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

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.

Build a unique, multi-faceted personality profile based on your birth date to help fuel your personal growth through every stage of life. Am I on the right path? That is the question internationally recognized tarot expert Kerry Ward faces daily from thousands of private clients and readers of her popular Cosmopolitan tarot column. In Power, Purpose, Practice, she shows you how to answer it for yourself using a simple system based on an insightful blend of astrology, numerology, and tarot and perfected by 25 years of tarot reading.   Your birth date holds the key to the system. From there, astrology guides you to your ruling planet and your ruling element, while tarot reveals your personality archetype. These three items—planet, element, archetype—represent your power. To discover your purpose, we turn to numerology, which provides a guided map for your life journey via your Life Path number. Finally, Kerry provides a series of meditations and rituals for you to practice in your daily life, to help you amplify your power and direct it toward your purpose.   Are you ruled by the fiery ambition of Mars or the beautiful energy of Venus? Are you an emotional, shape-shifting water sprite or a grounded, healing earth mama? Is your tarot archetype the wise, solitary Hermit or the magical visionary of the Star? Or the gentle hero of Strength? Is your purpose to build new worlds from the ground up, to create and communicate stories, or to seek deeper meaning in service to others? Written in a casual, intimate voice and bursting with bold, inclusive artwork, this spiritual guide helps you understand each of these cosmic connections and more as you explore every facet of your personality and discover your true self.   Are you on the right path? Power, Purpose, Practice will help you find out, so you can find your way.

Spice up your love life with the stars! Learn about fantasies, favorite positions, and more from the guide to the sexual Zodiac. Includes steamy full-color photos! Perhaps the pick-up line "So, what's your sign?" is more important than most people in search of truly cosmic coupling may have realized. The Astrology of Sex is the ultimate illustrated guide to understanding your own sexual desires and the sexual needs of your partner based on your horoscopes. Whether you want to unleash the lust of a Leo, tame a Taurus, seduce a Sagittarius, or break the ice with a Virgo, this sexy guide will help you navigate your love life using the stars. The book includes a sexy introduction to the zodiac and how you can make it work for you. What then follows is an in-depth description of male and female sexual preferences for each star sign with tips on erogenous zones, preferred positions, and favorite fantasies. More than 350 atmospheric and sensual color photographs--including photos of steamy sex positions--pepper its pages. The Astrology of Sex provides a visually seductive and out-of-this-world experience.

Explore the basic fundamentals of the Zodiac with children, allowing them to understand all that the night sky has to offer. Through fun trivia, puzzles, prose, and challenges, this refreshing workbook provides hours of educational play that can be revisited over and over. Children will be helped to make sense of the influences that surround every one of us. For each of the 12 Astrological Zodiacs there are corresponding aspects in different areas like: their element, planetary ruler, color, stone, and motto. Even the placement of each Zodiac has significance, as it was once used as an Astrological calendar. In the Night Sky focuses on learning to recognize the constellations and their aspects, hearing more about their stories, and finding how they came to be and the lessons that they teach.

Now you can find the key to well-being, total health, and eternal youth by using the cosmic energies activated by the moon! Based on ancient Japanese energy healing wisdom, this book combines the Eastern and Western element systems using the moon, revealing the energy flows of the body. Discover how to tune your organs into a cosmic symphony of creation by understanding the 12 Soul Gates and how to activate energies that will transform your life, enabling you to become a conscious creator of your own destiny. Understand how astrology and the moon work together to initiate your good health, happiness, and success. Learn about energy and vibration and how to merge them to influence your body and your reality. Find out who you really are in this world-or rather how you become what you are-and what the Moon has to do with how you present yourself and perceive your reality!

Astrology: A first look offering the basic tools of interpretation for those with little or no knowledge of Astrology.
Introductory offer: free birth chart with book purchase. For information please visit: www.starsongsastrology.com