Astrology has been a phenomena studied and practiced throughout the ancient civilizations of Europe, Asia and Africa, only to re-emerge in Western popular culture. For generations, human beings have searched the stars for cosmic wisdom.
Astrology tracks the movement of the sun, moon, planets and stars along with their influence on Earth and individuals alike. The roots of Western astrology date back to ancient Mesopotamia, around 2300 B.C., making its way into ancient Greece and coinciding with the introduction of numerous great philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle—all of whom took an avid interest in the subject of heavens, planets and their relationship to the future. In 200 A.D., philosopher Claudius Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos was published and his works became the core for the many Western and eastern astrology books that followed.
In Western astrology there are twelve Zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. An individual’s sign is determined by his or her date of birth and supposedly characterizes one’s personality traits or tendencies. Astrology analyzes the interaction between the planets and these signs—and is believed to be mathematically based.
Horoscopes have been used past and present as a prediction of future events, prospects and situations to be wary of. In the past, horoscopes have held much cultural relevancy as individuals in ancient societies would turn to the stars to determine crucial harvesting patterns, war trends, marriage proposals and many other aspects of daily life.
While some view astrology as a form of flimsy mysticism, others choose to understand it as the ancient Greeks did—as a philosophy which helps explain life and our own tendencies. The twelve zodiac signs are correlated with the four elements of earth: earth, air, water and fire, thus implying a connection between man and his planet.
Today, many read their daily horoscope as a source of daily entertainment. Generally these daily horoscopes are vague, fortune-cookie-like tidbits of suggestions and ego boosters.
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Source: Queen’s Journal