DIFFERENT FORMS OF ASTROLOGY

Graphic Source : http://yogini.files.wordpress.com

Different Forms Of Astrology

astro According to traditional norms, we can classify astrology into the following broad classes based on the areas that they were practiced.

* Babylonian Astrology
* Persian and Arab Astrology
* Chinese Astrology
* Hellenistic Astrology
* Indian Astrology
* Western Astrology>


BABYLONIAN ASTROLOGY:

Babylonian Astrology was the first organized system of astrology that existed as early as the 2nd millennium. It is believed that Babylonian astrology was primarily mundane, and before the 7th century the practioners understanding of astronomy was very rudimentary. It mainly involved associating the Gods of Babylon with the then known five planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Mercury. Interestingly enough Babylonians were the first ones to invent calendars, name the days of the week(after the sun, moon and the 5 planets), and set out the twelve houses of the horoscope.

PERSIAN AND ARAB ASTROLOGY:

Most classical sciences like mathematics, astronomy and even astrology are said to have been preserved and used by the Muslim world from periods as early as the 8th Century. Europe was going though the time of the Dark Ages. In this stage, Astrology and Astronomy were linked and hence were persevered. Astrology was in favor of the Islamic world when it was associated with mathematics, science and astronomy. As it began to emerge as a separate discipline, it began to be regarded as superstition and fortune telling. As fortune telling is forbidden in the Koran, modern day astrology is considered negative.

CHINESE ASTROLOGY:

Chinese astrology is actually an interpretation from the Chinese calendar, which is based on astronomy and ancient Chinese philosophy. The Chinese zodiac is purely a calendrical cycle. They associated the five known planets with different elements on Earth. According to Chinese Astrology, a person's destiny can be determined by the position of the major planets, along with the positions of the Sun, Moon and comets and the person's time of birth and Zodiac Sign. Interestingly, the twelve year cycle of animal cycles was created based on the observations on Jupiter’s rings.

HELLENISTIC ASTROLOGY:

Hellenistic Astrology was developed in the Hellenistic Egypt and Mediterranean and existed around the same time as Babylonian Astrology. This was a complex system of astrology which was developed to such an extent that it made fundamental changes to the traditional system of Astrology itself. Many of the Hellenistic concepts of astrology are employed even today by many astrologists.

INDIAN ASTROLOGY:

It was popularly known as Jyotisha and strangely enough still practiced widely all over India. It is considered to be one of the six branches of Vedanta or sacred teachings. Each year has a name for a specific period of sixty years. There are also twelve months, each month divided into fifteen day periods, depending on the waxing and waning on the moon. Auspicious and inauspicious times are predicted based on the positioning of the Moon and the planets. Baby names are chosen this way as they have to be approved astrologically as the right name for the kid. Even the time of Death is predicted this way.

WESTERN ASTROLOGY:

Western Astrology was known to have its origin in Mesopotamia. Although in ancient times, it consisted of mainly superstitions and myths, modern day western astrology is largely based on the zodiac. These twelve zodiacs not only represent the twelve months of the year, but also the characteristics and personality types of people. These twelve signs were divided into the four elements – Earth, Fire, Water and Air. Many parts of the world are still ruled by the ancient laws of Astrology, but the most commonly and widely accepted rules are still that of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Right from a daily prediction up until prediction for the years to come, zodiacs are considered as the basis for all modern day astrology.

Source : http://www.astrologyinfo.org