Western astrology

One can distinguish several characteristic features of Western astrology that distinguish it from another no less developed astrological tradition, Vedic astrology.

Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac . The tropical zodiac consists of 12 equal sectors of the ecliptic , with a length of 30 ° each. For the reference point of these sectors, the point of the vernal equinox is chosen, that is, the point of intersection of the plane of the ecliptic with the plane of the celestial equator lying on the celestial sphere . In ancient times, in each of these sectors there were constellations, according to which the zodiac signs were named: The first (from 0 ° to 30 °) is called the sign of Aries, the next (from 30 ° to 60 °) - the sign of Taurus, then in order go: Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. As a result of the precession of the earth's axis, the real constellations were significantly displaced by the 20th century, most astrologers maintain the traditional division of the zodiac circle, and also do not include the constellation of the Ophiuchus in the zodiac circle, despite the fact that it also crosses the ecliptic .

Both Western and Vedic astrology recognize seven celestial bodies: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. In addition, both astrological traditions use two fictitious points: Lunar nodes . However, unlike Vedic astrology, Western astrology recognized later discovered Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Some Western tradition astrologers also use a number of asteroids in their practice, the most commonly used of which is Chiron . In addition, a number of additional fictitious objects are used by Western astrologers: the White and Black Moon ( Selena and Lilith , respectively), the Arabian points , of which Pars Fortune , the trans-Neptune planets and Proserpine are most used.

In Western tradition, more attention is paid to the Sun than to the Moon. This circumstance led to the fact that in the 20th century the zodiac sign began to be associated with the horoscope of a person in the mass consciousness, in which the Sun was located at the time of the birth of a person and the idea of compatibility of people with different solar signs arose. In Vedic astrology, the role of the night luminary is much greater: this tradition has a system of so-called lunar sites ( nakshatra ), that is, a kind of "lunar zodiac", associates a person more with the moon than with the sun, and therefore, when analyzing the compatibility of spouses, for example, it uses methods that evaluate the relative position of the moons in people's horoscopes.

Finally, Western astrology pays much more attention to the problem of horoscope domination and has many systems of horoscope houses, the basis for determining the boundaries of which are mainly astronomical judgments and belief in the connection between heaven and man, while Vedic astrology approaches this issue mainly philosophically.

In general, throughout the history of the development of astrology, the Western astrological tradition has tended to attract mathematical and astronomical methods, while the Indian tradition was based more on its own philosophy.

It is believed that the basic principles of astrology have not changed since Ptolemy and constitute the so-called. “Classical astrology” (although there is no strict definition of what exactly means by classical astrology), however, each astrologer in the course of his practice develops certain additional rules of astrological analysis. This leads to the fact that various astrologers have disagreements on many points.

One of the points of disagreement is the set of horoscope objects to be studied in astrological analysis. Currently, the mandatory elements of a horoscope in Western astrology are: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. Lunar nodes and the Black Moon (Lilith) can be added to this list as very common objects of the western horoscope. At the same time, for one reason or another, astrologers can expand this list with other celestial bodies and fictitious objects (see horoscope ).

The next point of disagreement is the system of planetary control of the zodiac signs, as well as the system of exaltation of the planets. This problem arose after the introduction of trans-Saturn planets , that is, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, into astrology. Currently, the following control system is most common: Aries governs Mars, Taurus and Libra - Venus, Gemini and Virgo - Mercury, Cancer - Moon, Leo - Sun, Scorpio - Pluto, Sagittarius - Jupiter, Capricorn - Saturn, Aquarius - Uranus Pisces - Neptune.

Astrologers also have no consensus on the list of aspects worthy of consideration. Currently, all schools of Western astrology use the major aspects known since Ptolemy. At the same time, some of the astrologers are expanding this list with minor aspects . Adjacent to the issue of aspects is the lack of unanimity regarding the orb system. Each astrologer sets the values ​​for these quantities for himself.

Strictly speaking, the system of afetics ^{[ unknown term ]} is a later acquisition of astrology, although, for example, Ben Ezra’s work contains a list of conditions that increase or decrease the strength of the planets in the horoscope, but there is no talk of any planet points and their summation. Astrologers also have no agreement on this issue. Some completely ignore aethetics, while others have it simple, while others represent a very developed and complex system.

Astrologers do not agree on the choice of a horoscope domination system . At different times, various house systems were in use. Currently, the most common and popular is the Placidus house system. The much less popular Koch house system is positioning itself as the most accurate to date.

Among astrologers, there is no consensus on the choice of planet-rulers and co-rulers of houses. It is generally recognized that the planet that controls the sign in which the cusp of the house is located (see the horoscope houses ) is also the ruler of the house. However, even astrologers make exceptions to this rule. There are even more disagreements regarding the choice of home co-managers.

There is very great disagreement about the methods of predictive astrology. Currently, there are many ways to build various progressive horoscopes (including directorates ). Astrologers have no consensus on which of these methods should be considered correct.

Another sore point is the problem of rectification of the horoscope, that is, the problem of determining the exact time of birth of a person. No one knows for sure what exactly is considered the moment of a person’s birth: the beginning of childbirth, what moment during this process, the moment of the first breath ^[10] , or some moment after childbirth. Some struggle for the exact time of birth, arguing about the methods of finding it. Other astrologers completely ignore this problem (it almost disappears by itself when using the system of full-sign houses, for example).

Finally, there is no single algorithm and set of rules for reading a horoscope and resolving the ambiguity of indications. In the vast majority of cases, the analysis of the horoscope requires the involvement of the intuition and imagination of an astrologer, which is why each case of analysis brings a very large share of subjectivity in judgments.

