Nexus Astrology is a blog about Vedic Astrology. With insights on basic concepts like planets, houses and signs; as well as the Nakshatras, the 27 constellations of the Indian lunar zodiac. The word Nexus is all about making sense, and understanding, so a big focus of this website is also transit analysis and prediction. Mundane Astrology as a way to understand what is happening and what will happen in the world. I make predictions every month.
What is Vedic Astrology?
Vedic Astrology is the traditional astrology of India. It was revealed to the great sages of India around 1500-2000 BCE, with one of the most prominent of these sages being Maharishi Parashara, author of Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, one of the most ancient and influential works in Astrology. Also called Jyotish, which is Sanskrit for “science of light”, as it helps to illuminate a person’s karmas and missions in life.
In our modern times, Vedic Astrology tends to be known or sought for its very accurate predictions.
In comparison to Western Astrology (the one used in newspaper horoscopes and most websites), the system has many foundational differences. Unlike its western counterpart, where much is based on the psychological background of a person, Jyotish provides a more holistic picture through the understanding of karmas and the push and pull of past lives.
Another difference deals with the Nakshatras, the lunar zodiac of 27 constellations that act as a secondary horoscope alongside the 12 traditional signs. Nakshatras reveal deeper details and trends seen through planets and other chart points.
The Dasha system of prediction is another feature. It designates a cycle of planetary periods for each chart, acting above the standard transits happening. For instance, if we take two Taurus ascendants, one going through a Jupiter dasha and the other going through Saturn dasha; they would have very different results, while going through the same transits. As Jupiter manifesting is different than Saturn manifesting.
Another major difference deals with the sidereal zodiac, which considers the precession of the equinoxes; in contrast to the tropical zodiac, used in Western Astrology. The tropical zodiac is fixed, with Aries starting on March 21st at the spring equinox. But if you look at the sky at this date, you won’t see the Aries constellation rising, you will see Pisces.
As the Earth wobbles and moves, the fixed stars forming the zodiac change their position in relation to us, moving backwards. Causing the tropical and sidereal zodiacs to diverge. That is precession. Approximately, every 72 years the zodiac goes 1° backwards. Currently, this difference is of about 24 degrees. The measurement of this variation is called Ayanamsha, there are different Ayanamshas with different calculations and some slight variations, although all average around the same ~20° difference. The most popular one is Lahiri Ayanamsha (also known as Chitra-Paksha Ayanamsha) which is the one I use in my calculations.
To see your sidereal vedic placements, you can approximate from your tropical chart, by counting backwards ~24 ° on all placements. This requires a certain amount of mental work, but it is certainly doable. This calculator, from the website Vault of The Heavens by astrologer Ernst Wilhelm, provides you with a chart and basic tables for reading your chart; for free, with no subscriptions. You just enter your birth data, and you can have your chart. Other websites provide similar tools, although this is the one I find to be the most practical if you just want to see your chart online.
About Adrian
Adrian Barbieri, the man, the myth, the legend — contains irony. I have a lifelong interest in Astrology, I started this website after around a decade studying astrology, and after about half a decade doing predictions in private, to friends and those close-by.
Keeping things private was fun, I love privacy, but it was mostly about my beliefs. I believe that any work that you do should add something, have something unique and speak for itself.
→ Add something: The world has thousands of years of knowledge, and yet we don’t know everything, and yet we are not sure of everything — maybe even anything. If the new people coming in are just going to repeat what has already been said, then why have new people in the first place? Just reprint old stuff, shove the new guys in coal mines.
→ Have something unique: Everybody has a unique perspective. We might find similarly minded people, but we will never find someone identical to us. Nobody else has gone through the same experiences we have lived, read exactly the same things we’ve read or felt the same things we’ve felt. There is always common ground to find, in each of these individual characteristics, but the sum of the total always adds up to something unique. And that is the best you can offer the world.
→ Speak for itself: You can’t put lipstick on a pig. Good work is good, doesn’t matter who you are. Bad work is bad, doesn’t matter who you are.
A frequent question I’ve been getting since starting this site is “what are your qualifications?” or if I have an MBA. All I have is a note from the Harper Valley PTA.
With Vedic Astrology, it is a fashion trend of sorts to say that you have a doctorate or an MBA, or whatever. Which reminds me of being in college, and correcting the grammar of my electromagnetism professor, who had a post-doctorate on the subject. I would’ve done it either way, like it or not. I see an error, I point at it, burn my house down. But he was very receptive to it.
He said something very wise, a doctorate is a specialization. It means you know a lot about a specific subject. It doesn’t mean Mister Special Knows Everything About Anything. In his case, he knew a lot about electromagnetism. Grammar? Always a slacker, failed twice, cheated thrice.
Having an MBA means you’re good at business administration, having a doctorate in textile production, means you make good linens. These things have nothing to do with Astrology.
On a best case scenario, the people spouting about their MBAs and doctorates are simply mentioning random trivia about themselves. I have random trivia about myself too! I work out 5 days a week, could probably go for 7. I have Madonna’s entire discography, and I see myself more as an Unapologetic Bitch than a Material Girl. My grandfather was in the military, loved to fight, I admire that greatly. I have a degree in [CENSORED], not going to say, I studied electromagnetism applied to veterinary literature in culinary econometrics, doesn’t matter.
On the worst case scenario, these people are dangling meaningless credentials to give a false sense of authority to their knowledge, of variable quality, many times undeserving of such authority.
All of this to say that it doesn’t matter who I am. I don’t take myself too seriously, I don’t take anyone too seriously, neither should you. I take my work seriously, and that is what matters.
Focus on people, and you will always be disappointed, as everybody is flawed. Focus on learning, and you will always find joy, as everything is a lesson.
About Nexus Astrology
The name of this website, as well as the logo, are very symbolical of what I try to make of it. Nexus, by the dictionary, means a connection or a link. Searching for a nexus usually means looking for the combination of many things, to find one truth.
My main stay is Vedic Astrology, where I’ve tried and used many things. Different calculations, different techniques, different systems, different approaches. But I am also open to other systems. I know western aspects. I use the outer planets. I use planets beyond the outer planets, at times. Whatever works.
I don’t care about getting a good boy medal, or praise of stuck-up people for following the most rules, I want what works. I want to know the best and share the best. And that usually involves joining many things.
"But if you use that, it is not Vedic anymore"
Good, get out of here. Go read someone who is really Vedic, has a doctorate in whatever, and writes content worse than ChatGPT. That is not me.
Nexus will always be about many things, variety and exploration. The simplicity of complexity. The complication of simplicity. Connecting everything, rather than worrying about rules or titles.