KARMA AND THE CHART by Ni MONSTER
First of all, I would like to dispel a very widespread misconception. The word “karma” today is used to mean anything: heredity, “debts” left to us from past lives, dharma (role), moksha (service), and even kismet… Most often, it is kismet—fate, lot (from Arabic qisma—lot)—which matters only for this incarnation and is in no way connected with past or future lives. It is especially this that fortune-tellers abuse, explaining with this word all cases that go beyond the direct doctor-patient relationship. Even if, in a strictly theoretical sense, this is so, in practice neither party is usually strong, and at the ordinary level this leads to replacing the doctor-patient relationship with a priest-laity one: when it turns out that the child’s illness is due to the presence of memories of a deceased grandmother, this (not so rare) phenomenon is declared “karma,” after which everyone solemnly nods, and the ordinary work of the doctor turns into a ritual involving all family members. It is good that in our mystically inclined country this more often helps than hinders treatment, and the principle of “treating the family” has been known since ancient times. Meanwhile, karma is an abstract philosophical concept, something as little applicable to everyday life as the concept of “matter” is to the table at which we dine. In Hinduism, it is general causality, similar to the European-Greek concept of the final cause (telos), so the ordinary cause-and-effect relationship, which assumes irreversibility in time (the cause always comes first, then the effect), does not apply in the sphere of karma. In Buddhism and Taoism, it is an impersonal law of world equilibrium, always striving for self-restoration. A careless person can violate it somewhere; the world will not turn upside down from this, but the person, as they say, will do themselves harm, because equilibrium will strive to restore itself, and the person will pay for the violation. (In world mythology, only one case is described of such a deep violation of this equilibrium that the world actually “turned upside down,” but this was done not by a human.)
There is also the concept of “instant karma” (Instant karma)—swift and inevitable retribution for evil deeds. This is also a Western idea, stemming from the Gospel “Vengeance is mine; I will repay” (Luke 12:19). In the East, they did not divide the processes of the cosmos restoring its equilibrium by “speed”: sooner or later it will be restored anyway, and whether this happens in ten minutes or ten thousand years is unknown to anyone. S.M. Lazarev (“Diagnostics of Karma,” St. Petersburg, 1993) notes in his practice an increase in the frequency of manifestations of “instant karma,” which, however, is most likely explained not by the impossibility for one person to trace these processes over long periods of time.
Retribution does not necessarily occur within this incarnation, so in principle one can speak of a karmic “debt.” However, one must clearly understand what is meant. Unfortunately, the doctrine of karma reached us through the West, and practical Western people reduced the concept of a local deficit of world equilibrium to the idea of unpaid debt.
A classic example of such an approach is the book by the Frenchwoman of German origin Dorothee Koechlin de Bizemont “Karmic Astrology” (Koechlin de Bizemont, Dorothee. L’Astrologie karmique. Robert Lafont, Paris 1980). By the way, Madame de Bizemont herself does not seem to attach much importance to karma, since her name is distorted in various ways in our country (though in this case it is not karma, but kismet). She has long been known here by the nickname “de Vizi”; in Astrologos No. 1 for 1994 she was called “Koechlin de Bizemont”—by the way, an excerpt from this book is given there. The book is quite confused, the theoretical part is very weak, but some practical points of chart analysis are described quite accurately.
Another no less famous book in our country is “Karmic Astrology” by Martin Schulman, an American (Schulman, Martin. Karmic Astrology. Ann Arbor, MI, 1975). The theoretical part there is also very modest, but the descriptions of the karmic role of the Nodes in signs and houses are very convenient for practical work.
In the practical work of an astrologer, the need to study the karmic elements of a chart rarely arises. I mean that it is not worth analyzing them just out of curiosity (unless it is your own horoscope, the study of which is always useful). Not because this is “dangerous” or “harmful,” but simply because this excess information can interfere with the analysis of ordinary, “earthly” problems of the chart.
