Historical story

Astrology in different cultures

The idea of ​​astrology dates back to antiquity and is one of the oldest systems that believe that celestial beings such as the sun, moon and planets can influence human life. Astrology was practiced by ancient cultures in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and India. The oldest writings that contain astrologically based predictions were from ancient Babylon. Babylonian astrology eventually reached Greece. The Greeks transformed the Babylonian form of astrology into a system modeled on geometry. The Greeks made an important contribution to astrology by discovering how the other planets affect things on earth. The Greeks also demonstrated how celestial beings could indirectly influence the fate of humans. Greek astrology is the building block of astrology most people are familiar with today in Western culture. With all this in mind, astrology can be considered a science, an art or a form of divination. Depending on the culture, the way astrology may be viewed may vary. Most astrology concepts in different cultures share similar roots in ancient philosophies, but not all cultures share the same methods.

History or Astrology

If we look back at the history of astrology, we learn that this word is derived from the Latin word "astrologia", which was further developed from Greek, Astron (stars) and logia (study of stars). Many cultures around the world are concerned with astrology and its impact on terrestrial events. Chinese, Mayan and Indian civilizations have developed a comprehensive and advanced system for predicting terrible things by observing ethereal knowledge. In Western society, the term astrology is associated with a system of horoscopes, consisting of the zodiac.

This zodiac sign of prediction is practiced in Western culture to vaccinate about personal characteristics and future based on the relative positioning of stars, sun, moon and other worldly objects at birth. Astrology dates back to the second millennium BCE deeply rooted in calendar systems practiced purposefully to predict seasonal changes and to explain the periodicity of celestial objects as the divine symbols of prophecy.

Throughout the history of astrology, it was seen as a scholastic belief. It was considered in many scientific fields, political environments and was united with other disciplines such as astronomy, physics, alchemy, meteorology and heliocentrism. Astrology lost its value in the academic and theoretical epochs of the late 17th century when the discovery of new scientific concepts such as heliocentrism and Newtonian mechanics put this field in deep question.

Astrology in its deepest sense is the pursuit of meaning beyond the terrestrial sphere in the sky. The earliest evidence of astrology in practice can be seen in bone and cave walls for measuring, forecasting and recording seasonal shifts by referring to the astronomical cycles to make it clear that lunar changes were observed as early as the concept of life began.

This was the first development towards the field of astrology when the effect of the moon's motion was recorded on rivers and tides and a common calendar was organized. Farmers at that time also sought information from celestial objects as knowledge of the constellations developed over time. They observe when the particular configured star rises for indication of seasonal changes and annual flooding.

Astronomy vs. astrology

People can confuse both of these terms. It is necessary to understand the difference between astronomy and astrology. The concept both of these concepts share is almost identical. The difference is that the former is the study of etheric objects and the latter is a belief system that these objects can influence matters and events that take place in the sublunary region.

Astronomy is simply the study of every object outside the terrestrial sphere, astral and supernatural bodies; moon, sun, asteroids, planets, galaxies and stars, their properties and relationships. While astrology means observing the effects of these celestial elements on various aspects of human life. The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) is considered the founder of "observational astronomy". He practiced telescopes for the scientific study of supernatural objects. He made many discoveries in this field related to different planets.

Different cultures or Astrology

Every civilization, modern or outdated, knows about astrology and its implications for human affairs. Each civilization has its own belief system about the stars and their influence. The history of the astrological system in one culture is different from the other. Now we look at how different cultures interpret the same idea of ​​celestial objects affecting earthly affairs.

Babylonian Astrology

The first known astrology with an organized system of knowledge is Babylonian astrology, which dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. Enuma Anu Enlil is a comprehensive series of 70 tablets dealing with Babylonian astrology. This collection consists of 7000 supernatural alerts. Written evidence of this astrological system highlights the oral tradition that was practiced at that time because the content can only be assumed.

In the early stages, Babylonian astrology was quite commonplace, mainly involved in the prediction of weather and political issues, and before the 7th century BC. the practitioners' perception and recognition of this branch was undeveloped. Astrological symbols are used to represent the annual calendar of the community to remind them of the different seasonal tasks of the planetary cycle, such as different symbols to indicate a specific time for harvesting, sowing crops, collecting and managing water reserves, accumulating shellfish, catching fish for nets or line, hunting and other different seasonal tasks.

By the 4th century, their calculation methods had evolved enough to predict the positioning of planets and stars with analytical certainty, and at that time detailed ephemeris appeared. If we look back at history of Babylonian astrology, it is associated with divination. They believe in different gods. They have a firm belief that different planets and stars represent different gods.

