The zodiac was first clearly defined by the Babylonians some 2500 years ago, but until recently the basis of this original definition remained unknown. This zodiac of the Babylonians, known as the sidereal zodiac because it is specified in direct relation to the stars (Latin sideris, 'starry'), was used for centuries throughout the ancient world, all the way to India, and must be distinguished from the tropical zodiac in widespread use by astrologers in the West today, which was introduced only in the middle of the second century A.D. by the Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy. Such was Ptolemy's influence, however, that the tropical zodiac gained prominence and, except for its survival (in a variant form) in India, knowledge of the sidereal zodiac was lost. In this thrilling study of the history of the zodiac, first submitted in 2004 as his Ph.D. thesis, Robert Powell rescues the the sidereal zodiac from the dusts of time, tracing it back to the Babylonians in the sixth/fifth centuries B.C. The implications of this discovery-among them the restitution of the sideral zodiac to its rightful place at the heart of astrology-are immense, they key point being that the signs of the sidereal zodiac, each thirty degrees long, coincide closely with the twelve astronomical constellations of the same name, whereas the signs of the tropical zodiac, since they are defined in relation to the vernal point, now have no direct relationship to the corresponding zodiacal constellations, owing to the precession of the equinoxes.This revolutionary history of the zodiac includes chapters on the Egyptian decans and the Hindu nakshatras, showing how these sidereal divisions, which originated in Egypt and India, are related to the original Babylonian zodiac. It also sheds light on the controversy surrounding the 'zodiac question' (tropical vs. sidereal), illuminating the history of the tropical zodiac-showing that originally it was not a zodiac at all, but a calendar for describing the course of the seasons This book, the fruit of thirty years of research, is intended not only for scholars but for general readers as well, and offers the clearest and most comprehensive study of the history of the zodiac yet published.

A visually stunning astrology boxset, with everything you need for your astrological education - whether you're a brand new beginner or an experienced astrologer. It's simple and user friendly, yet potent and diverse - designed to grow with you as your knowledge expands. Lily Ashwell, author and illustrator, reimagines the ancient world of astrology for the modern day with this striking 51 card deck and guidebook. Her fresh perspective puts a practical spin on this age-old subject, inspiring seekers to develop their unique connection to the heavens. The sheer beauty of the boxset makes it a work of art, at home among your most treasured items. The deck is comprised of The Planets, The Signs of the Zodiac, The Houses, The Major Aspects, and The Natural Zodiac. And the guidebook not only takes you step by step through the meaning of each card, but offers a concise overview of astrology and explains your unique relationship to the energies. The guidebook offers illustrated direction on how to use the cards--which can be as simple as picking a single, daily oracle or creating more in-depth spreads to explore the meaning behind specific life events. The cards can also be used as a study tool to learn astrology. And an utterly unique way to use them is to create visual spreads of any astrological placement. This concept is an accessible way to begin the art of chart reading--whether you want to decode your own birth chart or explore the current cosmic climate. Package includes: * Large Keepsake Box * Hand-Illustrated 144 Page Guidebook * 51 Soulful, Hand-Illustrated Astrology Cards in Two-Piece Box

"This book is hilarious and that bitch made me laugh out loud."-Chelsea Handler A chaotically joyous collection of essays from one of the original influencers and the internet's sweetheart, Bretman "The Baddest" Rock. Hilarious and earnest, this collection of essays, how-tos and never-before-seen photos goes far beyond what we know of Bretman Rock from social media. Who is Bretman Rock Sacayanan behind the screen and how did he become the original superstar influencer and today's beloved best friend of the internet? You're That Bitch welcomes you into Bretman Rock's world-from how his childhood in the Philippines, his family, Filipino culture, and being a first-generation immigrant helped shape him into who he is today. Peek into how Bretman became a social media sensation at the precocious age of 14, balancing living a glamorous jet-setting lifestyle on weekends while still serving lunch at his school's cafeteria, running as a varsity track-star, and making honor roll during the week. With his signature honesty, this is an unfiltered and unprecedented look at what it means to be one of the first digital celebrities and that bitch--from dealing with cancel culture, drama and heartbreak, to what it means to love yourself and your community. From the funniest and undeniably cutest person on the internet, this is a book for the weirdos and for the bad bitches . . . this book is for you!

Long have humans looked to the stars for guidance in their lives, but what about the destiny of their cats? On the surface, cats may seem to care about very little other than finding the sunniest spots to nap or the best boxes to hide in, but they have higher paths, greater purposes and truer callings in life. Providing insight into the signs, the stars and the elements and how they affect every aspect of a cat's life, with horoscopes, tarot and paw readings for mystic moggies, this book is the perfect guide to the secrets of the cat zodiac.

This volume examines the specific role of horoscopic astrology in Western culture from antiquity to the nineteenth century. Focusing on the public appearance of astrological rhetoric, the essays break new ground for a better understanding of the function of horoscopes in public discourse. The volume's three parts address the use of imperial horoscopes in late antiquity, the transformation of doctrines and rhetorics in Islamic medieval contexts, and the important status of astrology in early modern Europe. The combination of in-depth historical studies and methodological considerations results in an important contribution to religious and cultural studies.