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Is there an ideal order for taking the courses?

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Rhett
Posts: 22
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(@fviirviii)
Eminent Member
Joined: 3 years ago

The following list of courses is the order of study I have set for myself. I understand that apart from the basic courses, one may skip around. However, if there is anything particularly odd, delayed, not recommended, or poorly grouped I would appreciate that feedback.

 

  • Basic Courses
    • Vault of the Heavens Book
    • The Horoscope
    • Jyotish Building Blocks
    • Graha Sutras Book
    • Graha Sutras Audio Course
    • Jaimini on the Grahas - Qualities of Grahas
    • The New Rasi Sutras
    • Rasi Sutras Audio Course
    • Jaimini on the Rasis
    • Energies of the 27 Lunar Mansions Book
    • Nakshatras: The Galactic Zodiac Audio Course
    • Understanding the 5 Elements
  • Beginner Courses
    • Core Yogas Book
    • Yogas of Character Audio Course
    • Spashta Bala - Shad Bala: 7 Facets of the Planets Audio Course
    • Mastering Debilitation
    • Ages of the Planets
    • Outer Planets in Vedic Astrology Audio Course
    • Character Effects of the Grahas Audio Course
    • Mastering Rahu & Ketu
      • The Hows & Whys of Rahu
    • Interpreting Avasthas
      • More Lajjitaadi Avastha Interpretations
      • Shayanaadi Avasthas
    • Parivartana Yogas and Final Dispositors
    • Positional Transits
    • Snapshooting Vimshottari I
  • Specialization
    • Vedic Relationship Compatibility Audio Course
      • Navamsa Deity Compatibility
    • Relocation Astrology
    • Foreign Residence
    • Gems, Jyotish & Minerals Audio Course
    • Astrological Anatomy and Nutrition Audio Course
    • Bach Flower Remedies Audio Course
  • Jaimini Courses
    • Upadesa Sutras Raw, Volume I Book
    • Jaimini Sutras I - Chapter 1, Padas 1 & 2 Audio Course
    • Jaimini Sutras II - Chapter 1, Padas 3 Audio Course
    • Jaimini Sutras III - Chapter 1, Padas 4 Audio Course
    • Concrete Chart and Varga Analysis with Jaimini
    • Concrete Predictions with Vimshottari Dasa
      • Shad Bala, Balaadi & Jagradadi Avasthas
      • Mutual Agenda of Dasa Lords
      • Predicting Terminations & Endings
    • Predicting with Rasi Dasas
  • Intermediate Courses
    • Lajjitaadi Avasthas Master’s Course
    • Lajjitaadi Avasthas – The Heart of Parashara
    • Healing Rahu & Ketu
    • Exploring Ashtakavarga
      • Ashtakavarga System
    • Predicting with Avasthas
    • Interpreting Deeptaadi Avasthas
    • Parashara’s Formula for Yoga Judgment
      • Bhava Yogas - 7th Bhava
  • Tajika
    • Tajika Prashna
      • Ashtamangalam Number
    • Tajika Aspects and Parashara’s Mutual Yogakarakas
    • Varshaphala I Audio Course
    • Varshaphala II Audio Course
  • Advanced Courses
    • Classical Muhurta Book
    • Classical Muhurta
    • Vargas in Depth
    • Predicting with Transits
      • Rectification with Transits
    • Longevity

 

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Ernst Wilhelm
Posts: 3308
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(@ernst)
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I would say you can easily delay the nakshatras course and the 5 elements course and get the yogas of character and core yogas courses done sooner. That way you can start doing more powerful things with the chart without as much delay. It's helpful to learn some basics and then implement them with techniques that you learn in the more technique centered courses rather than learning all the basics first. You won't need nakshatras for most of the technique centered courses, so can easily delay those. 

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Rhett
(@fviirviii)
Joined: 3 years ago

Eminent Member
Posts: 22

@ernst 

Hi Ernst,

After the basics, would the selected courses in the order listed (below) be ideal if a student wanted to quickly get as practical as possible?

