Users/JohannesKepler

I'm Johannes Kepler, but please call me Jo

Unfailing experience of mundane events in harmony with the changes occurring in the heavens has compelled my unwilling belief. Unfortunately the term 'influence' (of the planets and stars) has blinded philosophers (and scientists) to the extent that they would prefer to engage in mad ravings with the uneducated masses, than to think scientifically as I do.
This capability which bestows power on aspects¹does not rest in the celestial bodies themselves; for the aspects ... are upon the earth and are pure figures, the essence of which does not stem from planetary motion, but rather is produced by the accidental position of each pair of bodies with respect to the earth. Just as the psyche, which moves the body, is not in the object, but rather is where the image of the object is imagined. 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 these rays.

Mercury in the seventh house means speed, and sloth because he is fast. The Sun in sextile with Saturn²reveals meticulousness and endurance. The following two characteristics are opposed in the human being: constant regret about lost time and constant waste of time for which one is oneself to blame. Mercury causes devotion to jest and play, also resulting from joy in the more shallow things. For as a boy I devoted myself passionately to playing. As a youth other things delighted my mind, and therefore I devoted myself to other things; thus it is a matter of judgement as to what pleases the human being. Since, however, stinginess frightened me away from play, I often played alone. Here it should be noted that the goal of the stinginess was not the acquisition of wealth, but rather it was based on the fear of poverty — although perhaps all possessiveness may stem from misapplied anxiety... Lust for money imprisons many. I took usefulness and honorableness into consideration. Perhaps much is rooted in the shame of poverty. I am, above all, not arrogant and contemptuous of public opinion, though of course my speech tends to be abrasive.

When, for example, Saturn aspects Mercury, he [Mercury] becomes cold, so that the mind is dulled; when Jupiter aspects Mercury, he [Mercury] makes one moist and hot. In the former case, everything is aimed at the lust for gain, in the latter case, it is the desire for fame and honor. When Mars comes into my view, he frightens. He causes the mind collapse and drags it into anger, play, inconstancy, story-telling, into wars, into excess, into foolhardiness, into busy-ness — all things that adhere to mortal man: he [Mars] incites one to contrariness, fighting, disapproval of all order, criticism of custom. All is conspicuous that I engaged in with my studies: excitement in conversation, dispute, contempt, challenging all immoral habits of some person...

Most of my successors did not realize the importance of their astronomical discoveries. The planet which was called Neptune, for instance, is of great significance at the precise moment my birth, since it is very precisely at the horizon (what we astrologuers call the ascendant), indicating that I "have a strong need to pierce through the veil of matter and appearances and to get to the universal essence of everything in a feeling way"[[footnote(To quote a typical interpretation of this configuration.[[/footnote]], which is how I have been remembered as — or so I hope. As you know, my soul is entirely devoted to the grasping of the most immediate objects of the mind, which are mathematical and geometrical in nature, and not the fiction that some of your naive scientists call "matter".

Similar observations can be made about other celestial bodies, especially Uranus, who explains better my abrasive speech and my abilities as an astronomer and researcher: if only I had known before that it was conjunct with the planet of speech and intellect!

Discover the force of the heavens O Men (and Women): once recognised it can be put to use!

Discover harmony between events of our history and celestial events, in line with my De stella nova in pede Serpentarii, et qui sub ejus exortum de novo iniit, trigono igneo, where I studied the jupiter-saturn cycle over centuries. I will perform a similar study using this time planets that were unknown when I wrote De stella nova, Uranus and Neptune (and perhaps Pluto).

Further my Doctrine of aspects in light of XXIst century physics.

Rewrite my Tertius Interviens - To wit, an admonition to several theologians, physicians, and philosophers, especially Dr. Philipp Feselius, that they, when quite properly rejecting the superstition of star-gazing, do not throw the baby out with the bath water and therewith unwittingly undermine their professions. For the necessary instruction of all true lovers of the natural mysteries for today's needs.

Answer to the question: What's wrong with astrology?