What is Astrology - A Complete Guide

Astrological beliefs in the correspondences between celestial bodies and terrestrial events have influenced various aspects of human history including world views, language. It started in Mesopotamia (around 3000 BC) and spread to India. During the Hellenistic period, however, it took on its western form in Greece and astrology came to Islam as a part of Greek culture. During the Middle Ages, Europeans learned Arabic and brought it back to their own society. According to Greek tradition, the heavens are divided into the 12 constellations of the zodiac and the brightest stars are at the rise at the intervals that cast a spiritual influence over human affairs.

Origins and early development of Astrology 

Astrology has a long history and has evolved through various civilisations like :

Mesopotamia 
Greece 
Egypt
India 
China 

Early observation of celestial bodies and their connection to human affairs 

Ancient civilizations that notice  patterns of connections between celestial events and earthly experiences are responsible for the earliest observations of the celestial bodies and their relationship to human affairs. Here are the few examples:

Mesopotamia

The ancient civilisations of Mesopotamia particularly Sumerians and Babylonians were among the earliest to study and record celestial observations . They meticulously recorded the celestial occurrences like Moon , Sun , planets and stars movements . These observations were related to the variety of facets of human existence such as weather movements and politics and agricultural practices . Particularly the Babylions created a complex system  of astrology and celestial omens because they thought that celestial events could predict the future and have an impact on human affairs.

Egypt

The celestial bodies and the ancient Egyptians’ religious beliefs have a close connection. They notice the regular flooding of the Nile river which happened when Sirius rose . This celestial occurrence serves as a crucial marker for the agricultural calendar and influenced the timing of planting and harvesting . They also developed a calendar system based on the movements of celestial bodies, aligning their religious ceremonies and agricultural activities accordingly.

Greece

Ancient Greece was a very important part of how Western astrology came to be. Greek thinkers like Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle looked at how things in the sky and in people’s lives are connected. They believed in the idea of “cosmic harmony,” which said that the moves and positions of celestial bodies had a direct effect on human life and events. 

India

India has a long and rich history of looking at the stars and figuring out what they mean for people. This goes back thousands of years. Astronomy and astrology were very important to the ancient Indian civilizations, like the Indus Valley civilization and the Vedic civilization that came after it.When people in India first looked at the stars, they did so in a way that was closely tied to their religious and philosophical views. The old Indians believed in “Jyotish,” which means “the science of light” or “astrology.” Jyotish tried to figure out how the sun, moon, and stars affect human life and events.

China

The ancient Chinese looked up at the sky and made links between it and the world of people. The Chinese made their own method of astrology, which is called “Chinese astrology” or the “Four Pillars of Destiny.” It is based on the lunar calendar and uses a person’s birth year, month, day, and hour to predict what will happen in the sky. Chinese astrology focuses on how time goes in cycles and how that affects people’s lives.

Prehistoric Origins and Ancient Astrological Practises

Astrology has been around since the Stone Age, a long time before people started writing things down. Even though we don’t know a lot about how people used astrology in the past, archaeological evidence shows that people in the past watched the sky and made sense of what they saw.

Cave Paintings and Rock Art:

Cave paintings and rock art are examples of archaeological finds that show that ancient people were interested in the stars. Some cave drawings show the Sun, Moon, and stars. These paintings are thought to be about 40,000 years old. These works of art show that early people had a link to the sky and knew how important it was.

Alignment with Celestial Events:

During the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, people built megalithic structures like Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland. These structures are in line with celestial events like the solstices and equinoxes. These buildings show that people in the past knew a lot about astronomical rhythms and may have used them in ceremonies or cale.

Lunar and Solar Observation

Keeping track of the Sun and Moon’s movements was important to many old cultures, such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, and Mayans. They knew that the moon’s stages and the sun’s cycles were regular, which probably affected how they farmed and worshiped. People believed there was a link between the heavens and the earth because important cultural or farming events often happened at the same time as celestial events.

Astrological Artifacts

During archaeological digs, artifacts related to astrology have been found. For example, ancient clay tablets from Mesopotamia record omens from the sky and forecasts based on astrology. These artifacts show that early civilizations used astrology and that it was often tied to their religious and political views.
Mythology and Cosmology: Many old mythologies tell stories about how celestial things are connected to gods and how the world was made.

Due to the lack of written records, it is hard to figure out the exact details and techniques of astrology in prehistoric cultures. However, archaeological evidence suggests that early humans understood the importance of the celestial realm and probably made observations and interpretations about celestial events. These early ways of doing things helped pave the way for more organized astrological systems in later times.