ASTROLOGY

Astrology is the ancient system of divination which uses the position of planets, the moon and stars. Astrology believes that the celestial bodies exert forces that influence people and events, which as the stars and planets move, can alter daily. About 3000 BC it is believed that Astrology was developed by the Chaldeans who observed the heavens from Ziggurats (A type of Staired tower). It is also believed the Babylonians also practised astrology.

Scholastics disagree if the Chaldeans or the Babylonians actually formalised the Zodiac. As most people are aware the Zodiac consists of a band of 12 constellations. The word "Zodiac" was coined later by the Greeks and translates as the "Circus of Animals." The ancient Chinese circa 2000 BC also practised astrology along with ancient Indians, Maya, Egyptians and Tibetans who used various forms of astrology. Approximately 600 BC - 500 BC the ancient Greeks used Chaldean astrology making it available to the masses. Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle were some of the great thinkers who accepted the influence of the stars. The Greeks believed that by knowing the future certain actions could be taken although this did not guarantee success. The Romans then took astrology from Greek slaves circa. 250 BC - 244 BC but by 139 BC Cornelius Hispallus drove many fortune tellers away as a lot of them were fraudulent. Agustus was the first Emperor of Rome that became a believer in Astrology. The most important historical Western astrology book was written circa. AD 140-200 by Ptolemy, Greco-Egyptian astronomer. He wrote four books on the influence of the stars known as "Tetrabiblios" which is the foundation which astrology still rests.

In 333 AD Emperor Constantine, who was a Christian convert, condemned astrology as a "demonic" practise. By the 12th Century Arab astrology entered back into the West through Spanish kabbalists. In the Renaissance period most of the scientists, philosophers, astronomers and physicians studied and accepted astrology. It was taught in Universities and was at this time even tolerated by the church. But by the 17th Century astrology was put back in the category of superstition and the occult but since then has never fallen out of public favour.

Natal astrology is said to predict a persons general character and destiny based upon the position of the planets at the exact time and location of birth. The oldest surviving horoscope is Babylonian circa. 410 BC along with another one found in Uruk, Chaldea. (Now known as Iraq) This is dated to 263 BC.

Within astrology it is believed that the sun and the place it occupies in the constellation indicates the overall personality traits of each individual.

Many books have been published and it should be pointed out that astrology pages in newspapers and magazines are too general to be of any use. So you are advised to seek the advice of astrologers with reputations of excellence.