ASTROLOGY (Greek [astron]heavenl !

o"# start$ %&' [lo(os])or"#

"*s+o,rse]one o- the ol"est an" .ost +onstrovers*al sste.s o- kno)le"(e that hol"s that
the +elest*al !o"*es (l,nar# solar# /lanetar# an" astral ++les0 *n-l,en+e the -ates o- *n"*v*",al
/eo/le (natal astrolo(0# relat*ons !et)een *n"*v*",al /eo/le (snastral1+o./arat*ve
astrolo(0# health an" heal*n( /ro+ess (*atroastrolo(0# the h*stor o- nat*ons an" so+*al2
rel*(*o,s sste.s (.,n"al astrolo(0# the -ates o- h,.an ,n"ertak*n(s (ele+t*ve astrolo(0#
relat*ons !et)een the t*.e an" /la+e *n )h*+h a /ro!le. *s /ose" an" *ts resol,t*on (horal
astrolo(0# +han(es *n )eather (astro.eteorolo(03 Astrolo( *s /ra+t*+e" to"a ,n"er the
na.es o- +os.o!*olo(# +os.o/s+holo(# solar !*olo(# astro!*o.etr*+s# an"
astro/s+ho.etr*+s3
Astrolo( "ates !a+k to the .ost an+*ent t*.es3 4t )as /ra+t*+e" *n the +*v*l*5at*ons o-
an+*ent 6(/t# 7eso/ota.*a# 4n"*a# 8h*na# an" the A.er*+as3 9hat e:a+tl )ere the
/r*n+*/les o- astrolo( an" ho) *t )as a//l*e" re.a*n ,nkno)n s*n+e no )r*tten a++o,nts
have !een /reserve"3 The .ost an+*ent re.a*ns o- )r*t*n( +onta*n*n( astrolo(*+al /ro(noses
are -ro. ;a!lon3 The )ere "a*l re/orts to the k*n( o- Assr*a# Ass,r!an*/ol (aro,n"
<<=><?< ;803 The 5o"*a+# )h*+h *s a !as*+ astrolo(*+al ele.ent# arose -*rst *n 6(/t an"
later +a.e to 7eso/ota.*a3 4n*t*all# the horos+o/es "ra)n ,/ ! ;a!lon*an /r*ests )ere
not -or *n"*v*",als# !,t -or the )hole +o,ntr or a +*t an" )ere *nten"e" to /re"*+t the
"evelo/.ent o- /ol*t*+al an" so+*al events ()ars# +ro/ -a*l,res03 Later (!e(*nn*n( *n the late
-*-th +ent,r ;80# *n"*v*",al horos+o/es a//eare"3 7ore or less at the sa.e t*.e#
;a!lon*an astrolo( +a.e to Gree+e (aro,n" @AB ;8 ;eros,s -o,n"e" the -*rst astrolo(*+al
s+hool on the Greek *slan" o- 8os03 The see"s o- th*s kno)le"(e /ro!a!l alrea" e:*ste" *n
Gree+e *n the .st*+al an" /h*loso/h*+al /r*n+*/les o- Ctha(orean*s.3 4n a short t*.e the
Greeks trans-or.e" 8hal"ean astrolo( *nto an a:*o.at*+ an" "e",+t*ve sste. o-
kno)le"(e .o"ele" a-ter (eo.etr3 The also s,//le.ente" 8hal"ean astrolo( )*th the
a""*t*on o- .an *./ortant ele.ents3 The*r .ost *./ortant +ontr*!,t*on )as that the
/rov*"e" a /hs*+al .o"el o- ho) the stars (or /lanets0 *n-l,en+e" 6arth3 At the sa.e t*.e
the sho)e" ho) the heavenl !o"*es *n"*re+tl *n-l,en+e" .ans -ate (v*a -a+tors s,+h as
