Astrology
the study of the alleged influence of the stars and other heavenly bodies on the life and destiny of persons. Thus a person born under the influence of Mercury had a mercurial temperament; if brought into the world when Jupiter was ascendant, he had a jovial disposition. From time immemorial the Chinese, Egyptians, Chaldeans, Greeks, and Romans were subject to the grossest delusions of this sort. On the supposition that the earth stood still while the heavens revolved, the rising and setting of the various stars was a great mystery. If the sky were full of charioteers, gods, serpents, animals, nymphs, bowmen, watermen, warriors, etc., as the names of the constellations would imply, it is no great wonder that they should be thought to have an influence dire or propitious, and that people without scientific knowledge should consider rain, drouth, plenty, famine, war, pestilence, health, disease, friends, enemies, life, and death, the heaven-sent gifts of the inhabitants with whom their imagination filled the sky. Even the Jews, the early Christians, and the scholarly Arabians, who had a more correct notion of the stars, still thought the heavenly bodies in their courses had a powerful influence on the destinies of the human race.
The medieval astrologer divided the heavens into twelve regions by as many lines or meridians running from pole to pole. These twelve regions or spaces were called houses. Named in order, they were the houses of life, riches, brethren, parents, children, health, marriage, death, religion, dignities, friends, and enemies. The house just below the horizon at the hour of one's birth was said to be ascendant or rising, and had the greatest influence. Each house was ruled by a powerful star. The stars and houses in the eastern horizon at the moment of birth were therefore of the utmost importance. The astrologers, it was believed, understood these influences and could cast the horoscope of an infant. By knowing the date and hour of birth they could work backward and determine, for instance, whether the house of war was for or against one.
Astrologers were persons of influence. They received large fees and gifts for their services. It is not difficult to understand how the grossest deception may have been practiced. A pretended astrologer in the service of a court might be the emissary of a foreign power sent for the very purpose of ingratiating himself that he might give readings calculated to lead his dupes into making blunders in warfare and statecraft.
It is difficult to realize that a large part of the time of the learned was devoted at one time to astrology and to alchemy, and that both had so strong a hold, not merely on the common people, but on the wisest men of medieval times. Astrology bears the same relation to astronomy that alchemy holds to the science of chemistry. It passed away with the acceptance of correct views regarding the daily rotation of the earth on its axis.
Some of the savage tribes of Asia and Africa are said to believe in a rude astrology still. Many once popular notions still linger, as that Friday is an unlucky day for a journey, and that a rainy day is unlucky for a wedding. Some people think it useless to plant melon seeds except at a certain time of the moon; others cannot make soft soap unless the moon is right.
Our vocabulary is indebted to astrology for many familiar words. To consider originally meant to view or study the stars. A disaster is the stroke of an evil star. A disastrous battle is due to an unfavorable star. A saturnine disposition is under the influence of Saturn. A lunatic is a moonstruck person. In Judges v: 20, we learn that "The stars in their courses fought against Sisera." Job asks, "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion?" Napoleon believed in his star. The star of peace, an evil star, one's lucky star, the star of empire, are familiar expressions inherited from the astrologer.
A number of popular sayings connected with the month of the year have their origin, in all probability, in the old practice of astrology. Thus a girl born in January is likely to be prudent; in February, affectionate; in March, quarrelsome; in April, fickle; in May, happy; in June, impetuous; in July, sulky; in August, practical; in September, popular; in October, coquettish; in November, kind; in December, extravagant. An old adage thus lays down the proper days for wedlock: Monday for wealth; Tuesday for health; Wednesday the best day of all; Thursday for crosses; Friday for losses; Saturday no luck at all.