Astrology (from Greek Ancient Greek is the historical stage in the development of the Greek language spanning across the Archaic , Classical (c. 5th–4th centuries BC), and Hellenistic (c. 3rd century BC–6th century AD) periods of ancient Greece and the ancient world. It is predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek. Its Hellenistic phase is known as Koine ἄστρον, astron, "constellation, star"; and -λογία, -logia -logy is a suffix in English, found in words originally adapted from Greek words ending in -λογία . The earliest English examples were anglicizations of the French -logie, which was in turn inherited from the Latin -logia, "the study of") is a group of systems System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, real or abstract, forming an integrated whole, traditions However, on a more basic theoretical level, tradition can be seen as information or composed of information. For that which is brought into the present from the past, in a particular societal context, is information. This is even more fundamental than particular acts or practices even if repeated over a long sequence of time, and beliefs The relationship between belief and knowledge is subtle. Believers in a claim typically say that they know that claim. For instance, those who believe that the Sun is a god will often report that they know that the Sun is a god. However, the terms belief and knowledge are used differently by philosophers. It is a telling point concerning the which hold that the relative positions of celestial bodies Astronomical objects are significant physical entities, associations or structures which current science has confirmed to exist in outer space. This does not necessarily mean that more current science will not disprove their existence. Some astronomical objects, such as Themis and Neith are, in light of more recent findings, considered not to and related details can provide information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters. A practitioner of astrology is called an astrologer An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an undertaking's beginning, etc. However, the methods or astrologist.

Numerous traditions and applications employing astrological concepts have arisen since its earliest recorded beginnings in the 3rd millennium BC It represents a period of time in which imperialism, or the desire to conquer, grew to prominence, in the city states of the Middle East, but also throughout Eurasia, with Indo-European expansion to Anatolia, Europe and Central Asia. The civilization of Ancient Egypt rises to a peak with the Old Kingdom. World population is estimated to have. Astrology has played an important role in the shaping of culture, early astronomy Astronomy (from the Greek words astron , "star", and nomos (νόμος), "law") is the scientific study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere (such as the cosmic background radiation). It is concerned with the evolution, physics, chemistry,, the Vedas The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in Ancient India. They form the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism,^[1] the Bible Modern Judaism generally recognizes a single set of canonical books known as the Tanakh, or Hebrew or Jewish Bible. It comprises three parts: the Torah , the Prophets, and the Writings. It was primarily written in Hebrew with some small portions in Aramaic.[citation needed] In Christian religions, the Tanakh is known as the Old Testament,^[2] and various disciplines throughout history. In fact, astrology and astronomy Astrology and astronomy were archaically one and the same discipline , and were only gradually recognized as separate in western 17th century philosophy (the "Age of Reason") were often indistinguishable before the modern era Modern history describes the historical timeframe after the Middle Ages. The term modern period or modern era is the period of history that succeeds the Middle Ages. Contemporary history describes the term of historic events that are immediately relevant to the present time and is a certain perspective of modern history. Recent contemporary, 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 period of gradual separation from the Renaissance The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Florence in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historic era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not uniform across Europe, this is a general use of the up until the 18th century. Eventually, astronomy distinguished itself as the scientific Science refers to any systematic knowledge-base or prescriptive practice that is capable of resulting in a prediction or predictable type of outcome. In this sense, science may refer to a highly skilled technique or practice study of astronomical objects and phenomena without regard to the astrological understandings of these phenomena.

Astrologers believe that the movements and positions of celestial bodies either directly influence life on Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System in terms of diameter, mass and density. It is also referred to as the World, Blue Planet,[note 3] and Terra.[note 4] or correspond to events experienced on a human scale.^[3] Modern astrologers define astrology as a symbolic language Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent things such as ideas and emotions. It contrasts with representationalism. Language is highly symbolic, but symbolism refers specifically to totemic symbols that stand on their own,^[4][5][6] an art Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music and literature. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics form, or a form of divination Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of a standardized process or ritual. Diviners ascertain their interpretations of how a querent should proceed by reading signs, events, or omens, or through alleged contact with a supernatural agency. Divination can be seen as a systematic method with which to organize.^[7][8] Despite differences in definitions, a common assumption of astrology is that celestial placements can aid in the interpretation of past and present events and in the prediction A prediction is a statement or claim that a particular event will occur in the future in more certain terms than a forecast. The etymology of this word is Latin . In regards to predicting the future Howard H. Stevenson Says, "Prediction is at least two things: Important and hard." Important, because we have to act, and hard because we of the future.

Scientists A scientist, in the broadest sense, refers to any person that engages in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge or an individual that engages in such practices and traditions that are linked to schools of thought or philosophy. In a more restricted sense, scientist refers to individuals who use the scientific method. The person may be an consider astrology a pseudoscience Pseudoscience is a methodology, belief, or practice that is claimed to be scientific, or that is made to appear to be scientific, but which does not adhere to an appropriate scientific methodology, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, or otherwise lacks scientific status. The term comes from the Greek root pseudo- and "science" ( or superstition Superstition is a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge. The word is often used pejoratively to refer to beliefs deemed irrational. This leads to some superstitions being called Old Wive's Tales. It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy and spiritual beings, particularly the irrational belief.^{[9][10][11][12]} In one poll, 31% of Americans The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south expressed a belief in astrology and, according to another study, 39% considered it scientific.^[13][14]

