astrology, type ofdivination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixedstars, theSun, theMoon, and theplanets. Adherents believe that an understanding of the influence of the planets and stars on earthly affairs allows them to predict, explain, and affect the fates of individuals, groups, and nations. Often regarded as ascience throughout its history, astrology is widely considered today to be apseudoscience that is diametrically opposed to the findings and theories of modern Western science. Yet around the globe millions of people, to varying degrees, put their faith in such systems as thezodiac in the West, theChinese zodiac inEast Asia, andHindu astrology inSouth Asia, which give believers both a sense of fateful dependence and the potential to alter fate.

Nature and significance

Astrology is a method of predictingmundane events based upon the assumption that the celestial bodies—particularly the planets and the stars considered in their arbitrary combinations or configurations (calledconstellations)—in some way either determine or indicate changes ionEarth. The theoretical basis for this assumption lies historically inHellenistic philosophy and radically distinguishes astrology from the celestialomina (“omens”) that were first categorized and cataloged in ancientMesopotamia. Originally, astrologers presupposed ageocentric universe in which the “planets” (including the Sun and Moon) revolve inorbits whose centers are at or near the center of theEarth and in which the stars are fixed upon a sphere with afinite radius whose center is also the center of the Earth. Later the principles ofAristotelianphysics were adopted, according to which there is an absolute division between the eternal, circular motions of the heavenly element and the limited, linear motions of the four sublunar elements:fire,air,water, earth.

Special relations were believed to exist between particular celestial bodies and their varied motions, configurations with each other, and the processes of generation and decay apparent in the world of fire, air, water, and earth. These relations were sometimes regarded as so complex that no human mind could completely grasp them; thus, the astrologer might be readily excused for any errors. A similar set of special relations was also assumed by those whose physics was more akin to that of theGreek philosopherPlato. For thePlatonic astrologers, the element of fire was believed to extend throughout thecelestial spheres, and they were more likely than the Aristotelians to believe in the possibility of divine intervention in the natural processes through celestial influences upon the Earth, since they believed in the deity’s creation of the celestial bodies themselves.

The role of thedivine in astrological theory varies considerably. In its most rigorous aspect, astrology postulates a totally mechanistic universe, denying to the deity the possibility of intervention and to man that offree will; as such, it was vigorously attacked by orthodoxChristianity andIslam. For some, however, astrology is not an exact science likeastronomy but merely indicates trends and directions that can be altered either by divine or by human will. In the interpretation ofBardesanes, a Syrian Christian scholar (154–c. 222)—who has often been identified as aGnostic (a believer inesotericsalvatory knowledge and the view that matter is evil and spirit is good)—the motions of the stars govern only the elemental world, leaving thesoul free to choose between the good and the evil. Man’s ultimate goal is to attain emancipation from an astrologically dominated material world. Some astrologers, such as theHarranians (from the ancient Mesopotamian city ofHarran) and theHindus, regard the planets, callednavagrahas, as potent deities whose decrees can be changed through supplication and liturgy or through theurgy, the science of persuading the gods or other supernatural powers. In Hindu practice it is common to perform ritual circumambulation of and offerings (puja) to the planetary deities intemples. In still other interpretations—e.g., that of the ChristianPriscillianists, followers ofPriscillian, a Spanishascetic of the 4th century who apparently held dualistic views—the stars merely makemanifest the will of God to those trained in astrological symbolism.

Significance of astral omens

The view that the stars make manifest thedivine 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 ofmeteorological orepidemic 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 omens 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 bemitigated or nullified by ritual means or by contrary omens. Thebāru (the official prognosticator), who observed and interpreted the celestialomina, 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.

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