Tuesday, December 18, 2012

AN INTRODUCTION TO ASTROLOGY

Astrology is a noble science. It is a fascinating subject. It is as old as measured time. The word Astrology is derived from two Greek words, Astra, a star, and Logos, logic or reason.


It is as old as the ages of the Vedas. It depends on the position of the planets ascertained astronomically. It explains the celestial phenomena and the corresponding terrestrial events.

Astrology is a language, a symbol set, and a guide to understanding the world, life, and the cosmos. A complex and complicated system, or science, which literally implies the doctrine and law as shown by the stars or planets.

“Astronomy is excellent; but it must come
Up into life to have its full value
And not remain there as Globes and Spaces”
- Emerson

Our universe is full of all kinds of amazing energies. The true meaning of astrology is the “Message of the Stars”. By using the salient principles of astrology depending on the position of the planets ascertained astronomically one can forecast events for the benefit of all and as such, it is a useful science for interpreting nature.  
Astrology allows us to interpret these energies. It's not a religion so we aren't required to start or stop believing in anything, and we don't need to believe in it for it to work.

The whole world is run according to a well defined plan. Nothing happens by chance. Astrology does not permit one to classify anything as an accident as it explains the cause and effect of events. The divine plan is well arranged. It is time with amazing precision.

Some say that astrology is an art. Some others reject it as an idle dream or an illusion. Still others may speak of astrology as though it were an altogether contemptible superstition. They contemplate with pity those who believe in it. Some of these who have no disappointment or other difficulties in life take pride in saying that they have no faith in astrology and ridicule both the astrologer and the science. Probably they may fear that they may lose their self importance if they were no recognize astrology.

A few others say, under wrong impression or with prejudiced ideas, that astrology is not a science. These people would not have mastered the data on which correct predictions are based.

This science explains clearly that such opponents of astrology will have in their horoscopes evil aspect between Mars and Uranus or between Mars and Mercury. These planets when afflicted do not give quick grasp of this science good memory and reproductive ability, and produce people who are either ignorant, arrogant, envious, or are always inclined to find fault with what they are not able to understand. Pretending to know everything, they display their ignorance.

The antagonists often quote the opinions of such learned men, who do not want to admit that it is a useful science.

Moreover it is the study of cycles. The sun, moon, and planets move in their own time and in their own space according to individual cycles. Similarly ordained, the earth and all life upon its surface carries forward in complicated, perhaps never-to-be-fully understood, patterns that make up the Grand Design of the cosmos. The Greeks believed this enthusiastically.

The Greeks devised the system of using the date and time of birth to forecast the destinies of individuals around 250 years BC.

Ptolemy wrote the first modern Astrology textbook and worked from about 150-180 AD establishing the heart and soul of Astrology, which has not changed much in the way it is practiced in the West today. 

Astrology gave birth to the sciences of Medicine and Astronomy. For more than 2000 years and up until the 18th century, Astrology and Astronomy were the same science.

Astrology and Astronomy were practiced as the same up until about 300 years ago when Uranus and Neptune were discovered.  At that time, Astronomy and Astrology parted ways due to rationalism.
Some of the greatest thinkers in the history of mankind did not at all think it unreasonable to study planetary cycles in order to gain a better understanding of how mankind in general and people as individuals, fit into the universal cosmos.

The Greeks assembled the body of knowledge upon which modern astrology is based. They applied their advanced understanding of astronomy and mathematics to the descriptions handed down from the astrologers/astronomers (there was no distinction in those days) of ancient Egypt and Babylonia. 

Astrology sees mankind as being not only influenced by hereditary factors and the environment, but also by the state of our solar system at the moment of birth. The planets are regarded as basic life-forces, the tools we live by as well as the basis of our very substance. These planetary forces take on different forms, depending on their zodiacal position and on the way they relate to one another.

The aspects formed between the planets describe these relationships, the positions of the planets in relation to the place of birth tell us of their expression in the spheres of life depicted by the astrological houses.

Astrology blends science and intuition, magic and mathematics, cycles and symbols. It focuses on planets and their seasons, and planets are real. In fact, they're so real that their movements are consistent and recordable.

Astrology allows us to draw parallels between the orbits of heavenly bodies and events down here on Earth. It allows us to surf the cosmic waves by glancing at our own "tidal tables," or planetary ephemeris, and by figuring out how to get the best ride from the tide that's en route. It validates our hunches and supports what we already know.

By interpreting the roles of these players (the planets) and their qualities (the elements, signs and houses) and creating a synthesis, astrology is able to present a complete and comprehensive picture of the person and his potential, based on the natal horoscope.

There are many misconceptions regarding astrology. For instance, the horoscopes listed in the daily newspapers are only based on the sign position of the Sun, whereas full natal astrology takes many more things into account. The application of astrology to people can be approached as a study of individuality, from either a psychological perspective or on a predictive, event-based level.

The main concepts to understand in astrology are the Planets, Signs, Houses and the relationships between them, which are called Aspects. From an astrological point of view, each person's unique individuality is based on the endless variations of these four components. Actually, astrology is a scientific study of individuality, and the astrological chart provides a very precise picture of the unique way each person is "wired." In fact, due to the varying speed of each planet's orbit around the Sun, a person's birth chart is not duplicated for more than 25,000 years!

