No clear subtopic for this, but, nevertheless.
August 8th marked three years of studying hardcore with Ernst. What do I mean by "hardcore"? I mean consistently taking and finishing courses, typing up notes--38--200+ pages of them--for each course, and applying techniques systematically on at least 10 charts, as Ernst has stated any serious student should do.
I'll say I have learned a lot about the people in my life. And myself--at least half of which I don't like (laugh).
Even after three years, I still have 23 courses to take, or about half of the total courses he offers. Here's to another three years of serious and systematic study!
What about the rest of you? How long ago did you start? How consistent have you been? How many courses have you started and finished? What about systematically applying the techniques?
Thats Great, BECAUSE, you really focused on each course that you took. I would like to take this opportunity to say once again, that it's not necessary to take all my courses to be a great astrologer. I have students using two courses that I taught them 20 years ago that are very successful and helping people just with a couple of courses that they really were able to take off with. I teach a lot of things for one reason, because astrology is vast, not because we need to master all that. It's important to find out what techniques really call for us and focus on those. Over the years different students have told me, "that course, it really works for me, but that one, it just doesn't do it." And another person will say the same thing but in vice versa. Most readings I do, I usually am only using material from 3 courses on average. It's rare that I would use techniques from 5 or more courses in any given reading. So in astrology is always quality before quantity and so I am glad you took a lot of time on the courses you have learned.
@ernst I'm ravenous for astrology, Ernst. I do astrology because it's the greater part of who I am. I can't get away from it. I always want to be learning more. But, at some point, like you said in a video on your Youtube channel, I need to rouse my bored, sleeping Moon and use my intuition more--I'm too Solar!
Hi,
First of all, congratulations on sticking with it and being so diligent in your studies! Which course has been your favorite so far?
I started studying with Ernst two years ago. The first year and a half really consistently as well with taking notes, applying the techniques to charts, etc. I feel like I made great progress during that time and my learning curve was steep. After that, due to health-related circumstances, I’ve had to put astrology somewhat on the back burner.
So far, I have taken and completed: Jyotish Building Blocks, Graha Sutras, Rasi Sutras, Yogas of Character, Mastering Rahu and Ketu, Interpreting Avasthas, Concrete Chart and Varga Analysis with Jaimini, Snap Shotting Vimshottari I, and the Tajika Prasna Course. I’m finishing Jaimini Sutras Chapter 1, Padas 1 & 2 and have done most of the LAs Master’s Course. I can’t remember if I’m done with Predicting with Rasi Dasas.
I started doing free and donation-based readings about half a year ago and have been most consistently using the material on Rahu/Ketu, the Avasthas, Concrete Varga analysis, and Tajika Prasna. I’ve been getting good results with those techniques.
One problem I keep running into is that a lot of the people I end up doing readings for have a Western astrology background and they come in with preconceived notions. They’ll tell me about the concrete problems they are having which match certain Avasthas or a nodal axis with certain Campanus cusps. But then, when I try to counsel them and steer them towards better habits regarding a certain planet, they go “no, my problem is actually this other planet inconjunct planet X”. So while the Avasthas tend to be accurate, I find many clients are somewhat resistant to the idea and technique. They’re usually much more open towards techniques Western astrologers don’t generally use and are intrigued by the accuracy of the Vargas and Prasna in particular.
If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be Prasna for me. I use it all the time, love how efficient and relatively straight-forward it is. I find that not many Western astrologers offer horary readings, so clients really like them. And I’ve made some pretty cool and specific predictions with it that even amazed me, such as predicting the material and color of the façade of a house a client was looking at buying. The 7th house Prasna principles also never fail me. There have been a few times when people have asked about recent breakups and I was able to see that the relationship was over for good. The 8th house principles seem to work, too.
One thing that I’d like to get into in the future and that is often requested is career astrology, but I still have a long ways to go with Jaimini. An area I know I’ll probably never study is synastry. Like Ernst has said a few times, people tend to get into subjects that they are trying to gain a deeper understanding of (often related to their Rahu). I have such nice 7th house and Venus factors overall, that this is an area that feels pretty self-evident to me and I’m just not interested in. Also, and this might be controversial, I just can’t get into Nakshatras for the life of me. I’m not particularly intuitive and prefer straight-forward techniques. Nakshatra-based stuff just doesn’t make sense to me or draw me in in the slightest, so I decided I won’t force it.
