Astrology Basics

Etymology
The etymology of the word astrology derives from two Greek words, 'astron' meaning star, and 'logia' meaning 'treating of' which was considered to mean 'telling of the stars'. Etymologically, the word 'astronomy' preceded that of astrology but included the study of astrology which historically can be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia, situated where modern Iraq is today.


Beginings
Some scholars think Babylon is where the art of star gazing originated. The lands of Babylon, Sumeria and Assyria used astrology for practical purposes, often connected to farming, the weather, and politics. The horoscope as a map of an individual psyche and life path would come later, during Classical times.

Astronomy derives from 'astron' star and 'nomos' 'arranging'. Astrology was associated with the practical application of astronomy. What did the 'stars' tell us about life? Was there a pattern in the sky which reflected what was going on here on earth? 'As above, so below' is a well known out-take from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, allegedly written some time between the 3rd century BCE and 1st century CE. This phrase in particular and the whole message of the Emerald Tablet embraces the entire belief systems of modern western astrology, alchemy and occultism.

Astrology had already developed into a divinational tool in Classical times and was divided into 'natural' astrology and 'judicial' astrology later on in Europe in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Natural astrology was the calculation and prediction of phenomena such as the tides, earthquakes, eclipses, and so on. Judicial astrology also known as 'astromancy' in the 17th century, was the influence of the celestial bodies on mankind. The first split from astronomy dates from c. 1400 CE when astrology was considered to be the telling, reading and influence of the planets and constellations on our future and destiny. 'I folwed ay myn inclinacioun/By vertu of my constillacioun" (Chaucer, Wife's Prologue, c. 1386). Describing the saucy, lusty Wife of Bath further he has her say 'venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesses, And Mars yeaf me my sturdy hardyness'


The Present
Nowadays, astrology is considered to be the study of the astronomical bodies such as the planets, constellations, asteroids, meteors, planetoids and comets to understand both the the human psyche but also the events, experiences and affairs that happen whether past, present or future in the world. There are many different systems of astrology, including Vedic, Horary, Chinese, Spiritual, Psychological, Sidereal and Electional astrology.

Astronomy is now considered to be a science and astrology an art. Since the Cartesian scientific 'modern world' view, astrology became associated with the study of the movements, angles, positions of the heavenly bodies in relation to eacdh other as they pass through the zodiac and their effect on mankind. Nowadays most astrologers (also known as astrologists) consider the art of astrology to be a symbolic language that can be interpreted, rather than a set of circumstances which causes events to happen.

Some astrologers still attempt to prove through statistical evidence that the planets have a direct physical influence on us. The work of Michel and Francoise Gauqulin, for example, demonstrated that personality or choice of career seemed to be connected to the position of the planets at the time of birth. (Inglis, B. The Paranormal, Granada Publishing, 1985). Some interesting sun sign based statistical material has also been produced by insurance companies - much of this was explored by Gunter Sachs in his book Die Akte Astrologie, Wilhelm Goldmann Verlag, Munchen, 1997.


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