Taoist Astrology and the Structure of the UniverseHistory of Astrology..................................................................................................
Chinese astrology is a very broad subject which contains much information and
is highly complicated for the untrained mind. There are many ways of interpret-
ing the universal conditions, which are brought together in different systems
with their own specific diagrams and calculation methods.
In the ancient Taoist literature much attention is given to the subject of “astrology”. The
18th century Imperial encyclopedia has 2500 chapters on astrology! What we wish to do
in this book is to make you aware of the nature and origin of this wisdom and how it relates
to spiritual practices and the laws of the universe.
In most Chinese astrological systems it is mentioned that between 4000 and 5000
years ago, the stars and planets were perfectly situated. At the moment it looks like no
one can really describe what that means from a pragmatic point of view. What is clear is
that this period may have seen a unique universal condition. From that point on, Chinese
astrologists have counted the years, months and days and calculated movements by
observing the sky. Noio, the Great Minister of the Yellow Emperor Hwang Ti set the begin-
ning of the first 60 year cycle at 2637 B.C. (according to stems and branches) which
means we are in the 78th sexagenary cycle now.
Most sources claim that Chinese astrology developed wholly independently from other
cultures and traditions, but this is probably not the case. If we compare Chinese, Mayan
and old European calendars and zodiacs and also the language and architecture we find
parallels that simply cannot be accidental. It is clear that all these cultures were shaped by
the same information source. The advanced spiritual development of these different cul-
tures allowed them to translate information from the same source in the form of an astro-
logical system reflecting the order of the universe. This translation happened in coordina-
tion with their specific location on the planet.
As you will see in the following overview, people all over the world were already observ-
ing the stars long before the start of the Chinese calendar 2637 B.C.
Although there is still discussion on the subject, the famous Egyptologist, Schwaller de
Lubicz states that the Egyptian calendar has its starting point about 4240 B.C. This calen-
dar was based on astronomical observations made during a period more than 6000 years
ago.
Also in Egyptian civilization astronomy/astrology was used to crystallize the universal
laws into human life. The great pyramid was built at approximately 2170 B.C. One of its
functions was to serve as an astronomical observatory. The entire geometry of the pyra-
mid was based upon astronomical positions and movements. Notes of astronomical ob-
servations from the Sumerian culture (3000 B.C.) have also been found. Different cul-
tures describe the destruction of civilization about 12,000 years ago, under influence of
the star Vega in the constellation of Lyra. An earth axis shift occurred and big floods
destroyed civilizations.
Chinese astrology probably has its own roots but was later greatly influenced by Indian
(Hindu) and old Babylonian astrology. The year 10,000 B.C. appears to have been a
critical point in astrological history. Archeological findings in Europe, South America,