As devastating as this may seem to astrologers, the passage is not really a con-
demnation of all astrology. His thoughts must be understood to mean the popular
forms of astrology, which he condemned unequivocally.
As for the accusation that astronomers would starve if they did not do horo-
scopes for pay—this may have some truth in it, but it does not mean that Kepler had
to cheapen his science of astronomy by using the popular astrology of “the daughter.”
And he did cast and interpret horoscopes for pay, but his astrology is on a very high
level indeed, as is shown by the two extant delineations of Generalisimus Wallen-
stein’s birth chart (1608 and 1625), and others.
And such astrology was, for Kepler, to be included under astronomy. This
astrology/astronomy was Kepler’s true vocation up to the point in 1619 when he tran-
scended it, but still made it part of a greater scheme of the universe that he called Har-
monice Mundi(World Harmony), the title of his last major book (1619). Even after
then, he still spoke of astrology in these terms, as noted in Die Astrologie des Johannes
Kepler: “Philosophy, and therefore genuine astrology, is a testimony of God’s works and
is therefore holy. It is by no means a frivolous thing. And I, for my part, do not wish to
dishonor it.” That this “genuine astrology” was effective is well proven by the fact that
Kepler predicted the manner and time of Wallenstein’s death well in advance.
Many astrologers will at first feel offended by Kepler. He was as outspoken
against some astrologers as he was against those who condemned astrology. This is
seen mainly in his 1610 book Tertius Interveniens(Third Party Intervening), in which
he takes a “third party” position between those who flatly condemn astrology and
those who accept as true everything said in its name. He draws sharp lines between his
perceptions of genuine and false practices of the art.
Like Friedrich Nietzsche, his fellow countryman of three centuries later,
Kepler was a thinker who skillfully required readers to ponder issues thoroughly while
being challenged, irritated, even infuriated. This process is so valuable in helping to
gain ever deeper insights. It is advisable at times, when he is attacking with fury, to
keep in mind that, like his earlier fellow countryman, Martin Luther, he was a
reformer. He definitely did not propose that astrology be abolished, any more than
Luther intended to destroy Christianity.
The foundation of his astrology was geometry and, more widely, a universal
harmony present in geometry, as demonstrated in Tertius Interveniens: “Within this
lower world a spiritual nature is concealed that can operate through geometry, which
is vitalized through the geometrical and harmonic connections....”; “The geometry or
harmony of aspects is not between the stars in the sky, but is located rather down here
on earth in the point that collects all their rays.” This principle led him to his specific
contributions to astrology, among which are: his analysis of planetary interrelation-
ships through Platonic solids; his discovery of additional aspects (the quintile and
semisquare); and his cataloging and comments on the fixed stars. Beyond these
accomplishments, his theory and philosophy of are indeed major contributions.
—Ken NegusTHEASTROLOGYBOOK [383]
Kepler, Johannes