ASTROLOGY'S PAST
The history of astrology dates back to the beginning of Man’s existence on Earth. No doubt noting the immediate effects of the Sun and Moon on his less complicated environment, early Man began to identify and catalogue causes and effects as they were revealed in the heavens and on Earth.
The first recorded data we have of celestial influence comes from Mesopotamia in the 18th/19th century B.C. These records deal with ‘predictions’ in a very generalized form, relating principally to famine, war or peace.
The Assyrian astrologers began to individualize their work, principally concentrating their predictions around the lives and fortunes of their Kings. Yet, later, the fortunes of the “common man” were more freely considered.
A more exact science of Astrology emerged with the discovery of the Zodiac and the invention of the calendar, which occurred around the 5th century B.C. In addition the Babylonians learned to calculate impressively large numbers in multiples of 60, learning by heart their multiplication tables from I to 59. It is from these mathematical origins that we get our 60 seconds to the minute and 60 minutes to the hour.
A Nativity, Birth Chart or Horoscope (being a diagram of the symbolic positioning of the planets in the Zodiac at the moment of birth) was available around 300 years B.C.; the very earliest recorded is astronomically dated at 410 B.C.
The Greek Claudius Ptolemaeus (100-178 A.D.), known as the “divine Ptolemy” for his work on astronomy, which influenced science for more than a thousand years, was quoted as being ‘ingenious’ in the arts of geometry and Astrology. He also gave instructions on the use of the Astrolabe (the forerunner of the modern Sextant), which is an important instrument for calculating the altitude of stars.
The Romans had a profound respect for Astrology and their emperors often placed the Zodiac Sign under which they were born on the coins bearing their image. Nero's astrologer Balbillus was so famous that he had an annual Games established in his honor.
By the Middle Ages three branches of Astrology had developed – ‘Judicial’ astrology (dealing with individual interpretations from the birth date data), ‘Horary’ astrology (calculating and interpreting from the moment a question, or event, occurs) and ‘Mundane’ astrology (the analysis of national, or worldly, events).
Paracelcus (circa 1493) was a famous alchemist and physician in his lifetime. He stated that "All influences that come from the Sun, the Planets and the Stars, act invisibly on Man and if these are evil, they will produce evil effects. If a man gets angry, it is not because he has too much bile, but because the Mars correlative element in his body is in a state of exaltation."
Perhaps the most quoted of all the noted Astrologer/Seers was Michael Nostradamus (1503-1566). His comprehensive prophecies are still published today with much popular appeal. Like Paracelsus, Nostradamus also believed that Astrology and medicine were inseparable.
Galelio (1564-1642) was another great Scientist/Astrologer. It was he who stumbled upon and demonstrated one of the first telescopes used to observe the planets in the heavens.
William Lilly (1602-1681) was probably one of the greatest practicing Astrologers in history, specializing principally in the field of Horary Astrology. He accurately predicted the ‘Great Fire of London’ and was so accurate with his prediction that he was brought before the Committee of the House of Commons on suspicion of complicity. Despite early interruptions in his education, he eventually studied medicine and was granted a license to practice.
A fine exponent of the cosmic healing arts was the Astrologer, Doctor, Botanist and Herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper. He was a constant critic of the elite and self-seeking medical establishment at the time and infuriated all concerned by translating the principal medical textbooks of the time from Latin into English (thereby making all the popular herbal remedies accessible to the poor, a right only previously available to those of education or wealth). Culpeper was reported as saying that only Astrologers were fit to study medicine and that a doctor without astrology is like a “lamp without oil”.
Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was perhaps the last of the great Scientist/Astrologers. When challenged by Halley on the authenticity of astrology, Newton was said to have commented, quite accurately, “Sir, I have studied it, you have not".
From Newton's day science has singularly concerned itself with the study of a tangible, mechanistic universe. Consequently official, scientific recognition of Astrology has waned significantly.
With traditional science’s opposition to astrology its image has even been hijacked by the popular media, which predictably highlights the false, the fake and the far-fetched. A serious practitioner in astrology therefore has been forced to remain somewhat in the wings instead, waiting for its higher expression to gain acceptance again. If nothing else astrology can underline for us the inherent cyclical nature of all life expression, where all seems to operate through identifiable principles with a spirit of ‘what goes around, comes around’.
Optimistically, the more recent advances in Quantum physics do offer a significant re-evaluation of Astrology’s deeper and more meaningful values. Many independently minded scientific and professional people are starting to once again embrace the notion that we live in an energy driven universe. With that emerging acceptance comes a possible new respect for astrology, through a realization that it can offer Mankind so much more than the supposed superstition, flippancy or even quackery. More and more scientists, doctors, teachers, businessmen, therapists, psychologists, counselors, social workers and indeed any ‘deep-thinking’ person who deals with people on a regular basis are all discovering the benefits of the tremendous insight into human behavior and expression that true Astrology offers. It seems that despite the neglect, despite the ridicule, despite the prejudice of closed minds the profound and ancient art/science of Astrology is still alive and kicking!
