Divisional Charts as used in Vedic Astrology, compared to Vibrational Charts

Divisional charts are used in Vedic Astrology to varying degrees of depth, depending on the astrologer. But all will agree that the 9th Divisional chart, called the Navamsha, needs to be used along-side the Rasi chart (what we call the natal chart in Western astrology). The Rasi is the first divisional chart, it is not divided. Although the Navamsha is often called the‘chart of the spouse’, it is also said to show the “fruit” of the tree that is the natal chart. The Rasi is the tree and trunk, while the Navamsha is said to show what is actually produced on the tree. With that understanding, you can have a very “good” looking Rasi chart, but rotten fruit (a “bad” Navamsha). And vice-versa, you can have a “bad” looking Rasi, but excellent fruit, as shown in the Navamsha.

If this is the case, then reading and interpreting charts will certainly be quite confusing and often contradictory. Hopefully confirmation bias does not get in the way for the astrologers that use such unclear rules for interpretation. There are many other rules involved when deciding how strong or weak, how malefic or benefic a planet or house is in Vedic Astrology, it is a real balancing act to interpret fairly and without mental (confirmation) bias.

In Vedic astrology, Divisional charts are created by dividing each SIGN by a specific number. Each sign is always 30 degrees, so for the Navamsha or 9th Division (for instance) would divide the 30 degree signs by 9, which gives a division of 3 degrees 20 minutes. There are sixteen divisional charts used in Vedic astrology which I’ll expand on in just a minute.

The divisional charts used in Vedic Astrology are interpreted similarly to how the Rasi (Natal) chart is interpreted. Keeping it simple, what is emphasized are house placements, sign placements (which tells dignity) and both of these influence the strength or weakness of the planet. And then aspects between planets.

Aspects are very specific, depending on the planet, but all planets give an aspect to another planet when they are in the same sign with another planet, or in the opposite house. Besides that, only Mars, Jupiter and Saturn have additional aspects. Mars also aspects the houses that are 4th and 8th from it - counting forward, including the house that Mars is in. Jupiter aspects the houses that are 5th and 9th from it, counting forward starting with the house that Jupiter is in. And Saturn aspects the houses that are 3rd and 10th from it, as with Jupiter and Mars, you start with the house Saturn is in and count forward.

Another thing to keep in mind is how much planets are considered to either have a positive or negative effect on the person’s life. The planets have a natural positive or negative quality as per Vedic Astrological philosophy. The planets get more positive or more negative depending on how they are placed in the person’s chart, and what other planets are aspecting it. Some planets get along and some don’t. They can be either ‘friends’, ‘neutral’ or ‘enemies’ to each other. There are also many other factors that need to be taken into consideration, in order to know how powerful or weak each planet is in a person’s chart. That will tell you how it will function and what results in might produce. How these extra factors are determined are too complex to go into in a blog post, and takes much study to grasp. And even then, much of this has to be weighed out carefully and hopefully logically. But, there is always a risk that our own bias’ will get in the way and create an inaccurate reading.

There are sixteen total divisional charts used in Vedic Astrology, including the original natal chart, called the Rasi chart, or D1 - which is undivided.

The remaining divisional charts are: the Hora chart or D2 (divided by 2), which gives a deeper look at aspects of the chart holders’ life relating to finances, assets, income sources, and the stability of finances.

Next is the Drekkana or D3 (divided by 3), which pertains to the siblings of the chart holder. So we can get a clearer picture of the relationship with the siblings from this chart. Also seen here are talents, skills and abilities and possible challenges.

Then there’s the Chaturthamsa or D4 (divided by 4) chart. This chart shows us more about the chart holder’s home, property, family-life and real estate. Also found in the D4 is prosperity related to physical, material possessions.

Next is the Sapthamsa or D7. The Sapthamsa shows us everything we need to know about the children and also the sex life of the chart holder. All aspects of having children, the relationship with them, how children will affect the chart holder’s life and how fertile the person is.

The Navamsha or D9 is next, and this is the most used divisional chart by Indian astrologers. All Indian astrologers, even in small villages with hand-made charts, will use the Navamsha. As stated before, the Navamsha is used to see everything about the spouse, the married life as well as the inner self of the chart holder. Important inner qualities of the chart holder are also determined from this chart, like their true motivations, level of integrity, morals, agreeableness or lack there of.

The Dasamsa chart or D10 is next. This chart shows the career, achievements, success in work, reputation and social standing.

