Astrology

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Astrology
enice ast sm.jpg
The astrological signs
Aries
Taurus
!emini
Cancer
"eo
irgo
"ibra
#corpio
#agittarius
Capricorn
A$uarius
%isces
Astrology categories
&'pand list
for reference
( Astrology
) Astrologers
) Astrological ages
) Astrological organi*ations
) Astrological signs
) +istory of astrology
) Technical factors of astrology
) Astrological te'ts
) Astrology by tradition
) Astrology by type
) Astrology images
) Astrology stubs
,ranches of astrology
Chinese
-ecumbiture
&lectional
Financial
+ellenistic
+orary
"ocational
%sychological
.eteorological
+indu
The planets in astrology
#un
.oon
.ercury
enus
.ars
Ceres
/upiter
#aturn
0ranus
Neptune
%luto
%ortal icon Astrology portal Astrology project
Astrologers
Astrological organi*ations
Astrology and science
1
t
e
Astrology, or astromancy,234 consists of se1eral systems of di1ination254 based on the
premise that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and e1ents in the
human world. .any cultures ha1e attached importance to astronomical e1ents, and the
6ndians, Chinese, and .ayans de1eloped elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial
e1ents from celestial obser1ations. 6n the West, astrology most often consists of a system
of horoscopes purporting to e'plain aspects of a person7s personality and predict future
e1ents in their life based on the positions of the sun, moon, and other celestial objects at
the time of their birth. The majority of professional astrologers rely on such systems.
2849:8
Throughout most of its history, astrology was considered a scholarly tradition. 6t was
accepted in political and academic conte'ts, and was connected with other studies, such
as astronomy, alchemy, meteorology, and medicine.2;4 At the end of the 3<th century,
new scientific concepts in astronomy and physics =such as heliocentrism and Newtonian
mechanics> called astrology into $uestion. Astrology thus lost its academic and
theoretical standing, and common belief in astrology has largely declined.2?4 Astrology
has been rejected by the scientific community as a pseudoscience, ha1ing no 1alidity or
e'planatory power for describing the uni1erse. Among other issues, there is no proposed
mechanism of action by which the positions and motions of stars and planets could affect
people and e1ents on &arth that does not contradict well understood basic aspects of
biology and physics.2@495;A2<4 #cientific testing of astrology has found no e1idence to
support any of the premises or purported effects outlined in astrological traditions. 6n one
study, participating astrologers attempting to match natal charts with profiles generated
by a psychological in1entory produced results not significantly at 1ariance with random
chance.2:49;5;
Astrology has been dated to at least the 5nd millennium ,C&, with roots in calendrical
systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of di1ine
communications.2A4 A form of astrology was practised in the first dynasty of
.esopotamia =3A?BC3@?3 ,C&>. Chinese astrology was elaborated in the Dhou dynasty
=3B;@C5?@ ,C&>. +ellenistic astrology after 885 ,C& mi'ed ,abylonian astrology with
&gyptian -ecanic astrology in Ale'andria, creating horoscopic astrology. Ale'ander the
!reat7s con$uest of Asia allowed astrology to spread to Ancient !reece and Eome. 6n
Eome, astrology was associated with FChaldean wisdomF. After the con$uest of
Ale'andria in the <th century, astrology was taken up by 6slamic scholars, and +ellenistic
te'ts were translated into Arabic and %ersian. 6n the 35th century, Arabic te'ts were
imported to &urope and translated into "atin, helping to initiate the &uropean
Eenaissance, when major astronomers including Tycho ,rahe, /ohannes Gepler and
!alileo practised as court astrologers. Astrological references appear in literature in the
works of poets such as -ante Alighieri and !eoffrey Chaucer, and of playwrights such as
Christopher .arlowe and William #hakespeare.
Contents
3 &tymology
5 +istory
5.3 Ancient world
5.3.3 Ancient objections
5.5 +ellenistic &gypt
5.8 !reece and Eome
5.; .ediae1al world
5.;.3 6slamic
5.;.5 &urope
5.;.8 .ediae1al objections
5.? Eenaissance and &arly .odern
5.@ &nlightenment period and onwards
8 %rinciples and practice
8.3 Western
8.5 +indu
8.8 Chinese and &astHAsian
; Theological 1iewpoints
;.3 Ancient
;.5 .edie1al
;.8 .odern
? #cientific analysis and criticism
?.3 -emarcation
?.5 &ffecti1eness
?.8 "ack of mechanisms and consistency
@ Cultural impact
@.3 Western politics and society
@.5 6ndia and /apan
@.8 "iterature and music
< #ee also
: Notes
A Eeferences
3B #ources
33 Further reading
35 &'ternal links
&tymology
.arcantonio Eaimondi engra1ing, 3?th century
The word astrology comes from the early "atin word astrologia,23B4 deri1ing from the
!reek noun IJKLMLNOP, 7account of the stars7. Astrologia later passed into meaning 7starH
di1ination7 with astronomia used for the scientific term.2334
+istory
.ain article9 +istory of astrology
.any cultures ha1e attached importance to astronomical e1ents, and the 6ndians,
Chinese, and .ayans de1eloped elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial e1ents from
celestial obser1ations. 6n the West, astrology most often consists of a system of
horoscopes purporting to e'plain aspects of a person7s personality and predict future
e1ents in their life based on the positions of the sun, moon, and other celestial objects at
the time of their birth. The majority of professional astrologers rely on such systems.
2849:8
Astrology has been dated to at least the 5nd millennium ,C&, with roots in calendrical
systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of di1ine
communications.2A4 A form of astrology was practised in the first dynasty of
.esopotamia =3A?BC3@?3 ,C&>. Chinese astrology was elaborated in the Dhou dynasty
=3B;@C5?@ ,C&>. +ellenistic astrology after 885 ,C& mi'ed ,abylonian astrology with
&gyptian -ecanic astrology in Ale'andria, creating horoscopic astrology. Ale'ander the
!reat7s con$uest of Asia allowed astrology to spread to Ancient !reece and Eome. 6n
Eome, astrology was associated with 7Chaldean wisdom7. After the con$uest of
Ale'andria in the <th century, astrology was taken up by 6slamic scholars, and +ellenistic
te'ts were translated into Arabic and %ersian. 6n the 35th century, Arabic te'ts were
imported to &urope and translated into "atin, helping to initiate the &uropean
Eenaissance, when major astronomers including Tycho ,rahe, /ohannes Gepler and
!alileo practised as court astrologers. Astrological references appear in literature in the
works of poets such as -ante Alighieri and !eoffrey Chaucer, and of playwrights such as
Christopher .arlowe and William #hakespeare.
Throughout most of its history, astrology was considered a scholarly tradition. 6t was
accepted in political and academic conte'ts, and was connected with other studies, such
as astronomy, alchemy, meteorology, and medicine.2;4 At the end of the 3<th century,
new scientific concepts in astronomy and physics =such as heliocentrism and Newtonian
mechanics> called astrology into $uestion. Astrology thus lost its academic and
theoretical standing, and common belief in astrology has largely declined.2?4
Ancient world
For more details on ancient astrology, see ,abylonian astrology.
Astrology, in its broadest sense, is the search for meaning in the sky.235495,8 &arly
e1idence for humans making conscious attempts to measure, record, and predict seasonal
changes by reference to astronomical cycles, appears as markings on bones and ca1e
walls, which show that lunar cycles were being noted as early as 5?,BBB years ago.
23849:3ff This was a first step towards recording the .oon7s influence upon tides and
ri1ers, and towards organi*ing a communal calendar.2384 Agricultural needs were
addressed with increasing knowledge of constellations which appear in the different
seasons, allowing the rising of particular starHgroups to herald annual floods or seasonal
acti1ities.23;4 ,y the 8rd millennium ,C&, ci1ili*ations had sophisticated awareness of
celestial cycles, and may ha1e oriented temples in alignment with heliacal risings of the
stars.23?4
There is scattered e1idence to suggest that the oldest known astrological references are
copies of te'ts made in the ancient world. The enus tablet of Ammisadu$a =compiled in
,abylon around 3<BB ,C&> is reported to ha1e been made during the reign of king
#argon of Akkad =588;C55<A ,C&>.23@4 A scroll documenting an early use of electional
astrology is doubtfully ascribed to the reign of the #umerian ruler !udea of "agash =c.
53;; C 535; ,C&>. This describes how the gods re1ealed to him in a dream the
constellations that would be most fa1ourable for the planned construction of a temple.
23<4 +owe1er, there is contro1ersy about whether these were genuinely recorded at the
time or merely ascribed to ancient rulers by posterity. The oldest undisputed e1idence of
the use of astrology as an integrated system of knowledge is therefore attributed to the
records of the first dynasty of .esopotamia =3A?BC3@?3 ,C&>. This astrology had some
parallels with +ellenistic !reek =western> astrology, including the *odiac, a norming
point near A degrees in Aries, the trine aspect, planetary e'altations, and the
dodekatemoria =the twel1e di1isions of 8B degrees each>.23:4 +owe1er, the ,abylonians
1iewed celestial e1ents as possible signs rather than as causes of physical e1ents.23:4
The system of Chinese astrology was elaborated during the Dhou dynasty =3B;@C5?@
,C&> and flourished during the +an -ynasty =5nd century ,C& to 5nd century C&>,
during which all the familiar elements of traditional Chinese culture C the QinHQang
philosophy, theory of the fi1e elements, +ea1en and &arth, Confucian morality C were
brought together to formalise the philosophical principles of Chinese medicine and
di1ination, astrology and alchemy.23A498,;
Ancient objections
The Eoman orator Cicero objected to astrology.
