Vedic astrology, otherwise known as Jyotish, means ‘the science of light’. It is considered as a limb of the Veda (vedanga jyotish). It has been given as a powerful tool by the sages of India to assist in shedding light on the path of souls caught in samsara, the karmic cycle of birth and death. For the practitioner of Jyotish, one of the most sought after and yet elusive of skills, is predictive accuracy. The ability to accurately decipher the indications in the horoscope and foretell how the fruits of karma will manifest in the life of the client is the crux of Vedic astrological practice. In today’s chaotic and highly unstable society, any astrologer who has mastered this, along with good counseling skills and a thorough understanding of astrological remedial measures, will be of untold value to his client and highly sought after. Predictive Method: Predicting With Grahas As Karakas goes a long way in helping the student of Jyotish attain just such predictive skill. The ancient texts on Vedic astrology can seem inaccessible or intimidating for many Western students trying to learn Jyotish. In Predictive Method: Predicting With Grahas As Karakas Laura Barat, the author, has done a great service to the cause of Jyotish by presenting step by step this foundational teaching of the ancient source text, Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. The foundation for understanding the technique of predicting with karakas is laid out in Part One of the book and covers the significations of the Grahas (planets). Every student should strive to memorize these building blocks of chart interpretation. Part Two then presents the method of using these significations to accurately predict some of the future circumstances in the life of the client as indicated in the horoscope. Laura gives many example charts of celebrities and historical figures to illustrate the methodology. I found this to be extremely useful in grasping the technique. It should be noted that Laura advocates the use of the Tropical zodiac while applying the techniques of Jyotish to horoscopes. She has included a good argument for its use. Many practitioners of Jyotish, who traditionally use the Sidereal zodiac, will consider this a heresy. Leaving aside zodiacal controversies, I find the fact that the examples given in the book are based on the Tropical zodiac make no difference in learning to predict with karakas. It will be left to the individual to judge for him/herself to as to which zodiac makes more sense and which one consistently gives the most accurate results. If astrology is to become established as a viable science and take its
rightful place in the upcoming age of expanded consciousness, it must be replicable and subjected to the scientific method. I would encourage serious students to remain open minded on this point, and to do their own due diligence and research. In summary, I am very satisfied with Laura Barat’s book, Predictive Method: Predicting With Grahas As Karakas. It is proving to be a valuable resource in my own practice and I enthusiastically look forward to more such books from Laura and others that clearly explain the useful and replicable principles of Vedic astrology. Raja Perry Sydney, Australia