the a*r03 The *ntro",+e" an ele.ent o- hol*s. *nto the /r*n+*/les o- astrolo(# stat*n( the
th*s *n-l,en+e "oes not +o.e -ro. /art*+,lar heavenl !o"*es !,t -ro. the )hole /resent
+on-*(,rat*on o- those !o"*es# a +on-*(,rat*on that )as o-ten ver +o./le:3 The also l*nke"
astrolo( )*th .e"*+*ne an" al+he.3 Th*s .o"*-*e" astrolo( ha" .an o//onents#
/r*.ar*l -ro. the 7*""le A+a"e. (8arnea"es0# the s+hool o- Ske/t*+s (Se:t,s 6./*r*+,s0#
an" the 6/*+,reans3 The Sto*+ Cose*"on*,s o- A/a.ea (aro,n" D@E>EB ;80 ans)ere" the
ar(,.ents o- the o//onents o- astrolo(3 Fe restore" the ol" Sto*+ "o+tr*ne o- .ant*+
kno)le"(e (soothsa*n(0 an" the har.on o- the ,n*verse an" so e--e+t*vel ans)ere" the
+r*t*+s o- astrolo(3 Thro,(h the Greeks# .a*nl thro,(h /h*loso/hers o- the Sto*+ s+hool#
the Ro.ans !e+a.e -a.*l*ar )*th astrolo(3
One o- the -*rst Ro.ans to /ra+t*+e astrolo( a+t*vel an" to tr to re+on+*le the rel*(*o,s
+on+e/t*ons o- the Ro.ans an" 6tr,s+ans )*th astrolo(*+al an" +os.olo(*+al sste.s an"
)*th the )*s"o. o- 4ran an" ;a!lon )as the Ctha(orean C,!l*,s G*(*"*,s H*(,l,s (aro,n"
A=>IE ;803 4n h*s )ork De terris an" Sphaera he *n+l,"e" s,+h th*n(s as earl "es+r*/t*on
(-ro. 6(/t an" ;a!lon0 o- the +onstellat*ons o- the Jo"*a+3 The ol"est +o./le: .an,al o-
astrolo( s,rv*v*n( to th*s "a )as )r*tten *n the se+on" +ent,r ! 8la,"*,s Ctole.
(aro,n" DBB to aro,n" DIK0 an" )as +alle" LMNON%' [Tetra!*!los (-o,r !ooks0]3 4n the
*ntro",+t*on to h*s )ork ()h*+h )as +on+erne" )*th .etho"0# Ctole. tr*e" to /rov*"e a
rat*onal P,st*-*+at*on -or the -or.,lat*on o- astrolo(*+al /re"*+t*ons3 To th*s en" he .a"e a
ASTROLOGY C6H 2 Q 8o/r*(ht ! Colsk*e To)ar5st)o To.as5a 5 Ak)*n,
"*st*n+t*on !et)een theoret*+al astrono.# )h*+h )as *nten"e" to e:/la*n the +on-*(,rat*on
an" .ot*on o- heavenl !o"*es as relate" to one another an" to the earth# an" a//l*e"
astrono. or astrolo( (-or 6,"o:os o- Rn*"os an" -or Ar*stotle# th*s ter. .eant the
.athe.at*+al s+*en+e +on+erne" )*th the .ot*ons o- the stars03 A++or"*n( to Ctole.#
astrolo( ,se" *ts o)n s/e+*-*+ S/h*loso/h*+al .etho"T an" st,"*e" the +han(es that
heavenl !o"*es +a,se on earth on the !as*s o- the /art*+,lar +on-*(,rat*ons o- the heavenl
!o"*es3 Ctole. state" that the P,"(.ents -or.,late" *n astrolo( "o not have the sa.e
val,e as the P,"(.ents -or.,late" *n theoret*+al astrono.# !,t at the sa.e t*.e he tho,(ht
