We explain what astrology is, its origin, the zodiac signs and why it is not a science. Also, differences with astronomy.
What is astrology?
astrology It is the art of interpreting the configuration and relative location of the stars and their constellations for divinatory, psychological purposes or simply as a way to find useful patterns within reality. The term comes from the Greek astron“star”, and logos“speech”.
It is an ancient practice shared by many different civilizations, such as Chinese, Hindu or Western. It should not be confused with astronomy, the scientific discipline that studies celestial bodies.
Astrology is based on the assumption that there is a correlation between the configuration of the stars in the sky and the events that take place on Earth.
Consequently, by studying this configuration, future events can be determined or a classification of human personalities can be established, thus establishing what we know as the horoscope: predictions and advice offered to people according to their astrological sign.
To establish its principles and conclusions, astrology draws on different symbolic and anthropological traditions such as numerology, alchemical language, tarot and different mythologies, especially those linked to the zodiac, that is, with the signs that tradition associates with each constellation recognized in the sky.
This is how each zodiac sign corresponds to a series of data and meanings: a ruling planet, an associated element, a preferred number, a personality tendency, etc.
See also: Alchemy
Is astrology a science?
astrology It's not a science. At most, it can be considered a pseudoscience: a discipline that establishes its own rules of the game and yields unverifiable conclusions irreproducible and unfalsifiable, so that it escapes the minimum conditions imposed by the scientific method. In fact, it does not use the scientific method at all, but rather turns to different cultural traditions to assemble a coherent discourse of its own.
In fact, astrology has been strongly questioned by science on numerous occasions, and is the object of scientific study by the history of culture and the sciences of religion, that is, it is studied academically as a cultural product of the humanity. That is, astrology can serve as an object of study for science but it is not a science in itself.
Origin of astrology
Astrology has several origins, since the interest in finding meaning among the stars of the night sky has accompanied humanity since its most ancient civilizations, such as the Chinese, Indian, Mayan or Mesopotamian. There is evidence of astrological attempts dating back 25,000 years.
However, Western astrological tradition began in Babylon and Ancient Egypt around 2,000 years BC. C., linked to religion and the decision-making of kings. For example, in a series of scrolls called the Texts of the Times of the Old Testament, it is said that Gudea, ruler of the city of Lagash, received an explanation from the gods regarding which constellation was best suited to build his new temple.
However, The most important astrological tradition for the West was the Greek fruit of the conquest of Egypt and Asia Minor by Alexander the Great in 322 BC. C. It was precisely in the city of Alexandria, founded at that time, where the Babylonian and Egyptian astrological traditions converged, giving rise to the horoscopic tradition.
At that time, two forms of astrology were known: that which used the horoscope for divinatory purposes, and the theurgic, which focused on the supposed ascent of the soul to the stars.
Astrology was transmitted to Ancient Rome after the conquest of Greece by the Romans. In fact, Emperor Tiberius (42 BC-37 AD) was the first to have an astrologer at his court, as an advisor. Already at that time, the first questions about astrology also took place, by philosophers and jurists who saw the connection between politics and the stars as absurd.
zodiac signs
The signs of the zodiac are the celestial constellations that divide the ecliptic line into twelve sectors of thirty degrees that is, the line that describes the apparent path of the Sun around the Earth.
These twelve sectors form the so-called “twelve houses”, each of which houses a constellation and is associated with certain characteristics and certain elements. Thus, depending on where the Sun and the Moon are in said trajectory, we will be in the period of one sign or another.
The twelve signs are: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, and are usually associated with certain references from Greek mythology, since it was the ancient Hellenes who named the constellations.
The word “zodiac”, in fact, comes from the Greek word zodion (translatable as “small animal image”, zoon) and the relationship suffix –kosso it means “related to animal figures” in reference to the constellations.
On the other hand, the term “horoscope” also comes from the Greek pray (“time”) and skopein (“observe”), so it could be understood as “observing the time” or “looking at the time”, which is logical if one considers that the first methods of measuring time were sundials. However, this Greek heritage is preserved in the West through ancient Roman culture, for that reason, the names of the constellations come from Latin.
Today, the zodiac is used to determine one's sun sign, that is, the constellation in which the sun was at the time of one's birth. According to astrology, the sign will determine many things about the individual's personality and can be consulted in horoscopes to obtain spiritual guidance.
Astrology and astronomy
Although they have similar names, we should not confuse astronomy with astrology. Astronomy is a science that applies the scientific method to the observation and understanding of the universe outside our planet, that is, from the celestial vault, its stars, planets and sidereal objects.
This science uses telescopes and other instruments to obtain verifiable conclusions from starlight and other forms of energy from outer space.
Instead, astrology links cultural and symbolic traditions to venture to conclusions from a holistic view of the celestial vault, that is, without applying measurements of any kind, except geometric calculations and other ways of relating the stars whose interpretation will then depend on a mystical, spiritual or even religious view.
In conclusion: if we want to consult our horoscope, we are interested in astrology; But if we want to find out if there is ice on Neptune, or when there is going to be a shower of shooting stars, we are really interested in astronomy.
References
- “Astrology” on Wikipedia.
- “Science and astrology” on Wikipedia.
- “Difference between astrology and astronomy” at the International University of Valencia (Spain).
- “Critical vision of astrology” by Rafael Barzanallana at the University of Murcia (Spain).
- “Astrology” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.
