• HOME: Introduction
• About Kerrie Redgate
• CONTACT Kerrie
• BOOKING Form: Astrology
• BOOKING Form: Reiki Courses
• Lecture/Seminar Topics
• Online PAYMENTS & FEES

ASTROLOGY:

• What is Yogacara Astrology?
• CONSULTATIONS
• BodhiMind SUPPORT Program
• RedgateFengShui
• Kerrie's Astrology Bio
• Chart Glyphs FREE DOWNLOAD
• BUY Your Personal Asteroids

ASTROLOGY COURSES:

• Exceptional Purpose COURSE
• Yogacara Astrology COURSE
• The Asteroid COURSE

FLOWER ESSENCES:

• Therapy & Explanation
• Formulas: Descriptions
• Formulas: A-Z Quick List

REIKI:

• & Buddhism; Kirlian Images
• BodhiMind Reiki Courses
• Kerrie's Reiki Bio

MEDIA:

• Forthcoming Book
• Archive Articles
• TV Interviews

OTHER LINKS:

• Kerrie's BLOG
• RESOURCE LINKS for you
• Send an online TESTIMONIAL!
• Privacy Policy

What is Yogacara Astrology? ... Unveiling Potentials in All Areas of Life

Every human being has
a unique potential and capacity for Greatness.
Why aren't we living that potential?

Page Contents

Astrology and Body/Brain

You may be familiar with the cutting-edge research of cellular biologist, Dr. Bruce Lipton, and Doctor of Chirpractic Dr. Joe Dispenza (with also a background in neuroscience and biochemistry); and their writings and teaching on how our emotions and beliefs affect the body's cells and brain chemistry. This is the 'new' (in a Western sense!) science of Epigenetic Medicine.

Astrology can take this research further, by describing exactly what our beliefs are, where they came from, and the source of the personal emotions we experience, and how these have been impacting upon specific brain areas and organ systems of our bodies and, hence, lives.

Contrary to the traditional view of Western science, the meditation masters of Tibet have been demonstrating for us that it is the mind that creates the unique patterning of our brain's neural net (rather than the brain dictating our mental phenomena), as thoughts (both gross and subtle) also produce fields of vibratory frequencies that can alter brain chemistry.

Ancient Buddhist teachings tell us that all things are a product of Mind, both conscious and unconscious (gross and subtle), and that we can purify our lives by purifying our thought-forms. If we are responsible for everything that occurs in our lives, then we have the CAPACITY and the POWER to CHANGE OUR LIVES. Everything we experience is a reflection of the contents of our 'mind-stream', originating from concepts and 'memories' that we, ourselves, had produced from the experiences of previous lifetimes ... It is not the ego-personality that reincarnates, but the accumulative mind-stream.

The astrologer's map of the Solar System at the moment of our birth is the fabric of our existence. It is woven from the harmonic vibratory frequencies of the planetary orbits (much like the "cycles per second" of auditory frequencies) that correspond, by resonance, to the contents of our individual mind-stream (subtle consciousness).

As the birth chart is a snapshot of only the actual moment of birth (usually considered to be the time of the first breath), the brain circuitry and chemistry we had in place at that moment must have been derived from previous thought-forms... Birth is not a random event. Every phenomenon has a cause.

As the musician can interpret the sound frequencies scripted on a sheet of music, so can the skilled astrologer read the celestial map, revealing the inherent qualities of one's spiritual evolution and purpose in the world. Also revealed are the temporary 'obscurations' that can block one's path, sourced from one's own emotional aspect of mind, embedded always in the Past.

What is Yogacara Astrology?

Since 1986, my astrology work and research have gone through many transformations, from 'Spiritual Astrology' to 'Mind-Science Astrology' and now 'Yogacara Astrology'.

It took many years for me to discover the astonishing similarities between my research of our various types of consciousness, astrologically, and the ancient Buddhist system of psychology known as 'The Yogacara Doctrine of Mind', involving 3 particular views of reality through 8 co-existing types of 'mind'. This was all evident in the astrology chart.

