How it was in the beginning September 19, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: astrologer, astrological, astrology, celebrities, distribution, forecasts, horoscope, interest, journals, papers, popular, practice, precedent, readings, texts
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In the first half of twentieth century a great surge of popular interest in astrology took place in the US. A very popular astrologer Evangeline Adams from New York City helped quench the public’s thirst for astrology readings with many accurate forecasts. Adams was even arrested and charged with illegal fortunetelling in 1914. But the case was dismissed when Adams correctly read the horoscope of the judge’s son provided with just his birth date. Her acquittal set a precedent, establishing that astrologers can practice freely and was not guilty of any wrongdoing.
The wave of interest towards astrology even increased by wide distribution of astrological journals, text, papers, and textbooks throughout the United States. Astrologers became celebrities, like, for example, Alan Leo, Sepharial, Paul Cheisnard and Charles Carter.
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Mayan calendar and Mayan astrology September 19, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: ancient, astrologer, astrology, beginning, calendar, constellation, curious, cycle, evidence, horoscope, influence, life, mayan, movements, observatory, planets, priest, profession, ritual, rulers, solar, superstitions, system, victim, warfare, year, zodiac
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Ancient astrology. It is an interesting subject. Call me superstitious, but where do we turn in the times of crisis? Recently I read curious stuff about Mayan astrology. It turns out that the distinctive Mayan calendar and Mayan astrology have been in use in Meso-America from at least the 6th Century BC. There were two main calendars, one plotting the solar year of 365 days, which governed the planting of crops and other domestic matters; the other called the Tzolkin of 260 days, which governed ritual use. Each was linked to an elaborate astrological system to cover every facet of life.
On the fifth day after the birth of a boy, the Mayan astrologer-priests would cast his horoscope to see what his profession was to be: soldier, priest, civil servant or sacrificial victim. A 584 day Venus cycle was also maintained, which tracked the appearance and conjunctions of Venus. Planet Venus was seen as a generally inauspicious and baleful influence, and Mayan rulers often planned the beginning of warfare to coincide with when Venus rose. There is evidence that the Maya also tracked the movements of Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, and possessed a zodiac of some kind. The Mayan name for the constellation Scorpio was also ’scorpion’, isn’t it something?
There is evidence for other constellations being named after various beasts, but it remains unclear. The most famous Mayan astrological observatory still intact is the Caracol observatory in the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza in modern day Mexico.
Series of cryptic prophecies September 3, 2008
Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.Tags: astrologer, astrologers, astrology, cryptic, events, famous, horoscope, popular, predictions, prophecies, publications, supporters
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The most famous predictions about European and world affairs were made by the astrologer Nostradamus. His claim to fame came after the publication in 1555 of his work Centuries. A book that represented a series of cryptic prophecies. So obscure are the predictions that they have been interpreted as relating to a great variety of events since, including the French and English Revolutions, and the World War 2.
Nostradamus became so popular that in 1556 he was summoned to the French court by queen Catherine de Medici and commissioned to draw up the horoscope of the royal children. She was one of his most staunch supporters. Later Nostradamus fell out of favor with many in the court and was accused of a witchcraft, but Catherine de Medici continued to support him and patronized him until his death.
