Astrological Origins

A Brief History of Ancient Astrology explores the theory and practice of astrology from Babylon to Ancient Greece and Rome and its cultural and political impact on ancient societies. Discusses the union between early astrology and astronomy, in contrast to the modern dichotomy between science and superstition. Explains the ancient understanding of the zodiac and its twelve signs, the seven planets, and the fixed circle of 'places' against which the signs and planets revolve. Demonstrates how to construct and interpret a horoscope in the ancient manner, using original ancient horoscopes and handbooks. Considers the relevance of ancient astrology today.

This is the first systematic presentation of Hellenistic astrology to the modern astrological world, and as such it uncovers rigorous techniques that have been lost to us for centuries. How exactly did ancient astrologers assess a chart for fame, career, and parents, love, and happiness? This book surveys ancient depictions of planets, affiliations between the planets and the zodiac, lots, houses or places, aspects, orientality, and fixed stars. The final chapters survey predictive systems used by ancient astrologers. Ancient natal and predictive techniques are applied to the charts and lives of over forty well-known historical and contemporary figures.Students and professional astrologers will find this book a treasure of astrological insight, technique, and new interpretative possibilities. Not only will you gain knowledge of how ancient astrologers practiced their trade, but you will also have new tools that apply to modern life.

Lively account examines the nature, philosophy, and mythology of the zodiac in ancient Mexico, Tibet, China, India, Greece, Rome, Babylon, and Egypt. Anecdotes and illustrations enhance a text that includes fascinating material on zodiacal gems and birthstones. An absorbing, well-researched study that will fascinate students, scholars, New Agers, and anyone interested in the zodiac's colorful history.

This thoroughly researched book is a history of the development of Western horoscopic astrology from its origin among the Babylonians and its subsequent creation in its present form by the Alexandrians down to modern times. Special attention is given to background history and to the working conditions and techniques used by astrologers during the last two thousand years. Numerous footnotes provide additional information and bibliographic references. A separate bibliography lists reference sources of particular importance. Two comprehensive indices containing more than 2,800 individual entries enable the reader to locate persons, publishers, topics, and book and periodical titles that are mentioned in the history. The book also contains discussions of several questions and topics relating to astrology. James Herschel Holden is Research Director of the American Federation of Astrologers and has been especially interested in the history of astrology.

This is the seventh book in the 21 Brotherhood of Light Course series by C. C. Zain on the Hermetic Sciences, Astrology, Alchemy, Tarot, Kabbalah and the Occult. This book presents the timeless wisdom embodied in the mythology and folklore that is associated with the original 48 constellations. The book goes through each of the twelve zodiacal constellations and the 36 ultra-zodiacal constellations corresponding to each decanate or 10-degree section of the zodiac. The book delves deeply into the origins of astro-mythology and stellar religion that are common to all the great centers of civilization including the ancient Egyptian, Babylonian and Chaldean, Greco-Roman, Mayan, Pre-Inca, Aztec and native North American Indian. The astrological origins of many international and U.S. holidays are also explained.

The idea that the destiny of mankind is somehow linked to the stars goes back over 2500 years. A powerful force in the intellectual life of Greece and Rome, astrology was condemned to near-extinction by the rise of Christianity, but was reawakened in the Middle Ages and come to permeate philosophy, literature and art. Always liable to be debased and manipulated, the principles of astrology were nevertheless for many centuries an accepted facet of religious and scientific thought and daily life.