Cicero stated the twins objection =that with close birth times, personal outcomes can be
1ery different>, later de1eloped by #aint Augustine.25B4 +e argued that since the other
planets are much more distant from the earth than the moon, they could ha1e only 1ery
tiny influence compared to the moon7s.2534 +e also argued that if astrology e'plains
e1erything about a person7s fate, then it wrongly ignores the 1isible effect of inherited
ability and parenting, changes in health worked by medicine, or the effects of the weather
on people.2554
%lotinus argued that since the fi'ed stars are much more distant than the planets, it is
laughable to imagine the planets7 effect on mankind should depend on their position with
respect to the *odiac. +e also argues that the interpretation of the moon7s conjunction
with a planet as good when the moon is full, but bad when the moon is waning, is clearly
wrong, as from the moon7s point of 1iew, half of her surface is always in sunlightR and
from the planet7s point of 1iew, waning should be better, as then the planet sees some
light from the moon, but when the moon is full to us, it is dark, and therefore bad, on the
side facing the planet.2584
Fa1orinus argued that it was absurd to imagine that stars and planets would affect human
bodies in the same way as they affect the tides,25;4 and e$ually absurd that small motions
in the hea1ens cause large changes in people7s fates. #e'tus &mpiricus argued that it was
absurd to link human attributes with myths about the signs of the *odiac.25?4 Carneades
argued that belief in fate denies free will and moralityR that people born at different times
can all die in the same accident or battleR and that contrary to uniform influences from the
stars, tribes and cultures are all different.25@4
+ellenistic &gypt
.ain article9 +ellenistic astrology
%tolemy7s Tetrabiblos, the +ellenistic te't that founded Western astrology
3;:; copy of first page of %tolemy7s Tetrabiblos, translated into "atin by %lato of Ti1oli
6n ?5? ,C&, &gypt was con$uered by the %ersians. The 3st century ,C& &gyptian
-endera Dodiac shares two signs C the ,alance and the #corpion C with .esopotamian
astrology.25<4
With the occupation by Ale'ander the !reat in 885 ,C&, &gypt became +ellenistic. The
city of Ale'andria was founded by Ale'ander after the con$uest, becoming the place
where ,abylonian astrology was mi'ed with &gyptian -ecanic astrology to create
+oroscopic astrology. This contained the ,abylonian *odiac with its system of planetary
e'altations, the triplicities of the signs and the importance of eclipses. 6t used the
&gyptian concept of di1iding the *odiac into thirtyHsi' decans of ten degrees each, with
an emphasis on the rising decan, and the !reek system of planetary !ods, sign rulership
and four elements.25:4 5nd century ,C& te'ts predict positions of planets in *odiac signs
at the time of the rising of certain decans, particularly #othis.25A4 The astrologer and
astronomer %tolemy li1ed in Ale'andria. %tolemy7s work the Tetrabiblos formed the basis
of Western astrology, and Fenjoyed almost the authority of a ,ible among the astrological
writers of a thousand years or moreF.28B4
!reece and Eome
The con$uest of Asia by Ale'ander the !reat e'posed the !reeks to ideas from #yria,
,abylon, %ersia and central Asia.2834 Around 5:B ,C&, ,erossus, a priest of ,el from
,abylon, mo1ed to the !reek island of Gos, teaching astrology and ,abylonian culture.
2854 ,y the 3st century ,C&, there were two 1arieties of astrology, one using horoscopes
to describe the past, present and futureR the other, theurgic, emphasising the soul7s ascent
to the stars.2884 !reek influence played a crucial role in the transmission of astrological
theory to Eome.28;4
The first definite reference to astrology in Eome comes from the orator Cato, who in 3@B
,C& warned farm o1erseers against consulting with Chaldeans,28?4 who were described
as ,abylonian 7starHga*ers7.28@4 Among both !reeks and Eomans, ,abylonia =also known
as Chaldea> became so identified with astrology that 7Chaldean wisdom7 became
synonymous with di1ination using planets and stars.28<4 The 5ndHcentury Eoman poet
and satirist /u1enal complains about the per1asi1e influence of Chaldeans, saying F#till
more trusted are the ChaldaeansR e1ery word uttered by the astrologer they will belie1e
has come from +ammon7s fountainF.28:4
Sne of the first astrologers to bring +ermetic astrology to Eome was Thrasyllus,
astrologer to the emperor Tiberius,28;4 the first emperor to ha1e had a court astrologer,
28A4 though his predecessor Augustus had used astrology to help legitimise his 6mperial
rights.2;B4
.ediae1al world
6slamic
.ain article9 Astrology in medie1al 6slam
6mage of a "atin astrological te't
"atin translation of AbT .a shar7s -e .agnis Coniunctionibus =7Sf the great
conjunctions7>, enice, 3?3?.
Astrology was taken up by 6slamic scholars following the collapse of Ale'andria to the
Arabs in the <th century, and the founding of the Abbasid empire in the :th. The second
Abbasid caliph, Al .ansur =<?;C<<?> founded the city of ,aghdad to act as a centre of
learning, and included in its design a libraryHtranslation centre known as ,ayt alH+ikma
7#torehouse of Wisdom7, which continued to recei1e de1elopment from his heirs and was
to pro1ide a major impetus for ArabicH%ersian translations of +ellenistic astrological
te'ts. The early translators included .ashallah, who helped to elect the time for the
foundation of ,aghdad,2;34 and #ahl ibn ,ishr, =a.k.a. Dael>, whose te'ts were directly
influential upon later &uropean astrologers such as !uido ,onatti in the 38th century, and
William "illy in the 3<th century.2;54 Gnowledge of Arabic te'ts started to become
imported into &urope during the "atin translations of the 35th century, the effect of which
was to help initiate the &uropean Eenaissance.
&urope
-ante Alighieri meets the &mperor /ustinian in the #phere of .ercury, in Canto ? of the
%aradiso.
The first astrological book published in &urope was the "iber %lanetis et .undi
Climatibus =F,ook of the %lanets and Eegions of the WorldF> which appeared between
3B3B and 3B5< A-, and may ha1e been authored by !erbert of Aurillac.2;84 %tolemy7s
second century A- Tetrabiblos was translated into "atin by %lato of Ti1oli in 338:.2;84
The -ominican theologian Thomas A$uinas followed Aristotle in proposing that the stars
ruled the imperfect 7sublunary7 body, while attempting to reconcile astrology with
Christianity by stating that !od ruled the soul.2;;4 The thirteenth century mathematician
Campanus of No1ara is said to ha1e de1ised a system of astrological houses which
di1ides the prime 1ertical into 7houses7 of e$ual 8BU arcs,2;?4 though the system was used
earlier in the &ast.2;@4 The thirteenth century astronomer !uido ,onatti wrote a te'tbook,
the "iber Astronomicus, a copy of which was owned at the end of the fifteenth century by
king +enry 66 of &ngland.2;?4
6n %aradiso, the final part of the -i1ine Comedy, the 6talian poet -ante Alighieri referred
Fin countless detailsF2;<4 to the astrological planets, though he adapted traditional
astrology to suit his Christian 1iewpoint,2;<4 for e'ample using astrological thinking in
his prophecies of the reform of Christendom.2;:4
.ediae1al objections
The medie1al theologian 6sidore of #e1ille critici*ed the predicti1e part of astrology.
6n the se1enth century, 6sidore of #e1ille argued in his &tymologiae that astronomy
described the mo1ements of the hea1ens, while astrology had two parts9 one was
scientific, describing the mo1ements of the sun, the moon and the stars, while the other,
making predictions, was theologically erroneous.2;A42?B4 6n contrast, /ohn !ower in the
fourteenth century defined astrology as essentially limited to the making of predictions.
2;A42?34 The influence of the stars was in turn di1ided into natural astrology, with for
e'ample effects on tides and the growth of plants, and judicial astrology, with supposedly
predictable effects on people.2?542?84 The fourteenth century skeptic Nicole Sresme
howe1er included astronomy as a part of astrology in his "i1re de di1inacions.2?;4
Sresme argued that current approaches to prediction of e1ents such as plagues, wars, and
weather were inappropriate, but that such prediction was a 1alid field of in$uiry.
+owe1er, he attacked the use of astrology to choose the timing of actions =soHcalled
interrogation and election> as wholly false, and rejected the determination of human
action by the stars on grounds of free will.2?;42??4 The friar "aurens %ignon =c. 38@:C
3;;A>2?@4 similarly rejected all forms of di1ination and determinism, including by the
stars, in his 3;33 Contre les -e1ineurs.2?<4 This was in opposition to the tradition carried
by the Arab astronomer Albumasar =<:<H::@> whose 6ntroductorium in Astronomiam and
-e .agnis Coniunctionibus argued the 1iew that both indi1idual actions and larger scale
history are determined by the stars.2?:4
Eenaissance and &arly .odern
7An Astrologer Casting a +oroscope7 from Eobert Fludd7s 0trius$ue Cosmi +istoria,
3@3<
Eenaissance scholars often practised astrology to pay for their research into other
subjects.2?A4 !erolamo Cardano cast the horoscope of king &dward 6 of &ngland, while
/ohn -ee was the personal astrologer to $ueen &li*abeth 6 of &ngland.2?A4 Catherine de
.edici paid .ichael Nostradamus in 3?@@ to 1erify the prediction of the death of her
husband, king +enry 66 of France made by her astrologer "ucus !auricus.2?A4 .ajor
astronomers who practised as court astrologers included Tycho ,rahe in the royal court
of -enmark, /ohannes Gepler to the +absburgs and !alileo !alilei to the .edici.2?A4
The astronomer and spiritual astrologer !iordano ,runo was burnt at the stake for heresy
in Eome in 3@BB.2?A4
&phemerides with comple' astrological calculations, and almanacs interpreting celestial
e1ents for use in medicine and for choosing times to plant crops, were popular in
&li*abethan &ngland.2@B4 6n 3?A<, the &nglish mathematician and physician Thomas
+ood made a set of paper instruments using re1ol1ing o1erlays which enabled students to
work out relationships between the fi'ed stars or constellations, the midhea1en, and the
twel1e astrological houses.2@34 +ood7s instruments also illustrated for pedagogical
purposes the supposed relationships between the signs of the *odiac, the planets, and the
parts of the human body which were belie1ed to be go1erned by the planets and signs.