Timing is still an issue, unless it’s super clear in the Prasna. But I suspect that is the most difficult part of Astrology and something you’re not usually going to be good at at my stage anyway.
I appreciate your thoughtful response.
I would say that I have favorite courses, plural, and they range from the early and simpler ones to the more time-consuming, in terms of the techniques. One of my early favorites was the original Rasi Sutras—I loved analyzing the dignities of the auspicious and evil Bhava Lords for the Lagna, as well as the Castes and Day/Night Rising split between concrete manifestation and ideas and imagination. Another favorite almost three years ago was Jaimini I, simply because of the sheer range in the sutras covered; the jump from the kind of house you will live in (brick, wood, etc.) to the nature of your spouse and even whether or not you are a sailor was sort of amusing. Jaimini II and III are also extremely interesting but more focused. There’s just simply too much to say about fascinating techniques—I’ve definitely given several people readings over an hour, just on Shadbala, which was also an early favorite.
I hear you on the Nakshatras: that was the fourth course I took. Almost three years ago, I was so excited taking the course, but I realized how little I could do with it afterwards; after I discovered larger conversations about just how uncertain ayanamsas are and one of Ernst’s students experimenting with a different one, I dropped Nakshatras. Mainly, it was absolute frustration at all of my practice work being for nothing if I was going to try a new ayanamsa—all the Nakshatras for every person I analyzed would drastically change.
The past year, I’ve been more invested in Varshaphala/Tajika Astrology and Solar Return stuff. Since I took these courses after encountering the alternate ayanamsa and seeing that Ernst’s default one wasn’t lining up with anything, I wanted to see if hers worked better, at least with Varshaphala. It did. My project was to go back in time at least ten years of my life and use all of the techniques and see what events lined up and what insights I could gain. It took me months. Each year was 25-26 pages as a document, in addition to my other astrological studies. One thing I've been doing recently with respect to Varshaphala has been seeing the factors for the years some people I know have gotten married.
For example, Ernst gives the following things to look for—
- Muthaha in 7th: possible marriage
- In Tajika, 5th or 9th Lord in 7th: promising year for marriage.
- Whenever Venus and 7th Lord conjunct: bigger indications for relationship that year, even though Enemies.
- If Year Lord is Venus and in a yoga with 7th Lord: marriage so much more likely in the year.
- Punya Saham falls in 7th: fortune from marriage or a partnership.
I have found several instances of people I know getting married with merely decent Vivaha “marriage” Saham connections to the Lagna, which is surprising to me, given that a Saham strongly aspecting the Lagna by itself has not always been seen to materialize things, in the case of other Sahams. A friend got married when Year Lord in 7th and Vivaha Saham aspected Lagna to 57 points, as one of strongest. Another got married the day after her birthday in new Varshaphala year with 7th Lord in 7th and Retrograde. Vivaha aspecting to 40 points. Another’s marriage year just had Vivaha Saham with 46.9 points.
As to the courses, you still have taken a few that I haven’t. I’ve been eyeing Prashna for over a year, but other courses have called my name. I was especially interested in Prashna, coming from same tradition as the Varshaphala. As for courses, here are mine: Graha Sutras, Rasi Sutras, Nakshatras, Jyotish Building Blocks, Shadbala, Jaimini I-III, Concrete Chart & Varga Analysis with Jaimini, Mastering Rahu and Ketu, Mastering Debilitation, Astrological Anatomy and Nutrition, Healing Rahu and Ketu, Interpreting Avashtas, Lajiitadi Avashtas: The Heart of Parashara, Varshaphala I and II, Understanding the Five Elements, Vedic Relationship Compatibility, Yogas of Character, and Gems, Jyotish & Minerals.
As far as readings go, I haven’t made a serious effort. I started an LLC and designed my own simple webpage from a template, but I usually just do readings for a handful of people my girlfriend knows and add them to a database of charts to study; they are free and I probably spend too much time on them. I never look at a chart and see what I grab. I always start with a Word document and go through techniques, depending on interest. I’ve spent no time trying to get readings at all. Also, I’d rather do pre-recorded readings. I want it to be about the astrology. In terms of the Jaimini, I don’t have the career planets lining up for counseling astrology, last time I checked. I need to figure out something else innovative to do with astrology that is infused with my own idiosyncrasies. Regardless, I wouldn’t want to deal with the types of clients you get—that sounds frustrating.
