ASTRO  ARTICOLE

Definitia Astrologiei

Istoria  Astrologiei

Legea compatibilitatii (autor: Ionuţ Marcu)

DEFINITION OF ASTROLOGY
 
The word astrology  derives from  'ASTROLOGIA'  in Latin  and ancient Greek.  It is a compound of the word 'ASTRON' meaning 'STAR'  and the word 'LOGOS' meaning 'discourse.' According to the standard dictionary definition it is  "the study  professing to foretell  the future and interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies upon the destinies of men.  Originally regarded as the practical  application of  astronomy  to human needs." Such common dictionary-views are far from adequate
in describing the complex meaning of this word. It has many branches and thus many meanings.
The narrow view of astrology portrayed merely as a fortune-telling craft  may have applied  very well several thousand years ago, but it is an injustice to use it today.  Nowadays, it is a serious  study that involves the understanding of human  behavior
more than the foretelling of events. This new view is more commonly referred  to now  as  'Humanistc Astrology,' a term invented by Dane Rudhyar.  How- ever, the prediction-oriented form  is also in use at a serious level  in mundane and financial areas and at an entertaining level in sun-sign horoscope columns available in newspapers.  Although,  it is the  'changes' in human behavior that is predicted now, and not the 'events' in one's life. Astrology has been practiced in many ways over the
centuries and still is. In the beginning, the idea was very simple, the Sun and Moon were believed to be the only major influences on human affairs. Eventually, more celestial items  were added, such as planets, zodiac signs,  bright stars, asteroids
and  countless  astronomical factors.  But all are linked  directly to the heavens and fall under the general term "cosmic influences." So, in a general sense, we can say that:  "ASTROLOGY IS THE STUDY OF COSMIC INFLUENCES ON HUMAN BEHAVIOR."  Each astrologer, of course, will have his or her own favorite definition. Here are some examples: "Astrology is the study of cycles. Astrology is a system of thought.  It is a symbolic language which hasstructure, order and form."  Alan Oken,  Complete Astrology  Bantam, NY, 1988


 
  "Astrology is the science of the relationships
   which bind all the parts of the universe
   into one organic whole.
 
   It is the art of interpreting the effects
   of these relationships upon the behavior
   of individuals and groups, or any entity
   whose origins can be traced to a point
   in time and space."
 
                    Marcia Moore & Mark Douglas,
                    Astrology, the Divine Science,
                    Arcane Publications,
                    York Harbor, Maine, 1976
 
"To define astrology is as difficult a task as to
define, let us say, philosophy, psychology, or
even medicine. Not only are there many schools or
systems of philosophy, psychology and medicine,
but a definition which would fit the respective
purposes of those various systems and be
acceptable to all is well-nigh impossible.
 
"Astrology was, as far as we know, man's original
attempt to formulate the order of the universe
and to draw from it a sense of relative security."
 
                        Dane Rudhyar
                        Person-centered Astrology
                        CSA Press, 1976
 
  "Astrology is an important key to psychological
   and spiritual insights which may be less
   obtainable in other systems of knowledge.
 
   Its immediacy lies in the fact that it deals
   with time and space as described by the cyclic
   motions of the Sun, Moon and planets of this
   solar system. Astrology is the study of those
   cycles and patterns as they affect man."
 
                          Landis Knight Green
                          The Astrologer's Manual
                          Arco Publishing, 1988
 
 "Modern astrology might be defined as the study
  of the movements of the Sun, Moon and planets
  in relation to events on Earth, especially
  human personality and behavior; or, conversely,
  as the study of human affairs in relation to
  their cosmic environment. The central assumption
  of astrology is that the positions of the Sun,
  Moon and planets at the birth of an individual
  or the beginning of an enterprise or any event
  are related in a significant manner to the
  intrinsic character and later development of
  that individual, enterprise or event."
 
               Larousse Encyclopedia of Astrology,
               New American Library, 1982

ORIGIN OF ASTROLOGY            

Markings on Ice Age bones suggest that humans were

aware of lunar cycles  as far back as 30,000 years

ago, according to Julia Parker.

