No 2012 Doomsday - End of the World

I was raised in rural Maryland - a town called Pasadena. A tough childhood - divorce, etc.. I grew up swimming, playing baseball catching frogs.. the usual stuff.

Although I had no real examples of "success" (no one in my family went to college or was even "happy" in any way that was obvious), I always felt the beauty and joy underneath it all. But childhood was very frustrating - having so much enthusiasm and no power in a very desolate place.. (where i grew up is still 5 miles to the nearest store) was hard.

For those who understand astrology, I went into a Saturn dasa when i was 10 years old.

Then i got in to music, a real blessing. I started playing the Bass Guitar and later six string guitar - then songwriting. I had my own bands for years and made my living as a musician - off and on.

Below is an interview / feature article I did recently with Charlotte Benson - Business Mananger of ACVA (American Council of Vedic Astrology), promoting a class I recently taught.

A Conversation with Sam Geppi
By Charlotte Benson - July 29, 2009

Charlotte Benson: Hi Sam – thanks for taking the time to chat with me today. What got you started on your path of Jyotish?

Sam Geppi: Well – I’ve been doing Eastern meditation since I was 18 years old – about 28 years or so. I’ve been doing Indian studies for a long time. Formally getting into Vedic Astrology happened around 2000 – and I started studying Yoga a lot more formally, then, as well. I had been studying Western Astrology a little bit, too – but then I switched to Vedic Astrology. This seemed to make sense with all the Indian practices that I’d been doing for 20 years; and all the stuff with the chakras – it made a lot of sense. Whereas there was a disconnect from Western Astrology a little bit, as far as related to my dharmic practices.

But once I started studying Vedic Astrology, all the pieces really came together internally, and I realized right away – wow – this is the science of our karma. It’s not just this amorphous thing that happens to us. There’s a structure – there’s a mechanical quality to how our karmas unfold – how and why - and Astrology is literally the science of it. And the correlation to the chakras, and how the signs are the limbs of the Kalaparusha – and we’re the microcosm, and the macrocosm – well – it just blew my mind! And then I just started studying it very naturally because I loved it.

CB: (Laughter) I know that feeling.

SG: So then, in 2001, I lost a job where I was making good money. Then I went and got Yoga training. I knew I was going to have a couple of years to transition, because of severance pay and unemployment, etc. So within 6 – 8 months of clearing my head and doing Yoga training, I set my sights on maybe doing Vedic Astrology for a living. And I just started getting clients – it just happened organically. And I never looked back. It happened very easily.

CB: And what were your favorite resources, as a student?

SG: Well – I’ve done the ACVA certification.

CB: Excellent!

SG: I also had a chance to look into the classical texts directly. As I was going through the ACVA certification as well, I had a chance to do my own research. Thinking intuitively, and sort of connecting a lot of the dots intuitively with certain things lead to my first book “The Ascendant: 108 Planets of Vedic Astrology” where I took a couple of the classical chapters and some of the most important principles and put them in a structure around which anyone can approach every chart from the Ascendant, in three dimensions. Using planets as House Rulers, Exaltation and Debilitation Points. I studied with a tutor when I was going through my ACVA training; but most of what I do is really my own imagination, interacting with the classical texts.

That’s what I think we’re really supposed to do, to some extent. The texts are a great framework, and if you follow the principles as far as they will go – you’re suddenly going to start infiltrating into everything else. And that’s really what happened, that’s the process that unfolded for me. And that’s really why I keep going – just pondering the deeper principles behind the texts. And once I do that, I can kind of follow it into any area that I need to go with – something new, or whatever.

CB: Wow. That’s quite a unique process! Is your spiritual name, Sada Siva, connected with your path as a Jyotishi?

SG: I got my spiritual name through the Sivananda Yoga Ashram lineage – that’s where I did my Yoga training. This happened in 2001.

CB: You must have been running some interesting dasas at that point. Do you remember what they were?

SG: Oh, sure. The real Astrology stuff came in Mercury/Rahu. In my chart, Mercury and Rahu form a bunch of raja yogas. I have Gemini lagna, and Mercury is in the first (house), with Rahu, Venus, and the Sun. So, I have a whole bunch of planets in Gemini. That Mercury/Rahu (dasha) kicked in about four raja yogas.

CB: Another astrologer with Gemini prominent – imagine that! I love your story, Sam. And it’s very generous of you to offer to teach a webinar for our students.

SG: Yes, we’re going to look at Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha through the houses, and the evolution of consciousness around these principles. This is sort of like a vertical helix of consciousness. Because we evolve through houses 1 – 4 in a personal sense. We evolve through houses 5-8 in our relationship with others, and houses 9 – 12, in our connection to the Universe. I’m going to explain how these things build on themselves. It’s really fascinating.

CB: It sounds like it will be fascinating. Finally, Sam, can you offer any general advice to students?

SG: Yes. My general advice to students is to study things deeply. Instead of looking for the next new technique, learn about things in a fundamentally true way. Like- really learn about what Mars is; and what the Sun really is; and what the signs really are; and what the houses really are!

