Perhaps you've heard the saying “As above, so below.” What does this mean? Basically, this phrase, common among witches, reminds you that everything in this world is part of a pattern that's reflected elsewhere in the universe and the astral plane. And, vice versa, everything in the rest of the universe and the astral plane has some shadowy symbology in the here-and-now. This point is very important to spiritual seekers; it allows for the possibility that there is something magickal but substantive “out there” that may be seen and interpreted. It also provides some measure of hope that those mysteries, which have been around for a very long time, will slowly be revealed and understood.

Astrology's Roots

Since the beginning of time, human beings have gazed up at the sky and marveled at the celestial patterns they saw. But astrology as a branch of natural omen interpretation originated in approximately 2000 B.C.E. in Babylon. Written accounts dating to 1700 B.C.E. explain how divine beings move the stars around the sky to warn people of forthcoming events. A complete collection of astrological omens and signs developed from this concept. Not long thereafter, Mesopotamian priests came to see the connection between celestial objects and the order of the universe, including the pattern of the future. It was from this hub that ideas about astrology spread into Greece, Egypt, Syria, and India.

Aristotle developed an ideology and methodology for astrology in about 300 B.C.E. His efforts were later supported by the Greek physician Galen, who was a strong advocate of celestial omen and sign reading. Nonetheless, early astrology bore little resemblance to what is presently popular. In the ancient world, astrology was linked with astronomy and served as a calendar and road map. By watching the stars, people knew when to plant, harvest, and travel.

Birth Signs

Around 4 C.E., a Greek astronomer by the name of Eudoxus introduced the idea of natal astrology as a kind of celestial code for determining a person's characteristics and fate. Although birth charts were cast for royalty and other important individuals, ordinary people didn't begin to concern themselves with such things until the early 1900s, when the first published horoscope appeared in a widely circulated newspaper. At around the same time, the Farmer's Almanac became quite popular. This publication included sections of advice for sowing, planting, and even cutting hair according to various astrological cycles.

Of course, what appears in the horoscope section of newspapers today is an overly simplified and highly generic version of a very complicated art, to be read more for fun than guidance. Most people prefer to have a professional or a good computer program construct a detailed birth chart that considers the numerous astrological influences in their lives. These influences include the positions of the sun, moon, and planets as well as their relationships to each other and to the earth. Fixed stars, asteroids, sensitive points, and other features can also be interpreted in a person's natal chart.

Celestial Influences on Earthly Affairs

It's obvious that the sun's position (relative to earth) brings about the changing seasons, and the moon's phases influence the tides. But the movements of the planets profoundly affect events on earth, too. From an astrological perspective, each heavenly body generates distinct energies that impact human beings, social and political situations, weather patterns, and earth changes. As they move through the sky, the planets cause conditions commensurate with their energies. For example, Mars — named for the Roman war god — stimulates action, tension, and conflict. Its cycles produce increased stress that may lead to aggressive behavior, in the personal lives of individuals and even between nations.

Witches watch the movements of the planets and time magickal workings to take advantage of auspicious astrological patterns. The positions of the sun, moon, and planets in the various signs of the zodiac produce certain cosmic energies that can impact the outcome of a spell. For best results, it's also a good idea to notice how planetary cycles affect your own birth chart.