horoscopic

Horoscopic is an adjective relating to horoscopy, the practice of constructing and interpreting horoscopes—the charts that map the positions of celestial bodies at a particular time and place. In astrology, a horoscopic chart, often called a natal or birth chart, is used to analyze personality, potential life events, and behavioral patterns by comparing planetary positions to the zodiac signs and astrological houses.

Originating in the Hellenistic world, horoscopic astrology developed in the Mediterranean with influences from Babylonian and Egyptian traditions. The term horoscopic derives from Greek horoskopos, meaning "hour watcher" or "observer of the hour," reflecting the focus on precise timing when a chart is cast.

Horoscopic analysis relies on a chart showing the Sun, Moon, and planets within the twelve zodiac signs and twelve houses, with aspects describing angles between bodies. Methods include natal charts, transits, progressions, solar returns, and lunar returns, each used to infer patterns or potential developments in a person’s life or character.

Today, horoscopic astrology remains widely practiced in many cultures and is popular in media and personal advisory contexts. It is considered a pseudoscience by the scientific community, and horoscopic claims are viewed skeptically by researchers. The term also appears in non-astrological discussions to distinguish astrology-based methods from astronomy.