Contents 1 Core beliefs 2 Traditions 2.1 Current traditions 2.2 Historical traditions 2.3 Esoteric traditions 3 The zodiac 4 Horoscopic astrology 4.1 The horoscope 4.2 Branches of horoscopic astrology 5 History 5.1 Before the modern era 6 Modern approaches 6.1 Western 6.2 Vedic 7 Effects on world culture 8 Astrology and science 8.1 Research 8.2 Obstacles to research 8.3 Mechanism 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links

Core beliefs

The core beliefs of astrology were prevalent in most of the ancient world and are epitomized in the Hermetic Hermeticism is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the Hellenistic Egyptian pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus who is the representation of the congruence of the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek Hermes. These beliefs have heavily influenced the Western Esoteric Tradition and were considered maxim "as above, so below". Tycho Brahe Tycho Brahe, born Tyge Ottesen Brahe , was a Danish nobleman known for his accurate and comprehensive astronomical and planetary observations. Coming from Scania, then part of Denmark, now part of modern-day Sweden, Brahe was well known in his lifetime as an astronomer and alchemist used a similar phrase to summarize his studies in astrology: suspiciendo despicio, "by looking up I see downward".^[15] 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.^{[citation needed]}

Although the connection between celestial mechanics Celestial mechanics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the motions of celestial objects. The field applies principles of physics, historically classical mechanics, to astronomical objects such as stars and planets to produce ephemeris data. Orbital mechanics is a subfield which focuses on the orbits of artificial satellites and terrestrial dynamics In physics the term dynamics customarily refers to the time evolution of physical processes. These processes may be microscopic as in particle physics, kinetic theory, and chemical reactions, or macroscopic as in the predictions of statistical mechanics and nonequilibrium thermodynamics was explored first by Isaac Newton Sir Isaac Newton, FRS , was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. His Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, published in 1687, is by itself considered to be among the most influential books in the history of science, laying the groundwork for most of classical mechanics. In this with his development of a universal theory of gravitation Gravitation is a natural phenomenon by which objects with mass attract one another. In everyday life, gravitation is most commonly thought of as the agency which lends weight to objects with mass. Gravitation compels dispersed matter to coalesce, thus it accounts for the very existence of the Earth, the Sun, and most of the macroscopic objects in, 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.^{[citation needed]}

Most astrological traditions are based on the relative positions and movements of various real or construed celestial bodies and on the construction of implied or calculated celestial patterns as seen at the time and place of the event being studied. These are chiefly the astrological planets Planets in astrology have a meaning different from the modern astronomical understanding of what a planet is. Before the age of telescopes, the night sky was observed to consist of two very similar components: fixed stars, which remained motionless in relation to each other, and wandering stars, which appeared to shift their positions relative to, dwarf planets A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity but has not cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite. More explicitly, it has to have sufficient mass to overcome its compressive strength and achieve, the asteroids Asteroids, sometimes called minor planets or planetoids, are small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun, especially in the inner Solar System; they are smaller than planets but larger than meteoroids. The term "asteroid" has historically been applied primarily to bodies in the inner Solar System since the outer Solar System was, the stars A star is a massive, luminous ball of plasma that is held together by gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth. Other stars are visible in the night sky, when they are not outshone by the Sun. Historically, the most prominent stars on the celestial sphere were grouped together into, the lunar nodes The lunar nodes are the orbital nodes of the Moon, that is, the points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic . The ascending node is where the moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic. The descending node is where it crosses to the south, Arabic parts and hypothetical planets. The frame of reference for such apparent positions is defined by the tropical or sidereal Sidereal astrology is the system of astrology used by some Western and all Jyotish astrologers who base their interpretation around the use of the sidereal zodiac. Its primary feature is that the signs of the zodiac align to the sky constellations of the same name. The signs therefore run between dates which are different from the tropical zodiac zodiac Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations or "signs" along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the heavens, dividing the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. As such, the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, more precisely an ecliptic coordinate system, taking the ecliptic as the origin of of twelve signs Astrological signs represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. According to astrology, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", so that the twelve signs are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression on one hand, and by the local horizon The horizon is the apparent line that separates earth from sky (ascendant The ascendant , or rising sign, is the zodiacal sign and degree that was ascending on the eastern horizon at the specific time and location of an event. According to astrological theory, celestial phenomena reflect or determine human activity on the principle of 'as above so below'. Thus astrologers believe that the ascendant signifies a person's-descendant In astrology, the descendant is the point directly opposite, or 180 degrees away from the ascendant. The descendant forms the cusp of the seventh house of the horoscope and refers to partners or relationships. The descendant is ruled by the seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra, and its ruler planet, Venus. The sign the seventh house is in is, for axis) and midheaven-imum coeli In astrology, the Imum Coeli , IC, is the point in space where the ecliptic crosses the meridian in the north, exactly opposite the Midheaven. It marks the fourth house cusp in most house systems (this is reversed in the southern hemisphere) axis on the other. This latter (local) frame is typically further divided into the twelve astrological houses Most horoscopic traditions of astrology systems divide the horoscope into a number of houses whose positions depend on time and location rather than on date. The houses of the horoscope represent different spheres of life, described in terms of physical surroundings as well as personal life experiences. In delineation the placement of a planet or. 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 in western astrology: astrological transits and astrological progressions. 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. In vedic astrology the focus is on planetary periods to infer the trend while transits are used to time significant events. Most western astrologers no longer try to forecast actual events, but focus instead on general trends and developments. By comparison, vedic astrologers predict both trends and events. Skeptics respond that this practice of western astrologers allows them 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.^[16]

In the past, astrologers often relied on close observation of celestial objects and the charting of their movements. Modern astrologers use data provided by astronomers An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars, and galaxies which are transformed to a set of astrological tables called ephemerides An ephemeris is a table of values that gives the positions of astronomical objects in the sky at a given time or times. Different kinds are used for astronomy and astrology. Even though this was also one of the first applications of mechanical computers, an ephemeris will still often be a simple printed table ^[17], showing the changing zodiacal positions of the heavenly bodies through time.

