Ratna - Gemstones

Jewel Remedies for Planetary Affliction

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Presentation of the Shyamantaka jewel to Krishna.

Artist unknown: Mathura, 1525 CE. Victoria and Albert Museum, manuscript illustration from the Bhagavata Purana.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/40280-popup.html and

ratna

• a gift , present , goods , wealth , riches

• a jewel , gem , treasure , precious stone

• the nine jewels are pearl , ruby , topaz , diamond , emerald , lapis lazuli , coral , sapphire, Gomeda ; hence = name for the number 9 ; but accord. to some 14

• anything valuable or best of its kind

• a magnet , loadstone

• water

~~ Cologne Sanskrit Dictionary

Gem

• (O.E. gim), from Latin gemma "precious stone, jewel,"

• originally "bud," from the root *gen- "to produce" (see genus).

Jewel

• "article of value used for adornment," Anglo-French juel, Old French juel, jouel "ornament, jewel" ...

• perhaps from M.L. jocale, from L. jocus "pastime, sport," in Vulgar Latin "that which causes joy" (see joke). and

• Another theory traces it to L. gaudium, also with a notion of "rejoice."

~~ www.etymonline.com

Philosophy of Gem Recommendation

My overall gem prescription policy is to strengthen weak benefics. If a graha has good qualities which could benefit from a little boost, I believe that under appropriate circumstances (proper intention, proper energizing of the gem, correct timing of application) a gem can help.

• An uchcha graha does not need to be strengthened unless it receives hostile drishti.

There is a school of Jyotisha practice which philosophizes that strengthening a naturally malefic graha is an effective method of reversing its karma. I do not agree with this school of thought. My understanding is that the remedial power of gemstones consists in the ability of a pure, flawless, non-heat-treated gem to conduct and amplify our subconscious expectations. and

Our most subtle thoughts transmit from the subconscious in a very fine-granulation medium. We are not normally even aware that we are repeating a fixed pattern of thoughts and expectations constantly, day-in and day-out. However each graha in the nativity is constantly broadcasting a signal pattern thru the native's conducting channels ("nadi" channels which constitute the psychic nerve network).

The subtle pattern of imagery and instruction from each of the nine graha is pulsing through the awareness (and the sub-awareness) at all times. The power of the gems is to pick up these subtle instructions and magnify the signal to make it stronger and more vivid and intelligible. The gems work on a subtle level similar to the way a radio crystal picks up a radio signal, then amplifies that signal so we can hear it. Without the radio set, it is almost impossible to distinguish the hundreds of signals pulsing through the airwaves at any one moment. However with the benefit of a radio signal "tuner" one can focus on a particular wave pattern and thus hear a single frequency much more clearly. A properly "tuned" jewel functions exactly this way.

• Naturally if the stone is damaged through heat-treating, having flaws, being dyed, or not having been psychically cleared with proper puja (mantra cleansing and re-energizing) as well as errors in location (must be positioned properly on the body's nadi system) or setting (needs proper precious metal setting) -- then the tuning power of the stone may be damaged or nil. and

Yet a flawless and properly applied gem can be a very effective psychic tuner. There is a reason that kings and queens of old were draped in jewels, designed to touch their key chakra points on head, heart, hands, and feet. They were seeking spiritual guidance from higher powers, to support their leadership and care of their people, transmitted through exquisite, perfectly crystallized jewels of Earth.

Each graha has its own program of thoughts and instructions carried over from past lives into the current life. I believe it is beneficial to strengthen the instructions which come from subha-graha, but it is never beneficial to strengthen the instructions which are emitting from the papa-graha. I recommend to strengthen functional and natural benefics only.

"Upaye" - Remedial Methods

Jyotisha tradition also prescribes mantra "sacred sound" and yagya "sacred ritual" as methods of antidoting planetary affliction.

Yagyas and mantra can be highly effective if properly followed.

However, sacred stones are very beautiful, relatively low effort, and can be highly effective also if properly prescribed.

Gemstones can heal.

Gemstones raise your attitude, consciousness, and "vibration" if they are properly coordinated with your radix and navamsha planets.

Mantra with Gems combines Sound with Light to heal (repair, reinvigorate, clear) the chakras which are the central signal-transmission switches of the energy body. Properly applied, this is divine medicine.

Gemstones have been prescribed as healing and protective devices for millennia. Why do you think Kings and Queens are always dressed in glittering jewels? To clear their chakras and protect their auras, of course!

The method:

By increasing the person's sensitivity to their own body's psychic signaling, the stone will gradually alter a person's decision-making behavior. and The person blessed by the proper gemstone starts making better, more energetically appropriate and more morally sound choices.

As one begins to act on the more subtle psychic information toward which the stone is "attuned" the person and might, for example, change residence to a more favorable climate, seek marriage counseling, or apply for a better job.

Benefits of the person receiving clearer psychic information include making more intelligent environmental choices which eventually (often quite quickly) will result in improved health. and By improving the intuition through psychic "tuning", a and properly prescribed gemstone can teach an aware person to cure their own disease.

As those who work with colors (artists, psychologists, chakra healers) can attest, colored light has a specific effect on human emotional and mental response. If you have explored the wonders of sacred mantra or compulsively listened to your favorite love song a hundred times in a row, you will appreciate the massive "secret" healing power of sound.

Gemstones have the rare and powerful quality of focusing the healing properties of colored light intensely on a specific receptor-point (chakra, and of the body. and However, gemstone healing is a tantric process requiring both color and sound.

Gemstone power is unleashed only in proper ritual method, at minimum by chanting the core mantra of the stone's planet 108 times to "set" the sound vibration and applying the stone at the proper vibrational time of day. and Unless you are personally familiar with the gemstone application rules in detail, it is always recommended to receive professional instruction.

The stone itself assists the person to pay closer attention to the subtle vibrational patterns all around them. She/he begins to sense their world more calmly and more clearly. Calmer, clearer communication with the inner self has many social and psychological benefits, not the least of which is becoming a better listener.

The person will start getting better information and treatment from their physicians. Listening to their body more closely, they begin to choose more healing foods. They will respond more calmly to emotional stimulus. As the psycho-emotional awareness improves, improved bodily health will naturally follow.

Prescriptive Methods

There are several schools of thought prevailing in remedial Jyotisha gem prescription, including "Positive Method" and "Negative Method".

Positive Method

I use some aspects of the "positive" gem prescription method along with some components of 'negative method' described below.

One virtue of the 'positive method' is that it is easy to understand.

1. The 'positive' system finds the "best" planet in radix as that graha which owns both a kendra and a trine house.

2. The Jyotishi then prescribes the highest available quality gem associated with that auspicious house-lord.

For example,

• Shani = L-9/L-10 yogakaraka for Vrishabha lagna. Shani = also yogakaraka for Thula lagna, where He owns houses 4 and 5. Following the positive method, Vrishabha lagna and Thula lagna natives should acquire the best available neelam: blue sapphire or lapis azuli.

