In Search of Destiny: Biography, History & Culture As Told Through Vedic Astrology

I’ve been studying and practicing astrology--using both Western andVedic approaches--for over 20 years. Scores of books have beenpublished on these approaches, but sadly, the noise far exceeds thesignal. In Vedic astrology, the easiest cop out is to simply translateSanskrit slokas from the various original texts into English, withlittle demonstrated application to actual contemporary life. Which isprecisely why works such as this--"In Search of Destiny"--areinvaluable. It applies classic Jyotish techniques, with clarity andconfidence on a judiciously selected collection of well-researchedlives, in a flowing narration that makes it as readable as educative.Analyzing a Jyotish chart can be a perlious endeavor because of thevarious amsa charts, yogas, nakshatras, dasa systems, etc, in whichone can quickly flounder. Hathaway's solution is to focus on theascendant-sign to get at the the core of the life first, and thenbuild everything else around this core for a cohesive and meaningfulinterpretation. Her approach clearly and unsparingly stays true to thegenerally understood principle that the ascendant and its lord standfor the chart as a whole, and influence the life more powerfully thanany other factor.Hathaway presents a collection of richly detailed astro-biographiesgrouped according to the ascendant sign (4-6 lives in each of thesigns from Aries to Libra), and carefully sequenced to showsimilarities and differences of lives within the same group. Thepointed summary notes and exercises at the end of each ascendantsection serve to highlight this sequencing. For instance, in theexercises for Leo lagna: "Why does the Leo ascendant person tend tofocus on themes of self-identity and autobiography?" "What do MayaAngelou and Woody Allen have in common in their birth and Navamsacharts?", and "Why is James Taylor less secretive about his privatelife than Woody Allen?"One very enlightening thread that runs throughout the book, startingin Chapter 1, is that of the Jupiter-Saturn cycles. Hathaway hasworked a great deal with these cycles, which I had noted when readingher coverage of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election. This book, thanksto the author's breadth and depth of coverage, really brings hometheir significance as historical and political markers.Another aspect of her book that stands out for me is the use of theNavamsa chart as a "first class" citizen, treated with as muchimportance as the Rasi chart. The clear and consistently enlighteningmanner in which Hathaway couples the Navamsa with the Rasi issomething I haven't seen done as persuasively in any of the numerousother Jyotish books I have read. In particular, the way she overlaysthe Navamsa on the Rasi chart, and how she reads yogas in the Navamsachart, are highly educative. (One of the yogas I find personallymeaningful is the Viparita Raja Yoga, which gets scant coveragein most Jyotish books. Hathaway is emphatic in her delineation of theyoga itself, and in how it protects the person from disastrouslosses.)I also found Hathaway's treatment of Nakshatras intriguing. Sheaddresses the notions of "Jiva" and "Sharira" that bring into playNakshatra lords, the Nadi yoga of the exchange of Nakshatra lords ofplanets, as also the properties of Nakshatras themselves thatinfluence the way a planet's energy manifests in one's life.Last, but not least, is the quality of writing, a rarity in thisgenre. The narration is smooth, in an engaging story-teller's voicethat grabs and holds your attention. The Jyotish principles are deftlywoven into the autobiographies, so the connections between theastrology and the life are evident without appearing didactic. Assoon as I purchased "In Search of Destiny", I read right through it ina couple of days. And I keep revisiting sections, as much for theirsheer readability, as for the multitude of astrological insights thatrichly illuminate the life stories.

Edith Hathaway has given the world a fascinating book! It is a significant work, rich and deep in relevance. Starting with historical context and collective destiny, she provides an overview of the cycles, timing, and overarching themes of history and culture (especially 20th century to the present), revealing unmistakable threads that tie events and movements together. Sometimes these threads unveil the darker side of human nature, providing a disturbing -- but compelling -- look into particular historical events. The material is so skillfully presented that it pulls the reader effortlessly into each topic, and details once learned and perhaps forgotten are revealed in new light.The chapter introducing Vedic astrology and philosophy provides insight into the spiritual nature of Vedic astrology. Among the key concepts is Dharma - which in general describes "the harmony of the universe" and on a personal level is "one's true nature, one's rightful purpose, and the duties and responsibilities therein." The detailed biographies in the remaining chapters emphasize the importance of this right action and the subsequent fruits of karma. With insight, compassion, and masterful precision, Hathaway discusses the lives of various well-known individuals. She presents each one in a fashion that enlightens while holding a reader's attention. There are so many aspects and nuances of the signs and the planets that readers can gain further by comparing their own birth charts to the corresponding information in particular chapters.In Search of Destiny is suitable for reading by a layperson; to that I can personally attest. Given its depth and the wealth of information, it's likely to be read, reread, and used as reference in this household. For the layperson, especially, I have found the glossary to be an invaluable tool. But most of all, this book offers a lot to someone searching for meaning in this world and in this time. I highly recommend this author's work, and I look forward to the publication of the companion volume.Marie A., Atlanta, GA

"In Search of Destiny" is a wonderful book and I thank this author for writing it! The structure of the book and its content are just fantastic. I love how she introduces the reader step by step to the science of Jyotish (Vedic astrology). When you start to read this book it's really hard to put it down. It's like a time machine, and you feel you are part of that epoch when you read the biographies. You also feel like Sherlock Holmes, when - based on the astrological chart - you try to figure out why this planetary configuration made that specific destiny.This is also an academic-value book, with the Glossary of Sanskrit and Astrological terms, bibliography, extensive footnotes and comprehensive index. Chapter 1 - "Historical Context and Collective Destiny" - is a gem in and of itself. It covers 1000 years of Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions and how they define world history. There is an introductory chapter to Vedic astrology, and all the principles when introduced across the book are very well explained. After this, in the following chapters the Ascendants from Aries to Libra are presented. Same Ascendant but different destiny. Fascinating. I can only hope there will be a second volume.If you are a serious student reading the book for the first time, my advice is to take notes when you find something new. Learn the notes by heart and reread the book. Than reread it again. I am sure that every time when you reread you will find something new, something that escaped your attention the first time. It's magic. Like the book itself. Amazing.Csaba Endre Simon, Finland

Ausgehend von den wiederkehrenden Jupiter-Saturn-Konjunktionen in verschiedenen Elementen, Zeichen und Nakshatras interpretiert die Autorin sowohl größere und kleinere Zeiträume, als auch Horoskope historischer Persönlichkeiten und deren Verbindung zu "ihrer" Zeit.Selbstverständlich ist Astrologie immer im Wesentlichen Interpretation und damit der Subjektivität, den Perspektiven und dem Horizont des Deutenden unterworfen und es ist für mich ein ungelöstes erkenntnistheoretisches Rätsel, wie man sowohl mit dem tropischen als auch dem siderischen Tierkreis zu beeindruckenden Erkenntnissen kommen kann. Doch dieses Buch ist unabhängig davon flüssig und durchaus spannend zu lesen. Eine echte Empfehlung für alle, die Jyotish kennenlernen wollen oder bereits etwas Erfahrung damit haben.

A set of astrobiographies that will help the budding jyotishi and expert alike.