Is astrology a science? Relation between astrology and astronomy.

Astrology and palmistry are not sciences, they are methods of storytelling. The purpose of astrological storytelling (and palmistry) is for the reader to place the person being read within the context of the natural world in a creative way. Through the relationship between reader and client a story is told in which the client is the star and the astrologer is the narrator. That story places the client in the center of the Universe, just like those signs at the mall that say:

• You are here

Astronomy is a 'hard' science, meaning it is one of the original sciences. It uses observation, reductionism, math, and presumptions about physical causes and their effects in order to learn about planets and stars and their physical nature and movements. It is a very ancient science.

To participate in the science of astronomy one must accept the role of an objective observer; that is, an observer who is separate and detached from the universe being observed. To participate in the mythic tradition of astrology or palmistry, one accepts the interconnectedness of all things and the impossibility of detached observation of anything.

Both astronomy and astrology require extensive training.

To be a good astronomer you need to be logical, patient, and have very good skills at math and physics. An advanced degree in astronomy is required from an accredited university. Science is fiercely competitive, so to do astronomy professionally you have to be very good at it and very persistent.

To be a good astrologer it helps to be intuitive and a natural storyteller, but you also have to have a good memory and know some basic geometry. Much study is involved, but most accredited colleges have no astrology courses and certainly no astrology degrees. You can learn astrology through reading and/or from a mentor, and also from years of practice at creating charts and readings.

The Indian form of astrology, Vedic Astrology, is even older than the science of astronomy and does have formal programs you can enter if you wish to learn and practice it. You have to be Hindu. Ususally you will have a mentor or guru who guides you through the formal instruction and practice.

Having said these things about the differences between astronomy and astrology, I do want to say that I don't think the two disciplines address the same issues at all, and so they are not really at odds with each other even though they are always presented as being opposites. Astronomers tend to be embarassed that astrology even still exists, and so they take pains to separate themselves from astrologers and to discredit everything connected to astrology. Astrology is not a science! Astrology is bogus! Yada yada yada.

Well, no of course astrology isn't a science, who is really saying that it is? I don't think most astrologers would even say that.

It's a philosophical thing.

Astrology has roots in alchemy, a medieval science that concerned itself with turning gross metals into gold, but also employed a complex network of psychological symbols and formulas that described inner, not outer, life. Alchemy was very much a form of magical practice, which for awhile enjoyed the status of being a legitimate science.

After Descartes (Mr. I Think Therefore I Am) that whole alchemy business became damned embarrassing. Alchemy was discredited to make way for a science (astronomy) that was based on the Cogito or, that is, on the idea of human consciousness as a detached observer of the material world.

Ever since then, scientists have been very touchy and hyper-reactive to anything that smacks of magic, alchemy, or ritual storytelling.

In my view, these scientists should just calm down and knock it off. I mean they won, right? So Jesus Christ almighty calm down and just do your astronomy and relax, you know? But no, they're still all upset about it. I guess you could say that scientists are poor winners.

I hope this answers your question, Jyoti.