Mysteries of Astrology 

By Jeane

Astrology believed to be existed way back in the caveman history but in a blur context.  For a long time, Scientists rejected Astrology principles. However, millions of people believe and practice it. Today, all over the world newspapers publish daily astrological forecasts, commonly known as horoscopes. Horoscopes appeared in daily papers after World War I.  Horoscopes usually focus on marriage, friendship, health, work, travel, love and death. Horoscopes help to cure an individual's desire to know what lies ahead.

What exactly is Astrology?

Astrology is defined as the study of mapping planetary positions for a given date, time and place for the purpose of determining correlations between celestial phenomena and events on earth. These configurations are then interpreted according to the context in which they apply - ending on the position of these bodies at the exact moment of a person's birth, Astrologers believe these bodies and their movements reflect that person's character. The knowledge of the person's character and their relation to the bodies enables astrologers to predict a person's destiny. This prediction is not limited to one person. A prediction could be for an individual, group or a nation.

 

Birth of Astrology

Astrology ancient beginnings can be traced back to the Mesopotamian history – at least as far back as 2001 BCE. During the Mesopotamian time, astrology was much like that of other cultures, a simple examination of the heavens for omens that might affect the kingdom. Often these observations of omens would include weather phenomena intermixed with true astronomical ones. What made the Mesopotamians different is that they began at an early time to make systematic observations of phenomena with an eye to finding regular patterns in the heavens that might correlate with patterns in human events. In short, Mesopotamian early astrology records reveal a complex cosmology in which the Sun, the Moon and the planets represented gods who possessed the power to direct and intervene in the course of physical events.

These concepts progress further into the growth of Babylonian civilization. According to Bartel Leendert van der Waerden, a Dutch mathematician  (Science Awakening, Vol. II, Oxford Univ. Press) the earliest astronomical writings known in Mesopotamia are from the old Babylonian period, roughly the time of Hammurabi. It is not known whether the Sumerians were involved in astronomical studies or not, but it would seem plausible that they were.

The Babylonians established a pantheon of gods, each possessing dominion over a particular area of human experience. For instance, Mercury, the god of the intellect was seen as quick and cunning, with a special quality of calculating intelligence. Mars was seen as the ruler of violence and war; Jupiter, a kingly figure and sovereign of men; Saturn, quick tempered and cruel.

Here we can begin to recognize the basic forms of Astrology as we know it today. As Babylonian Astrology evolved, a correlation was recognized between happenings in the heavens and events on earth. For over the next centuries the Mesopotamians, especially the Babylonians, continued observing and compiling lists of phenomena eventually getting to the point where, based on observed recurrence cycles of the planets, they could reasonably accurately estimate the positions of the planets at any time in the future. Ptolemy records, and modern scholarship does not dispute this, that accurate and systematic eclipse records were kept from 747 B.C.E. onward into the Hellenistic period after the conquests of Alexander the Great.

From ancient Babylonia, we follow Astrology to the fascinating, yet mysterious, Chaldeans. These Mesopotamian people are famed in history as magicians and sages. Two most noted figures were Belshazzar and Nebuchadnezzar. They reigned for nearly 100 years during the seventh century BCE.

The Chaldeans were keen observers and mathematicians. They recognized that the events in the sky followed a pattern. They watched the stars move in fixed order across the heavens and the planets wandering in eccentric orbits, though in much the same plane. It was apparent to them that although the planets had their own individual movement they behaved in coherent cycles. It is here in Chaldea, that the charting patterns of the planets began. The very first Ephemeridae, tables of planetary motion, were constructed during the reign of King Assurbanipal. In preparation of the new cosmological system, the Chaldeans made use of the twelve main constellations through which the Sun and Moon regularly pass. These were the precursors of the zodiac.

Being part of active person in Science History - Van der Waerden argues that the evolution of astrology went through three phases. The first phase consists of the omen lore that has been described. The second phase is closely related to this but has a zodiac in the modern sense, twelve 30 degree signs. There is no personal horoscopy in this middle level, but great attention is paid to the transits of Jupiter through the signs at the rate of approximately one sign per year. From this is clearly descended the Chinese practice of assigning each year to a zodiacal sign, and probably also the system of annual profections in later horoscopic astrology. There are also of course no houses of any kind. Van der Waerden dates this middle phase as being from about 630 to 450 B.C.E.

The zodiac at this point is clearly a sidereal one and its ayanamsha is at least close to the Fagan-Allen value - another sidereal system.  The third phase is horoscopic astrology.  It was a later Egypt that gave birth to horoscopic astrology, an Egypt that had made close contact with the ideas of the Babylonians.

What is a Horoscope in Astrology?

Horoscope is created by Astrologer, is also known as a Birth Chart.  It represents the start of an event, and shows the positions of all the planets in our Solar System. In effect it is a picture of an individual connection to the Universe.

An individual's chart shows the position of the planets in relation to the earth and the stars at his or her birth. A horoscope is illustrated by a circle. This circle is known as the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the plan on which the earth orbits around the sun in a year. It is divided into twelve sections, called the signs of the Zodiac. The Zodiac divides the calendar year into 12 sections, and then each section is represented by a sign. The signs of the zodiac include Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Pisces. Astrologers assign every planet (including the sun and moon) with a particular sign of the Zodiac. This relationship depends on where that planet appears on the ecliptic at the time for which the horoscope is cast. Each planet or sign represents basic human drives, and each sign represents a set of human characteristics. Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac is believed to be associated with definite aspects of character, temperament, physiology, and aptitudes. Each sign of the Zodiac has a corresponding stone, metal, and symbol.

When astrologers designate a person as a certain sign a Taurus or Leo, for example--they are referring to the individual's sun sign. In other words, it is the sign that the sun occupied at the time of the person's birth. To make an individual's horoscope, the astrologer must know the exact time and place of his birth.  When an astrologer casts a horoscope is based on a special view of the universe. This view involves four elements: the earth, the planets, the stars and the houses.

The Earth

The earth is considered the center of the solar system, when forecasting a horoscope. Therefore, all heavenly bodies in relation to the earth can reveal a person's character and future.

 

The Planets

Astrologers believe planets influence a person more than any other heavenly body. The sun and moon are considered planets in Astrology.

 

The Zodiac

The Zodiac is a band of stars that encircles the earth. These stars are divided into 12 equal parts called signs. Each sign of the Zodiac has certain characteristics, which are determined by a particular planet and other factors.

 

The Houses

The earth is divided into 12 parts, called houses. These houses represent characteristics of an individual's life. Astrologers believe houses determine how planets and the signs influence a person's daily life.

 

Until today, there is still controversy that is spanning around the topic Astrology. This controversy has greatly influenced its popularity and survival as a whole.