“Astrology” is defined as “the ancient art or science of divining human fate and future from hints provided by the positions of stars and other heavenly bodies” – Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 2, p. 575, 1956. It assumes that the position and movement of celestial bodies have a significant impact (though not complete control) on our lives.
The term “horoscope” refers to a diagram of the positions of the celestial bodies that is used to forecast their impact on people’s lives.
As the earth revolves around the sun, the “Zodiac” is a thin strip or belt of the heavens in which the sun, moon, and major planets appear. This zone is divided into twelve sections, each of which has a constellation (a collection of stars) that has been named after that portion. Each of these 12 constellations is known as a “Zodiac sign.” The sign under which a person was born is considered to be the portion in which the sun may be found during the time of year when he or she was born.
Random House College Dictionary defines “occult” as “magic, astrology, and other claimed disciplines claiming use or knowledge of secret, mysterious, or supernatural agencies.” Witchcraft and sorcery, Satanism, spiritualism, fortune-telling, and psychics are examples of occult practices.
Astrology is classified as occult by definition. It is linked to a slew of other activities that are expressly forbidden in the Bible. This should at the very least make us doubt astrology.
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Astrology began in ancient Babylon.
Because the sun is so important to man’s needs, ancient humans assumed that other celestial bodies must be as well. They assumed that the largest celestial bodies were the most important, thus they called the sun, moon, and major planets after their primary gods, while the stars were named after lesser gods.
The gods’ actions were supposed to be represented by the movements of celestial bodies. Men attempted to determine the will of the gods and thereby predict the future by examining these motions. If the heavenly bodies went in a given direction and certain occurrences occurred, then similar events should occur the next time they move in that direction.
The principles of astrology were formalized by the Greeks.
The Greeks analyzed the heavenly bodies geometrically and “scientifically” about 2000 years ago, and defined the Zodiac signs. The planets were then given the names of Greek and Roman gods.
As a result, astrology has its roots in pagan worship. From the ground up, the core notion of astrology – that the movements of heavenly bodies control our lives – is heathen worship.
C. Reasons for the Current Popularity of Astrology
Our society is becoming more receptive of paganism. We shouldn’t be shocked that astrology is getting more popular, given that it is essentially pagan. Astrology appeals to modern Americans for the following reasons:
People are always enthralled by the prospect of the future. This is particularly true when the future appears to be grim (economic problems, war, family problems).
People enjoy hearing what others have to say about them, particularly if they believe no one is paying attention to them. Anything that highlights individual character makes people feel significant when they feel like a number in a crowd.
People seek solutions to their problems, such as business and financial guidance, marriage and family issues, and so on. This is why self-help books and advice columns are so popular. Astrology claims to provide solutions and direction, especially in challenging times.
People often ponder why things happen the way they do and what life’s purpose is. Astrology promises to be able to understand the driving forces behind what is going on.
People are frequently bored with their lives. Their lives and careers are mundane. They are enthralled by anything unusual or unusual. They may believe they are obtaining access to information that others may not have or that they are becoming part of the “in crowd.”
People are drawn to astrology for many of the same reasons they are drawn to cults and other aspects of the Occult.
There is no evidence that heavenly bodies can influence character.
You are a conscious, living being. Your character is shaped by living, intellectual beings: forebears’ inheritance, family and friend influence, and, most importantly, your own choices and actions. The sun, moon, and planets are all dead and devoid of intelligence. What role can they play in shaping your personality?
There is no proof that the position of these bodies at the time of your birth can influence your life now.
Heavenly bodies do have an effect on the physical world. The sun generates energy, all bodies emit light, and the moon’s gravity causes tides, among other things. However, regardless of when you were born, all of these influences have an equal impact on everyone in a given location.
The calendar astrology uses to determine the sign of your birth does not agree with the present position of the constellations!
