Astrology and Mental Health  

As you know astrology regards the moon as the karaka for mind. Moon is the fastest moving planet which is nearest to the earth. Moon is also responsible for fluctuations in human mood. First familiarize yourself with the planets, houses and sings which represent anxiety, depression and overall mental health in a natal chart affecting long term and short term mental states exposed by the malefic transit influences over weak natal planets. Long term mental and emotional instability issues are shown by weakness or affliction to significant natal planets, as listed below. By doing the analysis of those areas which represent mental health we can assess the mental health of a native on the basis of the strength or weakness/ affliction of the karaka planets, karaka house or house lord. For a more closer analysis it shall be effective to analyse dasha and transit to pinpoint clearly the long term or short term factors leading to the destabilization of mental health. By determining the activation and timing factors through the transits, main periods, and bhuktis in effect we can forewarn our clients friends and ourselves about the probability of mental instability. By studying the Pranchamas (D-V), we can further assess planetary strengths and weaknesses.

Significators of Psychiatric Problems :

1. Planets: Significator of the mind is the Moon. Mercury rules nerves and communication intellectual abilities.
2. Houses: The fourth and the fifth.
3. Signs: Cancer and Leo. Afflictions to the karaka planets, houses, and signs can cause the psychiatric difficulties and emotional disturbances for longer duration. Whereas transit afflictions can relate to shrot-term disturbances.
4. Divisional Chart of Depression : Panchamsa.
5. Emotional Health : Depression: the fifth house Emotional
6. Peace: The fifth and Moon Mental Peace: The fourth and Moon.
7. Nervous Control: The sixth and Mercury.
8. General Karaka (significator) for the fifth: Jupiter General Karaka (significator) for the fourth: Moon and Venus.

Points to remember: Mercury, ruling the analytical abilities, when badly placed or under the severe affliction of the most malefic planet causes anxiety leading to depression, nervous breakdown, hypertension, and insomnia. Happiness, health and general disposition are ruled by the first house.

The third house and Mercury rule mental growth, the third house and Mars rule initiatives, the fourth house rules the power of basic comprehension, and the fifth house rules intelligence, emotional peace of mind, and depression. Severe natal weakness and/or affliction of the planets connected with the third, fourth and the fifth houses, along with both the Moon and Mercury can result in severe mental handicaps, such as mental retardation specially if 1st house and Jupiter are also weak. The overall natal weakness and/or affliction of the planets connected with the third, the fourth, and the fifth houses, including the Moon and Mercury, may result in mental deficiencies for the native, inabilities to cope with the stress brings anxiety and depression, to full blown manic episodes, depending upon the severity of affliction Sixth house and Mercury rule nervous control.

• For divisional Analysis we study :
• The strength of the lord of the ascendant.
• The Moon and its sensitive degree.
• The significator, (Jupiter in D-5 i.e. Panchmansa)
• And the lord(s) of the particular significant/relevant houses in the rashi chart.

Note: Diagnosing states of Mental Health can be a lengthy process for professionals in the medical field, such as Psychiatrists and Psychologists. All aspects of the behaviour criteria, background,.and motivational aspects of the patient must be thoroughly evaluated for appropriate medical diagnosis.

Often the psychiatric medical diagnosis is followed by lengthy and diversified experimentation in medication for relief with an effort of minimising side effects. Often these prescriptions are met with unsuccessful result when it comes to finding the magic pill for behaviour modification or relief, because mental and emotional states of mind are based on so many internal and external personal experiences, many of which remain a mystery to all but the patient.

Astrologer encounters similar experiences and investigation in their search. Every individual's horoscope is a woven pattern of unique energy at play, and this energy must be thoroughly synthesized and integrated before a conclusion can be drawn, especially with respect to something as delicate as states of mental health. The prescriptions we recommend are remedial measures like propitiation of the malefics. These remedial measures often become the saving grace for clients experiencing depression anxiety and mood disorders.

Remedies : -If weak/afflicted moon is causing disease it should be strengthened by-

1. Mantrajapa & puja for moon.
2. Should wear white clothes.
3. Should seek mother's blessings every morning by touching her feet. (Charansparsh)
4. Donate white items on Monday to a young Brahmin lady. (White sweet dishes, rice, silver, milk, curd, white clothes white sandal, white flowers etc.)
5. Should wear good quality pearl in silver on the little finger of the right hand. Mental problems also get cured easily by reciting Gayatri mantra and by worshipping lord Shiva.