CB: I can tell you’re passionate about this point – I’m looking forward to your presentation. It’s been a privilege to speak with you – thank you, Sam!

“I am learning so much here, I have never learned anything of this depth in an Astrology class before in such a short amount of time.”

I agree. For one thing this is much, much, more then just an Astrology class. It feels really sacred… like spiritual practice….. again, probably because of it’s ties to Yoga and Ayurveda. It certainly makes me want to recommit to deepening those personal practices within my life. I feel in the potential of understanding this “Universal Astrology”, incredible personal transformational implications akin to alchemy- the truth of which I can not consciously fathom with my mind as it is now. Something in me senses that if I dive deeply into it this practice and marinate in it, at the very least I will be able to show up for life in a deeper, more authentic, more empowered way and, that this practice of Vedic “Universal” Astrology, will inspire some profound glimpses into the true nature of being- that interconnectedness of everything and everyone.

A deep, heartfelt thank you for sharing your knowledge with such passion and compassion.

My experience with Sam’s “Universal Astrology” tele-classes has so far been amazing. He’s clarity, humor, knowledge is very inspiring and uplifting.
There is no drama in his approach to charts and a lot of demystification and
clarification about the language (sometimes “scary”) of the old/classic texts which were written in different times. Their actuality and validity can be reviewed through new eyes for our “modern” world….and Sam is doing an exceptional job in this.

The way we have approached charts’ reading in the classes has surpassed my
expectations and has helped view the overall picture from different angles.
I would highly recommend Sam’s teachings/classes for anyone who’s either just starting with Jyotish as well as advanced students.

Patrizia is a sadhaka and a student of Sri. Swamini Mayatitananda (a.k.a. Mother Maya), founder and Spiritual teacher of the Wise Earth Ayurveda
school( www.Wisearth.org ). Patrizia is a 500hrs registerd YogaWorks teacher as well as a CAP (Cerifified Ayurvedic Practitioner) through Kerala Ayurveda Academy. She is a holistic health counsoler and wellness educator, specialized in women’s health issues. She continues her adavanced studies in Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology through specialized courses.

Sam Geppi has a unique voice in Astrology today where he’s managed to adapt his knowledge and his wisdom from Western and Vedic astrology, Yoga, and many other sources combined. The result is that his approach is groundbreaking in the sense that he doesn’t divide people but bring them together.

Sam is both pragmatic and holistically minded at the same time. I feel that it is Sam’s unique visionary quality of spirit and fresh viewpoint that enables him to provide us with new techniques that are mind-blowingly practical and to the point. I think they benefit the professional astrologer as much as the beginner or advanced student.

Sam has very special gifts to share and as a student of Vedic I feel lucky and privileged to be able to learn from him and I’ve already been able to adapt his techniques successfully.

I have been studying Vedic Astrology on my own with tons of books and also using the net which his how I came across Sam. Everyday I would tune into his Daily Forecast which then intrigued me to purchase his book “The Ascendant 108 Planets of Vedic Astrology”. This book is THE most detailed book on the accendants. I just started taking Sam’s “Universal Astrology” class and for me the way he ties all the details
together in order to better read a chart is amazing…and this is only my second class!!! WOW!!! Needless to say this will not be my last class.

If you’re looking for sound astrological advice, searching for an astrologer who will talk understandably with a modern view, wishing to find an astrology teacher who is comprehensive, thorough, and (bless his heart) affordable, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve known Sam (Sadasiva) since 2003 and know what he brings to the table- years of astrological experience and insight supported by a genuine commitment to his spiritual practice. You’ll learn a lot from Sam, whether it’s through a reading, one of his lectures, his books, or his class series. Keep your eye out for all of these! He is highly recommended.

Renate M. Bell- Charleston, South Carolina
ACVA Level 1 certified Vedic Astrologer renate@sc.rr.com

As a student in Sam Geppi’s Universal Astrology class I must say that I have learned a great deal in a very short time to help me understand mine and others charts..I did western astrology before taking this class and I never saw the reasons why I was like or acted in certain manners, relationships etc . His teaching has brought all this into my life in a few lessons. Sam is a excellent teacher and I appreciate him giving his gifts thru these sevices to others!

I am a Numerologist, Herbalist and a Reikimaster , and also doing other spiritual practices.

I have been taking the astrology class with Sam Geppi and have been amazed at the information that I have never found in any of my vedic books and I have several. I have been studying for approx 10 years on my own - not good enough! Have to need to have a teacher and Sam is the one to have.

Sam has broken down the planets into tiny little pieces and then put them all
together into a very alive beings. I love the way he has made the planets come to life for me and how in only 4 classes my understanding has deepened 10 fold. I am so looking forward to more and more classes in the future with Sam.

I am a western astrologer who has been interested in Vedic astrology for many years and was pleased to hear that Sam was offering his “Universal Astrology” classes online. I find Sam’s unique way of conveying the “anchoring principles” that he is presenting in class to be both illuminating and exciting. What I thought that I knew intellectually concerning some of the basic principles of astrology have taken on a whole new meaning on many levels and that’s just in the first two weeks. Thank you, Sam. Please keep it coming!