The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-06-05
AstrOlOgy and AstrOlOgers.

AstroIOgy and Astrologers.
The rigin 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, as well as
the astronomers who fourished in
Egypt before and after the first century
Inc 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 practical science 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 toretelling 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 mrnv
perils, as the following instance viii
show: "Dost thou know where thou
wilt pass Chris, ,masp" asked Henry
VII. Q488) of an astrologer. He could
not tell. Whereupon the, kings grace,
(which did love a merry Jest" made
answer, "Then | am wiser than thou,
for L know that thou will spend Christ
mas in prison." Gailcazzo, Duke of
Milan, was even merrier at the expense
of an astrologer who foretold him that
he would die early. "And how long do
you expect to 1.-Two ?" he Inquired OF the
astrologer;, MY lord, my star promises
| me 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, an. 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. "Snce YOU
have said it," replied the general, ait
must be so, and | have so great con-
glad to have the benefit of your advice
in the next world. You will, therefore,
be so kind as to go 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
commendable readiness ofwit. Tiberius,
when living in exile in Rhodes, whittier
he had been banished by the Emperor
Augustus, loved to while away the time
by consulting diviners. The interview
usually took place on lofty eminence
overlooking the sea, and if the diviner
by some foolish answer, convicted him
self of ignorance OF trickery, some slaves
were in attendance to pitch him head
foremost over the cliff into the waves
below: 1t CHANGED on a certain day that
Irasulus had been invited to one of
these charming seances. "Tell me-"
said Tiberius, with q serious look, chow
long do you expect to llve?" Trasulus,
who was not 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 at 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, drawn through its north
and south points, into twelve equal parts.
which were called the twelve houses of
heaven. They were numbered, in order,
tromthe division in the east 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
successively once in twenty-four hours.
The term horoscope 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 as
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, of religion the tenth,
OF dlgnities; the eleventh, of friends: the
twelfth, of foes. To each division one of
the heavenly bodies was assigned as it's
lord, who was most powerful in his 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 chanced to be in each
house was point 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 to form a 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 iact that the earth is merely one