  • Core Yogas (Book)
  • Yogas of Character (Audio Course)
  • Tajika Prasna
  • Concrete Chart and Varga Analysis with Jaimini [Is Jaimini Sutras I-III (Audio Courses) in any way a prerequisite to this course?]

From conversations of other students it seems the following course are really the meat and potato classes. Would you agree?

  • Interpreting Avasthas
  • Lajiitadi Avashtas: The Heart of Parashara
  • Lajiitadi Avashtas Master’s Course
  • Mastering Rahu and Ketu
  • Healing Rahu and Ketu
  • Snap Shotting Vimshottari I
  • Varshaphala I and II
  • Predicting with Rasi Dasas
  • Shadbala
  • Mastering Debilitation
  • Vedic Relationship Compatibility
  • Gems, Jyotish & Minerals
  • Astrological Anatomy and Nutrition
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Ernst Wilhelm
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(@ernst)
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Posts: 3308

@fviirviii The problem with your lists is that we are not machines to plug information into. We have knowledge within us and it will want to come out when it wants to come out and it will guide us to the appropriate course at the time we are ready to learn it. So you can make as many lists as you want, and I would be surprised if its right for you to follow anyone of them. Astrology is a living science that is living with our developmental needs and there is no way to know where it will take one. We just start, and see where we get taken. I was just like this. I would work out the next ten years of studies, what was important, and it never worked out that way.

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Rhett
(@fviirviii)
Joined: 3 years ago

Eminent Member
Posts: 22

@ernst 

I understand and empathize with you; ultimately one will skip around and make a choice based on a multitude of factors. My studying here is a good example of that, as I had to explore western astrology a bit before deciding on Vedic.

But then, as you said, Core Yogas and Yogas of Character have a practical edge over the Nakshaktras, etc. By extension, regardless of the order one will actually take classes, some courses are more practical than others, some more principle centered, others foundational or (else) supported, others more in line with the most commonly called-on and practical techniques useful for a general reading (what I meant by “meat and potatoes”).

To clarify, I am seeking a sense of the terrain, not for someone to proscribe a one-size-fits-all study plan. As you say, we all have our own path to navigate the topless mountains of information and make choices. Categorical sifting is a core part of my own process, but certainly not the final word. This is why I noted in my original post that "I understand that apart from the basic courses, one may skip around."

So, in this light I am still curious: Are the Jaimini Audio Courses recommended but not required prerequisites to the Concrete Chart Analysis with Jaimini? And would it, together with the Yoga and Prasna courses, be the most generally practical, yet technically centered, and accessible options after leaving the basics? Have I identified the other "meat and potato" courses?

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Ernst Wilhelm
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(@ernst)
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Posts: 3308

@fviirviii YOu dont need to watch the jaimini audios before the other jaimini courses, you just need to know the rasi aspects.

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Francesca
Posts: 282
(@francesca)
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Joined: 4 years ago

Hi,

It's great how methodically and with how much structure you're approaching your studies!

I just wanted to share my own experience in case you find this helpful. If not, feel free to ignore :). I did most of the beginner's courses and then started with more courses on the Lajitaadi Avasthas and Jaimini. 

In retrospect, I would have probably done the Tajika Prashna course at an earlier point. One of the things I was looking for in Astrology were solid, predictive techniques. Prashna is relatively straight forward. I found it easy to learn and practice and I found that I got results pretty quickly with it. It's also a technique that I use every time I do a reading and frequently use in my personal life as well. Some schools had their astrology students study Prashna before they did anything else.

I'm sure a lot of it is up to the individual and whether they click with a certain technique. Your goals in studying astrology might not include predicting at all. Just wanted to mention this in case predicting is important to you.

 

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3 Replies
Rhett
(@fviirviii)
Joined: 3 years ago

Eminent Member
Posts: 22

@francesca 

Hi Francesca, I appreciate the feedback. It appears that to really start doing something with the knowledge gained from the basic courses, one should focus on:

  • Yogas
  • Prasna
  • Avasthas
  • Rahu/Ketu
  • Varshaphala
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Francesca
(@francesca)
Joined: 4 years ago

Honorable Member
Posts: 282

@fviirviii 

I think it really depends on the individual astrologer, too, but those seem to be the core techniques I see most people use. All the best for your studies! It's such an exciting and rewarding journey.

