Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

By Phyllis Chubb, Canada

July 8, 1926 22:45 Zurich, Switzerland

All lives are valuable in the greater scheme of things. However, the lives of some souls truly do enhance the lives of countless others. Personal experience, dedication, and focused intent usually form the foundations on which such giants stand. As with all ground breakers through-out history, those who strived to change old attitudes, beliefs and values; Elisabeth Kubler-Ross was initially ridiculed and rejected. And, like the great innovators of the past, she endured the ridicule and today the words of this giant soul have been accepted as truth.

The gift this woman gave the Western world was a new understanding of the cycles within life. Through her work and compassion she was able to elevate people from despair, rejection and isolation when facing death, while working to alleviate their physical pain.

When she entered the profession of medicine the attitude and behaviour of her colleagues toward the dying was most disturbing to her. Rather than following the existing practice of ignoring and isolating the dying, she spent time with thousands of these souls. She would talk with them allowing them to face their fears and ultimately come to peace. As a result of her experiences she developed a model of psychological stages each person goes through as they face their demise. Today her theories have not only been accepted by society at large, they have been incorporated into the training of all medical and helping professions.

Was this soul's life easy? No. Was she a traditionalist? No. Were her ideas warmly welcomed by her medical colleagues? Of course not! The respect, regard, and continued care toward people nearing deaths door challenged her colleague's values. Her actions forced her fellow doctors to look at themselves and their own attitudes and initially they didn't like it. They retaliated by attempting to demean and ostracize her.

Her belief and insistence that consciousness continued beyond our present awareness made her the butt of jokes and ridicule. Her attempts to provide havens for the unfortunate and the dying resulted in her having to experience great loss. Not only did she suffer the scorn of her colleagues she suffered through willful and extensive property damage, not once but twice. In neither of these cases of harassment were charges laid. Thankfully none of these attempts to scare her into submission were successful. She carried on, teaching, lecturing and opening other people's eyes to the potential of peace at the end of life, until she herself made the journey. That final point came on Tuesday, August 24 th , 2004 at 8:10 pm in Scottsdale , Arizona .

It is impossible in this short space to examine every factor in this powerful chart. In lieu of a complete analysis limited factors will be explored in an attempt to make this as wide an examination as possible while opening the reader to different techniques. There will be a method presented for entering a chart, an opinion regarding retrograde and exalted planets, the application of the Navamsa Tulya Rasi technique, the role of her Atmakaraka and the powerful Sakti yoga within her chart. These factors contributed in such major ways that there can be no doubt about why this woman was the driving force behind a massive change in attitude within social as a whole and even within the medical profession of which she was a part.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross was born, the first of triplets, on the evening of July 8, 1926 at 22:45 in Zurich , Switzerland weighing in at only 2 pounds. Naturally there were concerns regarding her general well being, yet she thrived. Soon we will see why she was able to thrive and where her strengths came from.

One way to see a chart is to begin by looking at what has been called the tri-pod of life: the lagna lord as karaka of the body. The sun, as karaka of the soul, represents the second leg of the tripod and the moon, as karaka of the mind, represents the third leg. If these three factors are strong the chart will rest on a solid foundation.

In this case the ascendant has two lords, Saturn and Rahu. By using the general rules for the establishment of planetary strength listed below it becomes apparent that, Rahu is definitely the stronger of the two.

Basic rules for co-lords:

  1. If one of the co-lords is in the rasi, take the other planet. If this is not the case proceed as usual to find the strongest of the two planets.

    The Basic rules for strength of two planets:

•  The planet joined by the most planets becomes the strongest.

•  The planets joined and aspected by the most planets is the strongest

•  If one planet is exalted and the other is not, the exalted planet becomes strongest.

•  If there is still a tie: Dual signs are stronger than fixed and fixed are stronger than moveable, or cardinal signs.

Here it can be seen that Rahu goes to a trikona, falls into exaltation, and is conjoined by two planets hence; she thrived in spite of her diminutive size. Other factors such as the Navamsa Tulya Rasi technique, which will be discussed shortly, contributed to her strength, even though her size and low number of bindu in the first house would have suggested otherwise.

Parasara tells us that by having Rahu, as the lord of her ascendant lord, falling into her 5 th house that her “first born will not live, (she) will be honorable, wrathful and favorite to the king.” 1 This was indeed true as she lost her first child by miscarriage and was capable of being less than charming at times.

She was born during an eclipse which initially indicates weakness however; the lord of her ascendant is retrograde and exalted and sits in her first house. Of this last placement Parasara says, “A single but strong Jupiter in the lagna or Ascendant has the ability to destroy all evils.” 2 All thought she was severely criticized by her colleagues, a group that fancied them selves to be the font of all wisdom and knowledge, she was able to rise above their ridicule.

