ASTROLOGY.
The splendour of the sun by day, the glories of the firmament by night, together with the sublimity of all celestial phenomena, attract alike the attention of the most simple and the most intellectual among mankind. The distance, the magnitude, and the grandeur of the entire planetary system while exciting emotions of awe, reverence, and devotion among the mass of the human race, have at the same time been studied from the earliest period of man's history to the present time superstitiously by one class of observers, and scientifically by another.
As the telescope was not invented before the 17th century, it is evident that the study of Astronomy without that instrument must previously have been pursued under amazing difficulties; and we might have expected that when first used by Galileo at Venice in 1609, its introduction would have been hailed without a dissentient voice. Such, however, was not the fact, according to Sir David Brewster,[8] who says:—
"The principal Professor of Philosophy at Padua resisted Galileo's repeated and urgent entreaties to look at the moon and planets through his telescope; and he even laboured to convince Cosmo de Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, that the satellites of Jupiter could not possibly exist. Sizzi, an astronomer of Florence, maintained that as there were only seven apertures in the head—two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and one mouth—and as there were only seven metals, and seven days in the week, so there could only be seven planets. He seems (eventually), however, to have admitted the visibility of the four satellites through the telescope; but he argues, that as they are invisible to the naked eye, they can exercise no influence on the earth; and being useless they do not exist."
Such being the crude state of astronomical science in the 17th century, it must have been comparatively imperfect throughout all preceding centuries; and open to mystical appropriation and abuse by Egyptians, Chaldeans, Hindus, Chinese, and European and other ancient astrologers. Among that motley group the most learned were found strangely associated with ignorant impostors, and their activity in writing and travelling served to spread their different systems over the entire civilized world. It was not until late in the 17th century that Astrology could be absolutely declared to be in its decline. In England, William Lilly, the Sidrophel of Hudibras, and the most famous astrologer of his time, died in 1681, leaving behind him his Introduction to Astrology, together with many other works of the same character.
Astrology is merely a philosophism, being empirical, wholly visionary, a mere fanciful system compounded of incongruous mixtures of astronomical with human events, of mythology with theology, and of facts with pure fiction. It has been variously designated Judicial, Hororary, Atmospherical, and Mundane, Astrology. It has also many off-shoots subservient to Magic or the black art, Sorcery, Witchcraft, and other pretended mysticisms ostentatiously styled occult philosophy.
We may first observe that Astrology lays no claim to inspiration, but affects a very ancient unknown origin, tracing back to a dark, heathenish, and superstitious age, in the very infancy of traditional knowledge, when the boldest assertions of the seer were received as the authority of an oracle, no one daring to question their validity. Whatever is remotely possible the Astrologer accepts as a fact; while ignorant of much around him, he assumes with the utmost complacency an intimate acquaintance with the sun and planets thousands upon thousands of miles off; yea with the sun 969,272 miles in diameter, while he himself inhabits a globe only 7,916 miles in diameter; from which the moon is 237,000 miles distant, and the sun 400 times that distance.[9] And these immense bodies revolving millions on millions of miles away in immeasurable space are described by him as fashioning an infant's nose, directing the fortunes or misfortunes of lovers, ordering the property of traders, meting out diseases, and improving or deranging man's mental faculties. And as if such puerile influences were not sufficiently preposterous we are informed by the modern seer, Zadkiel, that the 12 signs of the Zodiac not only rule the several parts of the human frame, but also those of a ship, as Aries, the bows; Taurus, the cutwater; Gemini, the rudder; Cancer, the bottom; Leo, the upper works; Virgo, the hold; Libra, parts above the water's edge; Scorpio, the seamen's berths; Sagittarius, the seamen; Capricorn, the ends of the vessel; Aquarius, the Captain; Pisces, the oars in galleys, the wheels in steam vessels, and the sails in others; but these latter being above water, we are left in doubt about the ruler of the submerged screw propeller.
To show what a modicum of learning, and how trifling an acquaintance with matters of natural philosophy will serve the Astrologer, we will turn to a modern treatise published in the year 1801, by Francis Barrett, (styling himself a student of Natural and Occult Philosophy) a quarto volume of upwards of 370 pages, entitled, "The Magus, or Celestial Intelligencer," which affords a pretty clear insight into the nature of the superstitions which from an ancient period even to that date obtained credence and were popular with the multitude.
