The Stars Say That You're An Exciting And Wonderful Person, But You Know They're Lying

[bloodyrosemccoy]

Trying to find a book on the history of astrology and its influences on the world, which isn’t hard to find. The tricky part is finding an author who doesn’t feel the need to constantly insist that astrology is TRUE DAMMIT. Bit surprising, really—I’d have expected it to be impartial, but the last author waxed strongly poetic about how empty astronomy is without astrology, and how astrology gives lives meaning and connects us to the greater universe in a tangible way, and other such bullshit.

Thing is, as an anthropology nerd, I find astrology fascinating. Not for its objective truth; one can be interested in urban legends, or religions, or fairy tales, without thinking they’re actual truths. No, I like to see what a complex mythology like that says about the people who made it up, and how a human-generated system influences how humans actually behave. It doesn’t matter if the position of Jupiter actually affects a person’s life*; what matters is that the person behaves as if it does.

I kinda wish I could find a book that sees the difference.

And yes, this is more research for writing. I’m trying to add some more mythology into the OGYAFE culture, and they just can’t get enough of their stars. If nothing else, it gives me some good place names to work with.


*It says you should spend the rest of the week face-down in the mud.

Comments

[beccastareyes]

I don't have any suggestions, but every iron atom in our blood was made in the core of a dying star. How does that not connect us to the greater universe in a tangible way.

[shadesofmauve]

Well, I'm not usually one to give unsolicited advice, but you might consider filling that void in your pathetic life by playing whack-a-mole 24 hours a day.

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

Look for books on medieval astrology.

http://www.billyandcharlie.com/planets/

Eade, J. C. The Forgotten Sky: A Guide to Astrology in English Literature. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Clarendon Press; New York: Oxford University Press, 1984.

North, John David. Chaucer's Universe. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1988.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.asp
http://omacl.org/
http://www.the-orb.net/

[stormteller.livejournal.com]

I would ask my astrology-bent friends for advice on this issue, but they were all laughing at me behind my back and I had to kill them.

[michellerz.livejournal.com]

Very interesting!! I wonder why that is?