Divination

Sometimes they're uncanny in their accuracy; other times they hit a bit off the mark. Nearly always, horoscopes are good entertainment. But Astrology is far more complex than a daily horoscope-and it's not just for fun.Contrary to its popular but erroneous reputation as a New Age subject, Astrology is actually an ancient science that predates both astronomy and psychology. Studied and used throughout the world for thousands of years, Astrology is the study of the interactions among the Stars and the Planets, based on intricate mathematical cycles.The earliest known astrological records date back to Babylon, 1645 BC, and the earliest horoscope to 410 BC. Astrology's origins canalso be traced to several other locations and cultures, including Egypt, which developed sophisticated timekeeping and calendar science; Greece, where Ptolemy authored influential astrological and astronomical texts; and Rome, where many of the most learned men-including two emperors-were astrologers who wrote laws and counseled citizens based on the Stars. During the Renaissance, when literacy became more widespread, almanacs began publishing astrological information for public consumption.

Several notable figures of the era, including Galileo and Copernicus, were both practicing astrologers and founders of the modern scientific movement. Despite the seemingly easy relationship between Astrology and science, however, Astrology began to lose popular credibility when myriad predictions about the great conjunction of 1524 failed to "come true." As theScientific Revolution surged and astronomy gained respect, Astrology and various other arts fell by the wayside. Many individuals still practiced the art, however, and Astrology enjoyed small revivals in England in the 17- and 1800s. But it wasn't until the birth of Princess Margaret in 1930 that Astrology once again found widespread popularity. That year, the London Sunday Express ran an astrological profile of the princess to celebrate her birth-and so began the modern newspaper horoscope column. In the 1950s, French astrologers Michel and Françoise Gauquelin used sophisticated statistical studies to link the positions of the Planets to human nature. Others, such as Dane Rudhyar, have expanded the study of Humanistic Astrology.

Copyright: Astrology.com

This week's lunar eclipse is one for the books with so much going on, it's hard to know where to start the commentary. Certainly, there are many wonderful, rich, challenging, things going on astrologically...A few technical details first: From start to finish, August's lunar eclipse lasts about three hours and thirty-three minutes (not including the penumbral phases which are very difficult to see).The partial eclipse begins as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moves into the Earth's umbral shadow. During the partial phases, it takes just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it entirely within the Earth's dark umbra. The color and brightness of thetotally eclipsed Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another.

Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. But since no major volcanic eruptions have taken place recently, the Moon will probably take on a vivid red or orange color during the total phase. After the total phase ends, it is once again followed by a partial eclipse as the Moon gradually leaves the umbral shadow. The total phase of a lunar eclipse is called totality. At this time, the Moon is completely immersed within the Earth's dark umbral shadow. During the August 28 eclipse totality will last 90 minutes. From: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2007Aug28/TLE2007Aug28.html The Sabian Symbol for this lunar eclipse in Pisces is Pisces 5: A Church Bazaar. This Symbol speaks of peoplepulling together, with a sense of faith, and working towards the common good of one's community, family, neighbourhood, along with one's spiritual needs being fulfilled. The image to the left here is how life could look at the moment - sliding down that rabbit hole, not sure what's next, what to take in, where we're going. Of course, this can be an exciting ride, but certainty is one thing we'd like to have at the moment... however, Saturn (which usually gives us that certainty) is slipping into Virgo any minute now, getting ready to shake up our usual notions of what's solid, real, tangible, desirable... bringing us to the table to be accountable, on time, useful, productive, fit, healthy,toget......

If you want a glimpse of your future, it might be in the cards. Tarot cards, used for centuries to sum up the past and predict the future of believers, are experiencing a bit of a revival. Readers of tarot cards, such as Conie Marks, who in the not-so-distant past might have been associated with gypsies and carnival booths, have entered the mainstream, opening storefronts and taking appointments. Reading tarot and being able to predict the future, is a gift that has been handed down through the women in her family. She keeps a deck of tarot cards owned by her grandmother, a Cherokee Indian. Usually by the age of two orthree, she said, the psychic abilities of her family members have been evident.

"Instead of playing with Barbies, I was playing with tarot cards," Jessica Jacobs, who calls herself the "Greeley Witch," has been reading tarot cards for 40 years. Jacobs said she began studying astrology in her youth, but found it boring and stagnant. On a whim, she took up a tarot deck and felt she had a connection to the art of card reading. It wasn't long before people began telling her she had a gift. Working as an artist and gallery owner, Jacobs said she began doing tarot card readings for just a few clients, rather covertly.Now, she said, she is more open with her craft and simply lays it on the line. She owns the building at 9th Avenue and 9th Street in downtown Greeley, where she operates a mysticalshop and offers tarot card readings by appointment or during walk-in hours."I've been doing this for 40 years and I just tell people what it is," she said. "Some people leave here mad because of what I tell them. But I'm not going to lie."There are different stories about the origins of tarot cards, but most believe they became widely used in Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries. Some believe it was an art started by the ancient Greeks. Others say it originated in Italy. Some say it had its origin in the religions of the pagans, and was later changed by Christian leaders, who tried to make the practice fit their religious ideals.There is no debate that tarot cards are the predecessors of the playing cards that are widely used for recreation and gambling today. A traditional tarot deck has 78 cards, including 22"......

It is an ancient system of prediction, written on palmyra leaves. Previously known only to a select group of people, the naadi astrology of India is growing in popularity. It has even been featured in documentaries, including on Discovery Channel. Suganthi Suparmaniam turns over the leaves Kuala Lumpur: A. Shanmugam sat transfixed. The naadi astrologer had just read out his name and those of his parents and siblings. "I was astonished. Reading the naadi olai (dried palmyra leaves), he could even tell that my mother had two names," said the technician. Recalling the first time he had gone to see a naadi astrologer in 2002, Shanmugam saidthe astrologer took his thumbprint and checked it against several bundles of olai. "I was told to say only yes or no as he read from the olai.

He asked if my name started with ‘Pa’ or ‘Re’ or ‘Mu’. When he said ‘Sha’, I said yes. He asked if my name was Shanmugam. "He then asked if my parents were named so and so and if I had this number of siblings and if I worked as a technician. "However, when he came to the name of my wife, he said it was Manogari. My wife’s name is Maheshwari. He then said this was not my olai and asked me to come again in two weeks. "This time, all the information about me fell into place. But I am amazed that such information about me could be contained in the olai, which is said to have been written by sages of a bygone age. "I am also amazed that there could beanother man with my name and whose parents and siblings have similar names but who has a wife called Manogari. "Since then I have seen the naadi astrologer 17 times. I find there is truth in what is said in the olai, at least for me," he added.Shanmugam is just one of the many people who are consulting naadi astrologers to find out their past, present and future. After being told by a Chinese friend about the naadi astrologers, Chiew Chee Hoong, 50, from Subang Jaya went to find out. "My friend told me the readings were accurate. I went to the astrologer, gave him my thumb- print and within minutes he found a script and read out my name," he said. He added that he was happy with the reading and described it as accurate. He said he would be performing a special prayer as instructed in the olai. Busi......