Many things are taken into consideration when judging a horoscope. At least two major charts are done, the birth and Navamsa charts, but other harmonic charts can also be done. Certain things should be examined when doing a horoscope: the native’s age, sex, status, position, place of residence, and culture.The position of the planets and their relationship to one another has to be considered. To judge certain things, often several houses have to be considered. To see what will happen to the native’s children, an astrologer would examine the 5th house (the house for children), and also the 2nd, 7th, and 10th  houses. For health, an astrologer will examine the 6th, 8th, and 11th houses. For material pleasure, the 4th, 7th, and 12th houses should be examined. To judge wealth, examine the 2nd house, which is for accumulated wealth, the 4th house for immovable property, the 8th, the 9th for prosperity, and the 11th for income.

 Things to be Taken Into Consideration
1. The position of the Lagna (Ascendant or rising sign), and the lord of the rising sign in both the birth and Navamsa charts are the first things to be examined. For example, if Leo is on the ascendant, an astrologer will look at the Sun’s position, which is Leo’s Lord. If the Sun is in a sign of exaltation, its own sign, in the sign of a friend, or a trine, it will have a beneficial effect.
2. Where the Moon is situated at the time of birth is considered important in Vedic astrology. If the Moon is in Leo, the sign ruled by the Sun, then the sign and house position of the Sun is also taken into consideration. A different planet rules each of the constellations. The ruler of the constellation in which the Moon is tenanting at the time of birth will affect the native.|
3. The general placement of planets and how each of them is aspected by other planets.
4. The strengths, conjunctions, aspects, and the position of the lord of the house are all important.
5. Whether a planet is exalted or debilitated affects the chart.
6. If any planet is in moolatrikona or trine.
7. A planet in a friendly sign will have a beneficial effect.
8. Each house has to be taken into consideration.

a. The house, its lords, what planets are in particular houses.
b. Their karakas or indicators.
c. If the lord of a house is friendly, an enemy, neutral, exalted, or debilitated.
d. The position of the karakas or indicators of each house.
e. The strengths, conjunctions, and aspects of the lords of the houses.
f. Exaltations or debilitations of the lords of the houses.
g. Planets in the various houses.
h. Whether any yogas influence the houses.

9. The Mahadasha periods and the sub-periods.
10. The placement of the planet ruling the Mahadasha.
11. Ownership of the sign. A planet in its own sign will have a beneficial effect.

Predictions
Six sources of strength and weakness may be determined for each planet. These sources of strength can be measured numerically. A full description of these can be found in Graha & Bhava Balas, by B. V. Raman. 

1. Sthanabala–the strength achieved by residing in a friendly, moolatrikona, exalted house or own sign in the birth horoscope, Navamsa chart, or other subdivisions.

2. Digbala–literally, “directional strength.” The Sun and Mars receive directional strength in the 10th house. Mercury and Jupiter get strength when they are in the Ascendant. The Moon and Venus get strength in the 4th house. Saturn gets strength in the 7th house.

3. Chestabala or Motional Strength–the Sun and Moon get motional strength in Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, which make up Uttarayana or the summer solstice (when the sun travels in the north). Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn in retrogression or in conjunction with the full Moon get motional strength.

4. Kalabala or Temporal Strength–the Sun, Venus, and Jupiter receive strength during the day. The Moon, Mars, and Saturn receive strength during the night. Mercury is always strong. Benefics are powerful during the bright half of a lunar month. Malefics are powerful during the dark half of a lunar month. Planets are more powerful during their day, month, and years.

5. Drukbala or Aspect Strength–aspects of benefics gives strong aspects strength. Aspects of malefics give weak aspects strength.

6. Naisargikabala–each planet produces a certain strength all the time, regardless of where it is situated. The Sun is the most powerful, then the Moon, then Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars. Saturn has the least strength.

