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Astrology (from s, Tradition s, and Belief s in which knowledge of the relative positions of Celestial Bodies and related details is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters. A practitioner of astrology is called an Astrologer , or, less often, an astrologist. Numerous traditions and applications employing astrological concepts have arisen since its earliest recorded beginnings in the 2nd Millennium BC E.1 It has played a role in the shaping of culture, early astronomy, and other disciplines throughout history. Historically, Astrology And Astronomy were often indistinguishable, with the desire for predictive and divinatory knowledge one of the primary motivating factors for astronomical observation. Astronomy began to diverge from astrology after a long period of gradual separation in the 18th Century , and has since distinguished itself as the Scientific study of astronomical objects and phenomena, placing no significance on these phenomena's supposed astrological correlation. Proponents of astrology have many different points of view when it comes to a definition. It has been variously defined as a Symbolic language,23 an Art form,4 a Science , and a method of Divination .56 The scientific community generally considers astrology as a Pseudoscience or Superstition .78 While there is no Scientific Evidence behind the principles of astrology, belief in astrology is widespread.91011 CORE BELIEFS for some of the Planets Of Astrology , including the Sun , the Earth , the Moon , and Pluto .]] The core beliefs of astrology were prevalent in most of the ancient world and are epitomized in the Hermetic maxim "as above, so below". Tycho Brahe used a similar phrase to summarize his studies in astrology: ''suspiciendo despicio'', "by looking up I see downward".12 Although the principle that events in the heavens are mirrored by those on Earth was once generally held in most traditions of astrology around the world, in the West there has historically been a debate among astrologers over the nature of the mechanism behind astrology. The debate also covers whether or not celestial bodies are only signs or portents of events, or if they are actual causes of events through some sort of force or mechanism. Although the connection between Celestial Mechanics and terrestrial Dynamics was explored first by Isaac Newton with his development of a universal theory of Gravitation , claims that the gravitational effects of the celestial bodies are what accounts for astrological generalizations are not substantiated by scientific research, nor are they advocated by most astrologers. A common belief held by astrologers is that the positions of certain celestial bodies either influence or correlate with human affairs. A modern explanation is that the cosmos (and especially the Solar System ) acts as a single unit, so that any happening in any part of it inevitably is reflected in every other part, somewhat representing Chaos Theory and Fractals . Skeptics dispute these claims, pointing to a lack of concrete evidence of significant influence of this sort. Most astrological traditions are based on the relative positions and movements of various real or construed celestial bodies and on the construction of celestial patterns as seen at the time and place of the event being studied. These are chiefly the Sun , Moon , the Planet s, the Star s and the Lunar Node s. The frame of reference for such apparent positions is defined by the Tropical or Sidereal Zodiac of twelve Signs on one hand, and by the local Horizon ( Ascendant ) and Midheaven on the other. This latter (local) frame is typically further divided into the twelve Astrological Houses . Furthermore, the Astrological Aspects are used to determine the geometric/angular relationship(s) between the various celestial bodies and angles in the horoscope. The claim of astrology to predict future trends and developments, or predictive astrology, is based on two main methods: Astrological Transit s and Astrological Progression s. In astrological transits the ongoing movements of the planets are interpreted for their significance as they transit through space and the horoscope. In astrological progressions the horoscope is progressed forward in time according to set methods. Most modern astrologers no longer try to forecast actual events, but focus instead on general trends and developments. Skeptics respond that this allows astrologers to avoid making verifiable predictions, and gives them the ability to attach significance to arbitrary and unrelated events, in a way that suits their purpose. In the past, astrologers often relied on close observation of celestial objects and the charting of their movements. Modern astrologers use data provided by Astronomer s which are transformed to a set of astrological tables called Ephemerides , showing the changing zodiacal positions of the heavenly bodies through time. TRADITIONS signs, 16th century Europe an woodcut]] There are many traditions of astrology, some of which share similar features due to the transmission of astrological doctrines between cultures. Other