The lagna is basically a reference point from where the various houses in a chart are numbered. The lagna is not synonymous with the ascendant although often used interchangeable. A chart should be delineated from a number of reference points, known as Alternate lagnas in order to give us additional clues. The strongest among Ascendant, Moon & Sun should be taken as lagna. These houses are clubbed into various groups. The first, fourth, seventh and tenth houses are called Kendra, Vishnu Sthans, angular or cardinal houses, implying that they are the center or core of the chart. As lord Vishnu looks after the welfare of the entire universe, the Kendra Houses acting as foundation & pillars of the horoscope, sustains the entire edifice of one s life. Each of the four Kendras, represent one of the basic goal of human life-1st house is part of Dharma Trikone, 4th house of Moksha Trikone, 7th house of Kaam Trikone and 10th house karmas of the native, his means of livelihood, name & fame; 4th house all types of comforts, luxuries, property & education; and 7th spouse, partnership, padprapti, foreign settlement, diplomacy & public relations. The cycle of birth, love & care, death and Karma, which sustain life, are well integrated with the strength & quality of Kendra houses. The Kendras are the major factor in the combinations called Panch Mahapurush and Chatussagar Yoga, which are of rare individual greatness and bestow a great and unique magnetic influence to follow. They also denote native s dynamic involvement in social environment around him. these are very important houses and all the important events of a native s everyday life hinge around them. it is necessary to have a deep understanding of these four houses, which reveals the life as it is lived in the physical world. Taken together, they represent the immediate nature of human impulses. As the immediate is the most important aspect of one s life, the Kendra houses are of supreme importance.

In any horoscope, the 1st, 5th & 9th houses are considered to be the most auspicious ones. It is believed that the soul enters the world through 5th house of Poorva Janam Karma to the ascendant in the form of human body and exit through the 9th house after completing the Karma assigned for the present birth through 10th house. These three houses together constitute the spiritual or Dharma Trikone, which primarily aims at transforming the native to a higher stage of evolution through their Divine faculties and creativity. Their lords irrespective of their natural traits, are favourable to a native leading to greater happiness. The ascendant is always the most beneficial house and its lord the most helpful planet, which guides and assists the native in all walks of life. The houses constituting Dharma Trikone reveal many special features of the native’s destiny through his sojourn during the present incarnation. As per classics, there are four goals of human life, Dharma, Artha, Kaam & Moksha. Classics have extolled Dharma & Moksha and looked down Artha & Kaam. But Materialistic world of today has just the opposite view. Corresponding to the four goals are the four Trikones in any chart. All the four trikones have their Apex in a Kendra house, which indicates the involvement of the native in immediate / everyday life. There is no denying the prominence of Dharma Trikone, but to ignore the other three will be a Himalayan blunder. In fact all the four Trikones are dependent on Artha Trikone for sustenance and all the progress, we see around us, originates and get accomplished in Kaam Trikone.

As per classics there could be four goals in human life- Dharma, Artha, Kaam & Moksha. However in the materialistic world of today, most of us think, plan and act of / for Artha & Kaam only. Artha covers any / all activities connected with finance & livelihood and Kaam includes all types of desires e.g. sex, comforts and luxuries. Upchaya literally means growth, accumulations, elevation, expansion, improvement, rise, aspiration, profit, gain, prosperity or excess of inflow without much effort and at a much faster rate. Upchaya group of houses contains the best of Artha & Kaam Trikones by excluding their Marka houses (2nd & 7th) and thus includes 3rd, 6th , 10th, & 11th houses. The rest of the houses are called Apchaya houses. The beauty of Upchaya houses is that even natural malefics produce excellent results here. They indicate growth & gain of any or all desires-whether good or evil. Every desire originates in 3rd house. It is nurtured by strong determination & hard work of 3rd house, pointed concentration & competitiveness of 6th house and 10th house provides controlled Kriyaman Karma to enable desire to be fulfilled in 11th house. Every planet associated with 11th house ensures gain/ profit in its own way. The progress which human beings have made so far, can be attributed to these fighting qualities only. The 6th is a Trika house and 11th a Badhak house for movable lagans. However, this book highlights only the positive aspects of Upchaya houses.

