Astrologer
An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an undertaking's beginning, etc. However, the methods employed by astrologers are variable and depend on the particular astrological tradition they employ and the information desired.
In the far past, the role often entailed astronomical observation or manual calculation of celestial phenomena. In more modern times, however, these methods have largely been replaced by pre-calculated ephemerides and astrological software.
Historically the term mathematicus was used to denote a person proficient in astrology, astronomy, and mathematics.[1][2]
No accredited universities in the United States or the United Kingdom offer degrees in astrology though a number of Indian schools do. While there are a number of astrological associations throughout the world, there is no central governing body that has special license to certify astrologers.
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[edit] Practice
In the United States, the practice of astrology is largely unregulated. Certification is not required by legislation for an astrologer to offer his or her services. However, there are various examinations offered by private organizations such as the American Federation of Astrologers[3] and the National Council for Geocosmic Research[4] that allow those wishing to become professional astrologers to demonstrate their proficiency.
[edit] Early astrologers
The first organized system of astrology was developed in Mesopotamia in the second millennium BCE.[5] The Babylonians' system of omen astrology was relatively simple and direct compared to later developments, foretelling mundane occurrences such as famine, war, peace, and so on based on predefined celestial indicators. Babylonian astrologers provided a service for those in power, advising them in their decision-making.
At this time astrology and astronomy were not distinguished as separate disciplines; the act of astronomical observation was often done by someone who had astrological motives for doing so. Indeed, astrologers' professional responsibility and desire for predictive knowledge for a large part spurred the advancement of astronomy, and the Babylonians developed a very precise ability to mathematically predict the location of celestial points and phenomena based upon their observable cycles.[6]
[edit] Education
Education in astrology is offered in a number of countries of the world:
[edit] United States
In the United States, astrological education is offered at institutions such as Kepler College, a liberal arts college with an emphasis on astrology in Lynnwood, Washington, near Seattle, which opened in 2001[7] and awarded its first 8 Bachelor of Arts degrees in Astrological Studies in 2004.[8] However, unless they are completing a course of study, students attending Kepler College after March 9, 2010,[9] are not awarded degrees but certificates of completion of a course of study.[10] The degrees granted by Kepler are not recognized by national or regional accrediting agencies.[11] Other astrological organizations offer study programs and correspondence courses to certify astrologers.
[edit] United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, astrological education is offered at a number of institutions, some offering a diploma upon completion of the course and an examination. In addition, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David at Lampeter offers an MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology.[12]
[edit] India
In February, 2001, vedic astrology, Jyotish Vigyan, was introduced into the curriculum of Indian universities. Graduate (called "undergraduate" in North America) post-graduate and research courses of study were established. "Beneficiaries of these courses would be students, teachers, professionals from modern streams like doctors, architects, marketing, financial, economic and political analysts, etc."[13] In April 2001 the Andhra Pradesh High Court declined to consider a petition to overturn the curriculum guideline on the ground that astrology was a pseudoscience, a decision affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2004 which declined as a matter of law to interfere with educational policy. The court noted that astrology studies were optional and that courses in astrology were offered by institutions of higher education in other countries.[14]
[edit] Modern astrologers
In modern times astrologers provide services, or advice to the general public, and about 90 percent of American newspapers carry horoscopes.[15]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Ultralingua Latin-English Dictionary". http://www.ultralingua.net/index.html?action=define&nv=0&text=mathematicus&service=&searchtype=stemmed&service=latin2english. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- ^ Miller, Jeff. "Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics". http://members.aol.com/jeff570/m.html. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- ^ "AFA Exams". Archived from the original on 2007-08-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20070827225039/http://www.astrologers.com/html/ExamInfo.html. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ "NCGR Education for Certification". http://www.geocosmic.org/educ/. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ Hand, Robert. "The History of Astrology — Another View". http://www.zodiacal.com/articles/hand/history.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- ^ Beck, Roger (2007). A Brief History of Ancient Astrology. Blackwell Publishing. pp. 12. ISBN 978-1405110747.
- ^ McClure, Robert (July 23, 2001). "Astrology school sets off controversy". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/32348_astrology23.shtml. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
- ^ "Kepler College First Graduation, October 10, 2004". StarIQ.Com. http://www.stariq.com/pagetemplate/article.asp?PageID=5789. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
- ^ "Degree-Granting Authorization". Kepler College. http://www.kepler.edu/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17:kepler-college-authorization&catid=38:about-kepler-college&Itemid=153. Retrieved March 26, 2011. "Kepler College Authorization Degree-Granting Authorization Kepler College is authorized by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board and through March 9, 2010, the College met the requirements and minimum standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree Authorization Act. Students attending the college between March 9, 2000 and March 9, 2010 (and extended to March 9, 2012 to include students completing the teach-out of their degrees) earned Washington State authorized degrees in: Associate of Arts Bachelor of Arts Master of Arts in: Eastern and Western Traditions The History, Philosophy and Transmission of Astrology"
- ^ "Certificate Program Information". Kepler College. http://www.kepler.edu/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=100&Itemid=212. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
- ^ "Was your degree program accredited?". Kepler College. http://www.kepler.edu/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142:are-you-accredited&catid=7:general-information&Itemid=121. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
- ^ "MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology". Trinity Saint David, The University of Wales. http://www.tsd.ac.uk/en/Sophia. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ^ "Guidelines for Setting up Departments of Vedic Astrology in Universities Under the Purview of University Grants Commission". Government of India, Department of Education. http://www.education.nic.in/circulars/astrologycurriculum.htm. Retrieved March 26, 2011. "There is an urgent need to rejuvenate the science of Vedic Astrology in India, to allow this scientific knowledge to reach to the society at large and to provide opportunities to get this important science even exported to the world,"
- ^ "Introduction of Vedic astrology courses in varsities upheld." The Hindu, May 06, 2004
- ^ Martin, Douglas (2003-01-04). "Sydney Omarr Dies at 76; Popular Astrologer and Leo". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/04/us/sydney-omarr-dies-at-76-popular-astrologer-and-leo.html.
Akhil Bhartiya Vedic Shikshan Avam Parshikshan Sansthan
