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5 Responses to “Vedic Astrology Simply Put: An Illustrated Guide to the Astrology of Ancient India”

1. Katherine Macdonald Says:
   November 21st, 2009 at 8:41 pm

   It’s nice to see other vedic astrologers taking influence from OSFA, a leading pioneer in vedic astrology, introducing illustration with informative writings on the topic to give vedic astrology a more popular appeal..Vedic astrology is so important and we need more books appealing to the western appetite to make it as popular as it deserves to be..

   Rating: 3 / 5

2. xul Says:
   November 21st, 2009 at 10:39 pm

   As in his book “Beneath a Vedic Sky”, William Levacy demonstrates even more in “Vedic Astrology Simply Put” his intention to make a book a work of art. This book is hardbound, coloured, with a bibliography and a list of resources. The content is well thought out and organised. With very few exceptions, like the Layout of Vastu Placements on page 286, the typeface is large enough. The author comes across to the reader as a nice, well intentioned person with a positive outlook on life.

   The various lists of planets, constellations and houses serve well for basic natal horoscope interpretation. Mr Levacy does well by introducing enough Sanskrit words simply transliterated without attempting to teach us this sacred language in the process. Compared to “Beneath a Vedic Sky”, Mr Levacy has included much clearer indications of how to proceed in analysing a Vedic horoscope. He also explains some basic Vedic astrological factors, for example sub-divisions of the zodiac, more clearly.

   What significant improvements could the author include in a next edition?

   1. Include a short glossary of Vedic astrological terms and an index.

   2. The “Simply Put” part of the title is an advantage but also a risk of this book. As his fellow Vedic astrologers, Hart de Fouw and Robert Svoboda, well put it in their “Light of Life”, “Too often the Western mind simplifies a complex idea in order to grasp it, and then misidentifies that signification with the original.” Aside from possible over-simplifications, Mr Levacy makes it easy for readers to confound basic notions of the Vedic Tradition (e.g. karma, meaning “action” as Mr Levacy correctly relates, and the traditional doctrines of transmigration and metempsychosis, combined and confused in the new age dogma of “reincarnation”) with distorted counterfeits like Ms H P Blavatsky’s theosophism and its derivatives.

   3. Several of the nice images represent the consciousness of the Rishis and others, e.g. telescopic visions of the solar system, in a way that exclusively reflects modern occidental mentality.

   4. Judged by this book, Mr Levacy appears to hold a one-sided Vaishnaite, perhaps Krishnaite perspective of the Vedic Tradition. He mentions neither Ishwara, nor Para-Atman, nor Para-Brahman nor the Vedanta perspectives including Them.

   5. Any seasoned professional astrologer like Mr Levacy may include and recommend useful methods and symbols from Western astrology. However, especially in a book on Vedic astrology, he should clearly label such imports. The qualities of the sign of Aquarius on page 105 seem to fall out of the rhythms of the other signs. On pages 121 and 122 the author includes the “heart area” in the 4th house and the “region of the heart” in the 5th house. Cases of mixture of Vedic and Western? In any case confusing for the reader.

   6. Mr Levacy, like any other astrologer, may prefer a particular chart style, in his case South Indian, that he uses exclusively in this book. Nevertheless, he uses terms like “angles” that make more sense in North Indian style charts. Why not include several examples of North Indian and some of East Indian and Western as well? The chart the astrologer is regarding on page 242 under “Keyword Matching” has only 8 sectors, 4 missing!

   7. Mr Levacy often mentions different views amongst Vedic astrologists on certain topics. He would thus do well to include an overview of the important schools of Jyotish.

   This good book can get a bit better. Best thanks and wishes to Mr William Levacy.
   
   Rating: 4 / 5

3. Deborah King Says:
   November 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am

   I’ve been following the writings of William Levacy with interest since I became acquainted with his work in the 90’s. All the stars must have been in allignment when he wrote “Vedic Astrology Simply Put” – what a beautifully written and illustrated book. You can tell that he has a profound understanding of the principles of vedic astrology – he’s really passionate about his work. This book gets 5 big stars!
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. E. J. Tavasci Says:
   November 22nd, 2009 at 3:20 am

   I’m absolutely mesmerized by the artwork contained in the book, “Vedic Astrology Simply Put”…each illustration is brilliant in its depiction of the sublime knowledge presented. Even after all these years of oh so many Vedic Astrology readings, I still find it difficult to hold on to the most simplistic aspects of my chart. That said…I plan to use this book as a study guide…should be fun.
   Rating: 5 / 5

5. Marci Shimoff Says:
   November 22nd, 2009 at 4:26 am

   This is a fun and engaging book for all students of Vedic astrology. The principles of Vedic wisdom and philosphy that underlie Vedic astrology are made easy to understand. I also love the illustrations and the beautiful art work. I am enjoying studying Vedic astrology with this well-written, wonderful book.
   Rating: 5 / 5

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