Traditions

Zodiac Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations or "signs" along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the heavens, dividing the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. As such, the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, more precisely an ecliptic coordinate system, taking the ecliptic as the origin of signs, 16th century European Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast. Europe is washed upon to the north by the Arctic Ocean and woodcut

See also: List of astrological traditions, types, and systems

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 different doctrines, though they too share some features due to drawing on similar astronomical sources.

Current traditions

The main traditions used by modern astrologers are Jyotiṣa, Western astrology Western astrology is the system of astrology most popular in Western countries. Western astrology was founded by Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos in the 2nd century AD, and forms a continuation of Hellenistic astrology and ultimately Babylonian astrology, and Chinese astrology Chinese astrology is based on the traditional astronomy and calendars. Chinese astrology does not calculate the positions of the sun, moon and planets at the time of birth.

Vedic and Western astrology share a common ancestry as horoscopic systems Horoscopic astrology is a form of astrology which uses a horoscope, a visual representation of the heavens, for a specific moment in time in order to interpret the inherent meaning underlying the alignment of the planets at that moment. The idea is that the placement of the planets at any given moment in time reflects the nature of that moment and 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, Vedic 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 Vedic astrology it remains of paramount importance. Other differences between the two traditions include the use of 27 (or 28) nakshatras or lunar mansions, which have been used in India since Vedic times, and the system of planetary periods known as dashas.

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 Korea, 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 modern tropical and sidereal horoscopic astrology; cosmobiology; psychological astrology; sun sign astrology; the Hamburg School of Astrology; and Uranian astrology, a subset of the Hamburg School.

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 Arab and Persian astrology (Medieval, near East); Babylonian astrology (Ancient, near East); Egyptian astrology; Hellenistic astrology (Classical antiquity); and Mayan astrology.

Esoteric traditions

Extract and symbol key from 17th century alchemy text - Kenelm Digby.

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, alchemy, chiromancy, Kabbalistic astrology, medical astrology, numerology, Rosicrucian or "Rose Cross", and Tarot divination.

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.^[18] 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.^[19]

The zodiac

Main article: Zodiac Zodiac in a 6th century synagogue at Beit Alpha, Israel.

The zodiac is the girdle 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 (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces), based on twelve of the constellations they considered to be particularly important. The Western and Vedic 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.

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 constellations of the same name but stay aligned to the months and seasons.

Practitioners of the Vedic 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. Furthermore, some siderealists (i.e. astrologers employing sidereal techniques) use the actual, unequal constellations of the zodiac in their work.

Horoscopic astrology

Main article: Horoscopic astrology

Horoscopic astrology is a system that some claim to have developed in the Mediterranean region and specifically Hellenistic Egypt around the late 2nd or early 1st century BCE.^[20] However, horoscopic astrology has been practiced in India since ancient times and vedic astrology is the oldest surviving form of horoscopic astrology in the world.^[1] The tradition deals with two-dimensional diagrams of the heavens, or horoscopes, created for specific moments in time. The diagram is then used to interpret the inherent meaning underlying the alignment of celestial bodies at that moment based on a specific set of rules and guidelines. A horoscope was calculated normally for the moment of an individual's birth, or at the beginning of an enterprise or event, because the alignments of the heavens at that moment were thought to determine the nature of the subject in question. One of the defining characteristics of this form of astrology that makes it distinct from other traditions is the computation of the degree of the Eastern horizon rising against the backdrop of the ecliptic at the specific moment under examination, otherwise known as the ascendant. Horoscopic astrology is the most influential and widespread form of astrology in Africa, India, Europe and the Middle East. Medieval and most modern Western traditions of astrology have Hellenistic origins.

The horoscope

18th century Icelandic manuscript showing astrological houses and glyphs for planets and signs.

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.

Natal astrology is the study of a person's natal chart to gain information about the individual and his/her life experience. Katarchic astrology includes both electional and event astrology. The former uses astrology to determine the most auspicious moment to begin an enterprise or undertaking, and the latter to understand everything about an event from the time at which it took place. Horary astrology is used to answer a specific question by studying the chart of the moment the question is posed to an astrologer. Mundane or world astrology is the application of astrology to world events, including weather, earthquakes, and the rise and fall of empires or religions. This includes the Astrological Ages, such as the Age of Aquarius, Age of Pisces and so on. Each age is about 2,150 years in length and many people believe these massive ages correspond to major historical events and current developments in the world.

History

Main article: History of astrology 15th century image from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry showing believed relations between areas of the body and the zodiacal signs.

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.^[21] This system of celestial omens later spread either directly or indirectly through the Babylonians and Assyrians to other areas such as India, Middle East, and Greece where it merged with pre-existing indigenous forms of astrology.^[22] 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 modern era

The differentiation between astronomy and astrology varied from place to place; they were strongly linked in ancient India^[23][24], ancient Babylonia and medieval Europe, but separated to an extent in the Hellenistic world. The first semantic distinction between astrology and astronomy was given in the 11th century by the Persian astronomer, Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī^[25] (see astrology and astronomy).

