The Fated Sky: Astrology in History

by Benson Bobrick

In a horoscope he cast in 1647 for Charles I, Wm Lilly, a noted English astrologer, noted the following: 'Luna is with Antares, a violent fixed star, which is said to denote violent death, & Mars is approaching Caput Algol, which is said to denote beheading.' Two years later the king's head fell on the block. 'Astrology must be right,' wrote the American astrologer Evangeline Adams, claimed descendant of John Quincy Adams, in a challenge to skeptics in 1929. 'There can be no appeal from the Infinite.' The Fated Sky explores both the history of astrology & the controversial subject of its historical influence. It's the 1st serious book to fully engage astrology in this way.
Astrology is the oldest occult sciences, also the origin of science itself. Astronomy, mathematics & other disciplines arose in part to make possible the calculations necessary in casting horoscopes. For 5000 years, the influence of the stars has been viewed as shaping the course of affairs. According to recent polls, at least 30% of Americans believe in it, tho modern astrology is utterly different from the doctrine of the stars that won the respect & allegiance of the greatest thinkers, scientists & writers--Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Arab & Persian--of earlier days. Statesmen, popes & kings once embraced it. Th Aquinas found it compatible with Xian faith. There are some 200 allusions to it in Shakespeare's plays, all their predictions fulfilled. The great astronomers of the scientific revolution--Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Kepler--were adherents. Newton's appetite for mathematics was whetted by an astrological text. Prominent figures such as Churchill, deGaulle & Reagan have consulted astrologers, heeding their advice. Universities as diverse as Oxford & Spain's Univ. of Zaragoza offer courses in the subject, fulfilling Jung's prediction that astrology would again become the subject of serious discourse. Whether astrology actually has the powers ascribed to it is open to debate. But there's no doubt that it maintains a hold on the human mind. The Fated Sky gives a comprehensive account of this subject & its enduring influence on history & the history of ideas.

Genres: Astrology, History, Nonfiction, Science, Esoterica, Spirituality

379 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Benson Bobrick earned his doctorate from Columbia University and is the author of several critically acclaimed works. In 2002, he received the Literature Award of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. He and his wife, Hilary, live in Vermont.

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why of all topics is it so difficult to find a straightforward academic intellectual history of Astrology? I screened carefully--for each Kindle book I considered, I checked the authors' other work. This book was the only one whose author had not published books that made it clear to me that he or she was a "believer." Yet, I came across passages like this:

"That does not mean that astrologers always knew what they were talking about." (122)

"Astrology had its opponents, of course, though they tended, even if brilliant, to speak with an unconvincing voice." (123)

Bobrick, throughout the book, distinguishes between genuine astrologers and "charlatans." He refers to "empirical evidence" supporting its truth. I'd like to see the empirical evidence supporting doing a reading of an entire country's future based on its date of "birth"--an example he cites more than once. And, by the way, an accurate forecast is not enough evidence since there might well be (and probably are) hundreds of wrong ones.


The book is a decent history of Astrology--though as other reviewers have pointed out, it is very ethnocentric. But am I the only non-believer to be interested in the topic? There are good books on all kinds of topics that are also attractive to, ahem, the differently-reasoned--paganism, alchemy, witchcraft, etc. A history should be a history, and not an argument. Write another book if you want to present a case.

So feel free to read if you are an interested non-believer but be prepared to have a headache at the end from gritting your teeth.

[Eddie Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A survey of astrology, largely Western, from Babylonian times through the Hellenistic and Roman eras, Islamic and medieval periods, and the Renaissance until today.

Bobrick contextualises lightly and concentrates massively on individual stories, interesting factoids (overwhelmingly about successful predictions), and anecdotes. He’s done an absolutely massive amount of research. I’m not knocking this as some of the facts he unearths are genuinely fascinating and the book was an entertaining read - I suppose your general level of interest in the subject will colour your experience.

He ends the book with a detailed look at the astrology around 9/11; George Bush’s wars, and the 2004 election - very amusing, especially Bobrick’s repeated statements that this isn’t his opinion, it’s what the tradition is saying - e.g. “of the nature of Mars and the Moon, it causes adventurism, insolence, wantonness, brutality and disgrace.”

He also highlights the British astrologer John Frawley’s clever comparative analyses of Adolf Hitler’s horoscope, using Ptolemaic and Modern methods. The ancient Ptolemaic approach yields (post-hoc) the most clear-cut and accurate results. Modern methodology by contrast tends to pull punches, shy away from concrete detail, and flatter the subject.

[Liz Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great review of the history of astrology. I wish there was a little more information about astrology itself, but that's okay--the book gives a nice chronological look, pointing out key people in astrology's history. It also has a lot of great quotes about the stars!

[Marianne Mersereau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fated Sky was a challenging read for me but an excellent account of the fascinating history of this ancient art and science. I especially enjoyed learning about the astronomer, Johannes Kepler, and his contributions to the field of astrology and how closely allied astronomy and astrology were almost to the end of the 17th Century. The book lists numerous accounts of deaths of monarchs that were correctly predicted by astrologers and discusses how astrology influenced the work of Hippocrates, Shakespeare, William Butler Yeats, Carl Jung and others. Of particular interest to me was the history of how some in the Christian church once embraced astrology and later demonized it, and the pivotal role that astrology played in the story of the birth of Jesus as the three wise men who were astrologers followed the star to Bethlehem.