• Kuja = L-5/L-10 yogakaraka for Karkata lagna, where He owns auspicious houses 5 and 10. Karkata lagna natives would receive the best quality moonga: red coral or carnelian.

• Shukra = L-5/L-10 yogakaraka for Makara lagna. Similarly for Kumbha lagna, Shukra owns 9 and 4. Therefore, Makara and Kumbha natives receive hira: diamond, white sapphire, or extremely pure clear quartz crystal.

• Surya-Chandra can be considered a single planet. In the case of Vrischikha lagna, Chandra-Surya = L-9/L-10 yogakaraka.

• Similarly for Mesha lagna, Chandra owns 4 whilst Ravi rules the auspicious 5th. and A combination of best possible flawless ruby or garnet set with a pure natural pearl in a mixed base of gold and silver, would be prescribed to Vrischika and Mesha natives.

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There is no positive-method graha for Dwisva-bhava lagnas Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanusha, or Meena. Therefore lord of the two most auspicious kendra bhavas, house-1 and house-4, is generally chosen.

• For Mithuna and Kanya, the best-kendra lord is Budha. Kumara likes emerald, aquamarine, or peridot.

• For Dhanusha or Meena = yellow sapphire, yellow topaz, or citrine.

The gem for the lagnesha is normally always auspicious, and the gem for the lord of dharma bhava is normally always auspicious (there can be exceptions, but overall this is a working formula.

Therefore

• Mithuna lagna will most often benefit from a combination of 1-panna (emerald) with 9-neelam (blue sapphire) and often the 5-Diamond as well.

• Kanya lagna will most often benefit from a combination of 1-panna (emerald) with 9-hira (diamond). But, because Shani = L-6, less benefit from neelam (usually).

• Dhanusha lagna will most often benefit from a combination of 1-pukha-raja (yellow sapphire) with 9-manika (pure ruby) and often 5-moonga as well.

• Meena lagna will most often benefit from a combination of 1-pukharaja (yellow sapphire) with 9-moonga (pure red coral) and usually the 5-manika (pure ruby) too.

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Negative" Method

This system finds the "weak benefic" which is the graha having the most inherent goodness in proportion to its "potential to improve" and prescribes the gem for that graha. I personally apply this method in my Jyotisha practice.

A weak benefic owns one trinal bhava (1, 5, 9). Presumably with gem enhancement the other less desireable bhava which it owns will gradually get "improved".

• The reasoning of the negative method is that the appropriate gemstone can function as a "signal repeater" which can correct energy channel transmission weakness in the chakras.

• The negative method works by strengthening basically good planets that are not functioning at maximum.

• For example, a graha may be naturally auspicious yet slightly moudhya (combust). Or a well-placed graha may be receiving drishti of an enemy, and could benefit from some additional protective force.

• A flawless gemstone of minimum 2 carats set in the appropriate pure metal delivers a steady little boost to one's own native energy patterns.

• Combine a beautifully vibrating protective gemstone with a devotional attitude in life, and often the result will manifest as increased enthusiasm and prosperity based on stronger trust in the Divine.

In this line of thought, Gemstones can help by strengthening Weak Benefics.

What is a benefic graha [ subha ] for gem remedy purposes?

There are two main categories of planets in any chart

1. Anukula Graha, which is a "favorable" or blessed planet

2. Pratikula Graha, which is an "unfavorable" or in the extreme "evil" planet and

Natural benefics are:

• Sun, Moon, Venus, and Jupiter

Functional benefics are Lord of the houses 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 [except Dvisa-bhava/mutable lagna], 9 [except Sthira/fixed lagna] , 10

What makes a planet "strong"?

Strong for good:

• in exaltation,

• swakshetra,

• moolatrikona,

• friend's rashi,

• in kendra, in trine

• in its power-kendra :

  • Guru-Mercury in Tula bhava;

  • Shukra-Chandra in Bandhu bhava;

  • Shani in Yuvati;

  • Surya-Mangala in Karma bhava.

Strong for evil:

• lord of Ari (6), Randhra (8), or Vyaya (12) bhava

• lord of a badhaka house. (Badhaka houses are the 9th from a fixed lagna, 7th from a changeable lagna, and 11th from a cardinal lagna.)

What makes a planet "weak"?

1. neechcha

2. weak in shad bala

3. in enemy's rashi

4. in dusthamsha (houses 6, 8 or 12)

• Gemstones can only amplify signals; they cannot reduce signals.

• Ratna cannot reduce the troublesome power of strong negative ("evil") planets.

• Gemstones definitely should not be applied to reverse the evil effects of a malefic planet - added power from a gem will only strengthen the evil. and

• Therefore, gemstones should be used only on "weak benefics".

Rules for gemstone healing are very strict.

Typically the gemstone application area is a high nerve-ending concentration zone such as a finger, ear, or heart center.

There are also some important rules for the stone itself. and A pure Vedic prescription gemstone must never be heat-treated. and It must be cut properly, according to ancient technique. It must be placed in a pure precious metal setting (almost always gold or silver, but sometimes iron for Shani) by a vedic jeweler. and The gem must be put on your hand, ear, foot, or chest at the ritually correct time, chanting with the first application the correct mantra in the right attitude of faith. and Should all these steps be followed correctly and the recipient have a pure heart, a properly prescribed vedic gemstone can raise consciousness.

Unfortunately in the modern world where most gems are heat-treated to enhance color and mask flaws, gemstone healing is almost impossible to do properly. and Caveat emptor - buyer beware. and You must be very discriminating to locate a pure stone!

Perhaps you will be blessed to access a pure Vedic jeweler who can guarantee proper mining, cutting, shaping, setting, and application of gems in coordination with a vedic religious authority who can prescribe the correct sound waves (mantra) which make the body ready to receive the gemstone's high healing vibrations.

However, unless these rules are carefully followed, gemstones are just pretty decorations. and

For most of us, therefore, healing through direct prayer and self-forgiveness is MUCH more effective than using gemstones!

For an excellent and thorough presentation on astrological gemstones, please see Jay Boyle, Vedic Gemologist.

A typical "weak benefic" would be strengthened and improved in its life-effects via gem correction.

• Surya fallen in Thula/12 for Vrischika lagna

  1. Surya rules a good house (10) but Ravi is fallen in Libra.

  2. wearing Vedic Ruby could improve public reputation, and get your international business out of the doldrums.

  3. If one had been falsely accused of low morality or underhanded dealings, this stone could help one's spouse, family, and the state think better of one

• Venus fallen in Virgo/9 for Capricorn lagna

  1. Venus is a natural benefic and yogakaraka (lord of houses 5 and 10) but He is uchcha in Virgo

  2. wearing Vedic Diamond could bring birth of first child or improve public reputation

  3. If there had been romantic trouble with women in a religious organization, or a lack of faith in the guru's integrity, this stone could improve your viewpoint and help you make better choices.

However, there are some gems which would strengthen negative thoughts or negative emotional predispositions. and

For example:

• for Kumbha lagna, Chandra = L-6, a strong functional malefic. If Chandra is weak, do not wear pearl unless you want to get sick or attract enemies. Leave this weak planet being weak, it will cause less trouble.

