) and extended to India, but it was in Greek society during the Hellenistic period that it took on its Western shape. Astrology was introduced to Islamic culture as part of the Greek legacy, and it was then reintroduced to European society through Arabic studies in the Middle Ages. According to Greek mythology, the sky is split into 12 zodiac constellations, and the bright stars that appear at regular intervals have a spiritual impact on human events. Astrology was also important in ancient China, and it became normal practice in imperial times to have a horoscope cast for each newborn child and for all significant life events. Despite the fact that the Copernican philosophy broke the geocentric worldview required by astrology, interest in the subject has persisted into contemporary times, and astrological signs are still generally considered to determine personality.
In This Article...
Who created the zodiac signs?
Astrology is the study of celestial bodies’ movements and relative placements, which are thought to have an impact on human affairs and the natural world. The 12 zodiac signs, one of the earliest notions of astrology, were devised by the Babylonians around 1894 BC.
What is the origin of astrology signs?
The 12 zodiac signs, with which many people are likely familiar today, were created during this Ancient Greek period.
The signs of Aries (approximately March 21-April 19), Taurus (April 20-May 20), Gemini (May 21-June 20), Cancer (June 21-July 22), Leo (July 23-Aug. 22), Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22), Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22), Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21), Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21 These Western, or tropical, zodiac signs were named after constellations and paired with dates based on their apparent relationship to the sun’s position in the sky.
By 1500 BC, the Babylonians had divided the zodiac into 12 equal signs, with constellation names that were similar to those we know today, such as The Great Twins, The Lion, and The Scales, and these were later adopted into Greek divination. These 12 signs were popularized by the astronomer Ptolemy, author of the Tetrabiblos, which became a key work in the history of Western astrology.
“Ptolemy codified the idea that there were 12 signs of the zodiac that were 30 broad, and that the sun travelled through these signs on a regular basis throughout the year,” adds Odenwald. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “zodiac” derives from the Greek, from a term for “sculpted animal figure,” and the sequence in which the signs are normally enumerated also stems from that time period.
What was astrology’s original purpose?
The original objective of astrology, on the other hand, was to predict the course of a person’s life based on the positions of the planets and zodiacal signs (the 12 astrological constellations) at the time of conception or birth.
Who were the first astrologers, and who were the first astrologers?
Egypt was invaded by the Persians in 525 BC, hence Egyptian astrology was likely influenced by Mesopotamian astrology. In support of this, historian Tamsyn Barton cites the Dendera Zodiac, which shows what appears to be Mesopotamian influence on the Egyptian zodiac, which shared two signs: the Balance and the Scorpion (the Balance was known as the Scorpion’s Claws in the Greek version).
Egypt came under Hellenistic power and influence after Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 BC.
After the conquest, Alexander created Alexandria, and the Ptolemaic intellectuals of Alexandria were prolific writers in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. Horoscopic astrology was created in Ptolemaic Alexandria when Babylonian astrology was combined with the Egyptian tradition of Decanic astrology. The Babylonian zodiac was included, together with its system of planetary exaltations, sign triplicities, and eclipse significance. It also included the Egyptian concept of dividing the zodiac into 36 decans of ten degrees each, with a focus on the rising decan, as well as the Greek system of planetary Gods, sign rulership, and the four elements.
The decans were a system for calculating time based on the constellations. The constellation Sothis, or Sirius, led them. In the night, the risings of the decans were utilized to split the night into ‘hours.’ The last hour of the night was defined as the rising of a constellation right before daybreak (its heliacal rising). Each constellation rose for ten days immediately before sunrise over the course of the year. Each decan was associated with 10 degrees of the zodiac when they became part of Hellenistic astrology. Predictions relating to the locations of planets in zodiac signs at the time of the rise of certain decans, particularly Sothis, can be found in texts dating back to the 2nd century BC. The Dendera Zodiac, Egypt’s oldest Zodiac, dates from the 1st century BC.