MOON CYCLES RECORDED IN PALEOLITHIC PERIOD

In The Lure of the Heavens, Donald Papon, wrote:

"Some 25,000 years ago or so, man was observing

and reporting the cycles of the moon. Alexander

Marshack, writing in the November 6, 1964 issue of

Science, thought that the nicks cut in reindeer

bones and in mammoth ivory during the upper

Paleolithic period represent notations of lunar

sequences."

ASTROLOGY IN MESOPOTAMIA: 4000 B.C.

Astrology originated in Mesopotamia.  This ancient

part of the world was located on the plain between

the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (currently Iraq).

THE ZIGGURATS: FIRST ASTROLOGICAL OBSERVATORIES

In her Encyclopedia  of Astrology,  Sandra Shulman

reiterates what  astrology-historians  have found,

"the earliest civilization  to leave its indelible

prints on Mesopotamia  was that of  the Sumerians,

who settled there  around 4000 B.C..  The most un-

usual feature  of their cities  was the  ziggurat.

Its flat summit was used by the priests for study-

the night skies."

The Sumerians left behind  an extensive library of

cuneiform tablets  which provide us  with detailed

records of their astrological knowledge.

AKKADIANS RECORDED LUNAR ECLIPSES IN 2350 B.C.

The tablets of Sargon of Akkad dating from 2350 BC

confirm that the astrologer-priests had identified

omens of solar eclipses.  Curiously, they recorded

more information  about lunar eclipses.  They must

have regarded these events  with great respect  as

their calculations were accurate to within minutes

of a degree.  -- (from Astrology, History, Symbols

and Signs  by Solange de Mailly Nesle)

AKKADIANS WORSHIP SUN, MOON AND VENUS

The Akkadians conquered Sumeria  in 2350 B.C.. and

translated  the Sumerian astrological records into

their own writings.  They worshipped the Sun, Moon

and Venus, but used all the planets up to Saturn.

THE NAMMAN-BEL: 2300 B.C.-

Sargon had summarized all the astrological records

of his era into  seventy tablets.  His heirs added

their findings to this data base and this compila-

tion came to be known as the Namman-Bel. According

to Seneca, Berosus apparently translated this work

for the Greeks.            

ASTROLOGY IN BABYLON: 2000 B.C.- 600 B.C.

By 2000 B.C.,  Sumeria was replaced  by Babylonia.

The Babylonian astrologers raised astrology to yet

further heights  with the invention  of the zodiac

and accurate astronomical calculations.  This fact

is found  not in  astrological texts,  but in  the

Time Tables of History (Simon & Shuster - 1982).

The Babylonians  were comprised  of many different

peoples that conquered one another  in the Tigris-

Euphrates valley.  They  were  descendants  of the

Akkadians  and  mixtures  of  Hittites,  Elamites,

Amorites,  Kassites,  Seleucids,  Assyrians, Chal-

deans, Scythians and Persians.

The Random House  Encyclopedia  states that  early

Babylonian astrology was not directly personal. It

dealt with grand-scale events such as wars, floods

and affairs of the state. Eclipses were heeded the

most, particularly as they affected the King.

The Encyclopedia Britannica (ed.1953)  states that

the Babylonian priests  created an advanced system

of astrological interpretation  which involved not

only the five planets, Mercury to Saturn,  but the

more prominent fixed stars along the ecliptic. The

system also involved  the angular relationships of

these  7 heavenly bodies  and all kinds of unusual

cosmic events.  The theory of the ecliptic divided

into  12  30-degree sections  or zodiac signs  was

completed by 540 BC.

ASTROLOGY SPREADS TO EGYPT AND GREECE: 600 BC-

In  A History of Astrology,  Julia Parker  writes:

 "From Babylonia, the Chaldeans carried astrology

 into Egypt and more importantly into Greece."

According to her knowledge,  the ancient Egyptians

never developed  an advanced  system of  astrology

involving case studies, statistics and vast tables

of factors and interpretations, as the Babylonians did.

In Greece, astrology reached the classic look that

we are familiar with.  It finally became personal.

It also acquired  most of the details  that we see

in today's traditional horoscope.

ASTROLOGY BEYOND GREECE: 0 A.D. - PRESENT

From Greece, astrology spread westward to Rome and

eastward to India under Alexander the Great.  Then

it was  taken up  by the Arabs  after declining in

Europe due to the suppression by the Church.

