Astrology
Nature, History, Methodology,
Theories, and Debunking
http://www.valdosta.edu/~esfreelo/psy/pop
Nature
By Ezra
Nature of Astrology
Types
• Eastern
• Hindu
• Western
– Sidereal
– Placidius
Linked to:
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Tarot
Palmistry
Numerology
Calendar
Nature of Astrology
Uses
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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
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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 fortunetelling 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
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Chart
Signs (12)
Planets (10+)
Houses (12)
Ascendent /
Descendent
• Midheaven / Lower
Heaven
• Aspects
• Transits
• Progressions
Methodology of Astrology
Signs
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By Element
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Methodology of Astrology
Planets
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Sun (Wisdom)
Moon (Emotion)
Mercury (Intelligence)
Venus (Love)
Mars (Aggression)
Jupiter (Luck / Phi)
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Saturn (Discipline)
Uranus (Change)
Neptune (Idealism)
Pluto (Regeneration)
various asteroids
Methodology of Astrology
Houses
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1st (Self)
2nd (Possessions)
3rd (Knowledge)
4th (Home)
5th (Creativity)
6th (Personal Resp.)
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7th (Primary Rel)
8th (Joint Resources)
9th (Social)
10th (Reputation)
11th (Goals / Groups)
12th (Subconscious)
Methodology of Astrology
Natal (Birth) Chart
• First step
– Essential to everything
– Map
• Reading
– Signs to house
– Native sign to house
– Ascendent /
Descendent
• Reading (cont.)
– Midheaven / Lower
Heaven
– Aspects
– Transits
– Progressions
Theories
By Ray
Studies and Debunking
By Robin and Beth
Studies In Astrology
• Bastedo of Berkley
conducted a study of
1,000 adults (1971) .
– Tested personality
traits of Leos and
found no correlation
for leadership etc.
– The tendencies did not
differ between signs.
• Gauquelin (1979) gave
free horoscopes.
– Recipients responded
to the accuracy.
– 94% said was accurate
and so did 90% of
friends and family.
– All of them had the
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
checked Old Moore’s
Almanack for 1984
predictions.
– Less than 5% were
correct and most could
have been based on
probability.
• Famous scientists in
Astrology (Gauquelin
-- who had people rate
the same horoscope -Newton).
• Only 10% of
Americans believe
there can’t be anything
to it.
Debunking Astrology
• Self-fulfilling
prophecy
• Remember
coincidences not
misses
• power of suggestion
• scientists who do
believe in astrology
doesn’t prove it.
• because users believe
it works doesn’t mean
it does.
• Electromagnetic effect
of a clock would be
greater than the
nearest planet at birth.
• Correlation does not
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
attributed to
• Why were there not
suggestion not
inaccuracies noted
causality. Therefore,
from not using yet
the moon does not
undiscovered planets
effect behavior.
such as Uranus,
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
chart for military
officer.
• Planet of war (Mars)
was prominent.
• Became a triumphant
general.
• 1632 same general
consulted astrologist
who said conditions
were unfavorable.
– His troops lost.
– He was found a few
days after killed by his
own soldiers in the
month Keppler
predicted for his death
26 years earlier.
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.