By Nethmie Dehigama Where did astrology come from? When did it begin? Whether you believe in it or not, its beginnings are quite intriguing – but what is even more fascinating is that after thousands of years, the study and use of astrology is yet to falter. At the crux of it all, astrology is a way for people to look for meaning in the skies. And yes, maybe it is not too far off of a reasoning to believe that the universe works on some algorithmic capacity, except it is essentially flawed humans who are still ascertaining the most accurate meaning while being privy to only a partial, nay, minuscule view of the entire universe. It is no wonder, then, that the scholarly study of astrology continues to this day. It is also no wonder that it remains a cultural phenomenon worldwide, where many humans are likely to seek control of their own lives through predictions – a more sure-fire approach than living in the discomfort of the unknown and ever-changing world. Historically, man has always had an interest in the sky. Over time, this split into three: astrology, astronomy, and the calendar. However, it was all part of a singular practice when the early civilisations of Mesopotamia began the first scientific astronomical observations around 3000 BC. They recognised and named prominent constellations, as well as the “five wandering stars”. Together with the sun and the moon, this formed the 7 original “planets”. Fun fact: the term “planet” is derived from the Greek word “planetes” meaning “wanderer.” There was the belief that these planets and constellations influenced life on earth – and understandably so. Today, we have capitalism and technology that drives the world and takes our focus, but back in the day, humans were most likely exposed to the expanses of nature and the night sky, while their eyes, curiosity, and imaginations were constantly drawn to it. Even before the Babylonians though, the human interest in the cosmos always existed. Markings on bones and cave walls date back 25,000 years, and it seems to have been that people used the star groups to mark certain seasons or annual happenings like floods which were important from an agricultural perspective. The Mesopotamians leveraged this knowledge but added more meaning alongside more sophisticated approaches to the subject.   By the 18th century BC, astronomers of Babylon introduced astronomical measurements that we still use today. They also introduced the concept of the 12 zodiac signs after observing that the same set of constellations appears to move in certain “passages” through the heavens – which serves as a yardstick of celestial time if divided into recognisable and equal segments. Animal names were used to label these constellations. The zodiac is connected to specific times of the year, but also to their gods (this is a good example of how astrology, astronomy, and the calendar were ONE concept at the time.) From around the 6th century BC, the Greeks made significant advancements in the fields of astrology and astronomy. Their analytical approach to these led to deep insights – some of which led to incorrect systems like the Ptolemaic system that remained in use for over a thousand years where the Egyptian Astronomer and Mathematician of Greek descent Ptolemy put forward a geocentric model – in other words, Earth was at the centre of the universe. Astrology at this time was also strongly associated with the Greek gods, which made it quite exciting – which was probably why there was a shift from it being something important for state affairs to something that focused on casting the fortunes of men and women of the time. Astrology made its way into different ancient nations and cultures. It became a subject of importance in the Arab region, China, India, Medieval and Renaissance Europe, and even Mesoamerica. Islamic scholars picked up astrology during the 7th century, and then also improved upon the astronomical observations, naming stars such as Betelgeuse and Vega – names we still use. However, as Islamic science continued to advance, some of the astrological theories were refuted on theological grounds. Astrology flourished in India during the Vedic period (1500 – 500 BC). Indian astronomy and astrology continued to develop together. And as we all know, astrology is still a big part of Indian culture. In China, the astrological system was also based on their native astronomy and developed during the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. It also grew to have a close relation to Chinese philosophy. Until around the 17th century, astrology was considered to be a scholarly tradition, while some parts of it were used in other fields such as meteorology and medicine! But, by the turn of the century, emerging scientific astronomical concepts meant that astrology began to lose its academic standing and became regarded as a pseudo-science instead – which remains the accepted approach to it even today. But that does not stop many from still learning about it, observing, and even getting their horoscopes read! Because let’s be honest, how amazing would it be to crack the code of the universe and control our futures – or even approach it with confidence?   There is so much more to the history of astrology, of course – if you are a history buff, it will not be a waste of your time to look into it further!       PHOTOS © GETTY IMAGES, BRITISH MUSEUM