4 types of Karma

Karma.

I think this is one of the most misunderstood words in astrology.

Most people hear "karma" and immediately think it's about punishment. Do something bad, something bad happens back. But that's never really been how I've understood it, and it's definitely not how Vedic astrology approaches it. When a Vedic astrologer reads your birth chart, they're reading a map of the karma your soul came here to experience. The houses show where that karma unfolds. The zodiac signs show how it expresses itself. The nakshatras add another layer of detail. Together, they begin telling the story of this lifetime.

One of my favorite Vedic astrologers, Raaj Kapiel, compares the birth chart to your own personal tree of life. I've always loved that analogy. Some fruit has already fallen and spoiled. Some is still growing. Pick it too early, and it'll be bitter. Some is finally ripe enough to eat. You can't avoid your fruit. But astrology can help you understand why you're eating it and how to move through the experience with a little more awareness.

Did you know there is more than one type of karma? Let’s explore that.

Sanchita Karma - This is the full accumulation of karma across every lifetime. Think of it as the entire tree rather than the fruit you're eating right now. Most of it stays in the background, but it's still part of your soul's story.

Prarabdha Karma - This is the portion of karma that's active in this lifetime. It's already in motion, which is why some experiences feel inevitable. Don’t get stuck on that because you still have free will. It means the circumstance may arrive, but how you respond is still yours to choose. This is the layer the birth chart reflects most clearly.

Agami Karma - Agami is the karma you're creating right now. Every decision, intention, movement, or lack thereof plants seeds for the future. You aren't changing your Prarabdha, but you are shaping what comes after it.

Kriyamana Karma - Kriyamana is karma happening in real time. It's the small, everyday choices that slowly become habits and eventually create bigger patterns. It may seem ordinary, but this is where future karma begins.

I think understanding karma makes it a little easier to accept life for what it is. We still feel. But we also start recognizing the difference between what we can change and what we're here to experience.

© 2026 Delaina Kashner | Kashner’s Vault