spouse, children, parents, elder and younger coborns and friends. For example we can see whether the person will derive happiness from his children or at a particular time whether the child is enjoying or in trouble but we cannot identify about the educational or professional or emotional matters of a child from one’s chart in details.

The best thing is in the shortest possible time indicate the strong and weak areas in chart and prescribe appropriate remedies.

ADVANCED ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

The key issues in horoscopic analysis are:

  • Identifying the functional nature of planets in a nativity;
  • The techniques for judging the strength of a planet;
  • The distinction between the weak and/or afflicted planets;
  • The impact of weak and/or afflicted planets;
  • The orb of longitudinal difference for judging the impact of
    conjunctions and aspects;
  • The most malefic planet; and
  • The most effective point (MEP) of various houses in a chart.

EDITED BY DAVID M. HAWTHORNE

COPYRIGHT 1999, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, V.K. CHOUDHRY, MBA