Physical Science Essay - Astrology

Astrology

Sarvar Abdullaev

Lincoln University

I find it very interesting to find certain answers for solutions through the science of astrology. People from all walks of life refer to astrology in finding purpose in their lives and discovering their inner selves. What is astrology and how did it develop as the science is my objective for this essay.

During my high school years, I remember reading my weekly horoscope and analyzing how accurate the predictions would be. That was five years ago and few months ago I became very curious on finding out my destiny and started researching local astrologists to do my reading. I kept my quest in secret without telling neither my parents nor my closest friends. I thought they would think I am going crazy and loosing my common sense. Nevertheless, I found an astrologer who performed my reading. I got confirmed on few points that I was always curious and also discovered few new things about my future. Europe, especially France, would be one of the places where I will eventually relocate to and China will be the place for one of my biggest business ventures. I got confirmed that I will be doing lots of traveling around the world and exploring different cultures and traditions.

According to Pingree, David (1973), “Astrology”, The Dictionary of the History of Ideas, astrology is defined as a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs which hold that the relative positions of celestial bodies and related details can provide information about personality, human affairs and other “earthly” matters. 

“Astrology” comes from the Latin term “astrologia”, which in terms derives from the Greek noun “astron” meaning “star” and “logia” meaning “the study of”, according to Astrology, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001. Three main branches of astrology are Western astrology, Indian astrology, and Chinese astrology. Babylonians are believed to develop and study astrology before any other nation in Europe and the popularity of astrology slowly spread to Greece in the middle of the 4th century BC, then Rome. With the growth of Greek culture in Egypt, astrology slowly rose through Egypt and its lands to Arabs from 7th to the 13th century, and finally Eastern Europe started dominating the development of astrology around 14th and 15th centuries.

Many people confuse astrology with astronomy. Main difference between them is that the astrologer interprets the celestial phenomena, while astronomer predicts the celestial phenomena. The word “phenomenon” has its roots in the Greek language as well; “phainomen” stands for “appearance”. According to Task Group on Astronomical Designations from IAU Commission 5 (April 2008), “Naming Astronomical Objects”, celestial object is a single, cohesive structure that is bound together by gravity and sometimes by electromagnetism. Some examples of celestial objects would be asteroids, moons, planets and stars. Astronomical objects are gravitationally bound structures that are associated with a certain position in space, but may consist of multiple independent astronomical bodies and objects: from single planets to star clusters and entire galaxies.

Depending on their location and structure, celestial objects can be classified into simple objects, compound objects and extended objects. Exoplanets, brown dwarfs and stars by spectral type are examples of simple objects; planetary systems and solar systems are examples of the compound objects and debris disks and nebulae are examples of extended objects.

We are all familiar with an asteroid named comet, or a falling star. According to WordNet, a lexical database for English, Princeton University, a comet is a small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical  orbit. The word itself gets its roots from Latin word “cometes”. Aristotle, one of the most famous ancient scientists and philosophers, first used this word to describe what he saw as “stars with hair”. Only a few comets are noticed by the general public despite the fact that hundreds of them pass through the inner solar system every year. Every decade or so, a comet will become bright enough to be noticed by a casual observer; such comets are often called Great Comets. They cause panic and hysteria in the general population being thought as bad omens.

Crucial contribution to the development of astrology was also made by a Greek philosopher and scientist Ptolemy, whose work, the Tetrabiblos laid the basis of the Western astrological tradition. Ptolemy stated that the planets, Houses, and Signs of the zodiac were rationalized and their function set down in a way that has changed little to the present day. He laid the foundation for Western astrology teachings for the next 1,300 years.

A favorite topic of astrologers has always been the end of the world. According to Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid (1990), the most famous predictions about European and world affairs were made by the French astrologer Nostradamus who lived in 1503 - 1566. Nostradamus became famous after the publication in 1555 of his work Centuries, which was a series of prophecies in cryptic verse. So obscure are the predictions that they have been interpreted as relating to a great variety of events since, including the French and English Revolutions, and the Second World War. 

I would like to finish my essay with few quotes. “Numbers don’t lie” is a famous saying in business to describe how successful one company is doing. “Stars don’t lie” is my quote on that all of us have our destiny written long before we were born and it is up to us to recognize and connect our inner selves and be able to interpret the signals of the universe and pursue what each of us were meant to do.

