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July's Jyotish Star of the Month

A Conversation with Vedic Astrologer Sam Geppi

Christina Collins: Where did you find yourself interested in Vedic Astrology and Yoga? For example, did you explore Western Astrology or rather Tropical Astrology first? Or, have you always been Sidereal and practiced Jyotish?

Sada Siva (Sam Geppi): I began doing intensive meditation when I was 19 years old, and learned from the books of the Teacher Rajneesh (later called Osho). That was my introduction, in this lifetime, to Vedic concepts. Years later I began studying yoga, and became a certified yoga teacher in 2001 through the Sivananda Yoga lineage.

I had developed an interest in the Tarot, and also some Western astrology. But these Western systems never resonated with me and were not congruent with my spiritual practices.

I began studying Vedic Astrology in earnest in 2000, then things accelerated very quickly from there. Mainly because all of those Vedic principles I had been studying for close to 20 years suddenly snapped into place once I looked into Jyotish. I had been studying the Vedic / Hindu gods, mantras, the gunas, all of the energetics of yoga which

underpins Vedic Astrology, for close to 20 years by that time.

In my opinion, one of the most important things that have been lost in "Neo-Vedic Astrology" is the connection to classical yoga and the culture that produced the Vedic sciences. This is not to disparage anyone or practitioner, because many who practice this way help people a lot and Vedic Astrology is so powerful it's going to work whether someone knows the classical Vedic principles or not.

But once someone has background in Vedic teaching, they can understand what is meant to by all of the Deities, all of the universal Vedic principles, then one can then hear the Astrology behind all the classic stories, like the Bhagavad-Gita, the Ramayana, etc.

To me, this level of authentic Vedic knowledge is necessary to understanding Vedic Astrology and is really where the sweetness lies. These connections are what take Vedic Astrology to a higher level, into the realm of a "Vedanga", a limb of the Veda (truth of life).

When we connect to the Veda, (through any Vedanga) we are connected to the truth of life itself, to the source - not just to a system that helps us get what we want, be happier on Earth, etc. Although the Vedangas bring that too. The joy of life is folded into these deeper truths.

This is why the first things I teach in any course are the universal, Vedic principles that underpin astrology, yoga, Ayurveda, etc.

Christina: Thank you for showing our readers the spiritual element to the Vedic system of Astrology, or Jyotish! Can you tell us a little bit about where you grew up, and what brought you to the USA and kindled your devotion to your spiritual path?

Sada Siva: I grew up in Maryland. Nothing or no one from my childhood kindled my spiritual path, except the need to connect to something deeper than the confusion I was exposed to.

Christina: Yes, it is true, often from adversity or challenges comes the light! It reminds me of the famous quote, �It is always darkest before the dawn!� It often encourages us to seek out further mentors. Tell us, what teacher(s) inspired you, mentored you, or have been your strongest support along the way?

Sada Siva: I owe all of my success and inspiration to my Sat Guru, Mata Amritanandamayi, affectionately known as Amma. To have been so blessed to sit at the feet of a being who is the culmination of all astrological principles has been invaluable, especially in coming to the realization that everything is an expression of divine love. Vedic Astrology can be very heavy-handed. But through my time with Amma, I've come to know everything is just different moods of the divine mother, her lilas. [editor�s note � Lila is Sanskrit for divine play of consciousness]

I have also been strongly supported by enlightened mystic Dr. Pillai (formerly known as Dattatreya Siva

Baba, a main teacher of Dr. Wayne Dyer) and the Astroved University of Vedic Sciences. Dr. Pillai hired me as the main instructor for his international Vedic Astrology certification program in 2011.

I have also received enormous support from the Shivananda organization, which is where I did my yoga training

I am grateful for all of this support.

Christina: What advice would you give that could be helpful for students of Yoga, and Vedic Astrology?

Sada Siva: Learn about yoga, Vedanta and the universal principles that underpin all of the Vedic sciences, and in fact all metaphysical systems the world over. As I said, before I teach any course on Astrology, I teach these universal principles.

I systematized this approach in 2008 in a course called "Universal Astrology", which to date has been taught to hundreds of students. These courses are available as part of my certification program.

Christina: Please tell us a little bit about your own writing, do you have books, either that you have written, or that you recommend to help the aspiring student? Do you plan this for the future?

Sada Siva: I wrote The Ascendant-108 Planets of Vedic Astrology in 2004. This is the book that breaks down the planets as classical house rulers, per the specific rules in Brihat Parshara Hora Sastra. It is also an excellent book for establishing the foundations and principles of Vedic Astrology as I have described here. I do recommend it for beginning and intermediate students.

In typical Gemini fashion, I have several books already written, that need to be edited and finished. That is the plan for the next couple of years, to get these books out.

Also the voluminous manuals to my certification program are being published at the present time.

Christina: Wonderful! We can all look forward to their completion! Do you have any conferences or events coming up soon?

Sada Siva: I have an ongoing certification course, that is now supported through CVA (Council for Vedic Astrology) and many free astrology classes and forecasts. I also have master courses on Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, The Nodes, Vedic relationship astrology and many other subjects.

I also recently established the American Academy of Vedic Art and Science to facilitate training astrologers and to support other Vedic healers, artists and practitioners.

You can get more information about those things at: http://vedicastrologycertification.com/

Christina: Well thank you, Sam, for taking the time out to answer our questions and talk with us today. I know how very busy your schedule is, and we appreciate it!

Sada Siva (Sam Geppi): Biography:

He is the author of The Ascendant-108 Planets of Vedic Astrology, a consistent bestseller on Amazon.com for Vedic astrology. He recently founded the American Academy of Vedic Art and Science as a nexus of Vedic thinking in the west.

He was recently appointed as the main instructor in the AstroVed University of Vedic Sciences Certification Program - a 12 month program initiated by enlightened Master Dattatreya Siva Baba.

He has also contributed to various Astrology and yoga publications, both print and online.

Contact Information:
He may be reached by email at: [email protected]

Christina Collins Biography:

Christina Collins, Jyotish Visharada, CVA, Jyotish Kovid, ICAS and CVA, Jyotish Vachaspati, ICAS is a third generation Astrologer specializing in the Vedic system. She received her honorary titles from the late Dr. B.V. Raman, former President of the ICAS (Indian Center for Astrological Sciences) in New Delhi and Bangalore, India and from CVA (Council for Vedic Astrology, Seattle, WA USA). She is the first and sole American woman to be honored by this highly held title of Jyotish Vachaspati (Jyotish - the light bearer and Vachaspati - the one who speaks the truth and whose predictions come true. (In Sanskrit, Vac = speech and Brihaspati is a name of Jupiter the planet of wisdom and truth. She serves as faculty and on the Board of Directors of the American College for Vedic Astrology

(ACVA online), as former Editor of the ACVA News. President of Celestial Resource (The Timing Coach) where she serves corporate and private clients from celebrities to students. You can reach her in Boulder CO at [email protected]:

Christina's consultation contact information:

Christina Collins, J.K., J.V.
Editor in Chief The Jyotish Star
Lafayette, (Boulder County) CO, USA
web site: http://www.vedicastrologer.cc
email: [email protected]
phone: 303-665-9996



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