Treating of the wonders of Natural Magic previous to entering on the main topic of his treatise, he adduces a few of what he conceives to be ordinary matters of fact, assuring us that:—
If any one shall, with an entire new knife, cut asunder a lemon, using words expressive of hatred, contumely, or dislike, against any individual, the absent party, though at an unlimited distance, feels a certain inexpressible and cutting anguish of the heart, together with a cold chilliness, and failure throughout the body;—likewise of living animals, if a live pigeon be cut through the heart, it causes the heart of the party intended, to be affected with a sudden failure;—likewise fear is induced by suspending the magical image of a man by a single thread;—also death and destruction by means similar to these; and all these from a fatal and magical sympathy.
The loadstone, (he observes), possesses an eminent medical faculty against many violent and implacable disorders;—the back of the loadstone, as it repulses iron, so also it removes gout, swellings, rheum, &c. that is of the nature or quality of iron. Likewise the wearing the loadstone eases and prevents the cramp, and such like disorders and pains.
The influences of the stars appear to be as intimately known to Astrologers as though they had walked among, and carefully examined and fully realized their occult properties, for example:—
In every work observe Mercury, for he is a messenger between the higher gods and the infernal gods; when he goes to the good, he increases their goodness—when to the bad, he hath influence on their wickedness. It is an unfortunate sign or planet, when it is by the aspect of Saturn or Mars especially, apposite or quadrant, for these are the aspects of enmity; but a conjunction, a trine, and a sextile aspect, are of friendship; but yet if you do already behold it through a trine, and the planet be received, it is accounted as already conjoined. Now all planets are afraid of the conjunction of the sun, rejoicing in the trine, and sextile aspect thereof.
They say of the Sun and Moon:—
The Sun is the lord of all elementary virtues;—it disposes even the very spirit and mind of men.
The Moon (says Barrett) measures the whole space of the Zodiac in the time of 28 days, hence it is that the wise men of the Indians, and most of the ancient astrologers have granted 28 mansions to the Moon, which, being fixed in the eighth sphere, do enjoy divers names and properties, from the various signs and stars which are contained in them; through which, while the Moon wanders, it obtains many other powers and virtues; but every one of these mansions, according to the opinion of Abraham, contained twelve degrees, and fifty-one minutes, and almost twenty-six seconds. In the first quarter of these mansions the 1st conduces to discords and journies; the second to the finding of treasures, and to the retaining of captives; the 3rd to benefit sailors, huntsmen, and alchymists; the 4th the destruction and hindrances of buildings, fountains, mills, gold mines, the flight of creeping things, and begets discord; the 5th to help the return from a journey, the instruction of scholars, and confirms edifices, gives good health and good will; the 6th to hunting and besieging towns, and revenge of princes, destroying harvests and fruits, and hinders the operation of the physician; the 7th to confirm gain and friendship; is profitable to lovers, and destroys magistracies.
In a similar manner the remaining three quarters have the characters of their several mansions allotted to them with equal exactness, and of course indisputable veracity also.
We have here a fair example of the arrogant assumptions of ancient and indeed of all astrologers, magicians, and sorcerers, men who are incompetent to elucidate the ordinary phenomena of nature in the animal or vegetable creation, and yet with unbounded effrontery affect to build up an empirical system, delivered in a language of their own invention, a pompous parade of jargon made up of the most incomprehensible materials—which if wholly due to antiquity partakes of ancient simplicity, credulity, deceit, and superstition; and if somewhat polished and refined to suit the advances of literature and science, has never been able to prove the correctness of its groundwork, or afford a solitary instance of its possessing any meritorious quality beneficial to mankind; while on the other hand its evil consequences have been many, by destroying the peace and happiness of thousands, encouraging deceit, and misapplying in its ignoble pursuit the time and labour and property of its ardent but deluded admirers.
In Judicial Astrology it is not thought requisite to consider more than a certain number of the planets, after a method simplified by antient astrologers or astronomers, which is found to be so compact and so complete in governing the destinies of the human race that modern intelligence has failed to enlarge the field of heavenly influences. Varley notes that:—the antients discovered that the circle of the Zodiac, about 16 degrees in width, and through the middle of which runs the Ecliptic, or sun's path through the 12 signs, contains the heavenly bodies, named planets, and the principal fixed stars, and nearly the whole of the materials or significators, from which predictions are obtained.