Yogacara psychology can now explain our most inner motivations, our surprisingly personal view of reality, and how we create our world from past influences (karma). It also introduces us to the idea of Buddha-nature, the inherent wisdom & compassion that is our essence. When combined with the tools of astrology, Yogacara becomes a vital key in the elimination of our suffering as stifled beings. It frees us with knowledge of our human potential, and awakens us to a view of our spiritual potential through the recognition of reality as 'mind'.

The Discovery

The connection between Yogacara Philosophy/Psychology and astrology was an exciting discovery. But not so astonishing when we realise that Siddhartha Gautama, the man who became known as a Buddha (a fully 'Awakened One'), was a genius who perceived the workings of the mind (in the 6th century BC!) through his own perceptions, from years of constant meditative insight. Siddhartha naturally came to the same conclusions as those that could be ascertained through my many years of gathering clinical research into Astrology as a rational scientific system describing the impact of 'cosmic forces' upon the human brain.

Siddhartha Gautama had released the conceptual programming from his mind (and hence his brain 'circuitry'), accumulated from his former lives, in order to see the truth without any subjective veils.

Also, similarly to the original Yogacarins of ancient times, I had been investigating the workings of reincarnation as it relates to the mind. This investigation began from the age of 7, as personal memories of some of my previus lives had already surfaced. Added to this was my lifelong curiosity as to the nature of 'mind', itself, and the dubious reliability and subjectivity of our 5 physical senses, after a number of high fevers at a very early age (around ages 4 to 5) had caused me to vividly hallucinate in semi-conscious states.

I am now convinced, for a number of reasons, that I had once attended the ancient Nalanda University (established 5th c BC, destroyed 1193 CE) in Bihar, northern India, as an ordinary Buddhist monk, and had become familiar with Yogacara as it was taught there at that time, and probably also studied Yogacara (Faxiang/Weishi) in China around possibly the 7th century.

The impressions of what we experience and study in all of our incarnations stay with us in our mindstream for as long as we inhabit human form. And these impressions may resurface at any time in appropriate future lives. (Better to be mindful of what we are actually programming into our psyches!)

While I had been hesitant to use the formal name of an established and ancient system of a rather complex Buddhist psycho-philosophy, the term Yogācāra (the Sanskrit 'c' is pronounced 'ch' as in church) soon became the obvious choice, as my system of astrology does in fact relate directly to the Yogacara philosophy of 'mind': its psychological analysis of 'reality', and its eight types of consciousness through which we may inwardly perceive/create the world and ourselves; as well as its emphasis on practice through these principles.

Brief History of Yogacara

The Yogācāra Doctrine of Mind was compiled from many of the Buddha's direct teachings (later written down as Sūtras from the 1st century BC). The Buddha had given many discourses on the nature of mind during his 45 years of teaching in India.

It is believed that, in the 4th century CE, it was principally the noble sage, Asanga (under the guidance of his teacher, Maitreyanatha, and with further writings and insights from Asanga's half-brother, Vasubandhu), who was responsible for the structured compilation of these teachings into what became the Yogacara (Sanskrit for 'Application of Yoga') school of Buddhist philosophy.

This school emphasised the practical application of the Yogic teachings within Buddhist philosophy, and was a reaction against the prevalence of the overly scholastic approach. It is therefore a highly grounded philosophy.

Its teachings were translated into Chinese by the 7th-century Chinese pilgrim, Hsüan-tsang, who stayed at Nalanda University in northern India for many years during his 17-year pilgrimage to India and Nepal. His student Kueiji later founded the Fa-hsiang (Faxiang)(Sanskrit: Yogacara) school in China.

Yogacara was later also known as the sub-tradition, Cittamātra ('Mind-Only'), especially popular in ancient China; and also Vijñānavāda ('School That Teaches Knowing'). Though, the term Yogacara refers to to the purer essence of the original Indian system of thought.

Can a 2,500 Year-Old Psychology Be Relevant Today?

Even though humanity has advanced dramatically in our exploitation of our environment, and in our scientific endeavours, and even societal structures, human emotional behaviour has not actually changed very much throughout the centuries of history. And the wisdom of esteemed natural psychologists such as William Shakespeare, and the ancient philosophical playwrites of the Greek tragedies, are still vibrantly alive for us today. We are still living the same dramas, still reacting the same ways to our inner hurts and perceived injustices.

