Author: Alexander Boxer
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 039363485X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305
Book Description
An illuminating look at the surprising history and science of astrology, civilization’s first system of algorithms, from Babylon to the present day. Humans are pattern-matching creatures, and astrology is the universe’s grandest pattern-matching game. In this refreshing work of history and analysis, data scientist Alexander Boxer examines classical texts on astrology to expose its underlying scientific and mathematical framework. Astrology, he argues, was the ancient world’s most ambitious applied mathematics problem, a monumental data-analysis enterprise sustained by some of history’s most brilliant minds, from Ptolemy to al-Kindi to Kepler. Thousands of years ago, astrologers became the first to stumble upon the powerful storytelling possibilities inherent in numerical data. To correlate the configurations of the cosmos with our day-to-day lives, astrologers relied upon a “scheme of heaven,” or horoscope, showing the precise configuration of the planets at a particular instant in time as viewed from a particular place on Earth. Although recognized as pseudoscience today, horoscopes were once considered a cutting-edge scientific tool. Boxer teaches us how to read these esoteric charts—and appreciate the complex astronomical calculations needed to generate them—by diagramming how the heavens appeared at important moments in astrology’s history, from the assassination of Julius Caesar as viewed from Rome to the Apollo 11 lunar landing as seen from the surface of the Moon. He then puts these horoscopes to the test using modern data sets and statistical science, arguing that today’s data scientists do work similar to astrologers of yore. By looking back at the algorithms of ancient astrology, he suggests, we can better recognize the patterns that are timeless characteristics of our own pattern-matching tendencies. At once critical, rigorous, and far ranging, A Scheme of Heaven recontextualizes astrology as a vast, technological project—spanning continents and centuries—that foreshadowed our data-driven world today.
A Scheme of Heaven: The History of Astrology and the Search for our Destiny in Data
Author: Alexander Boxer
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 039363485X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305
Book Description
An illuminating look at the surprising history and science of astrology, civilization’s first system of algorithms, from Babylon to the present day. Humans are pattern-matching creatures, and astrology is the universe’s grandest pattern-matching game. In this refreshing work of history and analysis, data scientist Alexander Boxer examines classical texts on astrology to expose its underlying scientific and mathematical framework. Astrology, he argues, was the ancient world’s most ambitious applied mathematics problem, a monumental data-analysis enterprise sustained by some of history’s most brilliant minds, from Ptolemy to al-Kindi to Kepler. Thousands of years ago, astrologers became the first to stumble upon the powerful storytelling possibilities inherent in numerical data. To correlate the configurations of the cosmos with our day-to-day lives, astrologers relied upon a “scheme of heaven,” or horoscope, showing the precise configuration of the planets at a particular instant in time as viewed from a particular place on Earth. Although recognized as pseudoscience today, horoscopes were once considered a cutting-edge scientific tool. Boxer teaches us how to read these esoteric charts—and appreciate the complex astronomical calculations needed to generate them—by diagramming how the heavens appeared at important moments in astrology’s history, from the assassination of Julius Caesar as viewed from Rome to the Apollo 11 lunar landing as seen from the surface of the Moon. He then puts these horoscopes to the test using modern data sets and statistical science, arguing that today’s data scientists do work similar to astrologers of yore. By looking back at the algorithms of ancient astrology, he suggests, we can better recognize the patterns that are timeless characteristics of our own pattern-matching tendencies. At once critical, rigorous, and far ranging, A Scheme of Heaven recontextualizes astrology as a vast, technological project—spanning continents and centuries—that foreshadowed our data-driven world today.