In a technical sense, the 12 “signs” are 30 degree geometrical divisions counted from the position of the sun at the vernal equinox. The signs correlated quite closely to the constellations during Hipparchus’ time; for example, the first sign (named Aries) corresponded to the constellation Aries. Because of precession, there is now a discrepancy equal to the width of a complete sign, and the constellation Pisces now occupies the sign Aries” – Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 23, p. 959.
The constellations were at specific points in the sky at specific times of the year when astrology was developed 2000 years ago. Because that constellation was where it was at that time of year 2000 years ago, astrology says you were born under a given sign if you were born at a certain time of year.
The earth, on the other hand, wobbles a little, like a top wobbling on its axis. As a result, the constellations are no longer where astrology predicts they should be at the time of your birth, 2000 years later. They’re actually a whole sign out of sync!
Because you were born at a specific time of year, astrology says you were born under a specific sign, which means you were born when a constellation was at a specific point. However, the constellation of that sign was nowhere near where they claimed it was!
However, keep in mind that the location of the stars is believed to establish your personality and fate. The next constellation down the line is the one under which you were truly born. As a result, astrological practice contradicts astrology theory. If there was ever any validity to its forecasts, it no longer exists.
Why should Christians be led by and put their faith in a system that contradicts itself?
Is astrology a type of witchcraft?
Western astrology is a type of divination that involves creating a horoscope for a specific time period, such as a person’s birth. It is based on the tropical zodiac, which is aligned with the equinoxes.
Western astrology is based on the movements and relative locations of celestial bodies like the Sun, Moon, and planets, which are studied through the zodiac signs (twelve spatial divisions of the ecliptic) and their aspects (based on geometric angles) to one another. Their positioning in houses is also taken into account (twelve spatial divisions of the sky). Sun sign astrology, which examines only the zodiac sign of the Sun at an individual’s date of birth and represents only 1/12 of the whole chart, is frequently reduced to astrology’s modern portrayal in western popular culture.
The horoscope depicts the set of relationships for the specified event’s period and location. These connections are between the seven ‘planets,’ which represent impulses like war and love, as well as the twelve zodiac signs and the twelve houses. When observed from the given location, each planet is in a certain sign and house during the chosen time, resulting in two types of relationships. A third type is each planet’s relationship with each other, where two planets 120 miles apart (in a ‘trine’) are in a harmonic relationship, whereas two planets 90 miles apart (in a’square’) are in a troubled relationship. These connections, together with their interpretations, are said to be “the language of the gods speaking to learned men.”
Astrology, like tarot divination, is a key study of Western esotericism, and as such, it has affected magical belief systems not only among Western esotericists and Hermeticists, but also belief systems like Wicca that have borrowed from or been influenced by the Western esoteric heritage. “All magicians know something about astrology,” Tanya Luhrmann says, citing a table of correspondences organized by planet in Starhawk’s The Spiral Dance as an example of the astrological wisdom studied by magicians.
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.
Is there a God in astrology?
I’ve been asked numerous times over the years to speak about the compatibility of astrology and religion by clients who are deeply religious. Despite the fact that some passionately religious people consider astrology to be heretical, I’ve noticed an extraordinary ideological connection between organized religions and the orderly world of astrology.
Astrology is completely compatible with a strict religious belief system. It’s a graceful jump to assume that a God created the universe, with noble ideals guiding even the planets and stars.
The study of the planets and stars precedes and has influenced religious belief and practice around the world, according to evidence from ancient texts, sculptures, and stained glass art. Symbols of astrological signs and planets can be found in our earliest ancient religious sites. Significant religious luminaries including Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Buddha, and Mary Baker Eddy were born within astrological alignments that synchronistically confirmed their arrival.
Some devoted religious believers’ opposition can be traced back to a time when priests and religious authorities sought to interpret and mediate all religious experiences from their positions of authority. Our forefathers sought divine inspiration straight from the stars and considered themselves to be an intricate part of an active universe evolving before the development of male-dominated organized religion. Astrology as a technique and a belief system founded on an enchantment with the divine orchestrations of the heavens was open to anyone. Astrology does not necessitate the worship of a single deity or figurehead; rather, it assumes the existence of an infinite and purposeful intellect that pervades the heavens and the earth in a grand symphony of meaning.
