As I noted in my previous blog, predictions or using Astrology for fortune telling purposes is not the best use of its wisdom. However, we are human and this is something that is requested, usually from a place of desire or fear. So predicting, or thinking you are predicting death often comes from fear. Important to say, it is considered unethical to do this type of reading. A professional Astrologer or Tarot reader, or person using another type of divination stays clear of predicting death. However, what about unintentional situations? You are doing a reading, for yourself or another person and you see a lot of ominous planets gathering up….the person is ill or doing something risky. It’s hard not to think, could this be it? Astrology has many guidelines for readings, but there is also an element of intuition. So how do you distinguish between intuition and fear? One way to distinguish is to see if the thought comes with emotion. Intuition is a neutral whisper that you can almost miss or shew away if you are not listening. Listening comes with practice, as in that actually came true and I knew but didn’t believe it. Everyone can be intuitive but it is a skill that needs to be exercised. Is your heart racing, do you feel a bit sick, then this is fear and you need to put the chart down and take a walk around the block.
Although I have never done a reading predicting death, and never would intentionally, I have looked at charts after a person has passed away to see if there is anything in the chart that reflects it. I may also look at the person’s family’s chart to see how each reacts to the loss. In terms of Vedic Astrology concepts, there are maraka planets which rule the second and seventh house, this depends on the ascendent sign. For example, the ascendent of Aries has the planet Venus ruling both the second house in Taurus and the seventh house in Libra, so this is the maraka planet. These houses are 12th from the 3 house of will and 12th from the 8 house of death/transformation, if you count forward. Why 12 houses away? The 12 house represents loss, so loss of will and loss of life. The maraka planet would be involved at time of death, for example through a transit or dasha, sub dasha period. This planet or planets are considered malefic but can have good qualities in the chart too. It’s not black or white. Similar to pulling the death card in Tarot, usually the 8 house or malefic planets gathering signal a transformation or loss in this life and not loss of life, so don’t jump to this conclusion. As I write this near Halloween, sometimes our fear wins and we give ourselves a good fright!