Theory and Practice of Astrology II: Classical Astrology

Theory and Practice of Astrology II: Classical Astrology

This is the second in a series of articles on the concise definition of modern western astrology. Let's study classical astrology. We can define astrology developed, taught and practiced in ancient Greece and Rome from 600 BC to 600 AD as classical astrology. Classical astrology also includes Greek astrology. The name Greek astrology originated from the Hellenistic period of western history, and appeared after the conquest of Alexander the Great (323 BC) and the widespread spread of Greek culture in the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East and even parts of India. However, it was not until BC 1 century that Greek astrology was considered as an astrological system, although its application lasted until around the 7th century.

The research on Greek astrology or classical astrology in contemporary astrology circles mainly comes from the following materials. Many of the original manuscripts or words are only fragments of manuscripts. Obviously, these materials are only classical astrology handed down from generation to generation, not the whole of classical astrology. These data are mainly from the following astrologers, arranged in chronological order:

Serrapi (Serapio)

Nepsto and Thrace.

Marcus manilius (Marcus Manili)

Thrsler (Thrsler)

Dorothy of Sidon) [Translation: Sidon is a city in southwest Lebanon]

Claudius Claudius Ptolemy.

Vitius Vallans

Porfiri porphyry

Julius Firmi Matnas (Julius Firmi Matnas)

Paul of Alexandria.

Anonymous 379 (Anonymous 379)

Rhetoric (rhetoric)

In addition to the above list, there are many other astrologers of Greek astrology or classical astrology who are known or mentioned in ancient literature, but the astrologers above provide us with the main first-hand information for studying and studying classical astrology.

My interest in astrology is very extensive, and I hope to learn from the wisdom of my predecessors in my career, so I have studied a lot of the works of the above astrologers.

I don't think most of my readers in China have really read the works of classical astrologers, so in order to let you know something about the thoughts of classical astrologers, I have selected some translations of Greek astrologers' speeches here:

People whose Venus falls in the eighth house during the day get married late, and their * * * is a woman of humble origin or a widow/girl. This person will be weak because of gonorrhea (venereal disease), or spasm, or stroke. But those born at night will be rich and benefit from the death of women. This also indicates a quick death, no pain and great relaxation.

Ritter Reese

People born under the influence of Saturn are stingy, vicious, miserable, self-deprecating, lonely, hypocritical, secretive, harsh, sad, hypocritical, stingy, dressed in black, importunate, sad, like sailing and engaged in onshore business. Saturn will also lead to humbleness, laziness, unemployment, business obstacles, lawsuits, business sabotage, secrets, imprisonment, bondage, sadness, blame, tears, bereavement, arrest and helplessness of children.

-Victor Vallance.

Fate rules the world; Everything is controlled by its unchanging law.

What was destined to happen happened a long time ago.

Our death is doomed at birth, and our end depends on our beginning.

Fate brings wealth and kingdom, although more often it brings poverty.

People are endowed with skills and character, advantages and disadvantages, gains and losses by fate at birth.

Sometimes there must be something in life, and there is no need to force it in life.

Praying when bad luck comes can't bring good luck, and praying when bad luck comes can't escape.

Everyone must endure his own fate.

Marcus Manilius

If Jupiter falls at the rising point of the daytime map, Saturn falls at the falling point, and the full moon moves to Jupiter, which indicates wealth, good luck and the highest degree of happiness. But if Venus falls at the descending point and divides Jupiter in two, it means that this person has neither brothers nor children. Nevertheless, wealth and good luck are foreseeable.

-Julius Firmi, Chief Operating Officer, Matnas.

If Mars falls in the seventh house, Saturn is at the rising point or zenith, or the full moon rushes to Mars or the waning moon rushes to Saturn, which indicates a fatal disaster. This person will be charged, detained and convicted of capital expenditure. Or he will be forced to face the beast and be abandoned in despair. If it is a water sign, this person will die on the boat; If it is a human constellation, this person will be killed by a knife.

-Julius Firmi, Chief Operating Officer, Matnas.

These are typical contents of Greek astrology, and I have not chosen an extremely isolated case. In fact, there are many more extreme and disturbing examples in these books, and there are other things that make me laugh when I think about it. For example, Firmi Coos said, "People whose rising point falls at Leo 1 degree will be pimps with loud voices and smelly mouths." I have read many such works of Greek or classical astrology. On the one hand, I hope to understand our traditions, on the other hand, I also look for the basic principles that appeared in the form of modern astrology in the West in the 20th century.

People's keen interest in Greek astrology today is not the first revival of classical astrology; This happened during the Renaissance in Europe (14 ~16th century). During the Renaissance, astrology flourished again, although it aroused heated discussion among educated people and was opposed by the Roman Catholic Church (ironically, some popes supported astrology). However, after the scientific and technological revolution (1550~ 1700) and the era of enlightenment or rationality that overlapped with the scientific and technological revolution (17 ~18th century), astrology disappeared from the academic circle, just like an endangered species on the evolutionary ladder. In the past 300 years, the publications of western astrology only existed in the form of yearbooks among practitioners at different levels scattered all over the country, becoming the "superstition" of "fortune tellers" in the eyes of the public.

Why is this happening? Read the example I quoted again. The above philosophy of classical astrology openly advocates fatalism. But the scientific and technological revolution and the philosophical thinking in the rational age are not like this. People began to believe that fate is in their own hands, not the "immutable law" as Manili Uss said. When I say this, I don't mean that there is no problem with the scientific and technological revolution and the philosophical concept in the rational age. I will discuss the philosophical concept of the rational age in future articles. However, as a modern person, if we can't see the contribution of scientific and technological revolution and rationalism to human liberation in the past two centuries, we are ignoring the history of human evolution. (Twelve constellations/Astronomy/)

However, due to the lack of provable scientific and physical theories, even people who reluctantly believe in astrology like Kepler can't explain why astrology is effective. However, this is the fatalistic philosophy of classical astrology, which contradicts the thought of liberation and modernization. It was not until the end of 19 and the beginning of the 20th century that astrology was seriously studied again. Astrology has been re-examined from a more modern perspective, which is exactly how western astrology was rediscovered from the garbage dump of history. The reconstruction of astrology is an important knowledge saving achievement, which conforms to the development of psychology and draws lessons from the philosophical framework that eventually attracts many people. In my next article, I will discuss how modern astrology extracts principles from its classical foundation and then merges them with psychological thoughts, thus forming today's astrology field.

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