by Joni Patry
for “The Blast” Astrology Conference
Sedona, Arizona September 16 - 21, 2008
The dasha system used most commonly is called the Vimshottari Dasha System. The dashas are the planetary cycles of a life based on the placement of the Moon at birth.
9 Cycles of 9 Planets equal 120 years
There are nine cycles which include the seven planets, plus the north and south nodes of the Moon (Rahu, Ketu). The outer planets are not used. Each cycle has a designated allotment of years that combine to equal a grand total of 120 years. The ruler of the ruling planet of each dasha is determined by the 27 nakshatras. Each nakshatra is ruled by one of the nine planets and follows in the same sequential order. So where the natal Moon is placed this nakshatra, and the ruling planet of that nakshatra, initiates the beginning of the order of the cycles of life. The planet that rules the main cycle of the dasha is called the maha dasha (major dasha). Within this cycle there are sub cycles called the bhukti. The ruling planets of the maha dasha and the bhukti are then further referred to in the chart by their house rulerships, dispositors, and the houses they are in. Using transits together with current dashas will prove their predictive value.
Nakshatras
The first nakshatra (Ashwini) is ruled by Ketu, followed by Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury. The same sequential order is then twice repeated to complete all 27 nakshatras. Each dasha or planetary cycle has a different length of years: Ketu is 7 years, Venus 20 years, Sun 6 years, Moon 10 years, Mars 7 years, Rahu 18 years, Jupiter 16 years, Saturn 19 years, Mercury 17 years.
Maha Dasha and Bhukti Rulers
We use the nakshatras like a western astrologer uses the signs in terms of rulership. The nakshatras are all ruled by a planet and this ruling planet is used in prediction for both the results of the dasha periods and the transiting planets. The maha dasha and bhukti ruling planet will be analyzed in terms of its house placement, house rulership but the true result this dasha will produce will be based on the planet that rules the nakshatra the dasha ruling planet is in. The nakshatra ruling planet of the dasha will be assessed by the house it is in and rules.
Transits of the Dasha Rulers
The most important transiting planets to focus on here are the dasha rulers. When you are in maha dasha Jupiter and Mars bhukti then the most important planets in transit will be Jupiter and Mars. Additionally the natal placements of these two planets will be magnified when triggered by the transiting planets in a chart.
| Signs |
Sanskrit |
Ruler |
Nakshatras |
Degrees |
Nakshatra
Lord |
Dasha
Length
In Years |
Aries  |
Mesha |
 |
Aswini
Bharani
Krittika |
00.00 to 13.20
13.20 to 26.40
26.40 to 10.00  |
Ketu
Venus
Sun |
7
20
6 |
| Taurus |
Vrishabha |
 |
Krittika
Rohini
Mrigashire |
26.40 to 10.00
10.00 to 23.20
23.20 to 06.40 |
Sun
Moon
Mars |
6
10
7 |
| Gemini |
Mithuna |
 |
Mrigashire
Ardra
Purnavasu |
23.20 to 06.40
06.40 to 20.00
20.00 to 03.20 |
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter |
7
18
16 |
| Cancer |
Kataka |
|
Purnavasu
Pushya
Ashlesha |
20.00 to 03.20
03.20 to 16.40
16.40 to 30.00 |
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury |
16
19
17 |
Leo  |
Simha |
|
Magha
Purva Phalguni
Uttara Phalguni |
00.00 to 13.20
13.20 to 26.40
26.40 to 10.00 |
Ketu
Venus
Sun |
7
20
6 |
| Virgo |
Kanya |
|
Uttara Phalguni
Hasta
Chitra |
26.40 to 10.00
10.00 to 23.20
23.20 to 06.40  |
Sun
Moon
Mars |
6
10
7 |
| Libra |
Tula |
|
Chitra
Swati
Vishakha |
23.20 to 06.40
06.40 to 20.00
20.00 to 03.20  |
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter |
7
18
16 |
| Scorpio |
Virshika |
|
Vishakha
Anuradha
Jyeshta |
20.00 to 03.20
03.20 to 16.40
16.40 to 00.00  |
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury |
16
19
17 |
| Sagittarius |
Dhanus |
|
Mula
Purva Ashada
Uttara Ashada |
00.00 to 13.20
13.20 to 26.40
26.40 to 10.00  |
Ketu
Venus
Sun |
7
20
6 |
| Capricorn |
Makara |
|
Uttara Ashada
Shravana
Dhanishta |
26.40 to 10.00
10.00 to 23.20
23.20 to 06.40  |
Sun
Moon
Mars |
6
10
7 |
| Aquarius |
Kumbha |
|
Dhanishta
Shatabishak
P. Bhadrapada |
23.20 to 06.40
06.40 to 20.00
20.00 to 03.20  |
Mars
Rahu
Jupiter |
7
18
16 |
| Pisces |
Meena |
|
P. Bhadrapada
U. Bhadrapada
Revati |
20.00 to 03.20
03.20 to 16.40
16.40 to 30.00 |
Jupiter
Saturn
Mercury |
16
19
17 |
Sub Cycles
Bhuktis and Antara Dashas
Within a maha dasha there are sub cycles called the bhuktis or antara dashas. Each maha dasha is divided into nine sub cycles that are also ruled by planets. Again these bhuktis have sub divisions within them called antara dashas. There are further divisions that go down to at least seven levels. I use only the first three levels as beyond that they seem to get more and more subtle (and too complicated) for me. The maha dasha will always be the overall emphasis, the bhukti will be the more immediate and the antara dasha will be more personal. I find the bhukti will reveal the current events in a life.