Such an abundance of problems and the absence of general agreements not only make scientific verification and refutation of the provisions of Western astrology impossible, making it falsifiable , but also a cause for disagreement within the astrological movement itself. Modern astrologers accuse and criticize each other for using “wrong” methods and constantly prove within their community the viability of their own methods and the rightness of their choice in a particular issue, of those listed above. Most practicing astrologers have to make their own choices and make decisions on each of the problems described. At the same time, there are astrologers who are followers of one or another astrological school, that is, they use sets of techniques, rules, and a system of priorities that have been established within this trend.

• Hamburg School of Astrology

Babylon Astrologers

Pretty little is known about this period of astrology. The first recorded names of the luminaries of this art can be considered the names of astronomers Naburimannu , who lived about 500 BC. e. and Kidinnu , who lived a century later. Both of these people were known in Greece as specialists in calculating the trajectories of the moon and other celestial bodies.

Astrologers of Greece and Rome

• Marcus Manilius is the author of the earliest full-fledged work on astrology that has survived to this day. Before the " Astronomicon " Manilia (10-15 CE), astrology manifested itself only in statements about the astrology of prominent personalities of that period, in the form of fragmentary descriptions of horoscopes, etc. At least, earlier have not reached our days. works devoted to this issue.
• Vettiy Valent is an author in whose works the system of "places", which gave rise to the system of houses for the first time, takes on a form close to modern. The twelve “places” of Valent are as follows: 1 - Life, body; 2 - Well-being and commerce; 3 - Brothers and sisters, friends, strength; 4 - Children, family, private affairs; 5 - Society, friends; 6 - Enemies, health, suffering; 7 - Marriage; 8 - Death; 9 - Travel and pilgrimage; 10 - Reputation; 11 - Gifts, friends, ambitions; 12 - Danger, enemies.
• Claudius Ptolemy is an outstanding figure in classical science. His work, Almagest , contained mathematical calculations of celestial bodies and remained an authoritative scientific source until the time of Copernicus. Ptolemy is also the author of Tetrabiblos , the earliest work that has come down to us, in which all the basic principles of astrology are formulated. After Tetrabiblos, astrology only improves its methods, remaining faithful to the spirit of Ptolemy. "Tetrabiblos" is a kind of "Bible" of classical astrology of the West.

Astrologers of the Middle Ages

• Mashallah , a native Jew from Basra. He drew up a diagram of world history in which significant events coincided with conjunctions of Saturn and Jupiter , which served as a new round in the development of mundane astrology.
• Al-Kindi is the first of the Arab philosophers to take the trouble to familiarize the Islamic world with the philosophy and concepts of the Hellenistic world. Al-Kindi was very sympathetic to astrology, especially mundane, his work “De Radis” (“On Rays”) is devoted to various types of magic, including the use of stellar influences. Thanks to his efforts, the Islamic world has adopted astrological art, and it is this part of the world that will remain the center of astrological art, while astrology will decline in the Christian West.
• Abu Mashar is the most influential of Islamic astrologers. In his "Great Preface to the Science of Astrology" he described the intellectual basis of astrology, which owes its origin to Aristotle's cosmology. Abu Mashar erected the doctrine of planetary conjunctions as turning points in world history. ^[eleven]
• Abraham Ben Ezra .
• Roger Bacon is prominent as a theoretical astrologer, but there is no evidence that he practiced compiling horoscopes. He developed the theory that each conjunction of Jupiter with other planets determines the law and character of the new religion. He also argued that the events of the Bible should coincide with planetary conjunctions, in particular, he calculated the birth of Christ, which coincided with the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.
• The first practicing astrologers of the Christian world in the Middle Ages were Guido Bonatti and Michelle Scott , whom Dante placed in the eighth circle of hell.
• Albert the Great adhered to the belief that stars are instruments of the Primal Mover of the Universe. He was a teacher of Thomas Aquinas .

Renaissance Astrologers

• Paracelsus is a great alchemist and doctor, one of the founders of iatrochemistry ^[12] .
• Cardano is an Italian encyclopedic scientist, an outstanding astrologer. He owns a number of major achievements in mathematics, physics, medicine and mechanics. He is quoted by William Lilly in The Soul of Astrology.
• Regiomontan is known, first of all, for the system of houses of the same name.
• Marsilio Ficino - created his own doctrine of "eternal philosophy." He is a translator of the Hermetic Code .
• Kepler introduced minor aspects.
• Campanella is the author of The City of the Sun.
• Agrippa is a man who has acquired a frightening reputation as a sorcerer.
• John Dee - scientist, mathematician , alchemist , creator of Enochian magic .
• Francis Bacon is a reformer of astrology, as, indeed, of other knowledge.
• Robert Fludd is a mystic, a contemporary of Francis Bacon. Astrology played an important role in Fludd's Kabbalistic system.
• William Lilly is the author of Christian Astrology .

Recent Astrologers

• Ernest Kraft - an astrologer from Switzerland, was in the service of the Department of SD of the Third Reich of Germany. Specialist in astrological forecasting and statistics.
• Robert Ambelain is a French esotericist and occultist, a specialist in magic, theurgy and astrology. Writer, historian, member of the French Academy.

• Indian (Vedic) Astrology
• Chinese (eastern) horoscope

• Zilinski K. History of Astrology . - M.: Profit Style Publishing House, 2007. - 304 p. ISBN 5-98857-074-7
• Shestopalov S. Predictive astrology. - M .: World of Urania, - 2005. - 240 p. ISBN 5-900191-57-5
• Gorbatsevich V. Placid, Koch and everything, everything, all systems of astrological houses - M .: World of Urania, 2006. - 224 p. ISBN 5-900191-96-6