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Astrology
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Astrologyisthestudyofthemovementsandrelativepositionsof
celestialobjectsasameansfordivininginformationabouthuman
affairsandterrestrialevents.[1][2][3][4]Astrologyhasbeendatedtoat
leastthe2ndmillenniumBCE,andhasitsrootsincalendrical
systemsusedtopredictseasonalshiftsandtointerpretcelestial
cyclesassignsofdivinecommunications.[5]Manycultureshave
attachedimportancetoastronomicalevents,andsomesuchasthe
Indians,Chinese,andMayadevelopedelaboratesystemsfor
predictingterrestrialeventsfromcelestialobservations.Western
astrology,oneoftheoldestastrologicalsystemsstillinuse,can
traceitsrootsto19th17thcenturyBCEMesopotamia,fromwhich
itspreadtoAncientGreece,Rome,theArabworldandeventually
CentralandWesternEurope.ContemporaryWesternastrologyis
oftenassociatedwithsystemsofhoroscopesthatpurporttoexplain
aspectsofaperson'spersonalityandpredictsignificanteventsin
theirlivesbasedonthepositionsofcelestialobjectsthemajorityof
professionalastrologersrelyonsuchsystems.[6]:83
Throughoutmostofitshistoryastrologywasconsideredascholarly
traditionandwascommoninacademiccircles,ofteninclose
relationwithastronomy,alchemy,meteorology,andmedicine.[7]It
waspresentinpoliticalcircles,andismentionedinvariousworksof
literature,fromDanteAlighieriandGeoffreyChaucertoWilliam
Shakespeare,LopedeVegaandCalderndelaBarca.
Withtheonsetofthescientificrevolutionastrologywascalledinto
questionithasbeenchallengedsuccessfullybothon
theoretical[8]:249[9]andexperimental[10][11]grounds,andhasbeen
showntohavenoscientificvalidity[6]orexplanatorypower.
Astrologythuslostitsacademicandtheoreticalstanding,and
commonbeliefinithaslargelydeclined.[12]Astrologyisnow
recognizedtobepseudoscience.[13][14][15][16][17]

Astrology

Theastrologicalsigns

AriesTaurusGeminiCancerLeoVirgoLibra
ScorpioSagittariusCapricornAquariusPisces

Astrologycategories
Astrology

Expandlist
forreference

Astrologers
Astrologicalages
Astrologicalorganizations
Astrologicalsigns
Historyofastrology
Technicalfactorsof
astrology
Astrologicaltexts
Astrologybytradition
Astrologybytype

Contents
1 Etymology
2 History
2.1 Ancientworld
2.1.1 Ancientobjections
2.2 HellenisticEgypt
2.3 GreeceandRome
2.4 Medievalworld
2.4.1 Hindu
2.4.2 Islamic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology

Astrologyimages
Astrologystubs

Branchesofastrology
ChineseDecumbitureElectionalFinancial
HellenisticHoraryLocationalPsychological
MeteorologicalHindu
Theplanetsinastrology
SunMoonMercuryVenusMarsCeresJupiter
SaturnUranusNeptunePluto
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2.4.2 Islamic
2.4.3 Europe
2.4.4 Medievalobjections
2.5 RenaissanceandEarlyModern
2.6 Enlightenmentperiodandonwards
3 Principlesandpractice
3.1 Western
3.2 Hindu
3.3 ChineseandEastAsian
4 Theologicalviewpoints
4.1 Ancient
4.2 Medieval
4.3 Modern
5 Scientificanalysisandcriticism
5.1 Demarcation
5.2 Effectiveness
5.3 Lackofmechanismsandconsistency
6 Culturalimpact
6.1 Westernpoliticsandsociety
6.2 IndiaandJapan
6.3 Literatureandmusic
7 Seealso
8 Notes
9 References
10 Sources
11 Furtherreading
12 Externallinks

Astrology

Astrologyproject

portal
AstrologersAstrologicalorganizationsAstrology
andscience

Etymology
ThewordastrologycomesfromtheearlyLatinwordastrologia,[18]whichderives
fromtheGreekfromastron("star")andlogia,
("studyof""accountofthestars").Astrologialaterpassedintomeaning'star
divination'withastronomiausedforthescientificterm.[19]

History
Manycultureshaveattachedimportancetoastronomicalevents,andtheIndians,
Chinese,andMayadevelopedelaboratesystemsforpredictingterrestrialevents
fromcelestialobservations.IntheWest,astrologymostoftenconsistsofasystem
ofhoroscopespurportingtoexplainaspectsofaperson'spersonalityandpredict
futureeventsintheirlifebasedonthepositionsofthesun,moon,andother
celestialobjectsatthetimeoftheirbirth.Themajorityofprofessionalastrologers
relyonsuchsystems.[6]:83

MarcantonioRaimondi
engraving,15thcentury

Astrologyhasbeendatedtoatleastthe2ndmillenniumBCE,withrootsin
calendricalsystemsusedtopredictseasonalshiftsandtointerpretcelestialcyclesassignsofdivine
communications.[5]AformofastrologywaspractisedinthefirstdynastyofMesopotamia(19501651BCE).
ChineseastrologywaselaboratedintheZhoudynasty(1046256BCE).Hellenisticastrologyafter332BCE
mixedBabylonianastrologywithEgyptianDecanicastrologyinAlexandria,creatinghoroscopicastrology.
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AlexandertheGreat'sconquestofAsiaallowedastrologytospreadtoAncient
GreeceandRome.InRome,astrologywasassociatedwith'Chaldeanwisdom'.
AftertheconquestofAlexandriainthe7thcentury,astrologywastakenupby
Islamicscholars,andHellenistictextsweretranslatedintoArabicandPersian.In
the12thcentury,ArabictextswereimportedtoEuropeandtranslatedintoLatin.
MajorastronomersincludingTychoBrahe,JohannesKeplerandGalileopractised
ascourtastrologers.Astrologicalreferencesappearinliteratureintheworksof
poetssuchasDanteAlighieriandGeoffreyChaucer,andofplaywrightssuchas
ChristopherMarloweandWilliamShakespeare.
Throughoutmostofitshistory,astrologywasconsideredascholarlytradition.It
wasacceptedinpoliticalandacademiccontexts,andwasconnectedwithother
studies,suchasastronomy,alchemy,meteorology,andmedicine.[7]Attheendof
the17thcentury,newscientificconceptsinastronomyandphysics(suchas
heliocentrismandNewtonianmechanics)calledastrologyintoquestion.Astrology
thuslostitsacademicandtheoreticalstanding,andcommonbeliefinastrologyhas
largelydeclined.[12]

Ancientworld

TheZodiacManadiagram
ofahumanbodyand
astrologicalsymbolswith
instructionsexplainingthe
importanceofastrology
fromamedicalperspective.
Froma15thcenturyWelsh
manuscript