2@342@54 While +ood7s presentation was inno1ati1e, his astrological information was
largely standard and was taken from !erard .ercator7s astrological disc made in 3??3, or
a source used by .ercator.2@842@;4
&nglish astrology had reached its *enith by the 3<th century.2@?4 Astrologers were
theorists, researchers, and social engineers, as well as pro1iding indi1idual ad1ice to
e1eryone from monarchs downwards. Among other things, astrologers could ad1ise on
the best time to take a journey or har1est a crop, diagnose and prescribe for physical or
mental illnesses, and predict natural disasters. This underpinned a system in which
e1erything H people, the world, the uni1erse H was understood to be interconnected, and
astrology coHe'isted happily with religion, magic and science.2@@4
&nlightenment period and onwards
-uring The &nlightenment, intellectual sympathy for astrology fell away, lea1ing only a
popular following supported by cheap almanacs.2@<4 Sne &nglish almanac compiler,
Eichard #aunders, followed the spirit of the age by printing a derisi1e -iscourse on the
6n1alidity of Astrology, while in France %ierre ,ayle7s -ictionnaire of 3@A< stated that
the subject was puerile, without bothering to offer dispro1ing e1idence.2@<4 The AngloH
6rish satirist /onathan #wift ridiculed the Whig political astrologer /ohn %artridge.2@<4
Astrology saw a popular re1i1al starting in the 3Ath century as part of a general re1i1al of
spiritualism and later New Age philosophy,2@:4958AC5;A and through the influence of
mass media such as newspaper horoscopes.2@:495?AC5@8 &arly in the 5Bth century the
psychiatrist Carl /ung de1eloped some concepts concerning astrology,2@A4 which led to
the de1elopment of psychological astrology.2@:495?3C5?@2<B42<34
%rinciples and practice
Ad1ocates ha1e defined astrology as a symbolic language, an art form, a science, and a
method of di1ination.2<542<84 Although most cultural systems of astrology share
common roots in ancient philosophies that influenced each other, many ha1e uni$ue
methodologies which differ from those de1eloped in the West. These include +indu
astrology =also known as F6ndian astrologyF and in modern times referred to as Fedic
astrologyF> and Chinese astrology, both of which ha1e influenced the world7s cultural
history.
Western
For more details on this topic, see Western astrology.
Western astrology is a form of di1ination based on the construction of a horoscope for an
e'act moment, such as a person7s birth.2<;4 6t uses the tropical *odiac, which is aligned to
the e$uinoctial points.2<?4
Western astrology is founded on the mo1ements and relati1e positions of celestial bodies
such as the #un, .oon and planets, which are analy*ed by their mo1ement through signs
of the *odiac =twel1e spatial di1isions of the ecliptic> and by their aspects =based on
geometric angles> relati1e to one another. They are also considered by their placement in
houses =twel1e spatial di1isions of the sky>.2<@4 Astrology7s modern representation in
western popular media is usually reduced to sun sign astrology, which considers only the
*odiac sign of the #un at an indi1idual7s date of birth, and represents only 3V35 of the total
chart.2<<4
The horoscope 1isually e'presses the set of relationships for the time and place of the
chosen e1ent. These relationships are between the se1en 7planets7, signifying tendencies
such as war and lo1eR the twel1e signs of the *odiacR and the twel1e houses. &ach planet
is in a particular sign and a particular house at the chosen time, when obser1ed from the
chosen place, creating two kinds of relationship.2<:4 A third kind is the aspect of each
planet to e1ery other planet, where for e'ample two planets 35BU apart =in 7trine7> are in a
harmonious relationship, but two planets ABU apart =7s$uare7> are in a conflicted
relationship.2<A42:B4 Together these relationships and their interpretations supposedly
form Fthe language of the hea1ens speaking to learned menF.2<:4
Along with tarot di1ination, astrology is one of the core studies of Western esotericism,
and as such has influenced systems of magical belief not only among Western esotericists
and +ermeticists, but also belief systems such as Wicca that ha1e borrowed from or been
influenced by the Western esoteric tradition. Tanya "uhrmann has said that Fall
magicians know something about astrology,F and refers to a table of correspondences in
#tarhawk7s The #piral -ance, organi*ed by planet, as an e'ample of the astrological lore
studied by magicians.2:34
+indu
%age from an 6ndian astrological treatise, c. 3<?B
For more details on this topic, see +indu astrology.
+indu natal astrology originated with western =+ellenistic> astrology in ancient times,
2:5498@32:84 though incorporating the +indu lunar mansions.2:;4 The names of the signs
=e.g. !reek 7Gpios7 for Aries, +indi 7Griya7>, the planets =e.g. !reek 7+elios7 for #un,
astrological +indi 7+eli7>, and astrological terms =e.g. !reek 7apoklima7 and 7sunaphe7 for
declination and planetary conjunction, +indi 7apoklima7 and 7sunapha7 respecti1ely> in
araha .ihira7s te'ts are considered conclusi1e e1idence of a !reek origin for +indu
astrology.2:?4 The 6ndian techni$ues may also ha1e been augmented with some of the
,abylonian techni$ues.2:@49583
Chinese and &astHAsian
For more details on this topic, see Chinese astrology and Chinese *odiac.
Chinese astrology has a close relation with Chinese philosophy =theory of the three
harmonies9 hea1en, earth and man> and uses concepts such as yin and yang, the Fi1e
phases, the 3B Celestial stems, the 35 &arthly ,ranches, and shichen = a form of
timekeeping used for religious purposes>. The early use of Chinese astrology was mainly
confined to political astrology, the obser1ation of unusual phenomena, identification of
portents and the selection of auspicious days for e1ents and decisions.23A4955,:?,3<@
The constellations of the Dodiac of western Asia and &urope were not usedR instead the
sky is di1ided into Three &nclosures = sWn yuXn>, and TwentyHeight .ansions =
YrshZbW 'i[> in twel1e Ci =>.2:<4 The Chinese *odiac of twel1e animal signs
is said to represent twel1e different types of personality. 6t is based on cycles of years,
lunar months, and twoHhour periods of the day =the shichen>. The *odiac traditionally
begins with the sign of the Eat, and the cycle proceeds through 33 other animals signs9
the S', Tiger, Eabbit, -ragon, #nake, +orse, !oat, .onkey, Eooster, -og and %ig.2::4
Comple' systems of predicting fate and destiny based on one7s birthday, birth season, and
birth hours, such as *iping and Di Wei -ou #hu =simplified Chinese9 R
traditional Chinese9 R pinyin9 *\w]id^ush[> are still used regularly in modern
day Chinese astrology. They do not rely on direct obser1ations of the stars.2:A4
The Gorean *odiac is identical to the Chinese one. The ietnamese *odiac is almost
identical to Chinese *odiac e'cept the second animal is the Water ,uffalo instead of the
S', and the fourth animal is the Cat instead of the Eabbit. The /apanese ha1e since 3:<8
celebrated the beginning of the new year on 3 /anuary as per the !regorian Calendar. The
Thai *odiac begins, not at Chinese New Qear, but either on the first day of fifth month in
the Thai lunar calendar, or during the #ongkran festi1al =now celebrated e1ery 38C3?
April>, depending on the purpose of the use.2AB4
Theological 1iewpoints
#ee also9 Christianity and astrology, /ewish 1iews on astrology and .uslim 1iews on
astrology
Ancient
#t. Augustine =8?;H;8B> belie1ed that the determinism of astrology conflicted with the
Christian doctrines of man7s free will and responsibility, and !od not being the cause of
e1il,2A34 but he also grounded his opposition philosophically, citing the failure of
astrology to e'plain twins who beha1e differently although concei1ed at the same
moment and born at appro'imately the same time.2A54
.edie1al
#ome of the practices of astrology were contested on theological grounds by medie1al
.uslim astronomers such as AlHFarabi =Alpharabius>, 6bn alH+aytham =Alha*en> and
A1icenna. They said that the methods of astrologers conflicted with orthodo' religious
1iews of 6slamic scholars, by suggesting that the Will of !od can be known and predicted
in ad1ance.2A84 For e'ample, A1icenna7s 7Eefutation against astrology7, EisWla f_ ib Wl
a kWm alHnojTm, argues against the practice of astrology while supporting the principle
that planets may act as agents of di1ine causation. A1icenna considered that the
mo1ement of the planets influenced life on earth in a deterministic way, but argued
against the possibility of determining the e'act influence of the stars.2A;4 &ssentially,
A1icenna did not deny the core dogma of astrology, but denied our ability to understand
it to the e'tent that precise and fatalistic predictions could be made from it.2A?4 6bn
`ayyim AlH/aw*iyya =35A5C38?B>, in his .iftah -ar alH#aCadah, also used physical
arguments in astronomy to $uestion the practice of judicial astrology.2A@4 +e recogni*ed
that the stars are much larger than the planets, and argued9
And if you astrologers answer that it is precisely because of this distance and smallness
that their influences are negligible, then why is it that you claim a great influence for the
smallest hea1enly body, .ercurya Why is it that you ha1e gi1en an influence to alHEa7s
and alH-hanab, which are two imaginary points 2ascending and descending nodes4a
b6bn `ayyim AlH/aw*iyya2A@4
.odern
-i1ination, including predicti1e astrology, is stated in the Catechism of the Catholic
Church to be incompatible with modern Catholic beliefs2A<4 such as free will92A54
All forms of di1ination are to be rejected9 recourse to #atan or demons, conjuring up
the dead or other practices falsely supposed to Fun1eilF the future. Consulting
horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of
clair1oyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power o1er time, history,
and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden
powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and lo1ing fear that we owe to !od alone.
2A:4
bCatechism of the Catholic Church
#cientific analysis and criticism
.ain article9 Astrology and science
%opper proposed falsifiability as that which distinguishes science from nonHscience, using
astrology as the e'ample of an idea which has not dealt with falsification during
e'periment.