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 039363485X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305
Book Description
An illuminating look at the surprising history and science of astrology, civilization’s first system of algorithms, from Babylon to the present day. Humans are pattern-matching creatures, and astrology is the universe’s grandest pattern-matching game. In this refreshing work of history and analysis, data scientist Alexander Boxer examines classical texts on astrology to expose its underlying scientific and mathematical framework. Astrology, he argues, was the ancient world’s most ambitious applied mathematics problem, a monumental data-analysis enterprise sustained by some of history’s most brilliant minds, from Ptolemy to al-Kindi to Kepler. Thousands of years ago, astrologers became the first to stumble upon the powerful storytelling possibilities inherent in numerical data. To correlate the configurations of the cosmos with our day-to-day lives, astrologers relied upon a “scheme of heaven,” or horoscope, showing the precise configuration of the planets at a particular instant in time as viewed from a particular place on Earth. Although recognized as pseudoscience today, horoscopes were once considered a cutting-edge scientific tool. Boxer teaches us how to read these esoteric charts—and appreciate the complex astronomical calculations needed to generate them—by diagramming how the heavens appeared at important moments in astrology’s history, from the assassination of Julius Caesar as viewed from Rome to the Apollo 11 lunar landing as seen from the surface of the Moon. He then puts these horoscopes to the test using modern data sets and statistical science, arguing that today’s data scientists do work similar to astrologers of yore. By looking back at the algorithms of ancient astrology, he suggests, we can better recognize the patterns that are timeless characteristics of our own pattern-matching tendencies. At once critical, rigorous, and far ranging, A Scheme of Heaven recontextualizes astrology as a vast, technological project—spanning continents and centuries—that foreshadowed our data-driven world today.
A Brief History of Ancient Astrology
Author: Roger Beck
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470775378
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 176
Book Description
A Brief History of Ancient Astrology explores the theory and practice of astrology from Babylon to Ancient Greece and Rome and its cultural and political impact on ancient societies. Discusses the union between early astrology and astronomy, in contrast to the modern dichotomy between science and superstition. Explains the ancient understanding of the zodiac and its twelve signs, the seven planets, and the fixed circle of 'places' against which the signs and planets revolve. Demonstrates how to construct and interpret a horoscope in the ancient manner, using original ancient horoscopes and handbooks. Considers the relevance of ancient astrology today.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470775378
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 176
Book Description
A Brief History of Ancient Astrology explores the theory and practice of astrology from Babylon to Ancient Greece and Rome and its cultural and political impact on ancient societies. Discusses the union between early astrology and astronomy, in contrast to the modern dichotomy between science and superstition. Explains the ancient understanding of the zodiac and its twelve signs, the seven planets, and the fixed circle of 'places' against which the signs and planets revolve. Demonstrates how to construct and interpret a horoscope in the ancient manner, using original ancient horoscopes and handbooks. Considers the relevance of ancient astrology today.
The Knot of Time
Author: Lindsay River
Publisher: Womens PressLtd
ISBN: 9780704339125
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 291
Book Description
A fascinating and innovative look at the traditional interpretations of the components of the horoscope—the signs of the zodiac, the planets, and the elements—that reclaims a lost heritage of history and mythology.
Publisher: Womens PressLtd
ISBN: 9780704339125
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 291
Book Description
A fascinating and innovative look at the traditional interpretations of the components of the horoscope—the signs of the zodiac, the planets, and the elements—that reclaims a lost heritage of history and mythology.
Postcolonial Astrology
Author: Alice Sparkly Kat
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
ISBN: 1623175313
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Tapping into the political power of magic and astrology for social, community, and personal transformation. In a cross-cultural approach to understanding astrology as a magical language, Alice Sparkly Kat unmasks the political power of astrology, showing how it can be channeled as a force for collective healing and liberation. Too often, magic and astrology are divorced from their potency and cultural contexts: co-opted by neoliberalism, used as a force of oppression, or distilled beyond recognition into applications that belie their individual and collective power. By looking at the symbolic and etymological histories of the sun, moon, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter, we can trace and understand the politics of magic--and challenge our own practices, interrogate our truths, and reshape our institutions to build better frameworks for communities of care. Fearless, radical, and fresh, Sparkly Kat's Postcolonial Astrology ushers in a new wave of astrology revival, refusing to apologize for its magickism and connecting its power to the spirituality and politics we need now. Intersectional, inclusive, and geared towards queer and POC communities, it uses our historical and collective constructs of the planets, sun, and moon to re-chart our subconscious history, redefine the body in the world, and assert our politics of the personal, in astrology and all things.
