Astrology is divided into two main areas: world and individual astrology.
World astrology studies the fate of states, nations, continents, cities, or ships. The task of world astrology also includes predicting epidemics, wars, and natural disasters.
The most popular section of individual astrology is natal (from the Latin natal – “birth”) astrology, which studies a specific person and his or her fate. A natal chart is a horoscope drawn up at the time of birth. Nowadays, many astrologers are professional psychologists. One of the approaches in astrology, astropsychology, helps people understand, accept, and realize themselves. Dane Radjar, author of the book “Person-Centered Astrology,” believes that “…the main goal of astrology is to help an individual find…and realize the best possible opportunities within him or her.”
When one wants to find out the prospects of a relationship between two people who love each other, are going to get married or establish responsible business relations, the method of comparing their horoscopes is used. A paired horoscope is called a synastry (from the Greek “syn” – “together”, “astron” – “star”).
Medical astrology deals with disease prevention, identifying the characteristics of a particular person’s body. Hourly astrology studies the chart drawn up at the time of the emergence of a thought, idea, or question. There are many other branches of astrology.
To make a forecast, an astrologer uses horoscope unfolding methods. Astrology is often accused of fatalism, believing that its forecasts leave no room for choice. Astrologers themselves argue with each other about how predetermined the future is. The most common view is that “the stars incline, but do not oblige.” An astrologer only points out trends, which is often mistakenly perceived as a vague forecast. The peculiarities of an individual horoscope can be compared to a handrail: a person’s task is to learn how to walk to the goal, holding on to the handrail, and not jump over it, breaking his or her legs.
Astrology is developing, and there are still a lot of unsolved problems. Astrologers write research papers and hold conferences. Currently, there are several areas (schools) of astrology: traditional, symbolic, structuralist, etc.
The natural science branch of astrology, also called cosmo-biorhythmology, is rapidly developing, i.e. the study of the relationship between the laws of the cosmos and life on Earth. This name gives astrologers the idea that earthly life is a small part of the cosmos and that the influence of the larger part of the universe on the smaller one cannot be ignored. There is also a branch of astrology that uses mathematical statistics to study the relationship between celestial bodies and the fates of people.
Many astrologers believe that the future of astrology lies in the use of scientific approaches. Much of it needs to be rethought. Indeed, today astrologers use the rules, terms, and interpretations that developed in antiquity and the Middle Ages. The worldview, psychology, and human life have changed so much since then that some astrological interpretations are simply outdated.