My cousin Sharon inspired me to write this.

The Bible talks about false gods and religions. These things come from those sources. They are all occultic. An occult means something hidden what’s hidden is satan and something that seems so innocent is actually satanic.

Everything has an origin. It originated somewhere but would you be in agreement with its origins if you really knew?

Origins of Astrology

August 11, 2019by anand

Astral has two meanings, and one is the resemblance with the stars. The other is associated with the non-physical realm of existence within which the hidden knowledge, more quaintly associated through psychic, spiritual and paranormal connections, resides.

These two meanings might appear to be mutually exclusive. However, the core of astrology is the combination of the two. The sky is infinity; its mysteries are beyond physical comprehension.

As we are on the ground, the object within our perception is up to scale, and therefore, we can relate to it and comprehend its very intricacy. However, with the sky, comprehension can be tantamount to ignorance as its vastness can only have a spiritual meaning. This is how Astrology was birthed. It came into existence through the desire to understand its vastness and its effects on our human lives. While misrepresented as pseudo-science, its intricacies that are present is vast, and its origins can be traced back from 3000 BC.

Mesopotamia and Babylonians

While the Vedic Astrology is believed to be a lot older 4000 years old, it is Mesopotamia that started peeking into the vastness of space with spiritual perception. It began in early 3000 BC. It was the time when constellations were seen and categorised as they were. The Sky Watchers of Mesopotamia identified the five wandering stars and combined it with the sun and the moon. Together, they were the seven planets. The word planet also came from Greek spirituality meaning “Wanderers” in Greek.

Within the Mesopotamia, a civilisation grew and flourished, and the first philosophers of astronomy were born. They were the first astronomers that gifted us with the two most important measures of time: the minutes and the numbers. They derived it from the number system, and in their enthusiasm, they also established the first concept of Zodiac.

Zodiac refers to a system of constellations. The Babylonians had a realisation that the Zodiac through which the sun, the moon and other planets appear to move on their passage through the heavens, can act as a yardstick of time. However, for that to happen, it has to be divided into equal and recognisable segments. This was when they selected 12 different constellations. Many of these constellations were identified as animals. Later the Greeks arrived and provided a more suitable term to the Zodiac, the Zodiakos Kyklos (animal circle).

In ancient times, Astrology wasn’t seen as a pseudo-science because it was the Zodiac that acted as a common thread that connected astrologers and astronomers. For the astrologers, they looked at it through their spiritual perception, believing that it was their links with gods. As for the astronomers, they were interested in the positions of stars. Together, both the sciences melded and used Zodiac for many millennia to come.

The arrival of the Greeks into the astrology fold

Greeks took to astrology and astronomy starting from 6^th Century BC. They, in turn, made significant contributions in both the fields. Through their scientific mindset, they took a peek into the skies and came up with insights of the heavens whose brilliance can only be understated. However, much of the later astronomers from Europe ignored it and observed the stars through the Ptolemaic (named after king Ptolemy, Cleopatra’s brother) system. This was the time when astronomy began to diverge from astrology. For even if the entire matter was as scientific as one can imagine, individuals were still not ready for it.

Astrology, on the other hand, found a new footing. Through astrology, the benefits of the vitality and range of Greek gods soon was observed. When linked with planets and constellations, the entire prospect of divinities was seen through a uniquely exciting eye. It was dramatic and exciting, and everyone began showing interest in it. As a result, the range of astrologers extended. While it started with merely aiding with the day to day affairs of the state, the predictions that it sought to make made a lasting impression on the men and women. 

As you can imagine, predicting the future was not something considered wisely back then. And more or less, the Greek civilisation suffered as a result of it.

India and the Birth of Vedic Astrology

India’s history when it comes to Vedic astrology is believed to be more than six millennia old. However, if the evidence is to be considered, it came as early as 1000 BC. Bearing a Greek influence, it came into existence during the Hellenistic period. It is then that India started integrating the western version of the zodiac.  

One can say that it all started with the Greeks. Just as it was happening in India, it started happening in Arabian countries as well. As the influx of forgotten Greek texts started to pour in, it was the golden age of the astrologers. 

However, apprehensions and new knowledge brought in the age of reason and age of science. The appeal of this ancient art started to decline. However, one with the link to spirituality understands the virility of the movement of constellations, and therefore, in India, astrology persists as one of the most intricate and spiritual beliefs. The Indian culture is steeped in spirituality and astrology is an intrinsic part of it. There are no major decisions taken unless the signs say so, and no marriages come into fruition unless proper horoscopes (Janam patri) are drawn up.

