tion is the notion of karma, which is the moral law of cause and effect formulated by
Hindu and Buddhist thinkers. For example, if one steals money from another person,
the thief will eventually have money stolen from her or him, either later in this life or
in a future lifetime.
The notions of reincarnation and karma together explain why some people are
born into lucky circumstances while other people are born into unfortunate condi-
tions. For astrologers concerned with the issue of why some people come into this life
with hardship written large across their natal charts and other people seem to be born
under a lucky star, reincarnation and karma provide an important explanatory tool.
Reincarnation also provides a framework for explaining why a person should have cer-
tain personality traits—they are carryovers from “past lifetimes.”
There are different approaches for determining which factors in a chart indicate
information about the native’s karma and past lifetimes. Planets in intercepted signs and
in the twelfth house, for example, are often said to provide insight into one’s past lives.
The branch of astrology especially concerned with these issues is esoteric astrology.
Sources:
Brau, Jean-Louis, Helen Weaver, and Allan Edmands. Larousse Encyclopedia of Astrology.New
York: New American Library, 1980.
Gettings, Fred. Dictionary of Astrology.London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1987.
REINHART, MELANIE
Melanie Reinhart was born in Zimbabwe, whose night skies inspired her vocation of
astrology at an early age. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in drama, English, and
music, and holds a diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies. She has wide expe-
rience and training within many different psychological and spiritual disciplines, and
also practices spiritual healing. She has been a professional astrologer since 1975, and
runs a busy practice of individual consultations in London, Bedfordshire, and Zurich, as
well as distance work internationally. She has taught for many astrological schools in the
United Kingdom and abroad, including the Centre for Psychological Astrology, the Fac-
ulty of Astrological Studies, the Centre for Transpersonal Astrology, and Astro*Synthe-
sis; she has travelled internationally to give lectures, workshops and consultations.
Reinhard is the author of Chiron and the Healing Journey(Arkana, 1989), Sat-
urn, Chiron and the Centaurs(CPA Press, 1996), and Incarnation(CPA Press, 1997), as
has contributed to Modern South African in Search of a Soul(Sigo Press, 1990) and
Wilderness and the Human Spirit(Cameron Designs, 1998). She has also contributed
articles to many magazines and journals, and writes regularly for Caduceusmagazine.
She has a special interest in meditative, ritual and group work that makes astrology a
living experience.
REVATI
Revati (Wealthy) is one of the Nakshatras (lunar mansions) of Vedic astrology. The
deity Pushan presides over this Nakshatra that is usually represented by a drum.
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [575]
Revati