that the have so.e val,e !e+a,se the +an /rov*"e a++,rate *n-or.at*on a!o,t -,t,re events
(an" so the +an !e !ene-*+*al03 Fe )ante" to avo*" the ,n"es*ra!le +onseU,en+es o- astral
"eter.*n*s. an" .a"e a "*st*n+t*on !et)een "*v*ne /re"est*nat*on ()h*+h )as *rrevo+a!le
an" ne+essar0 an" nat,ral /re"est*nat*on ()h*+h )as .,ta!le an" not ne+essar03 The st,"
o- astrolo( +ont*n,e" *n an+*ent t*.es *n neo2 Claton*s.# altho,(h *t ha" vo+al +r*t*+s s,+h
as Clot*n,s# an" *n /atr*st*+ tho,(ht (St3 A,(,st*ne03 Thro,(h neo2Claton*+ /h*loso/hers
(Clot*n,s0# an" .ore /re+*sel *n the re+e/t*on o- Greek s+*en+e *n Ara! /h*loso/h
(!e(*nn*n( *n the e*(hth +ent,r the +olle+te" an" )orke" ,/on Greek# Cers*an# Sr*an# an"
F*n", astrolo(*+al .an,s+r*/ts0# the st," o- astrolo( +a.e to the +ent,r o- Ara! s+*en+e#
that *s# to the ,n*vers*t*es *n Sev*lle an" Grena"a3 There as )ell astrolo( ha" vo+al +r*t*+s3
7an 7,sl*. /h*loso/hers an" theolo(*ans (al2Hara!*# Av*+enna# Averroes# an" 4!n
8hal",n0 )ere o//ose" to astrolo( an" "evelo/e" the sa.e ar(,.ents that ha" /rev*o,sl
!een a""resse" to astrolo( (+on+ern*n( .atters s,+h as /re"est*nat*on# "eter.*n*s.# an"
res/ons*!*l*t -or ones a+t*ons03 Gevertheless the st," o- astrolo( +ont*n,e" to "evelo/#
es/e+*all at the ,n*vers*t*es3 The Ve)s at that t*.e ha" the (reatest a++o./l*sh.ents *n th*s
-*el"# !,t also Ara!s s,+h as al2R*n"*# A!, 7asar# an" al2Ra!*s*3 The .ost *n-l,ent*al a,thor
)as A!raha. !*n 65ra# the a,thor o- a ne) .etho" (later kno)n as the Re(*o.ontana
.etho"0 -or *n"*+ate" so2+alle" astrolo(*+al ho,ses3 The Ve)s also s/rea" astrolo( *n the
+o,ntr*es o- 8hr*st*an 6,ro/e ! the /ra+t*+e o- astrolo( an" )*th the*r )r*t*n(s3
4n a /er*o" )hen the re+e/t*on o- Greek an" Ara! s+*en+e )as *ntens*-*e" (the t)el-th an"
th*rteenth +ent,r0# .an Lat*n translat*ons o- Greek an" Ara! astrolo(*+al treat*ses
a//eare" (Vohn o- Sev*lle an" Gerar" o- 8re.ona03 At that t*.e R3 Grosseteste# R3 ;a+on#
an" Al!ert the Great st,"*e" astrolo(3 Tho.as AU,*nas "*" not +on"e.n astrolo(# !,t
tho,(ht that the *n-l,en+e o- the heavenl !o"*es *s restr*+te" to /hs*+al "es*res# !,t the
rat*onal .an *s a!le to res*st the.3 AU,*nas e:/la*ne" the a++,ra+ o- the astrolo(ers
/re"*+at*on ! sa*n( that .ost /eo/le +annot .aster the*r "es*res3 4n the -o,rteenth +ent,r#
astrolo( "evelo/e" *n +lose +onne+t*on )*th .eteorolo( (R*+har" o- 9all*n(-or"# 9*ll*a.