References:

Astrology. Online Etymology Dictionary. (2001). Retrieved 24 November 2009

Derek and Julia Parker, Ibid, p201, (1990)

New York: Scribner. ISBN 0684132831. Retrieved 2009-12-02

Pingree, David (1973). “Astrology”. In Phili P. Wiener. The Dictionary of the History of Ideas.

Task Group on Astronomical Designations from IAU Commission 5 (April 2008). “Naming Astronomical Objects” International Astronomical Union (IAU). Retrieved 4 July 2010.

WordNet, a lexical database for English, Princeton University, 

http://www.wordnet.princeton.edu.

Essay: "Legacy of Michael Jackson"

Sarvar Abdullaev

Dr. Rippel

English 82B

12 October 2010

Legacy of Michael Jackson

When the real music comes to me – the music of the spheres, the music that surpasseth understanding – that has nothing to do with me ‘cause I’m just the channel. The only joy for me is for it to be given to me and transcribe it. Like a medium. Those moments are what I live for.

-       John Lennon

Michael Jackson, the world’s biggest shining star, has now left the world as the human only to enter the greater world as the Angel. Michael Jackson was a messenger of love, kindness, generosity, inspiration, humanity, optimism, and change through his character and music. Michael Jackson will never be replaced in our hearts, never in mine.

We all have a little bit of King of Pop in us. I find connection with most of the people who admire the work of Michael. Those people understand that no human in the world has achieved what has achieved Michael and has given so much to the world. He understood he had a talent from God and worked hard on it to excel in it. Michael was a perfectionist; he was a workaholic. His songs are a true reflection of his popular, hard, amazing yet lonely life. As he would later on say that success comes with loneliness.

Michael’s message was to learn, explore, develop, progress, help and create a better world. Michael knew that and was able to pass on his message to us, his loyal fans, through his songs such as We Are the World, which raised millions of dollars to help fight the poverty in the third world countries. That is why we admire him. He stood up and took action like the Man in the Mirror. He rocked our world, he was dangerous for some time and he always thrilled us. It was never about the fame or money but leaving positive footprint in human history.

Michael was a workaholic, perfectionist, a restless student. He watched greatest at creating their greatness and he became greater than them. One gets all these materialistic things yet is empty inside and makes it up by buying more materialistic things. Michael worked harder than his peers, than the already established giants in the music business and he kept going, all the way, telling us: “You have seen nothing yet.”

Since the age of five, Michael was on a mission when many people are still lost in this world not knowing what they live for or what their purpose is. Having four consecutive number one hits before turning thirteen, the world was witnessing the rise of the Greatest Entertainer of All Times. At twenty one, he was a veteran with sixteen years of experience. Michael was already signing contracts, arranging music tones and rehearsing dance steps of the group within the same day. Michael developed multitasking ability and was able to excel at many things at the same time as he had to train his mind so. He developed his visionary skills and he would present his art that people are naturally attracted too. He would replace his team of lawyers, producers and other associates every ten years as he did not want them to rest on their laurels. He always challenged himself and others in creating his masterpieces that live long forever.

Michael understood human nature and he excelled at providing us, the humans, what it had been missing: unity through music. His music is loved and admired from a one-year old to a 99-year old. He has the widest audience of listeners! I can moonwalk anywhere in the world and scream “Auuuu” and be accepted as I am showing respect to the one and only King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

I am always admired by Michael also as he was an avid reader. He would buy books during his concert tours and the whole bus would be full of books at the end of the tour. He liked sitting in the back of the bus and reading them, especially old Hollywood Glamour books and pictures. He would analyze and memorize postures, gestures, moves, different styles, so he can build his own image and his own history.

Overall, secret to Michael’s success was that Michael always tried to stay young and open to universe which brought most creativity out of him. He was always surprising and something was illusive about him, the way he would look at us through the TV. He would never open up all of his cards. He was a magic and had people always trying to figure him out.

Never stopping, always surprising, has Michael influenced all of our lives. From amateur shows to the biggest sold out arenas in the world, Michael has did it all. Michael was making history anywhere he went to. He dominated 80’s and 90’s. His presence is passed on through the next generation of artists and performers. They all have a little bit of Michael, if not too much of him.

 Breaking records of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Beatles, he is a true ultimate entertainer the world has ever seen. The singer, composer, producer, artist, and more importantly, a humanitarian, there will never be another Michael. All the stress and allegations he went through, in his heart he knew that loyal fans will always stay with him. He left the world as Mr. Unbreakable. I am proud to live during this era to witness Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson and will continue to spread his legacy around the world.