Date: March 2011
By Christina Collins
Christina Collins: Where did you get your start in Vedic Astrology? Who inspired you?
|  | Juliana Swanson: I was a practitioner of yoga, mysticism and Western astrology from a young age, and was initially inspired by what little I read in Paramahansa Yogananda�s Autobiography of a Yogi when I was 14 years old. I learned from Alan Leo and other Theosophists early on. In the 80�s, I read Paul Brunton�s A Search for Secret India and was �blown away� by the chapter titled �Written in the Stars,� about a famed Benares astrologer named Sudhei Babu. I found James Braha�s books in the mid-90s and had a reading with him, and after that I began reading everything about Vedic Astrology that I could get my hands on. It was my great fortune to align my studies |
with CVA (known as the "American Council of Vedic Astrology" back then). I began their certification program in 2000. I took all of Roeland De Loof's correspondence courses through Dirah Academy. I studied David Frawley's and Dennis Flaherty's correspondence courses. I had private readings and tutoring with various astrologers including Andrew Foss and Ernst Wilhelm. I attended many ACVA / CVA conferences for years, where I learned from a diverse and esteemed group of Vedic Astrologers from India, Europe and the USA. I also joined Internet study groups and learned along with many of my newfound Vedic Astrology peers.
Christina: Are you a consulting astrologer, a scholar or writer, or a teacher � or all four?
Juliana: I am perhaps first a consulting astrologer. I also am privileged to instruct for ACVA�S Online Program, (American College for Vedic Astrology), or as ACVA's President, Bill Levacy says, to act as a �guide on the side� for ACVA�s online (www.acvaonline.org) program! I also do a good bit of private tutoring, and I teach for the International Academy of Astrology (IAA). I do not have time to research and write as much as I would like at this time in my career, though I did recently have two research articles published by Saptarishis Digital Astrology Magazine.
Christina: Who inspired you, mentored you, or has been your strongest support along the way?
Juliana: Dennis Flaherty of the North West Institute of Vedic Sciences was a brilliant source of inspiration through his correspondence course and private tutoring over a number of years. More recently, I have relied on the guidance and teachings of esteemed Vedic Astrologer Robert Koch. And at the same time, I have been blessed with an incredible number of friends, guides and mentors along the way, many of them through ACVA and CVA and also, a few in India. Ultimately, my Sadguru is my strongest support and guide in the Jyotir Vidya.
Christina: What Jyotish books or resources have you found most helpful for students of Vedic Astrology?
Juliana: Number One is A Thousand Suns: Designing Your Future with Vedic Astrology, by Linda Johnsen
Other books I could not live without are:
- GeoVision�s Vedic Astrology Bookshelf, a software compilation of the most significant Jyotish classics. Of these, of course, Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra is the mother lode, but perhaps my favorite is Satyajatakam.
- Astrology of the Seers: A Guide to Vedic/Hindu Astrology, by David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri). The books that go with his correspondence course also provide an immeasurable source of Jyotish and Vedic wisdom.
- The Key of Life: Astrology of the Lunar Nodes, by Prash Trivedi.
- Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India, by Hart de Fouw and Robert Svoboda.
- Vault of the Heavens by Ernst Wilhelm.
- Classical Muhurta by Ernst Wilhelm.
- Horary Astrology and Swarauday Shastra by Sumeet Chugh
- Eastern Astrology for Western Minds: A Compilation of NeoVedic Astrology, by Joni Patry. I use this as a textbook for my students at IAA, as they mostly come from a Western astrology background.
- Beneath a Vedic Sky: A Beginner's Guide to the Astrology of Ancient India, by William R. Levacy.
Christina: Please tell us a little bit about your own Astrology book(s), and are there more in the planning?
Juliana: I have not written a book yet, but am incubating a few ideas as we speak. Because I have so many irons in the fire, I will have to take an extended or permanent hiatus from my private consulting and holistic therapy practice when I am ready to start writing, and the time is not yet ripe for this transition. Please stay tuned!
