Unethical Vedic Astrologers: Manipulation, Exploitation, and Protection Strategies

Many people turn to Vedic astrologers (Jyotish) for guidance in tough times – seeking clarity on health, marriage, career, or family issues. Unfortunately, alongside genuine practitioners, there are unethical or manipulative astrologers who prey on these hopes. They exploit trust for profit or power, leaving victims financially drained, emotionally scarred, and dependent.

In this article, we delve into common unethical behaviors of such astrologers, real-life experiences of those harmed, how to distinguish red flags from genuine guidance, the psychological and financial toll on victims, and – importantly – how you can protect yourself by choosing an ethical astrologer.

The Dark Side of Vedic Astrology: What’s Going Wrong?

Many people reach astrologers in moments of vulnerability — heartbreak, career collapse, family disputes, health scares. That’s exactly where the exploitation begins.

1. Fear-Based Manipulation

Many unethical astrologers prey on fear. Instead of empowering the client, they weaponize planetary positions:

• “You’re under a terrible Rahu Dasha. If you don’t do these rituals, disaster will strike.”
• “Your child will die unless this Puja is done in Kashi before the next eclipse.”

These are not hypothetical. These are real-life quotes from forums like Reddit and private testimonies. People are psychologically tortured into expensive rituals they can’t afford.

2. Financial Exploitation

The promise of expensive gemstone cures, “personalized” yagyas, and constant follow-up sessions keeps clients hooked and drained. Prices for these remedies can range from ₹5,000 to ₹5 lakhs — and often, the same advice is copy-pasted across clients.

The worst part? Many clients pay up out of desperation. They borrow money, sell valuables, or worse — live in anxiety thinking they haven’t “fixed” their karma properly.

3. Control and Surveillance

In many families, especially traditional Indian households, astrologers become power centers. They dictate marriage decisions, career paths, even when to try for children. Often, they access the most emotionally vulnerable person in the family (the “weakest link”) — usually a daughter-in-law, elderly parent, or financially dependent member — to extract secrets or control the narrative.

In one case, a woman shared on a public forum how an astrologer convinced her husband to stop talking to her for 40 days because “Shani was angry.” Another user described how an astrologer advised breaking up an engagement because “Mars in the 7th house will lead to domestic violence.” No nuance. No humanity.

4. Sexual Exploitation

Though rarely spoken about openly, there are disturbing reports of sexual misconduct under the guise of tantra or energy cleansing. Some so-called spiritual healers ask for “physical rituals,” especially targeting women who are mentally and emotionally distressed.

The lines between astrology, tantra, and personal violation are dangerously blurred in these cases.

Shiva and Parvati: Lovers of Astrology, Distrusters of Astrologers

Here’s a paradox you rarely hear in mainstream discourse: Lord Shiva — the cosmic yogi, the originator of Jyotish Shastra — had little patience for astrologers. And Parvati, his divine counterpart, shared this sentiment. Why?

Because they saw what we see today — not the science being misused, but the intent behind its use being corrupted.

Several Tantric texts hint at their disdain for those who commercialize astrology or use it for egoic control. One ancient conversation between Shiva and Parvati reveals their heartbreak at how astrology, once a tool of liberation, had become a mechanism for social control and exploitation.

It is said that Parvati once asked Shiva, “Why do astrologers invoke your name while manipulating the fearful?” To which Shiva replied: “They invoke the stars but know not their silence. They read karma but forget compassion.”

Some interpretations even refer to a symbolic curse: that those who use astrology to harm or enslave others will themselves become karmically blind — reading charts yet understanding nothing.

The Emotional and Psychological Cost

People don’t just lose money — they lose trust. They internalize fear. They develop anxiety, shame, helplessness. Constant exposure to fear-based astrology fosters:

• Decision paralysis
• Chronic worry
• Relationship issues
• Identity loss (especially when told they’re “doomed” by birth)

Many Reddit threads read like therapy rooms — users describe years of depression, broken marriages, and stalled careers based on one astrologer’s “prediction.”

Red Flags of Unethical Astrologers

Here’s how to spot them:

1. They sell fear instead of awareness
2. They push expensive remedies immediately
3. They don’t explain planetary logic behind advice
4. They discourage second opinions or self-study
5. They make you feel cursed, broken, or doomed
6. They demand blind trust and prolonged dependency
7. They use spiritual language to control or seduce

If your astrologer can’t handle questions — walk away.

Signs of a Positive, Ethical Astrologer

Now for the good ones. Yes, they exist. In fact, many work quietly, without flashy websites or TV shows. Here’s what they do differently:

1. They educate, not intimidate – They teach you about your chart.
2. They offer practical remedies – Mantras, discipline, diet, time-based rituals — not just gemstones.
3. They tell the truth gently – Even when it’s tough.
4. They encourage your free will – Even Saturn gives you choice.
5. They invite reflection, not reaction – Good astrology slows you down.
6. They are okay with you moving on – No emotional hostage situations.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

1. Ask questions. Don’t just listen — interrogate. If the astrologer gets annoyed, that’s a red flag.
2. Record the session. Keep evidence of what was said. It protects you and helps you revisit later.
3. Never give control of your decisions. Astrology is guidance, not gospel.
4. Don’t isolate yourself based on advice. If the astrologer tells you to cut ties or go silent — pause.
5. Research your astrologer. Look for reviews, talk to past clients, or observe their public work.

Astrology Isn’t the Problem — People Are

Astrology is not to be feared — but astrologers must be held to higher standards. This science is about timing, reflection, and soul correction. When it turns into a fear factory, it’s not Saturn punishing you — it’s a charlatan in a shawl.

Trust your intuition. Learn your basics. And remember: real astrology awakens your consciousness, not your anxiety.

Sources:

• Real-life experiences and advice from users on Reddit, e.g. a former astrologer’s exposé of industry scams and a victim’s account of being pressured to buy an expensive pujareddit.comreddit.com.
• News reports of astrologers engaging in fraud and abuse, such as The New Indian Express on a Kerala astrologer’s black magic sexual assault casenewindianexpress.comnewindianexpress.com, and Times of India on a Bengaluru woman duped of ₹5 lakh via fear of “15 spirits”timesofindia.indiatimes.comtimesofindia.indiatimes.com.
• Discussions on public forums (TwoXIndia, r/Delhi, etc.) highlighting red flags – for instance, astrologers using fear to sell remediesreddit.com and dramatic false predictions to manipulate familiesreddit.com.
• Guidance from astrology experts emphasizing ethical practice, like avoiding fear tactics and not forcing gemstone salesthehansindia.com, as well as Medium articles on the lack of accountability in astrology and the dangers of client over-dependenceaaskplanets.medium.comaaskplanets.medium.com.
• Positive testimonials contrasting genuine astrologers (who encourage prayer, personal effort, and limited consultations) against the negative onesreddit.comthehansindia.com.