• But for the same Kumbha lagna, If Surya who is L-7 and therefore a good planet for fixed lagna, should be weak due to being fallen in Libra occupying the 9th house, it would be good to wear Ruby in order to to strengthen willpower and moral consciousness in marriage. (This should probably be undertaken only after the natural death of the father since fallen Surya is a maraka for the father.)

  Similarly for Thula lagna,

  • if Venus [who has evil powers due to being 8th-lord] is weak in Virgo, do not wear diamond - for this only makes matters worse. To have the harmonious-relationship planet fallen in the 6th-from-7th enemies-of-the-spouse 12th bhava is obviously unfavorable. Yet better to have it weak. To strengthen Shukra might attract more unsavory partners; irregular oradversarial love interests; possibly mental illness, and certainly marital stress.

  • Avoid strengthening L-12 Budha in this case, because Budha would be Shukra's dispositor. There can be exceptions here that require fine judgement -- sometimes Mercury would be capable of helping significantly in clear communications, wealth etc. that could pragmatically improve marriage.

  • Avoid Ruby because Surya is a badhaka lord

  • However for Thula lagna, if Moon -who is capable of doing good things as 10th-lord -- is fallen in Scorpio, one may expect increase in wealth and public respect by wearing a large pearl on a silver chain, to touch the skin at the 4th-chakra point, or for a woman on her left hand ring finger, or for a man on his right hand ring finger. Neechcha Chandra can be surprisingly effective for tantric and shamanic healing, visionary penetrating insight etc. (cf. Albert Einstein)

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  Carat weights and a reputable vendor

  White sapphire (Diamond) if you choose to use it should not exceed 2 carats.

  Shukra as Daityaguru, teacher of the demons, ought not to be overly empowered. Just a little flawless diamond is more than good.

  The Pukhraj (yellow sapphire) however gets better as it gets larger.

  I have bought gems from Bill Kent in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Sapphires from Shri Lanka are Bill's professional gemological specialty. See Bill Kent's page on yellow sapphire "pukhraj".

  Yellow sapphire is normally prescribed at 3 carats and higher. IMO a smaller stone can give excellent results so long as you really like it. Similar for color - if one prefers a more champagne-colored yellow sapphire, just because it looks beautiful and really appeals to your sense of natural beauty, then this natural attraction should override the traditional objective of the brightest, most golden yellow glow. Successful remedial action depends tremendously on how the stone feels to you, intuitively.

  • Any weight from 1.5 carats and higher for yellow sapphire will be effective. Ideally the stone should be flawless and bright yellow. Above 3 carats is desirable. 4 carats is wonderful but getting too large for a woman's gold-set ring unless one has a very large hand (and enough servants to not need to cook or clean : ))

  • Over 5 carats is a very large stone that would be indeed efficacious as a remedial gem, but it would need to be worn as a pendant probably because it's too large for a normal finger in practical daily life .

  • In a Jyotisha ring setting where the gem must touch the skin (ideally, the setting allows maximum contact with largest possible amount of skin), the amount of gold in the setting that is necessary to hold a large stone properly against the skin is quite expensive also, and the ring becomes very heavy to wear. Esp. for the gem of Guru, which must be worn on the index finger, such a ring could be awkward to wear in many professional settings.

  • For a woman's hand (to be worn on the right hand index finger) the stone should be sized = 2.5-to-3.5 carats max, but for a woman's pendant (if your budget will allow) the largest flawless sapphire one can afford, set in gold to touch the heart chakra, on a gold chain.

  • I'm sure you know, but pls. do deal only with reputable Jyotisha gem providers.

  • I have bought from Bill Kent at http://www.jyotishgem.com I recommend Bill without hesitation. Bill has white sapphires (diamonds) occasionally and also he handles zircon for Shukra. Zircon = less intensity than sapphire but = still beautiful and still moderately efficacious as a remedy. Bill's yellow sapphires are wonderful. He personally obtains the gems during his frquent trips to the mines in Shri Lanka, and as a result he has very close quality control. Bill is not a jeweler therefore if you buy from him you will still need to find a craftsperson to set the jewel in gold, silver, or iron. Etc.

General benefits of strengthening L-1, L-5, and L-9 Wearing the correctly applied planetary gems for the 1st, 5th, and 9th radix lords is beneficial in a general way.

Examples: when the L-1 + L-8 Moonga might or might not be prescribed

• For example, because Mangala = L-8, moonga (red coral) for Vrischika lagna, is likely to stimulate the native's subconscious expectations of sudden, invasive, disruptive, and forced changes in life.
• For example, because Mangala = L-8, If Mangala is well-placed in the nativity, perhaps the native is a professional surgeon, midwife, field medic, or emergency responder who skillfully handles events caused by the sudden turning of the wheel of birth and death. Such a person will be capable of strong and positive presence at moments of extreme trauma.

• For example, because Mangala = L-8,

Perhaps the native is a shaman, hunter, police detective, military special forces, magician, tantriki, or handler of secret weapons storage. Also in this case, Mangala would be well-disposed and the native might welcome the high-stress physical and psychological challenges which would result from ramping up the imagery of domain-8.

During periods of Mangala, such a native might be prepared to handle some serious danger. This native would be advised to wear a large Moonga (pure red coral) in order to amplify the speed and intensity of the Turning of the Wheel - with the full understanding that by doing so one might end up in the "emergency room" more than once!

By contrast, the Vrischika native possesses a weakened Mangala - e.g., in Karkata, Kanya, or Mithuna -- the Moonga would not be prescribed. In Karkata, the L-8 will kill his father. In Kanya, the L-8 will harm his elder sibling and mentors. In Mithuna, it is dicey - the native may be extremely gifted in police detective and forensic work due to a certain charming conversational ability and a remarkable power to write - yet, this position is dangerously self-destructive. Therefore such a native would not be advised to wear he Moonga even in a period of Mangala.


To evoke the benefits of the auspicious house, without also enflaming the undesirable house, it will be necessary to use a non-gem method such as selfless service or mantra-puja which targets only one house.

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Sample Generalized gem prescription for radix Vrischika lagna

Here is a generalized gem prescription for Vrischikha lagna.

The gem for L-5 increases awareness of "poorva-punya" i.e., your credit account built over past lives.

L-5 Guru evokes good creative energy, fame, genius, authority, and children. Jupiter's stones -- Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Topaz, Citrine -- and will be beneficial.

To establish the psychic channel: The gem for Jupiter is best set in gold. Rings will be worn on the index finger. Initiate the ring and put it on during Thursday one hour before sunset.

The gem for the Dharma lord (L-9) increases awareness of the great spiritual truths and strengthens your association with dharma carriers in your generation. Scorpio lagna's 9th lord is Chandra, the Moon. and Gemstones for the Moon are : Pearl and Moon Stone.

To establish the psychic channel: and The gem for the Moon is best set in silver or platinum. Rings will be worn on the ring finger. Initiate the ring and put it on during Monday evening.

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Get the best purest gems you can afford.

