| Ever since humans looked toward the sky | | | | Galileo, Copernicus and Brahe were all |
| for some kind of meaning to life and | | | | significant contributors to astrology |
| answers to the big questions, astrology | | | | during their time as scientists. Even |
| has been a part of many people's lives. | | | | with the marginalization of astrology |
| The fact that essentially every culture | | | | that was ongoing even in the time that |
| has, at different times, looked towards | | | | these famous figures were alive, they |
| the stars for understanding speaks to | | | | managed to practice and further the |
| the universal nature of astrology. | | | | belief in astrology, along with their |
| As it evolved from one end of the globe | | | | better known scientific practices. |
| to the other, it took on a different | | | | · Astrology has had a significant |
| significance and gravity. Some cultures | | | | impact on modern language. Many |
| used it to determine laws and | | | | different words that are commonly used |
| punishments, others for love and | | | | today have a root in astrological |
| spirituality. The growth of astrology is | | | | thinking of the past. For instance, |
| marked with peace, war, abundance and | | | | influenza comes from the Latin for |
| famine. Human history can be charted | | | | influence and was so named due to the |
| with the history of astrology. Here are | | | | belief that many sicknesses are caused |
| a few interesting facts about the | | | | by the influence of planets and heavenly |
| history of astrology. | | | | bodies in the sky. The word disaster |
| · The origin of astrology is thought to | | | | originates from the Latin for bad star. |
| begin with the ancient Babylonians two | | | | And maybe the best known word origin |
| centuries before the birth of Christ. | | | | from astrology is lunatic, from the root |
| They took celestial events that were | | | | luna, meaning moon. |
| witnessed in the night sky and | | | | · Astrology has had an impact on modern |
| interpreted them to signify certain | | | | literature, as well. Many writers, |
| events. Major events like a passing | | | | including all time greats like |
| comet, a meteor shower or an eclipse | | | | Shakespeare and Chaucer used |
| were given extreme importance and they | | | | astrological and planetary explanations |
| often believed that significant actions | | | | for their characters behavior. Such |
| were needed to calm the anger of the | | | | references have become a part of modern |
| gods. Human sacrifice wasn't unheard of | | | | society. The idea that a full moon still |
| in some situations to deal with what the | | | | influences people's behavior is just as |
| Babylonians thought were upset deities. | | | | common today as it was 500 years ago. |
| · The first areas of the world that | | | | · Education and astrology have had an |
| astrology spread to were China, India | | | | intertwined past. In Europe, during the |
| and Greece. Each culture infused the | | | | medieval period, a university quality |
| basic Babylonian astrological belief | | | | education was divided up into seven |
| structure with their own myths, legends | | | | separate categories, one for each known |
| and interpretations. In Greece, many of | | | | planet. These disciplines became known |
| the characters from ancient Greek | | | | as the liberal arts; a term still used |
| mythology were combined with the stars | | | | today on many college campuses. These |
| to give their astrology it's own local | | | | arts evolved into the modern sciences, |
| style. The same was true for India and | | | | but their roots are firmly planted in |
| China where local religion and | | | | the field of astrology. |
| superstition was combined with astrology | | | | Astrology has existed in one form or |
| to give it more meaning to the local | | | | another in almost every culture on earth |
| population. | | | | since the beginning of time. When humans |
| · Astrologers were some of the first | | | | had nothing else, they had the night |
| scientists in medieval Europe. It was | | | | sky, crystalline, pulsing and always |
| astrologers that made the first accurate | | | | changing. It was inevitable that |
| maps of star movement as well as the | | | | cultures would begin to assign patters |
| orbit of the moon and many astronomical | | | | and meaning to the night sky since so |
| observations about the Earth, itself. | | | | much of life depended on rain, sun and |
| Many scientists today look down upon | | | | the crops that they helped to grow. |
| astrology as being a pseudo-science, but | | | | Just like any other belief system, there |
| without the tiereless work and | | | | have been dark times when blood flowed |
| immaculate record keeping of astrologers | | | | and anarchy reigned due to an |
| hundreds of years ago, the more | | | | interpretation from above, but the true |
| respected science of astronomy would | | | | heart of astrology is still based on the |
| have been set back by centuries. | | | | desire for human understanding that is |
| · Not only were some of the first | | | | influenced by heavenly bodies. While |
| scientists astrologers, some of the most | | | | many modern scientists belittle |
| respected scientific minds in human | | | | astrology and its beliefs, there will |
| history were practicing astrologers. | | | | always be a group that understands the |
| Historic names such as Kepler, Jung, | | | | significance of the planets and stars. |