For as long as mankind’s existence has been documented, they have looked to the sky for answers. The ancient Greeks believed in myths and gods based on the stars and planets. Travelers used the North Star to guide their voyages and adventures. The cycles and transformations of the moon was used to measure time. Astrology also came from a fascination with the stars.
Astrology is the study of the movements of celestial bodies. Astrologers interpret these changes as having an influence on human affairs. They look for answers, signs, and predictions based upon the placement of planets and the zodiac. Researchers are not fully sure where this practice came from. Astronomer Sten Odenwald, the director of Citizen Science at the NASA Space Science Education Consortium, says “There’s some indication that cave art shows this idea that animals and things can be imbued with some kind of spirit form that then has an influence on you, and if you appease that spirit form, then you will have a successful hunt. That was taken over by the idea of divination, where you can actually look at things in nature and study them carefully, such as tea-leaf reading.” However, even though its original foundations have not been pinpointed, this practice is still splattered around the world throughout history.
Astrology’s origins are believed to be in Babylon. By 1500 BC, the Babylonians had divided the zodiac into 12 equal signs. It later spread to the eastern Mediterranean, becoming popular in Egypt and Greece, and it was incorporated into Greek divination. This practice dates back to more than 2,000 years, where archaeologists found ivory fossils engraved with the signs of the zodiac in a cave in Croatia.
Around the time of Enlightenment in the late 17th century, the conversation around astrology began to change. Sir Isaac Newton mathematized the motion of the planets, and this scientific approach diverged from the astronomical approaches. This is where astronomy appeared and became a science, and astrology began to be discounted as a pseudoscience.
Despite its loss in legitimacy, astrology remains incredibly popular. While its use has ebbed and flowed over the years, it has recently been on a steady incline. A 2014 National Science Foundation poll found more than half of millennials believe astrology is a science. Although many remain skeptical, one must wonder how this practice has survived for thousands of years. It lacks scientific or mathematical explanation, but it still offers much to those who believe in it. After all, the moon controls the tides and movements of the Earth which is 70% water. Humans are 70% water as well, who is to say what impact it is capable of having on us?
I never understood how the astrological meanings of the months came about, but I understand now that isn't the point For many astrology can be used as a guiding factor that can ground their anxieties or give them a confidence boost. It seems to be rising in popularity in the recent years after seemingly falling from the public eye. As someone who personally doesn't know much or pay attention to astrology, it'll be interesting to see how its used by our generation. I thought it was cool that the greeks based their gods on the stars, I never knew that. I also never knew anything about its history and how it was created by the ancient Babylonians. Great post.
Hi Acacia,
Since moving to Los Angeles, I now have a much greater understanding of how influential the study of Astrology has become in many people's lives. It seems as though many people here hold a high appreciation and respect for the ways in which astrology influences other's personalities and lives in general. I personally do not know that much about it when it comes to horoscopes and zodiac signs, but it's clear to me that people religiously believe in the power of astrology. I am interested to see how the study of astrology grows throughout our generation because it seems to be of high priority in the lives of many people I am surrounded by living in this city…
Acacia, I love your post. I am a nerd for astrology and using it as a guide throughout my life. When my life goes up into flames, I immediately check if mercury is in retrograde. Even though I have always loved astrology and learning about the different signs and everyone’s compatibility, I have never thought to look into its history or where it originated. I loved your post because it was a perfect snapshot of the history. I do not doubt that ‘more than half of millennials believe in astrology is a science,’ but I am curious if that number has increased due to the rise of astrology on tik Tok posts?