Astrology is the science of studying the stars and other celestial bodies and how their cycles affect life on earth. Practiced through centuries, the word astrology has been derived from the early Latin word astrologia, meaning 'account of the stars'. Throughout history, individuals have studied astrology and used it for numerous purposes. In the Western culture, astrology consists of horoscopes, which if written and mapped correctly, can help a skilled astrologer to predict certain aspects of an individual's personality, habits, character, life history and even the relationships based on the positions of the stars, sun, moon, and other planetary objects at the time of the individual's birth. Cultures across the globe have attached importance to the astronomical events, and the Chinese, Indians and Mayans developed elaborate systems for forecasting terrestrial events from celestial observations.

A central principle of astrology is mapping of the individual with the cosmos, all parts of which are interrelated with each other. Astrological chart depicts a map of the universe at the time of birth, focussing the individual at its centre, with the Sun, Moon, and other celestial bodies considered to be that person's personal planets or stars, which are uniquely relevant to that individual alone. Although different cultures share common roots in ancient astrological practices, many have devised unique methodologies, the most significant of which are Hindu astrology (also known as "Vedic astrology"). It has yielded a great influence upon the world's cultural history.