Astrology has been rejected by the scientific community as ha1ing no e'planatory power
for describing the uni1erse and is considered a pseudoscience.2AA423BB423B34938?B
#cientific testing of astrology has been conducted, and no e1idence has been found to
support any of the premises or purported effects outlined in astrological traditions.2:49;5;
There is no proposed mechanism of action by which the positions and motions of stars
and planets could affect people and e1ents on &arth that does not contradict well
understood, basic aspects of biology and physics.2@495;A2<4 Those who continue to ha1e
faith in astrology ha1e been characteri*ed as doing so Fin spite of the fact that there is no
1erified scientific basis for their beliefs, and indeed that there is strong e1idence to the
contraryF.23B54
6t has also been shown that confirmation bias is a psychological factor that contributes to
belief in astrology.23B8498;;23B;493:BC3:323B?49;5C;: Confirmation bias is a form of
cogniti1e bias.2a423B@49??8 According to a1ailable literature Astrology belie1ers tend to
selecti1ely remember those predictions which ha1e turned out to be true, and do not
remember those predictions which happen to be false. Another, separate, form of
confirmation bias also plays a role, where belie1ers often fail to distinguish between
messages that demonstrate special ability and those which do not.23B;493:BC3:3 Thus
there are two distinct forms of confirmation bias that are under study with respect to
astrological belief.23B;493:BC3:3
-emarcation
0nder the criterion of falsifiability, first proposed by philosopher of science Garl %opper,
astrology is a pseudoscience.23B<4 %opper regarded astrology as FpseudoHempiricalF in
that Fit appeals to obser1ation and e'perimentF, but Fne1ertheless does not come up to
scientific standardsF.23B:49;; 6n contrast to scientific disciplines, astrology has not
responded to falsification through e'periment.23BA495B@ 6n contrast to %opper, the
philosopher Thomas Guhn argued that it was not lack of falsifiability that makes
astrology unscientific, but rather that the process and concepts of astrology are nonH
empirical.233B49;B3
To Guhn, although astrologers had, historically, made predictions that Fcategorically
failedF, this in itself does not make it unscientific, nor do the attempts by astrologers to
e'plain away the failure by claiming it was due to the creation of a horoscope being 1ery
difficult. Eather, in Guhn7s eyes, astrology is not science because it was always more akin
to medie1al medicineR they followed a se$uence of rules and guidelines for a seemingly
necessary field with known shortcomings, but they did no research because the fields are
not amenable to research,233349: and so Fthey had no pu**les to sol1e and therefore no
science to practiseF.233B49;B3233349: While an astronomer could correct for failure, an
astrologer could not. An astrologer could only e'plain away failure but could not re1ise
the astrological hypothesis in a meaningful way. As such, to Guhn, e1en if the stars could
influence the path of humans through life astrology is not scientific.233349:
%hilosopher %aul Thagard belie1ed that astrology cannot be regarded as falsified in this
sense until it has been replaced with a successor. 6n the case of predicting beha1iour,
psychology is the alternati1e.23354955: To Thagard a further criterion of demarcation of
science from pseudoscience was that the stateHofHtheHart must progress and that the
community of researchers should be attempting to compare the current theory to
alternati1es, and not be Fselecti1e in considering confirmations and disconfirmationsF.
23354955<C55: %rogress is defined here as e'plaining new phenomena and sol1ing
e'isting problems, yet astrology has failed to progress ha1ing only changed little in
nearly 5BBB years.23354955:233849?;A To Thagard, astrologers are acting as though
engaged in Normal science belie1ing that the foundations of astrology were well
established despite the Fmany unsol1ed problemsF, and in the face of better alternati1e
theories =%sychology>. For these reasons Thagard 1iewed astrology as pseudoscience.
2335423384955:
For the philosopher &dward W. /ames, astrology is irrational not because of the
numerous problems with mechanisms and falsification due to e'periments, but because
an analysis of the astrological literature shows that it is infused with fallacious logic and
poor reasoning.233;498;
What if throughout astrological writings we meet little appreciation of coherence,
blatant insensiti1ity to e1idence, no sense of a hierachy of reasons, slight command o1er
the conte'tual force of critieria, stubborn unwillingless to pursue an argument where it
leads, stark nai1ete concerning the effiacacy of e'planation and so ona 6n that case, 6
think, we are perfectly justified in rejecting astrology as irrational. ... Astrology simply
fails to meet the multifarious demands of legitimate reasoning.F
b&dward W. /ames233;498;
&ffecti1eness
Astrology has not demonstrated its effecti1eness in controlled studies and has no
scientific 1alidity.2849:?2:4 Where it has made falsifiable predictions under controlled
conditions, they ha1e been falsified.2:49;5; Sne famous e'periment included 5:
astrologers who were asked to match o1er a hundred natal charts to psychological
profiles generated by the California %sychological 6n1entory =C%6> $uestionnaire.233?4
233@4 The doubleHblind e'perimental protocol used in this study was agreed upon by a
group of physicists and a group of astrologers2:4 nominated by the National Council for
!eocosmic Eesearch, who ad1ised the e'perimenters, helped ensure that the test was
fair233@4933<233<49;5B and helped draw the central proposition of natal astrology to be
tested.233<49;3A They also chose 5@ out of the 5: eight astrologers for the tests =two more
1olunteered afterwards>.233<49;5B The study, published in Nature in 3A:?, found that
predictions based on natal astrology were no better than chance, and that the testing
Fclearly refutes the astrological hypothesisF.233<4
6n 3A??, astrologer and psychologist .ichel !au$uelin stated that although he had failed
to find e1idence to support such indicators as the *odiacal signs and planetary aspects in
astrology, he had found positi1e correlations between the diurnal positions of some of the
planets and success in some professions which astrology traditionally associates with
those planets.233:4233A4 The bestHknown of !au$uelin7s findings is based on the
positions of .ars in the natal charts of successful athletes and became known as the
F.ars effectF.235B49538 A study conducted by se1en French scientists attempted to
replicate the claim, but found no statistical e1idence.235B49538C53; They attributed the
effect to selecti1e bias on !au$uelin7s part, accusing him of attempting to persuade them
to add or delete names from their study.23534
!eoffrey -ean has suggested that the effect may be caused by selfHreporting of birth
dates by parents rather than any issue with the study by !au$uelin. The suggestion is that
a small subset of the parents may ha1e had changed birth times to be consistent with
better astrological charts for a related profession. The sample group was taken from a
time where belief in astrology was more common. !au$uelin had failed to find the .ars
effect in more recent populations, where a nurse or doctor recorded the birth information.
The number of births under astrologically undesirable conditions was also lower,
indicating more e1idence that parents choose dates and times to suit their beliefs.
233@4933@
-ean, a scientist and former astrologer, and psychologist 61an Gelly conducted a large
scale scientific test, in1ol1ing more than one hundred cogniti1e, beha1ioural, physical
and other 1ariables, but found no support for astrology.2355423584 Furthermore, a metaH
analysis was conducted pooling ;B studies consisting of <BB astrologers and o1er 3,BBB
birth charts. Ten of the tests, which had a total of 8BB participating, in1ol1ed the
astrologers picking the correct chart interpretation out of a number of others which were
not the astrologically correct chart interpretation =usually 8 to ? others>. When the date
and other ob1ious clues were remo1ed no significant results were found to suggest there
was any preferred chart.2358493AB
"ack of mechanisms and consistency
Testing the 1alidity of astrology can be difficult because there is no consensus amongst
astrologers as to what astrology is or what it can predict.2849:8 .ost professional
astrologers are paid to predict the future or describe a person7s personality and life, but
most horoscopes only make 1ague untestable statements that can apply to almost anyone.
28423B?49:8
.any astrologers claim that astrology is scientific,235;4 while some ha1e proposed
con1entional causal agents such as electromagnetism and gra1ity.235;4235?4 #cientists
reject these mechanisms as implausible235;4 since, for e'ample, the magnetic field, when
measured from earth, of a large but distant planet such as /upiter is far smaller than that
produced by ordinary household appliances.235?4235@4
Western astrology has taken the earth7s a'ial precession =also called precession of the
e$uino'es> into account since %tolemy7s Almagest, so the 7first point of Aries7, the start of
the astrological year, continually mo1es against the background of the stars.235<4 The
tropical *odiac has no connection to the stars, and as long as no claims are made that the
constellations themsel1es are in the associated sign, astrologers a1oid the concept that
precession seemingly mo1es the constellations.235:4 Charpak and ,roch, noting this,
referred to astrology based on the tropical *odiac as being F...empty bo'es that ha1e
nothing to do with anything and are de1oid of any consistency or correspondence with
the stars.F235:4 #ole use of the tropical *odiac is inconsistent with references made, by
the same astrologers, to the Age of A$uarius, which depends on when the 1ernal point
enters the constellation of A$uarius.2:4
Astrologers usually ha1e only a small knowledge of astronomy and they often do not take
into account basic features such as the precession of the e$uino'es which would change
the position of the sun with timeR they commented on the e'ample of &li*abeth Teissier
who claimed that Fthe sun ends up in the same place in the sky on the same date each
yearF as the basis for claims that two people with the same birthday but a number of years
apart should be under the same planetary influence. Charpak and ,roch noted that Fthere
is a difference of about twentyHtwo thousand miles between &arth7s location on any
specific date in two successi1e yearsF and that thus they should not be under the same
influence according to astrology. S1er a ;B years period there would be a difference
greater than <:B,BBB miles.235:49@C<
Cultural impact
.ars, the ,ringer of War
.ars, performed by the 0.#. Air Force ,and
enus, the ,ringer of %eace
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Qou can or to play the clip in your browser.
enus, performed by the 0.#. Air Force ,and
.ercury, the Winged .essenger
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Qou can or to play the clip in your browser.
.ercury, performed by the 0.#. Air Force ,and
/upiter, the ,ringer of /ollity
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Qou can or to play the clip in your browser.
/upiter, performed by the 0.#. Air Force ,and
0ranus, the .agician
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Qou can or to play the clip in your browser.
0ranus, performed by the 0.#. Air Force ,and
%roblems playing these filesa #ee media help.
