The Vedic word is derived from Vedas [meaning] sacred knowledge,” says Kamlesh Trivedi, a Vedic astrologer for horoscope and astrology app Nebula. “It is a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India.” Vedic—also known as Jyotish, which translates to light—astrology is rooted in these religious texts, called the Vedas. The main scriptures are believed to be written by Bhrigu, a sage known as the father of Vedic astrology, during the Vedic era.

Vedic astrology explains planetary motions and position with respect to time, space, and their effect on humans and all the other entities on the planet Earth,” Trivedi says. Furthermore, he adds, Vedic astrology has a branch called Muhurat astrology that you can use to determine the most auspicious dates to do something (like a big life event, for instance) to get the most positive results.