The D12 or Dwadasamsa is next. This chart reveals information about the parents, the relationship with the parents, their influence on the chart holder and important events the parents will be involved in.

The Shodamsa chart or D16 is linked to vehicles or modes of transportation, luxuries, pleasures, and overall level of comfort or discomfort in life.

The Vimsamsa chart or D20 relates to religious and spiritual matters. This chart can reveal how religious or spiritual the chart holder is, how inclined to devotion and to attaining higher spiritual knowledge the person will be.

The D24 or Chaturvimsamsa chart is dedicated to knowledge, education and learning. We can see the person’s academic achievements, specialized knowledge and intellectual inclinations.

The Saptavimsamsa or D27 contains information about the inherent strengths and weaknesses of the individual, about their innate inner qualities and talents.

The D30 or Trimsamsa chart shows us potential obstacles, challenges, karmic influences and the impact of past actions on the chart holder’s life. Punishment and negative influences are seen here as well.

The Khavedamsa or D40 chart relates to matters of the mother, the mother’s side of the family and her ancestors, as well as auspicious and inauspicious events pertaining to the mother’s side of the family.

The Akshavedamsa or D45 encompasses matters relating to the father, the father’s side of the family and his ancestors. Events related to the father and his side of the family would be seen here as well.

And the D60 or Shastiamsa chart shows the overall karmic influences from past lives on the current lifetime of the chart holder. This chart emcompasses all aspects of the current life and gives a deeper understanding of the soul’s journey and it’s evolution.

While the Divisional charts are calculated in specific ways that are using different mathematics for each of the sixteen divisional charts, the Vibrational (Harmonic) charts are all simply dividing the 360 degree circle (the number of degrees when all twelve zodiac signs are put together, with thirty degree in each sign) by a particular number. Each of these divisions is related to an aspect. When we look at the Vibrational chart with this understanding, it becomes much clearer what is happening to create the Vibrational charts, and why they are so important and helpful, to look more deeply into the basic natal chart, or D1 - the undivided chart.

Vibrational charts show aspects that are in the natal chart (that are within the correct orb - the allowable number of degrees for that aspect). The 4th Vibrational chart shows the squares in the natal. The 5th Harmonic chart shows the quintiles and biquintiles, the 3rd Harmonic chart shows the trines. The 6th Harmonic chart shows the sextiles from the natal chart. Higher vibrational charts are higher octaves of the lower vibrational (harmonic) charts. An example of this higher octave would be the 8th Vibrational chart, which is 4 x 2, this chart shows the oppositions that are happening in the 4th Vibrational chart (which shows the squares). This may sound very complex to your mind right now, as it can take time to allow new ideas to sink in, penetrate and eventually make sense. This actually all quite simple math, which is much of what astrology is made up of, though most modern day astrologers don’t think about the math involved in astrology very much. In the past, astrologers were also very advanced mathematicians as well as astronomers.

Johannes Kepler is credited with introducing “Minor Aspects”, the aspects that are beyond the basic 5 “Ptolemaic” aspects that many astrologers stick to exclusively, as they were probably taught that way. However, the “minor aspects” have very real effects, just as the “major aspects” do.

William Lilly, a well known Horary astrologer, experimented with quintiles - the 1/5 aspects, or 72 degrees.

John Addey in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s used minor aspects in what he called Harmonic Astrology. Harmonic astrology implements the use of “Harmonic” charts, which are in many ways interchangable with Vibrational charts, as they are calculated in the same way. A Vibrational chart is like a magnification of the chart that keeps everything proportional.

David has added onto Addey’s Harmonic astrology to create a more advanced form called Vibrational Astrology. Vibrational astrology includes the use of midpoint structures, as well as having researched the use of many more Vibrational (Harmonic) charts that John Addey used.

An aspect is a fraction of a circle - think geometry, fractions and math. The basic aspects: the conjunction, opposition, square, trine and sextile are all fractions of the 360 degree circle. To create the Vibrational charts, we are still just using fractions of the circle, but we are looking at more than just the five basic “major” aspects, and we are looking at them in much greater detail, as though under a microscope. The fact is, and this just might blow your mind a little bit, all the planets are aspecting each other - they are all interacting in some way.We are able to see all of these aspects when we focus on the different fractions (aspects) and create a whole new chart for them.

Some things to keep in mind as you start to learn more about Vibrational astrology and how it works:

The Numerator (top number of a fraction) is less important than the Denominator (number at the bottom of a fraction).

