The Solar zodiac consists of 12 Sun signs. The Lunar Zodiac consists of 27 Moon signs called Nakshatras. These Lunar signs give an added ability to differentiate the effects of the solar signs as well as a deeper look into the psyche of an individual.

To understand how and when to first start looking at nakshatras I put this together for a lecture in Washington DC, October 17, 2004:

What to look at first when looking at a chart

Beginners always ask what to look at when, dumbfounded by the plethora of techniques of Vedic Astrology. So where and when does one look at the nakshatra. The seasoned astrologer is looking at multiple aspects of the chart simultaneously. It is not a linear method when looking at a chart. It is a multi-dimensional, multi-tasking analyzing process. This is a very generalized list of what I look at when I first see a chart and how/where I look at the nakshatra.

Start with a Ganesh mantra and then a Surya mantra, and Parampara mantra if applicable (or diksa mantra if relative).

-Lagna and Lagnesh (placement and situation)

-Planets in houses (quickly see placements, don’t interpret-just feed the information into the mind so you know positions)

-Planets conjunct (yogas, see degrees for how tight the conjunction)

-Look at Moon’s nakshatra (from here you put on colored shades to view the rest of the chart. Other events will be interpreted through the color of this shade.)

-Look at AK (charakarakas/charakaraka replacements ) , Arudha Lagna (placement of arudhas)

-Look for curses and blessings/uplifting yogas (curse of graha, kalasarpa, mahapurusha yoga, parivartana- to get a general state of the planets and there involvements)

-Pachanga Lords: (take lord of the Moon’s nakshatra and look at it in the rasi, how is it placed to see health, see tithi for relationship, vara for energy, yoga for social connections, karana for works. This will give an idea of what needs to be focused on in the chart).

-Check which dasas apply in the chart and then check dasas that are running presently.

-Look at navamsa trines (and other houses) to see bhagya.

-Make a few statements to confirm the chart, rectify if it’s not correct, don’t move forward until you are sure the chart is correct or you may make inaccurate predictions. Predict the past before the future.

-Assess the issues of the native from the information just scanned (and consulting if in-person, with Prasna if not in-person) and then begin to apply techniques relative to the individual’s issues.

-Begin the real reading of the chart.

Nakshatras are used for Muhurta (picking the best time):

Nakshatras and Ayurveda
The use of nakshatras is integrated with other aspects of the panchanga. Below are recommendations regarding medicine. According to Muhurta-Chinta-Mani (2.15), the time a person first takes their medicine should be nakshatras of the qualities of Laghu, Mridu, and Chara or the nakshatra of Moola. The best ascendant is that of dual signs with the presence of benefics like Venus, the Moon, Jupiter, and Mercury. There should be no planets in the twelfth, seventh or eighth houses from the ascendant. Friday, Monday, Thursday, Wednesday and Sunday are auspicious days for starting new medicine [in that order]. Any tithi is good except rikta tithis and amavasya. It is also inauspicious to start medicine in the nakshatra of one’s birth.

Ashwini- taking medicine, making medicine, beginning actions to improve health
Bharani- hatha yoga, driving out evil influences, purification like fasting or silence
Rohini- taking medicine, massage, longevity and rejuvenation practices, planting
Mrigashiras- treatment of disease (convalescence), rasayana therapies, gardening
Ardra- phsychological cleansing, exorcism, harsh actions like surgery
Punarvasu- taking medicines and all healing therapies
Pushya- taking medicines, healing therapies, herbal baths, picking herbs
Ashlesha- inoculations, surgery
Purva Palguni- illnesses that occur here may be difficult to overcome
Uttara Phalguni- healing and disease treatment
Hasta- treatment of disease
Chitra- taking and making medicine, collecting herbs
Swati- disease treatment, planting, gathering, making medicine
Vishaka- taking medicine, starting healing therapies
Anuradha- treatment of disease
Jyeshta- harsh actions like surgery, not the last quarter of this nakshatra
Mula- harsh actions like surgery, gardening
Purva Shadha- preparing medicines
Uttara Shadha- treatment of disease
Shravana- taking herbs, medicine and doctors presciptions
Dhanishta- learning medicine, treatment of disease
Shatabisha- curative measures started now will be more effective, rasayana
Uttara Bhadra- healing and treatment of disease, planting and gardening
Revati- healing and treatment of disease

Nakshatras for putting on Gemstones and Remedial measures
Ashwini- (buying new jewelry) and putting on gemstones
Rohini- wearing expensive jewelry for the first time, empowering sacred objects
Punarvasu- remedial measures, making or obtaining new jewelry
Pushya- remedial measures, putting on new gems
Uttara Phalguni- putting on new jewelry
Hasta- putting on gems
Chitra- spiritual rituals, making and putting on gemstones
Swati- sowing new seeds (physically and metaphysically), putting on new gems
Vishaka- (making)
Dhanishta- religious performances, putting on gems
Uttara Bhadra- putting on gems
Revati- commission or buying a new piece of jewelry, putting on gems (not the last quarter of this nakshatra)

One is advised to read Muhurta-Chinta-Mani in order to learn more about muhurta and the use of the nakshatras.