Astrology, type of divination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixed stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. Devotees believe that an understanding of the influence of the planets and stars on earthly affairs allows them to both predict and affect the destinies of individuals, groups, and nations. Though often regarded as a science throughout its history, astrology is widely considered today to be diametrically opposed to the findings and theories of modern Western science.
Astrology is a method of predicting mundane events based upon the
assumption that the celestial bodies—particularly the planets and the
stars considered in their arbitrary combinations or configurations
(called constellations)—in some way either determine or indicate changes
in the sublunar world. The theoretical basis for this assumption lies
historically in Hellenistic philosophy and radically distinguishes
astrology from the celestial omina (“omens”) that were first categorized
and cataloged in ancient Mesopotamia.
Originally, astrologers
presupposed a geocentric universe in which the “planets” (including
the Sun and Moon) revolve in orbits whose centres are at or near the
centre of the Earth and in which the stars are fixed upon a sphere with
a finite radius whose centre is also the centre of the Earth. Later
the principles of Aristotelian physics were adopted, according to
which there is an absolute division between the eternal, circular
motions of the heavenly element and the limited, linear motions of the
four sublunar elements: fire, air, water, earth.
The original purpose of astrology, on the other hand, was to inform the
individual of the course of his life on the basis of the positions of
the planets and of the zodiacal signs (the 12 astrological constellations)
at the moment of his birth or conception. From this science, called
genethlialogy (casting nativities), were developed the fundamental
techniques of astrology. The main subdivisions of astrology that developed
after genethlialogy are general, catarchic, and interrogatory.
General astrology studies the relationship of the significant celestial
moments (e.g., the times of vernal equinoxes, eclipses, or planetary
conjunctions) to social groups, nations, or all of humanity.
It answers, by astrological means, questions formerly posed in
Mesopotamia to the bāru.
