Astrology Faq

Common Questions About Astrology Answered...

ASTROLOGY
Astrology is the use of astronomical phenomena to predict earthly and human events, in terms of an assumed theoretical system. In its earliest form astrology consisted of simple omens that astrologers read from the sky. In its mature form astrology analyzes the supposed effects of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars on the Earth for a specific time and place. Although historically the meanings of the terms astronomy and astrology sometimes overlapped, astronomy has been concerned only with determining the positions and physical properties of celestial bodies. Natural astrology, on the other hand, assumed that a generalized celestial influence affected weather, crops, and other phenomena related to whole nations of people; judicial astrology made specific predictions about the future of individuals.

HISTORY
Astrology originated in ancient Babylonia and spread from there to China, India, and the West, where different but related traditions grew up. The earliest known horoscope incorporating the principles of mature astrology dates from 409 BC. In the 2d century AD the astronomer Claudius PTOLEMY prefaced his Tetrabiblos with a defense of astrology that proved influential. After the fall of the Roman Empire, astrology declined in the Latin west but flourished in the hands of the conquerors of the Eastern Empire. In the 12th century astrology began to prosper in Western Europe. By the end of the 17th century, however, astrology was considered a pseudoscience by almost all learned people. Not only was it opposed to the Christian doctrines of divine intervention and human free will, but also the acceptance of a greatly-expanded, Sun-centered universe raised doubt about whether the heavens were created to direct changes on Earth.

PRINCIPLES
In addition to the purported effects of planets on the weather, body types, and personality, astrology also has to take into account the new relationships continually being set up among celestial bodies. To do this it uses the 12 signs of the ZODIAC. Aspects are special angles that allow for a discontinuity in astrological influences. For example, there is supposed to be an effect when two planets are 60 deg apart, but then relatively little effect until a separation of 90 deg occurs. Ptolemaic astrology recognized four aspects: 180 deg, 120 deg, 90 deg, and 60 deg. More were added by Johannes KEPLER and other astronomers. The astrological column in a newspaper today is generally based on the sign of the zodiac in which the Sun was located when a person was born. A simplified form of astrology, it implies that all people born under the same sign anywhere in the world at any time share common characteristics and that their daily activities should be so guided. A more individual analysis is possible when casting a horoscope by noting the relationships of the Sun, Moon, planets, and signs of the zodiac to the time and place of one's birth. Starting with the ascendant, the ecliptic is usually divided into 12 divisions called houses. Unlike the zodiacal signs, which represent the annual cycle of the Sun, the heavens rotate behind the imaginary grid of houses once every 24 hours (reflecting the Earth's daily rotation), and in a unique manner for every place on Earth. Each of the 12 houses is significant for some phase of human existence. The astrological judgment is rendered by examining what celestial bodies fall into which houses. Only individuals born at the same place and at the same time would have exactly the same astrological inheritance. Horoscopes can be cast on numerous occasions to decide the fate of both nations and individuals. Most familiar is the casting of a horoscope based on the conception or birth of a child, the so-called nativity. From a horoscope the astrologer may determine, through a technique known as directing, when a predicted event will befall the subject. In all methods of directing a point on the ecliptic is chosen, and an arc related to it is used to give a time span; for example, one degree of arc may be taken to equal one year of life. Through the technique of election an astrologer counsels an individual on the choice of propitious moments. The election is usually related in some way to the person's nativity. Even without knowing his or her nativity, a person could supposedly come to some understanding of the effect of the heavens on his or her life through horary questions. For example, a horoscope is cast at a time when a pressing question arises, such as whether a business enterprise will be successful.

VALIDITY
For centuries critics have attacked astrology on scientific grounds, questioning the means by which celestial influences could occur, and on moral grounds, since many view humans as creatures of free will. On their side, astrologers, past and present, have often sought to imply that empirical evidence establishes the existence of heavenly influences and have held that erroneous predictions could be attributed to the complexity of the study. Some practitioners have even thought that astrological theories should be modified. Although astrology has persisted to the present day, enjoying greater popularity in some countries than in others, it has never attracted more than an occasional scientist to its ranks since the 17th century. Periods of resurgence may correspond with times of uncertainty, especially when science and technology seem unable to provide acceptable solutions to pressing problems and when many people seem to seek a more mystical and spiritual mode of understanding the world. Many contemporary works of astrology use the terminology of recent psychological theories.

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Michael Thiessen
astro@beaches.net

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