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Astrology

Central to all astrology is the natal chart (also called the horoscope, natus, or birth chart). This is a diagrammatic representation in 2 dimensions of the planetary and stella positions in the heavens as seen by an observer located on the earth at a given time and place. Interpretation of a natal chart is governed by:-

• the relative positions of the heavenly bodies to each other,
• their positions relative to the starry background,
• their position relative to the horizon.

The majority of Western astrologers based their work on the tropical zodiac, but some Western and all Jyotish (Hindu) astrologers use the sidereal zodiac.

Table of contents

1 Relationship to astronomy and science 2 Astrology as a descriptive language for the mind 3 List of Notable Astrologers 4 See Also 5 External links

Relationship to astronomy and science

Astronomy aims to understand the physical workings of the universe. Astrologers use astronomical science to calculate the positions of celestial bodies and seek to correlate the astronomical events with earthly events. From ancient times to the 17th centuary, astrologers were in constant search for better astronomical tables, and so instigated (and even funded) many important developments in astronomy. The role of Astrology as an important motivation for astronomical research expired with the works of Galileo. The rise of modern navigation and physics took over as the main motivations for astronomy.

The most common form of astrology is natal astrology. This form of astrology attempts to contrast astonomical data from the time of birth of the subject, and the time of the reading of the chart, and to thereby (when combined with astrological techniques) gain an insight into personality traits. Other astrologers believe correlations exist between geological phenomena (such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) and astronomical phenomena (the movement of celestial bodies in relation to earth).

Many prominent figures in the early history of western astronomy, including Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo himself, supported themselves by practising astrology for wealthy noblemen. It is a commonly held belief among astrologers that Isaac Newton had an interest in astrology. However, there is no apparent evidence to back this claim, as none of Newton's writings mention the subject, and the handful of books in his possession that contained references to astrology were primarily concerned with other subjects (and mentioned astrology only in passing).

There are some biological phenomena that co-ordinate with celestial movements (e.g. circadian rhythms, see Chronobiology). These results do not prove or disprove astrological claims, but suggest influences that are not fully understood. Scientific attempts to prove astrological influences have yielded negative or inconclusive results, for disputed reasons. Scientists often claim that the effect of tidal forces is far too weak over a small area (such as the human body) to have any influence on a biological organism. Astrologers counter that according to the scientific method, the burden is not on the experimenter to provide a mechanism for correlated statistical anomalies, and that gravity may not be the mechanism of astrological effects.

Astrological concepts are pervasive in many societies, and endure despite strong efforts by scientists to discredit them. This is evidenced by the fact that influenza was so named because doctors once believed it to be caused by unfavorable planetary and stellar influences. The word "disaster" comes from the Latin "dis-aster" meaning "bad star".

Astrology as a descriptive language for the mind

List of Notable Astrologers

• Tycho Brahe
• Galileo Galilei
• Liz Greene
• Rob Hand
• Hipparchus
• Ibn Yunus
• Johannes Kepler
• Peurbach
• Ptolemy
• Regiomontanus
• Dane Rudhyar

• Ascendant
• Astrological sign
• Astrological aspects
• Classical element
• Cycles
• Electional astrology
• Ephemeris
• Horary astrology
• Horoscope
• House (astrology)
• The Mars effect
• Michel Gauquelin
• Monen
• Medical astrology
• Natal Chart
• New age

• Skyscript.com -- Classical Astrology - A modern yet faithful look at Classical astrology.
• Astrology at Enchanted Spirit - A collection of articles on basic astrology topics. Includes current planet placement, planet meanings, which planets rule which signs and the purpose of astrology.
• Astrology and Science - A series of articles in which believers and skeptics debate the merits of astrology.
• The Astrotest - An account of a test of the predictive power of astrology, with references to other experiments.
• The True Disbelievers by Richard Kamann and Marcello Truzzi is a report of alleged internal events at CSICOP regarding their own claimed confirmation of M. Gauquelin's 'Mars Effect'
• The real romance in the stars - A critical view of astrology by Richard Dawkins.
• The Skeptic's Dictionary on astrology
• The Skeptic's Dictionary on the Mars effect
• A Christian look at astrology.
• The Chinese Astrology
• Journal of Consciousness Studies: Is Astrology Relevant to Consciousness and Psi?

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