Western politics and society
6n the West, political leaders ha1e sometimes consulted astrologers. "ouis de Wohl
worked as an astrologer for the ,ritish intelligence agency .6?, after it was claimed that
Adolf +itler used astrology to time his actions. The War Sffice was Finterested to know
what +itler7s own astrologers would be telling him from week to weekF.235A4 6n fact, de
Wohl7s predictions were so inaccurate that he was soon labelled a Fcomplete charlatanF
and it was later shown that +itler considered astrology to be Fcomplete nonsenseF.238B4
After /ohn +inckley7s attempted assassination of 0.#. %resident Eonald Eeagan, first lady
Nancy Eeagan commissioned astrologer /oan `uigley to act as the secret White +ouse
astrologer. +owe1er, `uigley7s role ended in 3A:: when it became public through the
memoirs of former chief of staff, -onald Eegan.23834
There was a boom in interest in astrology in the late 3A@Bs. The sociologist .arcello
Tru**i described three le1els of in1ol1ement of FAstrologyHbelie1ersF to account for its
re1i1ed popularity in the face of scientific discrediting. +e found that most astrologyH
belie1ers did not claim it was a scientific e'planation with predicti1e power. 6nstead,
those superficially in1ol1ed, knowing Fne't to nothingF about astrology7s 7mechanics7,
read newspaper astrology columns, and could benefit from FtensionHmanagement of
an'ietiesF and Fa cogniti1e beliefHsystem that transcends scienceF.23854 Those at the
second le1el usually had their horoscopes cast and sought ad1ice and predictions. They
were much younger than those at the first le1el, and could benefit from knowledge of the
language of astrology and the resulting ability to belong to a coherent and e'clusi1e
group. Those at the third le1el were highly in1ol1ed and usually cast horoscopes for
themsel1es. Astrology pro1ided this small minority of astrologyHbelie1ers with a
Fmeaningful 1iew of their uni1erse and 2ga1e4 them an understanding of their place in
it.F2b4 This third group took astrology seriously, possibly as a Fsacred canopyF, whereas
the other two groups took it playfully and irre1erently.23854
6n 3A?8, sociologist Theodor W. Adorno conducted a study of the astrology column of a
"os Angeles newspaper as part of a project e'amining mass culture in capitalist society.
23884985@ Adorno belie1ed that popular astrology, as a de1ice, in1ariably led to
statements which encouraged conformity, and that astrologers who went against
conformity with statement discouraging performance at work etc. would risk losing their
jobs.23884985< Adorno concluded that astrology was a largeHscale manifestation of
systematic irrationalism, where indi1iduals were subtly being led to belie1e that the
author of the column was addressing them directly through the use of flattery and 1ague
generalisations.238;4 Adorno drew a parallel with the phrase opium of the people, by
Garl .ar', by commenting Foccultism is the metaphysic of the dopesF.23884985A
A 5BB? !allup poll and a 5BBA sur1ey by the %ew Eesearch Center reported that 5?c of
0.#. adults belie1e in astrology.238?4238@4 According to data released in the National
#cience Foundation7s 5B3; #cience and &ngineering 6ndicators study, FFewer Americans
rejected astrology in 5B35 than in recent years.F238<4 The N#F study noted that in 5B35,
Fslightly more than half of Americans said that astrology was 7not at all scientific,7
whereas nearly twoHthirds ga1e this response in 5B3B. The comparable percentage has not
been this low since 3A:8.F238<4
6ndia and /apan
,irth =in blue> and death =in red> rates of /apan since 3A?B, with the sudden drop in births
during hinoeuma year =3A@@>
6n 6ndia, there is a longHestablished and widespread belief in astrology. 6t is commonly
used for daily life, particularly in matters concerning marriage and career, and makes
e'tensi1e use of electional, horary and karmic astrology.238:4238A4 6ndian politics ha1e
also been influenced by astrology.23;B4 6t is still considered a branch of the edanga.
23;3423;54 6n 5BB3, 6ndian scientists and politicians debated and criti$ued a proposal to
use state money to fund research into astrology,23;84 resulting in permission for 6ndian
uni1ersities to offer courses in edic astrology.23;;4
Sn February 5B33, the ,ombay +igh Court reaffirmed astrology7s standing in 6ndia when
it dismissed a case which had challenged its status as a science.23;?4
6n /apan, a strong belief in astrology has led to dramatic changes in the fertility rate and
the number of abortions in the years of FFire +orseF. Women born in hinoeuma years are
belie1ed to be unmarriageable and to bring bad luck to their father or husband. 6n 3A@@,
the number of babies born in /apan dropped by o1er 5?c as parents tried to a1oid the
stigma of ha1ing a daughter born in the hinoeuma year.23;@423;<4
"iterature and music
Title page of /ohn "yly7s astrological play, The Woman in the .oon, 3?A<
The fourteenthHcentury &nglish poets /ohn !ower and !eoffrey Chaucer both referred to
astrology in their works, including !ower7s Confessio Amantis and Chaucer7s The
Canterbury Tales.23;:4 Chaucer commented e'plicitly on astrology in his Treatise on the
Astrolabe, demonstrating personal knowledge of one area, judicial astrology, with an
account of how to find the ascendant or rising sign.23;A4
6n the fifteenth century, references to astrology, such as with similes, became Fa matter of
courseF in &nglish literature.23;:4
6n the si'teenth century, /ohn "yly7s 3?A< play, The Woman in the .oon, is wholly
moti1ated by astrology,23?B4 while Christopher .arlowe makes astrological references
in his plays -octor Faustus and Tamburlaine =both c. 3?AB>,23?B4 and #ir %hilip #idney
refers to astrology at least four times in his romance The Countess of %embroke7s Arcadia
=c. 3?:B>.23?B4 &dmund #penser uses astrology both decorati1ely and causally in his
poetry, re1ealing Funmistakably an abiding interest in the art, an interest shared by a large
number of his contemporariesF,23?B4 while !eorge Chapman7s play ,yron7s Conspiracy
=3@B:> similarly uses astrology as a causal mechanism in the drama.23?34 William
#hakespeare7s attitude towards astrology is unclear, with contradictory references in plays
including Ging "ear, Antony and Cleopatra, and Eichard 66.23?34 #hakespeare was
familiar with astrology and made use of his knowledge of astrology Fin nearly e1ery play
he wroteF,23?34 assuming a basic familiarity with the subject in his commercial audience.
23?34 Sutside theatre, the physician and mystic Eobert Fludd practised astrology, as did
the $uack doctor #imon Forman.23?34 6n &li*abethan &ngland, Fthe usual feeling about
astrology ... 2was4 that it is the most useful of the sciencesF.23?34
The most famous piece of music to be influenced by astrology is the orchestral suite The
%lanets. Written by the ,ritish composer !usta1 +olst =3:<;C3A8;>, and first performed
in 3A3:, the framework of The %lanets is based upon the astrological symbolism of the
planets.23?54 &ach of the se1en mo1ements of the suite is based upon a different planet,
though the mo1ements are not in the order of the planets from the #un. The composer
Colin .atthews wrote an eighth mo1ement entitled F%luto, the EenewerF, first performed
in 5BBB.23?84 6n 3A8<, another ,ritish composer, Constant "ambert, wrote a ballet on
astrological themes, called +oroscope.23?;4 6n 3A<;, the New Dealand composer &dwin
Carr wrote The Twel1e #igns9 An Astrological &ntertainment for orchestra without
strings.23??4
#ee also
"ist of astrological traditions, types, and systems
Forer effect
Cultural influence of astrology
"ist of topics characteri*ed as pseudoscience
Notes
see +euristics in judgement and decision making
6talics in original.
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temporarily assume control of a body.F
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destiny.FF
Fastrology, n.F. S'ford &nglish -ictionary =#econd ed.>. S'ford 0ni1ersity %ress.
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limited by 3<th cent. to the reputed influences of the stars, unknown to science. Not in
#hakespeare.F
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??A53HB;3H@.
&1elynHWhite, +esiod R with an &nglish translation by +ugh !. =3A<<>. The +omeric
hymns and +omerica =Eeprinted. ed.>. Cambridge, .ass.9 +ar1ard 0ni1ersity %ress. pp.
@@8C@<<. 6#,N A<:HBH@<;HAAB@8HB. FFifty days after the solstice, when the season of
wearisome heat is come to an end, is the right time to go sailing. Then you will not wreck
your ship, nor will the sea destroy the sailors, unless %oseidon the &arthH#haker be set
upon it, or Deus, the king of the deathless godsF
A1eni, -a1id +. Gelley, &ugene F. .ilone =5BB?>. &'ploring ancient skies an
encyclopedic sur1ey of archaeoastronomy =Snline ed.>. New Qork9 #pringer. p. 5@:.
6#,N A<:HBH8:<HA?83BH@.
Two te'ts which refer to the 7omens of #argon7 are reported in &. F. Weidner,
7+istoriches .aterial in der ,abyonischen SminaH"iteratur7 Altorientalische #tudien, ed.
,runo .eissner, ="eip*ig, 3A5:HA>, 1. 583 and 58@.
From scroll A of the ruler !udea of "agash, 6 3< C 6 38. S. Gaiser, Te'te aus der
0mwelt des Alten Testaments, ,d. 5, 3C8. !etersloh, 3A:@C3AA3. Also $uoted in A.
Falkenstein, 7Wahrsagung in der sumerischen fberlieferung7, "a di1ination en
.gsopotamie ancienne et dans les rggions 1oisines. %aris, 3A@@.
EochbergH+alton, F. =3A::>. F&lements of the ,abylonian Contribution to +ellenistic
AstrologyF. /ournal of the American Sriental #ociety 3B: =3>9 ?3C@5. /#TSE @B85;?.
Gistemaker, /acob, #un, hiaochun =3AA<>. The Chinese sky during the +an9
constellating stars and society. "eiden9 ,rill. 6#,N A<:HABHB;H3B<8<H8.
"ong, 5BB?. p. 3<8.
"ong, 5BB?. pp. 3<8C3<;.
"ong, 5BB?. p. 3<<.
"ong, 5BB?. p. 3<;.
"ong, 5BB?. p. 3:;.
"ong, 5BB?. p. 3:@.
+ughes, Eichard =5BB;>. "ament, -eath, and -estiny. %eter "ang. p. :<.
,arton, 3AA;. p. 5;.
+olden, 3AA@. pp. 33C38.
,arton, 3AA;. p. 5B.
Eobbins, 3A;B. 76ntroduction7 p. 'ii.
Campion, 5BB:. p. 3<8.
Campion, 5BB:. p. :;.
Campion, 5BB:. pp. 3<8C3<;.
,arton, 3AA;. p. 85.
,arton, 3AA;. p. 85C88.
Campion, 5BB:. pp. 55<C55:.
%arker, 3A:8. p. 3@.
/u1enal, #atire @9 The Ways of Women =translated by !. !. Eamsay, 3A3:, retrie1ed ?
/uly 5B35>.
,arton, 3AA;. p. ;8.
