ASTROLOGY And The ZODIAC

An Overview

The earliest records of astrology date back to the Babylonian Empire in the 19th century BCE, when people attempted to correlate events like famine and war with things they observed in the skies, such as an eclipse, the movement of the stars, or large birds that spattered their pre-historical hovels with shit.

Whether this school of thought predates Babylon is unclear, but it is obvious that the Babylonians were desperately bored.

At one time historians and archaeologists believed that all astrological systems originated in Babylon, but that theory was discarded when separate astrologies were found to exist among the Mayans and Aztecs and, more recently, when it was discovered that some of the earliest astrological implements were found to be marked ‘Made in Taiwan’.

Astrology as we know it did not develop until around the sixth century BCE, when the sky was divided into twelve sections of thirty degrees each, constituting the twelve signs of the zodiac, down from the myriad signs used prior which incorporated, not only ones we are familiar with today but also signs like ‘Pretty Boy the Canary’ and ‘Bob the Dentist’.

Once mathematical astronomy developed under the Persians (a very damp place, indeed), it became possible to calculate the movement of the planets, not only allowing for the development of the modern horoscope but also giving many people psychosomatic motion sickness.

The oldest known horoscope is dated at April 29, 410 BCE. All that can read of the prediction itself is ‘things will be good for you.’ the rest being obscured by deep scorings and massive blood stains.

In essence, astrology allows people to understand the events that take place in their lives and understand who they are, what they are made of, and why everyone hates them so.

Astrology provides you with input for your path but does not hold you to your course, for that you will need a map and compass. Instead, astrology can provide you with excuses for your bad traits as well as reasons to feel proud such as:

“Of course I’m vain! I’m a Leo!”

or:

“You have to listen to me, I’m an Aquarius and you’re just a spazzy little Pisces.”

cae 2001