​Vedic Analysis of Suicide
by Sandy L. Crowther CVA

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This is a delineation of a man who committed suicide in what everyone thought was the prime of his life and career. The chart, however, tells a different story.

Birth Details: 
May 20, 1961 
1:42 AM 
Zone 5 
DST 1 
Long: 73W24 
Lat: 41N07 
Source: Birth Certificate 
Lahiri Ayanamsa, 
Lagna 02 Aquarius 41'

Date of Disappearance: 
June 4, 1999 
Time: approximately 7:00 PM, 
EDST, (DST 1) 
Zone 5 
Long: 73W21, Lat: 42N11

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CHART ANALYSIS FOR: Male Suicide

ASCENDANT: Aquarius
DASHA AT BIRTH: Saturn/Venus
FUNCTIONAL MALEFICS: Moon, Mercury, Rahu & Ketu
FUNCTIONAL BENEFICS: Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, & Saturn

Male Suicide Analysis

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Male Suicide Transit

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The Saturn/Venus period of this male's birth reveals a powerful connection to his inner spirituality, as the birth lord, Saturn, lord of the 1st, is posited in the 12th house of reserve, liberation, and inner separation from family, coupled with Venus bhukti, 9th lord of spiritual pursuits. He has much hidden and unexpressed creativity. The sub period of Venus also refers to the prosperity of his father.

Eighth Lord Mercury malefic Mahadasa begins in his 11th year of life through his 28th year, suggesting the next 17 years of his life will involve him in communication and courage concerns, with obstacles, and set backs, involving matters of his heart, versus issues concerning domestic and emotional peace, property, mother, and assets. 

The period from 1989 to February of 1996, does not provide much relief, as he then goes into a 7 year period of Ketu, the planet of miseries. Being that he is of a spiritual nature, but unable to express his true self, and still retain the acceptance of family members, this is a very difficult period for him. He appears to function outwardly as expected, but inwardly he may have been torn during this time frame, between who he really is and who he has to be. 

CURRENT MAHADASA , BHUKTI, AND SUB: (At period of death) 

Venus/Venus/Ketu:
In light of the previous dasas, here may have been some relief if not for transit afflictions hitting him in the wrong place at the wrong time. See Transits following chart delineation.

CHART DELINEATION:

1st Lord Saturn, is badly placed in the 12th, conjunct the equal bhava madhya (EBM) of the 12th house of liberation and separation from family. This placement connects the house of oneself to the house of losses. Saturn is also afflicted by 6th lord, Moon, from the 6th, and aspects the 6th - suggesting struggles, disputes and difficulties with both mother and emotional peace of mind. 

Saturn also aspects the EBM's of the 2nd house of speech and 9th house of spirituality.

In Navamsa, Saturn is afflicted by Rahu, suggesting he will be subjected to manipulation, conflict ,and suffering. Rahu also malefically bestows its influence on both 1st lord, Venus, and the Sun. In addition to that, Saturn, Venus and Sun are all the unfortunate recipients of severe afflictions from the 12th lord, Mercury. 

In Ashtamsa, (divisional 8th chart of longevity, tensions, and troubles,) Saturn, significator for longevity, is badly placed in the 6th, and in Shastamsa, (divisional 6th - health and types of disease) Saturn is badly placed in the 8th, along with the Moon and the Sun, and receiving full affliction from Rahu and Ketu. 

3rd Lord, Mars, badly placed in the 6th and debilitated, connects the 3rd and the 6th houses. This may be suggestive that any assertive types of communication for Peter will more than likely involve disputes, difficulty, and problems, connected with an impairment of his own courage to prevail, and therefore he may display a reluctance of his own initiatives to communicate, for fear of the consequences.

Mars is benefically aspected by 11th lord, Jupiter, which is indicative of an ease of ability for generating income through his own creative ideas and initiatives, however, in view of the fact that Jupiter is severely afflicted, it does not carry the power to protect or promote these signification's.