Religion comes from the Latin term religio, which meaning “to connect together.” What could be more inextricably interwoven than celestial motions and human experiences and events?
The meanings of the 9th and 12th houses, as well as the archetypes of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune, all honor the importance of religion and spirituality in astrology. The 9th and 12th houses represent areas of life where religious or spiritual guidance, experience, and/or ordainment may be sought. Jupiter can represent a powerful spiritual or religious figure, Saturn a harsh God image, and Neptune mystical experiences and religious rapture.
A trustworthy, unbiased astrologer can assist a client in strengthening their confidence. Through an examination of their chart, I’ve assisted several clients in reclaiming and activating their religious roots, leading them toward the power that comes from following a religious path. Religion is a cornerstone of psychological and mental well-being for some people.
Unlike many organized religions, astrological ideas and practices are free of sexism, racism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression. Even the old astrological metaphors of masculine and feminine planets and energies have been redesigned as receptive and active energies that are not gendered in expression. Every human has a strong seat at the table of the universe, just as every planet and star has a position in the sky.
Astrology and organized faiths are both:
- Are you looking for a way to express yourself?
- Are not backed up by scientific evidence
- Thousands of years have passed
- Are based on legend and folklore.
- Have spawned works of art and poetry that are both inspired and stunning.
- Give people a sense of belonging and identity
- Assist folks who are going through a lot of pain and loss.
- Investigate the concepts of fate and free will.
- Have a history of group rituals?
- Keep track of important dates on your calendar.
In contrast to religion, astrology:
- There are no places of worship.
- There are no membership requirements or vows.
- There are no moral edicts.
- Has no claim to superiority based on merit
- Is there no human saint?
- There is no such thing as a hierarchy of worthiness.
- Does not indicate that there is an afterlife.
- There is no specific code of social conduct outlined.
- There is no formal consensus on the amount of training that must be completed.
- There are no official uniforms or costuming for practitioners.
- It does not necessitate worship.
These lists demonstrate how religion and astrology can have a fruitful relationship.
Religion is a Saturn word in astrological terms: it is ordered, spells out right and wrong, and is constructed on and in institutions and agreements. Astrology has a Uranian bent to it:
Is it against the law to use astrology?
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. According to historian Emilie Savage-Smith, astrology (ilm al-nujm, “the study of the stars”) was “by far” the most popular of the “many activities aiming to predict future occurrences or perceive hidden phenomena” in early Islamic history.
Despite Islamic prohibitions, some medieval Muslims were interested in studying the apparent motion of the stars. This was partially due to their belief in the importance of the celestial bodies, and partly due to the fact that desert inhabitants frequently traveled at night and relied on knowledge of the constellations for navigation. Muslims needed to determine the time of prayers, the direction the kaaba would face, and the correct orientation of the mosque after the arrival of Islam, all of which helped give a religious impetus to the study of astronomy and contributed to the belief that the celestial bodies had an impact on terrestrial affairs as well as the human condition.
The criteria for Islam’s attitude on astrology are laid out in Islamic jurisprudence, the Quran, the Hadith, Ijma (scholarly consensus), and Qiyas (analogy). The idea is further differentiated into that which is either halal (authorized) or haram (forbidden) (forbidden). The view that astrology is forbidden by the authorities, as enshrined in the Quran and Hadith, is shared by all Islamic sects and academics.
Who is the inventor of horoscopes?
Jones stated, “This is possibly older than any other known case.” “It’s also older than any of the written-down horoscopes from the Greco-Roman period,” he said, adding, “we have a number of horoscopes written down as a kind of document on papyrus or on a wall, but none of them as old as this.”
The discovery was presented in the most recent edition of the Journal for the History of Astronomy by Jones and StaoForenbaher, a researcher at the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb.
