You cannot dismiss astrology on individual opinion

In the article “Return to reality”- by Prof. Kavan Ratnatunga, in the Features Section of The Sunday Times of July 29, the learned professor only gives his opinion. Although he says that the framework of astrology can be scientifically proved to be wrong, he does not give any reasons or indicate how, he connects up palmistry with DNA. The professor considers a narrow definition of astrology as a means of predicting one’s future. He even refers to political predictions etc in astrology.

Unfortunately, the subject has been diluted over the years. There is much more to astrology. Ancient civilizations have been well developed in astronomical phenomena, as shown by recent studies. For example the publication “Heaven’s Mirror – Quest for lost civilizations” by Graham Hancock, reveals the correspondence of the plan of the Angor Wat temple in Cambodia, with that of the stellar constellation, “Draco”.

The learned professor says that astrology considers a geo- centric model. This is not so since, it is the “Celestial Sphere” that is considered in astrology. The two fixed points on the ecliptic are denoted by Rahu and Kethu. For convenience the planets are given on a two dimensional user-friendly chart.

The most important aspect of astrology is that it provides an indication of the personality type, and the behaviour pattern of an individual. This relates to the functioning of the mind and the body of an individual.

I would like to bring to your notice, an article which was published in The Sunday Times of March 25, 1990 ( Page seventeen of Plus II written by Dava Sabel). This article highlights the publication of a book titled “Astrology: The Evidence of Science” written by astronomer Percy Seymour, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. It is a lengthy article which appeared on March 25 and April 1, 1990. Of course the book ran into a lot of controversy, however as the writer was well accepted for his work on “Cosmic Magnetism”, it was not completely disregarded. The basis for his theory was the connection of astrology with the sun’s magnetic field.

Therefore, it is not correct to throw away astronomy based on individual opinion. There has been a lot of work that has been carried out in this area, although any direct proof cannot be established. It is a matter of not understanding the subject in the appropriate perspective. Other publications on this subject are “ The Case for Astrology” by John Anthony West and Jan Gerhard Toonder.

Let me quote Sir Bernard Lovell, Director of Jodrell Bank – as appearing in the London Sunday Times 15th March 1963, – “In the last few years some strange and inexplicable links appear to be emerging between lunar phase, rainfall, meteoric impact, magnetic storms, and mental disturbances. It almost seems as though we are moving through a series of scientific fantasies to a proof of the ancient belief in the connection between the moon and lunacy”.

Much more research has been done since 1963 using Space Astronomy, from V2 to the Hubble Space Telescope, as described in the publication “New Cosmic Horizons” by David Leverington.

These studies show variations in the lower energy cosmic rays which are affected by changes in the solar magnetic field. There may be a possibility that Seymour’s theory may be proved, in the future in the light of new data, which may provide a case for “astrology” in a wider context.

By C. Srinath Fernando, Raddolugama