ASTROLOGY

In contrast to individual astrology, which is around 3000 years old, all one can say about the age of astrology is that it started back in the mists of time. It is to be assumed that as soon as man was sufficiently developed to have his first thoughts, he raised his eyes to the skies and sought advice and information there. For man understood one thing quickly: all help, everything bright came from the skies, but also all need and all suffering.

The two sisters: Astronomy and Astrology

With more precise observation of the sky, the two sisters astrology and astronomy were born.

To start with both were the same – speaking figuratively – one-eyed twins. But each time the sky was measured, the twins moved further apart, until they stood opposite each other even as enemies, and that is how they stand to this day.

The difference between the two sisters can be described simply as follows:

Astronomy observes the sky and measures beyond our solar system, to gather real knowledge that will be useful in conquering the universe.

Astrology looks and “reads” the sky, and tries to grasp the background meaning of its signs. In doing so astrology limits itself to our solar system, so astronomy and astrology measure the sky differently and draw different conclusions from one another. At first man measured the path of the Sun. And here began the mutual alienation of the sisters. Astronomy quickly established that the sun –as a fixed star – scarcely moved, and if it did, then with the whole sky, which means: The Earth moves around the Sun.

Astrology on the other hand proceeds from the standpoint of observation and says: Looking from the Earth, it seems as if the Sun moves around the Earth. So the Sun is measured on its so-called orbital path. In order to differentiate the measurement more precisely, the apparent path of the Sun (the path of the Earth) must be divided up. The path of the orbit was once taken to be a circle. A circle has 360 degrees. This circular path had to be divided. But how? And here the path of the Moon came in.

One of the first measurements established that the Sun apparently moves around the Earth once, whilst the Moon does it twelve times. This was not a very correct measurement, but it was reason enough to split the apparent path of the Sun into twelve sectors. But because the sky was not a mathematical book, but more a picture book, the individual sectors of the ecliptic were given names.

Ecliptic comes from the word eclipse, and eclipse means darkness – the name was chosen this way because what people wanted most was to measure and calculate the darkness. For the names of the sectors pictures were chosen, composed of the fixed stars that can be seen in the sky. In this way the signs of the zodiac were chosen – the zodiac came from the ecliptic, after the Greek word Zodion, which means “small picture”.

So the path of the Earth around the Sun was called ecliptic and it offered the chance of measuring the position of the Sun or the Earth by means of the twelve sectors. But man was still unable to work out the darknesses too along this path. In order to be able to track these, the path of the Moon had to be investigated as well.

The Moon, which is still measured on the ecliptic today, is the fastest star. It travels around the Sun, or in other words through the ecliptic, in exactly 27.32166 days (measured from star to star).

But there were still further questions which man had to answer: Why does the sun rise and set, how are these phenomena to be calculated?

Answer: The Earth revolves on its own axis in almost exactly 24 hours. Because of the Earth's gravity and force of attraction, no one notices this. This axial rotation brings us not only sunrise and sunset, but also – which is more important – day and night. This daily rotation – which can be imagined as a circle – is accompanied by a wide movement of the Earth, the almost circular annual movement of the Earth around the Sun. Both movements are opposed to each other.

The idea of the apparent rising of the sun is further expanded by astrologers. They work with the concept of the rising degree of the ecliptic in the East – regardless of where the sun is. Although nothing actually rises, as astronomers have proved, astrologers call this point the Ascendant (ascendere = to rise). Opposite the Ascendant is the Descendant, taken from the word descendere = to go down. So astrologers work with the picture seen by an observer from the Earth, even when this does not correspond to astronomical discoveries.

Astrology is Knowledge of Mankind

Astrology is knowledge of mankind of the best type. For astrology – properly applied – can be a real help in life. Through the discoveries made by means of a horoscope a person can be led back to the centre of himself, to a sense of unity. Astrology can help us to a greater tolerance because it is recognised that every horoscope represents a quite unique and personal visiting card.

Astrology, as we understand it, leads to discoveries with which future events can be mastered. Astrology expands our horizon, the knowledge of experiences that are thousands of years old resides in it, and because the insights of great minds and spirits are constantly being incorporated.

Astrology shows how deeply connected man is to the universe, and it can lead us to a new belief (it does not matter which) or back to a former one.

Astrology allows us to recognise the greatest connections. Races, parties or sects do not matter here. Here the individual stands in the centre – connected to the cosmos.

An Explanation of Birth Charts

The word horoscope derives from two words, from the Greek word “Hora” which means “hour”, and the Greek word “skeptomai” which means “to look”. So horoscope means “to look at the hour”.

To draw up a horoscope, which is also known as a Radix (= root) or simply a birth chart, you need the birth time as precisely as possible, exactly to the minute. At the very least this time should be no more than five minutes out.

However to find out the observation point of the Earth, you need the precise place of birth. The latitude and longitude will enable you to fix the point from which the sky was to be observed.

Calculation in Brief:

Up until a few years ago horoscopes still had to be calculated manually. Now there are countless computer programs that will do this in minutes.

Why is the time to the minute still needed? Answer: Because the sky is always moving. So something in the birth chart will have changed after 4 minutes at the most.

Finding the Meaning of the Horoscope

The meaning rests on five pillars:

1. At first we look at the planets as symbols of our strengths and personal qualities.

2. Then we look to find out in which “dress” or colour the planets appear together with their position in the ecliptic.

3. We look to see in which area of interest the planets are positioned (their house).

4. We register which planets are looking at each other, and if so, then how.

5. The calculation points are then used as signposts.

The most difficult bit is combining all of this together.

Unfortunately it is not possible to explain all the knowledge and background of astrology in brief here. But it is a fact that astrology and knowledgeable astrologers provide us with undreamed of means and opportunities to gain deep insights into the very essence of man and to predict future happenings with accuracy.