There was a period when astrology was regarded as a science and was used to make medical diagnosis in the same way that physical symptoms were used. Since we no longer consider living in harmony with the cosmos, it is difficult to determine whether we have evolved or devolved. We believe that science has evolved too far for us to imagine that changes in the stars and planets may have a significant influence on our everyday lives and health.
Yet are we correct. Who is to claim that a man, with his finite intellect, can completely understand the universe’s workings or his place in it? The foundation of Western culture is conquest, not understanding. But this wasn’t always the case.
One of the most significant historical contexts in which astronomy arose is astrology. Since the location of Venus was thought to portend omens for the weather, war, starvation, illnesses, rulers, and kingdoms, the Babylonians meticulously crafted tablets depicting its position. The Tetrabiblos was written by Claudius Ptolemy, who thought that astrology could be rationalized despite being a conjectural skill like medicine. When astrology was believed in, horoscopes were really cast for newborn babies, potential marriages, and political rivals. Public buildings were also inaugurated, and weddings and other formal events were held on lucky days. Roman periods had a wealth of astrological records, and doctors frequently used astrological charts as part of their diagnostic procedures.
For example, it was believed that each sign of the zodiac oversaw a different portion of the human body: Sagittarius ruled the thighs, Pisces the feet, and so on. Bloodletting from the area of the body that the moon was controlling at the time was to be avoided since the moon’s attraction may result in excessive bleeding. The depiction of the “zodiac man” may be seen in many medical writings and almanacs as a reminder of the particular impact of the moon. The moon’s phases also affected its pulling force, which is why almanacs typically displayed the moon’s phases.