Astrology,initsbroadestsense,isthesearchformeaninginthesky.[20]:2,3Early
evidenceforhumansmakingconsciousattemptstomeasure,record,andpredict
seasonalchangesbyreferencetoastronomicalcycles,appearsasmarkingsonbonesandcavewalls,whichshow
thatlunarcycleswerebeingnotedasearlyas25,000yearsago.[21]:81ffThiswasafirststeptowardsrecordingthe
Moon'sinfluenceupontidesandrivers,andtowardsorganisingacommunalcalendar.[21]Farmersaddressed
agriculturalneedswithincreasingknowledgeoftheconstellationsthatappearinthedifferentseasonsandused
therisingofparticularstargroupstoheraldannualfloodsorseasonalactivities.[22]Bythe3rdmillenniumBCE,
civilisationshadsophisticatedawarenessofcelestialcycles,andmayhaveorientedtemplesinalignmentwith
heliacalrisingsofthestars.[23]
Scatteredevidencesuggeststhattheoldestknownastrologicalreferencesarecopiesoftextsmadeintheancient
world.TheVenustabletofAmmisaduqathoughttobecompiledinBabylonaround1700BCE.[24]Ascroll
documentinganearlyuseofelectionalastrologyisdoubtfullyascribedtothereignoftheSumerianrulerGudeaof
Lagash(c.21442124BCE).Thisdescribeshowthegodsrevealedtohiminadreamtheconstellationsthat
wouldbemostfavourablefortheplannedconstructionofatemple.[25]However,thereiscontroversyabout
whethertheseweregenuinelyrecordedatthetimeormerelyascribedtoancientrulersbyposterity.Theoldest
undisputedevidenceoftheuseofastrologyasanintegratedsystemofknowledgeisthereforeattributedtothe
recordsofthefirstdynastyofMesopotamia(19501651BCE).ThisastrologyhadsomeparallelswithHellenistic
Greek(western)astrology,includingthezodiac,anormingpointnear9degreesinAries,thetrineaspect,planetary
exaltations,andthedodekatemoria(thetwelvedivisionsof30degreeseach).[26]TheBabyloniansviewedcelestial
eventsaspossiblesignsratherthanascausesofphysicalevents.[26]
ThesystemofChineseastrologywaselaboratedduringtheZhoudynasty(1046256BCE)andflourishedduring
theHanDynasty(2ndcenturyBCEto2ndcenturyCE),duringwhichallthefamiliarelementsoftraditional
ChineseculturetheYinYangphilosophy,theoryofthefiveelements,HeavenandEarth,Confucianmorality
werebroughttogethertoformalisethephilosophicalprinciplesofChinesemedicineanddivination,astrologyand
alchemy.[27]:3,4
Ancientobjections
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Cicerostatedthetwinsobjection(thatwithclosebirthtimes,personaloutcomes
canbeverydifferent),laterdevelopedbySaintAugustine.[28]Hearguedthatsince
theotherplanetsaremuchmoredistantfromtheearththanthemoon,theycould
haveonlyverytinyinfluencecomparedtothemoon's.[29]Healsoarguedthatif
astrologyexplainseverythingaboutaperson'sfate,thenitwronglyignoresthe
visibleeffectofinheritedabilityandparenting,changesinhealthworkedby
medicine,ortheeffectsoftheweatheronpeople.[30]
Plotinusarguedthatsincethefixedstarsaremuchmoredistantthantheplanets,it
islaughabletoimaginetheplanets'effectonmankindshoulddependontheir
positionwithrespecttothezodiac.Healsoarguesthattheinterpretationofthe
moon'sconjunctionwithaplanetasgoodwhenthemoonisfull,butbadwhenthe
mooniswaning,isclearlywrong,asfromthemoon'spointofview,halfofher
surfaceisalwaysinsunlightandfromtheplanet'spointofview,waningshouldbe
better,asthentheplanetseessomelightfromthemoon,butwhenthemoonisfull
tous,itisdark,andthereforebad,onthesidefacingtheplanet.[31]

TheRomanoratorCicero
objectedtoastrology

Favorinusarguedthatitwasabsurdtoimaginethatstarsandplanetswouldaffecthumanbodiesinthesameway
astheyaffectthetides,[32]andequallyabsurdthatsmallmotionsintheheavenscauselargechangesinpeople's
fates.SextusEmpiricusarguedthatitwasabsurdtolinkhumanattributeswithmythsaboutthesignsofthe
zodiac.[33]Carneadesarguedthatbeliefinfatedeniesfreewillandmoralitythatpeoplebornatdifferenttimescan
alldieinthesameaccidentorbattleandthatcontrarytouniforminfluencesfromthestars,tribesandculturesare
alldifferent.[34]

HellenisticEgypt
In525BCE,EgyptwasconqueredbythePersians.The1stcenturyBCEEgyptian
DenderaZodiacsharestwosignstheBalanceandtheScorpionwith
Mesopotamianastrology.[35]
WiththeoccupationbyAlexandertheGreatin332BCE,Egyptbecame
Hellenistic.ThecityofAlexandriawasfoundedbyAlexanderaftertheconquest,
becomingtheplacewhereBabylonianastrologywasmixedwithEgyptianDecanic
astrologytocreateHoroscopicastrology.ThiscontainedtheBabylonianzodiac
withitssystemofplanetaryexaltations,thetriplicitiesofthesignsandthe
importanceofeclipses.ItusedtheEgyptianconceptofdividingthezodiacinto
thirtysixdecansoftendegreeseach,withanemphasisontherisingdecan,andthe
GreeksystemofplanetaryGods,signrulershipandfourelements.[36]2ndcentury
BCEtextspredictpositionsofplanetsinzodiacsignsatthetimeoftherisingof
certaindecans,particularlySothis.[37]TheastrologerandastronomerPtolemylived
inAlexandria.Ptolemy'sworktheTetrabiblosformedthebasisofWestern
astrology,and,"...enjoyedalmosttheauthorityofaBibleamongtheastrological
writersofathousandyearsormore."[38]

1484copyoffirstpageof
Ptolemy'sTetrabiblos,
translatedintoLatinbyPlato
ofTivoli

GreeceandRome

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TheconquestofAsiabyAlexandertheGreatexposedtheGreekstoideasfromSyria,Babylon,Persiaandcentral
Asia.[39]Around280BCE,Berossus,apriestofBelfromBabylon,movedtotheGreekislandofKos,teaching
astrologyandBabylonianculture.[40]Bythe1stcenturyBCE,thereweretwovarietiesofastrology,oneusing
horoscopestodescribethepast,presentandfuturetheother,theurgic,emphasisingthesoul'sascenttothe
stars.[41]GreekinfluenceplayedacrucialroleinthetransmissionofastrologicaltheorytoRome.[42]
ThefirstdefinitereferencetoastrologyinRomecomesfromtheoratorCato,whoin160BCEwarnedfarm
overseersagainstconsultingwithChaldeans,[43]whoweredescribedasBabylonian'stargazers'.[44]Amongboth
GreeksandRomans,Babylonia(alsoknownasChaldea)becamesoidentifiedwithastrologythat'Chaldean
wisdom'becamesynonymouswithdivinationusingplanetsandstars.[45]The2ndcenturyRomanpoetandsatirist
JuvenalcomplainsaboutthepervasiveinfluenceofChaldeans,saying,"StillmoretrustedaretheChaldaeans
everywordutteredbytheastrologertheywillbelievehascomefromHammon'sfountain."[46]
OneofthefirstastrologerstobringHermeticastrologytoRomewasThrasyllus,astrologertotheemperor
Tiberius,[42]thefirstemperortohavehadacourtastrologer,[47]thoughhispredecessorAugustushadused
astrologytohelplegitimisehisImperialrights.[48]

