著者

比留間 亮平

出版者

リトン

雑誌

死生学年報

巻号頁・発行日

vol.14, pp.61-79, 2018-03-31

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Beliefs in the power of celestial bodies and ways of interpreting their meaning are found throughout the world. In this paper, traditional Western astrology is taken as an object of study and its relationship with quality of life, death, and destiny are explored. First, the historical process and environment in which Western astrology was formed are surveyed. Second, the basic theory of Western astrology is viewed through Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos, which is regarded as the standard textbook of astrology from ancient times. Finally, the ethical and religious problems that the materialism of Western astrology has caused are discussed, such as the freedom of God and human beings, astrological fatalism, and the meaning of life.The horoscope of Western astrology, which is the birth chart of each person, has three fundamental components: planet, sign, and house. These three components determine all the dimensions of the life of that person. “Planet” includes the sun and moon, and it is said that these seven planets have productive or destructive power according to the mythological characters they are named after. “Sign” and “house” are particular areas of the zodiac and are derived by dividing the zodiac into twelve parts. Sign is the fixed area that starts from the spring equinoctial point, but house is the fluid area that starts from the ascendant, which is the rising point of the sun and changes everyday. It is believed the power of one’s planet adjusted by sign and house flows into each person and forms his or her whole life: parents, siblings, marriage, children, welfare, death, and length of life.