Christina: I know you have a medical background, as a nurse and healer. How do you find Vedic Astrology helpful in your field?
Juliana: Yes, since 1977, I have been a registered nurse (RN), and since the late 80�s, I have been a holistic therapist. I am no longer practicing as an RN, so that I am now able to devote more time to my work as a Consulting Astrologer as well as a Polarity Therapist and Rebirthing Practitioner. Astrology is an invaluable tool that I use in my healing work. It can provide a clear picture of my clients� karmic patterns as well as energetic and physical imbalances. Ultimately, Vedic Astrology very reassuringly reveals each soul�s �big-picture� purpose for this lifetime and beyond. Perhaps most importantly, Vedic Astrology provides a broad range of traditional and modern remedial measures that are very helpful to my clients.
Christina: Are you a vegetarian, or do you follow an Ayurvedic diet?
Juliana: I became a vegetarian when I found my way to Kriya Yoga as a youngster (that makes me sound so old!). I have experimented with veganism and lacto-ovo vegetarianism and try to follow the Rainbow Diet. Nowadays, I eat dairy and eggs, and some poultry or fish on rare occasions. I have studied Ayurveda and am fortunate to now have an Ayurvedic physician (Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar). My diet is strongly influenced by his recommendations, though I doubt he would approve of my drinking two cups of coffee daily! The way I talk my way around this is that I live in Hawaii, where coffee grows in abundance, so it would be considered �macrobiotic� on some level, I think. Well, per Dr. Lad, I also I add some nutmeg and cardamom as an �antidote� for the coffee. One of my best yogini friends (Shankari Shapiro of Ananda Shanti Yoga Center in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts) led me back into juicing last May, so I try to juice a �Green Goddess� veggie juice every day. It really is like divine nectar for body and soul, as well as a propitiation for my dasha lord Mercury!
Christina: Can you tell us a little more about the �Rainbow diet?�
Juliana: Well when I was studying Polarity Therapy a few decades ago, I was introduced to the work of Dr. Gabriel Cousens in his first book called Spiritual Nutrition and the Rainbow Diet, which is about the metaphysical, intuitive and spiritual aspects of nutrition. His work has evolved into something more complex through the years, but part of the original concept was related to eating whole live foods in all colors of the rainbow every day. I loved the simplicity of this idea and it felt right to me, so now when I say I follow this, I mean (at the most basic level) that I am aware of the vibrational aspect of food. For instance, each color of the rainbow correlates with a particular chakra and color. Additionally, it�s not what we eat as much as what we think that determines how we are (or are not) nourished by our food. Of course I am also aware of the direct power of whole live foods to balance body, mind and spirit�but anyway, when I shop for my fruits and veggies, it is always fun to choose based on the rainbow, and to remember that I am a �rainbow light body� having a physical experience here on Planet Earth!
Christina: We know you live in beautiful Hawaii! Do you teach classes in Hawaii too?
Juliana: Yes, I live on the Big Island of Hawaii. I do not teach classes here except for the ones I teach from my computer online. I really would not have time, though many have asked me to offer classes. I hope to someday sponsor a Vedic Astrology conference with some of the best teachers in the world. I would especially enjoy sharing with the conference participants my favorite pastime of stargazing at Mauna Kea�s visitor observatory.
Christina: Oh that would be just wonderful! | | |
Christina: Would you like to tell us something about your family? Any more astrologers?
Juliana: Don�t I wish! Well, David Swanson (�Maha Dave�) is my beloved husband of 25+ years. He is a real estate agent by profession. David is my staunch advocate and an extremely generous, loyal life partner who has always encouraged me to pursue and fulfill my passions. He follows most of my advice and that of our family astrologers, but so far has shown no interest in learning astrology. We have two brilliant and accomplished sons, Zachary (Zach) and Jared - both college graduates, ages 23 and 25. Neither has shown an interest in learning astrology, though they are forever a tremendous and loving support to their mother. I also have a very special group of extended family members and dear friends, all of whom fill me with wisdom, unconditional love and loads of laughter.
