Sorry if I was not being clear before. There are at least 3-4 different ways to calculate Chara Dasas. Once Ernst explained why this is so, but it was too technical for me to understand. I am not sure but I think there is some controversy about the method of deciding the Chara dasha order which is the issue here.

There are : Parasara’s Chara Dasa system, KN Rao’s Chara Dasa system, and Ranacharya’s Chara Dasa system, and maybe more. I am not sure what system Ernst/Kala uses. Based on a 365-day year, Goravani shows me in Aries-Pisces; Kala shows me in Pisces/Pisces; and Jagannatha Hora shows me in Aries/Aquarius using Parasara Chara Dasa, and then also the same in KN Rao’s modified phalita Rasi; and the Ranacharya Chara Dasa puts me in Cancer/Libra! Arghhhhhhh!

Re: 9 or more different Dasas that some astrologers use to make one prediction for one person, I trust that you know many of these as Ernst has taught them. These include Rasi Dasas like Chara, Nakshatra Dasas like Vimshottari, and “Other” Dasas like the Moola Dasa. You can download Sri Jagannatha Hora for free and it has more Dasas listed than one could possibly imagine!

I like your simple but concise method for reading transits. Using the degree of the Lagna as a trigger elsewhere in the chart is the same as the MEP in SA astrology. Glad this is working for you and I will certainly keep it in mind.

Thanks!

I am not sure what you mean — i use one of the rasi dasas called chara dasa - but are you saying there are 9 diiferent ways to calulate that or are you saying somethng else ..

as for house cusps i tend to favor the beginning of the house starting using whole signs from the lagna degree..

so a 5 degree ascendant would have triggers from the lagna at 5 degrees in every SIGN, the next 30 degrees are that house —
also from eah plane to the exact degree — this is actually ashtakavarga -

read romance from the exact degree of venus, projected forward, - a venus at 2 degrees would have triggers at 2 degrees everywhere,, so when saturn hits the exact degree from (natal) venus the spouse will DIE!, just kidding,, –

seriously though i am working more and more with this and it seems to be reliable espeially when assessing the dasa planets also - it also brings in the outer planets nicely

Posting your comment.

I am not sure what you mean — i use one of the rasi dasas called chara dasa - but are you saying there are 9 diiferent ways to calulate that or are you saying somethng else ..

as for house cusps i tend to favor the beginning of the house starting using whole signs from the lagna degree..

so a 5 degree ascendant would have triggers from the lagna at 5 degrees in every SIGN, the next 30 degrees are that house —
also from eah plane to the exact degree — this is actually ashtakavarga -

read romance from the exact degree of venus, projected forward, - a venus at 2 degrees would have triggers at 2 degrees everywhere,, so when saturn hits the exact degree from (natal) venus the spouse will DIE!, just kidding,, :) –

seriously though i am working more and more with this and it seems to be reliable espeially when assessing the dasa planets also - it also brings in the outer planets nicely

When we consider how many different house systems there are, and how many excellent and varied opinions exist on the different house systems, again my mind blows and I have to revert to keeping it simple and using what works best for me.

I think, just like there are so many different kinds of people, there are house systems to suit every type. Some astrologers are successful with the use of plain old sign cusps. The KP astrologers are very successful with pinpoint timing using the Placidus cusps. Some seasoned astrologers swear by equal house bhava madhyas. I tend to like the Sri Pati or Regiomantanus.

On a similar topic, how about all the different Dasa systems! Just in the Chara Dasa, there are at least 3-4 different ones being used. I have heard that KN Rao’s teacher, a famed pandit-astrologer in India, used 9 dasas for every event. That means, he would not make a prediction without seeing it play over and over in 9 different dasas! Another great Jyotishi named Vemuri Shastri used 15 or sometimes even 20 dasas simultaneously, and it is said he never went wrong in his predictions. More lenient Jyotishi use a minimum of 3 dasas (like KCD, Yogini, Chara and Vimshottari) and then there are contemporary masters like CS Patel who use only transits, which I am reminded of as you have also pointed out the utter importance of transits. The Hora Sara Method by Varahamihira’s son uses transits exclusively for predictions, no dasas. I personally like the combination but as you say to pinpoint events, sometimes transits are most accurate.

However, I saw an interesting event not too long ago in timing in my younger son’s chart. He left Rahu-Saturn and entered Rahu-Mercury on the exact day he graduated from high school. Rahu-Saturn in his chart was a very isolating period when he felt somewhat trapped and socially dissatisfied in high school. He is Gemini Rising and Mercury is conjunct Ketu and Venus in Virgo in his 4H, and the Mercury sub-Dasa has proven to be a much lighter, happier, and more sociable cycle so far, and the Dasa timing was amazingly precise for this one event.

Yes, Ashtakavarga is a great method. My favorite book on it is _Dots of Destiny_ by Vinay Aditya.

Thanks!

much of my precise timing is geared more toward transits anyway which are a lot more stable than seconds of arc. planets transiting over natal positions, house cusps, etc. are very reliable.

when things slow down for me i am going to get deeply into Astakavarga which is really the best way to read transits.