From the time when humans take birth, the positions of the planets have effects upon the body. These planetary influences create different temperaments in human beings, which manifest in different ways.

The Five Elements and the Six Limitations

Human bodies are composed of the five constituent elements, which are earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These five constituent elements are related to the human body and qualities:

• Earth: bones, skin, veins, hair, muscle
• Water: water, urine, semen and ovum, mucus, and bone marrow
• Fire: hunger, thirst, sleep, confusion, and effort
• Air: restraint, lack of focus, expansion and contraction, support, and movement
• Ether: anger, enmity, attachment, shame, and laziness

In addition, there are six human limitations: desire, anger, greed, attachment, envy, and jealousy. Both the five elements and the six human limitations are subject to influences based on planetary positions.

Planetary Influences

Human beings will experience the effects of the planetary influences in all of their actions on the earth. Sometimes, the effects of the planets are not propitious, or the planets do not favor the desired outcome.

While there are numerous reasons why something may happen, sometimes, the positions of the planets may misguide our wisdom, discrimination and mind.

For example, there once was a thief who was punished for his crime. While he was in jail, it was important for him to realize that he should not perform such actions again.

When the thief was released from jail, having no other skills with which to earn his livelihood, he began to steal again. Eventually he went back to jail. He did not learn his lesson – he had no wisdom.

In another story, there was a man who graduated from college, and yet all his life he was unable to earn a livelihood. There were so many other people who remained unlearned, with no degrees, and yet they had no difficulty in earning their sustenance.

How can we mitigate such situations in our lives? Astrology can also help guide us through the turbulent times.

Three Easy Ways to Mitigate Planetary Influences

There is a direct correlation between the way planets influence someone and how we respond and perform our karma.

If you can contemplate this with a deep understanding, you may conclude that human beings have little or no capacity of their own. But, Astrologers know how the planets can impact us. They also know that, through proper application of sound principles, humans can mitigate some of the negative planetary influences.

A good analogy to this concept is time. Humans are impacted by time. We are not able to stop the movement of time no matter how much we desire to do so. Time moves on and time that has passed, cannot ever be brought back again.

However, humans can mitigate this by making the best use of their time. This is done by setting meaningful goals and accomplishing noble desires.

Similarly, humans can mitigate planetary influences and change the course of their destiny. This is done through the application of three key principles:

1. understand how the planets influence your life (visit a knowledgeable Jyotish Astrologer or study the Jyotish Scriptures)
2. perform sadhana and learn the Mantras of the Nine Planets
3. develop your Goals and apply strong will power towards their accomplishment.

As we perform the three principles above, contemplate performing all actions in harmony with others, the environment, and the planets. This is pure truth.

If we act in accordance with the laws of harmony, then everyone will experience peace and bliss. We will minimize the experience of pain in situations or interactions with others.

The Benefits of Understanding the Jyotish Scriptures

Those who have studied the Jyotish Scriptures are able to apply the astrological knowledge with a deep understanding and are empowered to see the past, present, and future in a way which will be surprising to all.

This scriptural understanding will allow an individual to see the path with an intuitive perception, so he or she will be able to move with conviction.