Can Destiny Be Changed According To Astrology?
During my astrology readings, a question that comes up a lot is if it’s possible to change your destiny. But to explore this question, we first need to clarify what we mean by destiny.
From the perspective of Vedic astrology, talking about destiny is talking about karma.
What Is Karma?
When I talk to my clients, I get to hear a lot the idea that the concept of “karma” has a negative connotation. Something like a bad destiny. But that’s absolutately not the case.
In simple terms, karma is simply the fruit of your actions. In fact, the Sanskrit word karma literally means “action”.
Karma is equivalent to the law of cause and effect, but on a much larger scale than we usually consider.
From the moment you do something, you’re planting a seed in your mind.
That seed carries a certain kind of energy, and at some point, you’ll experience its fruits or results, either in a mental or physical manifestation. What kind of results you get—and whether they’re big or small, positive or negative—depends on the action you performed.
For example, if you smoke (action), your lungs will become unhealthy (effect).
But also, if you steal (action), eventually, whenever karma unfolds, you might for example lose money or someone will steal from you (effect).
How Long Does It Take for Karma to Manifest?
Not all effects are immediate. Some effects will manifest in this lifetime, some in a next lifetime.
Because the seed has been planted in the mind, it follows the laws of the mind and will manifest at a specific time.
If for example you are going through a great period it means that it’s the time for that specific karma to unfold.
In Vedic astrology, through the reading of the birth chart, you can see when a specific kind of period will come (these are called astrological periods). And because that chart is written since birth, you can see what kinds of effects you’ll experience next year, as well as what happened ten years ago. This is what we understand as destiny, or karma.
So, Does a Newborn Have a Destiny?
Yes. According to Vedic philosophy, the mind accompanies us from one life to the next. This is why we’re born again: because there are seeds that were planted but haven’t yet borne fruit.
The karma you experience in this life is partly the result of your actions in this very life, but mostly the consequence of your actions in past lives.
The actions you take in this life will plant new seeds, and you’ll reap their fruits in a future life.
Is Good Karma the Result of Good Past Actions?
From a human perspective, yes. From a broader perspective, one could say there’s no absolute “good” or “evil”—it’s a matter of perspective. But to simplify the answer: yes, you could say that good karma comes from good past actions.
If you’re wealthy in this life, it might be connected to your generosity in a past life. If you suffer from poor health, it’s possible your past actions resulted in poor health for others.
How Does Astrology Relate to Karma?
Your horoscope, or birth chart, is essentially a map of your karma.
The positions of the planets in the sky at the moment of your birth indicate which kinds of energies (represented by the planets) are strong for you, which are weak, in what areas of your life they’ll manifest, and when.
How Can I Improve My Karma?
The “easiest” way to change your destiny, or karma, is to wholeheartedly commit to good actions toward others and toward yourself. This will create good karma for your future life.
It’s like saving money in a bank for the future.
Astrological Guidance on Tweaking Your Destiny
If you’d like to change your karma in this life, astrology can be a helpful tool. By studying a birth chart, an astrologer can offer specific advice on how to “work with” the karmic seeds present in your mind.
It’s possible to give them a different twist. The seeds will still be there, but you can change, to some extent, the results they bring. An astrologer can offer recommendations based on astrological knowledge to help you do this.
Example: A person is sick—meaning the planets in their chart that indicate illness are active at a certain time. After studying their chart, the astrologer might recommend, for instance, moving to another city to improve their health.
Fasting
Another way to improve your karma is through fasting. Fasting regularly on a specific day of the week can help harmonize the energy of the planet that’s causing challenges for you.
The fast should be maintained until sunset, after which you can have a light vegetarian dinner.
Gemstones
On the other hand, if there’s a planet giving you beneficial energy and you’d like to strengthen it, you can wear the gemstone that enhances that planet’s energy. It should be worn on a specific finger.
Of course, this means that, according to Vedic astrology, you shouldn’t wear just any gemstone.
For example, you might love pearls, but if your Moon—the planet associated with pearls—isn’t well-placed in your chart, wearing them continuously could bring problems.
Check out these article if you want to learn more about gemstones in vedic astrology.
Ceremonies
Another way to transform your karma is by performing Vedic ceremonies for the planets that are problematic for you.
These can be done in certain temples in India and are specific ceremonies tied to particular traditions.
If you’d like to explore how these — and other — astrological principles show up in your own birth chart and daily life, you can book a Vedic astrology reading with me here.