,arton, 3AA;. p. @8.
,_rTn_, .u ammad ibn A mad =3:<A>. F666F. The chronology of ancient nations.
"ondon, %ub. for the Sriental translations fund of !reat ,ritain i 6reland by W. +. Allen
and co. "CCN B3BB@<:8.
+oulding, -eborah =5B3B>. F@9 +istorical sources and traditional approachesF. &ssays
on the +istory of Western Astrology. #TA. pp. 5C<.
Campion, 3A:5. p. ;;.
Campion, 3A:5. p. ;?.
Campion, 3A:5. p. ;@.
North, /ohn -a1id =3A:@>. FThe eastern origins of the Campanus =%rime ertical>
method. &1idence from alH,_rTn_F. +oroscopes and history. Warburg 6nstitute. pp. 3<?C
3<@.
-urling, Eobert .. =/anuary 3AA<>. F-ante7s Christian Astrology. by Eichard Gay.
Ee1iewF. #peculum <5 =3>9 3:?C3:<. /#TSE 5:@?A3@. F-ante7s interest in astrology has
only slowly been gaining the attention it deser1es. 6n 3A;B Eudolf %algen published his
pioneering eightyHpage -antes #ternglaube9 ,eitrjge *ur &rkljrung des %aradiso, which
concisely sur1eyed -ante7s treatment of the planets and of the sphere of fi'ed starsR he
demonstrated that it is go1erned by the astrological concept of the Fchildren of the
planetsF =in each sphere the pilgrim meets souls whose li1es reflected the dominant
influence of that planet> and that in countless details the imagery of the %aradiso is
deri1ed from the astrological tradition. ... "ike %algen, he 2Gay4 argues =again, in more
detail> that -ante adapted traditional astrological 1iews to his own Christian onesR he
finds this process intensified in the upper hea1ens.F
Woody, Gennerly .. =3A<<>. F-ante and the -octrine of the !reat ConjunctionsF.
-ante #tudies, with the Annual Eeport of the -ante #ociety A?9 33AC38;. /#TSE
;B3@@5;8. F6t can hardly be doubted, 6 think, that -ante was thinking in astrological
terms when he made his prophecies. 2The attached footnote cites 6nferno. 6, lSSff.R
%urgatorio. '', 38H3? and '''iii, ;3R %aradiso. ''ii, 38H3? and ''1ii, 3;5H3;:.4F
Wood, 3A<B. p. ?
6sidore of #e1ille =c. @BB>. &tymologiae. pp. ", :5, col. 3<B.
!ower, /ohn =38AB>. Confessio Amantis. pp. 66, @<BC:;. FAssembled with
Astronomie V 6s ek that ilke Astrologie V The which in juggement* acompteth V Theffect,
what e1ery sterre amonteth, V And hou thei causen many a wonder V To tho climat* that
stonde hem under.F
Wood, 3A<B. p. @
Allen, -on Cameron =3A;3>. #tarHcrossed Eenaissance. -uke 0ni1ersity %ress. p. 3;:.
Wood, 3A<B. pp. :C33
Coopland, !. W. =3A?5>. Nicole Sresme and the Astrologers9 A #tudy of his "i1re de
-i1inacions. +ar1ard 0ni1ersity %ressR "i1erpool 0ni1ersity %ress.
anderjagt, A./. =3A:?>. "aurens %ignon, S.%.9 Confessor of %hilip the !ood. enlo,
The Netherlands9 /ean .ielot.
eenstra, 3AA<. pp. ?, 85, passim
eenstra, 3AA<. p. 3:;
Campion, 3A:5. p. ;<.
+arkness, -eborah &. =5BB<>. The /ewel +ouse. &li*abethan "ondon and the #cientific
Ee1olution. Qale 0ni1ersity %ress. p. 3B?. 6#,N A<:HBH8BBH3;83@H;.
+arkness, -eborah &. =5BB<>. The /ewel +ouse. &li*abethan "ondon and the #cientific
Ee1olution. Qale 0ni1ersity %ress. p. 388. 6#,N A<:HBH8BBH3;83@H;.
Astronomical diagrams by Thomas +ood, .athematician =ellum, in oaken cases>.
,ritish "ibrary =Add. .##. <3;A;, <3;A?>9 ,ritish "ibrary. c. 3?A<.
/ohnston, #tephen =/uly 3AA:>. FThe astrological instruments of Thomas +oodF. h66
6nternational #cientific 6nstrument #ymposium. #oro. Eetrie1ed 35 /une 5B38.
anden ,roeke, #te1en =5BB3>. F-ee, .ercator, and "ou1ain 6nstrument .aking9 An
0ndescribed Astrological -isc by !erard .ercator =3??3>F. Annals of #cience ?:9 53AC
5;B.
Cummins A =5B35> The #tarry Eubric9 #e1enteenthHCentury &nglish Astrology and
.agic, p. 8. France9+adean %ress
Cummins A =5B35> The #tarry Eubric9 #e1enteenthHCentury &nglish Astrology and
.agic, p. ;8C;?. France9+adean %ress
%orter, Eoy =5BB3>. &nlightenment9 ,ritain and the Creation of the .odern World.
%enguin. pp. 3?3C3?5. 6#,N BH3;HB5?B5:Hh. Fhe did not e1en trouble readers with
formal disproofskF
Campion, Nicholas =5BBA>. +istory of western astrology. olume 66, The medie1al and
modern worlds. =first ed.>. "ondon9 Continuum. 6#,N A<:H3H;;33H:35AHA. FAt the same
time, in #wit*erland, the psychologist Carl !usta1 /ung =3:<?C3A@3> was de1eloping
sophisticated theories concerning astrology ...F
/ung, C.!.R +ull, edited by !erhard Adler, in collaboration with Aniela /affgR
translations from the !erman by E.F.C. =3Auu>. C.!. /ung "etters9 3AB@C3A?B. %rinceton,
N/9 %rinceton 0ni1ersity %ress. 6#,N A<:HBH@A3HBA:A?H3. F"etter from /ung to Freud, 35
/une 3A33 F6 made horoscopic calculations in order to find a clue to the core of
psychological truth.FF
!ieser, #u*anne. The 6nnermost Gernel, -epth %sychology and `uantum %hysics.
Wolfgang %auli7s -ialogue with C.!./ung, =#pringer, ,erlin, 5BB?> p. 53 6#,N 8H?;BH
5B:?@HA
Campion, Nicholas. F%rophecy, Cosmology and the New Age .o1ement. The &'tent
and Nature of Contemporary ,elief in Astrology.F=,ath #pa 0ni1ersity College, 5BB8>
1ia Campion, Nicholas, +istory of Western Astrology, =Continuum ,ooks, "ondon i
New Qork, 5BBA> pp. 5;:, 5?@, 6#,N A<:H3H:;<5?H55;H3
The New &ncyclopddia ,ritannica, &ncyclopddia ,ritannica,7 1.?, 3A<;, p. A3@
-ietrich, Thomas9 7The Srigin of Culture and Ci1ili*ation, %heni' i %heni' "iterary
%ublicists, 5BB?, p. 8B?
-ictionary of the history of ideas. New Qork9 #cribner. 3A<;. 6#,N BH@:;H385A8H3.
/ames E. "ewis, 5BB8. The Astrology ,ook9 the &ncyclopedia of +ea1enly 6nfluences.
isible 6nk %ress. Snline at !oogle ,ooks.
+one, .argaret =3A<:>. The .odern Te'tH,ook of Astrology. Eomford9 ". N. Fowler.
pp. 53C:A. 6#,N BH:?5;8H8?<H8.
Eiske, Gris =5BB<>. "lewellyn7s Complete ,ook of Astrology. .innesota, 0#A9
"lewellyn %ublications. pp. ?C@R 5<. 6#,N A<:HBH<8:<H3B<3H@.
Gremer, Eichard =3AAB>. F+oroscopes and +istory. by /. -. NorthR A +istory of
Western Astrology. by #. /. TesterF. #peculum @? =3>9 5B@C5BA. /#TSE 5:@;?5;.
%elletier, EobertR Cataldo, "eonard =3A:;>. ,e Qour Swn Astrologer. %an. pp. ?<C@B.
Fenton, #asha =3AA3>. Eising #igns. A$uarian %ress. pp. 38<CA.
"uhrmann, Tanya =3AA3>. %ersuasions of the witch7s craft9 ritual magic in
contemporary &ngland. +ar1ard 0ni1ersity %ress. pp. 3;<C3?3. 6#,N BH@<;H@@85;H3.
%ingree, -a1id =3: -ecember 3A<:>. F6ndian AstronomyF. %roceedings of the
American %hilosophical #ociety. American %hilosophical #ociety 355 =@>9 8@3C8@;.
Eetrie1ed ; August 5B35.
%ingree, -a1id =5BB3>. FFrom Ale'andria to ,aghdWd to ,y*antium. The Transmission
of AstrologyF. 6nternational /ournal of the Classical Tradition : =3>9 8C8<.
doi93B.3BB<VbfB5<BB55<. /#TSE 8B55;3??.
Werner, Garel =3AA8>. . FThe Circle of #tars9 An 6ntroduction to 6ndian Astrology by
alerie /. Eoebuck. Ee1iewF. ,ulletin of the #chool of Sriental and African #tudies9
@;?C@;@.
,urgess, /ames =Sctober 3:A8>. FNotes on +indu Astronomy and the +istory of Sur
Gnowledge of 6tF. /ournal of the Eoyal Asiatic #ociety of !reat ,ritain and 6reland9 <3<C
<@3.
%ingree, -a1id =/une 3A@8>. FAstronomy and Astrology in 6ndia and 6ranF. 6sis. The
0ni1ersity of Chicago %ress on behalf of The +istory of #cience #ociety ?; =5>9 55AC
5;@. doi93B.3B:@V8;A<B8. /#TSE 55:?;B.
F. Eichard #tephenson, FChinese Eoots of .odern AstronomyF, New #cientist, 5@
/une 3A:B. #ee also
Theodora "au, The +andbook of Chinese +oroscopes, pp 5C:, 8BC?, @BC;, ::CA;,
33:C5;, 3;:C?8, 3<:C:;, 5B:C38, 58:C;;, 5<BC<:, 8B@C35, 88:C;;, #ou1enir %ress,
New Qork, 5BB?