Astrology  reappeared again  in Europe  during the

Renaissance when scholars began to investigate old

manuscripts and ancient knowledge, especially that

of the Greeks.  Since then,  astrology has had its

ups and downs, but has continued  to evolve  until

the present.  Many ancient beliefs  are falling by

the wayside,  as computers  and rational empirical

methods  of research  are redefining  and refining

the mother of all sciences.

ł         TIMETABLE: 30000 BC TO 1900 AD         ł

30000 BC Beginning of Cro-Magnon culture.

         Marks are made in reindeer bones to

         possibly record lunar cycles.

4242 BC  Earliest recorded date in history.

         (in ancient Egypt). Egyptian calendar

         which is regulated by Sun and Moon

         has 360 days with 12 months of 30 days.

4000 BC  Astrology begins in Mesopotamia.

         Sumerians build ziggurats, the first

         astrological observatories. The Sun,

         Moon and 5 visible planets are used.

         Astrological knowledge is recorded in

         cuneiform on clay tablets.

3761 BC  First day of Jewish calendar (according

         to Jewish sources).

3500 BC  Systematic astronomical observations in

         Mesopotamia, Egypt and China. Sumerian

         numerical system is based on 6 and 12.

3000 BC  Egypt refines calendar to 365 days.

2700 BC  The Great Pyramid of Khufu is built

         in accordance with astronomical factors.

2350 BC  Akkadians record solar & lunar eclipses

         according to tablets of Sargon of Akkad.

         Sargon summarizes astrological records

         of his era into 70 tablets.  His heirs

         add their findings to this data base and

         call it the Namman-Bel.

2000 BC  Sumeria is replaced by Babylonia.

         Babylonian astrologers introduce

         zodiac signs and devise more accurate

         astronomical calculations.

1250 BC  Rameses II fixes 4 cardinal points using

         Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

1200 BC  Babylonian Boundary stones contain much

         astrological imagery

 700 BC  Babylonian priests create ecliptic

         divided into 12 30-degree sections

         or zodiac divisions (Mul.APIN).

 670 BC  King Assurbanipal of Assyria expands

         astrological library in Ninevah.

 600 BC  Babylonian astrology spreads to Egypt

         Greece and other parts of Middle East.

 535 BC  Pythagoras sets up esoteric colony near

         Crotona in southern Italy where scholars

         learn about numerology, astrology and the

         occult arts, which Pythagoras learned

         during his 20 years of travels in Babylon

         and Egypt.

 475 BC  Empedocles of Agrigentum introduces the

         4 elements, Fire, Earth, Air and Water,

         into astrology, as the 4-fold root of all

         things. He discovered the idea that

         nothing can be destroyed (or created)

         only transformed.

 420 BC  Democritus popularizes astrology for all.

         Xeno founder of the Stoics, gives zodiac

         signs Greek names.

 409 BC  Date of oldest Babylonian horoscope.

 380 BC  Babylonians begin to use 19 year cycle.

 370 BC  Eudoxus of Cnidus devises calendars

         using zodiac with 12 equal zodiac signs.

         Invents geometrical theory of proportion.

 350 BC  Petosiris, chief administrator of the

         Temple of Khumunu (Hermes) near

         Hermopolis becomes known for mastering

         Egyptian esoteric astrology.

 330 BC  Alexander the Great (356-323 BC)

         helps to spread astrology from Babylon

         and Egypt throughout the Middle East.

         Greek Philosophers exposed to new

         occult ideas from Egypt and Babylon.

         Astrology is personalized in Greece.

         Alexander founds Library of Alexandria.

 300 BC  Greek model of Astrology reaches India.

 290 BC  Alexandria in Egypt becomes center

         of astrological research. Eratosthenes,

         Arristyllus and Timocharis are its

         leading astrologers.

 280 BC  Berosus, a Chaldean astrologer and priest

         of Bel Marduk at Babylon moves to Greek

         island of Cos where he sets up school of

         astrology for Greek astrologers. Berosus

         writes The Babylonica, an enormous work

         about the history of astrology and life

         in Babylonia. He writes The Eye of Bel,

         based on the 70 tablets in the library of

         Assurbanipal, and uses it as text to

         teach Greek astrologers.

