Astrology Through the Ages: From Observation to Myth

"How did astrologers determine that the conjunction of stars and planets cause people born on certain dates to behave in certain ways?" This question is a rhetorical one, because the truth is that astrology has evolved from careful and methodical observation over centuries, just as other ancient practices like predicting seasonal changes.

Observation and Correlation

Like many things it was discovered by careful observation over many years. This is in the same way that people would have observed the seasons or in ancient Egypt that the heliacal rising of the star Sirius coincided with the regular flooding of the Nile every year. So, in the early days, it was also noticed that people born at particular moments exhibited behaviors that had correlations with the positions of planetary bodies at the time of birth.

It's important to clarify that these correlations do not impose causation. Just like a sign on a roadside does not cause a traveler to reach their destination, celestial positions do not inherently dictate human behavior. Astrology, as a practice, arose from the observation of patterns and their potential correlations with human experiences.

The Early Use of Astrology

Astrology with signs began about 3000 BC. The first use of it was more practical, mainly as a yearly calendar to help people tell the time of year so they could plant crops. Historically, there were no modern lituistic tools, and calendars were essential for survival.

The primary use of astrology in early times was timing, especially useful in the northern hemisphere where winter was prolonged and severe. Key aspects included:

When to seed new crops When to prepare defenses When to complete maintenance When to store food When to build new homes When to settle disputes When to feast When to ration When to commemorate ancestors When to celebrate youth When to expand territory When to trade

Survival has never been easy. Early tribes chose leaders to help transition from daily tactics to strategic planning. My hypothesis is that astrology was evolved in two different directions: one from farming and the other from royal courts, aimed at safeguarding and guiding their people.

From Scientific Observation to Deception

It’s often stated that astrologers didn’t determine anything but rather invented a load of guff and persuaded the gullible that it worked. Later generations saw that this was a good way to get money with little effort, so they decided to give it a go. It was much easier to repeat other people's guff rather than invent their own. Hence, they mainly agreed with each other.

The evolution of astrological practices reflects changes in human perception and societal needs. From practical calendars to complex predictive systems, astrology has had a significant impact on human culture and belief systems.

Understanding the origins and development of astrology provides valuable insights into human cognition, societal organization, and cultural evolution.