Marduk, the most powerful god, was the god of Parton in the culture of Babylon. This god is associated with the planet Jupiter. This was not the only one, because the Babylonians were polytheistic and believed in many gods for different purposes. They associated particular gods with a particular planet for various purposes. The Babylonians believed that their lives were influenced by their gods.

These celestial conditions affecting terrestrial events are known to be the divine intervention of the Babylonians. When a good or bad thing happens in their life, it is directly related to the sun, the moon and the movements of the planets. They interpret different signs that occur in the sky accordingly. For example, if the moon wins to overcome the cloudy sky, it is a symbol of triumph, success and conquest over the enemy or heavy rain and is considered a good sign. These The predictions are not limited to just one or the other celestial appearance, but are stretched to be used for other occasions.

Western Astrology

Western astrology can best be described as a form of divination based on the exact moment of a person's birth. This type of astrology is based on the movements and relative positions of the sun, moon and planets. These movements and relative positions are analyzed by traveling through the signs of the zodiac. In Western media, astrology is usually reduced to just one individual sun sign. A sun sign is the zodiac sign of the sun under the date, time and place of a person's birth. Each person has a specific sign assigned to the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Ascendant. The ascendant is the astrological sign that rises on the eastern horizon at a person's date of birth, time and place. The rest of the planets and moon signs are determined in the same way as a person's sun sign. It is relevant to what place they were during a person's birth. The sun, the moon, the ascendant and all the planets are believed to affect the specific characteristics of an individual. A person's sun sign determines their ego and identity. This sign is meant to be the core of who someone is. It is believed that the moon controls emotions, moods and emotions. This means that a person's moon sign reflects their personality when they are alone or extremely comfortable. A person's ascending sign reflects how someone presents himself to other people. It can be seen in someone's personal style and how they reach out to people during a first impression. An individual's Mercury sign affects how they communicate, think, process information and learn. Mercury is known as the planet of the mind. Some Venus signs determine how they express affection and the qualities they are attracted to. The sign of Mars determines how a person asserts themselves and how they take action. Jupiter is one of the social planets, so some Jupiter signs control their optimism and idealism. Saturn is the second social planet. A Saturn sign affects things like responsibility, boundaries, fear and self-discipline. A person's Uranus sign controls things like innovation, rebellion and progress. A Neptune sign affects things like dreams and imagination. Finally, Pluto signs control things like a person's intensity and obsession.

In Western astrology, there are twelve zodiac signs that are divided into four elements. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are the signs of the earth. Earth signs are usually reliable, practical and sensual. Aquarius, Gemini and Libra are the air signs. Air signs can usually be categorized as intellectual, independent and fair. The lion, Aries and Sagittarius are the signs of fire. Fire signs are known to be spontaneous, reactive and confident. Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer are the water signs. Watermarks are known to be emotional, intuitive and sensitive. Each character has even more specific characteristics for itself that go beyond the element category to which it belongs.

A person's sun sign is usually what they are talking about when they refer to "their" zodiac sign. This would be the sign that was read for a daily horoscope. Horoscopes are a source of entertainment for the mainstream media, but some people consider horoscopes to be a guide for their day. Daily horoscopes are written with the moon as a guide. This is because the moon changes sign about every two to three days. Since the moon controls emotions, this will cause moods and emotions to change from day to day.

