When looking up information on your birth chart, you will be inevitable drawn to both astrology systems - Vedic Astrology and Western Astrology. Vedic Astrology has been around for thousands of years. I have noticed that many gravitate to one over the other.
Each system is 23 1/3 degrees off from the other and that creates major changes in zodiac sign and planet placements. Western astrology places a big focus on the big 3: Sun, Moon, and Rising. On the other hand, Vedic astrology has 20 divisional charts and you can have multiple ascendants, moon signs, nakshatras, and placements. Many just notice the different sun and ascendant signs and stop there. So, I wanted to write about the differences between them more in-depth.
| Vedic Astrology | Western Astrology |
Zodiac Charts are 23 1/2 degrees off from each other. | Sidereal zodiac based on fix star position in the sky. | Tropical zodiac based on the sun's orbit of the earth |
Ascendant | Ascendant can occupy any space within the first house | Ascendant is the starting point of the first house. |
Planets | Uses visible planets: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. | Uses all planets: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto. |
Ruling Planets | Aries – Mars Taurus – Venus Gemini – Mercury Cancer – Moon Leo – Sun Virgo – Mercury Libra – Venus Scorpio - Mars** Sagittarius Jupiter Capricorn – Saturn Aquarius – Saturn** Pisces – Jupiter** | Aries – Mars Taurus – Venus Gemini – Mercury Cancer – Moon Leo – Sun Virgo – Mercury Libra – Venus Scorpio - Mars / Pluto* Sagittarius - Jupiter Capricorn – Saturn Aquarius – Saturn / Uranus* Pisces – Jupiter / Neptune* |
Retrograde Planets | Strong planetary influence - magnified | Weak planetary influence - internalized |
Nodes | Rahu / Ketu | North Node / South Node |
Aspects | Planets aspect different houses from their position on the chart. If a planet occupies that house, the planets would aspect each other as well. | Uses geocentric aspects: conjunction, semi-square, semi-sextile, sextile, square, trine, sesquiquadrate, quincunx. and opposition. |
Houses | Uses whole sign houses | Uses irregular houses (Placidus) and whole sign houses. |
House Classification | Kendra (Angular): 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th Trikona (Trine): 1st, 5th and 9th Dussthana (Suffering): 6th, 8th and 12th Upachaya (Growth): 3rd, 6th and 11th Maraka (Killer): 2nd and 7th | Angular houses: 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th. Succedent houses: 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th. Cadent houses: 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th. |
Predictive Method | Vimshottari Dasha | Solar Return & Progressions |
Synastry | Rashi (Moon sign), Narkshatra comparison, superimposing charts, D9 Navamsa Chart | Superimposing charts and analyzing planet placement and aspects |
Stars | Lunar Mansion - Nakshatras | Uses some fix stars and asteroids. |
Charts | 20 Divisional Charts | Birth chart and Synastry chart |
Western Astrology aspects:
West Astrology uses geocentric aspects: conjunction, semi-square, semi-sextile, sextile, square, trine, sesquiquadrate, quincunx. and opposition.
Conjunction: Two planets are in the same degree (or with 10 degrees orb) of the same sign are conjunct. The closer they are within degree, the more powerful the energy. Conjunction represents the integration of 2 separate planetary energies. Whether or not is favorable is dependent on the planets involved.
Semi-Square: Two planets are 15 degrees apart from each other. This is an unfavorable aspect and represents a blockage of energy.
Semi-Sextile: Two planets are 30 degrees apart. This aspect shows where you can obtain good results after lots of effort and hard work.
Sextile: Two planets are located 60 degrees apart. This is a favorable aspect that represents an opportunity that will lead to success. This aspect indicates where things are easy and less stressful for you.
Square: Two planets are located 90 degrees apart. Squares are tense and challenging aspects that manifest as frustrations and obstacles. It causes internal conflict and success is possible with hard work and effort.
Trine: Two planets are 120 degrees apart from each other. Trines are favorable aspects since the positive energy flows without hinderance. This aspect can provide information on your natural abilities or opportunities for good luck.
Sesquiquadrate: Two planets are 135 degrees apart from each other. This is an unfavorable aspect which causes disappointment, irritation, or disharmony.
Quincunx/Inconjunct: Two planets are 150 degrees apart from each other. This is an unfavorable aspect that requires adjustment and redirection. If the energy is not adjusted, it can lead to dissatisfaction and disappointment.
Opposition: Two planets are 180 degrees apart from each other. Opposition is a challenging and difficult aspect since two opposing forces are meeting. This aspect acts like a “versus” energy of opposition.
Vedic Astrology aspects:
In Vedic astrology, a planet will aspect the houses from where it is located. If there is another planet in the house it is aspecting, the planets will then aspect as well.
Sun aspects: 7th house
The 7th aspect of the Sun indicates asserting authority towards that house.
Moon aspects: 7th house
The 7th aspect of the Moon indicates emotional harmony towards that house.
Venus aspects: 7th house
The 7th aspect of the Venus indicates love, passion, or enjoyment towards that house.
Mercury aspects: 7th house
The 7th aspect of the shows were Mercury will activate to help you obtain gains through that house.
Mars aspects: 4th, 7th, 8th houses
The 4th aspect shows what Mars wants to capture or control something. This also represents the karaka of real estate (home/land).
The 7th aspect shows where Mars wants/will exert dominance or becomes possessive.
The 8th aspect shows where Mars will see a lots of instability (ups/downs, fears, emergencies).
Jupiter aspects: 5th, 7th, 9th houses
The 5th aspect shows where / whom Jupiter wants to educate, teach, or counsel.