 275 BC  The famous poem Phainomena written by

         Aratus in 275 BC further popularizes

         astrology and becomes common reading

         material for generations of Greeks.

 250 BC  Antipatrus and Achinapolus continue

         the work of Berosus at Cos and teach

         medical astrology. They are the first

         astrologers to experiment with the

         moment of conception rather than birth

         for the casting of a horoscope.

 220 BC  First known picture of zodiac in Egypt

         is created north of Esna.

 200 BC  Predictive astrology spreads to Rome.

 150 BC  Esoteric form of astrology based on the

         teachings of Hermes or Thoth circulates

         in numerous works under such titles as:

         Astrologoumena, Hermaikai Diataxeis or

         Doctrines of Hermes, Apokotastasis,

         Liber Hermetis, Asklepios.

135 BC  Posidonius brings astrology to Roman

        intellectuals.

130 BC  Greek astronomer Hipparchus is credited

        for the discovering the precession of the

        equinoxes which was already known

        in Babylonia centuries earlier.

100 BC  Essenes develop Qabbalah and esoteric

        astrology.

 60 BC  Nigidius Figulus starts first school of

        astrology in Rome and publishes books on

        astrological prediction. The Georgics of

        Virgil constitute astrological almanacs.

 20 BC  Roman Emperor Augustus has coins stamped

        with his sign Capricorn.

7-4 BC  Three Wise Men or Magi from the East

        (astrologers from Chaldea or Persia)

        predict birth of Messiah (Jesus Christ)

        according to Gospels of New Testament.

 17 AD  Egyptian zodiac at Denderah is erected.

 50 AD  Astrology has prominent role in Roman

        literature such as in The Tragedies

        of Seneca and Thyestes. Fourth Roman

        Emperor Claudius becomes versed in

        astrology. In his reign, Rome is caught

        up in a frenzy of astrology.

117 AD  Roman Emperor Hadrian, also an astrologer,

        casts his own horoscope and consults it

        regularly.

150 AD  Ptolemy writes The Tetrabiblos, the most

        comprehensive work on astrology to date.

        Already aware of the precession of the

        equinoxes, Ptolemy cautions astrologers

        to use the tropical spring equinox as

        the start of the first zodiac sign. Other

        astrologers such as Hephaestion of Thebes

        and Julius Firmicus use it as seminal

        work.

188 AD  Vettius Valens of Antioch, well-known

        astrologer amasses fine library of

        horoscopes and analyzes 100 in his

        Anthologiae.

222 AD  Alexander Serverus sets up teaching

        posts in astrology which are subsidized

        by the imperial budget.

250 AD  Plotinus declares that astrology indicates

        a possible future but does not shape it.

400 AD  Library of Alexandria is destroyed with

        loss of many astrology texts.

450 AD  Proclus writes paraphrase of Ptolemy's

        Tetrabiblos.

476 AD  Astrology declines in Europe with the

        Fall of the Roman Empire.

500 AD  Rhetorius introduces triplicities of

        elements into the zodiac.

600 AD  Church condemns astrology and attempts

        to suppress it in the following centuries.

650 AD  In the Etymolgiae of Isodore, Bishop of

        Seville, it is mentioned that astronomy

        and astrology were complementary arts

        in antiquity.

700 AD  Monks in monasteries learn about astrology

        in Classical literature, and investigate

        it in secret.

750 AD  Muslim astrologers Masha'allah, al-Kindi,

        Abu Ma'shar revive the astrology of

        Hellenistic Greece, based on Ptolemy's

        Tetrabiblos and works of Firmicus.

        Ibrahim Al-Fazari invents astrolabe.

        Accuracy of Ptolemy's work is enhanced

        with Arabic numerals and zero. Stars

        are identified and observatories built.

850 AD  Well-known Arabic astrology texts appear

        such as Treatises of Albategnus and

        The Flowers of Astrology by Albumazar.

        Harun-al-Rashid builds observatory in

        Baghdad and sets up renowned school for

        astrology in Cairo, Egypt.

900 AD  Son of Harun-al-Rashid, Caliph Al-Mamun

        establishes House of Wisdom were the

        Tetrabiblos was translated and used as

        basis for further astrological study.