Buy only from a highly reputable Vedic jeweler. and There is plenty of information on the internet re: praise and complaints for various fraudulent or honest Vedic-style gem sellers.

One part of establishing the psychic channel is to cleanse your gem in fresh organic milk and rinse it in purified water before wearing. Then, holding and concentrating on the gem, perform the mantra given 108 times.

Pendants are OK too - especially with certain gems like pearls that touch the heart chakra with Moon energy. However pendants give disadvantage of the gem swinging and not maintaining constant skin contact unless one's clothes are rather tight-fitting.

Most important is that the Gem touches skin to stimulate psychic nerve channels as much as possible.

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Q:

Can I buy the gems I see advertised as Jyotisha or "Vedic" quality remedial stones, through the internet?

A: Jay Boyle in Fairfax Iowa has been in business for several decades and has an excellent reputation.

I personally am a satisfied customer of Jyotish Gemologist Bill Kent in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. and Bill provided me with a beautiful, nearly flawless yellow sapphire which he personally examined near the sapphire mines in Shri Lanka. The recipient, a member of my family, had good remedial results from Bill's stone (after properly setting and purifying it). I can recommended Bill's gemological services.

Unfortunately, it's necessary to be quite careful when selecting your Jyotisha gem provider, because heat-treated gems sell much better than boring old pure ones! Heat-treated gems are very much the norm in our world (heat-treating cures cracks and makes color more vivid) but heat-treating destroys the healing/balancing subtle powers of gems.

It's quite a challenge to find a non-corrupt dealer who can provide quality-controlled Vedic standard gems. There are several Jyotisha purveyors in the USA who claim to offer pure stones and very likely they are honest - however, one of the best indicators of their honesty is satisfied spiritual-aspirant customers. Be sure to ask for references. Another is the spiritual practice choice or character of the vendor. If the vendor has a spiritual practice they will usually be delighted to mention it!

Because of the obstacles often faced in obtaining a pure stone, I often say when clients ask me about gems:

"For most normal folks like you and me, authentic prayer (prayers of gratitude not petitionary prayer) and compassionate acts of service toward others are quite reasonable and likely more effective replacements for gems."

And much more affordable : )

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Planetary deities simply mirror karmic forces, emotions, and psychological traits that exist within us. There is no need to propitiate outside deities idols in order to gain control over our destiny. Superstition the belief that divine powers exist only outside of ourselves - is enslaving. and

Certainly, it can be very helpful to enter into spiritual communication with the deities in order to gain a mirror-image of our own internal self. But there is no benefit to purchasing a yagya, yantra, mantra, idol, or other talisman in the spirit of fear or intimidation. Gems, yantra, etc are only reminders, accessories, which serve to jog our memory of our own natural healing powers. and

Gems in particular are only effective when the gem-wearing person has performed considerable mantra at the right hour in the correct frame of mind. This ritual purification process is designed to align the person's consciousness with the particular channel that the deity occupies i.e., to enter into spiritual partnership with that deity. and

The diamond or sapphire or emerald or ruby is only serving as an energy conductor/transmitter. It’s nice to have the boost from the gem *after* one has entered the spiritual partnership – rather like having a good TV antenna - but increasing one’s commitment and concentration, primarily through meditation and serving others, will have exactly the same conducting/transmitting effect.

And prayer is much more affordable!

There are of course exceptions to the rule. There are marvelous astrologer-healers who do use gems and the even-more-potent gem-waters. But these are few and far between. and The best places to look for the pure gem dealers are within religious organizations. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend anyone to you.

Here is the Planetary Gemology Assoc page, which might offer you some further info re: the traditional Vedic gem remedies and some sample vendors: www.p-g-a.org/index.html and

You'll see that even this business association has a blacklist of supposedly Vedic gem vendors who sell improper stones. Oy. It’s just too tempting to profit on heat-treated or synthetic stones I’m afraid.

Enjoy learning!

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Question from a reader who had received conflicting Jyotisha gem prescriptions:

Q: I've read your opinions on gems with great interest; it seems you speak frankly. Sincerely, after having already paid for two gem prescriptions, and noticing that these two very much conflict, I decided to research for myself.

I am still curious about the larger truth of Vedic gem therapy. and Probably it is a special secret of Jyotisha? Perhaps some Jyotishi are not well educated in gem recommendations?

I've been recommended by one source to wear coral for Mars, topaz for Jupiter; another expert said sapphire or amethyst. and I don't know what to think! Should I strengthen Jupiter or Saturn? and Is it ever beneficial to strengthen a debilitated Saturn? What is your opinion?

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A:

• practicing meditation

• eating a clean diet

• releasing hatred from the heart and worry from the mind

• offering selfless service to others and prayers of praise to the deity of your heart
• enjoying every day as a gift from divine presence

Gems are undeniably lovely but their powers are hidden. Those lacking in tantric perception (e.g. most gem dealers) will find gem-healing powers difficult to understand. So why not follow the path of the peaceful heart and allow the karma to flow our naturally, through clean life and service?

However, if you enjoy the study of Jyotisha you might want to read these books on Jyotisha Vidya regarding gems. These books are available in India or internationally through http://www.vedicbooks.net/ and other sources:

1. Healing through Gems by N.N. Saha (1994)

2. Gems and Astrology by G.S. Kapoor (1994)

3. Vedic Remedies in Astrology by Sanjay Rath (2000?)

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Question from readers, regarding gemstones for Ketu:

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Q: On your website, you mention that gemstones should be used only for strengthening a weak benefic. For malefic benefics, they should never be worn. So, why there is a gem for Ketu (which is always malefic)? When should its gem be worn?

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A: and Ketu is certainly not always malefic. and Remember that Ketu is a manifestation of Shri Ganesha! and

Question from a reader regarding invocation of divine attention when applying a gemstone:

Q: and When wearing it for the first time on the proper day and time, should you recite the proper mantra even if you practice a different faith like say Islam.. or should you say a small prayer in your faith before wearing the gem for the first time...

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A: Thanks for and your excellent question about applying a Jyotisha remedial gemstone.

Always stay and true to the and form of divine love which you know in and your heart.

• If you practice Islam, then by all means, address your prayer of gratitude for the good fortune you have received in acquiring this gem, to the familiar name for divine intelligence which guides your Islamic Consciousness. and
• If you practice a Christian tradition, address your gratitude to the glory of the deities and saints who guide your spiritual awareness.
• In the Jewish tradition, address your prayer to the One who gives All.
• In the Hindu/Vedic traditions, the proper mantra will be addressed to the guiding spirits identified in that legacy.
• Practicing Buddhists will want to shape their prayer of gratitude to match their highest awareness.
• Those most suited to Nature Traditions will invoke the deity of their heart.

As your spiritual awareness expands, you will learn to recognize the presence of many, many guiding forces that surround and protect us here on Earth.

However, there will always be one special, intimate relationship with a particular form of divine consciousness that makes us feel most deeply loved and cared for.

In Sanskrit this special divine love partner is called the "Ishta-devata" or "the god of one's heart."