Ptolemy, a Greco-Roman astrologer and astronomer who resided in Alexandria during Roman Egypt, was particularly influential in the creation of horoscopic astrology. Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos set the foundation for Western astrology, and it is claimed to have “enjoyed virtually the authority of a Bible among the astrological writers of a thousand years or more” as a source of later reference. After Plato of Tivoli (Tiburtinus) in Spain translated it from Arabic into Latin in 1138, it became one of the first astrological manuscripts to circulate in Medieval Europe.
According to Firmicus Maternus (4th century), an Egyptian king named Nechepso and his priest Petosiris were given the system of horoscopic astrology early on. The Hermetic texts were also compiled at this time, and in his description of Egyptian holy ceremonies, Clement of Alexandria, writing in the Roman era, demonstrates the extent to which astrologers were expected to comprehend the texts:
This is mostly demonstrated through their sacred rituals. For the first time, the Singer appears, carrying one of the musical symbols. Because it is said that he must learn two of Hermes’ books, one of which includes the gods’ hymns and the other the king’s life laws. After the Singer, the Astrologer enters, holding a horologe and a palm, both of which are astrological symbols. He must always keep the four Hermes astrology books in his lips.
Is astrology backed up by science?
Astrology is a collection of belief systems that assert that there is a connection between astrological phenomena and events or personality traits in the human world. The scientific community has dismissed astrology as having no explanatory power for describing the universe. Scientific testing has discovered no evidence to back up the astrological traditions’ premises or alleged effects.
Is astrology based on any scientific principles?
Is astrology accurate? Reading horoscopes is a popular pastime, but is there any scientific evidence that they are accurate?
When you’re enticed by a familiar interruption and your willpower weakens, problems can occur.
Every day, up to 70 million Americans consult their horoscopes. At least, that’s what the American Federation of Astrologers claims. According to a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life poll conducted twenty years ago, 25% of Americans believe that the positions of the stars and planets have an impact on our daily life. In 2012, the General Social Survey indicated that 34% of Americans think astrology is “extremely” or “kind of scientific,” with the percentage of individuals who think astrology is “not at all scientific” dropping from two-thirds to about half.
Astrology is the concept that astronomical phenomena, such as the stars over your head when you were born or the fact that Mercury is retrograde, have the potential to influence our daily lives and personality traits. Of course, this is distinct from astronomy, which is the scientific study of celestial objects, space, and the physics of the cosmos.
A particular facet of astrology, the foretelling of a person’s future or the provision of daily counsel via horoscopes, is gaining in popularity. The Cut, for example, recorded a 150 percent rise in horoscope page views in 2017 compared to 2016.
Clearly, a lot of people are trying to figure out how to read the stars for guidance. Understanding the positions of the stars is the foundation of astrology, which appears to be a scientific discipline in and of itself. Is there any scientific evidence that astrology has an impact on our personalities and lives?
But, since I still have five minutes of this six-minute podcast to fill, let’s take a look at how astrology has been put to the test.
Who is the astrologer’s forefather?
Alan Leo, a notable British astrologer, author, publisher, astrological data collector, and theosophist, was born William Frederick Allan (Westminster, 7 August 1860Bude, 30 August 1917). He is considered regarded as “the father of contemporary astrology” by many people.
After a period of decline at the end of the 17th century, his work sparked a renaissance of astrology in the Western world. Leo was a fervent theosophist who included many of the theosophist’s theological principles into his astrology, such as karma and rebirth. He took advantage of the Theosophical Society’s extensive international network to publish, translate, and promote his work throughout Europe and America.
Is astrology considered a religion?
While each religion is essentially a system of laws based on a set of beliefs, astrology is a perfect marriage of science and art that uses celestial body placements. So, whether Christians believe in Jesus Christ’s good works and teachings or Hindus believe in ‘the science of light,’ or ‘Jyotish Shastra,’ fortune telling is still the bottom line.
