by Elizabeth Smith, Astrocartographer
Western astrology has its roots in ancient Babylon, which was about 55 miles south of the city of Baghdad in modern day Iraq. It was used by the Babylonians for both divination and the timing of agricultural activities.
From there it spread northwest into Turkey where it was enthusiastically embraced for many years before traveling further north into what today is Eastern Europe.
As the classical culture of ancient Greece supported new forms of knowledge, astrology held great importance and the ancient Greeks had a significant influence on its development there.
Renowned wisdom keepers of the day such as philosophers Plato and Aristotle discuss the subject in their works.
Ancient Greece contributed to the development of astrology through the work of influential figures such as Ptolemy and the philosophical school of Stoicism. Ptolemy's "Tetrabiblos" established many of the principles of Hellenistic astrology, and the Stoics believed in a deterministic universe governed by celestial bodies.
Additionally, the Greek pantheon of gods and goddesses were often associated with specific celestial bodies and were believed to influence human lives.
The practice of astrology then spread throughout the Roman Empire and became popular among both the ruling class and the general population.
During the Middle Ages, astrology was studied and practiced by scholars in both the Islamic world and Europe, and it was often used to provide guidance to rulers and predict political events.
The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in astrology among scholars and intellectuals, who saw it as a way to understand the natural world and the human psyche.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, astrology became increasingly popular as a form of divination and self-discovery, and many new astrological systems and techniques were developed.
Today, astrology continues to be a popular practice and is often used for personal growth and self-understanding, as well as for predicting future events and understanding societal trends.
The arrival of Astrocartography location astrology which makes use of computer technology has been an especially seminal moment in astrological history because it makes possible, in the click of a cursor. what used to take an astrology master months to determine. It offers us this expansive new view through the use of computer generated maps which reveal how planetary influences shift and change radically as we move to new locations around the planet.
To take advantage of this magical and extraordinary science as a revealing guide to your life’s potential