If such a need does arise, whether due to the complexity of the problems being analyzed or at the insistent request of the querent, such elements can be found. But, first, one should have a clear idea of what one is looking for and why—that is, have at least a general understanding of the theory of karma. Second, one should rely not on “inspiration” or a voice from above, but only on techniques and methods that have already proven themselves in the work of Eastern and Western astrologers.
An astrologer who undertakes to analyze the karmic elements of a chart has three goals:
1. To determine what the karma of a given individual consists of (in the philosophical, Buddhist-Taoist sense, although in this case karma is largely identical to kismet), and to give general recommendations;
2. To construct a chart of a given (past, previous, future, etc.) incarnation in order to determine its main indicators;
3. To find karmic connections between this individual and people who interest him or are somehow connected with him.
We will consider them in this order.
1. Individual Karma
Indian astrologers prefer to read karma from Saturn. Saturn is karma carried over from life to life. The position of Saturn in a sign and house is the “overtask” of a person in this and other incarnations. Its essence is the preservation or restoration of cosmic equilibrium, for the sake of which each person works where they are placed in a given incarnation.
In this regard, the meaning of direct and retrograde Saturn is almost the same: retrograde Saturn only shows that the person will have to work hard, while a person with direct Saturn is required more to refrain from action. This can be clarified by the position of the Sun relative to the Nodes. If the Sun in the natal chart moves from the South Node to the North Node, the person will soon be able to overcome the burden of past life; the closer the Sun is to the North Node in such a case, the less the karmic past weighs on the person. If the moment of the Sun’s passage through the North Node by direction falls within the lifetime, the person can return to their former karma.
If the natal Sun moves from the North Node to the South Node, the person will never rid themselves of this burden for the rest of their life.
the burden (the cosmic balance violations committed in his previous incarnations were too great), but it will be better to know it, as this can help him live in such a way that its influence is minimal. Thus, he may at least partially correct the situation. Now let us briefly consider the meaning of Saturn, which the Indians call “the one who casts away,” in the 1st and 7th houses “from himself,” i.e., a pair of opposite signs (houses):
- the Virgo-Pisces axis – “helper in distress” (a doctor, a priest);
- the Aries-Libra axis – “an artist” or “a warrior” (a creative personality or a dangerous profession);
- the Taurus-Scorpio axis – “a merchant” (an entrepreneur, a businessman);
- the Cancer-Capricorn axis – “a loner” (a researcher);
- the Leo-Aquarius axis – “an adventurer” (an experimenter);
- the Gemini-Sagittarius axis – “a vizier” (an official, an administrator).
Depending on this, dharma manifests in the chart, that is, the given person’s task in this incarnation, which stems from his karma. Dharma can vary in each incarnation; it depends on whether the person succeeded in preserving cosmic balance in the previous incarnation or not, i.e., whether he has a great “karmic duty.” To determine the karmic duty and clarify dharma, a chart of the previous or other incarnations is constructed, which will be discussed below.
Among the general indicators, one should also mention the distribution of planets by decanates.
The first decanate corresponds to the physical plane. A person who has many or most planets in the first decanates is primarily oriented toward the material, physical side of life, does not think about karma, and is burdened by the past.
The second decanate corresponds to the mental plane. It shows the lifestyle chosen for the present incarnation, the person’s orientation: either toward forgetting karma or toward its correction and fulfillment.
The third decanate corresponds to the astral plane and is directed toward the future. If many planets are in the third decanates, the karmic duty is almost fulfilled; the soul has passed the painful part of the path to perfection, and liberation is near.
Heredity
Planets always have a karmic significance if they are in conjunction with the Tail or Head of the Dragon, as well as if they are at the midpoints of other planets. However, this is, as it were, “foreign” karma: the person has to fill the deficit of balance created by others.
In reality, of course, this is not entirely “foreign” karma. After all, karma is a universal law; it encompasses all people and even, apparently, all living beings that inhabit or once inhabited the Earth (and perhaps not only the Earth). It is no coincidence that in the East they say that a horoscope should be drawn up for the entire family — just as one should treat the entire family. After all, the family is not assembled by chance: a partner or a child often comes to restore the balance disturbed by someone else.