7erle0# an" )*th .e"*+*ne (Geo--re "e 7ea,:# Va+o!,s An(el,s# Ceter L*.o(es03 Coetr
)r*tten *n that /er*o" s/eaks o- astrolo(3 The !est kno)n e:a./le )as a /oe. ! Geo--re
8ha,+er t*tle" Troilus et Criseida3 G*+holas Ores.e )as the +h*e- o//onent o- astrolo( *n
the -o,rteenth +ent,r an" e:/resse" the o/*n*on o- .ost o- the s+holars o- that t*.e3
Ores.e rePe+te" natal# ele+t*ve# an" horal astrolo(# !,t he allo)e" )*th so.e reservat*ons a
/la+e -or .e"*+al astrolo( (*atroastrolo(0 an" astro.eteorolo(3 Astrolo( rea+he" *ts
he*(ht *n the Rena*ssan+e3 4n that /er*o" se+,lar r,les (s,+h as 7atthe) 8or)*n# Fenr 4W#
S*(.,n" A,(,st,s0 an" re/resentat*ves o- the 8h,r+h (s,+h as R*+hel*e,# 7a5ar*n*# an" Ca,l
4440 )ere *n-l,en+e" ! astrolo(3 Art re-le+te" the *n-l,en+e o- astrolo( (A3 XYrer# F3
;os+h03 Astrolo( also enPoe" a !losso.*n( at the Va(*ellon*an Zn*vers*t3 ; the en" o-
the -*-teenth +ent,r# the )ork o- t)o o- the .ost e.*nent astrono.rs# 9oP+*e+h o-
;r,"5e)o an" Vohn o- G[o(\)# .a"e the Rrak\) astrono.*+al s+hool the se+on" s+hool o-
th*s t/e *n 6,ro/e a-ter W*enna3
ASTROLOGY C6H 2 Q 8o/r*(ht ! Colsk*e To)ar5st)o To.as5a 5 Ak)*n,
At the en" o- the s*:teenth +ent,r# astrolo(*+al U,est*ons took /re+e"en+e over astrono.*+al
U,est*ons# a s*t,at*on )h*+h /ers*ste" to the en" o- that +ent,r3 Astrolo( )as then treate"
as the +ro)n*n( /o*nt o- astrono.3 Astrolo(ers .a"e a "*st*n+t*on !et)een nat,ral
astrolo( (astrologia naturalis0# also +alle" theoret*+al astrolo(# .athe.at*+al astrolo( or
quadrivialis# an" /re"*+at*ve astrolo( (iudiciaria0# )h*+h )as the sa.e as /ra+t*+al
astrolo(3 ;la*se o- Car.a even sa*" that astrolo( "oes not "*--er -ro. the /h*loso/h o-
nat,re secundum distinctionem obiectorum# that *s# astrolo( an" the /h*loso/h o- nat,re
share the sa.e .ater*al o!Pe+t3 The .ost *./ortant +ontrovers*es *n Rena*ssan+e astrolo(
"*" not -o+,s on the +on+e/t*on o- astrolo(# !,t on the U,est*ons ar*s*n( -ro. /ole.*+s
!et)een *ts lea"*n( +r*t*+# G*ovann* C*+o "ella 7*ran"ola (Disputationes adversus
astrologiam divinatricem# DIAE0# an" *ts lea"*n( "e-en"er# Ceter Co./ona55* (De naturalium
effectuum admirandorum causis, sive de incantationibus# DE?B03
4n a later /er*o" a,thors o- .o"ern s+*en+e s,+h as T+ho "e ;rahe# Vohn Re/ler# Gal*leo#
an" Ge)ton )ere /ra+t*t*oners o- astrolo(3 Re/ler even tr*e" to re-or. astrolo( !
