| Astrology Lessons |
What’s your astrological sign. Everyone knows
what his or her sign is. Even if you’re not
a believer that the position of the planets
at the exact time of your birth is an indicator
of your personality and can determine events
that happen to your throughout your lifetime,
you’ve certainly met someone who does believe.
At the very least, it’s harmless club conversation,
a way to get to know someone. But is there
something to it. Are horoscopes just hocus
pocus. Or do they truly predict the course
of events in your life.
Astrology is one of the earliest sciences
known to human history. There are astrological
records that originated in Babylon in 1645
BCE. Other cultures, such as Egyptian and
Greek developed timekeeping and calendar
methodologies. From the time man began to
observe and track the world around him, he’s
also contemplated his own relationship to
the earth, stars, planets and elements around
him. Astrology may have one way that earliest
civilizations helped define their place in
the cosmos. They perceived it as being greater
than themselves; not something to be conquered,
but to be understood.
While in modern times astrology is seen as
new age and not as credible as sciences like
astrophysics or chemistry, at one time it
was as credible a science as any other. Astronomers
like Galileo and Copernicus were also practicing
astrologers. With the evolution of more quantitative
sciences, astrology’s influence and position
began to diminish. It enjoyed a resurgence
in the 1930’s with the birth of England’s
Princess Margaret. The London Sunday-Express
ran her astrological profile, and that event
was the origin of the modern daily horoscope
in the newspapers.
Everyone who’s read a really good astrological
profile of himself has to admit there are
some uncanny coincidences. Can we really
pretend we’re so knowledgeable of the universe
that we can reject the discipline of astrology.
Maybe Shakespeare had something there when
he wrote in Hamlet, *There are more things
on heaven and earth Horatio than are dreamt
of in your philosophy.*
Where did the practice of astrology originate?
Did it evolve in one part of the world and
then become adopted by other civilizations?
When you study the ancient civilizations
in the Middle East, Central America and in
Asia, there are remarkable similarities in
how they adapted their lives to be in harmony
with the rhythms of earth and the cosmos.
Consider that there are pyramids in Mayan
and Aztec cultures, as well as Egyptian ones.
And that many pyramids are constructed around
and point to key events in the solar system,
such as equinoxes and solstices.
Similarly, astrology is thought to have developed
independently in Babylon and Central America.
The astrology systems in India and China
most likely were derived from those in Babylon.
It's curious that many fundamentalist religions
reject the principles of astrology, because
it was, in fact, an integral component of
the religions of Babylon. It was part of
the calling of priests in Babylon to predict
the future and part of their methodology
for doing so was to interpret events in the
sky. Nothing was considered pure chance and
any natural occurrence, no matter how mundane
or mysterious, could be an omen of either
good fortune or bad.
The part of Mesopotamia that is now Iraq
once comprised Babylonia in the South and
Assyria in the North. Before Alexander the
Great conquered the area in 330 BC, the Assyrians
were a military and administrative power,
and Babylon was the center of culture. The
underlying belief system in both cultures
was that there was a spiritual force behind
every act of nature. Heaven and Earth were
complementary systems, with neither one having
dominion over the other. But by the 4th century
BCE, this belief system was influenced by
the Greek view that the heavens, and its
resident gods, determined events on earth.
Astrological Predictions
Opinions about astrological prediction are
generally divided. In fact, both views are
based on a misunderstanding of the nature
of how astrology really works.
Though it may come as a surprise to the true
believer many astrologers believe that astrology
cannot make precise predictions about your
future although astrology can indeed reveal
the tendencies of your future.
If an astrologer tells you that next Tuesday
you will be walking down the street, and
will accidentally trip and fall, breaking
your left wrist as it cracks against a fire
hydrant, that would be a pretty precise prediction,
wouldn't it. But no astrologer ever makes
predictions like that. More likely, an astrologer
would say: There is some danger of having
an accident next Tuesday; try to be more
careful than usual. This is of course not
a precise prediction, but rather a statement,
based on certain astrological techniques,
about an increased probability of a certain
type of event occurring. This is the true
strength of astrology: not to tell you what
is going to happen (since that is beyond
its capabilities), but rather, to inform
you about the probablilit9es of certain types
of events occurring.
Astrology isn't used to predict the future.
It's used to help you gain insight and understanding
into the patterns and directions your life
takes. It's not an absolute, but it's an
indicator. If you don't like what your astrological
or natal charts tell you, it's certainly
within your power to change it. Astrology
can give you insight into one potential destiny,
but there are too many variables, including
the decisions you make for yourself, to predict
with any degree of accuracy what will happen
in the future.