Chinese astrology

Chinese astrology is mainly focused on the year an individual is born. There are twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac that follow a twelve-year rotation. The strict rotation goes to rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, monkey, goat, rooster, dog and pig. Each of the animals stands as a symbol indicating an important character, color and taste that will affect the coming year. The legend behind the twelve zodiac signs is that they were the only twelve animals that responded to the Buddha's call for a great celebration. The Buddha honored them by giving them a whole year dedicated to them. Since the Chinese zodiac is based on years, it is believed that humans born in the same year have similar characteristics and main personality traits. People born in the year of the rat have qualities such as being imaginative, charming, ambitious and passionate. They are skilled at overcoming adversity and using charm to ensure success with their own goals. If someone is born in the year of the bull, they will have qualities such as being methodical, stubborn, private and brave. These people usually have a strong moral code, do not respond well to change and prefer to work at their own pace. Those born in the Tiger year have qualities like being sensitive, competitive, honest and rick-taking. These people have a burning temperament and are good at taking initiative. People born in the rabbit year have qualities such as being loving, sentimental, curious and cunning. These people are usually extremely sensitive to humans, and their intuition is almost never wrong. Those born in the Year of the Dragon have qualities such as being confident, enthusiastic, daring and critical. These people are infectiously charming and love to arouse their enthusiasm in others. If someone is born in the year of the serpent, they will have qualities like being wise, seductive, proud and insightful. These people tend to be extravagant and love to gossip. People born in the year of the horse usually have qualities such as being cheerful, witty, friendly and adventurous. These people tend to be naturally graceful and have an endless passion for traveling. Those born in the year of the goat have qualities such as being gentle, shy, insecure and artistic. These people tend to love tranquility and spend time dreaming. If someone was born in the monkey year, they would have qualities like being social, talkative, mischievous and eccentric. These people tend to rebel against anything that gets in the way of their independence. People born in the rooster year have qualities such as being diligent, noble, loyal and dull. These people can be theatrical and have a keen eye for detail. Those born in the year of the dog usually have qualities such as being trustworthy, affectionate, fair and temperate. These people tend to please the people they love and hate when people are deceitful. People born in the pig year have qualities such as being sincere, generous, naive and materialistic. These people tend to seek solace and dislike emotional insecurity. The Chinese believe that certain zoos get along better than others, so couples will often plan a specific year to have children.

In addition to being assigned a zodiac animal, each person receives an item. In Chinese philosophy, there are five elements that are essential to all living things. The elements are wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each animal star is controlled by a different element within all of the elements' twelve-year rotation cycles. Each item has specific qualities assigned to them. Someone assigned to Wood would have key qualities such as being warm, generous, elegant and considerate. Someone with the element Fire will have key qualities such as being decisive, innovative, dynamic and happy. People assigned to the Earth element have key qualities such as being honest, responsible, patient and careful. Someone with the element of metal will have key qualities such as being strong, ambitious, moral and independent. People who were assigned the Water element would show important qualities such as being flexible, diplomatic, creative and persuasive.

Together with the zodiac and the element, all are assigned either Yin or Yang. Yin and Yang are believed to be the dynamic complementary forces that balance the universe. Yin has associations with night, water and the moon. Yang has associations with day, fire and sun. Each animal year is designated to be either Yin or Yang. The Yin characters are rooster, rabbit, pig, snake, ox and goat. The Yang characters are monkey, tiger, rat, horse, dragon and dog.

The hour an individual is born adds a new layer to someone's characteristics. Since the day consists of two twelve-hour cycles, it is also controlled in the same order as the twelve-year cycle. It starts with Rat, who decides the times 11-1. This means that each person is born in the year of one of the animals 'zodiacs and is also born in the hour of one of the animals' zodiacs. This means that an individual has the characteristics of their age zodiac combined with the characteristics of their hourly zodiac.

Vedic Astrology

Vedic astrology or Hindu astrology is considered an ancient science that explains the movements and positions of the planets, and the effects it has on humans. This form of astrology is popular in India. The main difference between Vedic astrology and Western astrology is that Vedic astrology considers the stars to be the fixed background against which planetary motion is measured. Vedic astrology can be traced back thousands of years, and early Vedic astrology was based solely on planetary motion with respect to the stars. Later, zodiac signs were also included. Vedic astrology consists of twenty-seven constellations consisting of twelve zodiac signs, nine planets and twelve houses. The time of someone's birth, the twelve zodiac signs are distributed over the twelve houses and the nine planets are located among different houses. Vedic astrology has the same twelve zodiac signs as Western astrology (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces).

Vedic astrology is divided into three main branches called Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora. Siddhanta is about astronomy and its application in astrology. Samhita covers what they call everyday astrology. This consists of predicting important events such as war, natural disasters, major political events, economic positions and warnings. The last branch of Hora is known as predictive astrology and consists of sub-branches. The first sub-branch is known as Jaatak Shaastra / Hora Shaastra which are predictions based on individual horoscopes. The next sub-branch is called Muhurt, which is the choice of the most advantageous time to start an activity to get maximum fulfillment of the activity. The next sub-branch is Swar Shaastra which is about divination based on names. Prashna is the next sub-branch that deals with predictions based on the exact time a question is asked by a person. Kabala is another sub-branch that is astrology based on numbers. Another sub-branch is Nadi astrology, which is the result of an ancient essay that has detailed predictions for individuals. The next sub-branch is Tajik Shaastra which is astrology based on annual solar returns. The Jaimini Sutras is the next sub-branch which is an unconventional method of placing events based on the work of the Indian astrologer Acharya Jaimini. The next sub-branch is Nastjaatakam which is the tracking and reconstruction of lost horoscopes. The last sub-branch is Streejaatak which deals with female birth charts.