Medievalworld
Hindu
ThemaintextsuponwhichclassicalIndianastrologyisbasedareearlymedievalcompilations,notablytheBhat
PararaHorstra,andSrvalbyKalyavarma.TheHorshastraisacompositeworkof71chapters,of
whichthefirstpart(chapters151)datestothe7thtoearly8thcenturiesandthesecondpart(chapters5271)to
thelater8thcentury.TheSrvallikewisedatestoaround800CE.[49]Englishtranslationsofthesetextswere
publishedbyN.N.KrishnaRauandV.B.Choudhariin1963and1961,respectively.
Islamic
AstrologywastakenupbyIslamicscholars[50]followingthecollapseof
AlexandriatotheArabsinthe7thcentury,andthefoundingoftheAbbasid
empireinthe8th.ThesecondAbbasidcaliph,AlMansur(754775)
foundedthecityofBaghdadtoactasacentreoflearning,andincludedin
itsdesignalibrarytranslationcentreknownasBaytalHikma'Houseof
Wisdom',whichcontinuedtoreceivedevelopmentfromhisheirsandwas
toprovideamajorimpetusforArabicPersiantranslationsofHellenistic
astrologicaltexts.TheearlytranslatorsincludedMashallah,whohelpedto
electthetimeforthefoundationofBaghdad,[51]andSahlibnBishr,(a.k.a.
Zael),whosetextsweredirectlyinfluentialuponlaterEuropeanastrologers
suchasGuidoBonattiinthe13thcentury,andWilliamLillyinthe17th
century.[52]KnowledgeofArabictextsstartedtobecomeimportedinto
EuropeduringtheLatintranslationsofthe12thcentury.

LatintranslationofAbMashar'sDe
MagnisConiunctionibus('Ofthe
greatconjunctions'),Venice,1515

Europe
ThefirstastrologicalbookpublishedinEuropewastheLiberPlanetisetMundiClimatibus("BookofthePlanets
andRegionsoftheWorld"),whichappearedbetween1010and1027AD,andmayhavebeenauthoredbyGerbert
ofAurillac.[53]Ptolemy'ssecondcenturyADTetrabibloswastranslatedintoLatinbyPlatoofTivoliin1138.[53]
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TheDominicantheologianThomasAquinasfollowedAristotleinproposingthat
thestarsruledtheimperfect'sublunary'body,whileattemptingtoreconcile
astrologywithChristianitybystatingthatGodruledthesoul.[54]Thethirteenth
centurymathematicianCampanusofNovaraissaidtohavedevisedasystemof
astrologicalhousesthatdividestheprimeverticalinto'houses'ofequal30arcs,[55]
thoughthesystemwasusedearlierintheEast.[56]Thethirteenthcentury
astronomerGuidoBonattiwroteatextbook,theLiberAstronomicus,acopyof
whichKingHenryVIIofEnglandownedattheendofthefifteenthcentury.[55]
InParadiso,thefinalpartoftheDivineComedy,theItalianpoetDanteAlighieri
referred"incountlessdetails"[57]totheastrologicalplanets,thoughheadapted
traditionalastrologytosuithisChristianviewpoint,[57]forexampleusing
astrologicalthinkinginhispropheciesofthereformofChristendom.[58]
Medievalobjections

DanteAlighierimeetsthe
EmperorJustinianinthe
SphereofMercury,inCanto
5oftheParadiso

Intheseventhcentury,IsidoreofSevillearguedinhisEtymologiaethatastronomy
describedthemovementsoftheheavens,whileastrologyhadtwoparts:onewas
scientific,describingthemovementsofthesun,themoonandthestars,whilethe
other,makingpredictions,wastheologicallyerroneous.[59][60]Incontrast,John
Gowerinthefourteenthcenturydefinedastrologyasessentiallylimitedtothe
makingofpredictions.[59][61]Theinfluenceofthestarswasinturndividedinto
naturalastrology,withforexampleeffectsontidesandthegrowthofplants,and
judicialastrology,withsupposedlypredictableeffectsonpeople.[62][63]The
fourteenthcenturyscepticNicoleOresmehoweverincludedastronomyasapartof
astrologyinhisLivrededivinacions.[64]Oresmearguedthatcurrentapproachesto
predictionofeventssuchasplagues,wars,andweatherwereinappropriate,butthat
Themedievaltheologian
suchpredictionwasavalidfieldofinquiry.However,heattackedtheuseof
IsidoreofSevillecriticised
astrologytochoosethetimingofactions(socalledinterrogationandelection)as
thepredictivepartof
whollyfalse,andrejectedthedeterminationofhumanactionbythestarson
astrology
groundsoffreewill.[64][65]ThefriarLaurensPignon(c.13681449)[66]similarly
rejectedallformsofdivinationanddeterminism,includingbythestars,inhis1411
ContrelesDevineurs.[67]ThiswasinoppositiontothetraditioncarriedbytheArabastronomerAlbumasar(787
886)whoseIntroductoriuminAstronomiamandDeMagnisConiunctionibusarguedtheviewthatbothindividual
actionsandlargerscalehistoryaredeterminedbythestars.[68]

RenaissanceandEarlyModern
Renaissancescholarscommonlypractisedastrology.GerolamoCardanocastthehoroscopeofkingEdwardVIof
England,whileJohnDeewasthepersonalastrologertoqueenElizabethIofEngland.CatherinedeMedicipaid
MichaelNostradamusin1566toverifythepredictionofthedeathofherhusband,kingHenryIIofFrancemade
byherastrologerLucusGauricus.MajorastronomerswhopractisedascourtastrologersincludedTychoBrahein
theroyalcourtofDenmark,JohannesKeplertotheHabsburgs,GalileoGalileitotheMedici,andGiordanoBruno
whowasburntatthestakeforheresyinRomein1600.[69]Thedistinctionbetweenastrologyandastronomywas
notentirelyclear.Advancesinastronomywereoftenmotivatedbythedesiretoimprovetheaccuracyof
astrology.[70]

