A question about Astrology

[solara]

Hi hi

My son asked these questions and I could not answer them with any kind of real authority other than just my own understanding and intuition:

From where does the validity of Astrology emanate? Are we just imposing our own paradigm on the signs and planets? For instance, how does Mercury govern Virgo and, beyond that, why is Virgo an Earth sign? The Sun seems self evident, since it is made of fire.. but who is to say that it rules Leo and why, except for the fact that Leo is a summer month - so is July and June and now even September. Mercury's movements are said to influence communication..why? is it because of the planet's name? Why do we believe that the planets govern the signs and that the signs are blueprints for our lives and who gave them their attributes? When a planet is in retrograde, does it really affect us? Or are we just believing that reality since we have done so for years?

Is it rather like the attributes humans impose on the Christian God, or any god of any organized religion? Not to even remotely suggest that Astrology is a religion.. but it seems like humans tend to do stuff like that.

I thought about it a lot and I can see my son's points about all this

I am just now learning to seek beyond the Sun Sign. the Rising and Moon..so, I am sure these questions are all very easy to explain for someone who has studied Astrology ..

I am actually feeling a little foolish even asking about this, since I have an innate understanding of Astrology that is personal and very difficult to put into words..I also throw Tarot and Runes so it is not like I am a total nube. [url=http://www.cosgan.de/smilie.php][img][/img][/url]

Thanks and Namaste

[url=http://www.cosgan.de/smilie.php][img][/img][/url]

[valerief]

1. Magic thinking, just like religion. nt

[libodem]

2. It's all in the vibes, baby

All in the vibes. Oh, heck, I don't know.

[solara]

3. Vibes work for me

but they're probably not enough for my kid...

I am sure he will come around someday, he just got his pilot's license, so already he's reaching for the sky

[libodem]

4. Gotta, love those skeptics

A rational mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[solara]

5. Yeah.. I don't know what happened

I mean how the hell did he get so rational and even cynical? Maybe it is a form of rebellion.. he knows what's up.. how could he not? Ah well.. He will come around.. we all do

He is a double Leo with Taurus Moon .. go figure

[libodem]

7. Gotta love those male fire signs

Quick minds. Wicked smart. They need "proof". It can't just feel right.

I only know the sun signs for my boys.

My dad was an Aries. If it wasn't right in front of him so he could get his five senses on it, it didn't exist. I have an appreciation of that 'kind' of intelligence.

I happen to 'believe' there is an unseen and unsensed world that is not as easy to tap into.


Cue the spooky music again.......oooOoooOooooOoo

[solara]

8. I'm right there with ya

I am a Leo and my ex-husband is a Leo as well as my son..so for a lot of years my life was very similar to living in a house of mirrors

Definitely cue the spooky music and almost just as often, cue the theme from 'Jaws'

[libodem]

10. Tee Hee Hee

Yep. I'm a Sag. My mom was a Leo. My dad Aries. My first son, Aries. And third son a Sag. My second son is a Capricorn. He keeps up with the family firesigns just fine. However, he is a practicing Christian. He found Jesus on his own. Works for him.

[solara]

11. You know, yes you do

[PADemD]

6. Reading the ancient history of astrology may help answer your son's questions.

History of astrology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_astrology#Early_origins

Tetrabiblos by Claudius Ptolemy

http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1478282304

Ancient Astrology Theory and Practice: Matheseos Libri VIII by Julius Firmicus Maternus

http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Astrology-Theory-Practice-Matheseos/dp/1933303107/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Ptolemy's Centiloquium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centiloquium

http://www.scribd.com/doc/38228225/Centiloquium-of-Ptolemy

[solara]

9. Thank you for these references

[PADemD]

12. You're welcome!

Hope you find some good information. One article looks very interesting.

[Ricochet21]

14. Stephen Arroyo's

Handbook for Chart Analysis
The Four Elements
Karma and Transformation

Richard Tarnas' "Cosmos and Psyche"

Rick DiClemente's "The Exquisite Zodiac"

There's a mouthful

[solara]

15. Thank you Ricochet

I love your book and I plan to find, with in it, some quotes to give him, with your permission.

I believe my son and I will learn a lot together

[img][/img][/url]

[Ricochet21]

16. Yes Solara

give him anything he wants that can help
I'm talking with audible.com now
and will put the paraphrased book on YouTube, one piece at a time
I'm looking for the software now...

[Alameda]

13. In essence it is based on....

many years of observation by many thousands of people..perhaps similar to other things like Acupuncture.