The Probert Encyclopaedia of Science & Technology

ASTROLOGY

Astrology is the science of the relationship between events and the stars. The name was formerly used as equivalent to astronomy, but is now restricted in meaning to the belief that men can judge the effects and influences of the heavenly bodies on human and other mundane affairs, and to foretell future events by their situations and conjunctions. As usually practised the whole heavens, visible and invisible, was divided by great circles into twelve equal parts, called houses. As the circles were supposed to remain immovable every heavenly body passed through each of the twelve houses every twenty-four hours. The portion of the zodiac contained in each house was the part to which chief attention was paid, and the position of any planet was settled by its distance from the boundary circle of the house, measured on the ecliptic. The houses had different names and different powers, the first being called the house of life, the second the house of riches, the third of brethren, the sixth of marriage, the eighth of death, and so on.

The part of the heavens about to rise was called the ascendant, the planet within the house of the ascendant being lord of the ascendant. The different aspects of the planets were of great importance. To cast a persons nativity (or draw his horoscope) was to find the position of the heavens at the instant of his birth, which being done the astrologer, who knew the various powers and influences possessed by the sun, the moon, and the planets, could predict what the course and termination of that person's life would be. The temperament of the individual was ascribed to the planet under which he was born, as saturnine from Saturn, jovial from Jupiter, mercurial from Mercury, etc, words which are now used with little thought of their original meaning. The virtues of herbs, gems, and medicines were supposed to be due to their ruling planets. Astrology continues to be practised in the 21st century, despite the lack of evidence for its plausibility.
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