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Yogesh Lohra
(@yogesh)
Joined: 5 years ago

Estimable Member
Posts: 107

@francesca I had same learning curve as yours 🙂 .

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Posts: 152
(@rajan)
Estimable Member
Joined: 5 years ago

@Rhett

If you remain stuck about what a particular course may bring out and whether you would like to do it, I would suggest you to go through intro or first videos of some courses you have in mind. Most of them give a clear outline of the particular course.You'll be able to take a better call then

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Rhett
(@fviirviii)
Joined: 3 years ago

Eminent Member
Posts: 22

@rajan 

You have missed the intent of my post. The ordered list I gave implies just such a general understanding of the content. I asked: "if there is anything particularly odd, delayed, not recommended, or poorly grouped I would appreciate that feedback." If you are experienced with the courses, I am open to your thoughts.

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(@rajan)
Joined: 5 years ago

Estimable Member
Posts: 152

@fviirviii 

As such neither course is out of order nor something which won't go along with others. My approach has been to see what the course offers and see how it fits into what I already know or if a totally new then I would explore it more to see if I'm pulled towards it.

At the beginning I used to follow the "Astrology curriculum' document shared by Ernst and it helped but it may not be updated based on his recent courses. But you can still give it a look if haven't done yet.

The courses you can do little earlier (along with the beginner courses) to give you ready tools to see charts:

  • Vedic Relationship Compatibility
  • Concrete Chart and Varga Analysis by Jaimini
  • Concrete Predictions with Vimshottari Dasa
  • Tajik Prasna

After these you may go through the following which would are more deep and essential:

  • Jaimini Audio courses
  • All Avastha courses
  • Both Rahu-Ketu courses
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Rhett
(@fviirviii)
Joined: 3 years ago

Eminent Member
Posts: 22

@rajan 

Thank you for the feedback and lists. You provided exactly what I was looking for.

My intention was to get general feedback from others about what order they found helpful for whatever reason (practical, pedagogical, logical, personal, economical, spiritual). Everyone is different and will have their reasons. I am open to anyone’s advice and perspective, so long as it is a perspective and not a cloak for dismissal.

Whether one actually follows the order they set for themselves as optimal is a separate question from the value of having a list in the first place. It is at least helpful to have a map that could prevent one from taking calculus before arithmetic.

An example of my own: I discovered a bit late that reading Vault of the Heavens along with the beginner courses really helped. That book gave me a broad overview of the scope of what the range of Ernst’s courses might offer in more detail. Thus, I would recommend beginning students read the relevant chapters from that book as they confront the corresponding ideas in the basic courses. Of course, this comes with the following caveat: Since publishing that book Ernst has updated, revised, or else refined some of his views, so one should keep an eye out for differences and adapt to the later views accordingly.

As far as following whatever pulls one is: that is, of course, the only option left at the end. I find that the preliminary due diligence of an informed and critical (in the philosophical sense) intuitionist approach to methodology and praxeology is not only preferable but inescapable. Deciding not to have a method is itself a choice based on a theory of method. However, the merely mention and use of critical method does not mean one cannot also use intuition. Some A is B, does not Imply some A is not B. Faith and reason, analogously, are not mutually exclusive. 

As in fiction writing, one should at least have a basic plot outline before beginning the writing. With the outline in place, the author can safely chose to write the chapters in any order and feel confident the parts will all come together in the end to form an integrated whole.

Is it problematic that I have a list? 90% of my list is literally just a co-mixture and compilation of Ernst’s (1) Curriculum, (2) Study Guide, (3) Study Track, and (4) Course Catalog. I used the website's course headings and groupings to update and bring it all together. I added the books at the end. (Sadly, my Ketu has been called to order as a result. ...sigh)

A lot of my concern centers around how to fit in the Jaimini, Taijika, and Specialization courses into the mix. It is hard to tell as a beginner what is calculus and what is arithmetic.
Given the scope and complexity of Vedic astrology, jumping around and following one’s bliss and whim seems suspect, and also not in accord with my life experience in nearly every other field of study. Astrology is hard enough, add to that the confusion of the various sankrit terms, Vedic cosmological concepts and dogmas, etc., and things get intense pretty quick.