All Vibrational Charts have the SAME ORBS (how many degrees are allowed between planets in order for them to be “in aspect”).

In the Vibrational charts:

16 degrees orb for conjunctions (this is equivalent to just 1 degree in the natal chart).

8 degrees orb for oppositions.

4 degrees orb for the square.

5.2 degrees orb for the trine.

When planets are conjunct in a Vibrational chart, they are either in the aspect that that Vibrational chart represents, or they are just conjunct in the natal chart. So, say in the 5 Vibrational chart, when you see a conjunction, you won’t know if the planets are conjunct in the natal, or in a 1/5 or 2/5 aspect in the natal.

In the Vibrational charts, if you see a square, then they are square. You don’t have to figure out what they’re doing in the natal.

A square creates the energy of a “driving force” that’s there between the planets that are square.

The aspects are interpreted just like you normally would interpret each aspect in the natal chart, but the interpretation is melded with the energy of the Vibrational chart it’s found in: the 5 Vibration is playful, curious and creative, 4 Vibration is driven and needs action, and the 7 Vibration is a introverted, focused, quiet, meditative energy.

Vibrations 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 are the driving forces in the chart, as they are all related to the opposition and the square aspects. In music an octave preserves the quality of the note.

Vibrations 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192 are the resources available to you. These are all octaves of the trine and sextile aspects, which give a natural flowing of energy between the two planets involved. The energies move very easily between them.

Vibrations 5, 7, 9 (and their octaves) are the fundamental qualities of human life: 5 - play, 7 - focused discipline, and 9 - the integration with a world beyond your personal needs. Because these numbers hold such important and fundamental energies, we always look at these charts when consulting with clients (along with a few others).

If a child does not play, we have problems.

If a child cannot focus his/her attention, we have problems.

If a child does not say “thank you”, we have problems.

If we double the denominator of an aspect, the astrological meaning of the aspect is similar. These aspects give motivation and drive to play.

Harmonic 11 and 13 are unstable and moving. They need growth and progress. The 11 Vibration is very restless, and when particular planets are together in a pattern, will indicate that the person will have a natural ability to play certain types of musical instruments. They can make good drummers (the restlessness can create good rhythm) and can be particularly good in the rock ‘n roll genre. The 13 Vibration needs to feel special, and can’t stand to live what they perceive to be a mediocre life. They can sometimes feel that they are above the normal rules of society - because of that feeling they have of being special.

A conjunction with a 2 degree orb (in the natal chart) reaches to the 8-Vibrational chart.

A 16-Vib aspect (1/16 – 22.5 degrees, 3/16, 5/16, 7/16) is deeply important and is not as easily shared and brought out into the open as a conjunction, opposition, square, ect.

A conjunction in the natal chart with an orb of 8 degrees or more is so ephemeral and only affects the person’s disposition in a slight way so it’s not very important. In the natal chart, aspects under a 4 degree orb we can start to sense. Under a 2 degree orb we can see the aspect in the mannerisms and style of the person and under a 1 degree orb the aspect is expressed outwardly AND is deeply important to the person.

Vibrations of 16 and higher are what we think and feel deeply about, and we are inclined to write, plan and develop goals based on these aspects. If the Vibration is in the 30’s and higher it becomes fundamental to what is deeply important. Above about the 50’s and 60’s can lead to unusual or extraordinary results.

When aspects in the natal chart are aspecting in a higher vibrational chart, they can be pushed into even higher vibrational charts if they pick up the aspect of at least one more planet in the higher vibrational charts.

When you double the chart (times by 2) it’s called an octave. Going up an octave. If you double or triple a chart, it’s called overtones (if you’re talking about both types of increasing the octave). As you can imagine with these words being used - octaves and overtones - the patterns the planets make in our astrological charts can be compared to music being played through is. We are channeling the energies of the planets as they play through us. We just need to get out of the way and allow the energies to flow, hopefully in as healthy a way as possible. We can block the energies that are trying to move through us if we have too much judgment related to those energies, or if we haven’t had the opportunity to explore that side of ourselves.

In our astrological charts, both natal and vibrational, if two planets are aspecting tightly (within one degree), they create a personality trait, if there are three planets tightly aspecting, then they’re doing that thing. They have to act it out. When just two planets are interacting (aspecting), they bounce their energies off each other, but when a third (or more) planet is added, then they create a circuit.

But we can’t act out everything we have inside because “God was too generous” - we have more capability that we can express.