traditions developed in isolation and hold completely different doctrines, although they too share some similar features due to the fact that they are drawing on similar astronomical sources. Current traditions The main traditions used by modern astrologers are: Indian and Western astrology share a common ancestry as Horoscopic Systems of astrology, in that both traditions focus on the casting of an astrological chart or Horoscope , a representation of celestial entities, for an event based on the position of the Sun, Moon, and planets at the moment of the event. However, Indian astrology uses the Sidereal Zodiac , linking the signs of the zodiac to their original Constellations , while Western astrology uses the Tropical Zodiac . Because of the Precession Of The Equinoxes , over the centuries the twelve zodiacal signs in Western astrology no longer correspond to the same part of the sky as their original constellations. In effect, in Western astrology the link between sign and constellation has been broken, whereas in Indian astrology it remains of paramount importance. Another difference between the two traditions is the Indian use of 27 (or 28) Nakshatra s or lunar mansions, which have been used in Indian astrology since Vedic times. In Chinese astrology a quite different tradition has evolved. By contrast to Western and Indian astrology, the twelve signs of the zodiac do not divide the sky, but rather the celestial equator. The Chinese evolved a system where each sign corresponds to one of twelve 'double-hours' that govern the day, and to one of the twelve months. Each sign of the zodiac governs a different year, and combines with a system based on the five elements of Chinese cosmology to give a 60 (12 x 5) year cycle. The term ''Chinese astrology'' is used here for convenience, but it must be recognised that versions of the same tradition exist in Japan , Vietnam , Thailand and other Asian countries. In modern times, these traditions have come into greater contact with each other, notably with Indian and Chinese astrology having spread to the West, while awareness of Western astrology is still fairly limited in Asia. Astrology in the Western world has diversified greatly in modern times. New movements have appeared, which have jettisoned much of traditional astrology to concentrate on different approaches, such as a greater emphasis on midpoints, or a more psychological approach. Some recent Western developments include:
Historical traditions Throughout its long history, astrology has come to prominence in many regions and undergone developments and change. There are many astrological traditions that are historically important, but which have largely fallen out of use today. Astrologers still retain an interest in them and regard them as an important resource. Historically significant traditions of astrology include:
The history of Western, Chinese, and Indian astrology is discussed in the main article History Of Astrology . Esoteric traditions Many mystic or esoteric traditions have links to astrology. In some cases, like Kabbalah , this involves participants incorporating elements of astrology into their own traditions. In other cases, like divinatory tarot, many astrologers themselves have incorporated the tradition into their own practice of astrology. Esoteric traditions include, but are not limited to:
Historically, alchemy in the Western World was particularly allied and intertwined with traditional Babylonian-Greek style astrology; in numerous ways they were built to complement each other in the search for Occult or hidden knowledge. Astrology has used the concept of the four Classical Elements of alchemy from antiquity up until the present day. Traditionally, each of the seven planets in the solar system known to the ancients was associated with, held dominion over, and "ruled" a certain metal. THE ZODIAC in a 6th century Synagogue at Beit Alpha, Israel .]] See Also: zodiac The zodiac is the belt or band of constellations through which the Sun, Moon, and planets transit across the sky. Astrologers noted these constellations and so attached a particular significance to them. Over time they developed the system of twelve Signs of the zodiac, based on twelve of the constellations they considered to be particularly important. The Western and Indian zodiac signs have a common origin in the tradition of horoscopic astrology, and so are very similar in meaning. In China on the other hand, the development of the zodiac was different. Although the Chinese too have a system of twelve signs (named after animals), the Chinese zodiac refers to a pure calendrical cycle, as there are no equivalent constellations linked to it like the Western or Indian zodiacs. The common choice of twelve zodiac signs is understandable considering the interaction of the Sun and Moon was central to all forms of astrology. Twelve cycles of the Moon — the months — coincided with one solar year, making twelve a natural choice. The majority of Western astrologers base their work on the tropical zodiac which divides the sky into twelve equal segments of 30 degrees each, beginning with the first point of Aries, the point