More personally, I tried to get into some of the “specialization” course previously (about two years ago; including Shad Bala and Relationships) after going through the basics. However, I felt like I must have missed something to the point I gave up in favor of the western approach. So, yeah, I followed by bliss right into a wall.

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Rhett
(@fviirviii)
Joined: 3 years ago

Eminent Member
Posts: 22

@rajan 

1. How foundational is Shad Bala. From what I can tell, it seems to have a hand in almost everything, and yet it is not listed as a fundamental.

2. As far as the Avastha courses, what is your recommend order?

  • Interpreting Avasthas
  • More Lajjitaadi Avastha Interpretations
  • Lajjitaadi Avasthas Master’s Course
  • Lajjitaadi Avasthas – The Heart of Parashara
  • Predicting with Avasthas
  • Interpreting Deeptaadi Avasthas

3. As far as the Rahu/Ketu courses, what is your recommend order?

  • Mastering Rahu & Ketu
  • The Hows & Whys of Rahu
  • Healing Rahu & Ketu
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(@rajan)
Joined: 5 years ago

Estimable Member
Posts: 152

@fviirviii

1. Shad Bala: You need not do it at early stage. In general not much detail is available on Shadbala. Its only coz Ernst has dealt it in detail and its very profound and useful, its a recommended course to do. You can consider it an add on to get wider understanding of how capable planets are in delivering. You may actually do it after doing the Avastha courses as Ernst mentions Shadbala there and so you'll be better primed to do the course.

2. For avasthas follow this order to begin:

  • Interpreting Avasthas
  • Lajjitaadi Avasthas Master’s Course
  • Lajjitaadi Avasthas – The Heart of Parashara

3. The order written by you is ok for nodes. 

Should ideally do one each of Avastha and nodes course and apply before proceeding to next in the category. 

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Rhett
(@fviirviii)
Joined: 3 years ago

Eminent Member
Posts: 22

@rajan 

Thank you. Cheers

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Posts: 496
(@tuyetv)
Prominent Member
Joined: 4 years ago

I will share with you my experience for what it is worth. I started studying with Ernst about 4 years ago as a hobby and still is a hobby. Initially I too made a list of classes sort of like a curriculum to follow because i am a very methodical person. Then i asked Ernst if that is a good order to take those classes. His reply was just take some basic classes, follow your intuition and go from there. So i did that. It is interesting that when i take a class somehow during that class something happens that would tell me my next class. I have an idea what i want to know so that is how i decide on my next class.

Now having said that, i took the basic classes first such as Jyotish Building Blocks, Grahas Sutras, Rasi Sutras, Character Effects of the Grahas, Yogas of Character. Then i took Compatibility and Shad Bala. Then I got into the more advanced Yogas like PV yogas, Parashara's formula yoga judgement because i like yogas. Then i got into Varshaphala, Ashtakavaga, Tajika/Prashna, Transits. Then i switched gear and took Rahu/Ketu courses and LA - The heart of Parashara then i took Jaimini on the Rasis, Concrete chart and varga analysis with Jaimini and now i am taking Jaimini Sutras which i really enjoy. I am almost done with my Jaimini so i will have to decide on my next class. I decide on a topic of interest and i group my classes in that order to take them.

Each class i took i would practice technique on about a dozen to 20 charts of family and friends to get the hang of it. So i think it is important to take the time to practice the technique. I also think it depends on your focus that you can decide on the courses to take meaning is it to make money or is it a hobby to guide you in choosing the classes.  

Ernst said people come to him usually for 4 questions: Career, Health, Relationship and Money. So i think if you become really good at let's say Relationship and Career/Money, then you could have a pretty decent practice. There are many techniques but if you are really good at 2 or 3 then they will be your bread and butter. You will know what technique speaks to you....For me the techniques that spoke to me are Jaimini, Varshaphala, Astakavarga and Yogas. I like Parashara too but it is deeper. Parashara is great for counseling...i love Jaimini because i like concrete answers.

Best of luck in your studies....

 

tuyet

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