However, Jothishi believes that astrology, as innately powerful as it is, can be addicting. Therefore, our experts are geared towards ensuring that you move through life with a spiritual connection where your actions are a consequence of your own choices. 

That being said, the Greek astrology culture resonated through the entire globe and countries like China, Iran, India, and many other’s foundations were laid upon through astrology.

To understand the philosophy of astrology, and Jothishi, one must strive to look upon its impact on other cultures as well.

Astrology[N]

In the early history of humanity, astrology and astronomy were closely related. The latter dealt with the movements of heavenly bodies, while the former attempted to interpret the possible effects that these might have upon earth’s inhabitants. In Babylonia, where astrology had its origins, considerable importance was attached to such phenomena as eclipses and meteors, to say nothing of planetary movements. Individual stars and constellations were given names, and when they began to be worshiped as gods, the way was opened for astrologers to make predictions as to how people on earth might be affected.

In the second millennium b.c., Babylonian astrologers drew up horoscopes indicating what might be expected to happen in each month. Once twelve of these menologies had been compiled, they were used year after year without change. The superstitious Babylonians also devised the zodiac, a division of the celestial sphere into twelve equal parts known as signs or houses, which were named after the sun, moon, and principal planets. By the late fourth century b.c., Mesopotamian astrology had spread to Greece, and about a century later was adopted widely by the Egyptians. When Greek culture was absorbed by the Romans, astrology assumed the form of a religion, and its practitioners began to design individual horoscopes.

The Old Testament While some have asserted that the twelvefold blessing pronounced by Jacob on his sons ( Gen 49:1-28 ) had some astrological significance, there is nowhere in the material any mention of the possible influence of heavenly bodies. The Israelites were forbidden to worship stars ( Deu 9:14 ), this being seen as an offshoot of astrological speculation. Several centuries later, the influence of Mesopotamian star adulation was being experienced in Israel, causing Amos to condemn the northern kingdom’s worship of Saturn ( 5:26 ). Jeremiah also referred to the pagan veneration of Ishtar or Venus ( 7:18 ; 44:17-19 ) as well as celestial bodies generally ( 8:2 ;  19:13 ). Isaiah was the first to refer specifically to astrologers and their activities ( 47:13 ), and in his prophecy he predicted their destruction, saying that “the fire will burn them up” ( 47:14 ).

Daniel seems to have been familiar with astrologers ( 2:27 ;  4:7 ) and with their inability to interpret the king’s dreams. Some writers have suggested that the term “Chaldean, ” used to describe the wise men of Babylon who acted as astrologers, had actually been written galdu, “astrologers, ” by Daniel, but later on was transcribed incorrectly as kaldu, since by then Chaldea (mat Kaldu) had become known as the place where they flourished. Daniel repudiated their supposed abilities by declaring that only God can be regarded as the true source of revelations concerning the future ( 5:14-16 ).

Some two centuries before Christ was born, astrology gained a foothold in Jewish religion, when identification of certain angels with stars and planets came into vogue. Although the tradition was repudiated in Wisdom 13:1-4, it had already become impossible to halt the Jewish fascination with astrology. The remains of a Byzantine synagogue floor, unearthed at sixth-century a.d. levels at Beth Alpha in Palestine, included a mosaic in the form of a zodiac, thus showing the extent to which astrology had infiltrated religious architecture.

The New Testament It is against the intertestamental period’s concern with angels and elemental spirits that the influence of astrology on early Christianity must be assessed. What may have been an example of celestial phenomena being given an astrological interpretation involved the appearance of an unusual star in the heavens. Such occurrences were not entirely unknown in antiquity, and sometimes were taken as pointing to the birth of a famous person, such as Alexander the Great. Thus the Mesopotamian magi ( Matt 2:1-2 ), who were most probably professional astrologers, were able to both reassure and alarm Herod by offering him astrological reasons for their journey. The star has been a matter of debate also. The magi spoke of it as a single entity, but some scholars have regarded it as a conjunction of Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn. Others prefer the translation “in its ascendancy” to the traditional “in the east.” If the star was a single celestial body, it could possibly have been a nova in its final stage of existence, but this cannot be demonstrated. The Greek word magoi [mavgo”] appears again in ac 8:9 and 13:6-8, to describe magicians rather than astrologers.

There could possibly be a reference to the worship of angelic beings in some of Paul’s writings, notably in Galatians 4:3 and Colossians 2:15, 20, where the veneration of celestial bodies, particularly among Colossian Christians, was being condemned. Less probably is the speculation that the depth (Gk. bathos [bavqo”]) and height (Gk. hypsoma[u&ywma]) as in Romans 8:39 can be interpreted astrologically. If anything, they are astronomical terms intended to denote space in relation to the earth. It would thus appear that the New Testament contains no explicit statements that would support the practice of astrology. While some have argued that the magi’s visit to Bethlehem gives proper credence to the value of astrology, the fact is that, from a theological perspective, the obedient believer is led in life by the Holy Spirit, who was promised by Christ as the one who would guide the godly into all truth ( John 16:13 ).

