Astrological Indicators for Foreign Travel

Travelling abroad is one of the cherished dreams of most Indians, and thanks to the blooming IT industry and the increased demand for English-efficient and conscious work-force, a large number of Indians are traveling   abroad  and realizing their ambition. Though I am speaking of Indians, the urge to explore new lands, to get familiarized with other cultures, and to just experience the novelty of a distant land is sure to tickle the adventure-centre of everyone’s brain. We see that some persons flourish well abroad, while instances are not wanting where the foreign

jaunt is a “dream turned into a nightmare.” Let us see what hints astrology can offer on this…....

Astrological Pointers for Foreign Travel/ Stay

Generally 9th and 12th houses of a horoscope are the relevant houses of the chart to be studied in this regard. If these houses fall in moveable signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) or water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), then there is a possibility of foreign travel (or travel over the seas!). It is obvious from the above that Cancer is a powerful sign in this regard as it is both a moveable sign and a watery sign. Thus if the 9th or 12th houses of a horoscope fall in these signs, or if the 9th or 12th house lords fall in these signs, you may deduce that foreign travel is

indicated for such natives.

The motive of the foreign travel can be deduced by planetary influences. For example, if the 4th house lord of a horoscope is placed in the 9th house which happens to be a moveable sign, or a watery sign, and is conjunct the 12th house lord, you may deduce that the native will be traveling abroad for higher education (4th house stands for basic education; 9th house stands for advanced courses/ specializations).

If the 4th house lord is in the 12th house (the 12th house being indicative of foreign jaunts as discussed above), then the native may find it more auspicious to stay abroad. I have personally come across natives who feel more “at home” abroad, and they find it easier to live by Indian spiritual traditions when they live abroad than when they live in India. Inscrutable are the ways of fate and highly interesting are theastrological combinations that provide clues about destiny! 

Association of 5th, 9th, and 12th lords in the dasamsha indicate traveling abroad for professional reasons. These persons are usually employed as skilled work-force (scientists, professors, etc.) abroad. If there is a Dharma-karmaathipathi yoga associated with the 12th house, the native may go on to win prestigious awards in the foreign country, and in some cases even get elected to high constitutional posts like Senator/ Governor/ Chairman of Board of Studies, etc. Curiously similar combinations will be found in the horoscopes of Indian Envoys posted abroad.

Similar are the results when 10th and 12th lords of the dasamsha have mutual aspect or association.

It should be noted that while moveable signs indicate travels away from homeland and hence might indicate long stay abroad, common signs indicating foreign travel signify that the person might travel a lot to foreign lands, but there will be no extended stay there, i.e. they will visit the foreign lands on professional visits of a short duration – may be to a maximum of 5 years at a stretch and return back to the homeland.

Periods When Foreign Travels Are Indicated

When there are adequate prospects in the natal   chart  for going abroad, the native may undertake foreign travels during any of the periods mentioned below,

1) Dasa/ bhukti of the 9th lord or the 12th lord, or the planets that are in association with the 12th lord (by placement or aspect).

2) Dasa/ bhukti of the planets that are associated with Moon

3) Dasa/ bhuktis of Rahu, Venus, or Moon if these planets are in the 12th house.

4) Dasa/ bhuktis of exalted/ debilitated planets in the horoscope.

5) Sub-periods of Ketu and Rahu in the major period of Rahu.

6) Jupiter bhukti in Saturn dasa (if Jupiter owns 12th house)

7) Dasa/ bhukti of the planets associated with the 9th lord.

8) When Saturn in its transit crosses the natal position of Sun.

9) When Jupiter in its transit aspects the 9th or 12th house, or aspects the 9th/ 12th house lords.

10) Foreign jaunts are experienced even during sade-sathi.

11) If the Munda – a sensitive point based on annual progressed horoscope falls in the 9th house along with other favourable transits.

Foreign Travel and Journeys

My primary motivation behind writing this article is to reason out and derive the principles for predicting foreign travel by way of Vedic Astrology and try to fit the description for the cases that I know of. Over the years, I have rummaged through various books and magazines, but have not been entirely satisfied with the content. My analysis may not be entirely correct and I am even ready for nasty comments for the content of

this article   Please help me in this exercise of my own learning. I will be more than happy to look at your comments and incorporate appropriate changes in the main article for benefit of all.

Traveling to new places, meeting new people either for purpose of business or just for pleasure helps gains knowledge and broaden our horizons and perspective. It makes us wiser. For a long time now, Indians have chosen to go abroad for the same of employment - to avail of opportunities for professional satisfaction and to make more money. Arguably this trend is reversing in the last few years as the economy revives in

India but visiting other countries is still considered as desirable and a source of excitement for a lot of people.

There are various reasons why people move from one place to another:

Journeys within a geographical region due to nature of work - what we colloquially call "traveling job".

Business travel to a foreign land.

Tourism or pilgrimage.

Change is residence due to profession or after marriage if the spouse is settled in a different place.

Astrologically, the rules to be considered for predicting travel are:

12th House: In a horoscope, 12th house shows separation. Malefic influences on 12th house make a person wander from place to place.

3rd and 9th House: While 4th house represents comfort of a house, 3rd and 9th being 12th (causing separation) and 6th (alien-ness) from 4th denote journeys. 3rd house should be considered for short journeys and 9th for long journeys. I think this is due to the fact that from 9th house we also look at religion and hence pilgrimages, which usually were very long in olden times. Moreover,

malefic influences on 4th house, by way of occupation will make one leave his/her birth place, i.e. travel to a foreign location.