Perhaps The Buddha's words have never been so relevant for humanity, en masse, as they are today! Humanity has been losing its way, particularly since the Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the concept of 'world wars'. Our close relationships are plagued with the same issues, our aversions, attachments, and basic ignorance are clothed in different garbs, but are nonetheless designed along the same basic themes.

After studying various meditation techniques with a number of esteemed Hindu Brahmins of His time, Siddhartha Gautama spent 6 arduous years in meditation in the forest, until he finally realised that only balance and a "middle way" approach could result in the rare insights he had sought, born of his own Enlightenment.

No one to date has been able to match Siddhartha's genius, especially when we consider that He did not have the wisdom of Buddhism as a grounding! He started from scratch and came up with the answers to human suffering. He then taught very large groups for 45 years, polishing his skills even further. His system was complete and entirely workable! We would be fools to ignore this kind of Wisdom.

Very Briefly: The Eight Types of Consciousness

One of Siddhartha's realisations was that we all possess 8 types of consciousness. The first five types of consciousness relate directly to their five corresponding empirical sense organs (the eye for sight, the ear for sound, the nose for scent, the tongue for taste, and the skin for sensation - all distinguishable in the astrology chart). The inputs from these organs are coordinated into our picture of the world via the consciousnesses we have built up around each of these senses over many lifetimes. It is not commonly understood just how different our views of the world can be through these senses! Even colour can be perceived with subtle differences, and certainly through a variety of emotional responses.

The sixth consciousness collates these five inputs and creates a 'solid' reality as 'phenomena'. This becomes our surface consciousness.

The seventh consciousness, 'mentation', is the immediate mind which stimulates our beliefs and judgements at the conceptual level, and creates our 'stories'. It establishes our sense of 'self', thus stimulating pride, and ignorance of true reality. At this level, mind immediately 'recognises' phenomena—as the phenomena is unconsciously related to past experiences. With awareness of our own processes, this mind can generate wisdom.

Past experience is preserved in the mind-stream and resides without judgement in the neutral eighth consciousness, the ālaya-consciousness, the seed of our being that has become distorted via the seventh consciousness when afflicted. The eighth is an unconscious aspect of mind that is the causal condition for the first six consciousnesses. It involves subconscious memory that recreates our present reality through associatons with deeply hidden past events—the source of our emotional reactions. It is the slate upon which our reality has been drawn; and it must be brought to awareness so that a more positive reshaping of reality can occur.

Astrology and Mind

During the mid-20th century, astrological interpretation became entwined with Western psychology. In the West, we have pursued a morbid fascination with what is essentially WRONG with ourselves, empowering the ego-nature that thrives on personal drama.

While it is important to be self-discerning and to recognise where we have been operating under ignorance rather than wakefulness, too much self-reflection on our failings (without genuine compassion for ourselves, accompanied by an altruistic attitude) can keep us locked within an egocentric 'comfort-zone' of our own making.

Our Western psychological systems have traditionally focused primarily on sourcing the outer causes of our emotional suffering, thus creating a disempowering 'victim mentality'. These causes were usually sought in childhood experiences, with no recognition of any causes beyond that point. Also, focusing on our problems and deficiencies creates stress in the psyche which may actually disturb the functioning of the thymus gland (via our heart chi'i, as evidenced from Heart meridian responses), compromising the immune system (refer: Dr John Diamond ), and actually causing a depressed state of mind.

Buddhist psychology does not focus on our personal negative experiences but allows us to envisage a release from suffering through an understanding of how we CREATE our own dilemmas from our own mind. This is the path of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, and hence PERSONAL POWER. It is also far more spiritually enriching to acknowledge what is RIGHT with ourselves, rather than what we perceive as being WRONG. This involves acknowledging our inherent Buddha-nature: our original, pristine Clear Light Mind.

All beings are intrinsically Buddha-nature—this is the awakened mind. Being 'awake' is a matter of dissolving our neuroses, which have been built upon our unconscious obsession with personal physical survival. This has been exacerbated by our Western 'consumer-culture' which has generated an over-identification with our physical form, denying the value of spiritual experience. It is our inherent compassion for others that should be the motivating factor in our lives (our bodhicitta aspiration, to pursue enlightenment so as to be of the highest benefit to others), as this alone brings durable happiness.

