In the free time that I have I have taken up Vedic Astrology. Its not a simple system but its way of determining what time is best suited to what undertaking seemingly simple. I have found that it is confounding mostly because it is not focused on planets but rather on interactions between cycles of days, weeks, and times, as experienced on earth relative to observable celestial prominences.

What strikes me most about this method is that it is not totally about astral phenomenon such as conjunctions and squares.It plays numerology and astrology off each other and then adds in smaller natural rhythms- movements of energies throughout the day. In short It uses astrological phenomenon to set up a start date for years and months, then uses numerology to asses each day and then goes back to astrology by way of the moon. Then uses numerology again to find more powerful combinations of days in months. Progresses in to conjunctions between the sun, moon and earth, then stars. Finally evaluating the combination of energy throughout the day.

This topic has its own Veda that talks about it so one can only do so much without spending a lot of time making charts. Not being one for complexity in magick, when I discovered that there is a way to determine a generally good or bad time for one thing or another by rule of thumb using nothing more than a calender with full and new moons marked, and some definitions, I was very happy.

Some time later I found a website boasting nearly 50 pages of text and explanation on this very topic. The attached file is the simplified and condensed form of that page. At the bottom there is a small chart I made that a person can use to determine useful times for most anything.

Knowing very little about western astrology, mostly limited to using a program to find planetary dignities, I am interested to know what astrologers see in this system and if there are any parallels. Particularity interesting is why the Vedas relegated planets to a third tier factor while western astrology considers it a first tier factor?