ASTROLOGY

   From the time of thier very first perception of the universe around them, humans have been been in awe by the vastness of space and by the wonders of the Sun and Moon, the planets and the stars.  Even today, when humanity has scientific skill that has penetrated the depth of space, the wonders of the universe still remain mysterious and powerful.  In early peoples personalizing of the universe, some attributed to the stars and planets relationships with, and influences over thier own lives.
    Astrology is the study of the relationships between the heavens and the Earth and between humans and the planets.  It is one of the oldest studies known, having played an important role in every highly developed civilization of the past, from those of Egypt and Babylonia to India, China, and South America.  Astrological study of the heavens eventually led to the emergence of the scientific discipline of Astronomy, while the rules, methods, and priciples of astrology continued to emerge over thousands of years of usage.
    Astrology works on the basis that the planets exert influences on the Earth that affect individuals, as well as groups.  Individuals are especially affected by the cosmic situation in existence at the time of thier birth, and the qualities inherent in the individual can, to a large degree, be determined by that situation. 
     Astrology attributes different influences to different planets and conjunctions of planets.  A "map" of the heavens at the moment of birth is drawn up to determine the planetary influences upon an idividual.  This is known as a horoscope, and its accuracy depends very much on a specific knowledge of the location and exact time of the persons birth.  In general terms, people can be placed under the influence of any of the 12 signs of the Zodiac, according to the date of thier birth, but thier conjuctions mean that these basic zodiacal types are subject to wide variations.
     The newspaper column type of astrology presents only a rather crude parody of the dicipline, for scientific astrology is a mathematically precise thechnology, involving detailed analysis of astronomical data unique to each individual case (unless two people were born at exactly the same time in exactly the same place).
     There are two main types of astrology.  The first is MUNDANE Astrology, which concerns itself with large-scale phenomena, such as wars, natural disasters and political and social trends.  This is based upon the premise that cosmic influences affect a large group of people - and even the physical structure of the Earth.  Horoscopes can be drawn up for nations, societies, or even races, but these are necessarily far less accurate than those for individuals.
     The second type, HORARY astrology, is based upon the premise that a chart can be drawn up not only for an individual born at a specific moment in a specific place, but indeed for anything to be "born" or inaugurated, at that place at that time.  Hence horoscopes can be used to determine the advisability or otherwise of undertaking certain activities at particualr times.
    The basic premise upon which Astrology is founded is that the universe is not a fragmented collection of individual pieces, but a unified, organic whole, in which every part is dependent upon, and in some way connected with, every other part.  The universe is seen to be coherent, meaninful, and ordered;  it has pattern and rhythm and is, to  a large extent, predictable. 
     Astrology works on the assumption that the EArth is the center of both the solar system and the universe-and, for all practical purposes, this is a valid assumption in the the universe does revolve around it, as far humanity is concerned.  Astrology pictures the Earth as being at the center of a series of concentric circles:  The paths of the planets and the signs of the Zodiac.  The Zodiac is a hypothetical sphere around the Earth, divided into twelve sections-the popularly known signs of the Zodiac.  Each of the signs are classified as being either positive or negative, and one of the basic elements of traditional occultism (earth,air,fire,water) is attributed to it.  the Sun appears to move around this Zodiac, passing through the various signs.  The sign against which it appears to rise on the day of an individuals birth dictates the sign under which the person is born.  Thus a person born on November 4 will be a Scorpio, because the Sun appears to rise in the sign of Scorpio at that time.  The Sun representing the powerful, energetic, and creative principle, is seen as the most important factor in the horoscope.
      The Earth also revolves on its own axis, and so there is a "rising sign" too (that is, the sign against the eastren horizon at the moment of birth), and this is said to be the second most important factor in the horoscope.  The actual point of sunrise is called the "ascendant", and tis determines a further classification of twelve houses, equal to the twelve constellations.  For example, a person born with Scorpio as his/her Sun sign, with the ascendant in Scorpio, would be very different in personality from someone born at a similar time but with a different ascendant; in the former case, all the characteristics of Scorpio would tend to be emphasized and reinforced.
     After these basic influences, astrology considers the  influence of the Moon (the second most important "planet") and the other planets.  Not only the positions of the planets at the time of birth, but also thier relationships to each other, must be taken into account to establish a "whole" plan of the universe at that moment.  Different planets in different positions, as well as various combinations of planets, will result in different degrees of influence.  A fair degree of mathematical skill and accuracy is necessary for such suble and complex interpretations, and a properly drawn horoscope involves considerable knowledge and ability.  The very complexity of such analyses also means that popular accounts of the zodical types can never be more than very generalized statements about a whole catergory of people, all of whom probably display more differences than similarities.
    There is a significant body of modern scientific evidence that supports at least some of the basic assumptions of astrology and that gives a new view of humanity's place within the universe, as well as the influence of the universe on humanity and the world.  Investigations into solar and lunar rhythms, the phenomenon of sunspots and the effect of the Moon on natural cycles on Earth all lend credence to the possiblity that the essential claims of Astrology will be valitated scientifically.

This information soley provided by:  The Occult; A Source book for Esoteric Wisdom
1978  By:  Nevill Drury and Gregory Tillett  Published by:  Barnes and Noble