This relationship is determined by the planet that falls into such a position, and even through questioning, which is important. As a rule, the parents’ sins manifest in the child on the physical plane (diseases), the problems of grandparents on the astral plane (psyche), and those of great-grandparents on the mental plane. A partner is called to harmonize the violations. It goes without saying how important the choice of a partner is.
Hence, the clear phenomenon of the “late grandmother” (see also: Lazarev S.N. Diagnostics of Karma. SPb., 1993, pp. 17-18, 23, 94). Of course, the deceased cannot be healed, but his influence can be removed. However, this is already more the task not of a practical astrologer, but of an astrologer-homeopath or an extrasensory.
2. The chart of the given incarnation
In the natal chart, one should also pay attention to the planets Neptune and the Scorpio sign.
Neptune can signify the last incarnation if it falls into the 12th house. Its position there indicates that the soul has completed the cycle of reincarnations and will not be reborn on Earth after physical death. The proximity of Neptune to the 12th house (its position in the 7th–11th houses) also indicates that the cycle of earthly incarnations is ending. Neptune in the 1st house may mean that this incarnation is the person’s first, that he has a “new soul.”
The sign Scorpio can indicate the number of previous incarnations. An empty Scorpio indicates a “young” soul. The more planets are in Scorpio, the older the soul is considered to be, the more incarnations it has had. However, the number of planets does not coincide with the number of incarnations but only approximately estimates the “age” of the soul.
From the natal chart, one can approximately determine the nature of the previous relevant (significant) incarnation. What does this mean? In a past life, the person could have died in childhood or “be born a baobab”: such incarnations are irrelevant to us because their influence on the current incarnation is too small.
The main factors determining the previous significant incarnation are the South Node, the 12th house, and retrograde planets. The more retrograde planets a person has, the more mistakes the soul made in the past incarnation, and the more it will have to work on correcting them in this one. The absence of retrograde planets indicates a righteous life in the previous incarnation.
The North Node and the 8th house give an idea of the future incarnation. The same purpose is served by the cusp of the 2nd house, taken as the Ascendant below.
The first impression of the person who constituted the former incarnation is provided by the 12th house of the natal horoscope. Simplifying, one can say that, shifting the house grid one house back and turning the 12th house into the first (the first house becomes the second, the second the third, and so on), we obtain an approximate horoscope of the previous incarnation.
Similarly, shifting the cosmogram one more house back, one can try to look into the penultimate incarnation, and so on. Shifting one house forward (the second house becomes the first, the third the second, etc.) can provide information about the future incarnation. However, it should be remembered that the cosmograms thus compiled are approximate and not subject to direct interpretation.
When calculating by solar and lunar houses, it is enough to simply renumber the houses of the natal cosmogram; when calculating by Ascendant, one should take the cusp of the 12th house as the Ascendant’s position, the cusp of the 9th house as the Midheaven’s position, and determine from the house tables what latitude corresponds to such a combination of the remaining houses, since they, of course, will not coincide with the houses of the natal cosmogram.
This can be somewhat verified: it is known that a person must visit the places where his past life took place at least once or at least feel an attraction to them. Having calculated the latitude (and, if possible, the longitude) of the previous incarnation, one can ask whether the person has been to this part of the world, studied the language of those places, or has any other connections with them. Most often, this is confirmed.
In addition, a past life (the 12th house) always to some extent determines the first half of the person’s present life, when it is still difficult for him to get rid of the habits and actions of the past. Only by the age of thirty, after the completion of the first Saturn cycle (29.5 years), does the original personality burdened by the burden of past incarnations dissolve, and a new, true personality of the true incarnation is born.