Use the name of that divine protector whom you recognize most intimately. and That is the name which safeguards you while it resonates warmly in your heart.

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Q:

Will a Jyotisha reading, combined with a gem or yagya prescription, aid my journey through a difficult Shani period?

A:

Namaste,

I do sometimes recommend remedial gems, with the caveat that Vedic gems must be 'pure' and properly energized to have effect. I am less inclined toward yagyas, but if the person has a good relationship with a reputable priest in India I do not oppose the method.

Ultimately I prefer that the native accept personal responsibility for their situation, and commit to a healing practice of meditation and service to those less fortunate ("seva"). I believe that forgiveness and intelligent awareness of the power of one's own expectations, shaped by childhood experience and education, are more reliable tools for remediating life karma.

In particular I discourage superstition, which is a victim's choice to put the power outside oneself (super v= above, stit = position or standing). Many of us were raised or educated to view life as a process which happens "to" us; unfortunately this is a victim view. The correct view is that we are empowered creators of our own situation. and

We create every moment of our life experience through projecting our subconscious expectations upon the blank movie screen of our perceptions. Therefore, observing the intricate process of that projection will eliminate karma of powerlessness, victimization, stuckness, and enslavement very quickly. Superstition is the best way to sustain bondage to old habits, exhaustion, and fear.

I do offer Jyotisha readings which can help outline the pattern of subconscious expectations and predict which expectation will manifest at points on the timeline. However the power to change one's experience of this timeline lies entirely within the individual. Subconscious expectation is extremely strong and has built up through many lifetimes. The probability of our making massive, revolutionary changes to these deeply established patterns is relatively small. That's why Jyotisha is such an accurate predictor of what will happen "to" a person: the patterns are set over eons of incarnation, and the person is very much accustomed to allowing the patterns to play out without conscious interruption. However, if the person is spiritually inclined (rare, but possible) they might be interested in starting to make a few small changes.

The best way to start chipping away at the massive accrual of fear and resistance which characterize any Shani period, is to accept responsibility for managing one's own mind. It is indeed very difficult to drive a wedge between the mind and its expectations. and

Probably the single best method for getting empowerment during a Shani period is not a gem or a yagya, but rather doing service for the less fortunate. Ideally, choose a service practice directed toward those who are only slightly less fortunate than oneself - not too different from oneself, who are suffering the same type of oppression as oneself, only slightly more intense and disabling.

For example if one is having money problems (typical of Shani) choose to serve those suffering a worse experience of scarcity - and observe how their negative expectations (fears) cause them to make the same scarcity-ensuring choices, repeatedly. and

Shani sends a fearful signal from the reptile brain which says "there isn't enough!" It is possible to interrupt that signal, but only after one has seen objectively how it operates in other people. So, choose to serve some dramatically poor people and watch their repeating habits!

If one is having relationship or connection problems (another hallmark of Shani) choose to serve those who are more lonely, more isolated, or more paralyzed. Observe how they are afraid to make connections, then claim that some outside force (excessive duty or busyness, low rank, ugliness, some form of unapproachability) blocks their power.

Shani is about power blocks, negative expectations, fear. It is not easy to release habitual fear but it is *possible,* mainly through self-awareness and accepting responsibility (not guilt!) for one's own projections.

It seems very unlikely to me that any type of superstitious practice, in which one grants the remedial power to an outside person or object (priest, magical diagram, or gem) will remove deeply embedded personal subconscious fears. Only consciousness can take charge of the mind and begin to manage it.

However, during the management training process, I do believe that a practice of "reminding" oneself of Shani's presence will be helpful. and

• Wearing dark blue clothes, and
• wearing jewelry of lapis lazuli or blue topaz set in silver (ritually empowered or not, remember these are mental-note type of reminders not magical objects) and
• writing with dark blue ink and
• decorating the "responsibility" wall of one's home (according to Feng Shui rules) with dark blue (almost black, but still blue) and
• enjoying deep, dark blue religious images in any religious tradition:
  • and visual images of Shri Krishna in His darkest-darkest blue complexion; and
  • sacred calligraphy painted with lapis lazuli pigments in mosques
  • deep blues robes of Christ, Virgin Mary, or the Saints
  • darkest blue "medicine Buddha"
  • deep blue textiles, paints, and glass tints in sacred Jewish environments
  • painted and infused blues in native, druidic, pagan, and indigenous traditions worldwide and
  • gazing into the deepest blue waters in your local natural environment (often a very deep pool in nature) and

... all of these and any other opportunities to choose beautiful, sacred or delightful reminders of Shani's presence, aid appreciation of Shani's power to create Enlightenment. (unburdening of our attachment to fear)

Luciana, I hope this viewpoint is helpful. I do utilize gems where appropriate but only as an aid to consciousness. and

I believe that selfless service is much more powerful to alleviate karmic struggle with fear than any other remedy. There is always someone struggling worse than oneself who can exemplify the habits we are at the moment, trying to break. This is why service is so empowering for the person who undertakes it!

If you would like a full reading from me, please feel free to email and I will provide details.

All the best to you Luciana,

Sincerely, Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha

www.barbarapijan.com

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Jyotisha Jewelers in North America:

• http://www.planetarygems.com - Fairfield Iowa

• http://www.jyotishgem.com - Victoria, BC, Canada - Bill Kent, highly recommended!

• http://www.astrologicalgem.com - Fairfield, Iowa

• http://www.johnbakerjewelry.com - Fairfield, Iowa

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Q: I heard that L2 and L7 are known as maraka graha, so would there be any problems in the future if I wear yellow sapphire because of my L2.

A: Maraka empowerment of gems

Despite what superstitious believers may fear, gemstones do not have the power to kill people. However, thoughts do have the power to kill people. and

The graha which rules the House of Wealth Hoards (L-2) also rules the House of Death (L-2) and the House of the Family of Origin (L-2). The L-2 graha represents a broad field of thoughts which affects the materialization of these outcomes and much more that is represented by dhana-bhava.

• If a person's thoughts are positive and creative the L-2 can encourage the development of wealth. and
• If the person's thoughts are negative and frustrated, the L-2 can encourage the development of death.

Positive or negative character of the L-2 determines whether the ratna is prescribed

Your L-2 = Brihaspati = generally a positive, friendly, and gainful graha. Therefore IMO the Guru-ratna, a pukhraj (yellow sapphire) is warranted. and

In some other nativity, the L-2 might be a difficult or dangerous graha, for example, Mesha-Shani. In that sort of nativity, it would not be recommended to wear the gem for the L-2 because the thoughts which fuel the manifestation of all the various outcomes associated with domain-2 are predominantly negative per the neechcha papagraha L-2.

Amplification of existing thoughts only

Remember, the power of the ratna is a psychic power similar to a signal-amplifier in a transmission station, such as a network router. The ratna only transmits, repeats, and amplifies one's existing thoughts. and

If the basic thoughts are good, the material outcome will be good. and

You are lucky to have some good thought-producing planets to work with!