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Ephemerideswithcomplexastrologicalcalculations,andalmanacs
interpretingcelestialeventsforuseinmedicineandforchoosingtimesto
plantcrops,werepopularinElizabethanEngland.[71]In1597,theEnglish
mathematicianandphysicianThomasHoodmadeasetofpaper
instrumentsthatusedrevolvingoverlaystohelpstudentsworkout
relationshipsbetweenfixedstarsorconstellations,themidheaven,andthe
twelveastrologicalhouses.[72]Hood'sinstrumentsalsoillustrated,for
pedagogicalpurposes,thesupposedrelationshipsbetweenthesignsofthe
zodiac,theplanets,andthepartsofthehumanbodyadherentsbelieved
weregovernedbytheplanetsandsigns.[72][73]WhileHood'spresentation
wasinnovative,hisastrologicalinformationwaslargelystandardandwas
takenfromGerardMercator'sastrologicaldiscmadein1551,orasource
usedbyMercator.[74][75]

'AnAstrologerCastingaHoroscope'
fromRobertFludd'sUtriusqueCosmi
Historia,1617

Englishastrologyhadreacheditszenithbythe17thcentury.[76]Astrologers
weretheorists,researchers,andsocialengineers,aswellasproviding
individualadvicetoeveryonefrommonarchsdownwards.Amongotherthings,astrologerscouldadviseonthe
besttimetotakeajourneyorharvestacrop,diagnoseandprescribeforphysicalormentalillnesses,andpredict
naturaldisasters.Thisunderpinnedasysteminwhicheverythingpeople,theworld,theuniversewas
understoodtobeinterconnected,andastrologycoexistedhappilywithreligion,magicandscience.[77]

Enlightenmentperiodandonwards
DuringtheEnlightenment,intellectualsympathyforastrologyfellaway,leavingonlyapopularfollowing
supportedbycheapalmanacs.[78]OneEnglishalmanaccompiler,RichardSaunders,followedthespiritoftheage
byprintingaderisiveDiscourseontheInvalidityofAstrology,whileinFrancePierreBayle'sDictionnaireof1697
statedthatthesubjectwaspuerile.[78]TheAngloIrishsatiristJonathanSwiftridiculedtheWhigpolitical
astrologerJohnPartridge.[78]
Astrologysawapopularrevivalstartinginthe19thcentury,aspartofageneralrevivalofspiritualismandlater,
NewAgephilosophy,[79]:239249andthroughtheinfluenceofmassmediasuchasnewspaperhoroscopes.[79]:259263
Earlyinthe20thcenturythepsychiatristCarlJungdevelopedsomeconceptsconcerningastrology,[80]whichledto
thedevelopmentofpsychologicalastrology.[79]:251256[81][82]

Principlesandpractice
Advocateshavedefinedastrologyasasymboliclanguage,anartform,ascience,andamethodof
divination.[83][84]Thoughmostculturalastrologysystemssharecommonrootsinancientphilosophiesthat
influencedeachother,manyusemethodsthatdifferfromthoseintheWest.TheseincludeHinduastrology(also
knownas"Indianastrology"andinmoderntimesreferredtoas"Vedicastrology")andChineseastrology,bothof
whichhaveinfluencedtheworld'sculturalhistory.

Western
Westernastrologyisaformofdivinationbasedontheconstructionofahoroscopeforanexactmoment,suchasa
person'sbirth.[85]Itusesthetropicalzodiac,whichisalignedtotheequinoctialpoints.[86]

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WesternastrologyisfoundedonthemovementsandrelativepositionsofcelestialbodiessuchastheSun,Moon
andplanets,whichareanalysedbytheirmovementthroughsignsofthezodiac(twelvespatialdivisionsofthe
ecliptic)andbytheiraspects(basedongeometricangles)relativetooneanother.Theyarealsoconsideredbytheir
placementinhouses(twelvespatialdivisionsofthesky).[87]Astrology'smodernrepresentationinwesternpopular
mediaisusuallyreducedtosunsignastrology,whichconsidersonlythezodiacsignoftheSunatanindividual's
dateofbirth,andrepresentsonly1/12ofthetotalchart.[88]
Thehoroscopevisuallyexpressesthesetofrelationshipsforthetimeandplaceofthechosenevent.These
relationshipsarebetweentheseven'planets',signifyingtendenciessuchaswarandlovethetwelvesignsofthe
zodiacandthetwelvehouses.Eachplanetisinaparticularsignandaparticularhouseatthechosentime,when
observedfromthechosenplace,creatingtwokindsofrelationship.[89]Athirdkindistheaspectofeachplanetto
everyotherplanet,whereforexampletwoplanets120apart(in'trine')areinaharmoniousrelationship,buttwo
planets90apart('square')areinaconflictedrelationship.[90][91]Togethertheserelationshipsandtheir
interpretationssupposedlyform"...thelanguageoftheheavensspeakingtolearnedmen."[89]
Alongwithtarotdivination,astrologyisoneofthecorestudiesofWesternesotericism,andassuchhasinfluenced
systemsofmagicalbeliefnotonlyamongWesternesotericistsandHermeticists,butalsobeliefsystemssuchas
WiccathathaveborrowedfromorbeeninfluencedbytheWesternesoterictradition.TanyaLuhrmannhassaidthat
"allmagiciansknowsomethingaboutastrology,"andreferstoatableofcorrespondencesinStarhawk'sTheSpiral
Dance,organisedbyplanet,asanexampleoftheastrologicallorestudiedbymagicians.[92]

Hindu
TheearliestVedictextonastronomyistheVedangaJyotishaVedicthoughtlater
cametoincludeastrologyaswell.[93]
HindunatalastrologyoriginatedwithHellenisticastrologybythe3rdcentury
BCE,[94]:361[95]thoughincorporatingtheHindulunarmansions.[96]Thenamesof
thesigns(e.g.Greek'Krios'forAries,Hindi'Kriya'),theplanets(e.g.Greek
'Helios'forSun,astrologicalHindi'Heli'),andastrologicalterms(e.g.Greek
'apoklima'and'sunaphe'fordeclinationandplanetaryconjunction,Hindi'apoklima'
and'sunapha'respectively)inVarahaMihira'stextsareconsideredconclusive
evidenceofaGreekoriginforHinduastrology.[97]TheIndiantechniquesmayalso
havebeenaugmentedwithsomeoftheBabyloniantechniques.[98]:231