*ntro",+*n( a ne) .o"el o- ho) the /lanets *n-l,en+e .en an" ! +r*t*+*5*n( the tra"*t*onal
*nter/retat*ons o- astrolo( as a s+*en+e +on+ern*n( s+*en+e3 Re/ler /la+e" (reater e./has*s
on the s*(n*-*+an+e o- as/e+ts3 Fe also e./has*5e" the *./ortan+e o- astro.eteorolo(3 As a
+onseU,en+e o- the ten"en+ to see the )orl" .ore an" .ore *n ter.s o- nat,re# )h*+h
o++,rre" *n the /er*o" )hen the r,"*.ents o- .o"ern s+*en+e )ere tak*n( sha/e# astrolo(
"e+l*ne" *n *./ortan+e3 4t share" the -ate o- s+holast*+*s. an" )as al.ost +o./letel
!an*she" (-*rst -ro. the ,n*vers*t*es0 *n the e*(hteenth +ent,r*es an" the earl n*neteenth
+ent,r3 The "e+l*n*n( a//re+*at*on o- astrolo( )as a--e+te" ! the -all o- the Ar*stotel*an
/h*loso/h o- nat,re# the re+e/t*on o- hel*o+entr*s.# an" (an e--e+t o- th*s /ro+ess0 the
"*s+over o- ne) /lanets# !,t the .a*n so,r+e o- ant*/ath to astrolo( )as the s,++ess o-
s+*en+e an" the s+*ent*s. asso+*ate" )*th *t3 Aro,n" D=EB there )as a +erta*n *n+rease *n
*nterest *n astrolo( )*th the )ave o- *nterest *n s/*r*t,al*s. an" the +,lt,re o- the east3 4n
the Theoso/h*+al so+*et -o,n"e" ! Felen ;lavatsk (D=@D>D=AD0 an" Fenr S3 Ol+ott
(D=@?>DABK0# an" /art*+,larl *n the Astrolo(*+al Lo"(e o- the Theoso/h*+al so+*et -o,n"e"
! 9*ll*a. Hre"er*+k Allen (D=<B>DA?B# /se,"on. Alan Leo0# astrolo( a+U,*re" an
*nst*t,t*onal !ase3 93 H3 Allens te:t!ooks /resente" the )hole o- astrolo( *n an a++ess*!le
-or. an" *n a short t*.e +a,se" an *n+rease o- *nterest *n astrolo( *n 6,ro/ean +o,ntr*es
an" the Zn*te" States3 The *nterest *n astrolo( *n+rease" -,rther a-ter the H*rst 9orl" 9ar#
es/e+*all *n Ger.an3 Ge) astrolo(*+al s+hools arose# *n+l,"e a sste. "evelo/e" !
Al-re" 9*tte# the so2+alle" Fa.!,r( S+hool ()h*+h *ntro",+e" ne) h/othet*+al /lanets03
Hro. DA@B there )as an avalan+he o- *nterest *n astrolo( *n the -or. o- horos+o/es *n
ne)s/a/ers3 Th*s -ash*on "evelo/e" *n 6,ro/e (6n(lan"0 !,t U,*+kl s/rea" over the )hole
)orl"3 Also *n th*s /er*o" *n the Zn*te" States there )as a stron( *ntelle+t,al +,rrent that ha"
so,r+es *n the )orks o- the art*st an" theoret*+*an o- art Xane R,"hara (D=AE>DA=E# )*th
s,+h )orks as Astrology of Personality# DA@<$ Thy Pulse of Life# DAI@03 F*s )orks l*nke"
astrolo( )*th /s+holo( (*n+l,"*n( V,n(s "e/th /s+holo(03 9*th*n th*s .ove.ent
"evelo/e" so2+alle" h,.an*st*+ (ho.o+entr*+0 astrolo(# an atte./t to ,/"ate tra"*t*onal
astrolo(3 4t *s a ver +o./le: astrolo(*+al sste. that ! *ts s.!ol*s. looks to o++,lt
n,.erolo( ()h*+h has s,+h so,r+es as the neo2Ctha(orean /h*loso/h o- nat,re an"
F*n",*s.03
As o//ose" to the tra"*t*onal /re"*+t*ve astrolo( that a*.e" at /re"*+t*n( -,t,re events#