where the line of the earth's Celestial Equator and the Ecliptic (the Sun's path through the sky) meet at the northern hemisphere spring Equinox . Due to the Precession Of The Equinoxes , the slow changing of the way Earth rotates in space, the zodiacal signs in this system bear no relation to the Constellation s of the same name but stay aligned to the months and seasons. Practitioners of the Indian astrological tradition and a minority of Western astrologers use the sidereal zodiac. This zodiac uses the same evenly divided ecliptic but approximately stays aligned to the positions of the observable constellations with the same name as the zodiacal signs. The sidereal zodiac differs from the tropical zodiac by an offset called the Ayanamsa which steadily increases as the equinoxes drift further. HOROSCOPIC ASTROLOGY ic manuscript showing astrological houses and glyphs for planets and signs.]] at the specific moment under examination, otherwise known as the ascendant. Horoscopic astrology has been the most influential and widespread form of astrology across the world, especially in Africa , India , Europe , and the Middle East , and there are several major traditions of horoscopic astrology whose origins are Hellenistic, including Indian , Medieval, and most other modern Western traditions of astrology. The horoscope .]] Central to horoscopic astrology and its branches is the calculation of the horoscope or astrological chart. This two-dimensional diagrammatic representation shows the celestial bodies' apparent positions in the heavens from the vantage of a location on Earth at a given time and place. The horoscope is also divided into twelve different celestial Houses which govern different areas of life. Calculations performed in casting a horoscope involve Arithmetic and simple Geometry which serve to locate the apparent position of heavenly bodies on desired dates and times based on astronomical tables. In ancient Hellenistic astrology the ascendant demarcated the first celestial house of a horoscope. The word for the ascendant in Greek was ''horoskopos'' from which ''horoscope'' derives. In modern times, the word has come to refer to the astrological chart as a whole. Branches of horoscopic astrology Traditions of horoscopic astrology can be divided into four branches which are directed towards specific subjects or purposes. Often these branches use a unique set of techniques or a different application of the core principles of the system to a different area. Many other subsets and applications of astrology are derived from these four fundamental branches.
HISTORY OF ASTROLOGY See Also: History of astrology '' showing believed relations between areas of the body and the zodiacal signs.]] Origins The origins of much of the astrological doctrine and method that would later develop in Asia , Europe , and the Middle East are found among the ancient Babylonians and their system of celestial omens that began to be compiled around the middle of the 2nd millennium BCE. This system of celestial omens later spread either directly or indirectly through the Babylonians and Assyrians to other areas such as India , China , and Greece where it merged with pre-existing indigenous forms of astrology.. This Babylonian astrology came to Greece initially as early as the middle of the 4th century BCE, and then around the late 2nd or early 1st century BCE after the Alexandrian Conquests , this Babylonian astrology was mixed with the Egyptian tradition of decanic astrology to create Horoscopic Astrology . This new form of astrology, which appears to have originated in Alexandrian Egypt , quickly spread across the ancient world into Europe, the Middle East and India. Before the scientific revolution From the classical period through the Scientific Revolution , astrological training played a critical role in advancing astronomical, mathematical, medical and psychological knowledge. Astrological influences included the observation and long-term tracking of celestial objects. It was astrologers who provided the first systematic documentation of the movements of the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and the stars. The differentiation between astronomy and astrology varied from place to place; they were indistinguishable in ancient Babylonia and for most of the Middle Ages , but separated to a greater degree in ancient Greece (see Astrology And Astronomy ). Astrology was not always uncritically accepted before the modern era; it was often challenged by Hellenistic skeptics, church authorities, and medieval thinkers. The pattern of astronomical knowledge gained from astrological endeavours has been historically repeated across numerous cultures, from Ancient India through the classical Maya Civilization to medieval Europe. Given this historical contribution, astrology has been called a Protoscience along with Pseudoscience s such as Alchemy (see "Western astrology and alchemy" below). Many prominent scientists, such as Nicholas Copernicus , Galileo Galilei , Tycho Brahe , Johannes Kepler , Carl Jung and others, practiced or significantly contributed to astrology.13 EFFECTS ON WORLD CULTURE See Also: Cultural