6th lord, functional malefic Moon, is badly placed in the 6th, but strong in the respect that it is posited in its own sign. This placement indicates that he struggles very hard emotionally, is very often vulnerable to the constant fluctuating emotional tensions and stresses of everyday life, and may even be the victim of a very opinionated and controlling mother. 

The Moon is also benefically receiving aspects from the 1st lord Saturn and 11th lord Jupiter, from the 12th, influencing both his knowledge and structure, suggesting reserve and expansion in his duties, when necessary, in appropriate measures, however, never without a loss of mental peace. Also keep in mind that both these functional benefic planets are in a weakened state, so are not operating on full strength. In addition, just as these two functional benefics aspect the Moon, the functional malefic Moon, in turn, returns the "favor", however this time with an emotional price to pay. So it is possible that he worries about his financial decisions, and may, at some point, be subject to losses and/or litigation.

In Navamsa, the Moon is badly placed in the 12th house of losses, in Virgo.

7th lord, Sun, is well placed in the 4th, and aspecting the EBM of the 4th and 10th. This placement connects the affairs of the 7th with the 4th. This would indicate that he is very well respected, and exercises great power and control over his emotional condition, especially with respect to both his wife and his mother. His wife is also held in high esteem, and probably either works out of the home, or is a 'stay at home' Mom.

He also has and holds a powerful and authoritative presence in his profession, and is well known and respected for both his status and position in life.

8th Lord, functional malefic Mercury, is well placed in the 4th - this placement connects the affairs of the 8th house of the marital tie, set backs, and debts within that union, with the 4th house of marital happiness, assets and mental peace. This would suggest to me that perhaps there is a lack of quality communication or clarity, existing within the home environment, especially concerning expenses, partner's financial situation, wealth, and debts. This could cause much unseen or hidden nervousness in the marriage, and maybe unrevealed fear of how to rectify the situation concerning debt. 

Also in Navamsa, lagna lord Venus, Saturn, and Sun are all under the severe malefic influence of a very malefic Mercury.

9th Lord, benefic Venus, is well placed in the 2nd - Peace within the immediate family is very important to him..His spouse, his reputation, his profession... how he looks in the eyes of those he loves is extremely important to his well being. Continuance of married life and financial wealth bring him peace. A comfortable, peaceful environment is also at the top of his agenda, along with a desire to explore his spiritual side, his creativity, a dream that perhaps one day, income can be earned by following his dream of a creative vocation - perhaps working out of the home. A softer side, a gentler world...maybe even an Aquarian career in writing. His dream combined with an income to support it.

In Navamsa, Venus is under the affliction of Rahu, which is indicative of much suffering, and afflicted by the12th lord, Mercury, which implies that nerves and analytical ability are severely impaired.

In Ashtamsa, (Divisional 8th - Longevity, Tensions & Troubles) Venus is afflicted by the nodes in the house of the mind; Ashtamsa lagna is badly placed in the 8th house of death, and 8th lord, Moon, (emotions) ruling longevity, is afflicting Mercury (mind, nerves, and power of discrimination) in the 7th in Gemini.

The Shashtamsa (Divisional 6th - Health and Types of Disease) tells its own story also...

11th lord, Jupiter, severely afflicted, badly placed in the 12th and debilitated, connects the affairs of the 11th with the 12th. This is indicative of losses of income, social gatherings with friends and/or elder siblings, and perhaps expenses out of control.

Jupiter is afflicted by 6th lord, Moon, from the 6th, bringing disputes/disagreements over matters of knowledge, wealth and losses, probably involving both business decisions and mother. 

Jupiter is aspected by 3rd lord, Mars - weakened mental energy surrounding matters of income and responsibilities therein.

Rahu/Ketu posited on the 7th/1st house axis, provide no close affliction to the chart, but are in association with the houses of self and marriage. (However, moving the birth time ahead by just a few minutes provides a very dire picture worth mentioning....afflictions become more severe.)

