Should Astrologers Accept Fee?

Astrology is based on Law of Karma and Action-Result / Give-Take / Credit-Debit  theory. Based on these theories, Rishis who founded Vedic Astrology, had given a code of conduct for questioner and as well as astrologer. It was in practise until 50-60 years ago. The same instructions apply to doctor-patient, Guru – Shishya pair and any consultancy subject. Though not applicable now, let me discuss the old code of conduct and beauty of that system.

The code for giver of knowledge/skill i.e. Astrologer, Vaidya or Guru

1. Never ask money from seeker of service and do your best irrespective of the status of seeker.
2. However, if you get anything for your services voluntarily, you should accept it for personal use. You should donate 20% of it to a good cause (voluntary income tax).

The code to seeker of service 

Never go empty handed to a consultant as it represents acute Saturn’s effect on seeker of service. In that case, the advice rendered will be made ineffective for use due to one or more reasons listed below.

• Seeker may not listen properly
• He may not believe it
• He does not act on the advice at all

What should be appropriate fee to any  consultant ?
It is should be one day’s income of advice seeker.

What if questioner does not have fee at the time of consultation

Based on law of Karma, the fee remains due as debt and one remains indebted to consultant forever. It may remain due for many future births . Also, it gets multiplied with divine interest rate which is very high. So, it is in advice seeker’s  interest to pay it at the earliest.

Despite not having anything, one is not allowed to go empty handed to a consultant . One can carry a flower, leaf, fruit, grains or any such thing as per current capacity and give it to consultant. It shows the bonafide intentions of seeker. He should pay the balance as soon as he has it.

Relation between offering and astrologer’s calculations

As per Prashna Shastra, astrologer has to calculate keeping in mind whatever you came with. It becomes a factor in assessing the intensity of Jupiter and Saturn on seeker . Better offering means good Jupiter and therefore better chances of future outcome at earliest. On the other hand, smaller offering means greater effects of Saturn and consequently delays and problems in outcome.

So, a seeker without money/offering has to pay more in future because of  divine interest rate. Whereas in case of immediate and appropriate (1 day’s) income, fee balances the Karma immediately and there are no dues on anybody’s part .

If both follow this advice, there is no problem in this code of conduct .

Why the need to charge fee

Problem arises when service seeker acts smart and does not pay even when he has money. In modern times, a student may start earning millions by knowledge gained through teacher and educational institution. But he would never think about teacher’s or institution’s needs. So teachers, consultants and institutes too have no alternative but to charge a minimum fee.

Not paying fee voluntarily is harmful to both astrologer and seeker because of Saturn’s influence. Despite best advice by astrologer (for free), the person would not listen to it attentively. Why? Because human mind does not value things available for free and so, it will not act on the advice. Further, advice can be free but means to act will not be. Just like a doctor may give free advice but medicines would not be free. So ultimately the advice goes waste. Now if one can manage medicines, why can’t he pay fee?

Astrologer suffers on 2 counts:

a) By not getting the fee.

b) Not getting any good results from seeker because he would not act on advice.

Benefits of immediate payment of fee

Whereas the case of immediate and appropriate fee payment means that

• Seeker of advice is sincere.
• Will listen attentively and will also act on the advice.
• Jupiter will be favourable. Therefore, the outcome will be positive (or towards positive) for seeker.
• The mind of astrologer or any consultant will definitely work better because of prepayment of fee. It puts extra pressure on his mind to come up with best advice because of human psychology. On the other hand, in case of free advice-seeker, the consultant’s mind will not work at optimum level.

Because of all these points, old consultancy texts strictly advised for immediate payment of appropriate fee if one was capable. Only in case of extreme poverty could the fee be postponed. In that too, the questioner should pay immediately whenever he is capable.

Astrologer was also supposed to donate more (apart from 20% voluntary donation) if he got more than a day’s wages. This was to keep his own Jupiter good and maintain the predictive ability.

Fee has nothing to do with spirituality as it is also a worldly Karma of give and take. However, these karmas need to be done ethically as described above. Also, all these rules apply only to genuine and knowledgeable astrologers. 

Credits: ycshukla.com