950 AD  Ibn Unis, Muslim astronomer compiles

        Hakimite tables of planetary motions.

1000    Firdausi, Abul-Qasim Mansur, great

        Persian poet writes Shah-Namah which

        contains many astrological references.

1000-99  Astrology flourishes in Byzantium through

         Psellus, Caerularius and Xiphilin.

12th     University of Bologna becomes center for

Century  medical astrology. Tetrabiblos is trans-

AD       lated by Plato of Tivoli. Adelard of Bath

         (England) brings astrology to Europe.

         Sacrabosco writes Sphaera Mundi, early

         English textbook of spherical astrology.

1250 AD  Albertus Magnus recommends Tetrabiblos.

         Roger Bacon links ancient magic and

         astrology in Speculum Astronomiae. Guidi

         Bonati is famous astrologer of his time.

         Thomas Aquinas accepts philosophical

         aspect of astrology. Emperor Frederick II

         uses astrologer Michael Scot. Astrology

         is taught at Cambridge University.

1280  Johannes Campanus devises new method of

      house division and serves Pope Urban IV.

1327  Cecco D'Ascoli, astrology teacher and

      astrologer to Duke of Florence is burned at

      the stake for his teaching that Christ's

      story was astrological.

1375  Chaucer, first great English poet uses

      astrological references.

1400  Book of Hours, rich in astrological

      illustrations, appears in France and is

      dedicated to royalty and aristocracy.

      This book attracts wealthy to astrology.

      The most famous version is the Tres Riches

      Heures by the Limburgs.

1431  The Amicus Medicorum, by Jean Ganivet, is

      standard reference used by doctors for next

      two centuries to diagnose and cure illness

      with astrology.

1437  At the University of Paris ideal times for

      bloodletting are selected on astrological

      basis.

1450  Charles 5th of France is also astrologer.

      Pope Sixtus IV, first of the great Pope-

      astrologers. Writings of Oresme, Peter

      D'Ailly, Jean Gerson show that astrology

      is valid and part of science.

1474  The first ephemeris ad XXXII Annos

      Futuros by Regiomontanus (Johann Muller)

      is printed in Nuremberg, 2nd in Venice.

1475  Famous Lorenzo Medici uses astrologers.

1400- Invention of printing (1455 by Gutenberg)

1499  allows astrological records and writings

      stored in monasteries, libraries or royal

      palaces to be mass-reproduced and dis-

      tributed throughout Europe. Astrology is

      taught in many universities. Ideal

      astrological times are selected for specific

      ventures. Astrologers serve in royal palaces

      of France, England, Italy, Austria.

      Astrologer Luc Gauric serves Popes Julius

      II, Leo X, Clement VII and Paul III. Under

      Leo X, Vatican promotes research and

      instruction in astrology. Astrological

      themes appear in stained-glass windows of

      cathedrals, in facades of public buildings,

      frescos, art.

1500  Leonardo da Vinci draws illustrations

      associating astrological symbols with parts

      of the body and terrestrial life in Zodiac-

      Man and Sphaera manuscripts. Boticelli

      paints famous 'Venus and Mars.'

1508  Luca Gaurico, author of Tractatus

      Astrologicus publishes Oratio de Inven-

      toribus et Astrologiae Laudibus in which he

      defends judicial astrology.

1510  Lucrezia Borgia explores astrological

      philosophies with astrologers and her father

      Pope Alexander VI.

1520  German artist Beham produces engravings

      showing functions of planets.

1530  Swiss physician Paracelsus uses astrology

      to understand the human mind or psyche.

1543  Copernicus presents theory that Earth

      revolves around Sun, which is placed on the

      Papal Index of forbidden books until 1835!

1545  At Council of Trent, the Church condemns

      judicial astrology.

1550  Catherine de Medici consults astrologers

      Gauric, Ruggieri and Nostradamus.

1552  Martin Luther supports astrology by writing

      preface to work by prominent astrologer

      Johannes Lichtenberger.

1555  Nostradamus gains fame in Europe. His

      famous prophetic work 'Seven Centuries' is

      published in 1555. He works in Henry II's

      court and publishes almanacs.