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 disciplines such as alchemy.

Astrology was not without criticism before the modern era; it was often challenged by Hellenistic skeptics, church authorities, and medieval Muslim astronomers, such as Al-Farabi (Alpharabius), Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen), Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī, Avicenna and Averroes. Their reasons for refuting astrology were often due to both scientific (the methods used by astrologers being conjectural rather than empirical) and religious (conflicts with orthodox Islamic scholars) reasons.^[26] Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya (1292-1350), in his Miftah Dar al-SaCadah, used empirical arguments in astronomy in order to refute astrology and divination.^[27]

Many prominent thinkers, philosophers and scientists, such as Galen, Paracelsus, Girolamo Cardan, Nicolaus Copernicus, Taqi al-Din, Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, Carl Jung and others, practiced or significantly contributed to astrology.^[12][28]

Modern approaches

Several innovations have occurred in astrological practice in modern times.

Western

During the middle of the 20th century, Alfred Witte and following him Reinhold Ebertin pioneered the use of midpoints (midpoints in Astrology) in horoscopic analysis. From the 1930s to the 1980s, astrologers including Dane Rudhyar, Liz Greene and Stephen Arroyo pioneered the use of astrology for psychological analysis, with some following the lead of psychologists like Carl Jung. In the 1930s, Don Neroman developed and popularised in Europe a form of Locational Astrology under the name of "Astrogeography." In the 1970s, American astrologer Jim Lewis developed and popularized a different approach under the name of Astrocartography. Both methods purport to identify varying life conditions through differences in location.

Vedic

Main article: Vedic astrology

Indian astrology uses a different zodiac than Western astrology and is a branch of Vedic science.^[29][30]In India, there is widespread belief in astrology and it is commonly used.^[31][32]In the 1960s, H.R. Seshadri Iyer, introduced a system including the concepts of yogi and avayogi. It generated interest with research oriented astrologers in the West. From the early 1990s, Indian vedic astrologer and author, V.K. Choudhry has created and developed the Systems' Approach for Interpreting Horoscopes, a simplified system of Jyotish (predictive astrology)^[33]. The system, also known as "SA", helps those who are trying to learn Jyotisha. The late K. S. Krishnamurti developed the Krishnamurti Paddhati system based on the analysis of the stars (nakshatras), by sub-dividing the stars in the ratio of the dasha of the concerned planets. The system is also known as "KP" and "sub theory".

More recently, scientists have denounced a proposal to use state money to fund research into Vedic astrology. ^[34]

Effects on world culture

Main article: 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 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^[35]. The word "disaster" comes from the Italian disastro, derived from the negative prefix dis- and from Latin aster "star", thus meaning "ill-starred"^[36]. 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^[37][38][39] and William Shakespeare,^[40][41] used astrological symbolism to add subtlety and nuance to the description of their characters' motivation(s). More recently, Michael Ward has proposed that C.S. Lewis imbued his Chronicles of Narnia with the characteristics and symbols of the seven heavens. Often, an understanding of astrological symbolism is needed to fully appreciate such literature.

Some modern thinkers, notably Carl Jung,^[42] 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

By the time of Francis Bacon and the scientific revolution, newly emerging scientific disciplines acquired a method of systematic empirical induction based upon experimental observations.^[43] 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.^[44]

Pseudoscientific concepts
Claims
Measurable correlations can be reliably found between the position of the planets and personality and human events.
Related scientific disciplines
Astronomy, Psychology
Year proposed
antiquity
Original proponents
ancient priests and astrologers
Subsequent proponents
Philip Berg, Michel Gauquelin, Linda Goodman, Sydney Omarr, Joan Quigley, Jackie Stallone, Athena Starwoman, Shelley von Strunckel, Richard Tarnas

Contemporary scientists such as Richard Dawkins and Stephen Hawking regard astrology as unscientific,^[45][46] and those such as Andrew Fraknoi of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific have labeled it a pseudoscience.^[47] In 1975, the American Humanist Association characterized those who have faith in astrology 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".^[10] Astronomer Carl Sagan found himself unable to sign the statement, not because he felt astrology was valid, but because he found the statement's tone authoritarian.^[48][49] Sagan stated that he would instead have been willing to sign a statement describing and refuting the principal tenets of astrological belief, which he believed would have been more persuasive and would have produced less controversy than the circulated statement.^[50]

Although astrology has had limited scientific standing for some time, it has been the subject of much research among astrologers since the beginning of the twentieth century. In their study of twentieth-century research into natal astrology, astrology critics Geoffrey Dean and coauthors documented this burgeoning research activity, primarily within the astrological community.^[51] In one poll, 31% of Americans expressed a belief in astrology and, according to another study, 39% considered it scientific.^{[13][14][52][53]}

Research

The Mars effect: relative frequency of the diurnal position of Mars in the birth chart of eminent athletes.

Studies have repeatedly failed to demonstrate statistically significant relationships between astrological predictions and operationally-defined outcomes.^[9] Effect size tests of astrology-based hypotheses conclude that the mean accuracy of astrological predictions is no greater than what is expected by chance.^[54] For example, when testing for cognitive, behavioral, physical and other variables, one study of astrological "time twins" did not show a celestial influence on human characteristics.^[54][55] It has been suggested that other statistical research is often wrongly seen as evidence for astrology due to uncontrolled artifacts.^[56]

Experimental psychologists have suggested that several different effects can contribute to astrological convictions. One observed tendency is known as the confirmation bias, whereby people who are given a set of multiple predictions tend to remember more of the accurate predictions ("hits") than the inaccurate ones ("misses"). Consequently, people tend to recall the set of predictions as being more accurate than it actually was. A second psychological phenomenon is known as the Forer effect,^[54] which refers to a tendency for individuals to give high accuracy ratings to descriptions of their personality that supposedly are tailored specifically for them, but are in fact vague and general enough to apply to a wide range of people. When astrological predictions turn out to correspond with some phenomena but not with others, the recollected integrity of these predictions may stem in part from confirmation bias. When predictions use vague language, their individualized appearance may be partially attributable to the Forer effect.

