Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-28
POINTS ON ASTROLOGY.
A SO CALLED SCIENCE THAT IS
OLDER THAN HISTORY.

Were the Planets at Your Birth:-D0 No
Special Harm-Noted Astrologers.
Astronomy Is one of the oldest of sciences.
1t is certain that theanciens Egyptians, Chal-
deans and Assyrians were readers OF the sky,
and the Chinese have records Of eclipses dat
ing back thousands OF years before our era
Astrolegy has been called astronouys SIS
ter, and it is also older than history; but
there is marked difference. Astronomy Is
true and astrology is false, although the de-
auctions of the latter 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 astroiogers took
the exactly opposite ground. According 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 influence over man
kind.
This crude belief was gradually enlarged
until it became an art, and the astrologer a
very important parsonage Kings and rich
people kept their own astrologers, and other
people consulted astrologers at so much a
visit, as creduIous persons do fortune tellers
at the present day.
No doubt there were great many fraudu-
lent astrologer-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 Ciau-
dius Ptolsmy, who compiled ''The Tetrabi-
blos,n being four books upon the influence of
the stars; Placidus, Spanish monk, and
Lilly, an Eaglishman of the time of Charles
II.
Tiberius emperor of Rome. practced as
trology, and Hippocrates, the Father of
Msdicine," ranked it among the most Inn
portant branches of knowledge for physi-
clan. During the Middle Ages astrology was
at its height of popularity. Even the great
Lord Bacon believed in it firmly.
1t was complete and complicated system,
and contained rules which were so abstruse
that they required years for their entire mas
terry. Nor did the adopts always agree IN the
mysteries of their art, but they were fairly
in accord with the cardinal principles
There are four general departments in
astrology or the art of foretell-
ing from study of the map Of the heavens
at the moment of birth thesgeneral character
and destiny of the quesHouer; mundane mat
tiers, or foreteI1ing by the map Of the heavens
at certain stated times the fate of nations and
races, such as wars, pestilences, floods and
CONGREGATIONS; weather prophesying, or pre-
dieting from the mutual aspects of the sun,
moon and planets what the weather will be
at certain times and places. Horary astrology
is the art of predicting from a map of the
heavens at the time of anxiety or question
the result of any business or other matter OF
interest to the questioner.
1t is fundamental doctrine in astrology
that the sun, moon and planets each exercise
distinct, peculiar and immediate influence
upon man. This influence eliminates at
birth, and the ruling planet (which is called
''the lord of the nativity'1 at that time exer-
cises 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 ell its
particulars of feelings, thoughts and actions
in minutis. This astral influence determines
mans physical appearance, intellectual pecu-
liarities, moral character, length Of years,
rank, fortune and friends-in short, deter
mines his life.
To "cast nativity" it was necessary for
birth. Then he drew a horoscope-that is,
made map of the heavens at that instant,
as accurately as his knowledge of astronomy
would permit, and studied the aspect of the
planets.
The zodiac is divided into twelve signs of
30 degs. each, and from the conjunction Of
the planets in these signs and from the vari-
Gus 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 infallible.
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 nightn as the dominator of the activi-
ties and results.
Her subjects-that is, those born when the
moon is in the ascendant-are pale and Sc
rene; and, while full in form and gentle In
disposition, they are apt tobe lazy, or at least
rather inefficient They are frequently no.
ticeable for their large, languid eyes and re-
ceding chin.
The moon has much to do with ones nat
ural propensities, and so her position IN the
zodiac and her aspects with the other powers
should be fully and accurately determined
and carefully studied.
Good aspect with Saturn promises legacies,
gains and honors through the favor or death
of old people; bad aspects with Saturn, on
the contrary, presags injuries or loss from
the same KIND OF people.
The moon IN favorable aspect with Jupiter
promises wealth: with Mars, success in all
contests, competitions, constructions or man
ual operations which require courage, skill
and responsibility; with Venus, many and
devoted friends among the opposite sex; with
Mercury, great good fortune through ones
own superior mental attainments and talent.
Evil aspect with Mars presages holiness,
rashness and disconafit from defeat by strong
er opposing forces; and with Mercury, it an
nounces dishonesty and untruthfulness.
Strange to saw, the sun, which is the most
glorious of all the heavenly bodies, is less no
ticed in the horoscope than the moon.
The astroioger gives as a reason for this
apparent neglect that the sun, although the
source OF ali life and power, dispa1ses his in
fuence through his heutenants-tae planets
1t is also noticeable that Ursnus and Nep-
tune have no place In ancient assroiagy, and
very little in the msdeaa art The reason is
that these two planets were unknown until
modern times. It is dreadful to think how
much malisn influence these two planets may
have exerted in past ages, and 10 one whit
wiser.
There are astroiogers at the present day
and some OF them publish annual alnanacs
which give predictions q year IN advance
These predictions, as rule, ere cooched in
vague language, such as ''Jauuary-a great
ran win die in America" prediction which