ChineseandEastAsian
ChineseastrologyhasacloserelationwithChinesephilosophy(theoryofthethree
PagefromanIndian
harmonies:heaven,earthandman)andusesconceptssuchasyinandyang,the
astrologicaltreatise,c.1750
Fivephases,the10Celestialstems,the12EarthlyBranches,andshichen(a
formoftimekeepingusedforreligiouspurposes).TheearlyuseofChinese
astrologywasmainlyconfinedtopoliticalastrology,theobservationofunusualphenomena,identificationof
portentsandtheselectionofauspiciousdaysforeventsanddecisions.[27]:22,85,176
TheconstellationsoftheZodiacofwesternAsiaandEuropewerenotusedinsteadtheskyisdividedintoThree
Enclosures(snyun),andTwentyeightMansions(rshbxi)intwelveCi().[99]The
Chinesezodiacoftwelveanimalsignsissaidtorepresenttwelvedifferenttypesofpersonality.Itisbasedon
cyclesofyears,lunarmonths,andtwohourperiodsoftheday(theshichen).Thezodiactraditionallybeginswith
thesignoftheRat,andthecycleproceedsthrough11otheranimalssigns:theOx,Tiger,Rabbit,Dragon,Snake,
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Horse,Goat,Monkey,Rooster,DogandPig.[100]Complexsystemsofpredictingfateanddestinybasedonone's
birthday,birthseason,andbirthhours,suchaszipingandZiWeiDouShu(simplifiedChinese:
traditionalChinese:pinyin:zwidush)arestillusedregularlyinmoderndayChineseastrology.
Theydonotrelyondirectobservationsofthestars.[101]
TheKoreanzodiacisidenticaltotheChineseone.TheVietnamesezodiacisalmostidenticaltoChinesezodiac
exceptthesecondanimalistheWaterBuffaloinsteadoftheOx,andthefourthanimalistheCatinsteadofthe
Rabbit.TheJapanesehavesince1873celebratedthebeginningofthenewyearon1JanuaryaspertheGregorian
Calendar.TheThaizodiacbegins,notatChineseNewYear,buteitheronthefirstdayoffifthmonthintheThai
lunarcalendar,orduringtheSongkranfestival(nowcelebratedevery1315April),dependingonthepurposeof
theuse.[102]

Theologicalviewpoints
Ancient
St.Augustine(354430)believedthatthedeterminismofastrologyconflictedwiththeChristiandoctrinesof
man'sfreewillandresponsibility,andGodnotbeingthecauseofevil,[103]buthealsogroundedhisopposition
philosophically,citingthefailureofastrologytoexplaintwinswhobehavedifferentlyalthoughconceivedatthe
samemomentandbornatapproximatelythesametime.[104]

Medieval
SomeofthepracticesofastrologywerecontestedontheologicalgroundsbymedievalMuslimastronomerssuchas
AlFarabi(Alpharabius),IbnalHaytham(Alhazen)andAvicenna.Theysaidthatthemethodsofastrologers
conflictedwithorthodoxreligiousviewsofIslamicscholars,bysuggestingthattheWillofGodcanbeknownand
predictedinadvance.[105]Forexample,Avicenna's'Refutationagainstastrology',Rislafiblakmalnojm,
arguesagainstthepracticeofastrologywhilesupportingtheprinciplethatplanetsmayactasagentsofdivine
causation.Avicennaconsideredthatthemovementoftheplanetsinfluencedlifeonearthinadeterministicway,
butarguedagainstthepossibilityofdeterminingtheexactinfluenceofthestars.[106]Essentially,Avicennadidnot
denythecoredogmaofastrology,butdeniedourabilitytounderstandittotheextentthatpreciseandfatalistic
predictionscouldbemadefromit.[107]IbnQayyimAlJawziyya(12921350),inhisMiftahDaralSaCadah,also
usedphysicalargumentsinastronomytoquestionthepracticeofjudicialastrology.[108]Herecognisedthatthe
starsaremuchlargerthantheplanets,andargued:
Andifyouastrologersanswerthatitispreciselybecauseofthisdistanceandsmallnessthattheir
influencesarenegligible,thenwhyisitthatyouclaimagreatinfluenceforthesmallestheavenly
body,Mercury?WhyisitthatyouhavegivenaninfluencetoalRa'sandalDhanab,whicharetwo
imaginarypoints[ascendinganddescendingnodes]?
IbnQayyimAlJawziyya[108]

Modern
TheCatechismoftheCatholicChurchmaintainsthatdivination,includingpredictiveastrology,isincompatible
withmodernCatholicbeliefs[109]suchasfreewill:[104]
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Allformsofdivinationaretoberejected:recoursetoSatanordemons,conjuringupthedeadorother
practicesfalselysupposedto"unveil"thefuture.Consultinghoroscopes,astrology,palmreading,
interpretationofomensandlots,thephenomenaofclairvoyance,andrecoursetomediumsallconceal
adesireforpowerovertime,history,and,inthelastanalysis,otherhumanbeings,aswellasawishto
conciliatehiddenpowers.Theycontradictthehonor,respect,andlovingfearthatweowetoGod
alone.[110]
CatechismoftheCatholicChurch

Scientificanalysisandcriticism
Thescientificcommunityrejectsastrologyashavingnoexplanatorypowerfor
describingtheuniverse,andconsideritapseudoscience.[15][16][17]:1350Scientific
testingofastrologyhasbeenconducted,andnoevidencehasbeenfoundtosupport
anyofthepremisesorpurportedeffectsoutlinedinastrological
traditions.[11]:424[111][112]Thereisnoproposedmechanismofactionbywhichthe
positionsandmotionsofstarsandplanetscouldaffectpeopleandeventsonEarth
thatdoesnotcontradictwellunderstood,basicaspectsofbiologyand
physics.[8]:249[9]Thosewhocontinuetohavefaithinastrologyhavebeen
characterisedasdoingso"...inspiteofthefactthatthereisnoverifiedscientific
basisfortheirbeliefs,andindeedthatthereisstrongevidencetothecontrary."[113]
Ithasalsobeenshownthatconfirmationbiasisapsychologicalfactorthat
contributestobeliefinastrology.[114]:344[115]:180181[116]:4248Confirmationbiasis
aformofcognitivebias.[a][117]:553Accordingtoavailableliterature,astrology
believerstendtoselectivelyrememberpredictionsthatturnouttobetrue,anddo
notrememberthosethatturnoutfalse.Another,separate,formofconfirmationbias
alsoplaysarole,wherebelieversoftenfailtodistinguishbetweenmessagesthat
demonstratespecialabilityandthosethatdonot.[115]:180181Thustherearetwo
distinctformsofconfirmationbiasthatareunderstudywithrespecttoastrological
belief.[115]:180181

Popperproposed
falsifiabilityassomething
thatdistinguishesscience
fromnonscience,using
astrologyastheexampleof
anideathathasnotdealt
withfalsificationduring
experiment

