From the dawn of civilization, humans have been eager to know the future. Those who succeeded in learning one’s fate were highly praised as prophets and soothsayers. They managed to predict the life of people by the stars in the sky. There is nothing superstitious about that, astrology is closely connected with astronomy and philosophy.  According to astronomic observations of ancient Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Greeks, movements of planets in the sky are systematic, this order and regularity can be exploited to see how and in what way events will happen, and can, perhaps, be used or avoided.

Astrology divides the year into 12 equal sections, called the zodiac, or signs, which are aries, taurus, gemini, cancer, leo, virgo, libra, scorpio, sagittarius, capricorn, aquarius and pisces, that originally corresponded to 12 constellations lying in a great belt around the heavens. Descriptive names, mostly of animals, assigned to various constellations and abstract symbols are devised to fit these names. The position of the sun in one of these 12 constellations at the moment of birth determines an individual's sun sign. A person born just at the time of change from one sun sign to the next is said to be on the cusp, sharing qualities of both signs.

In most cultures where astrology has long been practiced—among them Egyptian, Greek, Indian, and Chinese—the animistic religious systems claim all nature to be alive and to possess almost human qualities. In these traditions, astrology is simply another form of divination, of telling the future by consulting the will of natural forces.

“What's your sign?” was a cliché of the 1970s. For instant character analysis, distinct personality traits have been identified with each of the signs (gregarious Aquarius, nit-picking Virgo). In our country there have been long debates about horoscopes, and whether they are worth trusting. For several decades different quite vain attempts have been made to demonstrate that horoscopes and astrology are nothing but charlatanism and deceit. But facts show that lots of people became convinced of correctness of horoscopes and of personal characteristics they give.

For example, many Wall Street brokers hired specialized astrologers in the 1980s and found it very useful. The most publicized acknowledgment of astrology influence occurred after an assassination attempt on United States President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. For the next seven years his wife, Nancy, consulted a California astrologer about the most favorable times and dates for major events in the president's life—the take off and landing of Air Force One, State of the Union addresses, surgery, the signing of treaties, presidential debates, even press conferences.