influence of astrology Astrology has had a profound influence over the past few thousand years on Western and Eastern cultures. In the Middle Ages, when even the educated of the time believed in astrology, the system of heavenly spheres and bodies was believed to reflect on the system of knowledge and the world itself below. Astrology has had an influence on both language and literature. For example, Influenza , from medieval Latin ''influentia'' meaning influence, was so named because doctors once believed epidemics to be caused by unfavorable planetary and stellar influences. The word "disaster" comes from the Latin ''dis-aster'' meaning "bad star". Adjectives "lunatic" (Luna/ Moon ), "mercurial" ( Mercury ), "venereal" ( Venus ), "martial" ( Mars ), "jovial" ( Jupiter /Jove), and "saturnine" ( Saturn ) are all old words used to describe personal qualities said to resemble or be highly influenced by the astrological characteristics of the planet, some of which are derived from the attributes of the ancient Roman gods they are named after. In literature, many writers, notably Geoffrey Chaucer 141516 and William Shakespeare ,1718 used astrological symbolism to add subtlety and nuance to the description of their characters' motivation(s). Often, an understanding of astrological symbolism is needed to fully appreciate such literature. Some modern thinkers, notably Carl Jung,Carl G. Jung, "Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious," excerpted in ''The Basic Writings of C.G. Jung'' (Modern Library, repr. 1993), 362-363. believe in astrology's descriptive powers regarding the mind without necessarily subscribing to its predictive claims. In education astrology is reflected in the University Education of Medieval Europe , which was divided into seven distinct areas, each represented by a particular planet and known as the seven Liberal Arts . Dante Alighieri speculated that these arts, which grew into the sciences we know today, fitted the same structure as the planets. In music the best known example of astrology's influence is in the orchestral suite called " The Planets " by the British composer Gustav Holst , the framework of which is based upon the astrological symbolism of the planets. ASTROLOGY AND SCIENCE depicted by Andreas Cellarius , 1660/61]] By the time of Francis Bacon and the scientific revolution, newly emerging scientific disciplines acquired a method of systematic empirical induction validated by experimental observations, which led to the scientific revolution.19 At this point, astrology and astronomy began to diverge; astronomy became one of the central sciences while astrology was increasingly viewed as an occult science or superstition by natural scientists. This separation accelerated through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.Jim Tester, ''A History of Western Astrology'' (Ballantine Books, 1989), 240ff. Astrology has been criticized as being unscientific both by scientific bodies and by individual scientists.2021 and has been labeled as a Pseudoscience .22 In 1975, the American Humanist Association published one of the most widely known modern criticisms of astrology, characterizing those who continue to have faith in the subject as doing so "in spite of the fact that there is no verified scientific basis for their beliefs, and indeed that there is strong evidence to the contrary".23 Astronomer Carl Sagan did not sign the statement, noting that, while he felt astrology lacked validity, he found the statement's tone Authoritarian . He suggested that the lack of a causal mechanism for astrology was relevant but not in itself convincing.Sagan, Carl. "Letter." The Humanist 36 (1976): 224 Although astrology has had no accepted scientific standing for some time, it has been the subject of much research among astrologers since the beginning of the twentieth century. In his landmark study of twentieth-century research into natal astrology, vocal astrology critic Geoffrey Dean noted and documented the burgeoning research activity, primarily within the astrological community.G. Dean et al, ''Recent Advances in Natal Astrology: A Critical Review 1900-1976''. The Astrological Association (England 1977) Claims about obstacles to research Astrologers have argued that there are significant obstacles in carrying out scientific research into astrology today, including funding,H.J. Eysenck & D.K.B. Nias, ''Astrology: Science or Superstition?'' Penguin Books (1982) ISBN 0-14-022397-5G. Phillipson, ''Astrology in the Year Zero''. Flare Publications (London, 2000) ISBN 0-9530261-9-1 lack of background in science and statistics by astrologers,25 and insufficient expertise in astrology by research scientists.26 There are only a handful of journals dealing with scientific research into astrology (i.e. astrological journals directed towards scientific research or Scientific Journal s publishing astrological research). Some astrologers have argued that few practitioners today pursue scientific testing of astrology because they feel that working with clients on a daily basis provides a personal validation for them.27 Another argument made by astrologers is that most