Traditional Navagraha
Vedic Astrology

     Navagraha is Sanskrit meaning Nine Planets (Nava is 9 and Graha is planets.)  This is the traditional Indian method -- counting the five Grahas from Mercury to Saturn, the Sun and Moon and the eclipse points, Rahu and Ketu (two halves of a dragon in Hindu mythology.)  Graha specifically means to seize, or grab hold, describing the influences (karmas) symbolized by these heavenly bodies..  Graha is not defined as planet. Philosophically, this is consistent with the Hindu labeling Vedic Astrology as the Science of Light and the Eye of the Vedas.  Indians use astrology to predict their (future) fate in their limited free-will culture.  If you think about it, isn't predicting the future the reason anyone uses astrologers?  This article Navagraha article from Wikepedia gives further detail. 

     While NavaGraha Vedic Astrology is not (yet) a commonly accepted term, it correctly identifies the traditional application of Vedic Astrology, which is a complete system within itself -- and again, a predictive astrology, or to be more accurate, the predictive astrology.  Note that this website is named Vedic Predictive Astrology.  Navagraha also serves to differentiate India's astrology from the self labeled Neo-Vedic astrologers.  Neo-Vedics are people initially schooled in psychological Western Astrology who retain this native language's commitment to the outer planets -- Uranus, Neptune and Pluto -- asteroids and often to the myriad of techniques that can often prove anything -- after the fact. It's provocative that Neo-Vedic Astrologers are themselves seized by these Grahas that are not actually Grahas!  Western Astrologers also often bring Vedic principles, concepts and techniques into their work.  Chakapani Ullal, the dean of Indian astrologers in the U.S., calls this mixing of the systems, goulash.        

     The existence of Neo-Vedic Astrologers, and Western Astrologers adding Vedic techniques, results from Western Astrologers naturally being the most interested in this old astrology from India, which is still new to the West.  An analogy here is that any person immigrant will always think in his/her native tongue to some degree, resulting in communications failures.  The underlying problem is that immigrants translate from their native tongue to their adopted language -- and those originally schooled in Western Astrology do the same when they try to speak Vedic.  This discussion ruffles some feathers, for Western Astrology is deeply ingrained within the culture.  Amazingly, although Western Hindus tend to adhere to Navagraha, lots of Buddhists regularly believe in, and even practice, Western Astrology -- even though Western has no philosophical or religious framework, and Buddhism is such a close cousin to Hinduism with its Vedic beliefs in karma, detachment, reincarnation..

     The distinction between traditional Navagraha and Western Neo-Vedic Astrology is fundamental, and the public deserves to be informed to of this distinction before selecting an astrologer.  That is, if you seek the pure light of Vedic knowledge to illuminate your karmic path, then you need a Navagraha Vedic Astrologer.

About Doug Riemer

     Since 1998, Doug has provided Navagraha Vedic Astrology's Universal Knowledge in a easily accessible and straightforward manner.  There is no hidden agenda, nor any spiritual mumbo-jumbo here.  Doug simply interprets charts, considering additionally only the milieu in which you live, with the humanistic goal of illuminating the karmic path with practical and objective truths about fate and free will -- so you may dance with the stars. 

     Doug was introduced to Astrology in 1996 in Sarasota, Florida by James Braha, pioneer Vedic Astrology author -- who emphasized the two astrology systems cannot be mixed.  Otherwise, Spanglish results.  Doug relocated to Sedona, Arizona in 1997 for continued Vedic studies at the American Council of Vedic Astrology (ACVA).  During these studies, Doug firmly resisted the Neo-Vedic teachers, holding firm to NavaGraha Vedic Astrology -- believing only the pure light of Vedic Astrology can clearly illuminate the karmic path ahead.  A full-time professional astrologer since 1999, Doug is certified by ACVA.  Doug's own Vedic chart includes influences for the subtle symbolic logic and intuition needed for Vedic Astrology.  He holds a BA (1970) from Bucknell University in economics and political science and completed his Master's studies at Cornell University in 1975 focusing upon condominium resorts.  Doug has twenty years of business experience on corporate, entrepreneur and consulting levels.  Read more about Doug

...the subtle and causal gravities of the Nine Grahas (planets) influence the way in which we experience the results of our karmas by seizing and controlling our subtle and causal bodies. By analogy, although thought has minimal 'reality' in the physical universe, it is the cause of most physical actions that most humans perform.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   -Light On Life by Hart DeFouw