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20 Nov 2015

The Origin of Horoscopes

Astrology astronomy earth moon space saturn planet solar system creation. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.

Astrology has become increasingly popular since its beginnings over 3,000 years ago, making appearances in daily newspapers, magazines and now even in downloadable apps. This means that you can easily get hold of your horoscope forecast.

Horoscopes are prevalent in the modern world, but have you ever wondered where they come from?

What is a Horoscope

Before we can understand where something has come from, it’s a good idea to understand exactly what it is.

Horoscopes are based on astrology, which is a belief in fate and destiny that derives from information surrounding your birth, such as the month, day and exact time. These cosmic influences, along with the signs of the zodiac, give an indication of your future by studying the positions of the stars and planets and determining an overview of you, you characteristics and your future.

Collectively, these horoscopes then presume that our future is influenced by a higher power or position and aims to predict it – a horoscope chart shows these forecasts made from the astrological chart. These celestial observations are then categorised into the signs of the Zodiac, claiming to be able to analyse a person’s character, assessing compatibility with other signs, giving advice or offering explanations for what occurs in someone’s life.

Where Do Horoscopes Come From

Astrology is one of the most ancient philosophies in existence today, dating back to the 3rd Millennial BC. The principles of astrology were formalised by the Greeks over 3,000 years ago when they studied the heavenly bodies and defined these in to the signs of the Zodiac.

The word ‘astrology’ derives from the Greek word ‘astrologia’, which means ‘star study’. Pre-dating calendrical systems, it’s claimed that lunar cycles and constellations were used to predict seasonal shifts and so if you were born within particular Zodiac zones, you were assigned a particular star sign, known as a horoscope.

Nowadays, as the positions of the sun and earth have moved so much since the origins of astrology, horoscopes are not as specific as they once were. In fact, although newspapers can still offer a daily overview of your Zodiac sign, they will not be able to give you a precise and personal reading without calculating other astrological factors, such as the exact time you were born, along with the place and date.

Mass media has helped commercialise horoscopes, so whilst most of us are more aware of astrology, theoretically forecasts aren’t as accurate. However, they can still provide a significant overview of you and your characteristics.

To find out more about horoscopes, visit our blog today. Or get a free monthly horoscope sent to you today.

Written by: I4C_Blog_Admin