The science of astrology has the capacity to elucidate the matrix of the mind at all levels (in Western terms: the conscious, subconscious, unconscious, and super-conscious) revealing the deeper motivations for your thoughts, speech, and actions, both positive and negative. Yogacara Buddhist psychology is then a useful three-fold framework for comprehending the astrological influences, as it:

(1)   clearly defines your varying types of consciousness
(2)   reveals the ultimate source of the gross levels of your mind
       (as temporary hindrances to the subtle 'Clear Light Mind')
(3)   offers a legitimate time-tested pathway for your liberation

In the Buddhist teachings, any act of unkindness (from our body, speech, or mind), to any living being, is born of ignorance, and is the opposite of enlightenment. Enlightenment is a state of being completely free of suffering, as there is no longer any attachment or aversion (both based on an ignorance of true reality, an ignorance born of the unreliability of our five empirical senses) controlling our life. To achieve this ultimate state, the mind-stream must first be reprogrammed with positive imagery, and will eventually be completely emptied, 'free from all speculative extremes'.

'Bhavacakra': 'Wheel of Life' (Tibetan thangka).
A depiction of the hell realms and heaven realms of mind,
revolving around the 'Three Poisons' in the centre.

Also, the suffering we, ourselves, have experienced in previous lives can create many fear-boundaries to our fulfilment in this current life. Again, it is the mind-stream that is the container for these past experiences, which, themselves, are illusory and may have no actual relevance to this present lifetime. These hidden fears need to be brought to conscious awareness so that we may be free of their insidious constraining power.

Deeply unconscious past-lifetime security patterns and obsolete concepts, now embedded as DNA encoding, may be keeping us from fulfilling our true purpose in this incarnation. By exposing and dissolving these fears, we can more easily access our compassion and our higher consciousness, our Buddha-nature.

As a consequence of manifesting our Buddha-nature, for the benefit of others, negative ego-personality traits simply disappear, along with the perceived obstacles that we, ourselves, had created through the sabotaging force of our own ignorance.

Self-Sabotage

Human beings of any age have an inherent desire to be useful to others. Our usefulness empowers our spiritual nature rather than our ego-nature, and is a more natural state of existence. When people are in unsuitable occupations that do not give them the scope to explore their abilities and talents, the ego-nature and its accompanying negative behavioural patterns comes to the fore. This is also the major cause of the modern disease of Depression.

However, throughout my twenty-five years of experience with personal clients, it has also become evident that unconscious self-sabotage can be a stubborn problem for especially the dedicated or aspiring healer, educator, or social reformer, who is struggling against invisible forces (maras, in Sanskrit) within his or her own psyche. The specific area of the sabotage, and its often ancient causes, can be read in the astrology chart. I have found that this sabotage may eventually take the form of disease states in the physical body, which point to the areas of mind (psyche) needing to be purified and mastered. The body, too, is a reflection of Mind.

Yogacara Astrology is a unique tool that can uncover the source of this personal self-sabotage while revealing the gift it has hidden for hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years of personal 'mind-stream' history. Flower Essence Therapy is then offered to assist the fulfillment of this gift in the world, thus transforming the darkness of the sabotaging influence into the altruistic light of Wisdom.

The Astrologer's Map

Through the astrological map of the birth-chart, we can not only make sense of the many threads of this life, to see the greater pattern they have been weaving to lead us to this point, but can also appreciate the threads of our past-life history as being the weft for our present life-time's circumstances. There are also many valuable talents and areas of expertise from our previous lives that are reflected in our current astrology chart. These gifts need to be recognised, nurtured, and perfected, so they can be offered to the world as our service in this present incarnation.

All of these issues and talents can be read in the astrology chart—often with an elaboration of the past-life scenarios that have shaped them. The same talents do not appear in the birth charts of every lifetime we experience, as we only need the particular past-life talents that are pertinent to achieving our life-purpose in the current incarnation. Much like the preparation of an occupational resume, we only include the most relevant information. Our own celestial map then becomes not only a picture of the threads of our past, but also of our current potential.