The 7th aspect shows where / whom Jupiter wants to share his knowledge and wisdom.
The 5th aspect shows where Jupiter will obtain higher education or develop their own personal philosophy.
Saturn aspects: 3rd, 7th, 10th houses
The 3rd aspect of Saturn shows where you will need to exert a lot of hard work and effort.
The 7th aspect of Saturn is the hardest aspect and has the highest degree of karma. The house it aspects be affected by limitations and restrictions.
The 10th aspect of Saturn shows the duties and responsibilities you are here to perform.
Rahu aspects: 5th, 7th, 9th houses
The 5th and 9th aspect of Rahu what activities you can do and where you can obtain the wisdom through realization (dharma) to help you shatter the illusion that Rahu creates in the house it occupies.
Ketu aspects: 5th, 7th, 9th houses
The 5th and 9th aspect of Ketu shows where you will feel emotionally isolated or separate from.
**Rahu and Ketu mutually aspect each other with the 7th aspect and cause a push and pull between each other.
Western astrology Planetary Dignity:
In western astrology a planet is in domicile when it occupies the zodiac sign over which it rules. The planet is in detriment (exile) when it is positioned opposite a sign over which it rules. Exaltation of planet occurs in selected signs where the planet performs at it's best potential. Fall of a planet occurs when it placed in the sign that is opposite from the sign of exaltation. I will not be listing the exaltation and fall signs for Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto since it is disputed and considered to be different by many.
Planet | Domicile | Detriment | Exalted | Fall |
Sun | Leo | Aquarius | Aries | Libra |
Moon | Cancer | Capricorn | Taurus | Scorpio |
Mercury | Gemini, Virgo | Sagittarius, Pisces | Virgo | Pisces |
Venus | Libra, Taurus | Aries, Scorpio | Pisces | Virgo |
Mars | Scorpio, Aries | Taurus, Libra | Capricorn | Cancer |
Jupiter | Sagittarius, Pisces | Gemini, Virgo | Cancer | Capricorn |
Saturn | Capricorn, Aquarius | Cancer, Leo | Libra | Aries |
Uranus | Aquarius | Leo | - | - |
Neptune | Pisces | Virgo | - | - |
Pluto | Scorpio | Taurus | - | - |
Vedic astrology Planetary Dignity:
Vedic astrology planetary dignity is more complex than Western astrology since it does include a certain range of degrees. Planetary dignity alone is never the full picture. Different planet react differently for each ascendant, placement in house (bhava), and nakshatra.
Included below will be a list of the planets in its own sign or home sign. Mooltrikona is the place (degrees) within it's own sign where the planet feels the most comfortable and like themselves. In Vedic astrology Exaltation is Uchcha and Debilitation is Neecha. Exaltation is where the planet is the strongest and performs best; there are also specific degrees noted. Debilitation of a planet can cause restrictions or difficulty in performance. Debilitation is typically associated with weakness but in Vedic, it causes certain issues with performance.
Planet | Own House | Mooltrikona / Degree | Exaltation | Debilitation |
Sun | Leo | 0-20 degrees Leo | Aries 10 ° Aries | Libra 10° Libra |
Moon | Cancer | 3-20 degrees Taurus | Taurus 3 ° Taurus | Scorpio 3° Scorpio |
Mars | Aries, Scorpio | 0-12 degrees Aries | Capricorn 28° Capricorn | Cancer 28° Cancer |
Jupiter | Sagittarius, Pisces | 0-10 degrees Sagittarius | Cancer 5° Cancer | Capricorn 5° Capricorn |
Saturn | Capricorn, Aquarius | 0-20 degrees Aquarius | Libra 20° Libra | Aries 20° Aries |
Mercury | Gemini, Virgo | 15-20 degrees Virgo | Virgo 15° Virgo | Pisces 15° Pisces |
Venus | Taurus, Libra | 0-15 degrees Libra | Pisces 27° Pisces | Virgo 27° Virgo |
Planets also respond different when they are conjunct or aspecting different planets. In Vedic astrology planets can be friends, enemies, and neutral to each other. Each planet has their own personality and makes their choices when it comes to association.
Planet | Friends | Enemies | Neutral |
Sun | Moon, Mars, Jupiter | Venus, Saturn | Mercury |
Moon | Sun, Mercury | - | Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter |
Mars | Sun, Moon, Jupiter | Mercury | Saturn, Venus |
Jupiter | Sun, Moon, Mars | Venus, Mercury | Saturn |
Saturn | Mercury, Venus | Sun, Moon | Mars, Jupiter |
Mercury | Sun, Venus | Moon | Mars, Jupiter, Saturn |
Venus | Mercury, Saturn | Sun, Moon | Mars, Jupiter |
Those charts were just scratching the surface of planetary position, relation, and performance in Vedic astrology. There is an upturn in complexity even bigger. Yogas can greatly alter planetary performance. There are certain yogas which can negate debilitation. Also, the house will also affect the planet in some cases. Take for example the Sun placed in the 7th house means that the native would be placing the needs of others ahead of their own. Ultimately, the performance of a planet and the way it would manifest in your life would be dependent upon many indicators in the chart and influences.
Interested in Astrology Apps?
The Cosmic Insight Astrology App is the best one for Vedic Astrology. Please note, I am not sponsored by them. It does have a lot of buy options, which I do not use. The app is very good for a quick glance at your chart, nakshatras, aspects, and Mahadasha information.
For Western birth chart there are many websites but I use AstroMatrix app since it provides information on transits and alerts when planets are aspecting your natal planets.
All in all - exploring both your Western chart and Vedic chart is quite interesting and beneficial.
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