Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-23
OF lSTROLeGY.
SOMETHING CONCERNING THE ORIGIN
OF THE ALLEGED SCIENCE.
Some of the Things Taught by Its Apos-
tles-How Were the Planets at the
time of Your Birth?

Egyptians, Chaldeans and Assyrians were
readers of the sky, and the Chinese have
records of eclipses dating back thousands
of years before our era.
Astrology has been called astronomy's
sister, and it is also older than history; but
there is a marked difference. Astronomy
is true and astrology is false, says Golden
Days, although the deductions of the lat
ter are drawn from the same source as the
| former.
Astrology was founded on the vanity of
mankind Astronomy teaches us that this
earth is but speck in the universe, and
that we play very Insignificant part in
the scheme of creation; but the astrologers
took exactly the opposite ground. Ac-
cording to their belief, the earth was the
center of the universe, and the universe
only existed as an adjunct to man. Hence
it followed that the planets exerted an in
! fluence over mankind.
This crude belief was gradually en-
larged until it became an art and the as
trologer very important parsonage.
Kings and rich people kept their own as
trologers, and other people consulted
astrologers at SO much visit, as credulous
persons do fortune tellers at the present
day.
! No doubt there were great many
fraudulent astrologers-fellows who saw
| in the art an easy way to make living,
but we cannot doubt that the majority of
astrologers were firm believers in the So
called science.
| Among the most noted of these were
Claudius Ptolemy, who compiled "The
Tetrabiblos," being four books upon the
influence of the stars; Placidus, Spanish
monk, and Lilly, an Englishman of the
time of Charles II.
| Tiberius, Emperor of Rome, practiced
astrology, and Hippocrates, the "Father of
Medicine" ranked it among the most i'm
portant branches of knowledge for physi-
clan. During the middle ages astrology
was at its hight of popularity. Even the
great Lord Bacon believed in it firmly.
1t was complete and complicated sys-
tenn, and contained rules which were SO
abstruse that they required years for their
entire mastery. Nor did the adopts al
ways agree in the mysteries of their art,
but they were fairly in accord with the
cardinal principles.
There are four general departments in
strology-nativities or the art of fore
telling fr. m study Of the map of the
heavens at the moment of birth the gen.
eral character and destiny of the ques-
tioner; mundane matters, or fortelling by
| the map of the heavens at certain stated
times the fate of nations and races, such
as wars, pestilences, floods and confagra-
tions; weather prophesying, or predicting
! from the mutual aspects of the sun, moon
and planets what the weather will be at
certain times and places. Horary as
| trology is the art of predicting from
| map Of the heavens at the time of anxiety
or question the result of any business or
other matter of interest to the questioner.
It is fundamental doctrine in astrology
that the sun, moon and planets each exer-
else distinct, peculiar and immediate in
fuence upon man. This influence culmi-
mates at birth, and the ruling planet
| (which is called "the lord of the nativity'')
at that time exercises such power over the
child as to stamp its character upon the
entire life.
This astral influence extends not only to
the whole life in general, but likewise to
all its particulars of feelings, thoughts and
actions in minutie. This astral influence
determines mans physical appearance, in
tellectual peculiarities, moral character
length of years, rank, fortune and friends
in short, determines his life.
To "cast nativity" it was necessary for
the astrologer to know the exact instant of
birth Then he drew horoscope-that
is, made map of the heavens at that in
slant, as accurately as his knowledge OF
astronomy would permit, and studied the
aspect of the planets.
The zodiac is divided into twelve signs
of so degrees each, and from the conjunc-
ton of the planets in these signs and from
the various positions of other planets they
augured good or i'll for the babe.
Much, of course, depended upon the skill
of the astrologer, and great deal upon his
! knowledge of human nature.
1t is safe to say that rich people generally
got good aspects. But there are certain
rules which all astrologers have always
claimed to be infalliable.
The moon rules the first four years of life,
| and during this period all other indications
must be interpreted with the fair goddess
of the night" as the dominator of the activ-
| tiles and results.
Her subjects-that is, those born when
| the moon is in the ascendant-are pale
and serene; and, while full in form and
gentle in disposition, they are apt to he
| lazy, or at least rather inefficient. They
are frequently noticeable for their large,
languid eyes and receding chin.
| The moon has much to do with ones
propensities, and so her position in the
zodiac and her aspects with the other
powers should be fully and accurately de-
| termined and carefully studied.
Good aspect with Saturn promises lega-
cies, gains and honors through the favor or
death of old people; bad aspects with
Saturn, on the contrary, presage injuries or
loss from the same kind of people.
| The moon in favorable aspect with Ju
piter promises wealth; with Mars, success
in all contests, competitions, constructions
or manual operations which require cour-
age, skill and responsibility; with Venus,
many and devoted friends among the OPP
posite sex with Mercury, great good for
| tune through ones own superior mental
| attainments and talent.
Evil aspect with Mars presages bold
ness, rashness and discomft from defeat by
stronger opposing forces; and with Mer-
curry, IL duuUulCtS ulo1OuSotl anu
| fulness
Strange to say, the sun, which is the most
glorious of all the heavenly bodies, is less
noticed il the horoscope than the moon.
The astrologer gives as reason for this
apparent neglect that the sun, although
the source of all life and power, dispenses
his influence through his lieutenants-the
| planets.
1t is also noticeable that Uranus and
Neptune have no place in ancient astrol-
ogy, and very little in the modern art.
The reason is that these two planets were
unknown until modern times. 1t is dread
ful to think how much malign influence
those two planets may have exerted in past
! ages, and no one whit wiser.
There are astrologers at the present day,
and some of them publish annual alma
macs which give predictions year in adj
vance. These predictions, as rule, are
couched in vague language, such as s'Jan-
uary-a great man will die in America a
! prediction which could hardly fail to come
true. Yet these imposters make good
living cut of this delusion, and as they
cannot be said to do any special harm they
are not interfered With.