Anthropologists and others have observed that when religion declines in a culture it is replaced by superstition. Consequently, it is only to be expected that when people fall away from the faith once delivered to the saints they will place increasing trust in such astrological devices as horoscopes. Part of the popularity of these ancient Mesopotamian devices is that they are seen to afford a possible glimpse into the immediate future. It is unhappily true that they are immensely popular among superstitious persons, and are given wide circulation in the press. It is almost unbelievable that some scientists, who above all others insist upon a pragmatic, empirical approach to their work that is devoid of any possible religious influence, should consult their horoscopes each morning before undertaking the day’s responsibilities.

Many of those in bondage to horoscopes argue that nowadays the stars are not consulted, but that instead the predictions are formulated mathematically, and customized to accommodate the latitude and longitude of particular individuals. Christians need to reject such spurious “science, ” and commit their way consistently to the continual guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Tarot (/ˈtæroʊ/, first known as trionfi and later as tarocchi or tarock) is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play games such as Italiantarocchini, French tarotand Austrian Königrufen, many of which are still played today. In the late 18th century, some tarot decks began to be used for divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy leading to custom decks developed for such occultpurposes.^[1]

Divination[N][T][E][S]

Communication with a deity for the purpose of determining the deity’s knowledge, resulting in clarification of a decision or discernment of the future. Two forms of divination developed in the ancient Near East, one using inductive manipulation of natural or human phenomena and the other taking intuitive forms of inner revelation.

The History of Divination. In Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and Canaan, people communicated with their deities by means of divination, both on a personal and public level. From the Old Babylonian period (ca. 2000 b.c.) on in Mesopotamia, the reading of livers helped determine the actions of commoners and kings. A sheep was slaughtered, its liver removed, and the markings of the organ “read” for an answer. Other inductive types of divination included the analysis of stars, moon, entrails, lungs, weather, birds, and fetuses. Human-produced phenomena studied included casting lots, shooting arrows, dropping oil in water, drinking wine, calling the dead, and sprinkling water on an ox. Intuitive types of divination in the ancient Near East involved oracles, prophecies, and dreams.

In Israel, an official position on divination limited its uses to forms that did not reflect the practices of surrounding cultures. Most inductive forms were forbidden ( Lev 19:26 ; Deut 18:11 ), although the use of Urim and Thummim and lots supposes some inductive approaches. Most ancient practices, however, were used by both the populace and the officials. The Bible alludes to the use of omens ( Isa 44:25 ), arrows ( Ho 4:12 ), animal actions ( 1 Sam 6:7-12 ), the reading of livers ( Eze 21:21-22 ), budding plants ( Num 17:1-11 ), necromancy ( 1 Sam 28 ), and prophetic utterances, called false ( Micah 3:7  Micah 3:11 ) or “lying divinations” ( Isa 44:25 ;  Jer 14:14 ; 27:9-10 ;  Ezek 12:24 ;  Zech 10:2 ). References to the “soothsayers’ tree” ( Judges 9:37 ), the “sons of a sorcerer” ( Isa 57:3 ), and the girl with a spirit of divination ( Acts 16:16-19 ) are evidence of widespread practice.

Theology of Divination. Divination presupposes that the divine communicates with the human. This communication takes both human and divine initiative. Inductive techniques depend on human initiation. The Bible supposes that a priority rests on revelatory forms (dream, vision, oracle) rather than on inductive ones (Urim/ Thummim, ephod). Although natural phenomena may communicate God’s will, their interpretation must be scrutinized and may be helped by the verbal. It seems clear that God is not limited to the use of any one means of revelation.

Why would the Bible record such strong negative injunctions against inductive divination? Deuteronomic law especially attacks everything connected with pagan religions. Foreign deities may have attached themselves to these methods. Even then, most of Israel’s approved methods display parallels with the surrounding cultures. The question of veracity may be involved because they prove difficult to interpret. For this reason, verbal forms take precedence over inductive methods. Yet even prophecies need to stand the test of whether they come true ( Deut 18:21-22 ).

Human need requires discernment of divine desires. God chooses to communicate in a variety of ways, including divination techniques, but always in the clearest, most unambiguous way possible.

For more information on occult read my blog: https://creativeforceforthekingdom.com/2018/08/15/what-is-new-age-occult-why-is-it-so-dangerous/amp/