1. Antiquity of Natural Astrology

Until 350 years ago, scientists and philosophers thought that the Sun, Moon and planets are responsible for regulating the weather on Earth. Ptolemy set about astrology as a systematic portrayal of nature that requires prerequisite knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and natural philosophy. Astronomy, which they expounded on great length of the Almagest, and defined as that whereby we apprehend the aspects towards the Sun, Moon and Stars with mutual attraction with the Earth. In many respects the domain of natural astrology has empathies with the field of geography and that takes to include geological and climatic processes as well as human social processes. The medical astrology which is concerned with the astrological signatures of illness using healing herbs. In the context of religious views of the world it draw a sharp distinction between the physical body, mind, will, and soul. Thus medical astrology might then be classified as a branch of natural astrology as well.

Natural Astrology has originated, or at least developed in its own characteristic way, in India, China and Mesoamerica. According to Greek scholars, Hindu Astrology clearly owes some of its qualities of Western astrology, consequent to Alexander’s annexation to Indian regions.

As mentioned in Vedas, the indigenous astrological tradition is based on the moon cycle. The astrological system of China is almost different that tracks planetary cycles and applies the same on several scales. While there are some similarities between Chinese astrology and astrological tradition that developed in ancient Mesoamerica, the later fundamentally differ from the former. In ancient Mesopotamia, astrology was a system of sky-divination used only for practical purposes; the subject lacked an orbital theory and that does not require complex mathematics. From this tradition, we have inherited the 360 degree circle, tricenery rotation through the twelve sign zodiac and the notion of conjunctions and oppositions of planets. That includes New Moon, Full Moon and eclipses as coinciding with meteorological events and adversities occurring in human affairs.

In early Greece, a separate type of astrological tradition developed, as illustrated in Works and Days of Hesiod, an almanac model text written in the 7^th century BCE that considers the cycle of the year and month in the context of agricultural life. A larger portion of this work describes cycle of the year and how a resourceful and honest person might live in attunement to natural rhythms. The astronomical references from the text advise the user as to when specific agricultural activities should be commenced. They delineate the cycle of the year, which is based on the movement of the Sun and its relationships to the prominent constellations. Hesiod addressed the synodic cycle of the Moon, about 29.5 days, which was counted by the appearance of the crescent after new moon and divided into waxing and waning halves, along with a division of circle into thirds. Hesiod tradition described various points in the Moon's cycle that are favorable or unfavorable for one activity or another. The reformation of astrology begun in the 16^th century, which created an impressive list of European and English intellectuals of Astrology, including Brahe, Bacon, and Kepler, who either practiced astrology or supported with valid principles. No co-ordinated reform movement was ever launched though at least one group was formed into the 17^th century in London, some years before the formation of the Royal Society.