Universal Astrology Sam Geppi 2008 1 Universal Astrology Level -2 By Sam Geppi BHAVAS (Houses) Our Earthly lives unfold through a physical body in a world of matter as shown through the Bhavas. The Sanskrit term for Bhava literally means, Coming into existence, Birth - It also means The Experience Experiencing. It is through what is shown through the houses that our karma is born materially. It is here that Purusha is expressed as Prakriti in a world of consequence. Each house has many attributes, yet underneath there is a deeper concept key to that house. By connecting us to Earth, the houses also reveal the deeper potential behind all of our actions. Vedic astrology has very specific house classifications based on the four stations of life. Those four stations of life are: Dharma Right understanding expressed through our actions. Artha Sustenance and Material comfort. Kama Enjoyment and Pleasure Moksha Liberation from the World These four lessons are repeated three times in an astrology chart through the realms of the Individual Self - Other People and in a Universalized sense. The chart below formalizes this idea. There is a simple, yet powerful Anchoring Technique called Me, We or Thee that assesses a
Universal Astrology Sam Geppi 2008 2 person's main focus in life based upon whether there are more planets in the first four signs the second group of four signs or the last group of four signs. As you would expect, this shows if a person is more focused on themselves, relationships or doing great things for the world. Directions and Houses Once we start looking at the astrology houses we are bringing the deeper energetic potential shown by planets and signs, into the real world. This is where we see if that powerful Jupiter is going to bring the person a great husband or loving children that teaches them - or constant turmoil, death and change that teaches them. But before we go much further into astrology houses we should make an attempt to turn that two dimensional piece of paper, known as the chart, into a three-dimensional, holistic energetic map. The Earth is always turning toward the east.
Universal Astrology Sam Geppi 2008 3 The Planet in parentheses is the Karaka (significator) of that house. The italics are literally from Brihat Parashara Hora Sastra First House Body and appearance, cognizance and caste as well as strength and weakness, comfort, pain and one s own true state is looked at from the Lagna (intersecting) Bhava. Traits: Physical body, where it is, how it operates and health in general. First house shows the head. It refers to the Self in all its forms, also general prosperity and wellbeing, basic self-expression, physical constitution, personality. Anchoring Principle: The Self. This is the place where the lower qualities of Self are transmuted into the higher ones. The more disconnected we feel from the higher Self the more we will act through our lower self as a separate personality, emphasizing the body and separate personality. This is the most important house in the chart and has the distinction of being both an angle as well as a trine. Karaka: Sun The first house is the physical body and its expression into the world. The appearance, noticeable traits and attributes, how we think, what makes us comfortable, the general style in which we express our self are all seen from the first house the first Dharma house. The first house also shows our desire for autonomy and freedom to move. The integrity of our actions and the capacity to put into place what we know will also be shown by the first house, as the body is our vehicle toward liberation. According to Eastern thought, our body is more like our car. Yet, we think it is us. In many ways most of us are mistaking our Self to be our car. It exists opposite the seventh house, the house where others are powerful. From glorifying the physical body and its power, to expressing a strong, unique personality and identity toward others, to a focused and truthful look at Self is the anchoring process of the first house. Second House Wealth, grains, family, death, collections, friends and metal, minerals, gems, etc. are all looked at from the Dhanasthaana (place of wealth). Traits: The things that bring security and stability in life. The gathering and holding of resources, food, livelihood, speech, childhood and domestic tendencies, financial success through career, face. Anchoring Principle: Material comfort, security and what we value. Our values provide a paradigm of self-esteem and consistency that allows us to build a life of meaning. Lacking proper values and its accompanying esteem due to a poor childhood for example, we will seek validation through outer forms of value like wealth and luxuries and try to gain the approval of others by appearing successful or by having proper speech having good taste, etc. Karakas: Jupiter, Venus The physical body (first house) needs to be protected, fed and wants to feel good about itself. The actions of the physical body have results in the second house. Money, speech, the senses, close
Universal Astrology Sam Geppi 2008 4 friends - These are the things closest to us personally and reveal our values as this is the first Artha house. These are the things that feed and protect us and the things we want next to us. As our values evolve so do the things we feed our self. Not just food through our mouth, but what we consume on all levels is an expression of the second house - our value system, which leads to what we are becoming. It exists opposite the eighth house, the house of instability and insecurity. From a value system based on material wealth, to values based on social pressures and other people, to the realization that true stability and our most vital asset is wisdom, is the anchoring process of the second house. Third House Courage and servants maintained, siblings, etc. Upadesa (initiatory instructions), journey, deprivation of parents, death and discernment are looked at from the difficult place Traits: Siblings, self will, power and prowess, acquaintances, motivation, hobbies and interests, impulses and intentions that drives us, curiosity, rashness, displays of force, courage Anchoring Principle: Our individual efforts and desires. We must act with self will as an individual in order to establish boundaries, grow and flourish, test our beliefs and experiment. Yet there is only so much we are able to accomplish by our own individual efforts. It takes God s grace to make all actions complete. The third house shows where we must test and learn through action, then let go of the fruits of those actions. Karakas: Mars, Mercury The things that feed us through the senses and form our values then become the source of our individual, self-willed actions through the third house. Here our curious, individualized mind competes over ideas and strengthens itself through personal ingenuity and courage. As the expression of our personal desires, the first Kama house it shows the things we really enjoy doing, regardless of what anyone thinks of it. There is a certain raucous, animalistic / sibling energy to it. Healthy arguments (or unhealthy arguments) are a part of this area of life. Yet there is a stimulated, challenging, excitable and unpredictable quality to the third house. It exists opposite of the ninth house, where we except what we are told rather than challenge it. From an amoral and stimulated posture, to battling and competing with others in order to fulfill our desires, to the courage to pursue and experience the truth is the anchoring process of the third house. Fourth House Vehicles and other such, relatives, mother, happiness, etc. as well as other such yearning, and deposits, land and house are considered from the 4th. Traits: Mother, emotions and our feeling potential, peace and happiness, property, upbringing, education, popularity, vehicles, what is internal and private, where we are most sensitive. Key: Our inner emotional strength, and capacity for peace. Our outer happiness and success is nothing but a reflection of our level of inner peace. In a chart, the 4 th house is the Nadir, the lowest
Universal Astrology Sam Geppi 2008 5 point of the chart, what is most hidden from the world. As the 1 st Moksha house, the 4 th house shows the individual s need to retreat from the world and desire for total freedom from it. Karaka: Moon The stimulation, interests and activity of the third house leads to the fourth house, the level of peace and fulfillment we have in our heart. As the first Moksha house, it is where we as an individual wish to be peaceful, clear in our mind and get away from the activity and stimulation of the world. Although we may forget, our true nature is not stimulated or active. It is peaceful and at rest all the time. Our need to integrate experiences into the heart is shown by the fourth house. A place of rest and rejuvenation is symbolized by our home, our car, and our mother. Our capacity for peace relates back to the mother principle. The fourth house exists opposite the 10 th house, the place of our highest external responsibilities and ambitions. From a state of emotional self-absorption, to the desire to nurture and feed others emotionally, to the capacity to merge with cosmic love is the anchoring process of the fourth house.