by Lynn Hayes

Indian astrologers are predicting violence and turmoil across the world as a result of this week’s total solar eclipse, which the superstitious and religious view as a sign of potential doom.

But astronomers, scientists and secularists are trying to play down claims of evil portent in connection with Wednesday’s natural spectacle, when the moon will come between the Earth and the sun, completely obscuring the sun.

In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to “swallow” the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its life-giving light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.

Pregnant women are advised to stay indoors to prevent their babies developing birth defects, while prayers, fasting and ritual bathing, particularly in holy rivers, are encouraged….

In point of fact, the effects of the eclipse ARE likely to be felt more powerfully across India since that is the path of the total eclipse.  Because astrology is so much more accepted in India, there are many more astrologers and many more of them follow the traditional line of thinking.  In the West, astrology was lost for many hundreds of years and when it was reclaimed over the past few hundred years it was able to grow and evolve along with the consciousness of the masses.  It’s interesting to me that Indian astrologers sometimes use this fact to support their claim that Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, is superior to Western astrology.  But as you’ve heard me say a million times, as the lives of humans evolve it makes sense that astrology does too.