What is my Vedic Astrology sign? Why is my sun sign different in Vedic Astrology?
Welcome to the twenties when “What's your sign?” is as commonly asked as where you’re from.
This question often asks about your major three Western signs—your sun, moon, and rising signs or constellations.
Now, when chatting with Vedic astrologers it gets a bit more layered. While there’s a predominant constellation or two that we can associate an individual with, the sun sign is no longer the focus.
Rather, if you ask, “What is my Vedic Astrology sign?” your moon (janam rashi) or your rising (lagna rashi) take precedence. This is at the core of what gives Jyotishis like me a pause when asked, “What’s your sign?”
It's a silly question to many Jyotishis because it's also very modular to think about just one single sign when there's so much going on in your chart!
If you’ve ever happened to feel like your sun sign or one of the big 3 didn't connect to you at a deeper level or that aspects are missing from who you identify as or how you relate to this world it is worth examining what your moon and rising Jyotish signs are and how the 9 planets are placed within your chart.
What is Vedic Astrology (Jyotish)?
Vedic Astrology is the ancient study of science and light.
It decodes the meaning embedded within the nine celestial bodies that are naked to the human eye from Earth, their placement within the constellations, 12 major and 27 minor, and the planet's location within 12 houses of the sky similar to a clock's 12 hours.
Vedic Astrology is based on yogic philosophy including the understanding of karma and the soul's eternal journey.
A Jyotishi synthesizes the above aspects through an individual's cosmic snapshot based on the sky's blueprint at the time and place of birth through a dedicated study of wisdom.
This spiritual science illuminates what is possible in an individual in any given season of their life. It outlines what challenges are inherent, how to navigate them, and what the highest potential of any circumstance may be.
Understanding Your Vedic Astrology Sign
We want to understand ourselves better because we want to be free. Awareness brings us peace.
All of Jyotish is a practical device for understanding and uncovering the unseen realms of our lives and shining a light on them to best utilize our time, energy, and actions from mapping the ebb and flow of karma and the movement of time.
Jyotish is not an isolated science, therefore, seeking to understand just one of your signs (like the sun sign) would be a reductive approach to the science.
To gain insight into your soul and how to navigate life in the most pristine manner requires a more holistic approach and reading.
The intention of Jyotish is not necessarily to predict what's going to happen—for when someone's going to win the lottery or get married—but rather to give us insight or knowledge of our own life. It gives us an understanding of our nature, our strengths and weaknesses, things to be aware of, the flow of time, how to live in the best possible manner, and how to live the most meaningful purposeful fulfilling, and evolutionary life in the world today.
How Western Astrology Emerged from Vedic Astrology
The differences between Vedic astrology and Western astrology are vast. It’s best to approach these as separate readings.
Vedic Astrology is a much more complex and developed system than Western astrology simply given how long it's been in existence, including its unbroken chain of wisdom.
Jyotish first developed in India and made its way to the Middle East, followed by the Greco-Roman empires where it became Hellenic astrology.
And Jyotish is the only unbroken astrology from ancient times. (Chinese astrology may also be unbroken but stems from Buddhism which comes from India.) India has one of the most robust systems because it was never disconnected from religion or culture. Things that were in that were old in India were cast out historically, so the idea of writing things down wasn't part of the culture, so much of it was oral.
The ancient oral tradition allowed for the transmission of unchanging truths.
The astrology of the West looked very similar to the East, but Christianity shifted how astrology was perceived in the West. There was a sharp division between the church and the astrological or scientific world.
Side note: the Vatican actually has the largest and most comprehensive collection of books on astrology, as they wanted to understand it as much as they could so they could swash it or take it away. The Christian state didn't want the choosing power to be in the hands of its people.
Why the Sun Sign is Different in Vedic Astrology
To understand and discover your Vedic Astrology chart we have to first look at when and where you were born.
Vedic Astrology uses the fixed Sidereal zodiac as opposed to the moving Tropical or Solar System zodiac of the West.
The Sidereal system is based on a fixed star that makes the beginning of the constellation of Aries, whereas the Western system is a constantly moving zodiac roughly based on the position of the sun and the movement of the equinox which shifts 1° every 72 years. So, we currently see a gap of about 23-24° between the two systems.
Each sign occupies 30° of the zodiac (12 signs x 30° each = 360° circle), so, take for example reading sun in Western is at 16° in Capricorn, it will read as 22° in Sagittarius
Example math:
16° (of 30° in Capricorn, the constellation ahead of Sagittarius)
– 22° (of 30° in Sagittarius, the constellation behind Capricorn)
= 23° difference in the sun’s placement
In my experience, this gives Vedic Astrology a leg up in its precision and accuracy in providing insights into one's life.
READING TESTIMONIAL“…it's funny, I refer back to our [previous reading] notes for going into each month of like, okay, here’s what to expect or where to focus my energy or my attention.
“It's been extremely full and grounding to have that sense of reassurance or guidance along the way.”
Benefits of a Vedic Astrology Reading
Getting a personalized Vedic astrology reading can provide insights and guidance specific to you. By understanding how energy is moving and how the times are moving, you will gain more and more capacity for support.
Some of the vast benefits can include:
Self-discovery
Life guidance
Relationship insights
Spiritual growth
Career direction
Health considerations
Timing of events
Conflict resolution
Personal empowerment
Predictive insights
Decision-making support
READING TESTIMONIAL“Using [this insight], I feel like I'm swimming with the current versus away from it. I have to keep recommending it to everyone. So amazing.
“A few points of my life—spiritual awareness, exercise, and mental health—have really improved.”
About Vedic Astrologer Meghan Kemp
I’ve been practicing yoga since I was a teen and deepening my Yog-Vedantic studies with teacher Anand Mehrotra in India since 2017. I view Jyotish as a part of the whole Vedic sciences and studies, so the chart is not isolated from the tools and technologies used to help transcend challenging aspects of life.
When you book a Vedic Astrology natal chart reading, you’ll also receive personalized remedies (upayas) as part of your reading. This allows you to integrate the wisdom beyond the 75-minute recorded session, and go forward in greater flow, ease, and harmony.
I also offer spiritual mentorship follow-up sessions between readings (I recommend readings about once a year), as well as personalized kriya practices (sadhanas) for the specific season of your life.
When you consistently expand your consciousness with these ancient spiritual studies, the demands of modern life inevitably become more manageable.
READING TESTIMONIAL“I am sober, and it's been the best, most rewarding thing I've ever done for myself. Thanks to you because of the first reading that really. I always knew deep down, like with lots of things, but then like I just knew I had to take a harder look at myself and learn to ask for help and that was like the best thing I could have ever done.
“The doors that are opening and the people I'm getting to know, it just feels like I'm in the right place right now for my life and it's been cool, really incredible.”
Many thanks + pranams to Anand Mehrotra of Sattva Yoga Academy, Steven Highburger of Vedic Traditions, and Blaine Watson for imparting this wisdom.