In Moscow, tables allegedly by some Carter circulated at one time, according to which those who wished could calculate
time and place of their previous incarnation, as well as who they were then and what they are advised to do in their current life. The nature of the previous incarnation is described correctly, and the recommendations are also good; the indication of whether the person was a man or a woman is also accurate. However, one cannot rely on the time and place in this regard. The meaning of the planets: the Sun indicates only the present life and is not marked in the cosmogram of the previous incarnation. The Moon points to the fate of a person in a past life; it is often mistaken for the Sun in the cosmogram of the previous incarnation. Of the remaining planets, only retrograde ones are considered in the new cosmogram. Karmic significance is held by planets in the natal chart, both retrograde and direct. Jupiter brings cosmic joy to the house it occupies and shows in which sphere a person can more quickly resolve their karma. It also indicates the restoration of balance—compensation for deprivation in a past life or, conversely, payment for excesses committed in a former incarnation. Saturn shows what duties were fulfilled in a past life and points to the most important element of karma that must be corrected first. This is ancient karma carried over from life to life.
Uranus with difficult aspects or retrograde indicates errors of a past life—betrayal of friends, refusal to sacrifice oneself for the highest ideals. Neptune—retrograde, strong, or with exact aspects (both difficult and harmonious)—speaks of the purity of the soul: such a person has seen the fall of Atlantis. If there is no strong influence of Saturn in the horoscope, Neptune does not free one from past karma but continues its development in the same direction. Only in the 11th house of the natal chart does it indicate the completion of the cycle of reincarnations.
Pluto in the natal cosmogram is a link connecting one life to another. It shows the sign and house where a person fights alone in this life. Similarly, its position in the cosmogram of the last incarnation is interpreted in relation to the one before it, and so on. Karmic significance of the Lunar Node.
By sign:
Ketu in Aries: Depending on the house and aspects—was a commander, leader, bandit chieftain. They possessed strong energy, initiative, and physical strength. They were distinguished by extreme individualism.
Ketu in Taurus: They had everything—power, wealth, a family that suffered from their insatiability. They devoted their efforts to accumulating material wealth—or perhaps transformed their activities into an end in itself, forgetting about the spiritual world. They feared losing even the smallest part of what they had accumulated all their lives.
Ketu in Gemini: Scattered themselves, spread too thin, promised their hand and heart to several people at once, and when the decisive moment came—they retreated. They had a good understanding of people but did not think about the soul. Only at the end of life did they realize what they truly needed.
Ketu in Cancer: In a past life, and possibly in other previous incarnations, they remained a child for a long time, hiding behind their parents or elders, refusing to take independent steps to overcome obstacles. A man hid behind his wife’s skirt, while a woman loved to spend money and allowed herself to be pampered.
Ketu in Leo: In a past life, they associated only with noble people, were strong-willed and domineering, using others as pawns. They were surrounded by flatterers and beggars. They patronized the arts without understanding them themselves.
Ketu in Virgo: In a former life—a brilliant performer, eternal assistant, subordinate. They loved order in everything but could not and feared taking initiative. They were more faithful to the letter than to the spirit of the tasks they performed.
Ketu in Libra: In a past life, they pleased others, wanted to be liked, avoiding making independent decisions. However, they were an artistic, refined personality, sensitive and emotional.
Ketu in Scorpio: Distinguished by dishonesty and lack of principles in financial matters, likely engaged in usury. There may have been other abuses—sexual perversions, involvement in magic or witchcraft.
Ketu in Sagittarius: Lived a wild life like a Viking or Bedouin. The problem of choice never arose for them: they acted only as they saw fit. Rumors of their death always turned out to be false.
Ketu in Capricorn: This person has an ancient soul. In a past incarnation, they were a noble dignitary, ruler, accustomed to giving orders without delving deeply into the needs of their subjects.
Ketu in Aquarius: Did not like people, avoided them, tried not to attach to anyone—and did not allow anyone to attach to them. They despised conventions and rarely helped others.
Ketu in Pisces: In a past incarnation—religious activity, compassion for the suffering, persecution, suffering. Possibly an outcast in the family. They sat in prison or spent a long time in a hospital. They had occult abilities and could heal the sick. They dreamed of an ideal world but doubted its possibility and often fell into despair.
