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Interview with Sam Geppi (Sadasiva)
By Charlotte Benson
Interview on 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. |
Charlotte: (Laughter) I know that feeling.
Sam: 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.
Charlotte: And what were your favorite resources, as a student?
Sam: Well – I’ve done the ACVA certification.
Charlotte: Excellent!
Sam: 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.
Charlotte: Wow. That’s quite a unique process! Is your spiritual name, Sada Siva, connected with your path as a Jyotishi?
Sam: I got my spiritual name through the Sivananda Yoga Ashram lineage – that’s where I did my Yoga training. This happened in 2001.
Charlotte: You must have been running some interesting dasas at that point. Do you remember what they were?
Sam: 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.
Charlotte: 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.
Sam: 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.
Charlotte: It sounds like it will be fascinating. Finally, Sam, can you offer any general advice to students?
Sam: 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!
Charlotte: 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!
Purchase the ACVA Webinar: "Evolution of Consciousness Through the Four Aims of Life and The Bhavas" Sadasiva gave on September 12th, 2009.
Sam Geppi Bio:
Sadasiva has close to 25 years of Vedic Study and experience. He is a Certified Vedic Astrologer and Teacher through the American College of Vedic Astrology (Level II) as well as author of "The Ascendant - 108 Planets of Vedic Astrology". He also has contributed to various Astrology publications.
Sam Geppi ( Sadasiva ) consultation contact information:
Sam Geppi ( Sadasiva )
Vedic Astrologer
web presence: http://samsreadings.info and http://facebook.com/indianastrology
email: sadasiva108@gmail.com
phone: 415-244-1302
 | Interview by:
Charlotte Benson (Jyoti Devi)
Diplomate: AFA, NCGR, ISAR
Executive Director, American College of Vedic Astrology, Inc.
President, Arizona Society of Astrologers, Inc.
www.charlottebenson.com
602 952-1525
Phoenix, AZ USA. |
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September 2009 ACVA News | ACVA News Archive |
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