Astrology

Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs which hold that the relative positions of celestial bodies and related details can provide useful information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters. A practitioner of astrology is called an astrologer or an astrologist.  Numerous traditions and applications employing astrological concepts have arisen since its earliest recorded beginnings in the 3rd millennium BC.  It has played a role in the shaping of culture, early astronomy, and other disciplines throughout history. areas

Astrology and astronomy were often indistinguishable before the modern era, with the desire for predictive and divinatory knowledge one of the primary motivating factors for astronomical observation.  Astronomy began to diverge from astrology after a period of gradual separation from the Renaissance up until the 18th century.  Eventually, astronomy distinguished itself as the scientific study of astronomical objects and phenomena without regard to the astrological understandings of these phenomena.

Astrologers believe that the movements and positions of celestial bodies either directly influence life on Earth or correspond somehow to events experienced on a human scale.  Modern astrologers define astrology as a symbolic language, an art form, or a form of divination.  Despite differences in definitions, a common assumption of astrology is that celestial placements can aid in the interpretation of past and present events and in the prediction of the future.  Many scientists have labeled astrology a pseudoscience or superstition.  In one poll, 31% of Americans expressed a belief in astrology and, according to another study, 39% considered it scientific.

The Four Elements

Each sign is associated one of the classical elements (water, fire, earth and air.) Fire and Air signs are positive or extrovert, masculine signs; while Water and Earth signs are negative, introvert, feminine signs.

• Fire Signs--Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius-- represents one's desires and creative energies.
• Earth Signs--Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn-- Earth represents one's material resources, environment and possessions.
• Air Signs--Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius-- Air represents the intellect and one's ability to reason and communicate.
• Water Signs--Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces-- Water represents imagination, human feelings and one's ability to love and sustain.

In various belief systems, four is considered an earthly number, there being four elements. Water, Air, Fire, and Earth.  Three is considered a divine number, and there are three qualities: Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable.  Three plus four equals seven, a number often signifying the union of heaven and earth and the deliverance of our people.

The Three Qualities

The Qualities assign the Signs into Quadruplicities, three groups of four.  They are occasionally referred to as crosses because each quality forms a cross when drawn across the zodiac. Christian astrology relates the three qualities to the three aspects of God in the trinity.

• Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) are associated with initiation and creativity.
• Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) are associated with focus, powerful concentration, individuality and determination.
• Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) are associated with resourcefulness, holism and adaptability.