French psychologist and statistician Michel Gauquelin wrote that he had found correlations between some planetary positions and certain human traits such as vocations.^[57] Gauquelin's most widely known concept is the Mars effect, which denotes a correlation between the planet Mars occupying certain positions in the sky more often at the birth of eminent sports champions than at the birth of ordinary people. A similar idea is explored by Richard Tarnas in his work Cosmos and Psyche, in which he examines correspondences between planetary alignments and historically significant events and individuals. Since its original publication in 1955, the Mars effect has been the subject of critical studies and skeptical publications which aim to refute it,^[58][59][60] and of studies in fringe journals used to support or expand the original ideas.^[61][62] Gauquelin's research has not received mainstream scientific notice.

The Ptolemaic system depicted by Andreas Cellarius, 1660/61

Obstacles to research

Astrologers have argued that there are significant obstacles in carrying out scientific research into astrology today, including lack of funding,^[63][64] lack of background in science and statistics by astrologers,^[65] and insufficient expertise in astrology by research scientists and skeptics.^[63][64][66] 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 personal validation for their clients.^[64][67]

Another argument made by astrologers is that most studies of astrology do not reflect the nature of astrological practice and that the scientific method does not apply to astrology.^[68][69] Some astrology proponents argue 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.^{[9][10][12][66][70]}

Early science, particularly geometry and astronomy/astrology, was connected to the divine for most medieval scholars. 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 circles.

Mechanism

Astrologers have not presented consistent physical mechanisms underlying astrological phenomena,^[71][72] and few modern astrologers believe in a direct causal relationship between heavenly bodies and earthly events.^[64] An editorial published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific reports that they can find no evidence for a scientifically defined mechanism by which celestial objects can influence terrestrial affairs.^[9] Some researchers have posited acausal, purely correlative, relationships between astrological observations and events, such as the theory of synchronicity proposed by Carl Jung.^[73] Others have posited a basis in divination.^[74] Still others have argued that empirical correlations can stand on their own epistemologically, and do not need the support of any theory or mechanism.^[66] 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.^[66] 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 to support this view.^[75] Consequently, several astrologers have called for or advocated continuing studies of astrology based on statistical validation.^[76]

See also

Astrology portal

• Astrological organizations
• Astrological symbols
• Astrology and astronomy
• Astrology and computers
• Da Liu Ren
• List of astrologers
• List of astrological traditions, types, and systems
• Planets in astrology
• Qi Men Dun Jia

