How Do Astrological Signs Function?

Astrology is a complex field that involves the study of the movement of the sun and other celestial bodies in the sky. It is based on the belief that the alignment of stars and planets affects an individual’s mood, personality, and environment, depending on when they were born. The zodiac signs, which are abstractions from physical constellations, represent exactly 1⁄12th of the full circle, but the time spent by the Sun in each sign varies slightly due to the eccentricity of the Earth’s orbit.

In Western astrology, astrological signs are the twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth’s 360-degree orbit around the Sun. Each sign has 30 days assigned to it, resulting in roughly 1° of movement per day and 30 days of movement per sign. This means zodiac sign dates, based on the mathematical division of the year, basically correspond today to the presence of the sun in the sky.

Zodiacs don’t actually do anything, but they govern our emotions, inner callings, and desires. They consist of a wheel divided into 12 zodiac signs, which align with 12 houses (or areas of life) and are populated with planets. These houses are populated with planets, which are the elements of fire and associated with the spring season.

In summary, astrology is a complex field that involves the study of the movement of the sun and other celestial bodies in the sky. It is based on the belief that the alignment of stars and planets affects an individual’s mood, personality, and environment, depending on when they were born.

Is astrology haram in Islam?

The Hadith, a collection of Islamic religious teachings, is a significant part of the Islamic faith. It outlines the instructions and practices of Muhammad, who criticized the legality and illegality of astrology. According to Abu Dawud, seeking knowledge from the stars is considered witchcraft, which is inherently forbidden in Islam. The Hadith also emphasizes that rain is a blessing bestowed only by Allah, and any belief that rain is a result of other beings is considered disbelief.

The Hadith also mentions the stars, stating that those who suggest rain originates from a star are considered disbelievers in Allah. This concept of astrology and the belief in celestial beings’ influence on anything other than what is enshrined in the Quran and Hadith constitutes shirk (blasphemy) and leads one to leave the fold of the religion.

Second-century Islamic scholar Imam Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, views astrology as fundamentally forbidden in the Islamic religion. He warns followers not to learn the science of stars except for guidance on land or sea, as it leads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner. This aligns with the Quran, which points to stars and astrology as only a means of navigation.

However, prominent scholars like Ibn Arabi and Ikhwan argue that planets are not considered God but do suggest each prophet with a specific planet/celestial being. Prophet Idris, also known as Enoch, was gifted with great knowledge of the stars and used his gift to meditate upon God’s grandeur and teach others. He believed that the stars and moon contributed to mankind and founded the study of the stars.

Different sects of Islam offer varying perspectives on the concept of astrology.

Why do people believe in astrology?

Astrology is a tool for understanding one’s self-identity and self-conception. According to Jennifer Freed, PhD, it serves as a validation for one’s unique gifts and provides confirmation and encouragement. Astrology is likened to a beautiful staircase, where one must walk mindfully and hold onto a solid foundation. Humans tend to remember positive feedback that validates their self-conception over negative feedback, making it easy to accept the ambiguous and positive aspects of astrology. This approach helps individuals develop their unique gifts and take mindful steps towards self-discovery.

How is astrology calculated?

A horoscope is a map or diagram of the positions of planets at a specific time, calculated using the date, place, and exact time of birth. This input data is used by astrologers to create an individual’s horoscope.

How does astrology actually work?

Astrology is a method of predicting mundane events based on the assumption that celestial bodies, particularly planets and stars, determine or indicate changes in the sublunar world. The theoretical basis for this assumption is historically from Hellenistic philosophy, which distinguishes astrology from celestial omina (omens) first categorized and cataloged in ancient Mesopotamia. Astrologers initially presupposed a geocentric universe with planets and stars rotating in orbits with Earth’s center.

Later, Aristotelian physics principles were adopted, dividing the eternal, circular motions of the heavenly element from the limited, linear motions of the four sublunar elements: fire, air, water, and earth.

Special relations were believed to exist between celestial bodies and their motions, configurations, and processes of generation and decay. These relations were sometimes considered so complex that no human mind could completely grasp them, making astrologers easily excused for errors. Platonic astrologers believed in divine intervention in natural processes through celestial influences upon Earth.

The role of the divine in astrological theory varies considerably. In its most rigorous aspect, astrology postulates a totally mechanistic universe, denying the possibility of intervention and free will. This has been vigorously attacked by orthodox Christianity and Islam. However, some astrologers, such as Bardesanes, believe that the motions of the stars govern only the elemental world, leaving the soul free to choose between good and evil.

Man’s ultimate goal is to attain emancipation from an astrologically dominated material world. Some astrologers, like Harranians and Hindus, regard the planets themselves as potent deities whose decrees can be changed through supplication and liturgy.

How do the signs work?