Rahu/Ketu move to the 9th/3rd house axis in Navamsa, and Rahu afflicts lagna lord, Venus, along with longevity significator, Saturn, and Sun.

TRANSITS FOR JUNE 4, 1999 at 7:00 PM: DATE OF DISAPPEARANCE

Significant events are always connected to the transits, and transits supercede dasa periods.

VENUS Mahadasa - VENUS Bhukti - KETU Pratyantardasa

Transiting Venus from the 6th is afflicted by natal Moon, strongly suggesting that his marital status and good fortune are both visibly troubled, and his ability to control his anxiety is impaired by his nervous state of mind. This situation, more than likely, revolves around current disturbing conditions that involve his wife, mother, materialistic pursuits, duties, and good fortune. 

Transit dispositor, the Moon, is under the malefic influence of Ketu in the 12th house of losses, indicating there are overwhelming miseries and inflammatory situations affecting his public relations, his emotional peace, his relationship with his mother, and his personal freedom or liberation. Much suffering, misery, and internal conflict surround his emotional condition during this period.

Transit Rahu from the 6th is afflicting natal Venus in the 2nd, further indicating domestic disturbances, conflict, and suffering surrounding issues of materialistic pursuits, manipulation, expenses, and spousal conflicts.

Transit Sun is afflicted by malefic natal 8th lord Mercury, in the 4th. Obstacles and set backs surrounding effective communication within the home environment His personal and professional status in life is receiving negative impact, with possible debt and financial concerns affecting his position in life.

Transit Ketu from the 12th is afflicting malefic Mercury in the 4th. Again, domestic disturbances with possibly a disturbing exchange of harsh language, feelings of overwhelming misery, and loss of all nervous control and confidence, resulting in increased frustration with his circumstances, coupled with an inability to envision any improvement surrounding his marital and emotional discontent.

So transit afflictions from all of his functional malefics were in operation at the time he just "vanished".

CONCLUSION:

I believe, in this case, that the transits and the divisional charts tell the story. These tools paint quite a different picture than may be suggested by the running benefic MD and bhukti lord....Remembering that we should ALWAYS keep in mind that significant events are always connected to transits, and transits supercede dasa periods.

He left the house at approximately 7:00 PM, shortly after arriving home from work to a house full of people his wife was entertaining. He told his family and the guests in his home that he was leaving to take care of a fax.

His body was found on June 19, 1999, about 6:30 PM, in a remote section of a State Forest, by hikers.

He was the Administrative Director for a family owned business, which was a private, coeducational psychotherapeutic facility for emotionally disturbed and special-needs children. This was not his chosen field for profession, but out of guilt, he took on this responsibility after his mother suggested it was "his duty" when the operation of the business became too much for her. Peter had two older brothers and a sister, which the mother had previously determined were not as capable as Peter to successfully run this residential treatment center, nor did these siblings want this responsibility. So upon this request from his mother, and against his desire for a career in the arts, he began his career as director for this center in 1989, the same year he got married.

He graduated from college with a Master of Arts degree in 1982, and loved to write. He was a published poet and a screenplay writer, but shut the door on his dreams to respectfully follow his mother's decision. 

