Vedic astrology versus Western astrology
Vedic astrology can also be known as Hindu or sidereal astrology. The Western system is also known as the tropical system.
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Although Western astrology traces its roots to the cultures of Ancient Egypt and Greece, the practice of astrology was going on in India long before these civilizations came into being, to around 10,000 BC. The roots of Vedic Astrology reach back to the Four Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures that contain mantras, divine revelations and spiritual philosophies. Vedic astrology also places emphasis in guiding the person to understand its karma and life’s purpose in this life. That is why Vedic astrology is considered more spiritual than its Western counterpart.
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Both systems were aligned about 2000 years ago. Because of a phenomenon called precession of the equinoxes, the “starting line” of the tropical zodiac has shifted back almost an entire sign. That is why a sign in Western can almost shift back entirely to a sign in Vedic. The difference of both systems is almost 25 degrees and is called Ayanamsha.
Vedic astrology places great emphasis on analyzing a chart from the ascendant and from the Moon. In contrast, Western astrology places more importance on the sign where the Sun is placed. The rules to determine the strength and weaknesses of the planets are also different. While Western only considers the strength or weakness of a planet, Vedic also takes in consideration the influence of the dispositor of that particular planet.
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Vedic also uses Rahu and Ketu, the nodes of the Moon. Western used the outer planets: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. These planets create major trends and influences within generations. Even though I am a Vedic astrologer, I use the outer planets as predictors of mass consciousness or political events.