The Wisdom of Astrology
Do you feel like your life is in the dumps? Do you know how to put your life back on track, and veer away from other potholes on the road as well? Well, if you want to find the best solution for every problem, it is high time that you began learning about astrology. First, you should understand the importance of the field. Astrology helps to define an individual’s personality. If you want to know what a person is really like, all you have to find out is his birth date. By knowing his sun sign, you will be able to understand his nature better.
When a child is born, that child’s entire life is written in the stars. Astrology helps to trace the life of a person and see what the future has in store for him or her. Through astrology, it is possible to map the journey of one’s life by charting it in one’s horoscope. Astrology is very popular in the USA right now, but its foundation was laid down ages ago. Ancient civilizations understood the influence of the celestial bodies on their lives, and used it to understand the course of life and its ultimate goal.
Astrology has enormous powers that can even reveal the future of the nations. It can also predict the economic, social, and political events that will mark the development of the nation. Astrology also helps to figure out the rate of compatibility between lovers. So if you want to find out whether your new relationship with your man will work out or not, just match his horoscope with an astrology chart.
Astrology has a very powerful effect on one’s life. If you really want to open up your mind to all the hidden labyrinths in life, as well as figure out their meaning, it is high time that you took a keen interest in astrology.
The Impact of Astrology on World Culture
Astrology has been in existence since ancient times. It has changed in form over time, but the basic structure still remains the same. It all started with big questions: What are we doing here? How did we get here? What is our purpose in life? How do we live our lives? In the beginning, mankind looked toward the stars for the answers, and realized that a huge universe lies beyond our own home planet. It is believed that the ancient civilization of Babylon created the first set of astrological rules. Other civilizations then either built on the Babylonian rules or made rules of their own. These include Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Mayan, and even the ancient Greek peoples.
The basic tenets of all these systems are the same. All systems of astrology believe that the stars and planets have certain energies that are influential to life on earth. Their positions in relation to the Earth create forces that follow a fixed pattern. It is also believed that the planets foreshadow the coming future. The basic interpretation of stars and constellations can vary drastically between systems, like with the Indian Vedic system and the Western system. But even though they vary widely, the underlying belief is still the same, which is why it is quite interesting to observe them both.
In Western astrological systems, the position of the stars and planets is actually remapped with the help of a tool called a horoscope. This helps one to identify the patterns and the influences that might be in effect due to the energies exuded by the planets. This system is based on the classic zodiac system that was initially inherited from ancient Greek mythology.
Astrology has influenced several major literary figures, including William Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chaucer. These writers both incorporated astrological symbolism into their work. Recently, C.S. Lewis is said to have used the features and symbols of the seven heavens, according to Michael Ward. One must understand astrological symbolism in order to gain a deeper understanding of such literary works.
Taking a Look at Chinese Astrology
China is one of the oldest civilizations on earth. Chinese astrology is also the oldest of all the ancient philosophies in Chinese culture. It is different from Western or Eastern astrology because it is a rather complex field dealing with mixed calendars and animal symbolism. Though the subject matter is complicated, it is also very effective as a way of seeing into an individual’s personality.
Unlike other cultures, Chinese astrology relates to the daily life of each individual. It is directly related to Chinese calendars and astronomy. Unlike European astrologers, Chinese astrologers do not link the positions of moon, sun, and planets at the time of an individual’s birth. This is why the science of astrology is very different from any other field in the world.
The evolution of Chinese astrology is directly related to Chinese astronomy. It came into existence during the reign of the Han Dynasty, which ruled from the second century BC to the second century AD.
Chinese philosophy has had a heavy influence on Chinese astrology through the theory of harmony, which unites the sky, humans, and earth. This is completely different from Western philosophy, and includes the Wu Xing principals of yin and yang. The astronomy is based on five planets, the 10 Celestial stems, the 12 Earthly Branches, and the luniSolar calendar, which is the moon and sun calendar. It is also based on the time calculations after each year, month, day, and Shichen.
There is a common misconception that Chinese astrology is only about animals being assigned to particular birth years. In actuality, there are also monthly animals known as inner animals, and hourly animals known as secret animals. This system is very refined and accurate. For example, a person may be born in a dragon year but in a snake month and an ox hour. These assignments make it much easier to determine one’s character.
In Western astrology, all of the signs are related to months. In Chinese astrology, the signs are linked to a season, and the elements are supposed to transfer some qualities to the person in question. In a 60-year cycle, the constant element which is connected to the year, month, and hour signs is separate from the cycle of elements, which relate to the signs as a whole.
The Chinese zodiac symbols are also used to pinpoint a particular hour of the day. Each sign covers a portion of a “large hour” which affects them, and this is a two-hour period, i.e. 24 divided by 12 animal signs. It is very important to know the exact hour of birth in order to get an accurate reading. The secret or the hour animal is supposed to be the true character of a person, as this animal is determined by the most precise detail. It is that particular sign on which the characteristics of that person are based.
