General
AstrologyGeneral
astrology studies the relationship of the significant celestial moments (e.g., the times
of vernal equinoxes, eclipses, or planetary conjunctions) to social groups, nations, or
all humanity. It answers, by astrological means, questions formerly posed in Mesopotamia
to the baru.
Significance of Astral
OmensThe view that the stars make manifest the divine
will is closest to the concept that lies behind the ancient Mesopotamian collections of
celestial omens. Their primary purpose was to inform the royal court of impending disaster
or success. These might take the forms of meteorological or epidemic phenomena affecting
entire human, animal, or plant populations. Frequently, however, they involved the
military affairs of the state or the personal lives of the ruler and his family. Since the
celestial omina were regarded not as deterministic but rather as indicative--as a
kind of symbolic language in which the gods communicated with men about the future and as
only a part of a vast array of ominous events--it was believed that their unpleasant
forebodings might be mitigated or nullified by ritual means or by contrary omens. The baru
(the official prognosticator), who observed and interpreted the celestial omina,
was thus in a position to advise his royal employer on the means of avoiding misfortunes;
the omens provided a basis for intelligent action rather than an indication of an
inexorable fate.
Purposes of Astrology
The
original purpose of astrology, on the other hand, was to inform the individual of the
course of his life on the basis of the positions of the planets and of the zodiacal signs
(the 12 astrological constellations) at the moment of his birth or conception. From this
science, called genethlialogy (casting nativities), were developed the fundamental
techniques of astrology. The main subdivisions of astrology that developed after
genethlialogy are general, catarchic, and interrogatory.
Catarchic (pertaining to beginnings or sources)
astrology determines whether or not a chosen moment is astrologically conducive to the
success of a course of action begun in it. Basically in conflict with a rigorous
interpretation of genethlialogy, it allows the individual (or corporate body) to act at astrologically
favorable times and, thereby, to escape any failures predictable from his (or its)
nativity.
Interrogatory astrology provides answers to a client's queries based on the situation
of the heavens at the moment of his posing the questions. This astrological consulting
service is even more remote from determinism than is catarchic astrology; it is thereby
closer to divination by omens and insists upon the ritual purification and preparation of
the astrologer.
Other forms of astrology, such as
iatromathematics (application of astrology to medicine) and military astrology are
variants on one or another of the above.
