Written by: Virdah Khan
Posted on: October 13, 2021 | 
| 中文
Doodle tribute to Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni by Google
From occupying a full page in the weekly Akhbar-e-Jahan to a quarter of a page in the daily Jang, sun sign-based horoscopes command dedicated spaces in newspapers, despite the fact that a large majority of readers seem to find them inaccurate. But these horoscope columns continue to survive because the same large majority of people seem to be addicted to them.
So why is it that so many people are magnetically pulled towards their "sun signs", even when they know that what they read could be inaccurate or simply a farce? We are on a quest to demystify horoscopes with some fact-checking around the history and significance of this subject.
Twelve Signs of the Zodiac. (credits to Getty Images)
"Horoscope" is a Greek word with roots in two words, "hora" meaning "time" and "skopos" meaning "observer". On the other hand, the word "astrology" has roots in the Greek word Astron (star), Latin word astrologia (a telling of the stars), and Old French word astrologie (astrology). The Cambridge dictionary defines "astrology" as "the study of the movements and positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars in the belief that they affect the character and lives of people". In summary, astrology is to horoscopes what mechanical engineering is to machines.
Let's delve a bit deeper into the history of astrology and horoscopes.
What we know as "horoscope" or "astrology" is a predictive language used for describing astronomical phenomena. According to NASA, archaeologist Alexander Marshack published research papers in 1964 and 1990, about the earliest lunar calendar, which dates back to 32,000 BCE. It is quite fascinating to know that the earliest human civilizations were recording lunar phases to navigate their daily lives.
An Astrolabe placed in Lahore Museum (credits to writer)
Astrology continues to command interest to this day because of its relationship to astronomy. The tradition of studying stars is rooted in Persian, Arabian, Babylonian, Indian, and Hellenistic cultures. Medieval Iraqi astronomer Al Fazari invented the astrolabe, while Abu Ma'shar is the most popular astrologer from medieval Persia, whose work is heavily referenced even today. There's also a crater of the moon which is named after Persian scientist, anthropologist and astronomer Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni, due to his famous Treatise on Eclipses.
Persian Astrologer Abu Ma'shar (Credits to Gulf News)
Technically speaking, to get a horoscope report, astrologers cast a birth chart to find the location of all planets in the sky at the time of birth. A description of personality and probable life events is derived using historic evidence of astronomical observations. Because of the ancient history of this tradition, many cross-culture themes and beliefs also become part of these descriptions.
There are tons of free websites available nowadays that calculate a birth chart and also give small descriptions of our sun, moon, and rising signs. For the uninitiated, it is quite surprising to find out that our personality is the summation of these three signs, and not just our sun sign. This is the reason why casual horoscope columns never seem to give a correct reading when checked for just the sun sign.
In cultures such as North America, China, and India, advanced astrology or the study of cosmic patterns is deeply ingrained in everyday lifestyle. Famous Swiss psychologist Carl Jung introduced "Psychological Astrology" for the diagnosis of abuse and traumatic patterns in an individual's life. In India, astrological symbolism is used for the purification of character that leads to success in life. While in China, astrology is intertwined with everyday living in the form of the Chinese lunar calendar and Feng Shui, a traditional pseudoscientific practice in China, which claims to use energy forces to harmonize any individual with their environment.
Chinese Zodiac signs (credits to Getty Images)
Astrology in the Islamic world is regularly discussed by Penn State Abington's history professor Ali Olomi on his Twitter handle. Professor Olomi's astrology threads on Wednesdays are hugely popular, and frequently become the subject of mainstream news stories as they discuss current affairs from astrological and historical perspectives.
A thread on astrological transit by Professor Ali Olomi
This bird's eye view of astrology and its interconnectedness with astronomy, helps us understand that while reading a horoscope column may not resolve life's many riddles, still anyone who feels an inclination to read about their Sun sign may find a deeper meaning and guidance in cosmic patterns. From guiding ships in open seas to set the direction for namaz, symbolism in the skies has remained a companion to all human beings.
In the words of the great Moroccan teacher and poet Sheikh ibn Al Habib:
"The cosmos are meanings set up in images
Whoever understands this is among the people of discernment."
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