A Vedic birth chart refers to an image captioning the position of the luminaries, the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and the nodes at the time of your birth. The placement, relationship and interaction between the luminaries are very complex and differ for every individual. Even twins just born minutes apart will have different birth charts due to minor planetary movement in seconds, which will signify different directions their lives will take. Automated generic birth chart readings (as offered on the internet) or reading of the newspaper horoscope do not in the slightest compare to the analysis of the Vedic birth chart by a trained astrologer and the secrets encoded within. The Vedic chart contains all the information about the unfoldment of our lives in the same way as the QR-code of a product in the supermarket contains all the information about its manufacture, contents and expiry date.

The answer is yes and no. Certain indications of the birth chart can be so strong that no intervention can change them. For example, a woman has a destined period in which she is able to conceive children. If she misses the window, it is not possible for her to be able to conceive again. This is called Dridha-Karma, meaning “fixed”; it is very difficult to change. It also correlates to the end of our life and our final breath, which are also fixed and cannot be changed. An astrologer can identify such situations and offer guidance in understanding their meaning and how to include them in our lives in a healthy and beneficial way.

Other karma’s are not fixed but changeable. They are called Adridha-Karma, meaning “not fixed”. These karmas are easily changeable and only require a shift in direction or a change of mind. By changing the direction of our thoughts, intentions and choices and associating with the right people, we can change those karmas and alter our destiny.

Most karmas, however, are in-between. They are called Dridha-Adridha-Karma, meaning “fixed but not fixed”. Such karmas require us to work hard on ourselves and engage in selfless service, perform disciplined meditations, chant mantras, perform pujas, give donations or perform spiritual practices. A Vedic astrologer can easily identify all three patterns of karma in your life and thus guide you to unfold your full potential.

Vedic astrology is very different from Western astrology and even defines the zodiac differently. Western astrology utilises a tropical zodiac, which is centered on the position of the Sun during the vernal equinox. In this system, the year is divided into four seasons, each associated with one of the cardinal points (spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox, and winter solstice). The tropical zodiac does not directly consider the actual positions of the constellations in the sky but instead maintains a fixed reference point tied to the Earth's axial tilt and the changing seasons.

Vedic astrology, on the other hand, utilises the sidereal zodiac, which takes into account the actual positions of the constellations in the sky. The sidereal zodiac is aligned with specific star clusters. The positions of planets and other celestial bodies are determined by their placement relative to the fixed stars. This system considers the precession of the Earth's axis over time, which causes a gradual shift in the positions of the stars and constellations.

Vedic astrology was passed down in an unbroken chain of disciplic succession (parampara), allowing for the preservation of secret teachings and wisdom for thousands of years. Vedic astrology offers many techniques not available to Western astrologers, such as 27 additional lunar mansions, shadow and non-spacious planets that are not visible to the naked eye, divisional charts that compartmentalise all areas of life and timing systems to date important life events accurately.

Vedic astrology is the pinnacle of all Vedic sciences and interweaves Ayurveda (India’s equivalent to Traditional Chinese Medicine), Vastu (the equivalent to Feng Shui) and other philosophies like Yoga and Meditation to improve the quality of life and empower its practitioner to achieve the full potential of human experience. Vedic Astrology is an integrated and holistic system that offers individualised remedial measures to correct misalignments in our destiny. Remedial measures are classified as gross stuhla (gross), suksma (subtle) and karana (causative). Gross remedies constitute personalised activities, foods, colours and other physical treatments that aid our body. Subtle remedies include psychological techniques, visualisations, and pranayama (breath control), which re-condition the mind. Causative remedies directly address our karma and are accomplished through the chanting of mantras, balancing rituals, donations or pilgrimages. Healing has to happen on all three levels, stuhla, suksma and karana, to be successful.

A person might contract an illness that causes him or her to physically and mentally deteriorate. A healthy diet, exercise and sufficient rest, together with psychological counselling and therapy, will help the individual regain bodily and mental strength. However, they are less likely to be maintained if the karmic origin of the condition is not addressed. Vedic Astrology helps to identify the karmic patterns for the prevention and cure of mental and physical conditions.

Parasara Muni the primeval Astrology grandsire declared that this science should only be instructed to a person, who is truthful, pure in heart and who respects and adheres to the teachings of his preceptors. Besides this, a Vedic astrologer has to learn from parampara an unbroken chain of disciplic succession that transmits, maintains and preserves its original teachings through the millennia and thus connects the present time to the wisdom of the ancient seers.

The test of the astrologer lies in the reliability of his words. If he is not able to predict the past accurately, you cannot trust his future predictions. Thus, in every reading, some initial time is spent discussing events that have already taken place. Allowing the astrologer to understand the background of the individual and the client to trust the astrologer.