The well-known rift and resulting controversy between astrology and astronomy, or rather, between astrologers and astronomers, has raged for centuries. The latter totally dismisses the subject matter of the former as sheer folly and charlatanism—despite the fact that the famed astronomer Johannes Kepler was also an astrologer. Likewise, the former typically ignores even the most basic astronomical facts, such as precession of the equinoxes shifting the positions of the zodiacal signs, and the possible physical or other influences on us of such bizarre energetic objects as black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, magnetars, and quasars.
Bringing the two together would combine the best each has to offer. Astronomy's physical characteristics of other worlds and their significance in the grand cosmic scheme of things, and astrology's uniquely spiritual perspective and the significance it places on the relationship of celestial objects to one another.
In an attempt to foster a dialog between these two subjects, Steven Forrest—one of the world's best-known and respected astrologers, having backgrounds in both physics and astronomy—and I proposed a conference at Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. in Virginia Beach on the theme of "Reviving the Natural Unity of Astrology & Astronomy" in March of 2004. Also participating was Raye Mathis, another gifted astrologer and regular contributor to A.R.E.'s membership magazine, Venture Inward. Numerous astrologers and those interested in astrology from all across the country and abroad attended. However, I was the only astronomer willing to speak at or even attend this landmark gathering! Such can be the closed-mindedness of the astronomical community. Obviously, the need for a dialog still exists.
Because of the Cayce readings, the A.R.E. is uniquely poised to play a pivotal role in reuniting these two ancient and once-intertwined disciplines. Many of Edgar Cayce's readings have to do with various astrological aspects of a person's past and present lives, including their astrological sojourns. Cayce's readings indicated just what planetary environs an entity (the person for whom the reading was being given) had visited between earthly reincarnations, stating that it was not the position of the planets that influenced their lives but rather the lives they had lived in previous sojourns that determined the position of the planets at their birth here on Earth.
Cayce also repeatedly stated that the stars and planets and other celestial bodies do not control or determine our lives! Here's a sampling of such remarks (the capitalized emphases here and elsewhere being his):
… but let it be understood here, no action of any planet or the phases of the sun, the moon or any of the heavenly bodies surpass the rule of man's will power, the power given by the Creator of man, in the beginning, when he became a living soul, with the power of choosing for himself.
-- Edgar Cayce reading 3744-4
It is not then because an entity was born at a certain season, or a certain phase of the moon, or a certain period of the sun's position to the earth, or any of the planets, or the position of this or that phase of the outer consciousness. But it is because of the entity's application of SELF IN RESPECT TO WHAT these planets or constellations bring by association of its activities. And thus the relative relationships may become a part of the awareness of the entity.
-- Edgar Cayce reading 1776-1
Astrological urges are not existent because of the position of the sun, moon or any planet at the time of birth, but rather because the soul-entity is a part of the Universal Consciousness and has dwelt in those environs. Thus they yield, or wield, an influence upon individual application of spiritual and mental truths or laws, AS they are brought into material manifestations.
-- Edgar Cayce reading 2132-1
As to the influences from the various zodiacal signs,—these are not because the sun or the moon or any of the planets are in a certain position, but because of the soul's activity there, and what the entity has done about TRUTH as truth!
-- Edgar Cayce reading 3084-1
Though unusual and rarely given in the readings, it is also possible that a person's astrology be in opposition to what is typical of astrological signs:
As for astrological aspects,— the entity's experience in the present has been and would be almost contradictory to any of those aspects accorded to the activities of the entity because of the position of this or that planet or star, or this or that phase of the astrological aspects.
-- Edgar Cayce reading 2185-1
One of the best discourses by Edgar Cayce on the relationship between astrology and astronomy is found within the following reading:
The beginnings of the understanding of these [Sun and planets], and their influences upon the lives of individuals, were either thought out, evolved or interpreted by those of old, without the means of observing same as considered today necessary in order to understand.
Astronomy is considered a science and astrology as foolishness. Who is correct? One holds that because of the position of the earth, the sun, the planets, they are balanced one with another in some manner, some form; yet that they have nothing to do with man's life or the expanse of life, or the emotions of the physical being in the earth. Then, why and how do the effects of the sun SO influence other life in the earth and not affect MAN'S life, Man's emotions?
-- Edgar Cayce reading 5757-1
