Understanding the three Gunas of Prakriti is not only helpful when studying our birth
charts and astrology, but it can also be beneficial when we turn our attention to our health, healing, and the foods we eat. Vedic Astrology has a close connection with Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India. For Ayurvedic practitioners studying an individual’s birth chart and astrology is a diagnostic tool. It helps them gain insight into the patient’s karma as well as tendencies for disease and illness. Ayurveda, which means the science (knowledge) of life, and Vedic Astrology together are sciences and systems designed to bring harmony and balance to our bodies, minds, and souls so that we can then harmonize with the great Consciousness of the Universe.
Determining whether our lifestyles, personality traits, and diet are sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic provides a good amount of information about our health and what healing remedies may be needed. Ayurveda places a strong emphasis on good hygiene, proper exercise, and healthy eating habits. Food as medicine, which can be animal-based or plant-based, and herbal medicines are an integral part of Ayurveda.
Ideally we want to be leaning towards a sattvic state of health. When we are sattvic we partake in spiritual and intellectual/educational activities. Our minds are clear and at peace and we engage in selflessness and compassion on a regular basis. We are more in tune with our intuition and feel connection to the Divine or Universe. Sattvic foods are fresh, organic, not overly cooked, and not too oily, spicy, or salty. The diet is lacto-vegetarian.
While it would be nice if we felt sattvic in all areas of our lives at all times, we all have times when we feel and behave rajasic and tamasic. Some of us may even inherently be more rajasic or tamasic, and in these cases more attention towards health and healing may be needed. Rajasic individuals are very active, aggressive, powerful, and worldly. They get energy from stimulation, including stimulating foods: high quality, freshly made, rich tasting, higher in protein (meats), and more oils and spices.
Tamasic individuals often have dark emotional states and sometimes unusual personality traits. They are self-serving, highly craving and desirous but stagnant or lazy, and sedentary. They tend towards overly sugary, spicy, and heavily cooked foods, a lot of meats, processed and packaged foods, and intoxicants.
Understanding the Gunas in our birth charts and how our lives and health may lean more towards one or another can give us insights into healing and into bettering and maintaining our health.
Through the Peacock's Eyes 
Understanding the gunas has been truly helpful for me — both recognising the interplay in myself and others. A deceptively simple but immensely profound, insightful and practical psychology that’s last millennia! Quite amazing. Great post, I intend to write a similar one myself soon 🙂
Thank you Rory! Looking forward to yours. I plan on doing a post on the Doshas soon too. Oh, and I’m about half-way thru Eladria and enjoying it very much! 🙂
Hey Julianne! Look forward to the dosha one, I looked into ayurveda and found it quite helpful. The doshas kind of tie in with the gunas too.I realised I’m quite sattvic with a touch of rajas that often keeps me awake at night…and occasionally a little tamas. Knowing the gunas has helped me manage my moods and also deal with other people. James Swartz explained the topic very well in his ‘how to attain enlightenment’ book, which is my bible haha.
So glad you’re enjoying the book!! It all starts heating up around the halfway mark, lots of big twists to come 😀 Let me know when you finish I’d love to hear what you think 🙂
Yes, the Doshas and Gunas definitely tie in together. It was when I was writing the Gunas post that I realized I should write a Dosha one too. It sounds like we are very similar! I too am mostly Sattva/Vata and some Rajas/Pitta. Keeping the Rajas/Pitta fire calm when heated provides excellent opportunities to practice Zen in daily life. 🙂
Great Blog. Very informative. I didn’t know that our Prakruti includes the gunas
Thank you! Namaste _/l\_
Reblogged this on ELANA – The Voice of the Future.
Thank you! Namaste _/l\_
Wonderful information about balancing… Thanks!
Thank you! Namaste _/l\_
In addition to a great post, I love the image at the beginning. Powerful.
Thank you! Yes, it is a powerful and beautiful image. It is Shiva-Shakti, One, Consciousness. It took a while to think of and find a picture to represent Sattva!