References

1. ^ ^{a b} David Frawley. "The Vedic Literature of Ancient India and Its Many Secrets". http://www.grahamhancock.com/forum/FrawleyD1.php?p=1. Retrieved on April 13, 2009.
2. ^ http://www.astrologyzine.com/astrology-bible.shtml
3. ^ David Pingree. "The Dictionary of the History of Ideas, Astrology". http://etext.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv1-20. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
4. ^ Reinhold Ebertin (1994). Combination of Stellar Influences. Tempe, Ariz.: American Federation of Astrologers. ISBN 978-0866900874.
5. ^ Michael Star. "Astrology FAQ, Basics for Beginners and Students of Astrology". http://home.istar.ca/~starman/astrofaq.shtml. Retrieved on 2006-07-17.
6. ^ Alan Oken. Alan Oken’s As Above So Below. ISBN 978-0553027761.
7. ^ "Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary". Meriam-Webster. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/astrology. Retrieved on 2006-07-19.
8. ^ ""astrology" Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006". Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9356010/astrology. Retrieved on 2006-07-17.
9. ^ ^{a b c d} "Activities With Astrology". Astronomical society of the Pacific. http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/act3/astrology3.html#defense.
10. ^ ^{a b c} "Objections to Astrology: A Statement by 186 Leading Scientists". The Humanist, September/October 1975. http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/astrology.html.
11. ^ Robert Hand. "The History of Astrology — Another View". http://www.zodiacal.com/articles/hand/history.htm. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
12. ^ ^{a b c} Eysenck, H.J., Nias, D.K.B., Astrology: Science or Superstition? (Penguin Books, 1982)
13. ^ ^{a b} Humphrey Taylor. "The Religious and Other Beliefs of Americans 2003". http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=359. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
14. ^ ^{a b} "Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Understanding". National Science Foundation. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind06/c7/c7s2.htm#c7s2l3. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
15. ^ Adam Mosley. "Tycho Brahe and Astrology". http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/starry/tychoastrol.html. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
16. ^ About.com: Is Astrology a Pseudoscience? Examining the Basis and Nature of Astrology
17. ^ Ephemeris, ZodiacNet, LexiconSite (Language: Danish)
18. ^ Weor, Samael Aun Astrotheurgy, The Esoteric Treatise of Hermetic Astrology, pp. 60-117, Glorian Publishing 2006, ISBN 978-1-934206-06-5
19. ^ Weor, Samael Aun Astrotheurgy, The Zodiacal Course, pp.3-58, Glorian Publishing, 2006, ISBN 978-1-934206-06-5
20. ^ David Pingree - From Astral Omens to Astrology from Babylon to Bikaner, Roma: Istituto Italiano per L'Africa e L'Oriente, 1997. Pg. 26.
21. ^ Namar Beli (Bel's Illumination), the oldest astrological document in the world
22. ^ Alexandra David-Neel Magic and Mystery in Tibet, p. 290, Dover Publications Inc., 1971 ISBN 0-486-22682-4; 1st French ed. 1929
23. ^ "Astronomy in Ancient India". http://www.crystalinks.com/indiastronomy.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-27.
24. ^ "Ancient India's Contribution to Astronomy". http://mathemajik.googlepages.com/astronomy.htm. Retrieved on 2009-01-27.
25. ^ S. Pines (September 1964), "The Semantic Distinction between the Terms Astronomy and Astrology according to al-Biruni", Isis 55 (3): 343-349
26. ^ Saliba, George (1994b). A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam. New York University Press. pp. 60 & 67–69. ISBN 0814780237.
27. ^ Livingston, John W. (1971). "Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth Century Defense against Astrological Divination and Alchemical Transmutation". Journal of the American Oriental Society 91 (1): 96–103. doi:10.2307/600445.
28. ^ Bruce Scofield. "Were They Astrologers? — Big League Scientists and Astrology". The Mountain Astrologer magazine. http://www.mountainastrologer.com/standards/editor's%20choice/articles/science_ast.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
29. ^ "In countries such as India, where only a small intellectual elite has been trained in Western physics, astrology manages to retain here and there its position among the sciences." David Pingree and Robert Gilbert, "Astrology; Astrology In India; Astrology in modern times" Encyclopedia Britannica 2008
30. ^ Mohan Rao, Female foeticide: where do we go? Indian Journal of Medical Ethics Oct-Dec2001-9(4) [1]
31. ^ "BV Raman Dies". New York Times, December 23, 1998. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/23/world/bangalore-venkata-raman-indian-astrologer-dies-at-86.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.
32. ^ Dipankar Das, May 1996. "Fame and Fortune". http://www.lifepositive.com/mind/predictive-sciences/astrology.asp. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.
33. ^ V.K. Choudhry and K. Rajesh Chaudhary, 2006, Systems' Approach (astrology) Systems´ Approach for Interpreting Horoscopes, Fourth Revised Edition, Sagar Publications, New Delhi, India. ISBN 81-7082-017-0
34. ^ Indian Astrology vs Indian Science [2]
35. ^ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=influenza Online Etymology Dictionary
36. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary: Disaster". http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=disaster. Retrieved on 2009-01-22.
37. ^ A. Kitson. "Astrology and English literature". Contemporary Review, October 1996. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2242/is_n1569_v269/ai_18920172. Retrieved on 2006-07-17.
38. ^ M. Allen, J.H. Fisher. "Essential Chaucer: Science, including astrology". University of Texas, San Antonio. http://colfa.utsa.edu/chaucer/ec22.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-17.
39. ^ A.B.P. Mattar et al.. "Astronomy and Astrology in the Works of Chaucer". University of Singapore. http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/astronomy_and_astrology_in_the_works_of_chaucer.pdf. Retrieved on 2006-07-17.
40. ^ P. Brown. "Shakespeare, Astrology, and Alchemy: A Critical and Historical Perspective". The Mountain Astrologer, February/March 2004. http://www.astrofuturetrends.com/id19.html.
41. ^ F. Piechoski. "Shakespeare's Astrology". http://starcats.com/anima/shakespeare.html.
42. ^ Carl G. Jung, "Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious," excerpted in The Basic Writings of C.G. Jung (Modern Library, repr. 1993), 362-363.
43. ^ Hooker, Richard. "The scientific revolution". http://www.wsu.edu:8001/~dee/ENLIGHT/SCIREV.HTM.
44. ^ Jim Tester, A History of Western Astrology (Ballantine Books, 1989), 240ff.
45. ^ Richard Dawkins. "The Real Romance in the Stars". The Independent, December 1995. http://www.simonyi.ox.ac.uk/dawkins/WorldOfDawkins-archive/Dawkins/Work/Articles/1995-12romance_in_stars.shtml.
46. ^ "British Physicist Debunks Astrology in Indian Lecture". Associated Press. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/63/story_6346_1.html.
47. ^ "Astronomical Pseudo-Science: A Skeptic's Resource List". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/pseudobib.html.
48. ^ Sagan, Carl. "Letter." The Humanist 36 (1976): 2
49. ^ Mariapaula Karadimas. "Astrology: What it is and what it isn't,". The Peak Publications Society. http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2006-1/issue7/fe-astro.html.
50. ^ Sagan, Carl. The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. (New York: Ballantine Books, 1996), 303.
51. ^ G. Dean et al., Recent Advances in Natal Astrology: A Critical Review 1900-1976. The Astrological Association (England 1977)
52. ^ "Astrology". Encarta. Microsoft. 2008. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552380/Astrology.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-28. "Scientists have long rejected the principles of astrology, but millions of people continue to believe in or practice it.".
53. ^ Astrology: Fraud or Superstition? by Chaz Bufe "Astrology Fraud or Superstition". See Sharp Press. http://www.seesharppress.com/astro.html.
54. ^ ^{a b c} Dean and Kelly. "Is Astrology Relevant to Consciousness and Psi?". http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:mXtoOvmpSHMJ:www.imprint.co.uk.
55. ^ Robert Matthews (2003-08-17). "Comprehensive study of 'time twins' debunks astrology". London Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2007-05-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20070522093713/http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030817-105449-9384r.htm.
56. ^ Dean, Geoffery. "Artifacts in data often wrongly seen as evidence for astrology". http://www.rudolfhsmit.nl/d-arti2.htm.
57. ^ Gauquelin M., Cosmic Influences on Human Behavior, Aurora Press, Santa Fe NM (1994)
58. ^ Benski, C. et al. 1996. The "Mars Effect": A French Test of Over 1000 Sports Champions.
59. ^ Zelen, M., P. Kurtz, and G. Abell. 1977. Is there a Mars effect? The Humanist 37 (6): 36-39.
60. ^ Herbert Neisler in Skeptical — a Handbook of Pseudoscience and the Paranormal, ed Donald Laycock, David Vernon, Colin Groves, Simon Brown, Imagecraft, Canberra, 1989, ISBN 0731657942, p3
61. ^ Suitbert Ertel. "Raising the Hurdle for the Athletes' Mars Effect: Association Co-Varies With Eminence". Journal of Scientific Exploration. http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/abstracts/v2n1a4.php.
62. ^ Ken Irving. "Discussion of Mars eminence effect". Planetos. http://www.planetos.info/mmf.html.
63. ^ ^{a b} H.J. Eysenck & D.K.B. Nias, Astrology: Science or Superstition? Penguin Books (1982) ISBN 0-14-022397-5
64. ^ ^{a b c d} G. Phillipson, Astrology in the Year Zero. Flare Publications (London, 2000) ISBN 0-9530261-9-1
65. ^ "School History". The Avalon School of Astrology. http://www.avalonastrology.com/History.htm.
66. ^ ^{a b c d} M. Harding. "Prejudice in Astrological Research". Correlation, Vol 19(1). http://www.astrozero.co.uk/astroscience/harding.htm.
67. ^ K. Irving. "Science, Astrology and the Gauquelin Planetary Effects". http://www.planetos.info/sciast1.html.
68. ^ M. Urban-Lurain, Introduction to Multivariate Analysis, Astrological Research Methods, Volume 1: An ISAR Anthology. International Society for Astrological Research (Los Angeles 1995) ISBN 0-9646366-0-3
69. ^ G. 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
70. ^ Bob Marks. "Astrology for Skeptics". http://www.bobmarksastrologer.com/skeptics.htm.
71. ^ Dr. P. Seymour, Astrology: The evidence of Science. Penguin Group (London, 1988) ISBN 0-14-019226-3
72. ^ Frank McGillion. "The Pineal Gland and the Ancient Art of Iatromathematica". http://www.astrology-research.net/researchlibrary/Iatr/pineal.htm.
73. ^ Maggie Hyde, Jung and Astrology. The Aquarian Press (London, 1992) p. 24-26.
74. ^ 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.)
75. ^ D. Cochrane, Towards a Proof of Astrology: An AstroSignature for Mathematical Ability International Astrologer ISAR Journal Winter-Spring 2005, Vol 33, #2
76. ^ M. Pottenger (ed), Astrological Research Methods, Volume 1: An ISAR Anthology. International Society for Astrological Research (Los Angeles 1995) ISBN 0-9646366-0-3

