Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies outside of the earth’s atmosphere, such as planets, stars, asteroids, and galaxies, as well as their attributes and relationships. Astronomers conduct their study and observations. Astrology, on the other hand, is the notion that the positions of the stars and planets have an impact on how events unfold on the planet. Astronomy is the field to consider if you’re interested in the solar system and planets, other celestial objects such as asteroids and comets, other galaxies and the rest of the universe, what makes up space, and the possibility of alien life or space travel.
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What is the distinction between astrology and astronomy?
Despite the fact that astrology and astronomy have similar origins, there is a significant difference between the two nowadays. Outside of Earth’s atmosphere, astronomy is the study of the cosmos and its contents. Astronomers study celestial objects’ locations, movements, and attributes. Astrology is the study of how the locations, movements, and qualities of the planets affect individuals and events on Earth. One of the key reasons for astronomical observations and theories for millennia has been to enhance astrological forecasts.
Is astrology considered a science?
This isn’t the first time astrology has had a moment like this, and it won’t be the last. For thousands of years, the practice has existed in various forms. More recently, the New Age movement of the 1960s and 1970s included a heavy dose of astrology. (Some refer to the New Age as the “Age of Aquarius,” referring to the 2,000-year period after the Earth’s passage through the Aquarius sign.)
While astrology didn’t go completely in the decades between the New Age boom and nowyou could still read horoscopes in the back pages of magazinesit “got back to being a little bit more in the background,” says Chani Nicholas, an astrologer in Los Angeles. “Then there’s something that’s happened in the last five years that’s given it an edge, a relevancy for this time and place that it hasn’t had in 35 years.” The millennial generation has taken it and run with it.
Many of the people I spoke to for this article felt that, while the stigma surrounding astrology still exists, it has faded as the discipline has gained traction in online culture, particularly among young people.
“We’ve seen a reframing of New Age activities over the last two years, very much tailored toward a Millennial and young Gen X component,” says Lucie Greene, global director of J. Walter Thompson’s Intelligence Group, which studies and predicts cultural trends.
Broadly’s horoscope traffic, according to Callie Beusman, a senior editor, “has increased very dramatically.” The Cut’s president and editor-in-chief, Stella Bugbee, claims that a typical horoscope article on the site received 150 percent more traffic in 2017 than the previous year.
Astrology is well-suited to the digital age in some aspects. If you feel like plunging into a Google-research rabbit hole, there’s a low barrier to admission and practically infinite depths to plumb. The availability of more detailed information on the internet has given this cultural wave of astrology a level of sophistication. There will be more jokes about Saturn returns and less “Hey baby, what’s your sign?” questions. lines for a pick-up
A quick refresher: Astrology is not a science, and there is no proof that one’s zodiac sign has anything to do with personality. However, the system has its own logic. The positioning of the sun, moon, and planets within 12 parts of the sky, known as the zodiac signs, is given significance in astrology. Even if you’re not an astrology fan, you’re probably aware of your sun sign, the most well-known zodiac sign. It’s determined by the position of the sun on your birthday. However, the position of the moon and each of the other planets at the time and place of your birth adds more shades to the portrait of you that your “birth chart” paints.
Horoscopes are designed to tell you what the planets are doing right now and in the future, as well as how all of this influences each sign.
Susan Miller, the popular astrologer who developed the Astrology Zone website, describes the planets as a cocktail party. “You could have three individuals chatting at the same time, two people arguing in the corner, and Venus and Mars kissing.” I need to figure out what’s going on in those monthly talks for you.
“Astrologers are continually attempting to break down these massive concepts into manageable chunks of information,” Nicholas explains.
These days’ kids and their memes provide an ideal setting for astrology.
Astrology uses the planets and zodiac symbols to express complex ideas about personality, life cycles, and relationship patterns. That shorthand also works well online, where symbols and shorthand are frequently used.
