Astrology
Cross-traditionEditorial synthesis
Definition
A family of historical and contemporary practices that interpret the positions of celestial bodies as symbolically meaningful for human life. Traditions differ widely; astrology is distinct from the science of astronomy.
In more depth
Astrology is not a single system. Babylonian celestial divination, Hellenistic horoscopic astrology, Indian Jyotisha, and modern Western practice each use their own concepts, techniques, and assumptions, transmitted and transformed across more than two thousand years.[1][2]
On this platform, astrological statements are presented as tradition-scoped interpretation (what a given tradition teaches), never as scientific fact. Controlled studies of astrological personality description have not supported its predictive claims, and that scientific-evaluation layer is documented separately and honestly.[3][4]
References
Numbered citations in the text link to the records below; each record links to the full source registry.
- Francesca Rochberg. The Heavenly Writing: Divination, Horoscopy, and Astronomy in Mesopotamian Culture. Cambridge University Press. 2004. Historical scholarship View source record
- Nicholas Campion. A History of Western Astrology, Volume I: The Ancient and Classical Worlds. Continuum. 2009. Historical scholarship View source record
- Shawn Carlson. A double-blind test of astrology. Nature 318 (6045), pp. 419-425. 1985. Scientific study View source record
- I. W. Kelly. Why Astrology Doesn't Work. Psychological Reports 82 (2), pp. 527-546. 1998. Scientific criticism View source record