WESTERN ASTROLOGY

Thousands of years ago, Astrology has taken its roots in Western Countries. Egyptians know Astrology 4000 years before Christ. They prepared ephemeris. At the same time, Chinese too studied Astrology. King Hoyangutee built a Planetarium in 2608 BC. Babylonians practiced Astrology a few centuries before Christ. Pythagoras (530 BC) propounded that the Earth is rotating on its own axis. Aristarchus (around 275 BC) claims that Earth revolves around the Sun. Aristilan and Timoris (320 - 260 BC) prepared an index of positions of several stars.

Ptolemy (120 - 180 AD) has written Sinatyxis, based on the writings of Hiporcus (150 BC). This book on Astrology and Astronomy has been given highest regard for centuries together. Arabs praised this book as ‘Alamygest’ means the great book. This book contains information on shape of Earth, orbit of Earth, planetary orbits along with a description of eclipses and milky way are seen.

In 1209 AD Cambridge University was founded and Astrology was taught there from 1250. Copernicus (1473 – 1543 AD )developed helio-centric theory. He said that Earth is revolving around the Sun. Nostradamus (1503 – 1566 AD) gave his prophecies. Tychobrahe (1546 – 1601 AD) and Kepler (1571 – 1630 AD) also contributed significantly to Astrology. Galileo built Telescope in 1609 and observed physically all the planets and constellations. Newton (1642 – 1727 AD) worked on Astronomy and Astrology and compiled a list of 2884 stars.

What ever the places and people are, Astrology is practiced and praised by every one on the Earth. The fundamental facts like division of Zodiac and planets: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus remain same.

Theory says that Zodiac wheel starts with Aries 0 degrees, and is constant. When a top is rotating , it bends slightly and rotates. If a point is imagined on the top , it make circles. These circles will not coincide each other. There will be some deviation between each circle. Similarly, the Zodiac is also deviating slowly from its constant position. It is calculated to be around 51 seconds per year. This deviation is called Precession of equinoxes, or Ayanamsa. Indian Astrologers are not taking this Ayanamsa into account when they calculate Planet positions. So their system is called ‘Nirayana’. But westerners apply this correction in their calculations. So western system is called 'Sayana' system. This is the major difference in Indian and Western Astrological worlds.

Sayana = Nirayana + Ayanamsa.

Western Astrology is always ready to accept any new ideas coming from astronomical observations. Thus in 1781 William Hershel discovered planet Uranus. Dr. Persival Lofvello discovered Neptune in 1846. Tambaugh discovered Pluto in 1930. Thus there are 3 more planets added. And Western Astrologers started updating their knowledge about the influence of these planets on human beings. A new planet Chiron is being added to the list.

Uranus indicates sudden happenings, extremism, impulsive actions, high speed, explosives, electricity, television, computers etc.

Neptune gives intuition, meditation, hidden affairs, reflections, colors, water resources, coffee, tea, photography, etc.

Pluto represents destruction and regeneration, change of sex, modernization, waste material, unrest, life insurance, etc.

Western Astrology gives more stress on the aspects of planets. The aspects are based on the distances of planets.

• Conjunction: Represents 0 degrees longitude between planets. Its effect is determined by the nature of planets involved.

• Opposition: 180 degrees. The effect is as above.

• Sextile: 60 degrees. It yields beneficial results for the native.

• Square: 90 degrees. It is an evil aspect.

• Trine: 120 degrees. It is a good aspect.

While the above are major aspects, we can have minor aspects which give minor impact.

• Semi Sextile: 30 degrees. Slightly beneficial.

• Semi Square: 45 degrees. Slightly bad.

• Sesquiquadrate: 135 degrees. Slightly bad.

• Quincunx: 150 degrees. Slightly evil.

Progressed Horoscope is another great invention of Western astrologers. After a lot of research Astrologers found that when a person is born on a particular date, that day’s planetary positions will affect the first year of that person. The second year is influenced by second day’s planetary positions. Thus we can calculate progressed chart for any year of a person and predict his destiny in that year.

Predictions are based on: the Natal Chart ( drawn for the birth date and time), the Progressed Chart (prepared for a particular year of prediction) and the Transit Chart (representing current transits of planets in that year). Aspects between the planets and their lordships in a chart are taken into account, and cross aspects between each chart are also observed and then the events are foretold.