Surprisingly, these prophecies or foretellings may be found in many civilizations and religions. The tactics may change, but the outcomes remain consistent. Have you ever considered how these ideas can be related despite the fact that the belief ecosystem is so dissimilar? So, here’s a no-brainer: everyone is, and will continue to be, concerned about their future and seeking to be their best selves, capable of overcoming problems. Almost everyone else aspires to anticipate what will happen ahead of time and to act as efficiently as possible when events do occur. People of all faiths and cultures may agree on this.
Calculations are performed by all religions, albeit the methods used may differ. The outcomes, on the other hand, are the same. Almost everyone else aspires to anticipate what will happen ahead of time and to act as efficiently as possible when events do occur. People of all faiths and cultures may agree on this. There are various viewpoints on the matter, but it all boils down to education. Look for an astrological institute that teaches you everything you need to know about the various astrology courses that are accessible online. Online astrology classes are available, as are astrology courses offered through distance education.
Have you ever observed how our celebrations are organized when it comes to astrology and religion? The celebrations highlight the connection between astrology and religion. If you look closely, you’ll notice that all of the festivals are based on the position of the stars/moon and the sun. This is true of all religions, to the extent where astrology has become an integral part of religious rituals.
So, if you look at data from the beginning of time to the present day, you’ll discover a wide range of astrological systems, all branching out of different systems but ultimately pointing to an astrological-religious tie. In India, one of the most prevalent forms of astrology is Vedic astrology.
Astrology is the foundation of Hinduism. People hurry to their astrologer as soon as a baby is born to get his ‘Janam Patri’ made and to choose the best name for him. The Mahabharata, for example, mentions astrology in several Hindu epics. Only the ‘Brahmins’ had access to astrology knowledge at first. Then they would sit in the temples and predict the future. As a result, a relationship was created between astrology and Hinduism.
The concept of Astrology became increasingly available to the general public in the area as time passed. In 2020, everyone with even a passing interest in astrology will be able to find lessons and research. Astrology is a ‘pseudoscience’ that calculates and interprets the movement of planets. It isn’t predicated on wild guesses. Several Hindu households consult their astrologer before making major decisions.
In Islam, astrology is also a belief. Their forebears believed that the movement of the stars, sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies might influence the lives of individuals who lived on the planet, as seen through the eyes of India’s best astrologer. Their faith in astrology has waned over time, and just a few people still believe it. It is entirely dependent on the individual. While a conservative Muslim may not believe in astrology, someone who does not believe in any religion may have faith in it.
Christianity is the only religion that is known to believe in astrology. People should not trust astrology, according to the Bible. Despite this, there are numerous astrologers in the Western world. They claim that the Bible has been misinterpreted and that it warns about specific sins committed by specific persons. Western countries have much fewer astrologers than countries like India. This also reveals how little astrology is believed in Western countries. People were already skeptical about astrology, and the Bible only adds to their concerns. As a result, astrology is only believed by a small number of Christians.
India is a top country in terms of astrological believing, as may be deduced. At least once throughout their life, more than half of the population has sought the advice of an astrologer. Because Hinduism and Islam are both widespread in India, astrology devotees are likely to be as well. Astrology does a fantastic job of predicting the future and providing solutions to difficulties.
Individual belief systems differ, and it is up to them to decide whether or not to believe in something. Despite its 5000-year history, astrology continues to thrive. This confirms our belief in astrology.
Here are some crucial details:
- The hostility of some devout religious believers dates back to a time when priests and religious leaders attempted to interpret and mediate all religious experiences from their positions of authority. Before the development of male-dominated organized religion, our predecessors sought heavenly inspiration directly from the stars and thought themselves to be an intricate part of an active universe unfolding.
- Anyone could use astrology as a tool and a belief system based on an enchantment with the divine orchestrations of the heavens. Astrology presupposes the existence of an unlimited and purposeful mind that pervades the skies and the earth in a grand symphony of meaning, rather than the worship of a particular deity or leader.