Makara graha and death timing and predictions

In Jyotisha prediction, the stronger one of the two maraka graha, L-2 or L-7, is expected to provide the Vimshottari dasha timing for permission to leave this earthly vale. and

In your nativity, the highly gifted uchcha Shukra in the 5th house of divine intelligence is very strong. The Ketu/Shukra period your age 91-93 will double the effects of your L-7 Shukra, therefore age 91-93 is the time period that is most likely to signify the end of life. and

However if you decide when you reach that honorable age that you still have more fun things to do here on earth, it is only a matter of concentrated thought to further extend the life toward a specific and positive purpose.

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Q:

Hello Barbara, ... I know few things about my chart which was told by my family priest. However I have no strong and effective remedies available to overcome these problems. Do you think, astrology has that power which can help us in reducing the effect of malefic planets and dosha? At the moment, I am struggling on every front in my life. Life is just one step forward and two backwards. and

A: Namaste. Thanks for asking a very good question about traditional Jyotisha remedies.

In my opinion, the vidya of Jyotisha does not have the power to reduce the effect of malefic graha, since Jyotisha is only the lens through which we view the mentality of the native. Jyotisha itself cannot change anything.

Jyotisha gem prescriptions similarly do not have the power to remove the effect of malefic graha, planetary "dosha", and purported curses.

How Pure Gems Work

Graha-ratna, in my view, possess a radio-crystal type capability to repeat subtle subconscious thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. Flawless gems, strategically placed at major junctures along the psychic nerve system (chakra points, nadi points, chi points, marma points) can function as signal-repeaters similar to a cell-phone transmission tower or a wireless internet router. and

The gem must touch the skin (which is the interface between the psychic and physical nervous systems) and it must be set in a pure metal such as gold, silver, or platinum, to realize its signal-repeating capabilities.

Karma - As Above, So Below

Humans, at birth, carry in a great deal of reactive baggage from past lives. This great bundle of historic (but largely unconscious) memory is commonly called "karma" (the obligation to action and reaction).

The Law (or map) of interactive Karma is represented by the map of the graha in our solar system (and perhaps beyond). "As above, so below."

Therefore a Jyotisha nativity can be an accurate map of the thoughts, beliefs, fears, hopes, dreams, and expectations which a person brings into this life, and which dictate the course of one's life path.

Gems - As Above, So Below

Flawless, properly energized (through mantra and ritual cleansing) gemstones, then, can amplify and clarify the esoteric signals emanating from the graha at a great distance, which are exactly matched by the thought-belief-signals emanating from the native's own conscious/subconscious.

Awake or Asleep

The vast majority of the expectations and beliefs are subconsciously held. Very few people "wake up" during life to realize that one is generating one's own reality precisely according to one's own mental and psychic practices. Precisely according to the map of the heavens. But, luckily for us, there are a few in each generation who do "wake up" and they do guide the rest of us out of our foggy slumber...

In any case, whether the person is "awake" or "asleep", the gems function as signal-repeaters to amplify and clarify the implicit and explicit beliefs and thoughts of the native. Certainly we would not want to amplify negative beliefs, which will then generate negative consequences on the material plane.

Therefore graha for temporal malefics are never prescribed, and for natural malefics gems are prescribed only when a natural malefic (such as Kuja) might be doing a very good job in the nativity (such as for Karkata lagna, when yogakaraka Kuja could, in some placements, act in a beneficial way for leadership or war-heroism, etc.).

Ideally only gems for benefic graha should be worn, and those considered quite carefully before choosing.

Positive Flooding

Your question is about "overcoming" malefic influences. One possible approach is to "flood" the negative mentality with positive belief and expectation. The power of flooding with prayer is well-known - the person simply prays constantly, with a single thought in mind, until that thought manifests. (This works great if the person is not also in denial about holding the opposite negative thought. Like saying "I want to be rich" and then hating all rich people! Of course that boomerangs.)

Malefic does not cancel Malefic, but rather increases it

One could try to negate malefic, evil thoughts such as jealousy and anger, by choosing a super-powerful benefic graha-ratna, and see good effects through flooding the psychic nerve system with positive signals.

However one cannot directly remove ignorance with ignorance, I.e. one cannot remove the karma of greed or hatred by wearing the stone for the planet which is the "matching" thought-generator for greed or hatred (probably Shani or Kuja). That is why I do not prescribe gems for the 'papa-graha' or for the lord of any dushtamsha. Such a malefic repeater would fill the native's mind with dark thoughts and make things much worse.

Similarly, talismans and other superstitious objects (there are thousands to pick from) are all extremely false and misleading, since their power is claimed to "ward off outside evil". For better or worse, evil does not originate 'outside' a person. All evil consequences are the direct result of one's own thoughts, beliefs, and expectations. Again, sadly, few people are much aware of the inventory of one's own beliefs, and most people live in a fearful and deluded state, believing that things happen "to" them, throughout life.

Value of talismans, other superstitious objects

I do think talismans, magic charms, relics of saints, golden statues etc. - all the pretty jewelry of superstitious belief systems - are very good to use as REMINDERS. A lucky charm might be very handy as a reminder to keep a solemn holy vow, or to stay true to one's higher principles in a moment of hot temptation. My own house is full of holy pictures. and

But the native should never be tricked into believing that the object possesses any independent power, whatsoever. The only thing that has any power in this life is the Human Mind.

Releasing negative expectation

Ultimately, the person who wishes to reduce the effect of malefic graha in one's Jyotisha nativity must accept responsibility for having acquired the negativity in the first place. Usually it was acquired in past lives which are difficult to remember. Therefore, simply accepting responsibility in a general way, without needing to get back into the details of previous lives, seems to be the best approach.

Mature adult responsibility

Taking responsibility for one's own moral development is not the same as accepting guilt or living in sorrow for past actions. and

Actually, when one has karmicly matured to the point of being able to perceive that one's own expectations are indeed what is creating the unfoldment of karma, and nothing else - then -- the act of accepting responsibility for purifying one's thoughts is a moment of great liberation! Definitely not the bondage of guilt, or the slavery of superstition.

Summary

Sorry, that was rather a long answer to your simple question. The short answer is that no, gem remedies will not counteract subconsciously held negative expectations. However, graha-ratna, properly applied, will indeed amplify the positive, beneficial expectations which are matched by the rays of benefic graha.

Talismans, rituals, superstitious objects and practices, can never have any effect on evil. Evil arises only from negative expectations stored in a person's belief system.

Superstitious objects can serve as helpful and (if they are artistic) beautiful reminders of one's own committed intent to practice compassionate, moral behavior, with the ultimate aim of freeing oneself from karmic bondage altogether. However, usually, superstitious objects perpetuate the ignorant and quite harmful viewpoint that evil is something "outside" oneself.

Divine Intelligence - a conscious choice

There is only one creative power in life, and that is the power of Divine Intelligence which runs through the human mind. If the Divine Intelligence is given full conscious attention, evil thoughts (such as fear, worry, rage, jealousy) will be greatly diminished. Becoming a source of spiritual light by constant focus on good thoughts and well-wishing toward others, the person may find they become completely free of worry and want on the material plane.

