Raymond Scott wrote:so hows does Astrology fit with various ethnic/racial groups including even multiethnic/racial types like myself?

That question was brought up even by early writers of astrology -- not surprisingly, as horoscopic astrology originated in a multiethnic society. Their answer is basically that the horoscope shows variations within the racial/ethnic parameters. Tall and short, fair and dark, slim and fat, etc, are all relative terms (as are rich and poor, etc) which need to be measured against a given norm or standard expectation in order to mean anything.

I would say that a horoscope basically describes, in an abstract way, a given moment in time and space. In order to make it concrete, we need to know to whom or what it refers: to a particular question, to the launching of a ship or the foundation-laying of a city, or to the birth of a man or woman, prince or peasant -- and, for determining appearance, black or white, etc.

Martin Gansten wrote:

Deb wrote:I would have thought the association with the luminaries lies behind this.

Absolutely. Solar and lunar types tend to have the most prominent eyes, the lunar being more moist and the solar more radiant. Venus often gives a beautiful shape; Mars smallish eyes with a sharp, piercing look; Saturn dull and deep-set eyes; etc.

I recently read a biography of Vivekananda. And made his chart.

"?Man of a big heart, broad shoulders, bright eyes??,are the usual text book descriptions of Vivekananda"

Scroll down to see a pic of him here:
http://ideasareimmortal.doubteverything ... nk-as-man/

He have a sidereal Sagittarius ascendent with Sun placed in his first house.
(vargottama as well).

Tropical chart:
http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Vivekananda,_Swami

His body constitution seems to have much kapha ? But sun is pitta by nature. Perhaps the ascendent ruler Jupiters status as a kapha planet is influencing here ?
If this birthtime is correct then Jupiter is placed in navamsha ascendent which could influence ayurvedic kapha like constitution.

I don't know how accurate the chart for Vivekananda is, but you are of course right when you say:

His body constitution seems to have much kapha ? But sun is pitta by nature.

Generally speaking (and this is not classical ?yurveda, but based on observation: I learnt it from an astrologer-friend and have been able to confirm it many times), an original pitta constitution will gradually tend towards either pitta-kapha or pitta-v?ta. The former natives, while retaining their natural pitta characteristics (such as force of character, leadership abilities, love of physical exercise, etc), also tend to put on weight -- often a great deal of it -- and to develop secondary characteristics which one would generally associate with Venus. All this is amplified or modified by the signs involved, just as you say:

Perhaps the ascendent ruler Jupiters status as a kapha planet is influencing here ?

Definitely, and also the presence of Venus in the first house -- again, provided that the birth time is correct.