Astoundingly detailed information can now be found in the astrology chart through the use of more than 12,000 asteroids (any number up to 200 pertinent asteroids may be included in one astrology chart), which provide the 'body-text' for the chart, especially when correlated with the positions and aspects of the eight mysterious 'Transneptunian Points' (discovered by Alfred Witte and Friedrich Sieggruen in the 1920s). I believe my independent research in this area has been unique; and it has necessarily resulted in the formulation of an original and comprehensively integrated system of interpretation, which I have labelled Yogacara Astrology.

Also, through this system, the twelve main meridians, the three major nadis, the principal chakras, and the Human Energetic Fields (our subtle vibrational fields of consciousness) can also now be interpreted astrologically, revealing their corresponding relationship to our spiritual nature. This can bring about an understanding of the deeper causes of disease—whether physical, emotional or mental—giving us a greater capacity for recovery and 'wellness' in our lives.

Many precise astrological correspondences to Buddhist teachings have been found in the heavens through the comprehensive research I have been led to undertake. This includes subjects such as Relative and Absolute Bodhicitta; the Three Poisons; the Paramitas; and the specifics of one's Karma and Merit store. And from the Yogacara Doctrine of Mind: the processes of one's dualistic perception from the mano-vijnana level of mind; our judgments and beliefs (especially pertaining to 'self') from the klishta-manas level; as well as our conditioned responses from the alaya-vijnana; also, our individualistic five sense consciousnesses (vijnanas) and their specific capacities as useful tools. All of these aspects of mind can be explained in detailed reference to one's own past-lives and present life, clarifying one's individual potential for this incarnation.

Through linking astrology to the fundamentals of Buddhist philosophy and psychology, we can begin to understand and dissolve the limiting concepts that have bound us to our personal suffering; while also recognising our latent talents and abilities that empower our spiritual essence so that we may become useful in the world. In fact, we discover our inherent nature as perfect bodhisattvas—'awakened beings'.

The Bodhisattva Path is not dependent
upon religion or creed, but is a way of 'being' that
engages the greatness of the Human Spirit

How Does Astrology Compare to Other Systems?

Due to the astrology chart being a genuine celestial map of the mathematically-derived positions of the bodies in the heavens, and their effects on the Earth's magnetic field, astrology may be considered a superb method of life-analysis when compared to many other techniques. The scientific basis of astrology provides a rational framework upon which a therapist may base an assessment of the client's condition, narrowing any space for error, and offering genuine insights into the human condition.

Astrology Compared With Mediumship/Channelling

I have discovered that past-life information or life-path direction, when offered by psychic mediums, may still be sabotaged, no matter how competent the channel. This is not always the fault of the practitioner.

Mediums usually work in either one of two ways: they can receive instructions from the consciousness of highly compassionate Beings in Spirit who have been subtly guiding the client; or mediums can channel what they telepathically receive from the client's own mind-stream (subtle consciousness).

The accuracy of the information in the first instance relies on the Guides being of a high calibre, rather than one's known relatives who have recently passed over (and who may still carry their own prejudices and judgements as to the right action one should take). Alternatively, when the Higher Guides (Transcendent Bodhisattvas, being those who no longer need to reincarnate) are present, the information can always be trusted.

How to tell the difference? When Higher Beings are present, you may feel a warm glow as though you are being hugged by your favourite grandmother. On some occasions, you may feel showers of tingly goosebumps (gooseflesh), either all over or on one particular area of your body or head. It simply feels uplifting for the heart. Also, the information is always positive, never chastising or arrogant. And Higher Beings in Spirit will never tell you exactly what to do, which would negate your ability to make choices. But They can nudge us in particlar directions!

However, when the medium relies on telepathic information from the individual's subtle mind directly, the self-sabotage patterns within the client's mind-stream may be so predominant in the psyche, that the medium simply relays the sabotage-information back to the client, thus negating the most powerful life-purpose potential for the individual concerned, and placing him or her securely back within the ego's comfort-zone. I have personally witnessed the results of this latter scenario in the lives of many of my friends, clients, and students who had relied solely on channelled information for major decisions, much to their own detriment. Astrology, though, was proven to have always rationally pointed them in the most beneficial direction for all concerned.

