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Astrology is a practice of foreseeing future events or obtaining secret knowledge through communication with divine sources and through omens, oracles, signs, and portents, that is based on the theory that the movements of the celestial bodies - the stars, the planets, the sun, and the moon - influence human affairs and determine the course of events. Celestial phenomena have been the object of religious sentiment since earliest times (see moon worship; sun worship).
The Chaldaeans and the Assyrians saw the heavenly bodies as exerting an influence upon the lives of individuals and the destinies of empires. Generally, future events were believed determined beforehand by a universal order that was a result of the motions of the planets and stars. The practices of astrology spread throughout the ancient Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
During the European Renaissance astrology as a form of divination regained popularity, due in part to the rekindled interest in science and astronomy. The European astrologer, considered a scholar exploring the mysteries of the universe through science and reason, was held in high esteem in the community for many years.
One's horoscope is a map of the heavens at the time of one's birth, showing the position of the heavenly bodies in relation to the 12 Houses or signs through which they pass (see zodiac) and their positions in relation to each other. Each house has as its Lord one of the heavenly bodies; the one in the Ascendant is the one of greatest significance to the inquirer, supposedly endowing him with his temperamental qualities, his tendencies to particular diseases, and his liability to certain fortunes or calamities.
See E. McCaffery, Astrology: Its History and Influence in the Western World (rev. ed. 1942); L. Thorndike, History of Magic and Experimental Science (rev. ed. 1958); M. Gauquelin, The Cosmic Clocks (1967); C. McIntosh, The Astrologers and their Creed (1969).
(Reference: Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia )
Some of the greatest thinkers have studied Astrology. Here are some their comments, left behind for the guidance of man:-
Ralph Waldo Emerson said "Astrology is astronomy brought to earth and applied to the affairs of man"
Francis Bacon: "The natures and dispositions of men are distinguished by the predominance of the planets"
"Sir Isaac Newton; evidently you have not looked into Astrology. I have" Halley said this as he scolded Newton for his belief in the validity of Astrological principles.
Hippocrates: "A physician without knowledge of Astrology has no right to call himself a physician"
Rev. John Butler: "I find that next to Theology, nothing leads me more near unto the sight of God than this sacred astrological study of the great works of Nature" So if you want to know the inner workings of yourself you will need to have your time, date and place of birth. This will then single you out as an individual with your own instructions for your own life.