Christina: Do you teach webinars? What conferences or events are coming up? Do you have a newsletter people can subscribe to?
Juliana: I teach an occasional live Webinar for ACVA. I work pretty much full-time for ACVA�s online program and truly take pleasure in the curriculum, my colleagues and our shining students. I am also teaching two upcoming 8-week courses for the International Academy of Astrology (IAA). The first is �Introduction to Vedic Astrology,� and the other is a �second-level� course called �The Art and Practice of Vedic Astrology, Level One.� These courses are taught in real-time; that is, we meet for one-and-a-half to two hours each week via �Go To Meeting.� I began teaching these courses March 8 and 10, respectively, and then will offer them again for IAA (with perhaps more class offerings) in June. I do have a free newsletter called �Astral Waves� which comes out quarterly and is available by subscription on my Astral Harmony web site.
Christina: What level does the student need to be in order to gain from attending your webinar?
Juliana: Each ACVA Webinar is different. Some are beginner�s level and some more intermediate or advanced. For IAA, the �Introduction to Vedic Astrology� course is open to astrological newcomers, though the students usually have some background in Western astrology (which is useful). It is an intensive course that anyone could benefit from if he or she is willing to spend several hours a week reading, studying and completing the homework assignments.
Christina: We understand that you have been selected as one of the 150 world class astrologers who will be teaching at UAC in New Orleans in May of 2012! How exciting that must be for you. What topic have you chosen to teach?
Juliana: I am honored to have been asked and yes, I am excited to be going! The biggest thrill is that I will get to learn from the best astrologers in the world, and I also look forward to a merry reunion with all my Vedic Astrology pals in �The Big Easy.� I have chosen to speak about Hast Jyotish, also known as Hasta Samudrika or Vedic Palmistry, which I have been learning on my own now for several years. Recently, I have begun the certification program through the Birla Center for Hast Jyotish, founded by the esteemed Vedic Astrologer and palmist Ghanshyam Singh Birla, a true spiritual master and beloved guru to his devoted students. It will be a pleasure to share about this subject that has become quite dear to my heart.
Christina: What else can we look forward to in the life and times of Juliana Swanson?
Juliana: Well, I am going to India in a few weeks with a group led by Sondra Ray, who has been an ongoing inspiration in my personal and professional journey as a Rebirther for almost 20 years. We are going on a Karma Yoga excursion to the Divine Mother Festival (Chaitra Navaratri) at the Sri Haidakhan Babaji Ashram, one of the holiest places in the world. My heart is wide open to receive and share the blessings of what I trust will be a phenomenal journey. Also while in India, I look forward to spending time in person with some of my best astrology friends.
Thank you for this opportunity to �star� in the Jyotish Star!
Christina: Oh, Juliana, we thank you! Have a wonderful time in India!
Juliana Swanson's Biography: |
 | | Juliana Swanson qualifies as an ACVA and CVA Level II certified Vedic Astrologer, receiving two titles of excellence , the Jyotish Visharada, CVA; and the Jyotish Kovid, CVA. Additionally, she brings depth to her workas a Registered Nurse (RN), Polarity Therapist (RPP) and Rebirthing-Breathwork Facilitator. Juliana runs her holistic healing and astrological consulting practice from her home office on the Big Island of Hawaii. In addition, she tutors vedic astrology students both individually and as an online instructor for both the American College of Vedic Astrology and the International Academy of Astrology. Juliana holds memberships in the Council of Vedic Astrology (CVA); the British Association of Vedic Astrology (BAVA); the |
American Federation of Astrologers (AFA); the International Society for Astrological Research; the American Polarity Therapy Association (APTA); and, Rebirthing-Breathwork International (RBI). You may reach Juliana at her Hawaii office at 808-430-5989
| Jyotish Star Copyright 2011 C. C. Collins - All Rights Reserved |
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