But the next step--the really important one--that of interpreting this chart, was the one which called forth the skill and imagination of the astrologer.

In this interpretation, not in his mere observations, lay the secret of his success.

Nor did his task cease with simply foretelling future events that were to happen in the life of the newly born infant.

He must not only point out the dangers, but show the means whereby they could be averted, and his prophylactic measures, like his predictions, were alleged to be based on his reading of the stars.
But casting a horoscope at the time of births was, of course, only a small part of the astrologer's duty.

His offices were sought by persons of all ages for predictions as to their futures, the movements of an enemy, where to find stolen goods, and a host of everyday occurrences.
In such cases it is more than probable that the astrologers did very little consulting of the stars in making their predictions.