[original post 2005-03-21] Astrology books and websites give a variety of ascendants for the Dalai Lama; however there is clear evidence he was born at sunrise. In Kundun Mary Craig says “He came into the world by the light of a single mustard-oil lamp, at daybreak on the fifth day of the fifth month of Wood Hog Year (6 July 1935)”. A sunrise birth is attested by his mother and other family members. By definition a sunrise birth puts the sun close to the Ascendant, and as the Sun is at ~20 Gemini the Dalai Lama must have a Gemini Ascendant. Here we use a time which puts the sun a few minutes below the horizon.
A sunrise birth may be regarded as a plus indication when identifying a reincarnation – Sun in the 1st house tends to confer “presence” and authority, something Tibetans expect to see in high lamas. Mercury at 2Gem33 is in the 1st house, creating a Mahapurush “great person” yoga. The Mercury form (Bhadra Yoga) indicates someone of great intellect, respected by the learned, and good at speeches. A powerful Mercury in this position makes for a great public communicator, and this is one great service the Dalai Lama has done for his people – he has continually spoken on behalf of Tibetans and taught Buddhism all over the world.
His chart also has signs his fame would be in the spiritual/religious field. Ketu in the 1st house indicates a religious destiny and a spiritual seeker; although it can also suggest sudden changes in life. The 10th lord is Jupiter, which rules priesthoods among other things, and it’s located in the fortunate 5th house, which rules both intellect and purva punya – past life karma… which from this placement must be good!
Saturn in its own sign of Aquarius in the 9th, and Venus, the Moon, and Neptune together in the 3rd, are on the teaching & communication axis. Many public figures have strong 9th/3rd houses. Saturn’s placement gives the Dalai Lama great authority as a teacher; being aspected by Moon & Venus gives also a kind of sweetness and ease to his teaching.
Note that this is not the chart of a yogi or contemplative, which would show more emphasis in moksha houses, e.g. the 12th. Although the Dalai Lama does of course meditate and pray at least a couple of hours each day, he himself says the pressure of his work for Tibet and his teaching engagements mean he cannot spend as much time on spiritual practise as he would like. It’s the chart of someone with a strong spiritual bent who lives their life to teach and help in the world…. or, we might say, one who is like Chenrezig, the bodhisattva of Compassion.
