Antlers of Iron

Astrology + Astronomy 

Today astrology refers to the observation of human behavior in relation to the stars and planets. But for most of European history, it also included the science we now call astronomy. Astrology was in turn closely tied to alchemy, a millennia-old blend of science and spirituality that sought to unlock the secrets of creation. 

In antiquity, seven planets were known—the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The physical world, meanwhile, was composed of four elements, while the heavens included the “fifth element,” quintessentia. In the alchemical-astrological worldview, the seven planets were tied to the seven known metals—gold, silver, quicksilver (mercury), copper, iron, tin, and lead. In astrology, each sign is also tied to one of the four elements.  

We asked 21st-century astrologist Rose Theodora to explain how each of the signs maps to the planets, metals, and elements:  

“In our quest for innate oneness,” Rose tells us, “we are similar to the alchemist. It is through the astrologer’s lens that we can learn how to uniquely express each element within our own divine nature.”  

Do you identify with your sign—and its planet, metal, and element?

Calculating Celestial Movement, Peter Hille. Engraving in Leonhard Thurneisser zum Thurn, Der Planeten Circkel und Lauff (Berlin, 1575), fol. 3. The Getty Research Institute, 92-F166.

The Microcosm and the Macrocosm, Matthäus Merian the Elder. Engraving in Musaeum Hermeticum, pl. 4. The Getty Research Institute, 1380-912

Jean Pierre Rambosson. Prinicipal Phases of Saturn as Seen from the Earth, Recomposition of Light, The Phenomena of Tides, Eclipse of the Sun, The Moon’s Phases, Eclipse of the Moon, The Earth as Seen from the Moon, Phenomena of Refraction, The Passage of Venus Across the Sun. Astronomy. 1875.

Jean Pierre Rambosson. Astronomy. 1875.    

Asa Smith - Celestial Illustrations from Smith’s Illustrated Astronomy. 1851. 

Wood engravings with hand highlighting, written by the principal of Public School No. 12 in New York City with the goal “to present all the distinguishing principles in physical Astronomy with as few words as possible”.

17th century scientific illustrations all day.

Gemma Frisius – Scientist of the Day

Reiner Gemma Frisius, a Flemish mathematician and geographer, was born Dec. 8, 1508.

read more…

p.s. in case you want to see all of Apiani’s Cosmographicus (pictured above) our edition is online.

I’m sure the top gif most of you recognize. It’s very cool and mind blowing. Unfortunately it isn’t terribly accurate. The person that made it used information from a source who believes there are lizard people controlling the world. 

No, seriously.

It’s always disappointing when you think you’ve learned something cool and then you find out you were given bad information. Getting that sense of pride from acquiring more knowledge and then having it yanked from your squishy organic database.

The main problem with the first gif is that the sun does not lead all the planets like a dog-walker lugging pups in tow. Our little solar system is actually tilted back 60 degrees as shown in the second gif. Sometimes planets are in front of the sun. Sometimes behind.

I don’t feel too duped by this. As far as bad information goes, a 60 degree tilt is certainly not the most egregious error I’ve encountered on the internet. But I do wish there was an animation that was just as cool with an accurate depiction. The one I found kind of makes me nauseous. 

There are some other issues with the video this was gif’d from and some other videos that were made in followup. If you want to read some good science and qualified debunking of this swirly gif and those videos, you can check out Phil Plait’s article here.

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Venus is trying to eclipse the sun today