The Origins of Astrology
The Babylonians are generally acknowledged
to have originated the practice and science
of astrology. Their astrological charts enabled
them to predict the recurrence of seasons
and certain celestial events. So, in the
beginning and for more than 2,000 years,
astrology and astronomy were the same science.
Babylonian astrology was introduced to the
Greeks early in the 4th century BCE and,
through the studies of Plato, Aristotle,
and others, astrology came to be highly regarded
as a science. It was soon embraced by the
Romans (the Roman names for the zodiacal
signs are still used today) and the Arabs
and later spread throughout the entire world.
While earliest astrology was used to bring
a sense of order out of apparent chaos, it
was soon employed to predict weather patterns,
primarily for agricultural purposes. It was
eventually widened to include forecasts of
natural disasters, war and other events in
the affecting the human condition. Once success
in these fields was established, it was a
natural evolution for astrology to be used
as a means for advising for kings and emperors
and, in time, the population at large.
The zodiac (which is derived from the Greek
word meaning circle of animals) is believed
to have developed in ancient Egypt and later
adopted by the Babylonians. Early astrologers
knew it took twelve lunar cycles (i.e., months)
for the sun to return to its original position.
They then identified twelve constellations
that they observed were linked to the progression
of the seasons and assigned them names of
certain animals and persons (in Babylonia,
for example, the rainy season was found to
occur when the sun was in a particular constellation
which was then named Aquarius, or water bearer).
Around the year 2000 BCE, Babylonian astrologers
believed that the sun, moon, and the five
planets known at that time (Jupiter, Mars,
Mercury, Saturn, and Venus) possessed distinct
powers. Mars, for example, appeared to be
red and was associated with aggression and
war.
Astrology, Medicine, Astronomy
There was a time when astrology was an accepted
science and was a part of medical diagnoses,
as much as were a patient's physical symptoms.
It's hard to say whether we've e-volved or
de-volved, as we no longer think about living
in harmony with cosmos. We consider ourselves
too advanced scientifically to think that
movements in the stars and planets might
have a serious impact on our daily lives
and our health.
But are we right. Who is anyone to say that
man, with his limited brain, can truly comprehend
the workings of the universe, or how he fits
within it. Western civilization is predicated
on conquering, not understanding. But it
wasn't always so.
Astrology is one of the most important historical
contexts in which astronomy developed. The
Babylonians carefully assembled tablets of
the position of Venus, as it was believed
to denote omens for weather, war, famine,
diseases, rulers and kingdoms. Claudius Ptolemy
composed the Tetrabiblos, believing that
astrology could be placed on a rational footing,
despite being a conjectural art like medicine.
In practice, belief in astrology meant that
horoscopes were cast for new-born children,
prospective spouses and political enemies,
public buildings were opened and marriage
and other ceremonies conducted on auspicious
days. Numerous records of astrological practice
can be found from the Roman times and physicians
routinely consulted astrological charts as
part of the diagnostic process.
For instance, every sign of the zodiac was
considered to rule a part of the human body:
the Sagittarius ruled the thighs, Pisces
the feet, and so on. When the moon was in
the zodiac ruling a particular part of the
body, bloodletting from that part was to
be avoided, since the attraction of the moon
might cause excessive bleeding. Numerous
medical manuscripts and almanacs include
the figure of the 'zodiac man' as a reminder
of the specific influence of the moon. In
addition, the power of the moon's pulling
power varied by its phases, and thus almanacs
usually showed the phases of the moon.
Elements in Astrology
Groups of signs in astrology share certain
characteristics that are classified according
to four earthly elements - fire, air, water
and earth. It helps explain why some signs
are more compatible than others.
The Fire signs are Aries (March 21 to April
19), Leo (July 23 to August 22) and Sagittarius
(November 22 - December 21). Fire people
are leaders, dynamic. They light up everything
around them. Because Fire needs Air to exist,
Fire signs are most compatible with the Air
signs. Water is anathema to Fire and a Water
person could try to dampen the dynamism and
enthusiasm that defines Fire.
The Air signs are Aquarius (January 20 to
February 18), Gemini (May 21 to June 21)
and Libra (September 23 - October 22). These
are the idea signs, the air that breathes
a spark into a flame. They can't be tied
down. They require freedom of movement and
thought.
The water signs of Cancer (June 22 to July22),
Scorpio (October 23 to November 21) and Pisces
(February 19 to March 20) are characterized
by the phrase still waters run deep. They're
emotional and sensitive, given to deep thoughts
and conversations. Just as water can blur
an image or hide secrets within its depths,
so do Water signs have secretive emotions
and abilities. The Water signs are most compatible
with Earth signs.
