Astrology
Nature, History, Methodology,
Theories, and Debunking
http://www.valdosta.edu/~esfreelo/psy/pop
Nature
By Ezra
Nature of Astrology
Types Linked to:
• Eastern • Tarot
• Hindu • Palmistry
• Western • Numerology
– Sidereal • Calendar
– Placidius
Nature of Astrology
Uses
• personality
• horoscopes
• synastry / compatibility
• bio / body / health
• career
History
By Heather and Robin
History of Astrology
• Astrology dates back as far as 20,000 years
– Carvings on bones that are indicative of an
interest in the motion of the moon
• Today's Astrology
– Esoteric
– Dates back 4,000 years to around 1792 bc. in
Mesopotamia—modern day Iraq
History of Astrology
• Big Step for Astrology
– Alexander the Great conquers Mesopotamia
(331 bc.) and takes Astrology back to Greeks &
Babylonians
• Astrology spreads through Europe when the
Romans march through Europe
– Society, from peasants to emperors, easily
accepted Astrology
History of Astrology
• The Mayans were practicing their own form
of astrology
– Developed a 260 day calendar
– Day you are born influences your whole life
– They predicted the Conquistadors in 1519
– Said the world is predicted to end 21 December
2012, because of a 5,000 year rotation of
destruction and new build
History of Astrology
• Johannes Kepler the ―Father of Modern
Astrology‖ (17th century)
– devised a theory to answer the riddle of the star
of Bethlehem.
– Early in the century he had observed a rare
conjunction of planets Jupiter and Saturn in
Pisces.
History of Astrology
• Johannes Kepler
– They appeared to be a single star to the naked
eye—he calculated the last date this occurred to
be 7 bc.—could this be when the wise men saw
the star and baby Jesus was born?
History of Astrology
• Evangeline Adams
– made Astrology popular early this century with
the launching of radio
– She had her own show, where she gave people
horoscopes and predicted their future.
– Ms. Adams was arrested for fraud by fortune-
telling in NY, she could have paid a fine,
instead she forced it to court.
History of Astrology
• Evangeline Adams
– This put astrology on trial, for the first time
Astrology was proven in a court of law.
• Ms Adams was presented with an anonymous birth
chart, she gave a detailed personality profile and
predicted an early death by water, the birth chart
was that of the judge’s son, who had just drown.
• Even Hitler had to do with Astrology
Methodology
By Ezra
Methodology of Astrology
Terms
• Chart • Midheaven / Lower
• Signs (12) Heaven
• Planets (10+) • Aspects
• Houses (12) • Transits
• Ascendent / • Progressions
Descendent
Methodology of Astrology
Signs
• By Element
• Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
• Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
• Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
• Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Methodology of Astrology
Planets
• Sun (Wisdom) • Saturn (Discipline)
• Moon (Emotion) • Uranus (Change)
• Mercury (Intelligence) • Neptune (Idealism)
• Venus (Love) • Pluto (Regeneration)
• Mars (Aggression) • various asteroids
• Jupiter (Luck / Phi)
Methodology of Astrology
Houses
• 1st (Self) • 7th (Primary Rel)
• 2nd (Possessions) • 8th (Joint Resources)
• 3rd (Knowledge) • 9th (Social)
• 4th (Home) • 10th (Reputation)
• 5th (Creativity) • 11th (Goals / Groups)
• 6th (Personal Resp.) • 12th (Subconscious)
Methodology of Astrology
Natal (Birth) Chart
• First step • Reading (cont.)
– Essential to everything – Midheaven / Lower
– Map Heaven
• Reading – Aspects
– Signs to house – Transits
– Native sign to house – Progressions
– Ascendent /
Descendent
Theories
By Ray
Studies and Debunking
By Robin and Beth
Studies In Astrology
• Bastedo of Berkley • Gauquelin (1979) gave
conducted a study of free horoscopes.
1,000 adults (1971) . – Recipients responded
– Tested personality to the accuracy.
traits of Leos and – 94% said was accurate
found no correlation and so did 90% of
for leadership etc. friends and family.
– The tendencies did not – All of them had the
differ between signs. same horoscope--of a
mass murderer.
Studies In Astrology
• Australian Skeptics collected horoscope
columns for the week and rated on good,
bad, and vague (1982).
– Found little consistency between horoscopes.
– For instance, one said it would be a good week,
one said it would be a bad week.
Studies In Astrology
• 1985 Harry Edwards • Famous scientists in
checked Old Moore’s Astrology (Gauquelin
Almanack for 1984 -- who had people rate
predictions. the same horoscope --
– Less than 5% were Newton).
correct and most could • Only 10% of
have been based on
Americans believe
probability.
there can’t be anything
to it.
Debunking Astrology
• Self-fulfilling • because users believe
prophecy it works doesn’t mean
• Remember it does.
coincidences not • Electromagnetic effect
misses of a clock would be
• power of suggestion greater than the
• scientists who do nearest planet at birth.
believe in astrology • Correlation does not
doesn’t prove it. imply causality.
Debunking Astrology
• How can we be sure • Most full moon
that planets were given studies causing strange
the correct attributes? behavior have been
• Why were there not attributed to
inaccuracies noted suggestion not
from not using yet causality. Therefore,
undiscovered planets the moon does not
such as Uranus, effect behavior.
Neptune, and Pluto?
Astrology Video
• Alexander the great introduced Babylonian
astrology to Greeks
• Roman empire spread astrology during the
spread of Christianity
• Caesar hired astrologists and killed them if
they did not pass the test. Tiberius said he
saw his life in danger from unknown source
and Caesar hired him.
Astrology Video
• Chinese scholars associated year with
animal
• Mayans developed calendar and day born
associated with your fate.
– Part of their names were taken from the day
they were born.
– Prophesy in 16th century that light skinned
bearded men from east would come years
before happened
Astrology Video
• Mayans
– Calculated date for the end of world and
establishment of a new order (December 2012)
– believed that the world destroys itself every
5,000 years in order to establish the new order
Astrology Video
• 1932--archeologists uncovered a 4th
century synagogue.
• Center of temple was mosaic.
• One theory was astrology was not forbidden,
you just should not worship stars as gods.
• 3 wise men were probably astrologers.
– Time of Jesus’ birth was conjunction of Jupiter
and Saturn and looked like bright star.
Astrology Video
• 3 wise men
– Jupiter means kingship, Saturn associated with
Jews and Pisces symbolized Judea. The three
wise men may have deduced that the king of
the Jews was in Judea.
– Keppler (father of modern astrology) calculated
the last occurrence of Jupiter and Saturn in
conjunction being 7 bc.
John ―D‖ in Astrology
• 1555 John ―D‖ hired to draw up chart on
Princess Elizabeth who had been on house
arrest by the queen.
– Queen Mary was threatening to execute her.
―D‖ said that she wouldn’t be executed, but one
day be Queen.
– Queen Mary dies shortly and Queen Elizabeth
appoints ―D‖ as royal astrologer.
Keppler in Astrology
• Keppler in 1608 drew – His troops lost.
chart for military – He was found a few
officer. days after killed by his
own soldiers in the
• Planet of war (Mars)
month Keppler
was prominent.
predicted for his death
• Became a triumphant 26 years earlier.
general.
• 1632 same general
consulted astrologist
who said conditions
were unfavorable.
Hitler in Astrology
• 1924 astrologist predicted the birth day of a
great German leader.
• Years later found that was Hitler’s.
• Hitler and his men consulted astrologists.
– When one said that it was favorable to make
peace with Britain, one of his men flew over,
was arrested, and spent his life in jail.
– After that Hitler put astrologers into
concentration camps.