I love reading about your and everyone else's experiences as someone that's in a relatively early stage of her Astrology journey and really appreciate you listing the specific courses you've taken as well! I really enjoyed the original Rasi Sutras as well and can't wait to take the other Jaimini audio courses. I have yet to find someone else that teaches so many of details you can get from the "basics" which make predictions so rich and poignant.
It's comforting to hear that I'm not the only one having such a hard time with Nakshatra based techniques, too. I honestly thought I was a bit of a pariah for not being able to relate to them at all. And it sounds like you went way further in trying to make them work as well. Sometimes I wonder whether it's just not meant to happen and then you find some other technique or Ayanamsha that you do get great results with. A thought I keep having is that if we are all different manifestations of Vishnu, that maybe it's not just about finding the technique that works for us, but that different people are also going to have different zodiacs, schools, Ayanamshas that work for them. I'm completely detached and have no skin in the game as far as what "the right" Ayanamsha is and sort of feel that there might not be one ultimate truth, but just the truth that speaks to each individual.
It's so fascinating to hear about your studies related to Varshaphala and trying a new Ayanamsha. I admire your thoroughness and methodical approach. So are you getting better results with this new Ayanamsha? If so, is it more accurate in retrospect as well as in prediction for you? I'm really curious.
I really, really like Prashna and am interested in Varshaphala as well. I think heard Ernst mention that there is significant overlap between both courses. I wonder if it's easier to pick up on one course once you've done the other. You've taken so many courses! Truly impressive. All the more, since you are actually taking notes and testing techniques methodically.
I often think it's probably better to do readings for people you know or are already acquainted with because you have so much more context to their lives and a better feel for who they are and what they are likely to do. So that sounds like a great approach. I think unless you have super human intuition, learning Astrology and studying charts is time-consuming. It is for me anyway. I'm the same way in my approach in that I usually talk to the client beforehand and get a feel for them and the question they have and then spend A LOT of time going through all the relevant techniques I know to get an overview and only once I've gathered all the info, I feel like I can really do a reading and answer questions. I often wonder whether my way of doing it is a time sink, but I think it's also my Mercury/Rahu that feels like they never have enough information. The reason I end up doing readings for people I don't know is that Astrology is really frowned upon in my country. Most people I know in person aren't willing to engage in what they view as a silly pseudo-science and I'm not interested in convincing or converting anyone. So I end up doing readings for people on forums where I find like-minded people who usually live in foreign countries.
I wonder about your career planets: Is Astrology not at all indicated or just not counseling astrology? Doing things your own way and being a bit of groundbreaker sounds way cooler anyway!
@amit Seven years is significantly longer than me. What are your study methods? How many courses have you finished? I do want to take the Master course some time.
I have taken almost all except varshphala, 5 elements and few others...
As astrology is one of my chief interests, so these courses filled my spare time to build it as my information asset. I keep following the sequence that I am interested in or curious about or needed the answers about. So it is like an effortless journey.
Thanks to my good Jupiter and sucking Rahu!!
I bet your Ju is in a sign that is not a sign of Ve, Me or Cap? Own sign Ju?
Indeed it is most profound study material on earth , sometimes I wonder it is nothing less than a noble prize in astrology no one has done so much of a research and study in astrology and tried something new
I have been studying since 2013 and I am sure Ernst still has lot more to offer to all of us , you can never catch up 🙂 , I guess one who finishes all the courses should be awarded PhD , and at times you will have to listen or see the same class many times I still listen to or refer to notes made in 2013 🙂
And During the journey you will have your favorites where you will naturally incline, for me it is always been beginners courses (all of them ) has been very profound then Jaimini 3 audio classes and LA courses (all of them)
Also I strongly feel along the path of learning if you are on satvic life style (Veg diet , following the sun timing (rising and setting) , chanting mantras , doing regular pooja/prayers/meditation , having a strong faith in supreme soul ) it really helps to build you intuition to help you to pick right thing for right context which Ernst repeatedly mentioned in most of the courses , astrology is Brahmin career so will have to follow the path of Brahmin lifestyle , try it and you will see remarkable changes in your predictions
Once again big Thank you to Ernst for all his invaluable contribution to astrology which will go long way in future and will benefit more and more aspiring astrologers
Om shanti