Introduction to Astrology - What it's all about!

Hey steemit, as some of you may know astrology is a subject I am very interested in. Most of us are familiar with it through newspaper horoscopes and Facebook posts but what do you really know about it?

Like most people I came across it through pop astrology. The small quips on the back page of my newspaper or little fortune cookie quotes. It always interested me and I liked it but it never really struck me as being particularly accurate or relevant to my life. This began to change as I learned more about real astrology.

So what is astrology?

At it's core astrology is simply the study of the cycles and patterns of the planets. Every part of nature has a cycle that we can study and use to our benefit and the solar system is no different. As the planets move through the sky they pass through different constellations. Each constellation is representative of a different kind of energy. There are 4 elements that each constellation belongs to which is fire, earth, air and water. There are 10 main celestial bodies that astrology pays attention to. Most are familiar with their sun sign but we also look at the placement of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Each planet represents a different aspect of ourselves and how we interact with life. Astrology has the ability to tell us a lot about ourselves and what we can do to continue to grow to be the best we can be.

So where does astrology come from?

Astrology is an ancient art thousands of years old with verifiable archeological evidence but it has likely been practiced for far longer than we have evidence for. The observation of nature and it's cycles was necessary for our ancestors so they knew when to migrate, hunt, or plant crops. It only makes sense that through observation over thousands of years they would begin to discover astrology. Civilizations around the world held it in high regard and rulers would often consult an astrologer before making important decisions. From the Egyptians to the Mayans, it is clear that their understanding of the cosmos rivaled what we know today even with all of our technology. The Mayans could predict solar eclipses to the day hundreds or even thousands of years in advance. For a culture thousands of years old this is incredibly impressive and to me is indicative of a greater level of understanding of nature as a whole.

In fact Egyptian and Mayan pyramids display this level of not only understanding but technical ability to an astonishing degree. For instance the largest Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza does something very special only a few days a year. During the Autumnal and Vernal Equinoxes the sun is in the correct position to create the optical illusion of a snake crawling down the side of the pyramid. This has happened on the same days every year since it was built thousands of years ago. To be able to accomplish this task shows the precision with with they understood the movements of the sun and the solar system at large.

In Egypt the story is the same, the great pyramid is aligned to within 3/16ths of a degree to true north-south. To not only know this but to use it to build structures proves that these civilizations were far more advanced than previously thought. With the obvious intelligence present in ancient civilizations and their emphasis on the importance of astrology it only makes sense to regard this art as worthy of investigation.

So why does astrology work?

There are many ideas as to why astrology is a valid art form. From what we can tell almost every aspect of life operates according to specific patterns. These patterns are often called fractals. A fractal is a pattern that is made up of that pattern repeating over and over at every scale so that every piece of the pattern contains the whole. Electrons and protons circling the nucleus of an atom are akin to the planets in our solar system orbiting the sun. If we were to look at them both from the same perspective they would perhaps be indistinguishable from one another.

From a more traditional scientific point of view we know that the solar system is awash in many kinds of charged particles, magnetism, quantum fields, and more. We see how the moon pulls on the tide and how the sun heats the earth with it's rays. There is cutting edge science showing that the sun is one of the main causes of earthquakes, tropical storms and volcanic eruptions. These studies also show that during planetary alignments there is an increase in these types of events on earth. This is suggestive of the link between planetary movements and their effect on us. It is highly likely that the forces the have such huge impacts upon the planet also effect us. It is well known that humans are susceptible to all kinds of frequencies and energies. As science advances we will begin to understand more and more how this interplay of energies effects us.

What can you do with astrology?

Astrology is highly nuanced and has the potential to tell you about almost every aspect of your life. Yes you can use it to look into the future and tell your fortune but there is so much more. It can tell you about your physical qualities, the way in which you love, your compatibility in relationships, and what you can do to further the evolution of your soul! These are lofty claims but through study and observation you will find that real astrology can be incredibly accurate. We have already spent many years learning about ourselves through hard work, relationships, various jobs and so on. Many people find a good astrological reading to confirm much of what they already know about themselves. I highly recommend further study into even a few of the basic aspects of astrology as they can tell you so much about yourself and save you from putting time and energy into things that are not what you really want.

In this astrology series I will be diving deeper into the many nuances of this art and giving you the information you need to understand it. In the mean time let me give you some of my favorite resources so you can begin to learn more.

First up is http://www.astro.com/ this is where you can enter your birth information and get your natal chart which is the most important part of understanding your personal astrology.

Next is The Leo King he is one of my favorite astrologers and is incredibly good. He tends to be more relatable for a lot of people and has great energy. In addition to his paid service he also releases many videos on YouTube for free so you can get a good idea of what is going on currently.

Another favorite astrologer of mine is Kaypacha he lives in the jungle and really radiates those out there hippie vibes. It's a different energy but for some people it really resonates with them. He is very knowledgeable and is another great place to learn more. He releases a video every week talking about the aspects and energies for the week ahead.

In my next post I will cover the basics of astrology including all the signs and what they represent as well as all the planets and what they represent. If you have any questions feel free to comment below and I will answer them! Thanks for reading friends and I will see you next time!

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Images sourced from Google Images