Her Sun, karaka of her soul, is situated in Gemini in a state of eclipse and showing only 26 bindus. Initially this would indicate the probability of a weakness however having the 5 th house placement and by having Jupiter there alone may have provides the initial strength to survive. Later it will be shown just how strong this Sun actually is.

The Moon, karaka of the mind also falls into the 5 th house providing even more support for her powerful intellect. In addition the Moon, and Mercury the dispositor of the Moon, are involved in parivartana yoga, meaning they exchange the meaning of each sign. In this case there is both benefit and strain resulting from this exchange. The fact is that as a result of the exchange, Mercury would give the effect of the 5 th house adding support for her intellect. However, the Moon giving the effect of the 6 th house indicates the challenges she had in her working career and in her health. The influence of the Moon can also indicate an area of focus in a person's life. Here we see her focus was with medicine and working with people in that area by introducing the concept of the soul and the continuation of the soul, into medicine.

Parasara tells us that the 6 th lord represents disease or injury to the organ related to that house, or the organ related to the house where he sits. Here the 6 th lord Mercury gives the effect of the 5 th house. Dr. K.S. Charak in his book Essentials of Medical Astrology 3 states the 4 th and 5 th houses are the houses related to the heart and chest area. He reminds us that the Sun is also a karaka for the heart and her Sun falls into the 5 th house giving another indication for her future heart problems.

Part of her challenge with her colleagues came as a result of publicly speaking about her own near-death experiences which had occurred when she suffered due to a bowel obstruction and of cardiac fibrillation. She had no difficulty in telling everyone about the light, the great sense of peace and the immense love she felt during these experiences. This was but one reason why she was thought, by the medical establishment to be a ‘kook'.

Parasara states, that inauspicious influences falling on the ascendant will negatively impact the body whereas negative influences impacting on the fourth house sign will show on the psychological plane of the native. In this case there are no major malefic influences apparent on the 4 th house however the arudha of both the 6 th and 8 th houses fall here which can create significant challenges. Later it will be shown how the lord of the 4 th house is weaker than it initially appears, even though Venus makes a raja yoga in the rasi chart. The affliction provided by the arudhas will be enough to have accounted, in part, for the unsatisfactory conditions in her parental home environment.

A Measure of Moods

The following paragraph comes from a biographical sketch produced by Astrodatabank states: “Though world traveled for her lectures, her personal style offended many. (She was) Certainly inspirational and indisputably charismatic, (yet) she was also known as abrasive and critical of the medical profession. Her compassion and love of humanity shone through, but her detractors found her downright arrogant.”

This trait supports the earlier indication of strain from colleagues. Conversely the public and those who benefited from her work loved her. The people who clung to their egotistic delusions of grandeur were the ones who ridiculed her. This is not to say she wasn't quite capable of being sharp tongued or impatient and her chart does shows her to be quite moody.

Her moodiness clearly shows in the monthly cycle of the Moon's passage through her chart in the graph below. The rules that apply to the graph below are the same as those that apply to any of the Sarvashtakavarga (SAV) totals. When the bindus total is 4, in the case of the Moon the moods or way of seeing the world are balanced, or what can be called normal. A total of 5 is a high, or positive, normal whereas 3 give a slightly low, or negative normal. 2, 1, or 0 give decreasingly lower or moodier ways of seeing the world. Likewise 6, 7, 8 bindus increase the mood levels, which can also be problematic. When there are sudden drops or sudden increases in mood swings there can be considerable challenge for the individual, and for the people who associate with the individual.

Here it can be seen how during the course of a month her moods swung quite drastically from being most positive to down right negative. This pattern undoubtedly contributed to some degree of abrasiveness on her part. In support for this pattern she herself admitted “to a short fuse, great highs and lows and an overly idealistic nature.” 4

Navamsa Tulya Rasi

The Navamsa Tulya Rasi technique 5 as presented by Late C.S.Patel uses a combination of the Navamsa and the SAV. The basic Tulya Rasi technique is used when the positional strength of a planet in the rasi chart is confirmed or denied by finding its position in the Navamsa. For the Navamsa Tulya Rasi technique rather than simply using the planets to evaluate strength the SAV totals are used as well.

The graph below demonstrates this technique. 6 (The strengths showing below were generated using the Shri Jyoti Star program and included the ascendant values in the assessment) Additionally, the lower graph has included the ascendant bindu values, an addition made by Mr. R.G. Krishnan, a long time student of Mr. Patel.