Vimshottari Dasha and Bhuktis Sequence
|
| Planet |
Ketu |
Planet |
Venus |
Planet |
Sun |
Planet |
Moon |
Planet |
Mars |
| Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
| 0/4/27 |
 |
3/4/0 |
 |
0/3/18 |
 |
0/10/0 |
 |
0/4/27 |
 |
| 36527 |
|
1/0/0 |
|
0/6/0 |
|
0/7/0 |
|
1/0/18 |
 |
| 0/4/6 |
|
1/8/0 |
|
0/4/6 |
|
1/6/0 |
|
0/11/6 |
 |
| 0/7/0 |
|
1/2/0 |
|
0/10/24 |
|
1/4/0 |
|
1/1/0 |
 |
| 0/4/27 |
|
3/0/0 |
|
0/9/18 |
|
1/7/0 |
|
0/11/27 |
 |
| 1/0/18 |
|
2/8/0 |
|
0/11/12 |
|
1/5/0 |
|
0/4/27 |
|
| 0/11/6 |
|
3/2/0 |
|
0/10/16 |
|
0/7/0 |
|
1/2/0 |
|
| 1/1/0 |
|
2/10/0 |
|
0/4/6 |
|
1/8/0 |
|
0/4/6 |
|
| 0/11/278 |
|
1/2/0 |
|
1/0/6 |
|
0/6/0 |
|
0/7/0 |
|
| 7 |
Yr Total |
20 |
Yr Total |
6 |
Yr Total |
10 |
Yr Total |
7 |
Yr Total |
| |
| Planet |
Rahu |
Planet |
Jupiter |
Planet |
Saturn |
Planet |
Mercury |
|
|
| Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D |
Bhuktis |
Y/M/D = Time in |
| 2/8/12 |
|
2/1/18 |
|
3/0/3 |
|
2/4/27 |
|
Years/Months/Days |
| 2/4/24 |
|
2/6/12 |
|
2/8/9 |
|
0/11/27 |
|
|
|
| 2/10/6 |
|
2/3/6 |
|
1/1/9 |
|
2/10/0 |
|
|
|
| 2/6/18 |
|
0/11/6 |
|
3/2/0 |
|
0/10/6 |
|
|
|
| 1/0/18 |
|
2/8/0 |
|
0/11/12 |
|
1/5/0 |
|
|
|
| 3/0/0 |
|
0/9/18 |
|
1/7/0 |
|
0/11/27 |
|
|
|
| 0/10/24 |
|
1/4/0 |
|
1/1/9 |
|
2/6/18 |
|
|
|
| 1/6/0 |
|
0/11/6 |
|
2/10/6 |
|
2/3/6 |
|
|
|
| 1/0/18 |
|
2/4/24 |
|
2/6/12 |
|
2/8/9 |
|
|
|
| 18 |
Yr Total |
16 |
Yr Total |
19 |
Yr Total |
17 |
Yr Total |
|
|
Priorities in assessing the results of a Maha dasha and Bhukti
- Look to the houses the maha dasha and the bhukti ruling planets are located.
- Look to the houses the maha dasha and bhukti rulers rule.
- Look to the sign and nakshatra dispositors of both the maha dasha ruler and bhukti, what houses are these dispositors in. The results of the dasha will be seen through both of these dispositors but especially the nakshatra dispositor.
- Look at the maha dasha as the new ascendant (lagna). The entire results of this dasha can be seen through the house placements of the other planets in relation to this new ascendant. As an entire maha dasha is experienced an individual will go through the experience of each planetary bhukti within that maha dasha period.
*Assess the planets placements from the maha dasha ruler. If there are more than 2 planets in the opposite house of the maha dasha ruler then you know relationships will be the pressing issue of that dasha period. Planets placed 7th from one another will deal with relationships, marriage or divorce. If there are many planets that are 8 houses from the maha dasha ruler then that dasha will have enormous change and experiences involving death of loved ones.
The bhukti ruler’s placement and relationship to the dasha ruler tells what the experience will be.
Count from the Maha dasha ruling planet to the bhukti ruling planet in forward direction (clockwise). Count the house the Maha dasha ruling planet as house #1, then count from the bhukti ruling planet forward back to the maha dasha ruling planet. Always begin counting the house the planet is in as #1.
Spacial Relationships of the Bhukti Ruling Planet counted from the Maha Dasha Ruler
1/1: concentrates on the matters signified by the house the planets are in
7/7: about relationships/connection with other people, marriages and divorce
2/12: gains/losses, money matters
3/11: friendly, competitive, learning, travel and achievement of desires
4/10: action, power, purpose, changes in career or work and changes in residence
5/9: benefic, auspicious, luck, travel, spiritual development
6/8: difficult, losses, enemies, death of loved ones, health problems
Charts to be Analyzed
Conor Clapton
Death from Fall 03/20/1991
Brad Pitt
12/20/1996 Engaged Gweneth Palthrow; 06/16/1997 Relationship ended
1997 Met Jennifer Aniston; 07/29/2000 Marriage; 01/07/2005 split
Daughter born 05/28/2006
Ted Kennedy
On May 17, 2008, Mr. Kennedy suffered a seizure and was airlifted to a Boston hospital, where doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his brain.
|
"I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt. Only my condemnation injures me. Only my own forgiveness sets me free. How deceived I was to think that what I feared was in the world, instead of in my own mind. Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict. As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy. This world will change through you. No other means can save it. My forgiveness is the means by which the world is healed, together with myself, let me then forgive the world, that it may be healed along with me. Peace will come to all who ask for it with real desire and sincerity of purpose." -- A Course In Miracles