In Vedic Astrology, there is remedies to boost the benefic planets in a birth chart. One way is by wearing a Kavach. To learn more about this mystical amulet click here

MOST EFFECTIVE POINT
The most effective point is another important concept in the System's Approach method of interpreting the horoscope. The most effective point is based on the degree of the ascendant. This point shows the effect that the planets have when they are within a five-degree orb of the most effective point on either side of the ascendant. When planets are at the most effective point, they become very predominant in the natal chart whether it be a benefic or malefic influence.

Therefore, any planet within that 5-degree orb or range of the ascendant, is then determined to be at the most effective point and the planet becomes very active and potent. The planet carries an effect on the house it is deposited in and any other house that the planet aspects. How the activated planets affect these houses is to be determined by the nature of the planet.

For example, if the ascendant is rising in the chart at 10 degrees, then the closer the planet is to the 10 degree point, the more impact it will have on the houses it is placed in and the houses aspected. Take Jupiter in the Aries ascendant chart and place it at 9 degrees in Cancer. Jupiter is within a 1-degree orb of the rising sign and becomes very potent not only in the fourth house where the sign Cancer is but the other houses it aspects.

Jupiter has aspects of 5, 7, and 9 and is a functional benefic planet for the Aries ascendant and is exalted in the sign of Cancer. Therefore it is very benefic in this chart as the houses Jupiter aspects are the 8th, 10th and the 12th and these houses will have a greater benefic impact from Jupiter on account of its most effective point status.

The same rules apply for malefic planets. If Rahu and Ketu are at 12 degrees for the 10 degree Aries ascendant and they are in the 2nd and 8th house respectively, then the houses these nodes aspect are damaged as their most effective point is within 2 degrees. Rahu and Ketu give aspects of 5, 7, and 9 as well and therefore the nodes damage six of the houses. They would be houses 2,4,6,8,10 and 12.

Therefore, any planets that are between 5 and 15 degrees for the 10 degree Aries ascendant become more activated, having a greater impact when within the orb of the most effective point. Other planets outside of this specific range are not dormant but the impact is not as great except during their transit periods when they fall into that 5 to 15 degree range.

The closer the planet is to the exact point of the rising sign the more potent they become. Another example: A malefic planet that is at 5 degrees will bring some harm to the house or houses it aspects but certainly nothing near the trouble the malefic planet would inflict if it was within a 1-degree orb of the ascendant. The 1-degree orb carries the most powerful effect, either tremendously beneficial or extremely damaging depending on the planet's nature. The impact slightly decreases as it moves each degree away.

Another example: if the birth chart has the ascendant in Cancer at 15 degrees and Jupiter and Saturn are at 14 and 17 degrees respectively, then these planets are within the Most Effective Point and will carry extra impact not only to the house they are posited in, but into the houses they aspect. The planets Jupiter and Saturn are determined to be Malefic planets for The Cancer Ascendant since their Mooltrikona signs fall into the sixth and eighth houses respectively, therefore the effect they have on the houses they aspect will be detrimental to the native. Saturn has aspects not only 7 houses away, but also 3 and 10 houses away. Jupiter has aspects of 5, 7 and 9. The planet Jupiter will deter every house it aspects by an 80 % impact because it is within one degree of the Most Effective Point. Saturn will deter every house it aspects by a 60% impact, being two degrees away from the Most Effective Point. A planet that is within 4 degrees of the MEP has a 20% impact.

The same point applies to the benefic planet in one's birth chart. For the Cancer ascendant with the Sun exalted in the sign of Aries in the tenth house at 15 degrees, the person will have a 100% impact from the Sun affecting the house of career and status. The seventh house aspect of the sun will also affect the fourth house, representing the home, Mother and emotional state of mind. Obviously with this type of impact on these two houses, one could only assume great benefits unless other malefic planets were affecting either the Sun or those houses.

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This article was written by John R. Fyfe