Astrology
Astrology
Astrology (from Greek (astér, astrós), "star", and "logy" (Greek -logia logos "word, reason" and -logos "speaking") [1] Astrology consists of belief systems and practices that relate the patterns and positions of celestial bodies to human personality, human affairs, and all terrestrial events. In astrology, the patterns of human life and nature in general, are seen as correspondent with celestial patterns, specifically with the position and movement of planetary bodies as they appear against the backdrop of the sky as viewed from Earth. This is expressed in the fundamental astrological axiom, "As above, so below." [1] Many traditions and applications of astrological concepts have arisen since its earliest recorded beginnings. Beck and Denison cite Greek astrology of 410BC as well as the earlier Bablylonia astrology of about 3,500 BC. [2] [3]Astrology was practiced in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamian [4]
Advocates have defined astrology as a symbolic language, an art form, a science, and a method of divination.[5][6] The connotation of "science" in astrology is based on its roots in ancient astronomy, but astrology has more affinity with religion, mythology, psychology, and philosophy, than with the physical science of astronomy. Astrologers utilize astronomical calculations, but otherwie, astrology is divorced from astronomy.
The scientific community generally considers astrology as a pseudoscience or superstition. There is no widely accepted scientific evidence for the validity of astrology, though numerous modern researches have conducted statistical studies, some of which support the hypothesis of astrological influences. A review of these may be found in Recent Advances in Natal Astrology, A Critical Review, 1900-1976. [7] See also: "The tenacious Mars Effect," [8] and "Cosmic Influences on Humans, Animals, and Plants, An Annotated Bibliography"[9]
References
- ↑ Bobrick, Benson: The Fated Sky: Astrology in History, Simon and Schuster, 2006, p. 23
- ↑ Beck, Roger, A Brief History of Ancient Astrology, Blackwell Publishing, 2007, p. 12, 14
- ↑ Denison , Stephen, The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal, Jameson & Morse, 1905
- ↑ Charles George Herbermann, et al. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Appleton Co., 1913 p. 19
- ↑ The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica,' v.5, 1974, p. 916
- ↑ Dietrich, Thomas: 'The Origin of Culture and Civilization, Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists, 2005, p. 305
- ↑ Dr. Dean, Geoffrey, & Arthur Mather BSc, Recent Advances in Natal Astrology, A Critical Review, 1900-1976,
- ↑ Dr. Ertel, Suibert, & Kenneth Irving, The tenacious Mars Effect, Urania Trust, 1996
- ↑ Dr Burns, John T., Cosmic Influences on Humans, Animals, and Plants, An Annotated Bibliography, Scarecrow Press, Inc. 1997