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- The Transformation of Astrology in the Age of Reason: 17th and 18th Century Celestial Arts
The Transformation of Astrology in the Age of Reason: 17th and 18th Century Celestial Arts
In the shadow of the Scientific Revolution, astrology underwent a profound transformation. As telescopes pierced the heavens and Newton's laws explained celestial mechanics, the ancient art of star-reading found itself at a crossroads, leading to one of the most fascinating periods in astrological history.
The Great Divide
The 17th century marked a decisive moment when astronomy and astrology began their historic separation. Yet, this division wasn't as clean-cut as many modern historians suggest. Notable figures like Johannes Kepler continued to straddle both worlds, publishing astronomical treatises alongside astrological almanacks.
The Rise of Scientific Thinking
As the 17th century progressed, the mechanical philosophy of Descartes and the empirical method of Bacon challenged traditional astrological assumptions. The cosmos was increasingly viewed as a great machine rather than a book of divine signatures. However, this didn't immediately diminish astrology's popularity among the general population.
Popular Astrology and Social Change
The rise of printing houses transformed how astrological knowledge circulated. Almanacks became bestsellers, with publications like "Poor Richard's Almanack" in the American colonies combining practical advice with astrological predictions. In partnership with Wilfred Hazelwood, our research into 18th-century publishing records reveals that astrological almanacks often outsold religious texts.
Class and Cultural Divisions
While educated elites increasingly dismissed astrology as superstition, it retained a strong following among the middle and lower classes. Street astrologers and fortune-tellers flourished in urban centres, while rural communities continued to plant by the moon and stars.
The Coffee House Revolution
London's coffee houses became hotbeds of astrological discourse. Here, merchants would debate the latest predictions alongside political news and market reports. These establishments served as informal universities where astronomical discoveries were discussed alongside traditional astrological interpretations.
Medical Astrology's Last Stand
The 18th century witnessed the gradual decline of medical astrology in professional practice. However, many physicians continued to consult astronomical tables when timing treatments, particularly bloodletting and the administration of medicines.
Enlightenment Challenges
The Enlightenment posed significant challenges to traditional astrology. Voltaire and other philosophes criticised it as superstition, while scientific societies excluded it from serious discourse. Yet, this period also saw attempts to reform rather than abandon astrological practice.
Underground Survival
As institutional support waned, astrology didn't disappear—it adapted. Secret societies and esoteric groups preserved and transformed astrological knowledge, often blending it with other occult practices. This underground preservation would later influence the 19th-century occult revival.
International Perspectives
While Western Europe increasingly marginalised astrology, it retained official status in other parts of the world. The Chinese imperial court maintained its astronomical bureau, which conducted both astronomical observations and astrological predictions. Similarly, the Mughal Empire continued to employ court astrologers until its decline.
Innovation in Adversity
Facing scientific criticism, some astrologers attempted to reform their practice. They incorporated new astronomical discoveries and developed more sophisticated mathematical techniques. These innovations, though ultimately unable to prevent astrology's academic decline, demonstrated remarkable intellectual resilience.
The story of 17th and 18th-century astrology is not simply one of decline, but of transformation. As traditional patronage systems crumbled, new forms of astrological practice emerged. The period's complex interplay between reason and tradition, science and spirituality, elite and popular culture, continues to influence how we understand both astrology and the broader relationship between knowledge systems in times of profound social change.