studies of astrology do not reflect the nature of astrological practice and that existing experimental methods and research tools are not adequate for studying this complex discipline.M. Urban-Lurain, ''Introduction to Multivariate Analysis'', Astrological Research Methods, Volume 1: An ISAR Anthology. International Society for Astrological Research (Los Angeles 1995) ISBN 0-9646366-0-3G. Perry, ''How do we Know What we Think we Know? From Paradigm to Method in Astrological Research'', Astrological Research Methods, Volume 1: An ISAR Anthology. International Society for Astrological Research (Los Angeles 1995) ISBN 0-9646366-0-3 Some astrology proponents claim that the prevailing attitudes and motives of many opponents of astrology introduce conscious or unconscious bias in the formulation of hypotheses to be tested, the conduct of the tests, and the reporting of results. . The Compass in this 13th century manuscript is a symbol of God's act of Creation , as many believed that there was something intrinsically divine or perfect that could be found in Circle s]] Mechanism An editorial published by the , purely Correlative , relationships between astrological observations and events, such as the theory of Synchronicity proposed by Carl Jung.Maggie Hyde, Jung and Astrology. The Aquarian Press (London, 1992) p. 24-26. Others have posited a basis in Divination .Geoffrey Cornelius, The Moment of Astrology. Utsav Arora, another meditation research specialist and astrologer, argues, "if 100% accuracy were to be the benchmark, we should be closing down and shutting all hospitals, medical labs. Scientific medical equipment and drugs have a long history of errors and miscalculations. Same is the case with computers and electronic. We don't refute electronic gadgets and equipment just because it fails but we work towards finding cures for the errors." The Wessex Astrologer (Bournemouth, 2003.) Still others have argued that empirical correlations can stand on their own Epistemologically , and do not need the support of any theory or mechanism. To some observers, these non-mechanistic concepts raise serious questions about the feasibility of validating astrology through scientific testing, and some have gone so far as to reject the applicability of the scientific method to astrology almost entirely. Some astrologers, on the other hand, believe that astrology is amenable to the scientific method, given sufficiently sophisticated analytical methods, and they cite pilot studies they claim support this view.D. Cochrane, ''Towards a Proof of Astrology: An AstroSignature for Mathematical Ability'' International Astrologer ISAR Journal Winter-Spring 2005, Vol 33, #2 Consequently, several astrologers have called for or advocated continuing studies of astrology based on statistical validation.M. Pottenger (ed), ''Astrological Research Methods, Volume 1: An ISAR Anthology.'' International Society for Astrological Research (Los Angeles 1995) ISBN 0-9646366-0-3 Research : relative frequency of the Diurnal Position of Mars in the birth chart of eminent athletes.]] Several individuals, most notably French psychologist and statistician , David Vernon , Colin Groves , Simon Brown , Imagecraft, Canberra, 1989, ISBN 0731657942, p3 and studies claiming to support and/or expand the original claims.293031 Gauquelin's research has not received mainstream scientific notice. The scientific community, where it has commented, says that astrology has repeatedly failed to demonstrate its effectiveness in numerous controlled studies. Effect Size studies in astrology conclude that the mean accuracy of astrological predictions is no greater than what is expected by chance, and astrology's perceived performance has disappeared on critical inspection.32 When tested against Personality Test s, astrologers have shown a consistent lack of agreement with these tests. One such Double-blind study in which astrologers attempted to match birth charts with results of a personality test, which was published in the reputable Peer-reviewed scientific journal'' Nature '', concluded that astrologers' could not solve clients' personal problems by reading individuals' natal charts and that astrologers had no special ability to interpret personality from astrological readings.33 Another study that used a personality test and a questionnaire contended that some astrologers failed to predict objective facts about people or agree with each other's interpretations.34 When testing for Cognitive , Behavioral , Physical and other variables, one study of astrological " Time Twins " showed that human characteristics are not molded by the influence of the Sun, Moon and planets at the time of birth.35 Skeptics of astrology also suggest that the perceived accuracy of astrological interpretations and descriptions of one's personality can be accounted for by the Fact that people tend to exaggerate positive 'hits' and overlook whatever does not fit, especially when Vague Language Is Used . They also argue that statistical research is often wrongly seen as evidence for astrology due to uncontrolled artifacts.36 SEE ALSO
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