The fault in our stars
Although occult sciences can sometimes give direction, Shivi Verma says that it is better to be guided by one’s inner voice and unique capabilities, rather than divination methods
Last year, after I contracted COVID once again, I had to suffer its prolonged side effects, which lasted for almost seven months. No medicine was effective in treating the symptoms, and I dragged myself through life day after day.
Desperate, my parents consulted an astrologer to know if malefic planets were affecting my health negatively and if they could employ astrological remedies to ward off their intensity. When the astrologer read my natal chart, he observed that although my planets were largely adversely placed to my general well-being; through the dint of my determination, and industry, I had been able to overcome their pernicious effects to a great extent. He said that I had created paths where none existed and had reaped the rewards of my never-say-die attitude, which was evident from my horoscope. He suggested a few rituals, which were to be performed for eleven Sundays to ease my problems, and took his leave.
The astrologer’s words made me reflect on my past as a teenager, which was afflicted by a defeatist and fatalist mentality. I would eagerly show my hands to self proclaimed palmists, wanting to hear something grand and outstanding about my future, only to be hugely disappointed. They said that all the lines in my palm were weak and that my life would be full of failures and hardships. When my father consulted various astrologers, hoping to hear something bright and promising about my future, none could give him any hope.
I often wondered why destiny was so ill-disposed towards me and treated me in a stepmotherly way.
However, spirituality brought a paradigm shift in my life. As my connection with my inner Divine grew, I began to find a well-spring of inner strength and confidence within myself. The inner voice grew louder and louder and began to strongly guide me in my journey of life.
My focus from my stars, fate, and destiny shifted to what I was capable of as a person. I was more interested in what life and situations could teach me and how I could use challenges to grow as a person. Needless to say, life rewarded me for this changed attitude.
I reasoned that if humans were meant to read planetary movements and their effect on their lives, then these connections would be visible to our naked eyes. We would not need to do courses in astrology to predict our future and learn the characteristics of different planets.
Secondly, very often, I saw that people stopped giving their 100 per cent to a task, simply because an astrologer predicted that Saturn, or Rahu, or Ketu was retrograde in their chart for a certain length of time. They waited eagerly for that period to get over to reap good results in life. This was a debilitating way to live —always looking at the sky, putting life and effort on hold, and waiting for a favourable time to come.
This is not to suggest that one should never consult astrologers. Sometimes, when the road becomes too rocky, perhaps an astrologer can give you some hope and mental relief. It’s good to take the help of these divination methods, but it’s unwise to hinge your whole life on these occult sciences. Astrology can be a good servant but a bad master.
Editor of Life Positive, Shivi Verma is a devotee who found all her answers in loving God
passionately.
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