The energies that were active in the atmosphere at the exact moment of your birth were stamped on the cellular level of your very being and remain a part of you during this lifetime. Your birth chart is actually a schematic: a graph that shows this "inner wiring" you were born with, but what you do with that wiring is up to you. 

Astrology is a tool to gain objective awareness of your own patterns of behavior. We all have tendencies that lead to inappropriate actions and feelings of isolation and unhappiness. The trick is to discover our own "glitches" and empower ourselves to avoid them. With this objective knowledge we can choose to make adjustments that result in our life operating more smoothly.

Astrology itself is not "spiritual," yet it can be an effective tool for opening the way to accessing our spirituality. By understanding our psychological wiring (as objectively pictured in the astrology chart) we can accept and work with ourselves with more understanding and detachment. This calms the turmoil of the inner personality and allows our innate spiritual nature to emerge.

And by understanding the psychological wiring of others through their astrological charts, we can more easily accept their unique differences without taking it so personally; we can learn to enjoy the variety rather than seeking to change others into an extension of ourselves. So although astrology itself is not spiritual, it can lead to important spiritual experiences, such as unconditional loving acceptance of ourselves and others.

In learning to use astrology in your life, it is essential to gain some understanding of the four most important components of any birthchart: the Planets, Signs, Houses and Aspects. What follows is some basic information you will need in order to interpret and use your chart. Having your chart handy as you read this information will allow you to begin to tune-in to what the combinations of planet, sign and house feel like in your own chart, and this is a great way to begin to understand how astrology works.

Astrodienst horoscopes are easy to understand, even for those who have not dealt with astrology before - you needn't know any of the scientific jargon involved to be able to profit from our horoscope readings. If we are lucky, though, your interest in this fascinating subject matter has been awakened by one of our short texts. This short online introduction can help make you familiar with most of the astrological techniques and give you a basic understanding of how it's all done. If you wish to learn more about astrology, we suggest you read some of the standard textbooks mentioned in our bibliography, or contact an astrology school near you.

First of all a Horoscope is the prediction of daily happenings in your daily life and a Birth Chart is a picture of the wheel of your planets, houses and placements therein and the interpretation of your chart wheel indicates the strengths and weaknesses in your physical and emotional makeup which gives you insight on how to relate to and get along with others in order to make your life a more happier and worthwhile journey and a system to see if a match between you and another will offer you a greater chance at happiness based on the combination of your charts. 

While almost everyone knows his or her astrological sign, they are not always familiar with the personal characteristics associated with it. Those who turn their interest into more understanding of the subject itself will gain some truly unique insights about themselves and others. I have rarely encountered a person totally immune from wanting to know more  about astrology. The following paragraphs explain some of their most frequent questions. 

A Compatibility report or Synastry interpretation and Chart Wheel combines your chart and a mates to form a brand new entity (personality) called relationship. 

The sign, the rising sign and other placements, in most cases, will be different than either your chart or your mate's chart. This shows what strengths you will be able to call upon in the relationship and what weaknesses to overcome.

A Birth Chart and Interpretation or either a Horoscope and compatibility report cannot be accurate for everyone born under a specific Zodiac sign unless the Astrologer has accurate information about the time of birth, date of birth and place of birth. 

Place of residence is important in the casting of daily Horoscopes. Sometimes the time is not known and an Astrologer will use 12:01 P.M. which, while not as accurate as it should be, will put you as close to the target as possible. 

Without this information everything you read about your sign anywhere will be generalized information.

Your astrology chart or your horoscope is your personal map, calculated using the date and time you were born from the perspective of your birth location. From that information, a circular, clock-shaped diagram emerges that shows where every planet, star, asteroid, and comet was located at the moment you made your debut.

Your chart is a cosmic snapshot that freeze-frames the universe exactly as it was from your perspective. You carry that same perspective around with you throughout life.

The horoscope chart is your blueprint—your cosmic backpack, an owner's manual that shows what you packed into your "tool-kit" for this lifetime and how best to use it. It's the circular lens that colors the way you see what's out there.

Everybody's got one, and no two are ever the same, which is pretty amazing. But there's more—since the chart is a map, everybody's got one of everything.

Professional astrologers do not hold with theories of celestial influence. Instead,
the modern astrologer conceives of the heavens and Earth as united, interpenetrating, and sharing a common space and time. The great cosmic or celestial events happening around and beyond the Earth (eclipses, lineups, and so on) are not seen as causing events to occur on Earth, but as great signatures of events also happening here on Earth. In other words, there is no "cause" in the heavens followed by an "effect" here on Earth. Instead, both planetary and earthly events happen simultaneously and are mutually reflective. Neither is the cause of the other; both are the product of the moment, one acted out in the heavens above, the other here on the Earth below.

In summary, astrology is a study of heavenly cycles and cosmic events as they are reflected in our earthly environment and vice- versa -- a vast cosmic clock.

Learning is mechanical acquirement of facts and gaining knowledge in any subject. But wisdom is not so. Astrology can be correctly interpreted only by a person endowed with divine grace and none can call himself learned without knowing astrology.       

Astrologers find the cosmic patterns revealed in the rhythmic motions of the planets a great help in shedding light on the seeming helter-skelter of everyday life. Astrologers may have their heads in the heavens, but only to better guide their feet here on Earth.

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