Season 3, Episode 4
The Stars Ascending
The evolution of astrology in the United States
December 3rd, 2024
Open almost any newspaper and you’ll find your horoscope. But this form of Western astrology has a long and complex history. It began thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia before European settlers brought it to North America, where they used it in farming and for answering questions. In this episode, we learn how astrology has survived and evolved in the United States and ask: is astrology a science or pseudoscience? Magic or art? Psychological tool or a divination method? The answer might just be like the stars: all of the above.
Featuring Nicholas Campion, Tres Henry, Michael York, and Jake Zukowski.
FEATURING
Associate Professor of Cosmology and Culture at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David
Dr. Nicholas Campion is the director of the Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture, the only academic Centre in the world to deal with cultural relationships with the sky and the cosmos. He is responsible for taking forward the Centre’s research and teaching activities, through supervising PhD students, sponsoring research projects, organizing conferences and other events, and publishing research via the peer-reviewed journal Culture and Cosmos, and the Sophia Centre Press.
Founder, Software Engineer, and Sorcerer
Tres has over two decades of experience in software engineering at companies both giant and tiny. These days he focuses on digital tools for practitioners and is the author of Georatio (geomancy software), Urania (electional astrology software), Mosaic (digital-native divination), and others. Tres is also the software engineer and co-founder of Cosmic Plumbing, the company making Cosmic Astrology, software for professional astrology practitioners. He sees himself as just another in a long line of sorcerous tool crafters, channeling his craft into digital realms.
Retired Professor of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology from the Sophia Center
Michael York is Professor Emeritus at Sophia Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, and Director of the Bath Archive for Contemporary Religious Affairs, Bath Spa University College, UK. He also occasionally teaches at Cherry Hill Seminary. He specializes in the study of pre-Christian European religion and its relation to contemporary Paganism.
Founder, UX Designer, and Practitioner
Jake is making Cosmic Plumbing, a professional astrology platform for practitioners that brings usable and beautiful design to magical tools so professionals can focus on the art of astrology. Before launching Cosmic Plumbing, Jake was the Global Vice President of Research and Design at HelloFresh, where he was instrumental in modernizing the brand, the app, and the service overall. Prior, he worked in innovation consulting, with his work in automotive design for Honda being noted for its beauty and safety. A seeker and practitioner, Jake is dedicated to creating tools and experiences that deepen our connection to the cosmos and elevate personal insight.
CREDITS
Host: Heather Freeman; Producer: Amber Walker; Editor: Lucy Perkins; Associate Producer: Noor Gill; Sound Design: Jennie Cataldo; Fact Checker: Dania Suleman; Executive Producer for PRX Productions: Jocelyn Gonzales; Music: APM Music and Epidemic Sound; Project Managers: Edwin Ochoa; Advisors: Helen Berger, Danielle Boaz, Yvonne Chireau, Chas Clifton, Abel Gomez, Daniel Harms, Corey Hutcheson, Sean McLeod, Sabina Magliocco, Thorn Mooney, and Meg Whalen; Guests: Nicholas Campion, Tres Henry, Michael York, and Jake Zukowski; Additional Thanks: Demetra George, Juniper Jaanilaupäev, and Christopher Warnock; Funding and Support: The National Endowment for the Humanities and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
TRANSCRIPT
LEARN MORE
The Astrology Podcast. Demetra George’s Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice Volume 1
The Astrology Podcast. Demetra George’s Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice Volume 2
The Astrology Podcast. Joan Quigley and the Reagans’ Use of Astrology.
Hear the fascinating story of Joan Quigley and her role as astrological advisor to Ronald and Nancy Reagon in the 1980s.
Joan Quigley’s Digicomp DR-70 Astrology Minicomputer at the Computer History Museum.
Campion, N. (2008). A History of Western Astrology, Vol. 1 The Ancient World and Vol. 2 The Medieval and Modern Worlds. London: Continuum
Campion, N. (2016). Astrology and popular religion in the modern west: Prophecy, cosmology and the new age movement. Routledge.
Project Hindsight (website 1)
Project Hindsight (website 2)
The Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture. The University of Wales, Trinity St. David
Warnock, Christopher. Renaissance Astrology (website).