Gems can be moderately helpful in amplifying that quota of positive beliefs and expectations carried in at birth. But IMO, selfless service and sincere prayer, undertaken as a conscious adult, have a deeper and more life-changing effect.

Hope this viewpoint is helpful! If you are struggling personally (as most of us are!) please allow me to recommend a wonderful, plain-English book which may assist you: "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" by Joseph Murphy (PhD). [ISBN-10: 0735204314 ]

All the best,

Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha www.barbarapijan.com and

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Q: Namaskar: and do gems effect the person who wears it and simultaneously the partner of that person?

My partner has Yogakarka Shani, and blue sapphire is the best gemstone for her. For me, Shaniratna is a dangerous gem. So when we are associated, will not the blue sapphire negatively affect me or the red coral I am wearing affect her?

A:As far as I know, no. and Gems worn by one person do not directly affect the bodies of their spouses or close companions.

The gem, having been properly purified with mantra and sunlight, placed on the body of the human at the correct time of the solar day, and worn with intention to live a holy life, will affect only the signals conducted through the psychic nadi channels of the energetic body of the person who is wearing the stone. and The effective range of a 3-6 carat gem is very small, affecting only one chakra point of one human body usually. and

However there are some spectacularly large crystals which do have much larger auras or signal-repeating fields, and those large crystals do affect large groups of people.

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Q:respected madam, first of all I would like to thank u from deepest core of my heart, for or help, advice and guidance, as u have written about me wearing flawless ruby and blue sapphire after oct 2009 .

i totally am convinced and looking forward to wear these gem stones ,but I went online to see how much they cost ,and I was stunned by the prices ,my question is will I have that much money to buy these gemstones ever, going through very hard days of my life from last 9 to 10 years. nothing much.

once again thanking you

A:Namaste. If the gems are too expensive (yes the cost is stunning!) that is no problem. Exactly the same beneficial results can be obtained through Seva, or charitable service. In fact, in my experience, the results of offering service to those less fortunate are much better than with gems.

Your main financial strength occurs during Shani mahadasha, beginning when you are 52 years old. You will be OK until then, but probably not a rich man until the Shani period starts. So, Seva is the superior option for you. Anything that feels blocked in your life, look for those for whom it is blocked a little bit worse.

For example, if you feel that your career position is too low but you can't muster the energy to find a better job, consider offering job-finding service (such as preparing letters of introduction or recommendation) to those who have even lower positions and usually lack the skills to find a better job.

What happens is that one begins to see the lower people's negative thought patterns, which are actually preventing them from moving toward their goals. What they are doing in a big way, you are doing in a small way -- and the good news is that once you can identify the problem in one's own thinking, by watching the "mirror" of those who have it worse -- it is surprisingly easy to fix.

So, please do not be disheartened at the huge cost of gems. Seva is a much more effective method and easily available. Indeed, it is free except for the cost of your time.

All the best, Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha

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Q: As you can see from Chandra + Shukra in the ari bhava of my kundali, plus the notorious Rahu in radix lagna, I have been struggling with a flesh-weight issue in the physical body for a long time. Is there a gemstone or a puja that could help me to reduce the body weight? Should I be wearing a larger carat weight of gemstone proportional to my larger body size?

A: Chandra in Kumbha in domain-6 yuti Shukra can lead to nervous disorders, in particular eating disorders motivated by Shukra’s sensual instincts to assuage the deep frustrations of life with easily available but naturally short-term sensual pleasures. Because Shani casts a regulatory drishti upon your nervous sixth house, application of a neelam (blue sapphire) will increase personal discipline, allowing the native to accept some of the conflict which the mind is trying to escape. Self-compassion and an attitude of non-blaming will be essential to success. In particular, acupuncture treatment will be successful with medical imbalances, since Kumbha is lord of both Chandra and domain-6.

Size of gemstones is not related to the size of the physical body. Gemstones are astral signal-repeaters which work on the more subtle channels of the astral body. The outer boundary of the astral body for a normal person is about six inches past the end of the “kinesphere”, i.e. just past the fingertips when arms are spread widest side-to-side.

However, the aura (egg-shaped energy field of the astral body) of a person who is world-famous, and on the front page of every news media every day, is literally world-wide. Their Jyotisha prescriptions must be highly specialized. These world figures often need very large ratna. Luckily, in their high-profile positions, they can usually afford the tremendous cost of the world’s best gemstones.

BTW, if you choose to explore an acupuncture approach to body weight management (and this is likely to succeed due to Kumbha = 6) please remove any Jyotisha remedial ratna before receiving the acupuncture treatment. After the acupuncture is finished for the day, put the ratna back on. Repeat this pattern with every treatment. The gems will probably work more effectively after your subtle electrical channels have been cleared by the acupuncture. The two therapies, remedial ratna and acupuncture, utilize the same subtle electrical frequency “bandwidth”, and they can be paired to bring ultimately more beneficial results -- but do remove the repeaters ( ratna) while you are getting your channels cleared.

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Q:(Both the native and his beloved aspire toward professional growth in the film/media entertainment industry.)

Venus and Moon together rule films and media arts. If I go through my D-9 chart, Venus is neechcha there. Does this suggest the partner's struggle in getting film work? Correction of Venus by wearing a White Sapphire or Moon-stone help here?

A:Neechcha Shukra

1. correct the thoughts which are unconsciously driving the behavior
2. then apply the stone as a reinforcement to the vow

Be cautious of trying to 'correct' neechcha Shukra via wearing of white sapphire.

Yes a diamond is the appropriate gem remedy, but the underlying psychological imagery is powerful, and the imagery should be corrected/acknowledged BEFORE applying the gem.

The nature of neechcha Shukra in the mind is that one cannot access one's own beauty due to excess mentalism in the wrong perceptual compartment. Budha's critical, analytical intelligence has damaged Shukra's wholistic, sensual apprehension of and beauty. The visual and moral attractiveness is damaged or destroyed.

When Shukra is empowered, one's experience of being attracted to beauty occurs in the moment of perceiving a balanced whole. One with neechcha Shukra destroys the unified, balanced design of beauty by over-analyzing the whole into its component parts. The inappropriate, past-life baggage behavior is self-criticism and self-abnegation, which is really an insult to the divine love of beauty... especially the beauty of women. In some past life, being attractive got the native into a lot of trouble! One was too attractive, too beautiful (or so it seemed) and one said to oneself on the death-bed: "I will never allow myself to be or be seen as that much beautiful, ever again!" Of course this is over-reacting, but the mind has remembered it and the old thought habits will continue to repeat until they are consciously reverse.

Luckily this situation can be corrected with attention to one's own karmic action-reaction pattern and specifically a tendency to be frightened of one's own attractiveness and to mistreat women through criticizing their appearance.