By house:
Ketu in the 1st house: Extreme individualism. A soldier, partisan. Despised contempt. Refused marriage and family. In this life, they will have friends and partners from past lives; they need to unlearn the Spartan way of life and adapt to modern comforts.
Ketu in the 2nd house: Jealousy, envy, greed. In a past life—acquisitiveness, accumulation. In this life, they must learn to be generous and magnanimous.
Ketu in the 11th house: In a past incarnation—a perpetual student, a critic, clumsy but brave, sometimes cunning to the point of dishonesty. In this life, they must rid themselves of the inferiority complex and strengthen themselves rather than mocking and discouraging others in their endeavors.
Ketu in the 4th house: In a past life, they despised the hands that fed them. Now they must work hard to feed their children (or elderly people) without expecting gratitude.
Ketu in the 5th house: In the past—a prince, king, prone to vanity and using people as tools. Now they must learn to give selflessly, without demanding rewards or praise.
Ketu in the 6th house: In a past life, they worked for others, barely scraping together a living with great effort, and died from exhausting labor. Their love for work is also evident in their current incarnation; they only lack initiative and independence. More self-confidence is needed!
Ketu in the 7th house: In a past life, he was a performer, a servant who was passive and dependent on others. Now, he will have to form his own opinions on everything and learn to act at his own risk and peril.
Ketu in the 8th house: In a past life, no one truly knew him, not even his close ones. He led a secretive life full of mysteries. There may have been crimes, dark deeds, or even witchcraft. In this life, he must let go of these dark memories and dedicate his soul to creating joy and goodness.
Ketu in the 9th house: In a past life, he was an educated person, a scholar; his thirst for knowledge persists in this life as well. He needs a good, spacious environment and the opportunity to freely share his knowledge.
Ketu in the 10th house: In past lives, he achieved great heights (head of a clan, state); in this life, he must step down from them without breaking his neck. Previously, he sacrificed personal happiness for the sake of public affairs; now, he should do the opposite.
Ketu in the 11th house: In a past life, he was a dreamer, a fantasist, a reformer. Now, it is better for him to criticize the world less and do more himself, striving to leave more behind on Earth.
Ketu in the 12th house: Past lives were filled with torment and suffering. Now, the person can rest and relax. There is no need to share these feelings and memories with others—they simply won’t believe them. It is better to help them with deeds rather than empty warnings.
Karmic meanings of the included signs:
Aries-Libra: In a past life, he was a fanatic, a person convinced of the righteousness of his cause and capable of executing dissenters.
Taurus-Scorpio: In past lives, he used money, religion, and power for his own benefit and indulged in it.
Gemini-Sagittarius: In a past life, he did not want to learn or share his knowledge with others.
Cancer-Capricorn: He was a child abandoned by his parents or lost a child (children) under tragic circumstances.
Leo-Aquarius: He could not establish himself in life or retain children and friends. In the new incarnation, the situation repeats.
Virgo-Pisces: In a past life, he was a doctor, a monk, serving people; he had to endure much suffering.
3. Connections with other people
Now, it is worth recalling the karmic connections of the person—those strong ties with others: a partner, relatives, friends. It is commonly believed that all planets, both retrograde and direct, that follow the Moon (i.e., whose longitude exceeds the Moon’s longitude by 0–180 degrees), represent individuals whom one has met in past lives. If, in addition, these planets aspect Pluto, these faces played an important role in a past life. The most significant of these may turn out to be Pluto itself, especially if it is retrograde and/or located in the 4th or 8th house.
A great deal of interest lies in comparing the cosmogram of the person with the cosmograms of their loved ones: the alignment of their Sun, Moon, Ascendant, and other important points with the aforementioned planets often indicates such karmic connections.
Planets are interpreted as follows: the Sun in conjunction with Mercury may indicate a father who was previously a close or cousin brother; Mercury by Mars (within 30 degrees) signifies a lover from a past life. Uranus often represents a reincarnated friend, Jupiter—a wife, Venus—a beloved wife or mistress.