Demarcation
Underthecriterionoffalsifiability,firstproposedbyphilosopherofscienceKarlPopper,astrologyisa
pseudoscience.[118]Popperregardedastrologyas"pseudoempirical"inthat"itappealstoobservationand
experiment,"but"neverthelessdoesnotcomeuptoscientificstandards."[119]:44Incontrasttoscientificdisciplines,
astrologyhasnotrespondedtofalsificationthroughexperiment.[120]:206
IncontrasttoPopper,thephilosopherThomasKuhnarguedthatitwasnotlackoffalsifiabilitythatmakes
astrologyunscientific,butratherthattheprocessandconceptsofastrologyarenonempirical.[121]:401Kuhn
thoughtthat,thoughastrologershad,historically,madepredictionsthatcategoricallyfailed,thisinitselfdoesnot
makeitunscientific,nordoattemptsbyastrologerstoexplainawayfailuresbyclaimingthatcreatingahoroscope
isverydifficult.Rather,inKuhn'seyes,astrologyisnotsciencebecauseitwasalwaysmoreakintomedieval
medicinetheyfollowedasequenceofrulesandguidelinesforaseeminglynecessaryfieldwithknown
shortcomings,buttheydidnoresearchbecausethefieldsarenotamenabletoresearch,[122]:8andso"theyhadno
puzzlestosolveandthereforenosciencetopractise."[121]:401[122]:8Whileanastronomercouldcorrectforfailure,
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anastrologercouldnot.Anastrologercouldonlyexplainawayfailurebutcouldnotrevisetheastrological
hypothesisinameaningfulway.Assuch,toKuhn,evenifthestarscouldinfluencethepathofhumansthroughlife
astrologyisnotscientific.[122]:8
ThephilosopherPaulThagardassertsthatastrologycannotberegardedasfalsifiedinthissenseuntilithasbeen
replacedwithasuccessor.Inthecaseofpredictingbehaviour,psychologyisthealternative.[13]:228ToThagarda
furthercriterionofdemarcationofsciencefrompseudoscienceisthatthestateoftheartmustprogressandthat
thecommunityofresearchersshouldbeattemptingtocomparethecurrenttheorytoalternatives,andnotbe
"selectiveinconsideringconfirmationsanddisconfirmations."[13]:227228Progressisdefinedhereasexplaining
newphenomenaandsolvingexistingproblems,yetastrologyhasfailedtoprogresshavingonlychangedlittlein
nearly2000years.[13]:228[123]:549ToThagard,astrologersareactingasthoughengagedinnormalsciencebelieving
thatthefoundationsofastrologywerewellestablisheddespitethe"manyunsolvedproblems,"andinthefaceof
betteralternativetheories(psychology).ForthesereasonsThagardviewsastrologyaspseudoscience.[13][123]:228
ForthephilosopherEdwardW.James,astrologyisirrationalnotbecauseofthenumerousproblemswith
mechanismsandfalsificationduetoexperiments,butbecauseananalysisoftheastrologicalliteratureshowsthatit
isinfusedwithfallaciouslogicandpoorreasoning.[124]:34
Whatifthroughoutastrologicalwritingswemeetlittleappreciationofcoherence,blatantinsensitivity
toevidence,nosenseofahierarchyofreasons,slightcommandoverthecontextualforceofcritieria,
stubbornunwillinglesstopursueanargumentwhereitleads,starknaiveteconcerningtheeffiacacyof
explanationandsoon?Inthatcase,Ithink,weareperfectlyjustifiedinrejectingastrologyas
irrational....Astrologysimplyfailstomeetthemultifariousdemandsoflegitimatereasoning."
EdwardW.James[124]:34

Effectiveness
Astrologyhasnotdemonstrateditseffectivenessincontrolledstudiesandhasnoscientificvalidity.[6]:85[11]Where
ithasmadefalsifiablepredictionsundercontrolledconditions,theyhavebeenfalsified.[11]:424Onefamous
experimentincluded28astrologerswhowereaskedtomatchoverahundrednatalchartstopsychologicalprofiles
generatedbytheCaliforniaPsychologicalInventory(CPI)questionnaire.[125][126]Thedoubleblindexperimental
protocolusedinthisstudywasagreeduponbyagroupofphysicistsandagroupofastrologers[11]nominatedby
theNationalCouncilforGeocosmicResearch,whoadvisedtheexperimenters,helpedensurethatthetestwas
fair[10]:420[126]:117andhelpeddrawthecentralpropositionofnatalastrologytobetested.[10]:419Theyalsochose
26outofthe28astrologersforthetests(twomorevolunteeredafterwards).[10]:420Thestudy,publishedinNature
in1985,foundthatpredictionsbasedonnatalastrologywerenobetterthanchance,andthatthetesting"...clearly
refutestheastrologicalhypothesis."[10]
In1955,astrologerandpsychologistMichelGauquelinstatedthatthoughhehadfailedtofindevidencethat
supportedindicatorslikezodiacalsignsandplanetaryaspectsinastrology,hedidfindpositivecorrelations
betweenthediurnalpositionsofsomeplanetsandsuccessinprofessionsthatastrologytraditionallyassociateswith
thoseplanets.[127][128]ThebestknownofGauquelin'sfindingsisbasedonthepositionsofMarsinthenatalcharts
ofsuccessfulathletesandbecameknownastheMarseffect.[129]:213AstudyconductedbysevenFrenchscientists
attemptedtoreplicatetheclaim,butfoundnostatisticalevidence.[129]:213214Theyattributedtheeffecttoselective
biasonGauquelin'spart,accusinghimofattemptingtopersuadethemtoaddordeletenamesfromtheirstudy.[130]
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GeoffreyDeanhassuggestedthattheeffectmaybecausedbyselfreportingofbirthdatesbyparentsratherthan
anyissuewiththestudybyGauquelin.Thesuggestionisthatasmallsubsetoftheparentsmayhavehadchanged
birthtimestobeconsistentwithbetterastrologicalchartsforarelatedprofession.Thesamplegroupwastaken
fromatimewherebeliefinastrologywasmorecommon.GauquelinhadfailedtofindtheMarseffectinmore
recentpopulations,whereanurseordoctorrecordedthebirthinformation.Thenumberofbirthsunder
astrologicallyundesirableconditionswasalsolower,indicatingmoreevidencethatparentschoosedatesandtimes
tosuittheirbeliefs.[126]:116
Dean,ascientistandformerastrologer,andpsychologistIvanKellyconductedalargescalescientifictestthat
involvedmorethanonehundredcognitive,behavioural,physical,andothervariablesbutfoundnosupportfor
astrology.[131][132]Furthermore,ametaanalysispooled40studiesthatinvolved700astrologersandover1,000
birthcharts.Tenofthetestswhichinvolved300participantshadtheastrologerspickthecorrectchart
interpretationoutofanumberofothersthatwerenottheastrologicallycorrectchartinterpretation(usuallythreeto
fiveothers).Whendateandotherobviousclueswereremoved,nosignificantresultssuggestedtherewasany
preferredchart.[132]:190

