30 November 2024 12:00 am Views - 23
There’s a popular belief that astrology offers more than predictions, it provides insight into the deep connection between our mind, emotions, and physical health. Western and Vedic astrology reveal how our emotional responses, guided by cosmic influences, affect not only our psychological wellbeing but also our physical health. A prominent way to understand wellbeing as per the Vedic astrology is through the "dasha" system and in the western astrology, through the moon sign.
But now what is Dasha? The "dasha" or planetary period, reveals the influences of specific planets over time, highlighting the potential for psychosomatic issues during stressful phases. Dr Sundeep Kochar, a celebrity astrologer who’s been practising for 25 years explains the concept of dasha. “So, a person who is running a phase, you know, we call it in Sanskrit, 'dasha', like a person is born in some particular moon sign, in that particular moon sign that that degree can define the Nakshatra. So, this is something which is from the time of birth, but what about the planet which is moving now? So, they can also influence a person, good or bad. So, you definitely need to inculcate the transitional planet along with the placement of the planet when the person is born.”
Alisha Jain, an astrologer who has been practising from four years explains how different astrological horoscopes suffer from specific psychosomatic illnesses. “Astrological horoscopes have direct indications about one's physical and mental well-being. Psychosomatic ailments like depression, ADHD, panic attacks, bi-polar problems can be easily identified through reading horoscopes. For example, Mercury and Mars are responsible for anxiety, panic attacks, and ADHD problems if these planets are highly afflicted. it gives you overthinking, and you always feel your mind is always out of your control again creating a lot of nervousness in you.”
While the Vedic astrology follows the concept of Dasha & sun sign, western astrology follows the moon sign. The western astrology suggests that the moon sign reflects our emotional core, playing a crucial role in determining how we respond to life's challenges and events.
Liz Norman, a Western astrologer, who has been practising astrology for over 20 years, highlights how understanding our moon sign can provide insight into emotional patterns and foster greater self-awareness, “Everybody could have a cold. One person's going to be angry, another person's going to want lots of hugs and cups of tea and people around them. And another person's going to want to be very quiet and hide away. That's your moon sign, is your emotional reaction.”
Astrology often emphasises validating an individual's feelings and providing personalised insights. Astrology's emphasis on understanding oneself through one’s birth chart helps people feel seen and understood without judgement. By examining these astrological elements, we can identify triggers for psychosomatic ailments, understand the mind-body connection, and adopt practices to manage stress effectively.
However, even though many people have started to rely on astrology, several psychologists do differ in their opinion. Soniya Surti, a psychotherapist mentioned, "As a psychologist, what I understand is that when someone reads predictions based on generalised data, without intending to offend astrology here, it can influence a person's perception of themselves and those around them."
She further explains, “We do not judge the emotional pattern quickly, we help the client to be more empowered about their quality thoughts & bring them in alignment with their thoughts & actions. From a psychological perspective, we focus more on actions. Astrology is giving them a framework of their personality in my understanding, and most of them like to stick to that framework because of their belief, but some of them are ready to break the pattern and bring a change in themselves.”
Despite the world being divided in two major segments, there is a popular growing demand for Astrology, thanks to social media. A report suggests, by 2031, the global astrology market is projected to reach $22.8 billion, registering a CAGR of 5.7% from 2023 to 2032. The rising trend in Astrology shows the popularity of this mystical practice. And despite the never-ending debate between psychology & mystical practices, the intersection of astrology and psychology provides a unique lens through which we can explore the mind-body connection and our overall well-being. While psychology offers a structured approach to understanding mental health, astrology introduces personalised insights into how cosmic influences might shape our emotions, stress responses, and even physical health. What if the key to true well-being lies at the intersection of the mind and the cosmos?