Planets i Astrology

In modern Western astrology, planets play a major role in the description of the human psyche. These planets are different from the planets in the astronomical belt. There are a total of seven astrological planets that are considered to control one or more zodiac signs. These are Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. The sun only controls Leo while the moon controls cancer. Gemini and Virgo are dominated by the effect of Mercury, while Libra and Taurus are dominated by Venus. Mars dominates Aries and Scorpio and Jupiter controls Sagittarius and Pisces. Capricorn and Aquarius are overruled by Saturn. These specific astrological planets have an unusual influence on the development of human nature unparalleled.

Zodiac Sign of Astrology

There are 12 zodiac signs for each month, and each sign is given an animal symbol. These zodiac signs represent twelve different personality types with distinctive positive and negative traits. Aries (Aries), Taurus (Bull), Gemini (Twins), Cancer (Crab), Leo (Lion), Virgo (Virgo), Libra (Scales), Scorpio (Scorpio), Sagittarius (Sagittarius), Capricorn (Goat), Aquarius (Aquarius), Pisces (Pisces). Each zodiac sign is characteristically different from the other and has its own characteristics. People also check their daily or weekly horoscope to stay up to date and know the upcoming events and trails.

Four items in Astrology

This complex horoscopic zodiac system of Western astrology is further categorized into four basic elements, namely fire, earth, air and water. Fire and air are masculine signs, while earth and water are feminine signs. Earth signs are unambiguous, carnal and rationally based. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are categorized as earth signs. The qualities of air signs are intellectual, temperate, fair and detached personalities. Air signs include Aquarius, Gemini and Libra. Leo, Aries and Sagittarius are put in the type of Fire Signs. Fire signs show the qualities and nature of the fire; proud, leading, reactive, dominant, confident, enthusiastic and passionate beings. Since they are a temperamental person, they get annoyed and angry very quickly. Water signs are cool natural persons as their element, slow to anger, emotional, intuitive and receptive. The signs that are included in the category element water are Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer.

Qualities

These twelve zodiac signs are again branched into three qualities; cardinal, changeable and firm. Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn depict cardinal characteristics. They are self-starters and imaginary leaders. Stardust remains roughly a cardinal sign:"Cardinal signs are the 'initiators' of the zodiac." The twins, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are changeable signs. They can change, they can hide what they do not want to reveal. They easily change the way they express themselves, have conflicting personalities and individuals.

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are regular characters. Fixed character personalities are confident, stubborn, but most loyal, enthusiastic and focused. They are stable and persistent, abrupt but determined. It is noted that all the basic components of Western astrology, including date, time, day, symbol, quality, elements and planets in combination form a unique personality, with different peculiarities fused with certain positive and negative features.

The difference between Vedic and Western astrology

Indian astrological principles depend on the displacement of the planet and lunar motions. While Western astrology only takes into account the date of birth to predict future events in an individual's life. The other major difference between these two astrological worlds is that the western one adopts a fixed zodiac sign while the other stands for a moving zodiac sign to establish the starting point for the zodiac.

The connection between anthropology and astrology

Astrology is a form of prediction pattern for predicting future events by observing movements from different celestial bodies. To trace the origins and implications, it is discovered through different cultures and regions to know its true history and the current method of interpretation in conflicting cultures. The multiform astrological system in different cultures is due to the fact that the different religions have conflicting beliefs. Anthologists study and explore this particular branch of knowledge because it is about understanding the differences in human nature. However, anthropology and astrology are linked to the same idea of ​​knowing about the human personality, their different characteristics and the diversity of nature throughout the world. Astrologers tend to give reasonable estimates of why people predict or act in a particular way, which is also a mission of anthropologists to uncover these uncertainties about human nature.

the conclusion

Astrology can be loosely described as a prediction of the effects caused by the movements of the sun, moon and planets. Since astrology can be traced back to several cultures for its origins, there are several forms of it present in the world. The different forms can be explained by different religions and belief systems within a particular culture. Anthropologists can study the many forms of astrology to make connections to different cultures as a whole. Astrology itself can in a way be seen as an anthropology system. This is because the whole purpose of astrology is to understand human nature. Astrology seeks to explain why people behave or think the way they do, which is also a task for an anthropologist.

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