A client’s confidence might be boosted with the help of a trustworthy, neutral astrologer. I’ve helped several customers reclaim and activate their religious roots through a chart analysis, guiding them toward the power that comes with following a religious path.
For some people, religion is a cornerstone of psychological and mental well-being. Astrological principles and practices are free of sexism, racism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression, unlike many organized faiths. Even the classic astrological metaphors of masculine and feminine planets and energies have been reinvented as non-gendered receptive and active energies. Every individual, like every planet and star in the sky, has a firm seat at the table of the universe.
This is a large issue, and I’m not sure if I’ve offered enough material to tie everything together. Please keep an eye on my column for more information on this topic in the future.
The zodiac was created by the Babylonians for a reason.
Astrology and astronomy were synonymous in ancient times. Babylon was the birthplace of astrology as we know it today. It sprang from the concept that because the Gods in the heavens oversaw man’s fate, the stars might reveal fortunes and that the motions of the stars and planets determine people’s fate on Earth. The earth’s rotation around the sun causes the sun to travel eastward against the background of the constellations, causing the planets and moon to shift around the sky, and causing different constellations to rise from the horizon at different times of the year.
“The Biblical word “hosts of heaven for the starry universe excellently reflects the view held by Babylonian astrologers,” Morris Jastrow noted. The moon, planets, and stars formed an army that was constantly active, executing military maneuvers that were the result of careful planning and had a specific goal in mind. It was up to the priestthe bdru, or “inspector,” as the astrologer and “inspector of the liver was known, to figure out what this aim was. To do so, a system of interpretation was developed, which was less logical and elaborate than the system of hepatoscopy (liver divination), but still worthy of attention as an example of men’s pitiful desire to peer into the minds of the gods, as well as the influence that Babylonian-Assyrian astrology had throughout the ancient world. This astrology, which was accepted by the Greeks and woven into Greek modes of thought and ways of existence, was passed down from generation to generation through the Middle Ages and into modern science. However, before we analyze this idea and its interpretation, we must first consider the heavenly bodies that Babylonian and Assyrian astrologers recognized.
Babylonian Astrology and Constellations
The Babylonians were the first to apply tales to constellations and astrology, as well as to characterize the zodiac’s 12 signs. The Babylonian system of astrology was developed by the Egyptians, and the Greeks moulded it into its contemporary form. Some Babylonian tales were adopted by the Greeks and Romans, while others were created by them. The word “astrology” (as well as astronomy) comes from the Greek word “star.”
Many of the constellations’ names and shapes are said to trace back to Sumerian times since the animals and figures picked were significant in their lives. If the constellations were created by the Egyptians, they would have ibises, jackals, crocodiles, and hippos in their environment instead of goats and bulls. Why isn’t there a tiger or a monkey if they’re from India? Capricorn was known to the Assyrians as “munaxa” (the goat fish).
The Greeks embellished the stars with the names of heroes. These were given Latin names by the Romans, which we still use today. Ptolemy compiled a list of 48 constellations. His list includes ones that he, the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans couldn’t see because they were in the southern hemisphere.
What was Jesus’ take on astrology?
I believe that God created astrology as a tool for us to better understand ourselves and to use as a spiritual tool. Numerous bible texts, in my opinion, support astrology. As a Christian, I try to remember what Jesus said. “There shall be signs in the sun, moon, and stars,” Christ predicted in Luke 21:25, referring to the importance of astrology. He explains the value of astrology with his pupils, as well as how it might be used as a sign of his return. Why would Jesus provide us this critical knowledge if we are not intended to understand the energies of the planets and signs, and if he was actually against it? Just as the three wise men knew Jesus would be born under the star in the sky that led them to him lying in the manger, Jesus warned us that when he returns, there will be signals in the sky.