Since early civilisation, humans have lifted their heads up to the heavens and looked at its celestial bodies for inspiration, meaning and guidance. Over time, astrology developed among many great ancient cultures. It assumes that the universe is interconnected, and looks at the impact and influences the planets, stars, sun and moon have on human affairs.

As mentioned above, the roots of astrology can be traced back to prehistoric times. Paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux, France contain star maps which include the Taurus constellation. Rock paintings by the Sumerians showing the effects of celestial bodies on Earth have also been discovered in Mesopotomia.

From there, astrology can be seen in many great civilisations of yore, including Babylon, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome, Egypt, and India. The ancient Babylonians took the work of Sumerians and ran with it further. They built ‘star towers’ to observe the heavens, and created the zodiac wheel – which divided the sky into 12 parts based on the constellations which the sun appears to pass through. This was used to predict future outcomes and interpret human behaviour and traits of personality, and still forms the basis of the zodiac which we know today.

Ancient Egypt also developed a form of astrology, too. China and India also had their own astrologies, with the latter showing Babylonian influences. The influence of Babylonian astrology also made its way to Greece and Rome. This was thanks in no small part to the Persian conquest of Egypt, followed by Persia’s conquest by Alexander the Great. These events served to mark as a unification of astrology. Previously, each region had its own variations and versions of the discipline, but conflict saw it merge and emerge into something new – Hellenistic, or Traditional Astrology, which is still popular today. In 140 AD, Claudius Ptolemy wrote Tetrabiblos, which contained key techniques of astrology still used today, and laid the foundation for much of western astrology.

The burning of the Great Library of Alexandria, which resulted in the loss of invaluable literature and knowledge, and the fall of the Roman Empire in the Fifth Century AD, heralded the decline of Hellenistic astrology. But during this period, Arab scholars and mathematicians picked up the baton, introducing methods to astrology which are still used today.

The Middle Ages welcomed the golden age of astrology, when it would emerge from the shadows in Europe, and become an essential part of life and culture for many. It was present in the courts of Kings and Queens, in favour of Popes, practiced by doctors, astronomers, and mathematicians, and taught at great universities. This golden age lasted until the 17 th Century, with several causes leading to its decline.

Advances in a range of scientific fields played a part, and the Church also grew wary of the power astrologers wielded, turning against the discipline, branding it ‘the devil’s work’. The 18 th Century Age of Enlightenment quickened the process further as astrology faded from the public eye.

It may have been down, but astrology wasn’t out, making another comeback at the end of the 19 th Century. Person-centred astrology grew in popularity, and the work of imminent psychologist Carl Jung gave it gravitas and respect. When horoscopes featuring the signs of the zodiac started being published in newspapers and magazines in the 1920s, astrology entered the mainstream.

With computers now able to draw up charts within a couple of clicks of a mouse, astrology continues to enjoy its latest renaissance. It’s a renaissance which shows no sign of ending any time soon.