Astrology, a system of omina based on celestial appearances, is a pseudoscience that originated from Babylonian astrology and was later influenced by Hellenistic culture. It consists of twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth’s 360-degree orbit around the Sun, starting from the First Point of Aries, the vernal equinox. The signs include Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Over time, Western astrology’s divisions have shifted out of alignment with the constellations they were named after by axial precession of the Earth. Hindu astrology measurements correct for this shifting. Astrology was also developed in Chinese and Tibetan cultures, but these astrologies deal with the whole sky.

Astrology is based on the principle of “as above, so below”, meaning that celestial phenomena relate to human activity. Scientific astronomy used the same sectors of the ecliptic as Western astrology until the 19th century.

Is there any truth to astrology?

Astrology is a belief system that suggests a connection between astronomical phenomena and human events or personality descriptions. However, it has been criticized by the scientific community for lacking explanatory power and scientific testing has found no evidence to support its premises or effects. The most famous test, led by Shawn Carlson, concluded that natal astrology performed no better than chance. Astrology has not demonstrated its effectiveness in controlled studies and has no scientific validity, making it regarded as pseudoscience.

There is no proposed mechanism by which stars and planets’ positions and motions could affect people and events on Earth in the way astrologers claim, which contradicts well-understood aspects of biology and physics. Modern scientific inquiry into astrology focuses on the correlation between astrological traditions and the influence of seasonal birth in humans.

How do astrology signs work?

The zodiac calendar is a system of astrological classification that divides the year into twelve “star signs,” based on the constellation the sun passes through at a specific time. The zodiac sign associated with an individual’s birth month is determined by the position of the sun in the zodiac at the time of their birth.

Will Allah forgive for believing in zodiac signs?

Shirk is a sin that Allah does not forgive, and it is worse than any other sin, including eating pork or drinking alcohol. Reading horoscopes is not just a harmless fun, but a form of shirk that can have serious consequences in the afterlife. It is akin to idol worship and is strictly forbidden in Islam. Reading horoscopes is not just a fun activity, but a form of shirk that seeks knowledge of the unseen, which is only known by Allah.

It is akin to idol worship and is not something to be taken lightly. Therefore, reading horoscopes and believing in them is not a harmless pastime but a serious sin that can have serious consequences in the afterlife.

Who decides zodiac signs?

The star sign is determined by the position of the Sun in a particular constellation at birth. As Earth moves around the Sun, each Zodiacal constellation is hidden behind it. The zodiac, which stretches 8-9 degrees either side of the ecliptic, is the region where the Sun, Moon, and planets are found (except for Pluto). The narrow band of the zodiac, marked by blue lines, stretches 9 degrees either side of the ecliptic. There are 13 Zodiacal Constellations through which the ecliptic passes, including the Sun, Moon, and planets.

What does Allah say about astrology?

The Hadith, a collection of Islamic religious teachings, is a significant part of the Islamic faith. It outlines the instructions and practices of Muhammad, who criticized the legality and illegality of astrology. According to Abu Dawud, seeking knowledge from the stars is considered witchcraft, which is inherently forbidden in Islam. The Hadith also emphasizes that rain is a blessing bestowed only by Allah, and any belief that rain is a result of other beings is considered disbelief.

The Hadith also mentions the stars, stating that those who suggest rain originates from a star are considered disbelievers in Allah. This concept of astrology and the belief in celestial beings’ influence on anything other than what is enshrined in the Quran and Hadith constitutes shirk (blasphemy) and leads one to leave the fold of the religion.

Second-century Islamic scholar Imam Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, views astrology as fundamentally forbidden in the Islamic religion. He warns followers not to learn the science of stars except for guidance on land or sea, as it leads to divining and an astrologer is a diviner. This aligns with the Quran, which points to stars and astrology as only a means of navigation.

However, prominent scholars like Ibn Arabi and Ikhwan argue that planets are not considered God but do suggest each prophet with a specific planet/celestial being. Prophet Idris, also known as Enoch, was gifted with great knowledge of the stars and used his gift to meditate upon God’s grandeur and teach others. He believed that the stars and moon contributed to mankind and founded the study of the stars.

Different sects of Islam offer varying perspectives on the concept of astrology.

Why does astrology seem to work?

Horoscopes can help people feel better due to the placebo effect, a psychological effect where the belief in a useless method actually makes a person feel better. This effect has been scientifically verified, and a new drug must be proven to perform better than a placebo. In accurate medical experiments, the control group is not a collection of untreated patients, but a collection of patients receiving a placebo.

The placebo effect is also present in astrology, where many people believe in astrology and follow its advice, leading to improved health. However, the belief in a treatment that does not actually work is even better. Sticking to scientifically proven treatments gives the benefit of the belief and the benefit of the treatment’s action. For example, instead of reading a horoscope, going for a walk is a better alternative, as exercise is proven to be good for body and mind, and the belief in its effect will also help.