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
ISBN: 1623175313
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 338
Book Description
Tapping into the political power of magic and astrology for social, community, and personal transformation. In a cross-cultural approach to understanding astrology as a magical language, Alice Sparkly Kat unmasks the political power of astrology, showing how it can be channeled as a force for collective healing and liberation. Too often, magic and astrology are divorced from their potency and cultural contexts: co-opted by neoliberalism, used as a force of oppression, or distilled beyond recognition into applications that belie their individual and collective power. By looking at the symbolic and etymological histories of the sun, moon, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter, we can trace and understand the politics of magic--and challenge our own practices, interrogate our truths, and reshape our institutions to build better frameworks for communities of care. Fearless, radical, and fresh, Sparkly Kat's Postcolonial Astrology ushers in a new wave of astrology revival, refusing to apologize for its magickism and connecting its power to the spirituality and politics we need now. Intersectional, inclusive, and geared towards queer and POC communities, it uses our historical and collective constructs of the planets, sun, and moon to re-chart our subconscious history, redefine the body in the world, and assert our politics of the personal, in astrology and all things.
A History of Horoscopic Astrology
Author: James H. Holden
Publisher: American Federation of Astr
ISBN: 0866904638
Category : Astrology
Languages : en
Pages : 402
Book Description
This thoroughly researched book is a history of the development of Western horoscopic astrology from its origin among the Babylonians and its subsequent creation in its present form by the Alexandrians down to modern times. Special attention is given to background history and to the working conditions and techniques used by astrologers during the last two thousand years. Numerous footnotes provide additional information and bibliographic references. A separate bibliography lists reference sources of particular importance. Two comprehensive indices containing more than 2,800 individual entries enable the reader to locate persons, publishers, topics, and book and periodical titles that are mentioned in the history. The book also contains discussions of several questions and topics relating to astrology. James Herschel Holden is Research Director of the American Federation of Astrologers and has been especially interested in the history of astrology.
Publisher: American Federation of Astr
ISBN: 0866904638
Category : Astrology
Languages : en
Pages : 402
Book Description
This thoroughly researched book is a history of the development of Western horoscopic astrology from its origin among the Babylonians and its subsequent creation in its present form by the Alexandrians down to modern times. Special attention is given to background history and to the working conditions and techniques used by astrologers during the last two thousand years. Numerous footnotes provide additional information and bibliographic references. A separate bibliography lists reference sources of particular importance. Two comprehensive indices containing more than 2,800 individual entries enable the reader to locate persons, publishers, topics, and book and periodical titles that are mentioned in the history. The book also contains discussions of several questions and topics relating to astrology. James Herschel Holden is Research Director of the American Federation of Astrologers and has been especially interested in the history of astrology.
Astrology
Author: Carole Taylor
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
ISBN: 0241521823
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 256
Book Description
Discover how to use astrology to understand yourself, make the best choices, and improve every area of your life. In her trademark accessible, down-to-earth style, acclaimed astrologer Carole Taylor explains how to use the age-old wisdom of astrology as a powerful tool for self-knowledge and self-enrichment. Using your birth chart as a starting point, you'll learn how to interpret the zodiac signs, planets, and astrological houses to better understand yourself. Carole shows how astrology can provide psychological insights, then pinpoints ways to use this knowledge to nurture personal and professional relationships, deal with stress, or release your imagination and creativity. You'll discover, too, how star lore can help you when you need it most, with practical advice on negotiating key moments, whether you're changing jobs, starting a family, coping with financial difficulty, or facing retirement. Authoritative and easy to understand, featuring fascinating case studies and with beautiful, inspiring illustrations throughout, Astrology is your essential e-guide to making the most of all life's challenges and opportunities.
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
ISBN: 0241521823
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 256
Book Description
Discover how to use astrology to understand yourself, make the best choices, and improve every area of your life. In her trademark accessible, down-to-earth style, acclaimed astrologer Carole Taylor explains how to use the age-old wisdom of astrology as a powerful tool for self-knowledge and self-enrichment. Using your birth chart as a starting point, you'll learn how to interpret the zodiac signs, planets, and astrological houses to better understand yourself. Carole shows how astrology can provide psychological insights, then pinpoints ways to use this knowledge to nurture personal and professional relationships, deal with stress, or release your imagination and creativity. You'll discover, too, how star lore can help you when you need it most, with practical advice on negotiating key moments, whether you're changing jobs, starting a family, coping with financial difficulty, or facing retirement. Authoritative and easy to understand, featuring fascinating case studies and with beautiful, inspiring illustrations throughout, Astrology is your essential e-guide to making the most of all life's challenges and opportunities.