Bertram Malle, a social cognitive scientist at Brown University, wrote me in an email, “Let me say first that I consider astrology a cultural or psychological phenomenon, not a scientific one.” However, “full-fledged astrology,” which goes beyond newspaper-style sun-sign horoscopes, gives you a powerful vocabulary to describe not only your personality and temperament, but also your life’s obstacles and prospects. To the extent that one just learns this vocabulary, it may appeal as a rich method of reflecting (rather than explaining or forecasting) human feelings and life events, as well as identifying some potential coping paths.
In times of stress, people frequently consult astrology. According to a short 1982 research by psychologist Graham Tyson, “those who contact astrologers do so in response to pressures in their lives, notably stress related to the individual’s social duties and connections.” “Under high stress, the individual is willing to employ astrology as a coping mechanism, even though he does not believe in it under low stress.”
Millennials have been the most stressed generation since 2014, according to American Psychological Association survey data, and they are also the group most likely to claim their stress has increased in the past year since 2010. Since 2012, Millennials and Gen Xers have been much more anxious than previous generations. Since the 2016 presidential election, Americans have been experiencing greater stress as a result of the political turmoil. According to the APA’s 2017 survey, 63 percent of Americans are “extremely concerned” about their country’s future. Reading the news stresses out 56% of individuals, with Millennials and Gen Xers being substantially more likely than older people to say so. Political infighting, climate change, global problems, and the prospect of nuclear war have all been prominent in recent news. If stress makes astrology look more appealing, it’s no surprise that more people are interested in it now.
People believe in astrology for a variety of reasons.
Astrology has been shown in studies to significantly impact and even validate a person’s self-concept, as well as improve their confidence in their unique characteristics. In short, astrology’s ruminative nature stimulates self-reflection, allowing people to better understand themselves and their surroundings.
What do astrologers do for a living?
An astrologer uses the positions of the stars in the sky to obtain insight into human characteristics and even make future predictions. You might be picturing crystal balls, turbans, and hazy parlor rooms when you think about astrology, but it’s both an ancient science and a highly innovative art form.
Before making any claims, astrologers spend a significant amount of time charting the planets and stars. If you’re an Astrologer, you need to be consistent, accurate, and structured in order to produce accurate forecasts. The night sky can be calculated in a variety of ways; some employ a strict structure and graphs, while others use the seasons and weather as meters.
You’re self-sufficient. When you start working on your own readings, astrology can become a very personal process. You may begin by charging a small fee to hear your forecasts, but as your reputation for accuracy grows, magazines and newspapers may approach you to fill their horoscope section. You’re undoubtedly already aware of the zodiac signs and the animal and personality they symbolize.
Clients will seek guidance and advice from you if you offer your services to the general public. It’s not about putting up a show as a personal Astrologer; it’s more vital that you believe in the assistance you’re providing. You can advise and inform customers, as well as build solid and long-term commercial partnerships. As you guide clients through difficult times, save them money, or point them in the direction of a promising new relationship, you earn their trust.
Why is astrology not considered a 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.
What happened when astrology became astronomy?
For a long time, astrology financing supported certain astronomical study, which was then used to create more accurate ephemerides for astrological usage. Astronomia was one of the original Seven Liberal Arts in Medieval Europe, and it was widely used to embrace both fields because it included the study of astronomy and astrology together and without difference. Court astrologers were commonly engaged by kings and other rulers to assist them in making decisions in their kingdoms, thereby sponsoring astronomical study. Astrology was taught to university medical students since it was commonly employed in medical practice.
During the 17th to 19th centuries, astronomy and astrology diverged. Although Copernicus did not perform astrology (or empirical astronomy; his work was theoretical), the most influential astronomers prior to Isaac Newton were astrologers by profession: Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei.
The development of better timekeeping tools, primarily for navigational purposes, was also crucial here; improved timekeeping allowed for more precise astrological forecasts, which could be checked and consistently demonstrated to be erroneous. Astronomy was one of the key sciences of the Enlightenment era at the end of the 18th century, adopting the newly established scientific method, and was distinct from astrology.
What does the Bible have to say about the zodiac signs?
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.