In my conversation with his sister, I told her about his dreams as I saw them. I also told her about his silent animosity toward his mother, along with what I perceived to be marital problems in the home, and of his need for time to be himself. Quiet time. I tried to relay to her the fact that Peter felt as though he had to be the "responsible" one within his family, and held many reserved resentments on account of the fact that no one ever asked him "who" he was or what his dreams entailed. The family continuously focused strictly on their pre-conceived expectations of him, based upon his strength of character in the past, his intellectual business savvy, and his problem solving skills. I told her that there were financial problems in the business, and that income generated from the business coupled with increased expenditures rendered it not as productive and profitable as in the past, and that he was silently carrying that burden. (He had previously tried to convey this dilemma to his wife, bit she was accustomed to living a certain lifestyle, and it fell on deaf ears.) His school was being sued by a disgruntled parent of one of the students in addition to everything else, and no one had any awareness of that fact either. He held a lot in, and was a very disappointed individual. He had been becoming increasingly depressed...but everyone failed to notice. They were all busy with their own lives. I told his sister that, in a nutshell, that I believed he was a severely depressed and disappointed man, and that his personality appeared to have a dichotomy that even those close to him were unaware of. This statement carried no validity in her eyes at the time. She was adamant that he was strong and very responsible, and madly in love with his wife. She said they had the perfect marriage, and that Peter adored his wife, and there were absolutely no problems in his marriage. She was certain at the time that there must have been "foul play" involved in her brother's disappearance, because this just wasn't like him. She then informed me that her family and friends had hired a private investigating team, the best available that money could buy, to locate her missing brother. In my estimation, the chart showed no evidence of any foul play, and I informed her of my findings with regard to that. I thought then, that I was dismissed.

In my next conversation with her, she was feeling dismayed at the lack of any "legitimate" (versus astrological) evidence forthcoming by the hired investigators or police and authorities assigned to locate her brother. In an attempt to ease her mind a bit, as she was becoming increasingly unnerved, I told her I believed her brother had traveled a distance away in a white vehicle to try to alleviate his state of depression....still hoping in my mind that I was missing something powerfully benefic in his chart. 

As I think back, sometimes when you read a chart of this nature, I think you are blessed with God's grace to provide you with the "right words" when the situation seems so hopeless. At least I hope that's what I did. At the time I was a bit concerned about NOT stating what I truly felt happened to Peter...would I be contributing to an increasing injustice with respect to establishing the validity of Astrology?...However, I quickly decided that in a situation such as this...I was NOT God, nor did I have the right to take away all hope...for I COULD be wrong...so I chose to give her and her family hope, for what else was left for them to hang on to in these very trying times. Later, after the body was found, she clearly understood my words about traveling a distance away in a white vehicle, and that was all the validation I needed to realize where my priorities should lie...Always with the client and their emotional state. And at the time of this reading, many on this list eased my concerns, and I thank you all for that. We don't always have to be 'right' at the expense of our client's emotional state of mind...but we DO always have to employ the gift of conscientious wisdom and compassion when dealing with the hearts and souls of our fellow human beings, who seek us out for answers and help....even when they are not sure they even believe in astrology. 

Anyway, after he still didn't show up after a few days had passed, my client decided to question and converse with others over what I had told her about her brother, based on his chart. After going through the business books, they surprisingly found out that the family owned and operated business was indeed in very serious financial trouble, and the school was being sued. His wife then reluctantly admitted that there were escalating problems at home and in their marriage, and the communication between them had almost completely stopped. His marital relations with his wife hardly existed. She wasn't interested. His wife had her life, and he was to continue on with his responsibilities and take care of the bills, no matter what. Their relationship had deteriorated; they had become like two ships passing in the night. My client found out that he would arrive home from work, usually after working late, to find that his wife had spent more money that they didn't have, on more luxuries she felt she needed, or were needed for the home, and gave no regard to the fact that the money just was no longer there in the fashion she was accustomed to. His wife never worked, nor was she familiar with balancing a check book...All things she had to be taught upon his demise. And the mother, she informed me, was a very controlling and opinionated woman - one you didn't argue with.

After cleaning and clearing out his personal belongings, the family found written testimony to his feelings about his place in society and within his family unit. He had explicitly written down depressing words describing his life as he knew it, and had even drawn diagrams, depicting everyone he loved placed in the center of his universe, and everyone BUT himself placed in the center of his family's universe. But no one was ever aware of these charts, and clues, and by the time they were discovered, it was too late.

So that is my contribution to one of the saddest readings in real life astrology, that I have encountered to date. It was not the first surrounding a loss for a client, but it certainly was one of the most memorable for me. There is much more to it, but I think I have covered the important salient points. If you've come this far...thanks for taking the time to read this lengthy dissertation. ;-)