For women, the lady does not believe she is beautiful/attractive, and she finds company with other women who also suffer low self-esteem and who engage in destructive criticism. and There is a tendency to over-analyze toward the humiliating result of "sexual attraction is just about anatomical sex acts" and on that self-belief to slip into prostitution. That is in severe cases only but the logic is clear: one has mentally reduced something exquisite and intangible. Neechha Shukra reasons that love, which is the wholistic perception of beauty and deep attraction between the partners, is nothing more than the sum of its mechanical parts (money, sex, hormones, pleasure-drugs). This faulty reasoning damages one's experience of human love and furthermore every glance into the mirror is an experience of low self-esteem and pain. and

For the man, he is attracted to women with anxiety about their essential beauty. Their low-self-esteem can drive them into prostitution, drug addiction, and harming other women.

The key problem is over-analyzing the perception of beauty. Each person is perfectly beautiful in their soul, and the body is the material image of the soul. Therefore the tendency to criticize and break-apart the perception of beauty via mentalizing must be addressed behaviorally.

• A woman must take the vow to refrain from criticizing herself, and then to release any desire to criticize or destructively analyze the beauty of other women. She must commit to a state of neutrality in her mentalizing behaviors.
• For a man, he should take a vow of never mistreating or belittling the value or attractiveness of a woman. He should know that he is karmicly attracted to low women, or troubled women, and that it is his own insecurity about his attractiveness which he is projecting upon the women in his environment.

If this level of awareness and commitment to manage the karma has been achieved, then IMO the subconsciously negative images which are being transmitted through the signal-repeater function of the Hira will gradually transform into positive images.

If the vow is established, it becomes potentially beneficial to apply the white sapphire. Once the committed intentional changes in karmic action-reaction have been established, and the native is attending to one's karmic responsibilities, then the remedial gem can be applied.

On a Friday, set in silver, after the gem has been properly energized through mantra, and after meditation on Lakshmi-Saraswati-Parvati in request for their support in finding luxurious beauty, in this world.

Luxmi = luxury.

Sincerely, Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha

www.barbarapijan.com

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Q: How can I tell if this gem suits me? I've heard of a woman who uses an electric machine to gauge whether the gems are working or not. Reluctant to spend the money on a dud.

A: Most people can tell without machinery whether or not a gem is personally suitable. The cut stone should have a specific vibration, a very subtle humming, that is unmistakable when the gem touches one's skin.

Although, if one has not felt that before, it is rather hard to describe. Perhaps like a tiny electrical shock, but a nice one. Most folks call it a state of enhanced well-being or something similar.


All crystals are signal transmitters but the fine gems are quite high throughput on a narrow-channel (analogous to 'fiberoptic') and one should be able to tell rather directly whether it is conducting the signal.

Some jewelers will allow gem returns under specific conditions if the gem is not working. I don't have a business relationship with any of these suppliers and don't therefore know their policies, but please do ask when you are making the purchase whether insured returns are permitted and under what conditions.

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Colors for Clothing

Q: Hello and Happy New year!

Ma'am Concerning the trinal rulers from udaya lagna and chandra lagna,would it be beneficial to wear colored clothing associated with the graha of these houses? Say, saturn rules 5th house from Virgo rashi, so it will be good to wear black or dark blue? Or for leo rashi,yellow since jupiter rules the 5th house.

Thank you for your time.

A: Namaste,

It would probably be much more beneficial to offer charitable service to those in need, to educate oneself so as to be able to lead others with dignity, and to maintain a spirit of gratitude toward the gift of life.



However, in a broad psychic sense, you are right about the colors. The colors of the clothing in which one generally looks best will correspond to the colors of the gems for the lords of the auspicious houses of the Jyotisha nativity. For example most of the monks who wear red-orange and orange robes have a strong placement of Guru, the graha of true religion.

Bhakta yogi types who and favor white clothes have strong placements for Shukra and Chandra.


I have a very strong Surya and I am a teacher upon whose visage and dozens of students must gaze, each day. Naturally I wear a good deal of red and other bright-bright colors. I know that my Jyotisha nativity supports the choice of bright red (and bright things in general, matching the brilliant energy of Surya.) Yet I steer away from orange, the color of Guru, because Brihaspati is the lord of the mahadushtamsha in my nativity. Not surprisingly, and orange color looks ghastly and against my skin-tone.


Of course, wearing auspicious colors, which make one feel happy and attractive, is fun! Yet, the main goal of choosing colors, gems, auspicious times, etc. is to perform well in service to others.


The main purpose of choosing clothing (presuming one has a choice) is to bring visual and psychic happiness to others. Dress respectfully in pleasant arrangements. I recommend to choose colors for personal dress which are flattering to one's complexion and which bring a feeling of cheerfulness and grace into the social environment. The colors which match the lords of the 5th-from any important lagna (including radix, chandra, and the navamsha lagna) will be beneficial. and Color and design in costume can bring much pleasure to life, but and please do keep the ultimate purpose in mind.



Sincerely, Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha

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Q: I have been told by some other astrologers not to wear any Jyotisha ratna on my fingers. Rather, I am supposed to wear them only in a pendant chain hung around my neck. Why?

A: Your Kanya-lagna kundali with an L-6 Shani in Simha can signify a risk for heart disease, esp. stroke. It’s possible that the consulting Jyotishi is trying to maximize the heart-touching benefit of reducing some of the psychic hardness of your heart, due to past-life jealousy (6) or due to resentment of the creative intelligence of another.

Placing the pendant directly on the Anahata (4th) chakra at the heart-center is always a good idea, because the heart-chakra functions like a “switchboard” that dispatches sub-particulate astral signaling throughout the subtle nerve network of the astral body.

Also, in practical terms, many western men do not want to wear jewelry. Rings may interfere with their costume or job performance. in certain cultural settings, gemstone-jewelry may look too feminine. As a result, there is a broad habit of prescribing pendants for men in preference to rings, overall.

Sincerely, Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha

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Q: Can I wear a diamond for my Thula lagna while at the same time wearing the Moonga for my Mesha Moon, during my Chandra Mahadasha?

I found a beautiful red coral (it has actually been in my family for some decades) and would like to have the setting adjusted to fit me. May I know, your view on whether Shukra-ratna and Mangala-ratna can be worn at the same time?



A: It's a good idea to keep the diamond separate from the red coral. One way to do that is to wear the red coral as a pendant to touch the heart chakra, while the diamond may be better suited to wear as a finger ring.

Diamond channel is the cool lunar left side of the central nadi core, "ida" whereas Mangala-ratna channel is the hot solar right side "pingala".

Mangala and Shukra are mutually neutral graha so it's OK to wear both gems but they should be spaced -- e.g. diamond on left h coral on right hand, or diamond on hand with coral on heart.

This arrangement can give quite good results when Shukra and Mangala are in mutual trines within the Jyotisha nativity.

Hope this is helpful,

Sincerely,

Barbara Pijan Lama, Jyotisha

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Every day offers a new opportunity to clean up negative thoughts "Buddha never mentioned that the problems we have encountered are the result of misconstruction of a house or starting a project or work on an inappropriate day or time. Buddha always talked about the negative experiences as a result of having performed negative actions. So for a good practitioner there is no new year, there is no good or bad day." ~~ H.H. Dalai Lama and Renuka Singh. (2002). and The Path to Tranquility. www.snowlionpub.com