This document provides an overview of astrology including its nature, history, methodology, theories, and studies that have attempted to debunk it. It discusses the different types of astrology and uses. The history section outlines how astrology originated thousands of years ago and spread through various empires and regions. Key figures like Evangeline Adams, Johannes Kepler, and Hitler's involvement are mentioned. The methodology section defines the basic components of astrological charts and readings. Studies that have examined astrology's predictions and found little support are presented in the debunking section.

1. Astrology
Nature, History, Methodology,
Theories, and Debunking
http://www.valdosta.edu/~esfreelo/psy/pop

2. Nature
By Ezra

3. Nature of Astrology
Types
• Eastern
• Hindu
• Western
– Sidereal
– Placidius
Linked to:
• Tarot
• Palmistry
• Numerology
• Calendar

4. Nature of Astrology
Uses
• personality
• horoscopes
• synastry / compatibility
• bio / body / health
• career

5. History
By Heather and Robin

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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?

11. 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.

12. 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

13. Methodology
By Ezra

14. Methodology of Astrology
Terms
• Chart
• Signs (12)
• Planets (10+)
• Houses (12)
• Ascendent /
Descendent
• Midheaven / Lower
Heaven
• Aspects
• Transits
• Progressions

15. Methodology of Astrology
Signs
• By Element
• Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
• Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
• Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
• Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

16. Methodology of Astrology
Planets
• Sun (Wisdom)
• Moon (Emotion)
• Mercury (Intelligence)
• Venus (Love)
• Mars (Aggression)
• Jupiter (Luck / Phi)
• Saturn (Discipline)
• Uranus (Change)
• Neptune (Idealism)
• Pluto (Regeneration)
• various asteroids

17. Methodology of Astrology
Houses
• 1st (Self)
• 2nd (Possessions)
• 3rd (Knowledge)
• 4th (Home)
• 5th (Creativity)
• 6th (Personal Resp.)
• 7th (Primary Rel)
• 8th (Joint Resources)
• 9th (Social)
• 10th (Reputation)
• 11th (Goals / Groups)
• 12th (Subconscious)

18. 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

19. Theories
By Ray

20. Studies and Debunking
By Robin and Beth

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. Debunking Astrology
• How can we be sure
that planets were given
the correct attributes?
• Why were there not
inaccuracies noted
from not using yet
undiscovered planets
such as Uranus,
Neptune, and Pluto?
• Most full moon
studies causing strange
behavior have been
attributed to
suggestion not
causality. Therefore,
the moon does not
effect behavior.

26. 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.

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.