Nav Durga, nine planets of Astrology and nine forces of nature

During the Navratri festival, nine forms of Devi are worshipped across India. In Astrology too we study the nine planets. The whole of life revolves around these nine forces. An understanding of these nine forces can help us get liberated. 

Three of these forces (represented by Saturn, Sun, and Moon) operate in the causal plane that gives rise to the entire cycle of birth and death. These forces manifest in the form of Samskaras in our bodies. When these forces come into contact with the forces of nature (represented by Venus, Mars, and Jupiter), they manifest in the form of mental phenomena represented by Buddhi, Mana, and Chitta (represented by Ketu, Rahu, and Mercury). 

All these nine forces are continuously acting inside all of us. These forces act around a center. In a person, attached to the material world, the center of operation of these forces is the "ego". For example, Saturn, in such cases, will represent Samskaras to hold on to material possessions. Sun in such cases will represent the Samskaras to undertake ventures to expand the material possessions. Moon, in such cases, will represent the Samskaras to set up systems to bring about harmony of material possessions.

On the other hand, if the center of our existence is the consciousness, the same Samskaras will manifest in a different form. Such a person will live life in a witness mode. He will live life with full awareness. Like Krishna, he will undertake all the activities, as a good actor performing a role on the stage, and yet rested in witness consciousness. Saturn, in such a case, will represent Samskaras of Bhakti and devotion. Sun, in such cases, will represent Samskaras of spiritual pursuit and Moon will represent Samskaras of spiritual harmony.

There are three forces of energy (Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) that represent the three forces operating at the quantum, physical, and cosmic scales. Again, in the case of people having ego as the center of their lives, Venus will represent the energy to execute the plans to achieve materialistic targets. Mars will represent the physical energy to put in efforts to achieve the materialistic pursuits and Jupiter will represent the knowledge and planning to formulate the plans to achieve the worldly goals.

On the other hand, for the people centered around the divine, Venus will represent the energy to observe what is going on inside. Mars will represent the energy to live a divine life in the physical world and Jupiter will signify the energy resulting in knowledge and awareness of the cosmic rules. 

Further, there are three forces operating in the mental domain Ketu, Rahu, and Mercury which represent the Chitta, Mana, and the Buddhi. In the case of people centered around ego, Ketu represents the past memories associated with cravings and aversions. Rahu represents the Mana which is running after the desires. Mercury represents Buddhi which is busy building the logic to serve self-interest.

On the other hand, in the case of a person having an awareness of consciousness and one's true nature, Ketu will represent the past memories of the divine pursuit and the blissful moments. Rahu will represent the Mana which is curious to experience the true self. Mercury will represent the Buddhi which is driven by pure logic and not by self-interest.

None of us is either a Ravana or Rama. We all have different shades of both Rama and Ravana in our characters. Accordingly, all these forces of nature keep manifesting in millions of different ways. That keeps the world so diverse. A question arises as to whether there is free will or not. To the best of my understanding, there is completely free will so far as the choice about the center of our life is concerned. We are free to choose Rama or Ravana, the true self or the self-interest. However, once that choice is made, the forces of nature manifest as per the rules of nature.

Astrology is an interesting subject to study the interplay of these nine forces inside human beings. The subject is absolutely dynamic and is so close to real life. I have been studying the subject since 2011 and every time I see a horoscope, I am surprised to experience the precision of the rules of Astrology with which these forces operate. However, it requires a certain degree of non-attachment to study Astrology, or else it may give any person sleepless nights. If a person is able to inculcate that non-attachment, at least to a certain degree, the study of Astrology may actually give quite deep insights into the rules of nature that decide the way life unfolds on this Earth.