Forenbaher told LiveScience that the crew was working near the entrance of a Croatian cave in 1999, a site well known to archaeologists and residents of the surrounding hamlet of Nakovana who simply named it “Spila,” which means “the cave.”
Nobody realized at the time, however, that the cave featured a part that had been locked for over 2,000 years. Forenbaher’s girlfriend (now his wife) dug under the rubble and discovered a broad, low passageway that ran for over 33 feet in the dark (10 meters). “The unique King Tut experience, arriving to a spot where nobody has been for a couple of thousand years,” Forenbaher said of passing down the corridor.
When Forenbaher entered the cavern, “there was a very thin limestone crust on the surface that was splitting under your boots,” indicating that “nobody had gone there in a very, very, long time,” he added.
The researchers eventually discovered that it had been blocked off in the first century B.C., presumably as a result of a Roman military effort against the locals.
The archaeologists discovered a phallic-shaped stalagmite, as well as countless drinking containers deposited over hundreds of years and something more. “These very small bits and pieces of ivory came out in the course of that dig,” Forenbaher explained, “and we didn’t even recognize what we had at the time.”
The group got to work. “It took years to piece them together, find more bits and pieces, and figure out what they were,” Forenbaher explained. They ended there staring at the ruins of the world’s oldest known astrologer’s board.
Archaeologists aren’t sure how the board got inside the cave or where it came from. The Babylonians developed their own version of horoscopes around 2,400 years ago, which is where astrology began in antiquity.
Then, around 2,100 years ago, astrology went to the eastern Mediterranean, where it became popular in Egypt, which was ruled by a dynasty of Greek monarchs at the time.
Jones explained, “It gets transformed very much into what we think of as the Greek style of astrology, which is really the present type of astrology.” “The Greek style of astrology is the foundation of astrology that spans the Middle Ages, modern Europe, modern India, and beyond.”
The ivory used to produce the zodiac images dates back to 2,200 years, just before the advent of this new kind of astrology, according to radiocarbon dating.
The location of the board’s manufacture is unknown, though Egypt is a possibility. They believe the ivory came from an elephant that was slain or died in the area around that period. Because ivory is such a valuable commodity, it would have been preserved for decades, if not a century, before being utilized to make the zodiac. These signs would have been adhered to a flat (probably wooden) surface to form the board, which could have featured other features that did not survive.
It could have been loaded onto a ship sailing through the Adriatic Sea, a vital trade route that the cave overlooks. Illyrians were the people who resided in Croatia at the time. Despite the fact that ancient writers had a negative view of them, archaeological evidence reveals that they interacted with surrounding Greek colonies and were a vital part of the Mediterranean civilization.
An astrologer from one of the Greek colonies may have visited the cave to make a prediction. A consultation in the cavern’s flickering light would have been a powerful experience, if not particularly convenient for the astrologer.
Jones commented, “It doesn’t sound like a very practical site for performing horoscope homework like calculating planetary placements.”
Another hypothesis is that the Illyrians acquired or stole the astrological board without fully comprehending its use. The board, along with the drinking containers, would have been presented as an offering to an unknown deity worshipped in the cave.
“This astrologer’s board could have shown up as an offering along with other exceptional items that were either bought or robbed from a passing ship,” Forenbaher speculated. He noted that the drinking cups discovered in the cave had been chosen with care. They were made in another country, and only a few cruder amphora storage vessels were discovered with them.
“It nearly appears that someone was bringing out wine there, pouring it, and then discarding the amphora away because they weren’t good enough for the gods, or to be deposited in the shrine,” Forenbaher said.
The phallic-shaped stalagmite, which may have formed naturally on the site, appears to have served as a focal point for these offerings and rituals held in the cavern. Forenbaher cautioned that all stalagmites appear phallic in some way, and it’s difficult to know what significance it had to the cave’s inhabitants. “It had to mean something significant,” he said.
“This is a spot where goods of local importance were deposited with some type of supernatural power, transcendental being, or whatever.”