Astrology Compared With & Uses For Kinesiology

This insidious self-sabotage can also occur for certain individuals during kinesiology sessions, no matter how professional and accomplished the practitioner.

I have researched this area thoroughly since 1993, originally through the help of kinesiologist Sarah West, and have devised two comprehensive flower essence formulas that can be of great assistance during kinesiology sessions, especially for the negation of this sabotage at the subtlest levels of Mind.

I have designed ninety flower essence formulas with essences derived from many reputable producers around the world. These have been grouped into seven collections. Both of the formulas prepared for kinesiology sessions are listed within The Professional Collection. One of these formulas, Kinesiology: Past Lives helps to negate self-sabotage when accessing highly sensitive past-life information relating to one's life-purpose direction, especially when motivated by the bodhisattva ideal of committing oneself to the benefit of others. The other formula, Kinesiology: Birth Times has been specifically designed to help access highly accurate birth-time information (usually to the second, rather than the minute) for use in the calculation of the personal astrology chart for the client.

Kinesiology & Birth Times

There are many systems of astrology in use today, and astrologers have various orientations to their work. Not many employ asteroids at all, especially not thousands of them; and there are also certain Sensitive Points that I incorporate within the chart, following my years of research. This approach necessarily demands the accurate timing of the moment of one's first breath (indeed, any system of astrology should do so).

Up until now, this has been a difficult challenge for astrologers. Every astrology chart is as unique as the individual it represents, and every moment in the heavens is also a unique map that never repeats precisely in the same way. Fortunately, through the use of Kinesiology techniques, with flower essence therapy, even those individuals with no knowledge of their approximate time of birth—or as in some cases, even the date!—may now have access to the insights contained within their personal astrology charts.

For the interest of professionals, a full explanation of the processes involved in Birth-time Kinesiology will be included in my forthcoming book, Astrology and the Seventh Veil.

Astrology Compared With Hypnotherapy

For some individuals, hypnotherapy has proven to be a helpful tool for accessing deeply buried beliefs and habitual thought-patterns in the psyche; and has also been employed in the reprogramming of damaging thought-forms "hard-wired" in the brain. However, hypnotherapy on its own can also be too subjective, and the deepest issues in the mind-stream may still remain stubbornly hidden in the darkest recesses of the subconscious and unconscious levels of mind. The therapist in this situation is still responsible for directing the flow of the session—some therapists are highly gifted with intuition in this regard. However, we are back to the same issue as that faced by the psychic medium. How far can we trust what is being "revealed" by the client's subtle mind-stream?

Western Psychotherapy? Or the Buddhist Approach?

It is an awkward task to evaluate the usefulness of Western psychotherapy in delving into the hidden contents of the mind-stream for the healing of many conditions of mind and body. Many Western astrologers employ psychotherapy as a counselling tool, and others borrow a number of its techniques for healing.

However, it must be said that the Western view of mind/psyche and the Buddhist view are quite dissimilar in function, philosophy, and attitude.

The original premise of the Western approach has been derived from Biblical sources where human beings are understood as having been born with "Original Sin", that is to say, are inherently flawed; and that as a species we need to learn to become good or "god-like".

It is common for individuals to spend a number of years in therapy, working through the one issue. This is not necessary with astrology. In fact, most astrologers can tell you that these same elusive themes can be identified and explained psychologically or sometimes spiritually during the first five minutes of an astrology session, even when approached from a Western psychological position.

As stated above, Buddhist psychology begins from an entirely different premise to that of the Western approach. In Buddhist psychology, all beings are seen to be inherently "buddha-nature". We are in essence pristine, compassionate consciousness; and, simply put, we need only drop the habitually-acquired veil of self-centred delusion to reveal this blissful mind of enlightenment. In other words, each one of us has a naturally loving centre which can be reached and brought to full expression for the benefit of others. We are NOT inherently bad! If we were inherently flawed, that would negate any ability to maintain any level of Loving-Kindness and Compassion, let alone personal growth.

