Astrology is the science of certain cryptic relations
between the celestial bodies and terrestrial life. It is
considered an art and a practical science. It lays no claim to
be what used to be called an exact science, but studies certain
predispositions or tendencies in human life, which are sometimes
indicated so clearly that they become virtual certainties. The
possible uses of astrology are endless and may be used to a
variety of means.
Since the days of the Chaldeans, it was known that the sun,
moon, and planets followed similar paths, the zodiac. It is a
zone of the celestial sphere that extends from 8.5 degrees on
either side if the path of the sun. As a primitive calendar, the
zodiacal belt was arbitrarily divided into twelve sections of 30
degrees each. these are the famous signs of the zodiac. The
orgins of the names given to each sign extend into the most
remote regions of antiquity.
Terrestrial animal gods, whether
real or imagined , were one day projected onto the constellations
which, in the Chaldean imagination, they resembled. This
celestial menagerie has furthermore given the zodiac its name,
for in greek, it means 'route of animals.'
The sun enters the first zodiacal sign, Aries , and then
continues its path through the remaining eleven signs. The twelve
signs of the zodiac are: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo,
Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and
Pisces.
The moon and the planets pass through the signs too, but
obviously at different speeds from those of the sun. The moon,
which is close to the earth, circles the zodiac in twenty-nine
days, while the planet Pluto needs two hundred fifty years.
Planets also can be seen to slow down, stop, and even reverse
directions in relationship to the constellations that they...