#elin, +elaine, ed. =3AA<>. FAstrology in ChinaF. &ncyclopaedia of the +istory of
#cience, Technology, and .edicine in NonHWestern Cultures. #pringer. Eetrie1ed 55
/uly 5B35.
F
=7The transition to the new astrological dates Thailand. Changing *odiac
astrology horoscope prediction7>F. =in Thai>
eenstra, /.E. =3AA<>. .agic and -i1ination at the Courts of ,urgundy and France9
Te't and Conte't of "aurens %ignon7s FContre les -e1ineursF =3;33>. ,rill. pp. 3:;C3:?.
6#,N A<:HABHB;H3BA5?H;.
+ess, %eter ../.R Allen, %aul ". =5BB<>. Catholicism and science =3st ed.>. Westport9
!reenwood. p. 33. 6#,N A<:HBH838H883ABHA.
#aliba, !eorge =3AA;b>. A +istory of Arabic Astronomy9 %lanetary Theories -uring
the !olden Age of 6slam. New Qork 0ni1ersity %ress. pp. @B, @<C@A. 6#,N BH:3;<H:B58H
<.
Catarina ,elo, Catarina Carrilo .ar$ues de .oura ,elo, Chance and determinism in
A1icenna and A1erroms, p. 55:. ,rill, 5BB<. 6#,N ABHB;H3??:<H5.
!eorge #aliba, A1icenna9 71iii. .athematics and %hysical #ciences7. &ncyclopddia
6ranica, Snline &dition, 5B33, a1ailable at http9VVwww.iranicaonline.orgVarticlesVa1icennaH
1iii
"i1ingston, /ohn W. =3A<3>. F6bn `ayyim alH/aw*iyyah9 A Fourteenth Century
-efense against Astrological -i1ination and Alchemical TransmutationF. /ournal of the
American Sriental #ociety A3 =3>9 A@C3B8. doi93B.58B<V@BB;;?. /#TSE @BB;;?.
editor, %eter ../. #tra1inskas, =3AA:>. Sur #unday 1isitor7s Catholic encyclopedia
=Ee1. ed. ed.>. +untington, 6nd.9 Sur #unday isitor %ub. p. 333. 6#,N BH:<A<8H@@AHB.
FCatechism of the Catholic Church H %art 8F. Eetrie1ed : /uly 5B35.
F#cience and %seudoH#cienceF. #tanford &ncyclopedia of %hilosophy. Eetrie1ed @ /uly
5B35.
FAstronomical %seudoH#cience9 A #keptic7s Eesource "istF. Astronomical #ociety of
the %acific.
+artmann, %R Eeuter, ..R Nyborga, +. =.ay 5BB@>. FThe relationship between date of
birth and indi1idual differences in personality and general intelligence9 A largeHscale
studyF. %ersonality and 6ndi1idual -ifferences ;B =<>9 38;AC38@5.
doi93B.3B3@Vj.paid.5BB?.33.B3<. FTo optimise the chances of finding e1en remote
relationships between date of birth and indi1idual differences in personality and
intelligence we further applied two different strategies. The first one was based on the
common chronological concept of time =e.g. month of birth and season of birth>. The
second strategy was based on the =pseudoHscientific> concept of astrology =e.g. #un #igns,
The &lements, and astrological gender>, as discussed in the book Astrology9 #cience or
superstitiona by &ysenck and Nias =3A:5>.F
FSbjections to Astrology9 A #tatement by 3:@ "eading #cientistsF. The +umanist,
#eptemberVSctober 3A<?. Archi1ed from the original on 3: .arch 5BBA.
The +umanist, 1olume 8@, no.? =3A<@>.
,ok, ,art /.R "awrence &. /eromeR %aul Gurt* =3A:5>. FSbjections to Astrology9 A
#tatement by 3:@ "eading #cientistsF. 6n %atrick !rim. %hilosophy of #cience and the
Sccult. Albany9 #tate 0ni1ersity of New Qork %ress. pp. 3;C3:. 6#,N BH:<8A?H?<5H5.
Allum, Nick =38 -ecember 5B3B>. FWhat .akes #ome %eople Think Astrology 6s
#cientificaF. #cience Communication 88 =8>9 8;3C8@@. doi93B.33<<V3B<??;<B3B8:A:3A.
FThis underlies the F,arnum effectF. Named after the 3AthHcentury showman %hileas T.
,arnum, whose circus act pro1ided Fa little something for e1eryoneF, it refers to the idea
that people will belie1e a statement about their personality that is 1ague or tri1ial if they
think that it deri1es from some systematic procedure tailored especially for them
=-ickson i Gelly, 3A:?R Furnham i #chofield, 3A:<R Eogers i #oule, 5BBAR Wyman i
yse, 5BB:>. For e'ample, the more birth detail is used in an astrological prediction or
horoscope, the more credulous people tend to be =Furnham, 3AA3>. +owe1er,
confirmation bias means that people do not tend to pay attention to other information that
might disconfirm the credibility of the predictions.F
Nickerson, Eaymond #. Nickerson =3AA:>. FConfirmation ,ias9 A 0bi$uitous
%henomenon in .any !uisesF. Ee1iew of !eneral %sychology. 5 5 =5>9 3<?C55B.
doi93B.3B8<V3B:AH5@:B.5.5.3<?.
&ysenck, +./.R Nias, -.G.,. =3A:;>. Astrology9 #cience or #uperstitiona.
+armondsworth9 %enguin ,ooks. 6#,N BH3;HB558A<H?.
!on*ale*, edited by /eanH%aul Ca1erni, /eanH.arc Fabre, .ichel =3AAB>. Cogniti1e
biases. Amsterdam9 NorthH+olland. 6#,N BH;;;H::;38HB.
#tephen Thornton, &dward N. Dalta =older edition>. FGarl %opperF. #tanford
&ncyclopedia of %hilosophy.
%opper, Garl =5BB;>. Conjectures and Eefutations9 The !rowth of #cientific
Gnowledge =Eeprinted. ed.>. "ondon9 Eoutledge. 6#,N BH;3?H5:?A;H3.
The rele1ant piece is also published in #chick /r, Theodore =5BBB>. Eeadings in the
%hilosophy of #cience9 From %ositi1ism to %ostmodernism. .ountain iew, CA9
.ayfield %ub. pp. 88C8A. 6#,N BH<@<;HB5<<H;.
Cogan, Eobert =3AA:>. Critical Thinking9 #tep by #tep. "anham, .d.9 0ni1ersity %ress
of America. 6#,N BH<@3:H3B@<H@.
Wright, %eter =3A<?>. FAstrology and #cience in #e1enteenthHCentury &nglandF. #ocial
#tudies of #cience9 8AAC;55.
Guhn, Thomas =3A<B>. 6mre "akatos i Alan .usgra1e, ed. %roceedings of the
6nternational Collo$uium in the %hilosophy of #cience 2held at ,edford College, Eegent7s
%ark, "ondon, from /uly 33th to 3<th 3A@?4 =Eeprint ed.>. Cambridge9 Cambridge
0ni1ersity %ress. 6#,N BH?53HBA@58H?.
Thagard, %aul E. =3A<:>. FWhy Astrology is a %seudoscienceF. %roceedings of the
,iennial .eeting of the %hilosophy of #cience Association =The 0ni1ersity of Chicago
%ress> 39 558C58;.
+urley, %atrick =5BB?>. A concise introduction to logic =Ath ed. ed.>. ,elmont, Calif.9
Wadsworth. 6#,N BH?8;H?:?B?H3.
/ames, &dward W. =3A:5>. %atrick !rim, ed. %hilosophy of science and the occult.
Albany9 #tate 0ni1ersity of New Qork %ress. 6#,N BH:<8A?H?<5H5.
.uller, Eichard =5B3B>. FWeb site of Eichard A. .uller, %rofessor in the -epartment
of %hysics at the 0ni1ersity of California at ,erkeley,F. Eetrie1ed 5 August 5B33..y
former student #hawn Carlson published in Nature maga*ine the definiti1e scientific test
of Astrology.
.addo', #ir /ohn =3AA?>. F/ohn .addo', editor of the science journal Nature,
commenting on Carlson7s testF. Eetrie1ed 5 August 5B33. F... a perfectly con1incing and
lasting demonstration.F
#mith, /onathan C. =5B3B>. %seudoscience and &'traordinary Claims of the
%aranormal9 A Critical Thinker7s Toolkit. .alden, .A9 WileyH,lackwell. 6#,N A<:H3H
;B?3H:358H?.
Carlson, #hawn =3A:?>. FA doubleHblind test of astrologyF. Nature 83: =@B;?>9 ;3AC
;5?. ,ibcode93A:?Natur.83:..;3AC. doi93B.3B8:V83:;3AaB.
%ont, !raham =5BB;>. F%hilosophy and #cience of .usic in Ancient !reeceF. Ne'us
Network /ournal @ =3>9 3<C5A. doi93B.3BB<VsBBBB;HBB;HBBB8H'.
!au$uelin, .ichel =3A??>. "7influence des astres9 gtude criti$ue et e'pgrimentale.
%aris9 nditions du -auphin.
Carroll, Eobert Todd =5BB8>. The #keptic7s -ictionary9 A Collection of #trange
,eliefs, Amusing -eceptions, and -angerous -elusions. +oboken, N/9 Wiley. 6#,N BH
;<3H5<5;5H@.
Nienhuys, Claude ,enski et al. with a commentary by /an Willem =3AA?>. The F.ars
&ffect9 A French Test of o1er 3,BBB #ports Champions. Amherst, NQ9 %rometheus
,ooks. 6#,N BH:<A<?HA::H<.
.atthews, Eobert =3< August 5BB8>. FAstrologers fail to predict proof they are
wrongF. The Telegraph ="ondon>. Eetrie1ed 38 /uly 5B35.
-ean !., Gelly, 6. W. =5BB8>. F6s Astrology Eele1ant to Consciousness and %siaF.
/ournal of Consciousness #tudies 3B =@C<>9 3<?C3A:.