The Buddhist approach negates any need for guilt or shame for our past actions and words, as any negativity is seen as impermanent; and, through the consciousness of regret (which is not the same as guilt!), our past can be purified through genuine compassion for self and others. We do not identify with our negative traits, but move beyond them through cultivating our positive potentials.

This is the working premise for Yogacara Astrology. All parts of your astrology chart, at every level of mind, are to be utilised together as the Gift for others. Whether regarding your relationship or family dynamics or your work in the world, Yogacara Astrology can be a vital adjunct to your unfolding higher role and purpose, (as opposed to personality), without the need for dwelling in psychological analysis of your transient harmful states of mind. Your developing personality is only a tool that supports your role in this life.

Conclusion: Astrology by Comparison

Even though, as with any counselling work, a degree of intuition proves useful for astrology in the full integration of the entire chart dynamic as a whole, astrology does not work in the same way as channelling, or other similar systems.

The information from the birth chart is physically present in 'black-and-white', so to speak, especially when one includes hundreds of relevant asteroids within the chart interpretation, so that the information is laid bare before the client. Even the personal names of close friends or 'challenging individuals' can appear in the chart in prominent and highly significant positions.

Our mind-stream at birth is resonating with our karmic patterns of memory, as reflected in the heavens at that time, and we respond to this moment of resonance through the inhalation of our first breath, taking on the energetic patterns of the outer environment for the first time.

Of course, after employing astrology as the base-line for life-evaluation, many other tools such as kinesiology, hypnotherapy, and channelled counselling, can become marvellous adjuncts to the further understanding of our mind-stream components. My clients and students have found that the rational ground offered by astrology can prevent confused results from other sources, so can be recommended as a first, and major, step.

Do I Need to Be a Buddhist to Gain From a Yogacara Astrology Session?

No: it is not necessary to be a Buddhist in order to gain enormously from the Yogacara Astrology Sessions. In fact, there are a great number of asteroids that can be utilised to help you find the philosophy, religion, or culture that resonates most strongly with your mind-stream memories and present purpose for this lifetime.

However, being open, at least, to the idea of reincarnation is vital for the comprehension of the themes within the birth chart, as elaborated from the above perspective through my research. Also, the basic philosophies of all major religions agree on the vital points of compassion, kindness, and generosity to others. Buddhism is more specifically a science of mind and does not 'get in the way' of other religions.

• For more on the emphasis within my work, see my
  Yogacara Professional Astrology Courses page.
• And for all details regarding a session with me, see my Astrology Consultations page.
• Also, for ongoing support through astrology and other tools, see my Bodhimind Support Program™ page
• To book a session with me, see the online
  Astrology Booking Form page

Notes

Nalanda University was established during the reign of King Kumaragupta during the first half of the 5th century BC, and was eventually destroyed by invading Turks in 1193 CE, though remnants of its once great buildings can still be found. It had once housed a huge Buddhist monastic community (at its peek, 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers!), and was one of the first residential international universities in the world (with students also from Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, Persia, and Turkey). It was one of the world's greatest centres of learning.

Sutras of specific influence, in English translations: The Samdhinirmocana Mahayana Sutra (published in English as WISDOM OF BUDDHA: THE SAMDHINIRMOCANA MAHAYANA SUTRA), translated by John Powers; The LANKAVATARA SUTRA, translated by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki; and Sutra 39 from A TREASURY OF MAHAYANA SUTRAS: SELECTIONS FROM THE MAHARATNAKUTA SUTRA, translated by Garma C. C. Chang.

See the book by Dr John Diamond,
YOUR BODY DOESN'T LIE: HOW TO INCREASE YOUR LIFE ENERGY
THROUGH BEHAVIOURAL KINESIOLOGY
(originally published by Harper & Row, Publishers, 1979,
ISBN: 0-06-312027-5), see p. 48;
(now published by Grand Central Publishing of The Hachette Group, 1989,
ISBN: 978044635847).

Yoga: a Sanskrit term meaning literally 'yoke'. In Hinduism it was used to express the idea of being yoked or joined to the Divine. In a Buddhist sense, the term yoga is used at the Vajrayana level of Buddhism (preserved predominantly in Tibet) as a system of practices that would lead one to enlightenment.