The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-19
AstrOlOgy and AStr0l0gers.

AstrOlOgy and Astr0lOgers.
The origin of astrology is involved in
obscurity. 1t may probably be at
tributed to the Chaldeans. The Hindoos
and Chinese have always attached the
greatest Importance to it, and the Arabs
sedulously cultivated the art, rs well rs
the astronomers who fiourished in
Egypt before and after the first century.
The alchemists and astrologers of
Greece claimed that Hermes (alias Mer-
cury), the inventor of many notable
things in art. science and mechanics,
was the especial patron Of their art.
Hence the term "Hermetic writings"
applied to practicFscience and philoso-
ply. The word astrology means liter
ally the doctrine or science of the stars,
but is especially taken to signify the art
of foretelling future events, and the good
or evil fortune likely to befall any person
during his lifetime from the aspect of
the heavens and the relative position Of
the planets and other heavenly bodies at
the time of his birth.
In ancient times astrologers had m"ny
perils, as the following instance will
show: "Dost thou know where thou
wilt pass Chris, asked Henry
VII. 0488) of an astrologer. He could
not tell. Whereupon the kings grace,
(which did love merry jest" made
answer, "Then I am wiser than thou,
for know that thou will spend Christ
mas in prison." Gailcazzo, Duke of
Milan. was even merrier at the expense
of IN astrologer who foretold him that
he would die early. "And how long do
you expect to live?" he inquired of the
astrologer. "My,lcsa, my star promises
me a long life" Never trust in your
star, man; you are to be hanged this
moment And the duke took good
care that his own prediction should be
fulfilled. Heggiage, IN Arab general, ,
Was more courteous in the expression of
his displeasure. The general was sick
when an astrologer, by way of comfort
ing him, assured his excellency that the
illness from which he was suffering
would terminate fatally. "Since you
have said it." replied the general, sit
must be so, and 1 have so great a con-
fidcnce in your skill that I should be
glad to have the benefit of your advice
in the next world. You will, therefore,
be so kind as to 20 there first and await
for orders" The astrologer was i'm
mediately decapitated.
Indeed, the wonder is that astrologers
should so often have been fools. Few
seem to have the presence of mind of
Trasulus, who once saved his neck with a
commendabler readiness ofwit. Tiberius,
when living in exile in Rhodes, whittier
he had been banishcd by the Emperor
Augustus, loved to while away the time
by consulting diviners. The interview
usually took place on q lofty eminencc
overlooking the sea, and if the diviner,
by some foolish answer, convicted him.
self of ignorance or trickery, some slaves
were in attendance to pitch him head
foremost over the cliff into the waves
below. 1t chanced on a certain day that
Trasulus had been invited to one of
these charming seances. "Te@l mt" "
said Tiberius, with serious look, how
long do you expect to llve?" Trasulus,
who was not a fool, appeared to be alb
sorbed in mysterious calculations; then,
suddenly, with an expression of alarm
that was not altogether feigned, he eX-
claimed that he was menaced st that
very hour by a great danger. Satisfied
with the answer, Tiberius embraced
him, and from thenceforth Trasulus be-
came Of The number of his friends.
The following is brief sketch of the
outlines Of astrology, its leading princi-
pies and mode Of practice: The heavens
above and below were divided by imag-
mary circles, drawa through its north
and south points, into twelve equal parts.
which were called the twelve houses of
heaven. They were numbered, in order,
fromthe division in the cast Immediately
below the horizon which contained the
part of the heavens about to rise in view.
The lines of division were supposed to
remain immovable. so that every part of
the heavens passed through each house
successirely once in twenty-four hours.
The term loroscore was given to the
point of the elliptic about to rise. The
first house was called the ascendant; it
was the strongest, and also known rs
the house of life; the second was tine
house of riches; the third. of brethren ;
the fourth, of parents and relatives; the
fifth, of children the sixth, of health !;
the seventh, of marriage; the eighth, of
death; the ninth, ofreligion; the tenth,
of dignities; the eleventh, of friends; the
twelfth, of foes. To each division one of
the heavenly bodies was assigned as its
lord, who was most powerful in Ills own
house. The position of planet in any
house was its distance from the boun-
Diary circle, or cusp, of the house meas
ured on the zodiac; and the part of the
zodiac which Glanced to be in each
house was poirlt which especially de-
manded the attention ofthe astrologer in
his consideration of the aspects of the
various divisions. The relative position
of the heavenly bodies in the different
houses at any particular moment was
called theme, and to cast the nativity
of any one was 10 form plan of the
heavens in the manner above indicated,
at the moment Of birth. The decline
of astrology may be dated from the time
of Copernicus, who revealed the cardi-
nal fact that the earth is merely one
planet, rolling with others around the