Astrology Site : Astrology Questions

Mankind has long had a fascination with the stars in the sky. The orbiting bodies of the planets aligning with Earth in a way to influence our very behavior have long been a topic of debate. Is there a way to divine what is going to happen in our lives by studying the cosmos? The viewpoints on astrology are as diverse as the readings themselves are and it ultimately comes down to knowing the history of astrology. In this article we will cover some of the fundamental questions that concern astrology.

Astrology is literally the "study of the stars." Astrologists are individuals that practice and study astronomy. Astrologists study the planets and stars, along with their positioning, to understand how they influence human thought, behavior and action. Astrology has played a very fundamental role in human development and our culture as a whole.

It is unknown who first began studying the stars at night to determine behavior or even the future. Isaac Newton is attributed to studying how gravitation affects the entire universe. But astrologists and scientists alike have not come to a conclusion if Newton's theories actually helped develop the field of astrology. There have been recent discoveries of scrolls and drawings recovered from the Babylonians which would date astrology around 2000 BCE.

For many years astronomy and astrology were essentially the same. Both branches were studying the stars and trying to come to a conclusion on how they related to Earth. Astrology began to divert from astronomy around the time that Isaac Newton published his hypothesis on celestial gravitation. Astrology began to center around how the stars, planets and lunar nodes affected human behavior. Astronomy deals, predominantly, with how celestial bodies are formed, age and their affect on the physical properties of Earth.

The fundamentals of astronomy and astrology are the same. Both require a study of planets, gravitational fields and stars in relation to Earth. As each branch discovered new patterns, stars or planets, they would publish their findings. It was through the combined intellectual talent of both groups that real progress was able to be made.

The zodiac is twelve signs made up from constellations. Early astrologists would put a meaning behind each of the shapes that were formed in the night sky. Each sign of the zodiac has a special significance. On the day a person was born, that celestial sign present at night would dictate which of the zodiac would govern his or her life. The zodiac appellations vary with different branches of astrology. Indian and Chinese zodiacs are different in names and how they are dated than those found in the Western zodiac.

For the sake of brevity, we will list the signs of the zodiac from the Western constellations along with the symbol associated with them. The signs are: Aries (The Ram), Taurus (The Bull), Gemini (The Twins), Cancer (The Crab), Leo (The Lion), Virgo (The Virgin), Libra (The Scales), Scorpius (The Scorpion), Sagittarius (The Archer), Capricornus (The Sea-goat), Aquarius (The Water-bearer) and Pisces (The Fishes).

Alchemy and astrology, in particular Babylonian-Greek astrology, both believe that the planets hold dominion over parts or elements of the earth. In alchemy it is believed that each planet rules over a metal. The metal is specific to that planetary body. Alchemy and astrology still function in tandem with each other.

It is not so much that tarot cards affect astrology as it is astrology affecting tarot cards. A tarot deck usually has 78 cards. Some are made up of the 12 signs of the zodiac. Others are a mixture of what is known as Major and Minor Arcana cards. The cards take from a variety of different cultures ranging from India to Egypt.

Without a shadow of a doubt astrology has had an impact and affected mankind. Even withholding the idea that planets, the sun, or the stars affect and influence our daily lives, without astrology's input much of the information we have on the solar system would not exist. Astrology and astronomy were intertwined for many, many years.

No one knows for sure if astrology does have it right when it comes to planetary bodies affecting our psyche. Even the renowned astrologist Carl Sagan stated that not enough is known to come to a conclusion. There are advocates on both sides, astrology and psychology, that agree with Sagan.

In Eastern religions and philosophies astrology is more widely accepted. Western religions have a tendency to frown upon astrology stating that it is occult practices. Many astrologists have suffered persecution and even execution in the past due to their practicing and study of astrology. Thankfully that type of persecution is no longer tolerated but there are still religious figures who adamantly protest the use of astrology as the Devil's tool.

Just fill your name and email address below to get your FREE Astrology gift!

Your name and email address will not be sold, shared or disclosed to anyone. We promise to respect your privacy.

Today's Tip On Astrology

Even those who don't believe that the stars have an impact on our everyday lives must admit that astrologers can be eerily accurate. However, it's important to remember that most do not claim to be able to predict your future. They are simply gathering information provided by the details of your birth to help you map out your life. For example, if your love life is troubled, an astrologer can help you determine what particular qualities you should be looking for in a mate. Choosing to follow the advice is up you. Charting your own life may be as effective as charting the stars.