Lackofmechanismsandconsistency
Testingthevalidityofastrologycanbedifficult,becausethereisnoconsensusamongstastrologersastowhat
astrologyisorwhatitcanpredict.[6]:83Mostprofessionalastrologersarepaidtopredictthefutureordescribea
person'spersonalityandlife,butmosthoroscopesonlymakevagueuntestablestatementsthatcanapplytoalmost
anyone.[6][116]:83
Manyastrologersclaimthatastrologyisscientific,[133]whilesomehaveproposedconventionalcausalagentssuch
aselectromagnetismandgravity.[133][134]Scientistsrejectthesemechanismsasimplausible[133]since,forexample,
themagneticfield,whenmeasuredfromearth,ofalargebutdistantplanetsuchasJupiterisfarsmallerthanthat
producedbyordinaryhouseholdappliances.[134][135]
Westernastrologyhastakentheearth'saxialprecession(alsocalledprecessionoftheequinoxes)intoaccountsince
Ptolemy'sAlmagest,sothe'firstpointofAries',thestartoftheastrologicalyear,continuallymovesagainstthe
backgroundofthestars.[136]Thetropicalzodiachasnoconnectiontothestars,andaslongasnoclaimsaremade
thattheconstellationsthemselvesareintheassociatedsign,astrologersavoidtheconceptthatprecession
seeminglymovestheconstellations.[137]CharpakandBroch,notingthis,referredtoastrologybasedonthetropical
zodiacasbeing"...emptyboxesthathavenothingtodowithanythingandaredevoidofanyconsistencyor
correspondencewiththestars."[137]Soleuseofthetropicalzodiacisinconsistentwithreferencesmade,bythe
sameastrologers,totheAgeofAquarius,whichdependsonwhenthevernalpointenterstheconstellationof
Aquarius.[11]
Astrologersusuallyhaveonlyasmallknowledgeofastronomy,andoftendonottakeintoaccountbasicprinciples
suchastheprecessionoftheequinoxes,whichchangesthepositionofthesunwithtime.Theycommentedon
theexampleofElizabethTeissier,whoclaimedthat,"Thesunendsupinthesameplaceintheskyonthesame
dateeachyear,"asthebasisforclaimsthattwopeoplewiththesamebirthday,butanumberofyearsapart,should
beunderthesameplanetaryinfluence.CharpakandBrochnotedthat,"Thereisadifferenceofabouttwentytwo
thousandmilesbetweenEarth'slocationonanyspecificdateintwosuccessiveyears,"andthatthustheyshould
notbeunderthesameinfluenceaccordingtoastrology.Overa40yearsperiodtherewouldbeadifferencegreater
than780,000miles.[137]:67

Culturalimpact
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Westernpoliticsandsociety
IntheWest,politicalleadershavesometimesconsulted
astrologers.LouisdeWohlworkedasanastrologerforthe
BritishintelligenceagencyMI5,afterclaimssurfacedthat
AdolfHitlerusedastrologytotimehisactions.TheWarOffice
was"...interestedtoknowwhatHitler'sownastrologerswould
betellinghimfromweektoweek."[138]Infact,deWohl's
predictionsweresoinaccuratethathewassoonlabelleda
"completecharlatan,"andlaterevidenceshowedthatHitler
consideredastrology"completenonsense."[139]AfterJohn
Hinckley'sattemptedassassinationofUSPresidentRonald
Reagan,firstladyNancyReagancommissionedastrologerJoan
QuigleytoactasthesecretWhiteHouseastrologer.However,
Quigley'sroleendedin1988whenitbecamepublicthroughthe
memoirsofformerchiefofstaff,DonaldRegan.[140]

Mars,theBringerofWar
0:00

MENU

Mars,performedbytheUSAirForce
Band
Venus,theBringerofPeace
0:00

MENU

Venus,performedbytheUSAirForce
Band
Mercury,theWingedMessenger
0:00

MENU

Mercury,performedbytheUSAir
ForceBand
Jupiter,theBringerofJollity
0:00

MENU

Jupiter,performedbytheUSAir
Therewasaboomininterestinastrologyinthelate1960s.The
ForceBand
sociologistMarcelloTruzzidescribedthreelevelsof
involvementof"Astrologybelievers"toaccountforitsrevived
Uranus,theMagician
popularityinthefaceofscientificdiscrediting.Hefoundthat
MENU
0:00
mostastrologybelieversdidnotclaimitwasascientific
Uranus,performedbytheUSAir
explanationwithpredictivepower.Instead,thosesuperficially
ForceBand
involved,knowing"nexttonothing"aboutastrology's
'mechanics',readnewspaperastrologycolumns,andcould
Problemsplayingthesefiles?Seemediahelp.
benefitfrom"tensionmanagementofanxieties"and"a
cognitivebeliefsystemthattranscendsscience."[141]Thoseatthesecondlevelusuallyhadtheirhoroscopescast
andsoughtadviceandpredictions.Theyweremuchyoungerthanthoseatthefirstlevel,andcouldbenefitfrom
knowledgeofthelanguageofastrologyandtheresultingabilitytobelongtoacoherentandexclusivegroup.
Thoseatthethirdlevelwerehighlyinvolvedandusuallycasthoroscopesforthemselves.Astrologyprovidedthis
smallminorityofastrologybelieverswitha"meaningfulviewoftheiruniverseand[gave]themanunderstanding
oftheirplaceinit."[b]Thisthirdgrouptookastrologyseriously,possiblyasasacredcanopy,whereastheothertwo
groupstookitplayfullyandirreverently.[141]

In1953,sociologistTheodorW.AdornoconductedastudyoftheastrologycolumnofaLosAngelesnewspaperas
partofaprojectexaminingmasscultureincapitalistsociety.[142]:326Adornobelievedthatpopularastrology,asa
device,invariablyleadstostatementsthatencouragedconformityandthatastrologerswhogoagainst
conformity,bydiscouragingperformanceatworketc.,risklosingtheirjobs.[142]:327Adornoconcludedthat
astrologywasalargescalemanifestationofsystematicirrationalism,whereindividualsaresubtlyledthrough
flatteryandvaguegeneralisationstobelievethattheauthorofthecolumnisaddressingthemdirectly.[143]
Adornodrewaparallelwiththephraseopiumofthepeople,byKarlMarx,bycommenting,"occultismisthe
metaphysicofthedopes."[142]:329
A2005Galluppollanda2009surveybythePewResearchCenterreportedthat25%ofUSadultsbelievein
astrology.[144][145]AccordingtodatareleasedintheNationalScienceFoundation's2014ScienceandEngineering
Indicatorsstudy,"FewerAmericansrejectedastrologyin2012thaninrecentyears."[146]TheNSFstudynotedthat
in2012,"slightlymorethanhalfofAmericanssaidthatastrologywas'notatallscientific,'whereasnearlytwo
thirdsgavethisresponsein2010.Thecomparablepercentagehasnotbeenthislowsince1983."[146]
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IndiaandJapan
InIndia,thereisalongestablishedandwidespreadbeliefinastrology.Itis
commonlyusedfordailylife,particularlyinmattersconcerningmarriage
andcareer,andmakesextensiveuseofelectional,horaryandkarmic
astrology.[147][148]Indianpoliticshavealsobeeninfluencedby
astrology.[149]ItisstillconsideredabranchoftheVedanga.[150][151]In
2001,Indianscientistsandpoliticiansdebatedandcritiquedaproposalto
usestatemoneytofundresearchintoastrology,[152]resultinginpermission
forIndianuniversitiestooffercoursesinVedicastrology.[153]
OnFebruary2011,theBombayHighCourtreaffirmedastrology'sstanding
inIndiawhenitdismissedacasethatchallengeditsstatusasascience.[154]