Chris, French =< February 5B35>. FAstrologers and other inhabitants of parallel
uni1ersesF. < February 5B35 ="ondon9 The !uardian>. Eetrie1ed : /uly 5B35.
Eandi, /ames. F0G .&-6A NSN#&N#& b A!A6NF. 53 .ay 5BB;. #wift, Snline
newspaper of the /E&F. Archi1ed from the original on 55 /uly 5B35. Eetrie1ed : /uly
5B35.
editor, .ichael #hermer, =5BB5>. The #keptic encyclopedia of pseudoscience. #anta
,arbara, Calif.9 A,CHC"6S. p. 5;3. 6#,N 3H?<@B<H@?8HA.
Tester, 3AAA. %age 3@3.
Charpak, !eorgesR +olland, +enri ,rochR translated by ,art G. =5BB;>. -ebunkedk9
&#%, telekinesis, and other pseudoscience. ,altimore u.a.A9 /ohns +opkins 0ni1. %ress.
pp. @, <. 6#,N BH:B3:H<:@<H?.
FThe #trange #tory Sf ,ritain7s F#tate #eerFF. The #ydney .orning +erald. 8B August
3A?5. Eetrie1ed 53 /uly 5B35.
NortonHTaylor, Eichard =; .arch 5BB:>. F#tar turn9 astrologer who became #S&7s
secret weapon against +itlerF. "ondon9 The !uardian. Eetrie1ed 53 /uly 5B35.
Eegan, -onald T. =3A::>. For the record9 from Wall #treet to Washington =first ed.>.
#an -iego9 +arcourt ,race /o1ano1ich. 6#,N BH3?H3@8A@@H8.
`uigley, /oan =3AAB>. What does /oan saya 9 my se1en years as White +ouse
astrologer to Nancy and Eonald Eeagan. #ecaucus, N/9 ,irch "ane %ress. 6#,N 3H??A<5H
B85H:.
!orney, Cynthia =33 .ay 3A::>. FThe Eeagan Chart WatchR Astrologer /oan
`uigley, &ye on the CosmosF. The Washington %ost =The Washington %ost>. Eetrie1ed
3< /uly 5B35.
Tru**i, .arcello =3A<5>. FThe Sccult Ee1i1al as %opular Culture9 #ome Eandom
Sbser1ations on the Sld and the Nou1eau WitchF. The #ociological `uarterly 38 =3>9 3@C
8@. doi93B.3333Vj.3?88H:?5?.3A<5.tbB53B3.'. /#TSE ;3B?:3:.
Cary /. Nederman and /ames Wray !oulding =Winter 3A:3>. F%opular Sccultism and
Critical #ocial Theory9 &'ploring #ome Themes in Adorno7s Criti$ue of Astrology and
the SccultF. #ociological Analysis ;5.
Theodor W. Adorno =#pring 3A<;>. FThe #tars -own to &arth9 The "os Angeles Times
Astrology ColumnF. Telos 3A<; =3A>9 38CAB. doi93B.8:3<VB8<;B3AB38.
.oore, -a1id W. =3@ /une 5BB?>. FThree in Four Americans ,elie1e in %aranormalF.
!allup.
F&astern or New Age ,eliefs, 7&1il &ye7F. .any Americans .i' .ultiple Faiths. %ew
Eesearch Center7s Eeligion i %ublic "ife %roject. A -ecember 5BBA.
F#cience and &ngineering 6ndicators9 Chapter <.#cience and Technology9 %ublic
Attitudes and 0nderstandingF. National #cience Foundation. Eetrie1ed April 5;, 5B3;.
Gaufman, .ichael T. =58 -ecember 3AA:>. F, Eaman -iesF. New Qork Times, 58
-ecember 3AA:. Eetrie1ed 35 .ay 5BBA.
-ipankar -as, .ay 3AA@. FFame and FortuneF. Eetrie1ed 35 .ay 5BBA.
F#oothsayers offer hea1enly helpF. ,,C News. 5 #eptember 3AAA. Eetrie1ed 53 /uly
5B35.
F6n countries such as 6ndia, where only a small intellectual elite has been trained in
Western physics, astrology manages to retain here and there its position among the
sciences.F -a1id %ingree and Eobert !ilbert, FAstrologyR Astrology 6n 6ndiaR Astrology
in modern timesF. &ncyclopddia ,ritannica, 5BB:
.ohan Eao, Female foeticide9 where do we goa 6ndian /ournal of .edical &thics
SctoberC-ecember 5BB3 A=;> 234
F6ndian Astrology 1s 6ndian #cienceF. ,,C. 83 .ay 5BB3.
F!uidelines for #etting up -epartments of edic Astrology in 0ni1ersities 0nder the
%ur1iew of 0ni1ersity !rants CommissionF. !o1ernment of 6ndia, -epartment of
&ducation. Archi1ed from the original on 35 .ay 5B33. Eetrie1ed 5@ .arch 5B33.
FThere is an urgent need to reju1enate the science of edic Astrology in 6ndia, to allow
this scientific knowledge to reach to the society at large and to pro1ide opportunities to
get this important science e1en e'ported to the world,F
7Astrology is a science9 ,ombay +C7, The Times of 6ndia, 8 February 5B33
/apanese childrearing9 two generations of scholarship. 3AA@. Eetrie1ed 55 /uly 5B35.
The %olitical &conomy of /apan9 Cultural and social dynamics. 3AA5. Eetrie1ed 55
/uly 5B35.
Wedel, Theodore Stto =5BB8. First published 3A5B>. FA9 Astrology in !ower and
ChaucerF. .edie1al Attitude Toward Astrology, %articularly in &ngland. Gessinger. pp.
383C3?@. FThe literary interest in astrology, which had been on the increase in &ngland
throughout the fourteenth century, culminated in the works of !ower and Chaucer.
Although references to astrology were already fre$uent in the romances of the fourteenth
century, these still retained the signs of being foreign importations. 6t was only in the
fifteenth century that astrological similes and embellishments became a matter of course
in the literature of &ngland.
#uch inno1ations, one must confess, were due far more to Chaucer than to !ower.
Although !ower, too, saw artistic possibilities in the new astrological learning, and made
prompt use of these in his retelling of the Ale'ander legend, he confined himself, for the
most part, to a bald rehearsal of facts and theories. 6t is accordingly, as a part of the long
encyclopaedia of natural science which he inserted into his Confessio Amantis, and in
certain didactic passages of the o' Clamantis and the .irour de l7Smme, that Astrology
figures most largely in his works ... !ower7s sources on the subject of astrology ... were
Albumasar7s 6ntroductorium in Astronomiam, the %seudoHAristotelian #ecretum
#ecretorum, ,runetto "atini7s Trgsor, and the #peculum Astronomiae ascribed to Albert
the !reat.F
Wood, 3A<B. pp.35C53
-e "acy, +ugh =Sctober 3A8;>. FAstrology in the %oetry of &dmund #penserF. The
/ournal of &nglish and !ermanic %hilology 88 =;>9 ?5BC?;8. /#TSE 5<<B8A;A.
Camden, Carroll, /r. =April 3A88>. FAstrology in #hakespeare7s -ayF. 6sis 3A =3>9 5@C
<8. doi93B.3B:@V8;@<53. /#TSE 55?3:@.
Campion, Nicholas.9A +istory of Western Astrology9 olume 669 The .edie1al and
.odern Worlds. =Continuum ,ooks, 5BBA> pp. 5;;C5;? 6#,N A<:H3H:;<5?H55;H3
Adams, Noah =3B #eptember 5BB@>. F7%luto the Eenewer7 is no swan songF. National
%ublic Eadio =N%E>. Eetrie1ed 38 /une 5B38.
aughan, -a1id =5BB;>. FFrederick Ashton and +is ,allets 3A8:F. Ashton Archi1e.
Eetrie1ed 38 /une 5B38.
FThe Twel1e #igns9 An Astrological &ntertainmentF. Centre for New Dealand .usic.
Eetrie1ed 38 /une 5B38.
#ources
,arton, Tamsyn =3AA;>. Ancient Astrology. Eoutledge. 6#,N BH;3?H33B5AH<.
Gay, Eichard =3AA;>. -ante7s Christian Astrology. .iddle Ages #eries. 0ni1ersity of
%ennsyl1ania %ress.
Campion, Nicholas =3A:5>. An 6ntroduction to the +istory of Astrology. 6#CWA.
+olden, /ames +erschel =5BB@>. A +istory of +oroscopic Astrology =5nd ed.>. AFA.
6#,N BH:@@ABH;@8H:.
"ong, A.A. =5BB?>. F@9 Astrology9 arguments pro and contraF. 6n ,arnes, /onathanR
,runschwig, /. #cience and #peculation. Cambridge 0ni1ersity %ress. pp. 3@?C3A3.
%arker, -erekR %arker, /ulia =3A:8>. A history of astrology. -eutsch. 6#,N A<:HBH588H
A<?<@H;.
Eobbins, Frank &., ed. =3A;B>. %tolemy Tetrabiblos. +ar1ard 0ni1ersity %ress ="oeb
Classical "ibrary>. 6#,N BH@<;HAA;<AH?.
eenstra, /.E. =3AA<>. .agic and -i1ination at the Courts of ,urgundy and France9
Te't and Conte't of "aurens %ignon7s FContre les -e1ineursF =3;33>. ,rill. 6#,N A<:H
ABHB;H3BA5?H;.
Wedel, Theodore Stto =3A5B>. The .edid1al Attitude Toward Astrology9 %articularly
in &ngland. Qale 0ni1ersity %ress.
Wood, Chauncey =3A<B>. Chaucer and the Country of the #tars9 %oetical 0ses of
Astrological 6magery. %rinceton 0ni1ersity %ress.
Further reading
Forer, ,ertram E. =/anuary 3A;A>. FThe Fallacy of %ersonal alidation9 A Classroom
-emonstration of !ullibilityF. The /ournal of Abnormal and #ocial %sychology ;; =3>.
Ssborn, .. =5BB5>. Time and the Astrolabe in The Canterbury Tales. 0ni1ersity of
Sklahoma %ress.
Thorndike, "ynn =3A??>. FThe True %lace of Astrology in the +istory of #cienceF. 6sis
;@ =8>.
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