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NEO-ASTROLOGY STATISTICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE INFLUENCE OF THE PLANETS? NEO-ASTROLOGY STATISTICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE INFLUENCE OF THE PLANETS? A method of correlating the planets with ‘body types’ could put Astrology ona firmer scientific footing. he task of verifying astrological premises using the scientific method invariably creates a host of problems. There is little understanding in either camp of the other's motives and methodology, and astrologers themselves are divided on the subject of serious investigation. Many studies fail because of poorly designed experiments and ignorance of the statistical method—let alone the fact that scientists hardly deem astrology a subject worthy of investigation. Perhaps the main reason for the divide between astrology and science is that, according to the scientific method, astrology had no clearly defined premise, no plausible mecha- nism to explain its effects, and no experimental model with which to make predictions. That great mind of the Renaissance, Johannes Kepler, had a deep conviction that astrology needed to be reformulated in order to become a true scientific doctrine. Many years ago I discovered a system of body types which seemed to me to explain all the mysteries of human psychology and which has the possibility of achieving Kepler's aim. It has enabled me to introduce true, measurable quantities into astrology and to set up an objective test for a Science of Celestial Influence using well-defined physical char- acteristics. MICHEL GAUQUELIN AND NEO-ASTROLOGY Michel Gauquelin is single-handedly responsible for putting the study of planetary influence on a firm scientific foundation. He was born in Paris in 1928, and graduated in psychology and statistics from the Sorbonne. He spent over twenty years studying the relationships between cosmological and biological phenomena, revealing many of astrolo- gy's faulty foundations—such as the lack of statistical evidence for the Sun signs, and subjective differences in interpretation. Gauquelin's first positive result in his investigations was using the birth times of 576 doctors who had achieved academic distinction. He showed that they tended to have been born when either Mars or Saturn had just risen or had just passed the midheaven, in num- bers well above those expected by chance alone. A second study produced similar results. He then proceeded to include other professions from other European countries, until he had collected over 27,000 birth times from official registers. With few exceptions, confir- mation of his original results—that the appearance of Saturn and Mars in key points at the time of birth was related to eminence in professions—continued to emerge. Gauquelin then changed his focus by making extensive lists of character traits of various professional types. Using birth times and reliable biographical material, he was able to arrive at a character profile of each planetary type that matched perfectly the classical types of antiquity: Jovial (refined, regal, dramatic, profound); Lunar (moody, passive, pessimistic); Martial (aggressive, passionate, vigorous); Saturnine (phlegmatic, introspective, melancholic, masterful); Venusian (sensual, sympathetic, nurturing)— although he was not able to distinguish the classical Mercurial type (restless, sanguine, excitable, perceptive). He sent his findings to the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Alleged Paranormal Phenomena, a group well known for its ability to demolish rather than verify the claims it investigates. After having found no serious errors in Gauquelin's methods, they supervised a replication using the "Mars effect" on 535 sports champions. They achieved an even slightly higher percentage of successful results than Gauquelin's original tests, with odds against chance being several million to one. They baulked, however, and raised all kinds of objections to Gauquelin's methods. The controversy over the results of by Anthony Craig © 1999 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Telephone: +61 (0)3 9853 8791 E-mail: mercsat@start.com.au Website: www.homestead.com/ axissophia/index.html Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Telephone: +61 (0)3 9853 8791 E-mail: mercsat@start.com.au Website: www.homestead.com/ axissophia/index.html NEXUS - 47 by Anthony Craig © 1999 DECEMBER 1999 — JANUARY 2000