1560  Girolamo Cardano, physician, philosopher,

      mathematical genius and astrologer. He

      writes commentary on Tetrabiblos.

1570  John Dee is astrologer for Queen Elizabeth I

      and helps to arrange Gregorian calendar

      (1583) and dabbles in alchemy and magic.

1574  Tycho Brahe, famous astronomer known for

      discoveries in observational astronomy.

      Dislikes frivolous astrologers. He draws up

      charts for Danish royal family and in 1585

      compiles accurate star catalogue.

1600- Shakespeare helps to popularize astrology

1699  for centuries by inserting astrological

      references in almost all his plays. Tommaso

      Campanella writes six books on astrology in

      accordance with the teachings of Church

      Theologians. Francis Bacon attacks personal

      astrology but still accepts divinatory

      astrology on masses of people. Richard

      Burton looks into the astrology of mental

      illness.

1610  Kepler establishes facts that planets move

      in elliptical orbits around Sun. Discovers

      three famous laws of planetary motion which

      bear his name. Kepler is also astrologer-

      mystic. He links planet orbit spheres with

      geometric solids, and writes 'Music of the

      Spheres.'

1613  Galileo denounced for his Letters on Sun-

      spots. In 1632 is condemned by Church for

      his heliocentric view of solar system. He

      dabbles in some astrology.

1640  Morin de Villefranche is regarded as most

      noted astrologer of his time and serves as

      adviser to Cardinal Richelieu and to

      Cardinal Mazarin.

1645  Nicolas Culpepper practices medicine using

      herbal astrology and publishes many books.

1650  William Lilly writes Christian Astrology

      which becomes reference for subsequent

      astrologers. Publishes prophetic Almanac in

      1644. Predicts Great Plague of London in

      1665 and Great Fire of London in 1666.

1650  Elias Ashmole inherits W. Lilly's library

      and publishes Lilly's works. He is historian

      and diary-writer and steward of astrological

      society in London.

1650  Placidus de Tito devises house system.

1662  Collectio Geniturarum, a collection of

      150 horoscopes, compiled by John Gadbury.

1666  Astrology is banished from French Academy of

      Science. Great Fire of London (capital of

      world's superpower at the time) burns to the

      ground, as predicted by Lilly.

1687  Sir Issac Newton presents universal law of

      gravity in Principia Mathematica. He invents

      calculus and studies astrology.

1690  The Chapter of Perfection, an esoteric

      astrological community, in Germantown,

      Pennsylvania, is led by John Kelpius. Its

      astrologers help to upgrade the almanac pub-

      lished by Daniel Leeds. It practices occult

      arts based on the principles of European

      Rosicrucians and Freemasons, and is the

      offspring of a secret order in London, the

      Masonic Rite of Perfection, which involved

      John Jacob Zimmerman and Jane (Ward) Lead,

      former members of the Philadelphians, a

      mystic cult inspired by Jakob Boehme in

      Germany.

1698  Johann Seelig, member of the Chapter of

      Perfection, is commissioned to find the best

      astrological time for building the Swedish

      Lutheran Church at Wisaco.

1700- John Partridge and Henry Season are major

1799  British astrologers. Almanacs with many

      astrological sections are published. In

      America, Yale and Harvard Universities

      cautiously accept astrology. American

      astrologers such as Joseph Satfford of Rhode

      Island, Nathaniel Low of Boston, John Tobler

      of Carolina provide advice to merchants and

      common people. Much of the astrology is done

      secretly in Masonic Lodges in Britain and

      America.

1712  The Husbandman's Guide provides astrological

      advice for farmers.

1733  Benjamin Franklin publishes astrological

      Almanac 'Poor Richard's Almanack' under

      alias R. Saunders.

1770  Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and

      George Washington are influenced by

      astrology and Egyptian-Alexandrian occult

      ideas supplied by esoteric astrologers in

      Germantown, Pennsylvania. Christopher Witt,

      the esoteric community's magister is a

      physician and astrologer. Much of the

      concern is to select the best times, ideas,

      designs of seals and monuments, to initiate

      activities that would lead to the creation

      of a nation powerful enough to withstand the

      attempts of Britain, the world superpower,

      to regain its prized colonies. Egyptian

      magic is evident.

