We all wish to realise our aims and aspirations, and be successful in life. For that, we try to put in our best by utilising all the resources at our disposal. Yet, very few are able to make it to the desired destination. And those who fail are rarely prepared to accept the failure. Rather, they try to assuage themselves by finding excuses and blaming destiny. But, what about those few who succeed? Should their success be taken as fruits of their labour or just a favour of fate?

Swami Vivekananda gave a clear answer to this riddle: “You do not fail in life because you are so destined; you fail because you have not strived sufficiently to unfold the best in you.” However, it is easier said than done. For, most of us are bound by limitations of our mind — a carryover from the past — and that accounts for all our failures. With our conditioned mind, seldom are we able to identify our weaknesses dispassionately so as to get the best out of us. It is here that astrology can do wonders.

The other day, a gentleman engaged in philanthropic activities came, asking: “Why do I have to suffer despite all the good work I do?” His birth particulars were not available. So, I drew the chart of moment with his question in mind, and all his past, present, and future were flashed on the screen in energy frame.

The Sun was placed in the philosophic sign Sagittarius, duly aspected by benevolent Jupiter. That clearly indicated that he was a forward-looking, idealistic person having a positive orientation of mind and commitment to right conduct. Karmic Saturn lending support to the Sun meant that he was a born leader, armed with tremendous organising ability. The ninth lord Saturn, identified with spiritual/ religious tendencies, was in exaltation in the fifth house that is synonymous with his past birth acquisitions and that too trine with psychic Neptune.

Even the lagna lord Mercury occupied the constellation owned by Saturn. The linkage of lagna, fifth house, ninth house and Neptune pointed to his strong spiritual urges. That also points to his philanthropic tendencies. The Sun lending favourable aspect to Neptune made him intuitive, imaginative and visionary. The question now is: Despite having such strong virtues, what made him to go through rough patches in life? Saturn being ill-disposed towards personality indicator Moon implied that he must have gone through trying times.

Let us now look at his negatives. Gemini sign rising implied that he lived on his own terms, stuck to his strong ego, as would expansive Jupiter’s adverse placement to a fiery Mars mean. As a consequence, he was not open to listening and bound to his preconceived notions. The Sun placed adverse to Uranus made him unconventional, tactless, un-diplomatic and devoid of practical ideas.

Debilitated Moon, conjunct restive Rahu and Mercury — all placing adverse to Mars — made him temperamental, moody, restive, irritable, rash, argumentative and restless. That deprived him of the patience necessary to look at the holistic picture before taking a final call.

However, the good thing in him is the quality to draw lessons out of his failures, make amends, and keep marching ahead with reformed spirit, as would exchange of Saturn and Venus imply. Jupiter, in retrogression, separating away from adverse placement to Mars, points that he has tempered down his ego and other infirmities of mind through conscious efforts. And the fact that Moon, too, is separating away from adverse placement to Saturn implies that he is coming out of his woes. Therefore, times ahead look bright for him.

The writer is an astrologer, vaastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Write to him at G-5, Basement, Jungpura Extension, New Delhi 14 Tel: 9818037273/ 24310031 Website: holisticenergy.co.in