English
Historically, astrology and astronomy were more or less interchangeable. Mathematicians and astronomers were closely aligned, and carefully studied the skies (as well as weather patterns and other more observable phenomena) to advise everyone from kings to farmers on the best times to do things. As our ancestors were more closely dependent on the earth, the shifts in seasons were intertwined with everything from when wars were waged to when to plant seeds. It is only our modern differentiation between art, science and ´facts´ that has changed. Remember that music was only recently unlinked from maths – Mozart was considered to be a brilliant mathematician, when we considered those black notations to be calculated rather than inspired.
As astrology was a respected branch of astronomy and mathematics, astrologers were well-paid and highly respected. Their calculations were also freakishly accurate, and continue to confound modern-day scientists who track the skies with deep-space telescopes, satellites and GPS, and are STILL unable to recreate the pinpoint calculations of earlier ´space men.´
The grey area of astrology comes in the form of interpretation. Astrology is testable in astronomical purposes (the movements of planets) but a good astrologer used this information to draw conclusions that help their clients to predict their future.
However, all good astrologers are cautious. They go to great pains to remind us that astrology simply helps us to identify tendencies rather than certainties. In the same way that ancient astrologers could tell us a better time to plant seeds, modern-day astrologers can help us find a better time to begin a new romance, apply for a better job, or begin a fitness regime. They can never tell us definitively that something will (or will not) come to pass.
Whether you truly believe in astrology or not, the major astral events are always a good excuse for a little fun. The total lunar eclipse in December 2010 is only visible from far northern Europe and sky-watchers from all over the world will be renting apartments in Helsinki to catch a glimpse of this amazing sight that now amazes us and once terrified our ancestors.?
