Career Astrology: finding your path to opportunity

Judging career aptitudes is one of the most difficult areas of astrology. Occasionally, a chart will offer
a clear picture that makes it easy to see vocational direction. More often, however, it’s a mixed bag
that defies simple categorization. Nonetheless, by following some basic rules of Vedic astrology (along
with some Western ideas), we can catch a glimpse into the person’s probable areas of worldly
engagement. And by using some of Jyotish’s unique timing techniques, we can predict when the most
favourable periods for career advancement will be.
In Vedic astrology, one assesses career by blending the influences of key houses and planets. The
most important house is the first house or lagna. If we had only one house to analyze before making a
judgment, this would be it. The first house represents the person as a whole and therefore planets or
aspects here can shape a person’s outlook that reflects the planets’ significations. The first house ruler
or lagnesh is also important. A person with Pisces rising that has lagnesh Jupiter closely conjoined by
Venus will probably need to express that Venusian side in some fundamental way in their lives. But
that only narrows down our choices somewhat since Venus encompasses a fairly wide range of
vocational options. It may be art, entertainment, beauty and cosmetics, or prostitution, to name a
few. We can narrow down these choices even more by looking at the rest of the key factors in the char

Next we need to examine the condition of the luminaries, the Sun and Moon. Since they are
fundamental to the personality, they will often find expression in the career. If the Sun is placed in
Gemini conjoining Mercury aspected by Mars, this might suggest a computing career or something
else that blends the notion of information, communications, and technical knowledge. Or maybe the
Moon is placed in Virgo, the sign of healing, and rules the 6th house of Cancer and is placed in the 8th
house. This combination may give an interest in the health field, especially the areas of alternative
health and life extension as represented by the 8th house. Moreover, let’s say this combination was
aspected by the first lord Saturn, thus linking it back to the first house or the person as a whole. This
is precisely the combination we see in the chart of Deepak Chopra.

As in Western astrology, the 10th house is most closely connected with career. Here I like to make
primary use of the whole sign 10th house and its lord to assess career influences. The unequal 10th
house cusp or MC may also be used for supplementary information. While the house position of the
10th lord does not necessarily dictate the direction of career, it can sometimes express its flavour or
style. Again, it is important to look for repeating themes. If the 10th lord is in the 8th house and the
nodes are prominent in some way and the person has Scorpio rising, then we might start to look at
typical 8th house careers such as metaphysics or affairs of the dead.

Another strategy is to find the best house, the best sign, and the best planet in a chart. Perhaps there
is there an exalted planet in the horoscope. If there is, it may exercise a strong influence on career
selection particularly if it’s dispositor and nakshatra dispositors are well placed. The same goes for
swakshetra planets, or planet in its own sign. Jupiter in Sagittarius may guide the native towards law,
academics and religion if it is closely aspected by Mercury or Venus and its nakshatra dispositor (Ketu,
Venus or Sun depending on where in Sagittarius it is) are well placed and associated with the 10th
house.

Careers by planet
Sun authority, politicians, scientists, leaders, directors, government employees, doctors, jewelers
Moon nursing, the public, women, children, travelling, marine, cooks, restaurants, import/export.
Mars fire, energy, metals, initiative, weapons, construction, soldiers, police, surgeons, engineers.
Mercury intellect, writing, teaching, merchandise, clerks, accountants, editors, transport, astrologers.
Jupiter finance, law, treasury, scholars, priests, politicians, advertising, psychologist, humanitarian.
Venus pleasures, luxuries, beauty, art, music, entertainment industry, sex industry, hotels.
Saturn the aged, death, real estate, labour, agriculture, building trades, mining, monk.
Rahu researchers, engineers, physicians, medicine/drugs, speculators, aviation, electricity, waste.
Ketu idealism, enlightenment, religion, secret affairs, poisons, metaphysics.
Uranus scientists, inventors, computing, astrologers, lab technicians, electronics.
Neptune photographers, movies, marine, oil, pharmaceutical, psychics, poets.
Pluto research, investigators, insurance, death, longevity-related technology, espionage.

Careers by sign
Aries army and police, surgeon, mechanics, iron and steel, firefighting, industrialists, athletes.
Taurus luxury goods, jewelry, cosmetics, music, actors, banking, tailors, fashion, property.
Gemini media and journalism, accountants, representatives, translators, writers.
Cancer naval and marine, fishing, nursing, interior design, food, petroleum, historians.
Leo government jobs, politics, religion, investing, diplomacy.
Virgo computing, astrology, accounting, media, doctors, healing.
Libra judges, artists, cosmetics, fashion, receptionists, advertising, interior decorating, prostitutes.
Scorpio chemicals, drugs, liquids, insurance, doctors, nurses, police, occult.
Sagittarius law, religion, banking and finance, entrepreneurs, athletes, clothing and shoes.
Capricorn raw material extraction and processing such as lumber and mining
Aquarius advisors, consultants, philosophers, astrologers, engineers, computing
Pisces doctors, marine related, chemicals, oil, painters, hospital, prisons.

Careers by house
First self-employment, politics or the public at large, the body (e.g. health club)
Second banking, investments, accountants, restaurants, teaching, consultants, psychologists, writing
Third communication, arts, sales, advertising, computing, writing, publishing
Fourth agriculture, building trades, real estate, vehicles, water, geology and mining
Fifth politics, stockbrokers, religious rituals, entertainment, authorship
Sixth lawyers, military, police, labour, health related professions, food, waiters.
Seventh business, trade, merchant, females, foreign business.
Eighth insurance, research, death-related, metaphysics (e.g. astrology), sex industry.
Ninth law, university teaching, travel, religious professions, foreign countries.
Tenth government jobs, dealing with public and the masses, managers, politics.
Eleventh trade and business, accountants, financial institutions, group work.
Twelfth foreign, jobs requiring secrecy, travels, hospitals, prisons, charities, advocacy.