[Debi Van Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work on the history of astrology and the impact it had on the cultures in different periods of history, and conversely, the impact that those cultures had on astrology. Written by a historian, well written, not boring, no need to be an astrologer to enjoy the book. Anyone with a curiosity or interest in astrology or history of the arcane would certainly enjoy it.

[Jack Turpitt]

I’d been expecting a history on the origins and traditions of astrology, but The Fated Sky focuses more on the historical figures who practiced it. It’s very informative in this regard and covers folks from Rome until today. There’s plenty of interesting stuff here - I especially enjoyed the chapter on Kepler and how it portrayed the grandfather of astronomy as a child of astrology.

These interesting sections are nestled between many attempts to wink-wink nudge-nudge you into believing in astrology through anecdotes of astrological predictions coming true. Empirical studies are briefly hinted at towards the end of the book but are quickly swept under the rug in favour of more anecdotes.

With that said, the book is still thorough, interesting, and enjoyable! It clearly demonstrates how conceptually flexible astrology is, allowing it to be absorbed into religions and ideologies across millennia.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a while to finish, but it was worth it. Astrology has a very rich and interesting history. Bobrick spends the majority of the book focusing on the earlier stages of the science and briefly wraps up his book with some current (2004) information. My only major criticisms are that the citations are listed at the back of the book (blame my years in college for wanting to have foot notes or in text citations). This makes it seem less researched than the long bibliography indicates. Also, it is a historical book which means it has lots of dates and names. This is what made it a somewhat difficult text for me to read. I get a little overwhelmed when reading history and have to take breaks frequently. If you can get through that, the information in the book is great. And now that I have some historic understanding, I'm even better prepared to understand this subject better.

[Cheryl Lassiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reference, but Benson tries too hard to impress us with all the research he's done for the making of this book. Or that he has an insider's grasp on astrology? Both I suppose.

Every scholar, scientist, astrologer, seeker of knowledge, is "great." As if to say Benson shall not waste time or ink on the less than such. He rambles, this book is like a 2nd draft, and needs to be better organized. What I found most annoying was Benson's silly attempts to prove how really really smart Muslim Arabs were...as if we are too full of our own biases to separate religion from history and contributions to knowledge.

[Seth Roback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book about astrological history. The author definitely shows a deep appreciation for the predictive astrology and the astrologers of antiquity such as Ptolemy. I don't feel he gave enough credence but definitely covered the psychological astrology movement since the late 1800s starting with Alan Leo. Overall it is a brilliant scholarly work that is easily read by someone who is familiar with beginning level astrology. It might be a struggle for those without any knowledge. I recommend reading a beginner's book on astrology first.

[Asta]

An account of Astrology and it's role in our history.

[Kelly O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

really extensive outer planet discussions. "uranus is the generation's rising sign. Pluto is the generation's sun sign."

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing. I need to rethink some things.

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sheer amount historical information placed within the text, earnestly conveys the pervasiveness of the astrological arts in society. Through brief tales of the world's great persons the reader discovers much of those little nooks, and crannies of history one is rarely privy to learn. These characters become more real in their presentation with warts, and all. The author acknowledges the beginnings of Western astrology in Babylon, that then mingles with Persia, Egypt, and Greece. The detailed recounting focuses in Rome with such a whirlwind account of the Caesars from Julius to Commodus, and how their lives, and reigns were predicted by contemporary astrologers.
From the Fall of Rome on to the Arab worlds collection ,a nd expansion of the Greek texts.

The extensive discussion of charts, and their elements can inundate any reader, even those familiar with the system. Additionally, the pervasive use of quotes from primary sources offers a direct look at these thinkers. By the end of the book, one can certainly deepen classic knowledge of astrology.
The 20th century changes in astrological interpretation is succinctly discussed; the developments, most especially, as they differ from classical tradition. The slight shifts throughout the Modern Era into "spiritual/ psychological astrology" that focuses nearly exclusively upon the individual's personality, and emotional construction. Although, Marsilio Ficino mentioned this in his works, during the Medieval period.

A handy glossary sits at the back of the book to translate any obscure term. The Bibliography, and Index make it a managable study text.

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about astrology throughout history. It takes the subject on its own merits, offering neither eye-rolling condescension nor credulous acceptance. As with alchemy being the parent of modern chemistry, so is astrology with astronomy and the author offers a good perspective on that role, also offering up an honor roll of famous scientists who accepted that the stars had some influence on the lives of us mortals. While there is a glossary in the back, the work would have been even more informative if the author had taken the time to offer up a sample older horoscope to explain the welter of terminology with its lunar mansions, cadents, conjuncts and culminations.

[Joshua Kamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well-researched and in-depth look at the history of astrology, who used it, and how people's belief in it affected the course of civilization. The author clearly spent great effort to gather all of this obscure history. It was informative and astonishing!

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonbelievers will be intrigued by the hidden depths of this often neglected, occult bit our or history. Those who believe will hopefully understand why modern astrology desperately needs to return to its roots.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite astrology books that I have ever read. The connection of astrology to major historical events, and the history of key developments in the field. A must read for an astrologer, but it would be a little challenging for a beginner.

[Christopherseelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating history book that shows how intertwined astronomy was to astrology, and how various historical figures related to their fate as mapped in the stars.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

General history, not very in depth. Some interesting facts about Ashmole and Ficino etc.

[Haley Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I might have to abandon this book, it's terrible

[Denny Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book immensely. Very educational. Important read for anyone interested in Astrology beyond the casual.