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The first recorded data we have of celestial influence comes from Mesopotamia in the 18th/19th century B.C. These records deal with ‘predictions’ in a very generalized form, relating principally to famine, war or peace.
The Assyrian astrologers began to individualize their work, principally concentrating their predictions around the lives and fortunes of their Kings. Yet, later, the fortunes of the “common man” were more freely considered.
A more exact science of Astrology emerged with the discovery of the Zodiac and the invention of the calendar, which occurred around the 5th century B.C. In addition the Babylonians learned to calculate impressively large numbers in multiples of 60, learning by heart their multiplication tables from I to 59. It is from these mathematical origins that we get our 60 seconds to the minute and 60 minutes to the hour.
A Nativity, Birth Chart or Horoscope (being a diagram of the symbolic positioning of the planets in the Zodiac at the moment of birth) was available around 300 years B.C.; the very earliest recorded is astronomically dated at 410 B.C.
The Greek Claudius Ptolemaeus (100-178 A.D.), known as the “divine Ptolemy” for his work on astronomy, which influenced science for more than a thousand years, was quoted as being ‘ingenious’ in the arts of geometry and Astrology. He also gave instructions on the use of the Astrolabe (the forerunner of the modern Sextant), which is an important instrument for calculating the altitude of stars.
The Romans had a profound respect for Astrology and their emperors often placed the Zodiac Sign under which they were born on the coins bearing their image. Nero's astrologer Balbillus was so famous that he had an annual Games established in his honor.
By the Middle Ages three branches of Astrology had developed – ‘Judicial’ astrology (dealing with individual interpretations from the birth date data), ‘Horary’ astrology (calculating and interpreting from the moment a question, or event, occurs) and ‘Mundane’ astrology (the analysis of national, or worldly, events).
Paracelcus (circa 1493) was a famous alchemist and physician in his lifetime. He stated that "All influences that come from the Sun, the Planets and the Stars, act invisibly on Man and if these are evil, they will produce evil effects. If a man gets angry, it is not because he has too much bile, but because the Mars correlative element in his body is in a state of exaltation."
Perhaps the most quoted of all the noted Astrologer/Seers was Michael Nostradamus (1503-1566). His comprehensive prophecies are still published today with much popular appeal. Like Paracelsus, Nostradamus also believed that Astrology and medicine were inseparable.
Galelio (1564-1642) was another great Scientist/Astrologer. It was he who stumbled upon and demonstrated one of the first telescopes used to observe the planets in the heavens.
William Lilly (1602-1681) was probably one of the greatest practicing Astrologers in history, specializing principally in the field of Horary Astrology. He accurately predicted the ‘Great Fire of London’ and was so accurate with his prediction that he was brought before the Committee of the House of Commons on suspicion of complicity. Despite early interruptions in his education, he eventually studied medicine and was granted a license to practice.
A fine exponent of the cosmic healing arts was the Astrologer, Doctor, Botanist and Herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper. He was a constant critic of the elite and self-seeking medical establishment at the time and infuriated all concerned by translating the principal medical textbooks of the time from Latin into English (thereby making all the popular herbal remedies accessible to the poor, a right only previously available to those of education or wealth). Culpeper was reported as saying that only Astrologers were fit to study medicine and that a doctor without astrology is like a “lamp without oil”.
Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was perhaps the last of the great Scientist/Astrologers. When challenged by Halley on the authenticity of astrology, Newton was said to have commented, quite accurately, “Sir, I have studied it, you have not".
From Newton's day science has singularly concerned itself with the study of a tangible, mechanistic universe. Consequently official, scientific recognition of Astrology has waned significantly.
With traditional science’s opposition to astrology its image has even been hijacked by the popular media, which predictably highlights the false, the fake and the far-fetched. A serious practitioner in astrology therefore has been forced to remain somewhat in the wings instead, waiting for its higher expression to gain acceptance again. If nothing else astrology can underline for us the inherent cyclical nature of all life expression, where all seems to operate through identifiable principles with a spirit of ‘what goes around, comes around’.
Optimistically, the more recent advances in Quantum physics do offer a significant re-evaluation of Astrology’s deeper and more meaningful values. Many independently minded scientific and professional people are starting to once again embrace the notion that we live in an energy driven universe. With that emerging acceptance comes a possible new respect for astrology, through a realization that it can offer Mankind so much more than the supposed superstition, flippancy or even quackery. More and more scientists, doctors, teachers, businessmen, therapists, psychologists, counselors, social workers and indeed any ‘deep-thinking’ person who deals with people on a regular basis are all discovering the benefits of the tremendous insight into human behavior and expression that true Astrology offers. It seems that despite the neglect, despite the ridicule, despite the prejudice of closed minds the profound and ancient art/science of Astrology is still alive and kicking!
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