As the bindus listed above are compared, a clear pattern of strength can be seen. For example, the ascendant in the rasi chart holds only 25 bindus indicating a potentially weak body. However, the ascendant in the Navamsa chart has no less than 35 bindus! Now we have better understanding of how she was able to survive with what initially appeared to be low bindus and with such a dangerously low weight. Obviously having Jupiter retrograde in the 1 st house didn't hurt and contributed to her good appearance, as would any other benefic planet placed in the ascendant. In addition look at the strength shown by the 36 bindus the ascendant Jupiter gains in the Navamsa! This was a protected soul!

In this case it is her 3 rd , 4 th and 10 th houses are negatively affected and her history attests to the accuracy of these indications. Factors around the relationship with her siblings will have to be left for another time. Venus being the ruler of her parental home environment and the 9 th house of authority were both challenged. Her parental home environment was a warm, loving or supportive environment. Her father was known as a tyrannical bureaucrat who thought his word was law. After she graduated from school he expected his daughter to work for him, she wanted to study medicine which he disapproved of. She insisted on wanting to study so he threw her out of the house. This situation continued throughout her life as repeatedly she went her own way rather than giving in to any authority.

Secondly, Ketu sits in the 11 th house reflecting the scorn she received from her colleagues due to her ‘spiritual' attitudes. Indeed she was considered to be crazy for making public the fact she accepted the existence of out-of-body experience and the idea of the continuation of the soul. There were other things too that added fuel to this fire which will be shared later.

Referring to the Navamsa Tulya Rasi the initial hint of weakness around the Sun, as karaka of her soul, is eliminated by the Navamsa Sun receiving 40 bindus, indicating the tremendous strength of her soul. Likewise her Moon, receiving 31 bindus in the Navamsa strengthens her mind and intellect.

When a planet is strong in the Navamsa chart it will indicate happiness for the house it is sitting in. In this chart only two planets in her array are weakened in the Navamsa, one is Venus and the other is Ketu. Remember earlier when the 4 th house was being discussed there was reference to the fact that Venus may not be as strong as it first appeared? Here are three reasons: First, Venus falls in bindu value from the rasi to the Navamsa chart thereby weakening its promise. Secondly using the usual Tulya Rasi technique we see the initial promise of Venus in the rasi chart is lost in the Navamsa and the raja yoga is gone. In addition Venus, the lord of the ninth and fourth houses is also the badhaka planet.

A Controversy…

Before going any further this chart demands that a particular point about the strength of an exalted and retrograde planet be addressed. It had been suggested, based on a verse in Uttarkalamrita 7 by Kalidasa, which states a planet, when exalted and retrograde will function as if debilitated. Conversely, that a debilitated and retrograde planet will function as if exalted. This declaration created much confusion and as a result considerable research has been carried out on this important point. This research was presented in the Surya Prakash Memorial Issue of 1979 AM. The general consensus is that this theory does not work or it is presumed that the translation of it is not understood by us. The chart before us is yet another one that will belie the reversals suggested by Kalidasa.

In this chart Rahu, which is always retrograde along with Saturn are exalted and retrograde. These two powerful planets are in equally powerful positions: Rahu sits in the 5 th house while Saturn sits in the 9 th house. This woman was a most able student and writer. When she made up her mind to do something she achieved it.

It is interesting that Saturn, as karaka of death, sits in her 9 th house of virtuous acts, among other things. It was as if the purpose of her whole life was to be a blessing to people as they were passing, and indeed that is how she was seen as her Arudha Lagna (AL) is also there. Just as an aside, we need to remember she lived to an old age. Are any of these things what can be expected of a weak Saturn?

And, when her father threw her out of her home she spent years working as a lab technician to support herself as she studied toward her degrees in medicine. This activity is not what would be expected from a weakened Saturn! In addition she was known for her excellent memory; in fact, she had almost total recall and was a self-proclaimed workaholic. She had many challenges in life and she overcame each of them, as one would expect from the powerfully placed, yet retrograde Jupiter and Saturn. She saw the world differently just as one would expect from an exalted Rahu in her house of intelligence conjoined her Moon.

Atmakaraka…

Examining the Atmakaraka (AK) in each chart will indicate some of the challenges in a person's life. In her case Saturn, co-lord of her ascendant, is the planet with the highest degrees of longitude therefore making it her AK.

When a malefic planet represents a person's AK this is the first indication of challenge and, when the AK is retrograde, it shows tremendous focus and desire for the individual in this life, in fact, it indicated the person has come into this life for a specific purpose. Can anyone suggest this woman was not focused or that she did not have a specific purpose? When the meaning of a Saturn AK is explored the path Kubler-Ross walked becomes even more apparent.