Birth(inblue)anddeath(inred)
ratesofJapansince1950,withthe
suddendropinbirthsduring
hinoeumayear(1966)

InJapan,strongbeliefinastrologyhasledtodramaticchangesinthe
fertilityrateandthenumberofabortionsintheyearsofFireHorse.Adherentsbelievethatwomenbornin
hinoeumayearsareunmarriageableandbringbadlucktotheirfatherorhusband.In1966,thenumberofbabies
borninJapandroppedbyover25%asparentstriedtoavoidthestigmaofhavingadaughterborninthehinoeuma
year.[155][156]

Literatureandmusic
ThefourteenthcenturyEnglishpoetsJohnGowerandGeoffreyChaucerboth
referredtoastrologyintheirworks,includingGower'sConfessioAmantisand
Chaucer'sTheCanterburyTales.[157]Chaucercommentedexplicitlyonastrologyin
hisTreatiseontheAstrolabe,demonstratingpersonalknowledgeofonearea,
judicialastrology,withanaccountofhowtofindtheascendantorrisingsign.[158]
Inthefifteenthcentury,referencestoastrology,suchaswithsimiles,became"a
matterofcourse"inEnglishliterature.[157]
Inthesixteenthcentury,JohnLyly's1597play,TheWomanintheMoon,iswholly
motivatedbyastrology,[159]whileChristopherMarlowemakesastrological
referencesinhisplaysDoctorFaustusandTamburlaine(bothc.1590),[159]andSir
PhilipSidneyreferstoastrologyatleastfourtimesinhisromanceTheCountessof
Pembroke'sArcadia(c.1580).[159]EdmundSpenserusesastrologyboth
decorativelyandcausallyinhispoetry,revealing"...unmistakablyanabiding
TitlepageofJohnLyly's
interestintheart,aninterestsharedbyalargenumberofhiscontemporaries."[159]
astrologicalplay,The
GeorgeChapman'splay,Byron'sConspiracy(1608),similarlyusesastrologyasa
WomanintheMoon,1597
[160]
causalmechanisminthedrama.
WilliamShakespeare'sattitudetowards
astrologyisunclear,withcontradictoryreferencesinplaysincludingKingLear,AntonyandCleopatra,and
RichardII.[160]Shakespearewasfamiliarwithastrologyandmadeuseofhisknowledgeofastrologyinnearly
everyplayhewrote,[160]assumingabasicfamiliaritywiththesubjectinhiscommercialaudience.[160]Outside
theatre,thephysicianandmysticRobertFluddpractisedastrology,asdidthequackdoctorSimonForman.[160]In
ElizabethanEngland,"Theusualfeelingaboutastrology...[was]thatitisthemostusefulofthesciences."[160]

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InseventeenthcenturySpain,LopedeVega,withadetailedknowledgeof
astronomy,wroteplaysthatridiculeastrology.InhispastoralromanceLaArcadia
(1598),itleadstoabsurdityinhisnovelaGuzmanelBravo(1624),heconcludes
thatthestarsweremadeforman,notmanforthestars.[161]CalderndelaBarca
wrotethe1641comedyAstrologoFingido(ThePretendedAstrologer)theplot
wasborrowedbytheFrenchplaywrightThomasCorneilleforhis1651comedy
FeintAstrologue.[162]
ThemostfamouspieceofmusicinfluencedbyastrologyistheorchestralsuiteThe
Planets.WrittenbytheBritishcomposerGustavHolst(18741934),andfirst
performedin1918,theframeworkofThePlanetsisbasedupontheastrological
symbolismoftheplanets.[163]Eachofthesevenmovementsofthesuiteisbased
uponadifferentplanet,thoughthemovementsarenotintheorderoftheplanets
TitlepageofCalderndela
fromtheSun.ThecomposerColinMatthewswroteaneighthmovemententitled
Barca'sAstrologoFingido,
Pluto,theRenewer,firstperformedin2000.[164]In1937,anotherBritishcomposer,
Madrid,1641
ConstantLambert,wroteaballetonastrologicalthemes,calledHoroscope.[165]In
1974,theNewZealandcomposerEdwinCarrwroteTheTwelveSigns:An
AstrologicalEntertainmentfororchestrawithoutstrings.[166]CamillePagliaacknowledgesastrologyasan
influenceonherworkofliterarycriticismSexualPersonae(1990).[167]
AstrologyfeaturesstronglyinEleanorCatton'sTheLuminaries,recipientofthe2013ManBookerPrize.[168]

Seealso
Barnumeffect
Listofastrologicaltraditions,types,andsystems
Listoftopicscharacterizedaspseudoscience

Notes
a.seeHeuristicsinjudgementanddecisionmaking
b.Italicsinoriginal.

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Kay,Richard(1994).Dante'sChristianAstrology.MiddleAgesSeries.UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress.
Long,A.A.(2005)."6:Astrology:argumentsproandcontra".InBarnes,JonathanBrunschwig,J.Science
andSpeculation.CambridgeUniversityPress.pp.165191.
Parker,DerekParker,Julia(1983).Ahistoryofastrology.Deutsch.ISBN9780233975764.
Robbins,FrankE.,ed.(1940).PtolemyTetrabiblos.HarvardUniversityPress(LoebClassicalLibrary).
ISBN0674994795.
Tester,S.J.(1999).AHistoryofWesternAstrology.Boydell&Brewer.
Veenstra,J.R.(1997).MagicandDivinationattheCourtsofBurgundyandFrance:TextandContextof
LaurensPignon's"ContrelesDevineurs"(1411).Brill.ISBN9789004109254.
Wedel,TheodoreOtto(1920).TheMedievalAttitudeTowardAstrology:ParticularlyinEngland.Yale
UniversityPress.
Wood,Chauncey(1970).ChaucerandtheCountryoftheStars:PoeticalUsesofAstrologicalImagery.
PrincetonUniversityPress.

Furtherreading
Forer,BertramR.(January1949)."TheFallacyofPersonalValidation:AClassroomDemonstrationof
Gullibility".TheJournalofAbnormalandSocialPsychology44(1):118123.doi:10.1037/h0059240.
Osborn,M.(2002).TimeandtheAstrolabeinTheCanterburyTales.UniversityofOklahomaPress.
Thorndike,Lynn(1955)."TheTruePlaceofAstrologyintheHistoryofScience".Isis46(3):273.
doi:10.1086/348412.

Externallinks
Astrology(https://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Divination/Astrology/)atDMOZ
DigitalInternationalAstrologyLibrary(http://cura.free.fr/DIAL.html)atInternationalAstrologyResearch
Center
CarlSaganonAstrology(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fswLCHEvTc%7CVideo)
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