7th House: A lot of sages have mentioned in their works that residence in foreign countries should be looked at from seventh house.

Movable and Watery signs: Position of lords of above mentioned houses in these signs indicates travel.

Rahu and Saturn: These planets influence travel in their dasha and antardasha. Rahu signifies the foreign element in the chart, something that is unconventional and out of ordinary.

Sun: While positioned in any of the houses - 3rd, 7th, 9th and 12th, Sun influences journeys.

To understand the conditions that lead to foreign travel, combinations between these planets and houses are important. Ascendant lord in moveable or watery sign along with 9th and/or 12th house lord would indicate foreign travel. Combinations with 3rd house lord would indicate short travels instead of long, overseas travel.

Influence of 7th house lord is necessary for settling in a foreign country. Influence of Rahu or other malefic planets on 4th would give the same result by causing estrangement and would show a person leaving the comforts of residence. Placement of 4th house lord in 12th house has a similar effect. These combinations along with other combination of journeys would mean a one way ticket to a foreign country.

Correspondingly, beneficial influences on 4th house in combination with 9th house would indicate increased attachment with the original place of residence and the person would come back home.

The timing of journey is always governed by 9th or 12th house lords and planets influencing these houses either though aspect or occupation of the house. Influence of lord of difficult houses - 6th house and in particular 8th house would indicate problems with travel, e.g. an unfavourable Mars in a chart in this scenario would indicate possible accidents while traveling.

Here is how the feeling or thought behind “going abroad” has changed:

In olden days, going abroad usually meant crossing the ocean and thereby losing one’s caste / religion or one went abroad when banished from the kingdom. The implication here is that it was a bad thing to happen unlike the present situation where it is thought of to be a great achievement to go abroad for studies or job.

So, what was misfortune in olden days is now considered to be a great fortune!

Another perspective is on the definition of “foreign”. In olden days, a person going from say, Mysore Kingdom to Nizam’s Dominion could be thought of as going to a foreign country. Now it is only a matter of going from a city in Karnataka to another city in Andhra Pradesh.

Finally, what about folks who moved during partition from Lahore to Amritsar or from Decca to Kolkota. Though they have traveled only a short distance, it is a foreign country that they have gone to.

From the perspective of Jyothish:

a) “foreign” is associated to Rahu and Ketu - implying a different religion, different race, etc.

b) voyages are long journeys and are linked to 7th house and watery signs

c) pilgrimages are linked to 9th house

d) exile is linked to the 12th house

e) frequent travels are linked to movable signs

f) Short trips are linked to 3rd house

I know the case of a child who was born in Hyderabad, AP, at his maternal grandfather’s place and moved to Bangalore where his father stays in his 5th month. His ascendant lord is Mars which is in the 12th house. Balance of Mars dasha at birth was around 2 years. So can it be said that during the ascendant lord’s dasha, the person went away from his place of birth to live in another place because the ascendant lord is in the

12th?

On the lighter side, is it “foreign” enough, though both the cities are in India? Why I ask this question is

a) Hyderabad cuisine is different from Bangalore cuisine

b) Hyderabad lingo is different from Bangalore’s lingo

c) Generally, the attitudes of people are different

At least this is what the child’s dad says to console his (the child’s) mom who expresses her disappointment once in a while at not being able to go “foreign” even though married to an IT professional 

Foreign Travels    

After analysis of number of horoscope It has been observed the various principles and planets combination that promotes Foreign Travels. The House involved in Foreign Travels are 1st house, 3rd house, 4th house, 7th house, 8th house, 9th house and 12th house. 

One must examine the zodiac sign in these houses and planetary affects on these houses. The Dasa and Anterdasa of theses planets are also helpful in Foreign Travels. Some of these principles are given below: 

1.   9th house signifies long journeys. The 9th lord in 9th with Rahu make's one father famous in a foreign country. If such combination exits in the horoscope of child, his father may live in foreign country and naturally gives to the child foreign connection. 

2.   12th house being 4th from 9th has been given major role for residence in a foreign country. 

3.   If the 9th lord is exalted in the 12th house, one attains distinction firstly in his/her own country and then travels to foreign countries. If 12th house is movable or common sign, it gives better results.

4.   If 2nd lord is in the 12th one becomes rich in foreign country. If 2nd lord is strong then it is very beneficial. 

5.   As per Bhrigu, Moon in 11th gives love marriage and residence in foreign country. Sun in ascendant gives fortune abroad.

6.   As per Manteshwar Moon in 9th means Foreign Travels. 

7.   Rahu signifies all things related to foreign countries. It's dasa is most interesting as it gives lots of change and unlimited wealth if well placed But it does not promise satisfaction. 

8.   If most of the planets are placed in in movable or dual sign, then native travels abroad frequently. 

9.   If there is connection between 5th, 10th, 12th, 7th and 9th house and dasa of planet related to these houses is running then person travels abroad for education purpose. 

10.  If 10th lord is in 12th house then native has to work at far off places.

11.  Saturn in 9th house also gives lots of foreign Travels.

12.  If Saturn, Jupiter and 12th lord are well placed then native goes abroad for setting up an Ashram or in quest of spiritual mission.