h,.an*st*+ astrolo( tr*es to /resent .ans /ersonal (/s+h*+0 (ro)th ! /ro(nos*s an"
retro(nos*s o- .ental states3 At /resent th*s .ove.ent *s "evelo/e" ! Ste/hen Arroo#
ASTROLOGY C6H 2 Q 8o/r*(ht ! Colsk*e To)ar5st)o To.as5a 5 Ak)*n,
Tra+ 7arks# Les5ek 9eres# an" others3 Another atte./t to .ake astrolo( +,rrent *s the
atte./t to .ake *t Ss+*ent*-*+T ! the *ntro",+t*on o- stat*st*+al .etho"s (+orrelat*ons o- the
/os*t*ons o- the /lanets *n the s*(ns o- the Jo"*a+ *n natal horos+o/es )*th +ho*+e o-
/ro-ess*on03 The Hren+h /s+holo(*st 73 Ga,U,el*n (DA?=>DAAD0 )as a /*oneer o- s,+h
)orks3 L3 7*+helson# O3 ;e+k*er# an" F3 Hr*".an are a.on( those )ho later +ont*n,e" th*s
t/e o- resear+h# an" the onl .o"*es the k*n"s o- +orrelat*on3 At /resent )e .a o!serve a
ra/*" *n+rease *n lo+al an" nat*onal (ZSA0 astrolo(*+al or(an*5at*ons (aro,n" ?BB0# the
n,.!er o- s/e+*al*5e" /er*o"*+als (aro,n" ?BB )*th an avera(e e"*t*on o- DBBB>?BBB
+o/*es0# an" /,!l*sh*n( ho,ses (a!o,t ?EB ne) t*tles a//ear ea+h ear03
C3 8ho*snar"# Saint Thomas dAquin et linfluence des astres# C DA?< (!" Tomas# # A$!inu i
astrologia [St3 Tho.as AU,*nas an" astrolo(]# 9)a DA@A0$ 63 8ass*rer# %ndividuum und
&osmos in der Philosophie der 'enaissance# L DA?K$ 73 Ga,Uel*n# The Scientific (ases of
Astrology# GY DAEE$ L3 Thorn"*ke# The True Place of Astrology in the )istory of Science#
4s*s I= (DAEE0# ?K@>?K=$ C3 Ross*# Considera#ioni sul declino dellastrologia agli ini#i
dellet* moderna# *n] Lopera e il pensiero di +iovanni Pico della ,irandola nella storia
dell-manesimo# H DA<E# 44 @DE>@@D$ R3 S*.onet# Les grands probl.mes de lastrologie# C
DA<K$ C3 Ja.!ell*# +iovanni ,ainardi e la polemica sullastrologia# C DA<K# ?BE>?KA$ G3
Jan*er# %l problema astrologico nelle prime opere di +iovanni Pico della ,irandola# La
8,lt,ra = (DAKB0# E?I>EED$ R3 6!ert*n# Applied Cosmobiology# Hr DAK?$ 93 S+h,.aker# The
/ccult Science in the 'enaissance# ;e DAK?$ T3 Cr5/ko)sk*# Astronomia i astrologia !
&ra$o!ie ! drugie0 po1!ie 23% !ie$u [Astrono. an" astrolo( *n Rrak\) *n the se+on"
hal- o- the s*:teenth +ent,r]# *n] )istoria astronomii ! Polsce [F*stor o- astrono. *n
Colan"]# 9r DAKI# 4 D=I>?B?$ 63 Gar*n# Lo #odiaco della vita# ;ar* DAK< (4odia$ 5ycia"
Astrologia ! o$resie 'enesansu [The Jo"*a+ o- l*-e3 Astrolo( *n the /er*o" o- the
Rena*ssan+e]# 9)a DAA?# DAAK
?
0$ 73 Vastro)# )o! Astrology (egan [no /la+e o-
/,!l*+at*on *n"*+ate"# Ge.*n* Cress] DAK<$ S)*e^a)sk* XH W4 ?ED>?AI$ T3 Xokt\r#
Spot$ania # astrologi6 [6n+o,nters )*th astrolo(]# 9)a DA=K$ R3 T Cr*nke# L3 9eres#
,andala 5ycia" Astrologia mity i rec#y!isto78 [7an"ala o- l*-e3 Astrolo( .ths an"
real*t]# C5 DAAD3
Jenon 63 Roskal
ASTROLOGY C6H 2 Q 8o/r*(ht ! Colsk*e To)ar5st)o To.as5a 5 Ak)*n,