Further reading

• Roger Beck, A Brief History of Ancient Astrology, Blackwell (2007)
• Paramahansa Yogananda: Autobiography of a Yogi/Chapter 16: Outwitting the Stars

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Astrology

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Astrology

• Astrology at the Open Directory Project

Astrology and religion

• Astrology in Islam
• Astrology in the Old and New Testament, by Joseph John Dewey.
• Astrology: Between Religion and the Empirical, a treatise on astrology by Dr. Gustav-Adolf Schoener, translated by Shane Denson.
• Medieval Astrology, a learning resource from the British Library.
• Astrology in Judaism

Astrology and science

• Astrology and Science, a critical look at astrology and science.
• The Scientific Exploration of Astrology, articles by leading astrological researchers
• The Astrotest, an account of a test of the predictive power of astrology, with references to other experiments.
• The Real Romance in the Stars, a critical view of astrology by Richard Dawkins.
• Astrofaces, a research project seeking to provide statistical correlations of astrology for modern science with photographs grouped by the sun, moon and ascendant signs of the subjects.

Astrology History of astrology History of astrology · Astrology and astronomy · History of astronomy (Ancient astronomy) · Musica universalis Astrologers Astrologers by nationality · List of astrologers Traditions, types, branches, and systems Astrology by tradition: Babylonian astrology, Burmese astrology, Celtic astrology, Chinese astrology, Christian astrology (Magi), Egyptian astrology, German astrology (Cosmobiology, Hamburg School of Astrology, Huber School of Astrology, Rosicrucianism, Uranian astrology, etc), Hellenistic astrology, Hindu astrology (Nadi astrology), Jewish astrology (Hebrew astrology, Kabbalistic astrology), Mesoamerican astrology (Aztec astrology, Mayan astrology), Persian and Arab astrology (Islamic astrology), Tibetan astrology, Vietnamese astrology, Western astrology · Astrology by type: Agricultural astrology, Electional astrology, Esoteric astrology (Alchemy and astrology, Chiromancy and astrology, Geomancy and astrology, Numerology and astrology, Physiognomy and astrology, Tarot divination and astrology, Evolutionary astrology, Financial astrology, Harmonic astrology, Heliocentric astrology, Horary astrology, Horoscopic astrology, Judicial astrology, Katarchic astrology, Locational astrology (Astrocartography), Medical astrology, Medieval astrology, Meteorological astrology, Mundane astrology (Political astrology), Natal astrology (Natal chart), Psychological astrology, Sidereal astrology, Sun sign astrology, Tropical astrology Miscellaneous astrological topics Archaeoastronomy · Astrological Ages · Astrological aspects · Astrological signs · Astrological symbols · Astrological texts · Astrology and the classical elements · Chronobiology · Cultural influence of astrology · Ephemeris · Planets in astrology · Technical factors of astrology · Zodiac · See also: Astrology Portal