The Earth signs are Taurus (April 20 - May
20), Virgo (August 23 to September 22) and
Capricorn (December 22 to January 19). They
are stable and consistent. While not as compassionate
as the water signs, they are nonetheless
nurturing. They can be rigid (stick in the
mud) and easily stuck in routines. They are
most compatible with Water signs, as Water
is necessary for the Earth to properly nurture
growing things. Earth helps Water contain
itself, which is often necessary for survival
on the planet.
Sun Signs
Your Sun sign represents the sign of the
Zodiac that the Sun was in at the time of
your birth. The Sun rules willpower and ego.
It is the core of who you are and what you
are about.
Your Sun sign represents the main direction
and focus you want your life to take and
your determination to accomplish what you
set out to do. It represents your personal
honesty and integrity, your ability to command
respect and authority and your capacity to
impress and influence others.
The beginning and end dates for each of the
signs can vary from year to year. We suggest
you take a look at our cusp page for greater
information if you were born on a cusp. People
born on the cusp of a sun sign can exhibit
characteristics of both signs.
If the Sun was in the part of the Zodiac
called Aries at the time of your birth, then
you are an Aries! Your character though similar
to one of the twelve zodiac elements, will
always be unique as a result of who you are
and the choices you make. In fact your character
as far as Astrology is concerned requires
that the position of all the Planets (the
nine planets in our solar system plus the
moon and sun) are calculated. Imagine that
these planets are the ingredients that can
make up a human being, they can all be added
in many different permutations and quantities.
So a professional astrologer takes into account
the position of all these planets in your
Birth Chart, using only your time, date and
place of birth. This greater accuracy focuses
on your character, problems, and forecasts
your future choices and best most timely
solutions.
Ascendant Sign
Technically speaking, your rising sign, or
ascendant, reflects the zodiac sign that
was ascending on the Eastern horizon at the
moment you took your first breath in this
world. This is why an exact birth time is
so vital to finding your accurate rising
sign. Located on the cusp of the first house
of your astrological chart -- or at the nine
o'clock position -- the rising sign can exert
an influence almost as powerful as your Sun
and Moon signs.
If you were to think of your Sun sign as
your soul -- your inner personality and potential
-- and your Moon sign as your heart -- your
emotional core -- then you could say that
your rising sign is your physical self or
the face you present to the world. For example,
though your Sun sign might be Taurus, your
rising sign could very well be Gemini. While
you're feeling laid-back, others will tend
to see you as a ball of nervous energy and
cerebral wit.
At times, your rising sign may act as a mask,
hiding some aspect of your inner self you
don't feel like revealing. Your Ascendant
sign describes your temperament, your outward
mannerisms and behavior, the personality
you put on public display. It is the part
of yourself you are most willing for other
people to see in casual, impersonal situations.
Changes here will explain why even people
born on the same day as you will have very
different personalities, different strengths
and interests, and different life experiences.
The Ascendant is also called the Rising Sign
of a person's chart. Astrologers use the
two terms interchangeably. It is literally
the sign that was rising on the Eastern horizon
of the sky at the time you were born in the
place where you were born. This is why it
is essential to have both a birthplace and
a birth time in order to cast a completely
valid Natal Chart.
Planets, Sun, Moon, Mercury
When most of us think of astrology, we think
about our natal sign and not much else. Do
you know what some of the major influences
are though, that define these Zodiac signs.
First and foremost is the Sun. It is the
center of all life and represents a person's
personality and spirit. It is the planetary
ruler of the sign Leo.
The Moon, on the other hand, gives us our
Soul. The Moon is the ruling planet of the
Zodiac sign Cancer. It is very much associated
with the mother and with maternal instincts.
In Chinese astrology, the Moon represents
Yin, while the Sun represents Yang.
Mercury rules over Gemini and Virgo. It is
the planet of the mind and of communication.
In other words, it is the planet of the idea
and the means to communicate the idea. The
planet Venus rules over Taurus and Libra.
Venus is associated with characteristics
and principles of harmony and beauty. It
is of course, concerned with love. It is
also concerned with the pleasure we derive
from personal possessions.
Mars is the ruling planet for the dynamic
Aries, and to some astrologers, Scorpio,
although modern astrologers now determine
that Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio. Mars
is the planet that is concerned with the
things you want, and how you go about getting
those things. Jupiter is associated with
pleasure and enjoyment. It is the ruler of
Sagittarius and is also associated with principles
of growth, religion and higher education.
Saturn is the ruling planet of Capricorn
and is associated with principles such as
reality and restrictions, boundaries and
rules. Saturn was traditionally the ruler
of Aquarius until the discovery of the planet
Uranus. Neptune is the ruling planet of Pisces
and is associated with deception, illusions,
spirituality and psychic phenomena. The planet
Pluto is the ruling planet of Scorpio and
is associated with the concept of transformation.
