he word 'astrology' can be translated from the Ancient Greek as 'word of the stars'. It's about the symbolic relationship between the planetary movements in the heavens and events on earth. Although astrology is based on astronomy it relies on personal interpretation so most astrologers describe it as an 'art'.

In Revelation the two main characters - Jake and Mira - use astrological clues to guide them on their quest to find an ancient relic. Mira makes intuitive connections between a significant planetary conjunction in Taurus (the sign associated with the planet Venus) and the similarity of the symbols for Venus and the ankh to lead them to the Venus temple on Patmos.

The most well-known planetary omen is the star of Bethlehem around the time of the birth of Jesus. This is generally accepted by astrologers to be a conjunction in 6 BC between Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces (the sign associated with Christianity and also approximately the last 2,000 years as the 'Age of Pisces').

In the film Jake and Mira find confirmation when they discover the planets formed a pentagram, or five-pointed star, in the astrological chart for the exact moment of a solar eclipse the year the relic was hidden.* The pentagram symbol represents the human becoming divine and links to Venus as a pentagram is created by the orbit of Venus in relation to the Earth.

The first known attempts to bring order to the sky were before 2000 BC in Babylon. Babylonian priests used astrology to advise their kings, Greek philosophers used it to take them closer to God and Hebrew prophets searched the sky for signs of God's pleasure or anger.

One of the first zodiacs showing the twelve signs was carved on the ceiling of a chapel in the Ancient Egyptian temple at Dendera. In ancient times religion was linked to the planets. As the morning and evening star Venus was worshipped as the Ancient Egyptian goddess Isis.

Astrology is used now in business, politics and by individuals for illumination, guidance and higher perspective. Princess Diana consulted astrologers and it was revealed President Ronald Reagan used astrology during the negotiations that led to the end of the Cold War.

Surprisingly detailed information is available from the interpretation of a birth chart by a skilled astrologer. However, sun sign astrology simply divides everyone into twelve groups depending on where the Sun was at our birth. This is a recent phenomenon that is largely media generated.

A birth chart is a life script, a story that reveals the major issues, conflicts and lessons in our lives. The chart is like a blueprint and through the awareness that astrology brings we can begin to free ourselves from these 'patterns' and express the energy in a more harmonious way.

* (shown astronomically in the film for accessibility)