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Development of horoscope astrology October 15, 2008

Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.
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So the question arises – what nation introduced ancient Europeans to astrology? Guys from our local funeral home directory are sure that it was no other but ancient Greeks. They say that it happened right after the occupation of Egypt by Alexander the Great. As you may know, in 332 B.C., Egypt came under Greek rule and influence, and it was in Alexandrian Egypt where horoscope astrology first appeared. The endeavor to trace the horoscope of the individual from the position of the planets and stars at the time of birth represents the most significant contribution of the Greeks to astrology. This system can be labeled as horoscope astrology, because it employed the use of the ascendant, otherwise known as the horoskopos in Greek. Although developed under Hellenistic rule, it was in large measure derived from the teachings of the Babylonians and the Egyptians.

The system was carried to such a degree of perfection that later ages made but few additions of an essential character of drawing up of the individual horoscope by the Greek astrologers. Particularly important in the development of horoscope astrology was the astrologer and astronomer Ptolemy , whose works laid the basis of the Western astrological tradition.

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How it progressed in the United States September 19, 2008

Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.
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The serious and complex writings on astrological practice and concepts in America progressed into a new period of popular. Many complex astrological materials were simplified to attempt to carve a clear line through points of contention and controversy.

Great public interest in astrology made publishers realize that millions of readers were interested in astrological forecasts and the interest grew ever more intense with the advent of America’s entry into the First World War. The war heightened interest in astrology. Journalists began to write articles based on character descriptions and astrological forecasts were published in newspapers based on the one and only factor known to the public: the month and day of birth, as taken from the position of the Sun when a person is born. The result of this practice led to modern-day publishing of Sun-Sign astrology columns and expanded to some astrological books and magazines in second half of the twentieth century.

How it was in the beginning September 19, 2008

Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.
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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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Influence of stars September 12, 2008

Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.
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While working on my research for funeral home directory, I started thinking more about the influence of stars, in general, and astrology on our lives. I know, what you are going to say – this is not a real science, it is a superstition, etc, etc. Well, a lot of people would agree with you and then in the time of crisis would check in privacy of their homes astrological reports. And I am not an exception, at least I admit this.

As you may well know, the history of astrology encompasses a great span of human history and many cultures. The belief in a connection between the cosmos and terrestrial matters has also played an important part in human history. Basically, there are three main independent branches of astrology: Western, Indian, and Chinese. The study of Western astrology and the belief in it, as part of astronomy, is found in a developed form among the ancient Babylonians; and directly or indirectly through the Babylonians, it spread to other nations. It came to Greece about the middle of the 4th century B.C., and reached Rome before the advent of the Christian era. In India and China, astronomy and astrology developed largely independently.

Favorite topic of the astrologers August 29, 2008

Posted by egabriel in History of Astrology.
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I am a history buff and I like astrology, classical music and computers. I was always interested in the past astrological predictions that did not happen. Throughout history many astrologers made predictions about the future course of world events, and these are often remarkable either for their fulfillment or for the ruin and confusion they brought upon their authors.

So, the favorite topic of the astrologers of all countries has been the immediate end of the world. They announced it when the end of the first millennium was coming to the end, and thousands of people believed them and were ready for their last funeral rites. When this did not happen, as early as 1186 the Earth had escaped another one threatened cataclysm of the astrologers. Another astrologer named Stöffler predicted a universal deluge for the year 1524 – a year, as it turned out, distinguished … for drought. His aspect of the heavens told him that in that year three planets would meet in the aqueous sign of Pisces. Among those who believed was a prominent Frenchman Aurial from Toulouse who built himself a Noah’s ark!

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