Astrology Looks at History
Author: Noel Tyl
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 292
Book Description
Six expert astrologers solve mysteries in Western history using rectification to capture the lives of six geniuses who influenced the arts, sciences and government.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 292
Book Description
Six expert astrologers solve mysteries in Western history using rectification to capture the lives of six geniuses who influenced the arts, sciences and government.
The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need
Author: Joanna Martine Woolfold
Publisher: Taylor Trade Publications
ISBN: 1589794184
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 549
Book Description
OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD! This is the classic guide to astrological history, legend, and practice! Readers will enjoy simple, computer-accurate planetary tables that allow anyone born between 1900 and 2100 to pinpoint quickly their sun and moon signs, discover their ascendants, and map out the exact positions of the planets at the time of their birth. In addition to revealing the planets' influence on romance, health, and career, The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need takes a closer look at the inner life of each sign. Celebrated astrologer Joanna Martine Woolfolk offers abundant insights on the personal relationships and emotional needs that motivate an individual, on how others perceive astrological types, and on dealing with the negative aspects of signs. Readers will also welcome the inclusion of new discoveries in astronomy. Lavishly illustrated and with an updated design, this new edition is an indispensable sourcebook for unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos through the twenty-first century and beyond.
Publisher: Taylor Trade Publications
ISBN: 1589794184
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 549
Book Description
OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD! This is the classic guide to astrological history, legend, and practice! Readers will enjoy simple, computer-accurate planetary tables that allow anyone born between 1900 and 2100 to pinpoint quickly their sun and moon signs, discover their ascendants, and map out the exact positions of the planets at the time of their birth. In addition to revealing the planets' influence on romance, health, and career, The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need takes a closer look at the inner life of each sign. Celebrated astrologer Joanna Martine Woolfolk offers abundant insights on the personal relationships and emotional needs that motivate an individual, on how others perceive astrological types, and on dealing with the negative aspects of signs. Readers will also welcome the inclusion of new discoveries in astronomy. Lavishly illustrated and with an updated design, this new edition is an indispensable sourcebook for unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos through the twenty-first century and beyond.
A Spiritual Look at the 12 Signs
Author: Joseph Polansky
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing
ISBN: 1780992009
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 136
Book Description
A spiritual perspective on the 12 signs of the zodiac, the horoscope, healing and spirituality. People's quirks and idiosyncrasies have deep spiritual roots. The horoscope shows us what they are. What are seen as flaws are really strengths deeply disguised or not used properly. Every sign is in essence a spiritual force and function and denotes a person's deepest urges. This book explains these urges. It also contains meditations for each of the signs, and the herbs, colors, gems and reflexology points that will most benefit each sign. There are chapters on the unique spiritual path for each sign and the healing modalities that are best for each - and much more.
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing
ISBN: 1780992009
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 136
Book Description
A spiritual perspective on the 12 signs of the zodiac, the horoscope, healing and spirituality. People's quirks and idiosyncrasies have deep spiritual roots. The horoscope shows us what they are. What are seen as flaws are really strengths deeply disguised or not used properly. Every sign is in essence a spiritual force and function and denotes a person's deepest urges. This book explains these urges. It also contains meditations for each of the signs, and the herbs, colors, gems and reflexology points that will most benefit each sign. There are chapters on the unique spiritual path for each sign and the healing modalities that are best for each - and much more.
The Fated Sky
Author: Benson Bobrick
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0743268954
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 385
Book Description
'The Fated Sky' looks at famous figures and important historical events that were influenced by astrology.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 0743268954
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 385
Book Description
'The Fated Sky' looks at famous figures and important historical events that were influenced by astrology.