Overview of Astrology

Overview of Astrology

• Astrology involves divinatory practices aimed at gleaning information about human affairs from celestial positions.
• Recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century.

Historical Context

• Originated in the 2nd millennium BCE within calendrical systems for predicting seasonal changes.
• Cultures, including Hindus, Chinese, and Maya, created complex systems to interpret celestial cycles as divine signs.

Western Astrology

• One of the oldest astrological systems, tracing its origins to 19th–17th century BCE Mesopotamia.
• Spread to Ancient Greece, Rome, the Islamic world, and further into Central and Western Europe.

Contemporary Practice

• Modern Western astrology often revolves around horoscopes, linking celestial positions to personality traits and life events.
• Professional astrologers predominantly utilize these horoscope systems.

Historical Significance

• Prior to the Enlightenment, astrology was viewed as scholarly and was interconnected with astronomy, meteorology, medicine, and alchemy.
• Influential figures in literature, such as Dante Alighieri, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William Shakespeare, referenced astrology, illustrating its cultural relevance.

Decline of Scholarly Status

• The Enlightenment marked a shift, leading to astrology losing its acceptance as a legitimate academic discipline.
• The end of the 19th century saw the advent of the scientific method, which undermined astrology's credibility through theoretical and empirical challenges.

Resurgence

• Despite losing its academic standing in the Western world and a decline in common belief, astrology began to experience a resurgence starting in the 1960s.