Saturn AK shows that the person will have to carry a lot of sorrow from other people but will be unable to give sorrow to others. Indeed this played out in her life as she listened to the pain and sorrow of thousands of people yet she herself offered only support and peace to them. Her focus and intense dedication was emphasized by the retrogression of Saturn. Next one of the many indices of her pre-ordained path will explored.

The Sakti Yoga…

The inner core of strength and the agile fingers of fate show in this chart through the presence of the Sakti yoga, called the source of all power. Sakti refers to the female organ, it also refers to the consorts of all the gods and is the acknowledged source of their strength giving energy, ability, and power etc 8.

Jamini Upadesa Sutras 4.1.52-54 9:

‘Should Moon & Rahu join or aspect each other in the 5 th house (or its trines from either Lagna or AK) the native will assume the nature of the destroyer of creation.'

The Sakti yoga provides the “empowerment to bring about the destruction of the forces of evil.” 10

This yoga will not materialize unless it joins or aspects the trines, to either the ascendant or the AK. If the yoga joins or aspects only the AK, the native will be driven to be involved in the events carrying forth the Sakti yoga but not with a conscious decision to do so. If the Sakti yoga joins or aspects the AK and the ascendant, the native will have a direct and conscious influence on the practice of the Sakti yoga.

Other factors involved in this yoga include the following: If malefics only are involved by aspect, with the yoga the person will have the power to destroy evil or gross ignorance in the world. Unfortunately if benefics are involved the opposite situation occurs. 11. An example of a Sakti yoga receiving aspects from benefics can be seen in the chart of Adolf Hitler. There is no question in anyone's mind of the evil this man brought to the world.

In her chart we see the Sakti yoga is in full force. Rahu and the Moon are conjoined in the 5 th house and aspect both the ascendant and the AK! In addition Rahu and Moon plus her Atmakaraka were aspected by the malefic Mars and Sun ensuring she had the strength to eliminate evil.

This indicates her path was set for her and that she moved forward fulfilling her purpose, both unconsciously and with full consciousness. There can be no doubt she was blessed by this yoga providing her with the source of power to deal with the destruction of the evil as demonstrated by the earlier attitude toward people leaving life.

As a point of interest, in 1969 when she wrote the book, On Death and Dying, that has made her famous and laid the foundation for her life's work and a whole new field of study, she was experiencing the Saturn/Rahu vimshottari dasa period. Both these planets gain strength in the Navamsa chart and both played a role in the Sakti yoga a pattern that has assured her a lasting place in history.

Thanks to her efforts people in the West are no longer ignored and neglected as they approach the close of their lives. Rather, their passing is embraced with compassion and normalcy both of which contribute to a peaceful and loving passage. We all have much to thank this beautiful soul for!

Today her son and daughter have formed the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation and more information about this may be obtained at: http://www.ekrfoundation.org/

Without a doubt there are many other interesting and supportive yogas in her chart, however this presentation at least gives an introduction to the chart of a very important person who was true to her destiny and in doing so improved the lives, and ultimate passing, of countless other people. In closing, last January, 2007 Elisabeth Kubler-Ross was inducted into the American National Women's Hall of Fame.

This article was published in Saptarishiastrology in March of 2008. © Phyllis Chubb, MA - All Rights Reserved

Introducing a new on-line magazine out of India called Saptarishi Astrology. This magazine is striving to bring together articles from all astrological traditions as well as presenting research topics and findings. www.saptarishisastrology.com

Foot Notes - References

1. Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra. Girish Chand Sharma. Sagar Publications, New Delhi . Vol. 1. p. 277

2. ibid p.186

3. Essentials of Medical Astrology. Dr. K.S. Charak. UMA Publications. 1999 3 rd . edition. p.163

4. Astrodatabank report.

5. Predicting Through Navamsa & Nadi Astrology. C.S. Patel. Sagar Publications, New Delhi , 1996. Chapter 12 p. 95 - 105

6. Hindu Astrology Lessons. Ed. Richard Houck. Keys to the Use of the Navamsa Chart. Mr. R.G. Krishnan. Groundswell Press, Gaithersburg , MD. 1997

7. vakr i svoccabala savakrasahite madhyama bala tu gabhe vakr i n i cabala svan i cabhavane vakr i bala tu gaja | uccasthena yuto ' rddhav i ryamiti cenn i ce tu su nya bala mitrai p a pakhagai s ubha ripukhagairyukto'pi c a rdha bala || UK Ch 2. Sh. 6

8. Sakti Yoga. Article by Visti Larsen.

9. Jaimini Upadesa Sutras by S.Rath

10. Jyotish Digest April June 2004. Robert Koch. Sakti Yoga. p.54

11. Jaimini Upadesa Sutras. S. Rath. P.347/352

© Phyllis Chubb, MA - All Rights Reserved 2008

 

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