Ancient Hindu Astrology for the Modern Western Astrologer

Rating:
Summary: Pleasant tone respectful of learning curve stress
Review: Actually I disagree with Braha's attempt to salvage certain western techniques and integrate these fragments into Vedic astrology. The proper method for learning jyotish is to go whole-hog into the jyotish worldview -- no matter how many years you have invested in tropical thinking! However, this book may be just what the rishi ordered for the tropical-but-wavering-toward-vedic audience. If you're a Western astrologer tired of bizarre house cusps, miniscule angles, and the West's great body of fragmented astrological literature, Braha's book may help you take that first step toward jyotish. (You'll be glad you did!) Braha says in the book that because he enjoyed some life-changing readings with tropical astrologer Isabel Hickey in his youth, he believes it worthwhile to preserve some of the western techniques which grounded excellent predictors like her. Although I doubt that such rare accurate tropical readings justify preserving the tropical system (e.g., Hickey was an extraordinary mystic who could have predicted with tea leaves or raven calls as well!) I nevertheless recommend Braha's text as a clear, compassionate, straightforward, step-by-step manual for learning to re-think your tropical charts in the Vedic style. Written in a pleasant tone which is respectful of learning curve stress, it offers enough examples to introduce jyotish, without overburdening the beginner.

Rating:
Summary: Get your feet wet, yes--but in a shallow pool.
Review: I have a basic understanding of Western psychological astrology, am looking further afield and deeper, and I am very interested in Vedic teachings. So I looked forward to reading this book, after rejecting over half a dozen other purported introductions to Jyotish, many of which appear to be self-serving litanys lacking explanation. I read it over a weekend and learned a fair amount about my own chart. Some of the book is well done and quite interesting: the discussion of house rulerships & how they are affected by their planetary placements, types of houses, basic yogas, use of gems and mantras to counteract malefic influences, etc. And while it does seem to cover all the bases, I was left with a frustrating sense of wanting more. For example, you're shown how to make the navmasha (or 1/9 chart,whatever that means) but not how to interpret it. And, though there is a list of constellation names, there is no discussion whatsoever of the very important nakshatras (lunar mansions)--too complicated, the author said. Well, isn't that what an introductory book is for? And isn't the use of a lunar calendar (in addition to the solar) one of Jyotish's most distinguishing features?? (The influence of the Moon is something forgotten in the West, which is why our number 13 is "hexed"--there are 13 lunar months for every 12 solar). Well, don't we all have a score of lunar aspects every month??? There are several long sections on calculations, all of which are now obsolete, given easy Web access to freeware like JuniorJyotish. And I found the long interpretative section on charts of famous people (Nixon, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe) wanting in detail and interpretation. For example, if Jyotish is so precise, why can't we retrodict Marilyn Monroe's suicide or interpret her NormaJean/Marilyn schism (which isn't mentioned, by the way)??? I would have liked to be led by the hand in great detail in the first interpretation. I've read other things by Braha which are much better, like his "HT Be a Great Astrologer" which is fabulous--the best book on interpreting aspects "Hands down," so to speak-- and his article in "Eastern Systems for Western Astrologers" (R. Grasse et al eds.) which is very good and helpful. Sad to say, I wish I had bought the "Great Astrologer" book instead, which makes me hesitate to check out his "HT Predict Your Future." This book would likely be a lot more helpful in conjuction with a Jyotish reading by Braha. Until then, I'd like to see the author update and expand this 1986 book in a second edition, drop those tedious & unnecessary calcuations, and expand some of the sections, like on the nakshatras.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Astrology Book
Review: The first and best book in English for those interested in the astrology practiced in India. As an experienced, practicing astrologer who uses both eastern and western astrology in his readings, James Braha is in a unique position to evaluate what works and what does not work in analyzing the birth charts of his clients. He puts this experience to good use in this highly readable book's descriptions of the most important astrological configurations in Hindu astrology that have predictive value in any individual's life. As a self-teaching guide the book moves smoothly from general descriptions of crucial astrological principles to an orderly discussion of the specific results of possible planetary placements and combinations. The final section of the book contains a highly informative and entertaining summary of a variety of birth charts of well-known individuals. This section provides a glimpse into the power of the techniques outlined previously in the book to provide a remarkably complete picture of a person's life, character, abilities and destiny. All in all, I found this to be a fascinating book that I would recommend to anyone interested in analyzing natal charts.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Astrology Book
Review: The first and best book in English for those interested in the astrology practiced in India. As an experienced, practicing astrologer who uses both eastern and western astrology in his readings, James Braha is in a unique position to evaluate what works and what does not work in analyzing the birth charts of his clients. He puts this experience to good use in this highly readable book's descriptions of the most important astrological configurations in Hindu astrology that have predictive value in any individual's life. As a self-teaching guide the book moves smoothly from general descriptions of crucial astrological principles to an orderly discussion of the specific results of possible planetary placements and combinations. The final section of the book contains a highly informative and entertaining summary of a variety of birth charts of well-known individuals. This section provides a glimpse into the power of the techniques outlined previously in the book to provide a remarkably complete picture of a person's life, character, abilities and destiny. All in all, I found this to be a fascinating book that I would recommend to anyone interested in analyzing natal charts.

Rating:
Summary: An Astrology Classic
Review: This is the book that started the Vedic Astrology movement in America, making James Braha the "grandfather" of Hindu Astrology in the West. I highly recommend this enduring classic.