Among various Vargas, the relative importance of Navamsha is universally acclaimed. Astrologers consider it to be just next to birth chart or equal to birth chart or even better than the birth chart. Almost all astrologers use Navamsha and birth chart together to assess strengths of various houses and planets before giving any opinion. In Vedic astrology, Navamsha occupies an outstanding position and draws one’s attention for deeper understanding/ scrutiny due to its multifarious technique and usage. The additional inputs in the form of scintillating concepts by Jaimini and Nadi system have made the subject more engrossing. The author has tried to incorporate the same in the book. The study of a birth chart gives only the gross (Sthool) indications of characteristics of various houses and planets; while Navamsha offers their detailed (Sookshmatar) values. It is so because a Navamsha is basically equal to both in its size and extent to a quarter/ one fourth / pada of a Nakshtra, thereby giving it a stellar role. While a house represents a combined spectrum of 30 degrees, a Navamsha provides a microscopic view of 3° 20’ or 1/ 9 part of a sign only.

The evolution of human race to its present state is due to constant endeavour of each parent to see that even at the cost of their own discomfort, their children move ahead and achieve, what even they could not for any reason. The aim of education has been to awaken the consciousness of a person. The education liberates a soul from darkness of ignorance to the glory of true knowledge and bliss. To acquire knowledge is a natural trait of all human beings. However these days the stream/ branches of education are so many and varied and to get admission therein is so competitive and difficult that the task of the young students and their parents have become difficult. Hence there is a definite need to have astrological/ psychological counseling for specific educational fields. There are number of astrological yogas, combinations, Arishtas (to be countered) as tools for astrologers; yet the astrologer have to invoke his knowledge and intuition to the maximum to be able to provide the correct and timely counsel. Hope the book will help one and all in pursuit of the same.

The classical texts have condemned Trika (6th, 8th & 12th) houses and their lords as evil with a negative role. These are considered to represent all the anti-forces that act against a native and are held responsible for all the miseries, sufferings, calamities and diseases that befall a native. However there is nothing absolutely good or bad in the universe. All the houses are part of a divine scheme and have a definite function to perform. Trika houses represent the struggle of life and the capabilities of a native to fight back. Viewing adversity as challenge and not as loss or failure is a positive attitude and elevates one spiritually. The Trika houses denote unconscious and sub-conscious mind which are vital to understand any native. As the level of consciousness elevates, native’s perception and mode of operation drastically changes and barriers like hatred, jealousy and revenge etc. get dissolved. It is interesting to note that certain dispositions or Yogas by Trika lords in a horoscope not only shun the evil denotations but also bring fortune, wealth, health and happiness. Mars/Jupiter in 6th, Mercury/Saturn in 8th and Venus in 12th house if placed alone and unafflicted gives excellent results. Benefics and trinal lords if exalted, Yogkaraka or Mooltrikone sign in a Trika house helps a native to rise high in life. This book highlights such positive aspects of Trika houses/lords.

If you think you know how this story ends—think again! Centuries ago, the royal house of witches in Vernanthia split into two factions: House Cambridge and House Montgomery. These two houses warred with each other for an age, causing widespread bloodshed and death. Those without magic—the Nulls—suffered the most. One day, a favored daughter of the Nulls was slain. With her dying breath, she cursed the covens to know no peace until love was possible between the houses. That curse had long since been forgotten—until now. Julian Montgomery is the reluctant Prince of House Montgomery and Rowan Cambridge is in no rush to become the Queen of House Cambridge. Both heirs long for freedom from their birthright obligations. When fate throws these two star-crossed lovers together, it sends them on a collision course with destiny that neither could have predicted. “The magical Romeo and Juliet reimagining you didn’t know you needed”- Melanie (Melanie’s Muses) Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet is reimagined in this compelling drama about two young people drawn by fate into an unwinnable situation. If you think you know how this story ends—think again! A Tale of Two Houses is the first novel in a new and exciting trilogy from best-selling author Susan Harris Novels in The Defy the Stars Trilogy by Susan Harris: A Tale of Two Houses (March 2019- Now available!) Until Death Do Us Part (April 2019- Now available!) In Defiance of the Stars (May 2019- Final novel will release to complete the trilogy.)