Zodiac Compatibility
So is there anything to zodiac compatibility.
Does your astrological sign really have anything
to do with who your ideal mate is. Or who
can be the best friend for you. Is there
a reason why some siblings are rivals for
life, while others are as close as twins.
Consider the writer, who is a Virgo, although
an atypical Virgo (we think). Her sister
is a Capricorn, and according to the astrology
experts, we should be in tune with Capricorns.
And in fact, the writer and her sister and
quite literally opposite sides of the same
coin. We have the same dreams! And we know
when the other is in trouble of some kind.
We will call each other at odd times, only
to discover that the other was in trouble,
or needed help or advice or counsel. We don't
know it consciously, but it just works out
that way.
Then there was her husband, or ex-husband,
to be more exact. He was a Libra and perhaps
we should have done some research into astrology
before we got married. In one article we
read, under Libra, it said "No chance."
How true, how true!
So should you make the decision about your
life partner based on astrology. Well, it
doesn't hurt to do some dispassionate examination
before taking such a big step. While you
might not want to reject someone on the basis
of his birth date, a good horoscope CAN help
you out with some clues to his or her nature
that you might not pick up on all by yourself.
And when they do something that completely
mystifies you, perhaps a little basic knowledge
of astrology will help you decipher what's
going on and help you communicate better.
And that's never a bad thing, no matter what
resource you're using for better communication.
The stars can provide much insight about
ourselves, including how, when, and with
whom we are most likely to fall in love.
Of course, astrology is not destiny, so while
the one you love may not be a classic match
for you in astrological terms, that doesn't
mean all is lost. By understanding the universal
forces that attract you to your lover, you
can learn how to make any relationship work,
and better understand your own self in the
process.
First consider how accurate your own horoscope
is. There are similarities among many of
them, but find the resource that best describes
YOU. Then use that same resource to do a
little research on your beloved. You certainly
don't have to reject someone because he's
<gasp> a Water sign and you're a Fire
sign. But, it can certainly provide some
insight into why you two clash, or why you
think he's a wet blanket sometimes.
You can really go into detail about the ideal
zodiac mate for you, but it's hard enough
to find someone, isn't it. So don't walk
away from that Water or Earth guy. Use your
knowledge to understand him. Maybe you need
to borrow some tips from Air or Earth to
help manage the communications between the
two of you or to help resolve conflicts.
There are many really good books and Web
sites to help you figure out the details
of your zodiac match. Do a little research.
And make it fun! What's your sign can be
a cliché, but if you deliver the line in
the right way, it can also be a good ice
breaker. If you're a Virgo, and you're introduced
to, say, a Libra, tell him he's got his work
cut out for him. Everyone loves a challenge
and it's an easy way to flirt and start to
get to know someone.
Skeptics
Skeptics of Astrology often say that horoscope
readings are so general they could apply
to anyone; and that people will look for
what they want to see and ignore what doesn't
seem true for them, thus deluding themselves
that the horoscope is accurate.
This skepticism would most likely be eliminated
if the skeptic actually looked at a real
horoscope done by a competent professional
astrologer, using his unique time and place
of birth. But in this second part of the
series, we'll look at an example of how a
skeptic of Astrology can come to a false
conclusion and go on saying that Astrology
is bunk or fake to others - by NOT using
a real horoscope to prove his point.
Although astrology will always have its skeptics,
they should consider some of the following
before making up their minds.
---Astrology probably gave birth to Astronomy.
There is nothing supernatural about casting
a horoscope, most of it is done according
to precise astronomical and mathematical
principles.
--Many famous scientists have been into Astrology:
Tyco Brahe, Karl Jung, Kepler, Huxley, and
Copernicus. Many others remain anonymous.
--Astrologers do not necessarily believe
in fate. They believe the stars impel not
compel.
-- There are 10,000 practicing paid Astrologers
and millions of horoscope followers. There
are hundreds of books on the topic. Only
10 percent of Americans believe there can't
be anything to it.
--. Many astrologers believe in a natural
synchronicity between the stars and events.
Other countries place even more value in
it.
--It is an undisputed scientific fact that
the planets have a measurable magnetic, gravitational
and electromagnetic influence on the earth.
Most people agree that bizarre behavior tends
to peak on full moons.
--Astrology is not limited to natal. There
is also electional, horary, mundane, medical,
meteorological, Chinese 12 year and millennial.
--The vast majority of those who look at
their own chart (not just a newspaper column)
find uncanny accurate hits.
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