Judgment By

1st House and Sun	character, health
2nd House and Jupiter	wealth
3rd House and Mars	kills
4th House and Moon	mother
4th House and Venus	house and car
5th House and Jupiter	children
6th House and Sun	health
6th House and Jupiter	legal affairs
7th House and Venus	marriage
7th House and Mercury	business
8th House and Saturn	longevity
9th House	religious nature
10th House and Saturn Mars Mercury	occupation
11th House and Jupiter and Venus	opulence
12th House	one’s next life

Drishti or Aspect
An aspect is defined as the effect a planet has on another planet when it is a particular number of houses away. If one planet aspects a house or another planet, it influences that planet or house. The planetary aspects in a chart are considered very important in judging a chart.

An aspect can be positive or negative depending on the relationship between the aspected planet and the planet that aspects it. If a planet is aspected by a benefic, it has a positive effect. The conjunction or aspect of benefics increases the good effects and decreases the bad effects. If a planet is aspected by a malefic, it will have a negative effect. The conjunctions or aspects of malefics decreases the good effects and increases the bad effects.

All planets aspect the house and planet that are in the seventh house from them. Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn also have special aspects. Mars has a full aspect on the 4th and 8th houses, Jupiter on the 5th and 9th houses, and Saturn on the 3rd and 10th houses.

For example, an astrologer will look at a chart to see the location of a particular planet. Depending upon how many houses other planets are from that planet the effect of that planet may be affected.

The location of other planets in relation to the planet under study will determine what influence the planet under study carries in the chart. If a planet is seven houses away from a particular planet it will have a full or powerful influence on the planet it aspects.

If a planet is aspected by another three or ten houses away the original planet will carry a 25% effect, or a much reduced effect on the aspected planet, except if that planet is aspected by Saturn. If a planet is aspected by Saturn three or ten houses away, Saturn will have full, or 100% power, in affecting that planet.

Aspects are judged differently according to the Vedic and Western systems. The Vedic system judges aspects from sign to sign; the Western system judges aspects from degree to degree.   

Different Angles
The planets in trines are very strong, in angles are usually strong, in succeedents are fairly strong, and in cadents totally weak.

Kendras ( angles or quadrants) are the 4th, 7th, and 10th houses.
Panaparas ( succeedent houses) are the 2nd, 8th, and 11th houses.
Trikonas ( trines) are the 1st, 5th, and 9th houses.
Apoklimas ( cadent houses) are the 3rd, 6th, and 12th houses.   

Planetary Avasthas
An avastha is the state of existence planets experience when they occupy a position in a chart.

Deeptha or exaltation–respect for elders, wealth, good children, gains.
Swastha or own house–happiness, fame, position, land.
Santha or auspicious divisions–happiness, strength, courage.
Muditha or friendly house–happiness, pleasure, good wife.
Sakta or retrogression–reputation, courage, wealth.
Peedya or residence in the last quarter of a sign–criminal tendencies, evil nature, jail.
Bheetha or in acceleration–torture, vicious habits, loss.
Vikala or combustion–disgrace, disease, problems with children.
Deena or unfriendly house–sickness, degradation, mental problems. 

Conjunction
A conjunction occurs when two planets are close together. This usually means the planets share a sign or are within 10º of one another.

Hemming
If a planet is situated with two planets on either side of it, it is considered hemmed in. If two malefic planets hem in a benefic planet, the benefic’s effects are weakened. Similarly, if two benefic planets hem in a malefic planet, the malefic’s effects are weakened.   

Combust
When a planet is too close to the Sun, it becomes combust, or burnt up. A combust planet is weak and has no power. Therefore, planets generally have more effect if they are situated some distance from the Sun. This is especially true of the Moon, Mercury, and Venus. The Sanskrit word for combust is “asta.”

The Moon is said to be combust if it is within 12º of the Sun; Mars is said to be combust if it is within 17º of the Sun; and Mercury is said to be combust if it is within 14º of the Sun when it is direct and 12º if it is retrograde. Jupiter is combust at 11º and Saturn at 15º.

According to different authorities on astrology there can be some changes in these distances. For instance some authorities say that Venus is combust at 10º if direct (8º if retrograde), and other say it is combust if it is within 4º of the Sun.   

Planetary War
Two planets within one degree of one another are considered at war. The planet with the lower longitude wins. If a benefic defeats a malefic, it is strengthened. If a malefic defeats a benefic, however, the benefic’s effects weaken. This does not count for the Sun or the Moon. For the Sun, follow the rule of combust.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides