Destiny and fate
Use astrology to your advantage
by Jayashree Bose

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Is astrology a definitive answer to all our problems or is it just a part of the answer?

A common query amongst my clients is, "Can I change my destiny?" or "is it possible to change my fate?" As you might have guessed, most are taken aback when my response is a "No".

(Similarly when my friends ask about destiny and fate, I inform them that it is possible to change one's fate with a four leaf clover under a banyan tree on the first full moon night. As with my clients my friends are surprised at my response.)

Increasingly, astrology is becoming a less definitive tool in understanding our fate, (as it should be used) and more commercial now. The publication of daily horoscopes in newspapers is testament to astrology's 'entertainment value.' Also, I find that as a subject, astrology is misunderstood and people are generally suspicious of anyone connected with it.

What is astrology? A good starting point is to consider how a natal chart is calculated. According to Indian, Western or Chinese astrology a natal chart is based and calculated on the time of birth. Logically, this means that a person’s destiny is decided upon at the time of their birth.

A natal chart is then drawn up based on formulas, and calculations are done to base predictions about the person's health, wealth, career, relationships and so on. The predictions made are based on phases a person will go through during his lifetime. Phases can be either good or bad depending on the person's chart.

As far as changing destiny is concerned, an important part is played by what I call the "probable part." Probabilities depend on actions taken by a person in certain situations, which either increases or reduces afflictions during a bad phase or increases potentials during a good phase.

If probabilities are an important part of destiny and fate does this mean that astrology does not and cannot provide definitive answers? In my view, astrology is only definitive, if we let time take its own course. However, frequently we interfere by trying to speed the processes or trying to change it's course. There are many factors that affect us and our destiny is only one aspect of it. According to Chinese belief a man's destiny only rules 33% (reference article - Tien Di Ren). As you will agree 33% is important but it does not rule everything in life.

So how do we use astrology? Astrology is most useful as a tool to inform us, by making us understand ourselves and guide in decision-making. Most people who do not believe in astrology will still admit that in life nothing is stagnant, change being more permanent. These changes occur due to the time phases a person goes through, sometimes it is a good change and sometimes the opposite of it. To understand these changes in your chart and preparing is how astrology should be used.

Let me give an example – nearly a year ago, a woman's natal chart quite clearly stated that she would be going through a turbulent phase in her relationship with her husband which would have resulted in a separation in that particular year. In fact, the same prediction was made using Yi Jing divination* nearly two years ago. This woman loved her husband and did not want a separation under any circumstances. She was pre-informed and thereby took precautionary measures, starting from controlling her temper, to overlooking little things that might flare up and result in unnecessary arguments. She even informed her husband of the possibility. I was told later that there were times when they would unnecessarily squabble over things and circumstances would be created where she would want to leave the marriage and walk out. Today, she is happily married and has a close emotional bonding with her husband but spends most of her time away from him due to work, the separation did occur but instead of it resulting in a divorce, it is mere physical distance created due to work. In this example it is quite clear that it was due to the conscious effort of both the woman and her husband that the marriage survived, but did they manage to change destiny completely?

Destiny is something we are born with, we can either accept it and go with the flow or we could fight with all our might, and finally tired out, forced to go on with the flow. Astrology is a tool in understanding our destiny and the course our lives will take. For some people who want to be pre-informed about everything whether it is business, health, relationship, astrology can prove to be a valuable asset.

I like to think of astrology as a compass that shows you the direction in your life but the ultimate decision lies in your hands. There are numerous cases I come across where lives have changed, or outcome's changed, but I am yet to see a complete change of destiny. Like in the above stated example the separation did occur but through the conscious effort of the woman and husband it was not a divorce, ultimately it was their deeds that changed the outcome.

Therefore in conclusion I would say that destiny cannot be completely changed but if you are aware and willing to put in an effort then the probable part of destiny can be changed or can be made better.

* Yi Jing divination – A Chinese form of divination where three coins are thrown and a hexagram(six lines) is drawn. This hexagram is studied and predictions are made based on the question asked. It is quite an accurate divinatory method and is highly practiced amongst the Chinese for predicting mundane things to complex issues.