The Astrology Book

center around which the Sun, stars, and planets

revolved, was generally accepted until the time

of the Copernican revolution.

In his classic astrological work, the

Tetrabiblos,Ptolemy attempted to compile the

astrological knowledge of his predecessors and

systematize it into a unified discipline. He also

offered a theory of astrological influence in

terms of the science of his day. Despite the

shortcomings of his work, Ptolemy’s organiza-

tion of the body of diverse information into a

coherent whole made him the most influential

single astrologer in Western history.

Sources:

Brau, Jean-Louis, Helen Weaver, and Allan Edmands.

Larousse Encyclopedia of Astrology.New York:

New American Library, 1980.

DeVore, Nicholas. Encyclopedia of Astrology.New

York: Philosophical Library, 1948.

PUNARVASU

Punarvasu (good again) is one of the Nakshatras

(lunar mansions) of Vedic astrology. Depicted as

an arrow, this moon sign is thought to be a good

time for starting over. It is found from Gemini

20° to Cancer 3°20’ and one can expect to be

more friendly and generous, but also lack drive

or foresight with the moon in Punarvasu. Aditi, mother of the 12 Adityas (forms of

the sun), presides, and Jupiter is the ruling planet of this sign.

—Pramela Thiagesan

PURVABHADRAPADA

Purva Bhadrapada (former beautiful foot) is one of the Nakshatras (lunar mansions) of

Vedic astrology. The Nakshatra is depicted as the front legs of a small bed or couch,

and is ruled by the planet Jupiter at Aquarius 20° to Pisces 3°20’. A good time to do

something dangerous or risky, one can expect to be better at reading people and more

logical, while also being skeptical or worrisome. The deity Aja Ekapad presides over

Purva Bhadrapada.

—Pramela Thiagesan

PURVAPHALGUNI

Purva Phalguni (the former red one or a fig tree) is one of the Nakshatras (lunar man-

sions) of Vedic astrology. This Nakshatra is symbolized by the front legs of a bed, and is

Punarvasu

[564] THEASTROLOGYBOOK

Late-medieval illustration showing the circular
movements of the planets as theorized by Claudius
Ptolemy. From George Purbach’s Theoreticae Novae
Planetarum,1543. Reproduced by permission of Fortean
Picture Library.