Body – Soul
Western astrology looks at a person from the perspective of personality with reference to the individual’s behaviour, social realisation and outer appearance in a particular life. Vedic astrology analyses a person’s horoscope from the perspective of karma as the cause of repeated incarnations and emphasises that a person does not only consist of a physical body and mind, but is first and foremost the soul.
Circle – Square
Vedic and Western astrology have different graphical representations of birth charts.
Vedic and Western astrology have different graphical representations of birth charts. In Vedic astrology, the birth chart has the shape of a square, while in Western astrology the birth chart is circular.
Parampara
Vedic astrology was given to the enlightened sages in meditation many thousands of years ago and has remained true to the disciplic succession (“parampara”) until today. This means that the knowledge has been continuously passed on from teacher to student. Vedic astrology attaches great importance to the qualities of astrologers as mediators of knowledge.
Sun – Moon
In Vedic astrology Jyotish, calculations are based on the movement of the moon around the zodiac. The moon changes its sign on average every two days. The movement of the ascendant which changes to the next sign every two hours is also taken into account. For this reason, according to Jyotish, all 12 zodiac signs are born on the same day.
Western astrology attaches great importance to the position of the sun, which moves from one zodiac sign to another once a month. Therefore, all people born between e. g. January 21st and February 18th, are Aquarians, and from March 21st to April 19th – Aries, etc.
Nakshatras
In Vedic astrology, by analysing the nakshatras (‘lunar houses’), it is possible to look at a person’s psyche, emotional nature and propensities at a deeper level.
Rahu and Ketu
Vedic astrology uses Rahu and Ketu, the “shadow planets”, which are the most important indicators of the karmic path and calling.
Subcharts
Western astrologers analyse a single natal chart. Vedic astrology uses the instrument of sub-charts. Subcharts are additional horoscopes that allow a more precise and accurate analysis.