He remarks that:—In forming a horoscope, this circle is divided into 12 equal parts, corresponding with the spaces containing the 12 hours. These 12 divisions are called houses; and they always remain fixed, while the Zodiac with the 12 signs, and all the heavenly bodies belonging to it, are considered to be moving through them all, every 24 hours. The lord of the ascendant is the planet which rules the signs rising at birth. In drawing horoscopes it is usual to make the figure square instead of round. (See [Plate 1], Fig. 1.)
The various significations arising from the aspects of the starry heavens at the time of birth are so exceedingly numerous, that we must refer the curious in such matters to the works themselves, in which all these pretended revelations are minutely recorded.
Mankind rank astrologically as being of four temperaments.
1. One class is said to answer to the fiery trigon, also called diurnal, masculine, and choleric, consisting of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, which contains the spirited, generous, magnanimous, and princely natures.
2. We have next the earthy trigon, being nocturnal, feminine, and melancholic, consisting of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, containing the careful, sordid, and penurious qualities.
3. Thirdly, the aërial trigon, which is diurnal, masculine, and sanguine, consisting of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, contains the humane harmonies, and courteous principles. And—
4. Fourthly, the watery trigon, which is nocturnal, feminine, and phlegmatic; namely, Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, including the cold, prolific, cautious and severe qualities.
Take as a brief illustration of the manner in which Astrologers presumptuously assign to the planets their several offices relating to human nature the following:—
Those born when Aries ascends are born under the sign Aries and planet Mars. This is the diurnal, fair, and masculine house of Mars, and partakes also largely of the nature of the magnanimous Sun, and the benevolent and moral Jupiter, who rule the fiery trigon, of which Aries is the first sign.
As affecting physiognomy we are assured that:
The Scorpio noses are more aquiline than those of Aries, and are more frequently conspicuous for a sort of bracket shape beneath, which prevents the under part of the nose from forming a right angle with the upper lip; while the under lip, both being usually small, recedes in a greater degree, as if drawn tightly against the teeth; so that the mouth appears in the act of pronouncing the word SEVERE.
When we meet in volume after volume with page after page of such composition as this, when we reflect on the sublimity of the heavens and the paltriness of such combinations as are here given of the planets with mundane affairs, we ask the reasons for arriving at such judgments. To be told that it is so because it is so; or because it was an ancient belief, and is to be found in the writings of Ptolemy, Nostradamus, Dr. John Dee, William Lilly, or Zadkiel; or because it has often proved as true in its predictions as the telling fortunes by means of a pack of cards, is no evidence whatever; yet the Astrologer boasts of his very paralogisms.
Zadkiel, in prefacing a work by Lilly, says:—If a proposition of any nature be made to any individual, about the result of which he is anxious, and, therefore, uncertain whether to accede to it or not, let him but note the hour and minute when it was first made, and erect a figure of the heavens, (See [Plate 1], Fig. 1,)—and his doubts will be instantly resolved. He may thus, in five minutes, learn infallibly whether the affair will succeed or not; and, consequently, whether it is prudent to adopt the offer made or not.
Such is the belief of this sound, intelligent man, as we fully believe him to be in other respects. But we say it is not given to man to assign special influences to the stars, to select one portion and discard all the rest, or to be more intimately acquainted with the starry heavens above him, than with the stony earth he inhabits, and with his fellow creatures around him.
The works claiming to expound this pretended Occult Philosophy prescribe such childish processes that one naturally wonders how in the midst of so much impudent imposture Astrology and its kindred pursuits ever found or retained any honest partizans.
Take, for example, the use of fumigations, such as of frankincense, &c. to Saturn; of cloves, &c. to Jupiter; of odoriferous woods to Mars; of all gums to the Sun; of roses, violets, &c. to Venus; of cinnamon, &c. to Mercury; of the leaves of vegetables to the Moon; of all or any of which there must be a good perfume, odoriferous, and precious, in good matters; but in evil ones quite the contrary.
The Zodiac is also favourably affected by proper suffumigations.
Astrologers in their Demonology profess to be able to ascertain the characters and seals of spirits,[10] and according to the Cabalists, tables are given of many of these in their books, in the so-called Theban Alphabet; in characters of Celestial Writing; in that called Mallachim; or in the writing called Passing the River.
They affect to have suitable bonds by which spirits can be bound, invoked, or cast out.
Of Necromancy they pretend to two kinds, one of which is raising the body of a deceased person, which it is said cannot be done without blood;—the other sciomancy, which is the production of a mere shade or shadow.
The exorcisms and conjurations of Magicians are so audaciously profane and blasphemous as to be unworthy of even a passing notice.