Divination Methods Theriomancy Ailuromancy · Alectryomancy · augur · Myomancy · Myrmomancy · Ornithomancy · Nggàm Bibliomancy I Ching divination scrying Crystal gazing · Oculomancy · Catoptromancy · Hydromancy Cleromancy Astragalomancy · Favomancy · Ifá · Runic magic Necromancy nigromancy Somatomancy Cephalomancy · Chiromancy · Podomancy · Rumpology Abacomancy · Acultomancy · Aeromancy · agalmatomancy · Aichmomancy · Aleuromancy · Alomancy · Alphitomancy · alveromancy · amathomancy · ambulomancy · amniomancy · anthomancy · Anthropomancy · anthracomancy · Apantomancy · anthroposcopy · anthracomancy · Apantomancy · arachnomancy · archeomancy · arithmancy · ariolation · armomancy · aspidomancy · Astragalomancy · astrapomancy · Astrology · Astromancy · auramancy · Axiomancy · Belomancy · bletonomancy · Pyromancy · brontomancy · bumpology · Carromancy · Catoptromancy · cattabomancy · cineromancy · chalcomancy · Cartomancy · choriomancy · chresmomancy · Chronomancy · clamancy · cledonism · cleidomancy · colormancy · conchomancy · Coscinomancy · Crithomancy · Cromniomancy · cryptomancy · Cybermancy · Cyclomancy · dactyliomancy · Dactylomancy · Dōbutsu uranai · Dowsing · dream question · Enochian chess · eromancy · Extispicy · Fal-Gûsh · Floriomancy · Geomancy · Geloscopy · Gematria · Graphology · Gyromancy · haruspex · horoscope · Ichnomancy · Isopsephy · Kabbalah · Kau cim · Lampadomancy · Lecanomancy · Libanomancy · Literomancy · Lithomancy · Macharomancy · Margaritomancy · Megapolisomancy · Metoposcopy · Moleosophy · Molybdomancy · Onomancy · Numerology · Oinomancy · Omphalomancy · Oneiromancy · Onomancy · Onychomancy · Oomancy · ouija · Phrenology · Tasseography · Physiognomy · Plastromancy · Psychognomy · Rhabdomancy · Rhapsodomancy · Scapulimancy · Slinneanachd · Sortes · Spodomancy · Sternomancy · Uromancy

Pseudoscience Terminology Cargo cult science · Charlatan · Crank · Fringe science · Junk science · Paranormal · Pathological science · Protoscience · Quackery · Superseded scientific theories · True-believer syndrome Examples AIDS denialism · Apollo Moon Landing hoax conspiracy theories · Astrology · Bogdanov Affair · Creation science · Dianetics · Faith healing · Homeopathy · Intelligent design · List of topics characterized as pseudoscience · Lunar effect · Melanin theory · Parapsychology · Perpetual motion · Time Cube · Ufology Resources Committee for Skeptical Inquiry · Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience · The Ragged Edge of Science · The Skeptic Encyclopedia of Pseudoscience · James Randi Educational Foundation

Categories: Astrology | Pseudoscience | Ancient astronomy | Divination | Early scientific cosmologies | Esoteric cosmology | Folklore | Hermeticism | History of astronomy | History of ideas | Mysticism | New Age practices | Popular psychology | Superstitions | Symbolism

 

 

See Also:

• Astrology

 

What Links Here:

• Home

 

Recently Viewed Pages:

• Astrology: Encyclopedia
• Chats and Forums
• United Arab Emirates: Quotes
• Science: Anomalies and Alternative Science: Chats and Forums: Directory
• About Us

 

Most Popular Pages:

• About Us
• Science: Anomalies and Alternative Science: Chats and Forums: Directory
• United Arab Emirates: Quotes
• Astrology: Encyclopedia

Related 'Astrology' Searches:

related terms:	Celestial Bodies	Western Astrology	Horoscopic Astrology	Traditions
	Astronomy	Zodiac	Vedic Astrology	Western Astrologers
	Modern Astrologers	Astrological Traditions	Beliefs	Signs

---

top user searches:	►

---

or search for "Astrology" in:		Web:		The Entire Web	Web Directories	Related* Sites
		This Site:		Page Titles	Karr Network Sites*
		News:		Headlines	Weather	Events	Blogs
		Reference:		Encyclopedia	Dictionary	eTexts	Quotes
				Local Map	Answers
		Multimedia:		Images	Videos
		People:		Discussion Groups	Social Networking
		Shopping:		General Merch.	Consumer Opinion	Auctions	Classifieds

 

---

The Entire Web Web Directories Related* Sites Karr Network Sites* Page Titles Headlines Weather Events Blogs Encyclopedia Dictionary eTexts Quotes Answers Local Map Videos Images Social Networking Discussion Groups General Items Auctions Classifieds Consumer Opinion

Sitemap News Dictionary Encyclopedia Blogs Answers Videos Images Shopping Directory More…