Life on Earth is conditional on and conditioned by the Sun. Perceptually, to those on Earth, we are at the center with Sun, Moon, planets, and fixed stars revolving around us with variations which are difficult to explain. The Sun maintains a fixed path relative to the stars, but seasonally different paths relative to the Earth. We can define the ecliptic, the horizon, the galaxy, and see how these vary relative to each other and to the planets. Eclipses of the Sun and Moon return with sufficient regularity to be predicted even without understanding the causes. Such erratic phenomena as meteor showers and comets nonetheless have some regularity. Meteorites, novas, and supernovas do not show such patterning. Weather patterns are geographically intermediate between heaven and earth, patterned both seasonally and geographically, yet notoriously difficult to predict in detail.
Many human and animal activities are directly affected by Sun and Moon. No one ignores the alternation of day and night, and seasonal changes alternate rainy and dry periods, cold and warm periods, affecting plant growth, seasonal birth and mating patterns, and even deaths. Light at night was provided in a changing pattern by the Moon, appreciated by poachers and other night life. The moon’s gravitational effects, especially tides, were important to marine life, shore dwellers, and mariners. Gravitational effects on plants have been little studied by modern biologists, but are a strong part of the belief systems of small farmers. Eleven-year sunspot cycles affect temperature and probably precipitation. Finally, those most noticeable of lunisolar phenomena, eclipses, have direct results. Solar eclipses are accompanied by temperature changes, often followed by cloud formation and rain; bird and animal behavior changes abruptly.
People have also noted temporally associated phenomena - stars or planets becoming visible at sunrise or sunset mark different daily and seasonal activities. Even the correlation of the 60-year Jupiter cycle with 60-year peaks in rain activity may have been noted.
Interpretations of the phenomena we are considering have been varied but important in many cultures around the world. A religious interpretation, attributing volition, personality, and wilful action to planets and stars (including Sun and Moon) was widespread. Visible phenomena were regarded as analogs of human behavior, carried out by deities, following all too human motivations.
In an astrological approach, the movements of the heavenly bodies were regarded as entirely mechanical and predictable but causality was attributed to temporal association in many inappropriate ways, and it became far too particularistic in its application to individuals.
Scientific studies try to determine which relationships are producing what behavioral effects including everything from physical damage to social pressures.
World History
