Astrology, astronomy and reason

If not for its huge impact on our people, Astrology could be dismissed as a harmless indulgence.

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It is popularly understood as being based on the precise Science of Astronomy. The main manifestation that impacts on us is the Horoscope on which many things depend. Three key factors are considered in their casting and use. These are (i) Time of birth (ii) Positions of the planets at that moment and (iii) The interpretation of the resulting Chart. There are inexactitudes regarding all three.

Time of Birth

How does one define Birth? Is it the time of emergence of the head, the whole body or the severance of the placenta? Or, could it be the moment of conception? How precise need the timepiece be, and was it calibrated for accuracy and is it GMT or time at location?

Planetary position at that moment

One assumes that the cosmic space is divided into twelve to represent the twelve “Houses”. The Sun and Moon (although strictly not planets,), are also positioned on the chart. Is there a justification for considering only our Solar system from among the 30,000,000 or so Galaxies thought to exist in the Milky Way alone? Since even a small error in recording time may allow the drift from one House to another, there must be very clear boundaries and light must travel in a straight line through cosmic distances. Does light “bend” and what has Relativity Theory to say?

In defining Zodiac signs, there appear to be at least two different systems. For example, in “Western” style, the intervals relate to dates of each month. For example, the governing sign for all born between the 21 of January and 20 February would have to be the same cluster. Those from 21 February to 20 March belong to another, and so on. “Eastern” systems are possibly more complex, with possibly a single day possibly marking several signs. How to select which system, or reconciling one with the other, would be complex and puzzling to most of us.