1781  7th planet from Sun, Uranus, is discovered

      by William Herschel.

1784  Ebenezer Sibly compiles a voluminous

      illustrated book on astrology, A New and

      Complete Illustration of the Celestial

      Science of Astrology.

1801  The Magus, written by Francis Barrett, is

      synthesis of astrological-magical lore.

1816  A Complete Dictionary of Astrology by James

      Wilson is published. For the first time a

      book provides all the basic information for

      anyone to construct and interpret charts.

      This marks a new era in astrology.

1824  Raphael introduces a periodical with weekly

      predictions on love, finance and travel, the

      first of its kind.

1825  Robert C. Smith, known as Raphael, writes

      Manual of Astrology, compiles ephemeris

      (still currently in use), and launches first

      successful astrological publishing house.

1831  The Herald of Astrology by Zadkiel (alias

      for Richard James Morrison) is the first

      work that is produced in editions of tens

      of thousands of copies, which indicates the

      mass interest in astrology. Alfred J. Pierce

      continued Morrison's work under the same

      pseudonym.

1839  The Vox Stellarum is the most popular

      almanac in Britain because of its

      predictions.

1844  The British Association for Astral Science

      is formed.

1846  Neptune is discovered by Leverrier.

1860  The History of Magic by Eliphas Levi

      (Alphonse Louis Constant) sums up much of

      the sort of astrology favored in his time.

      In 1861 he writes The Key of the Mysteries.

1862  Frances Rolleston publishes Mazzaroth

      (Hebrew for "Zodiac") in which she explains

      zodiacal references in the Bible.

1865  Mark and Luke Broughton publishes many

      astrological journals in America. Luke

      teaches thousands of astrologers.

1875  Helena Blavatsky forms Theosophical Society

      in New York, which spurs the evolution of

      spiritual astrology.

1880  Richard Garnett writes The Soul and the

      Stars in the University Magazine in which he

      attacks astrologers of the time for using

      too much cabbala and magic rather than using

      astrology as a science.

1889  The Order of the Magi is formed in Chicago

      by Olney H. Richmond. The order involves

      Christian occult astrology.

1890  William Henry Chaney publishes Primer of

      Astrology and American Urania. Taught by

      Luke Broughton, Chaney spends 40 years

      teaching astrology.

1890  Sepharial (Walter Gorn Old), a well-known

      English astrologer, specializes in occult

      astrology and joins Blavatsky's inner circle

      of the Theosophical Society. He has know-

      ledge of Cabbala, Coptic, Assyrian, Sanskrit

      and Chinese languages. Eventually, Sepharial

      abandons interest in the esoteric aspect of

      astrology and practices the practical form.

      Alan Leo (William Frederick Allen) publishes

      the Astrological Magazine. It is financed by

      Aphorel (F.W.Lacey) a member of the Theo-

      sophical Society and is very popular and

      profitable. Leo becomes official astrologer

      for the Society. He defines astrology within

      a divine, karmic and spiritual framework.

1890  Alan Leo sets up a chart business and hires

      a staff of astrologers.

1892  Karl Anderson writes and publishes his

      Astrology of the Old Testament, a large text

      with more insights into astrological con-

      cepts and references in the Bible than

      previously disclosed by astrologers. Much of

      it deals with Christian-Egyptian-Hebrew-

      Sanskrit numerology, symbols, and ideas used

      by Freemasons and Rosicrucians.

1895  Karl Brandler Pracht forms astrological

      society and the Astrologische Rundshau, the

      most prominent astrological journal in

      Germany. This renewal of astrology in

      Germany was mostly the result of Helena

      Blavatsky's influence.

1895  Alan Leo renames Astrological Magazine to

      Modern Astrology.

1896  Alan Leo forms The Astrological Society

1897  Old Moore's Almanac sells 500,000 copies.

1898  New Manual of Astrology by Sepharial. Joseph

      G. Dalton publishes the American Ephemeris.

      Dalton is involved in the astrological

      establishment of Boston. Luke Broughton

      publishes Elements of Astrology.

1899  Evangeline Adams takes up residence in a

      fashionable hotel in New York and does

      astrological charts for the rich and

      powerful for the next years. She becomes

      famous for her accurate predictions.