Famous Figures in History Who Used Astrology (Part 2)

Written by Claire Petulengro

There is no denying that great people throughout the history of the world have used astrology as a tool to guide their lives and make decisions. How could so many famous faces who we still talk about today have been wrong? Well let’s take a look at some of the evidence and see why it’s wise to listen to our stars for the advice we need to make great things happen.

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare used Astrology in his plays and poetry. It was as important to him to set the atmosphere or the make up of a character he was trying to portray to the audience. As he so famously wrote, the fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves. What a great bit of advice! We are given advice and guidance by the planets and how we choose to use it really is up to us. That’s why looking at life in a positive manner can help you to change your life from a normal one into a magnificent one. Be one of the signs who dares to excel. Learn your strengths and focus on them instead of your weaknesses. If you start today and start as you mean to go on then you will surprise yourself with the speed in which you can turn your life around. The characters in Shakespeare’s plays were often extreme and he had a great skill in showing the very colourful traits of each star sign, showing how successful or disastrous we have the power to make our lives.

Shakespeare was well versed in astrological concepts. He would put astrological knowledge and belief into his strongest and most capable heroes and heroines, and astrological ignorance and disdain into his most devious and reviled villains.

Shakespeare knew what he was doing. His astrological acquaintance allowed him to reach his audience on a much deeper and more personal level. His command of astrological principles helped him to become the foremost writer in the English language. He teaches us that astrology does indeed hold the power to help us unlock some of the most powerful secrets about ourselves - our strengths, our weaknesses and the endless possibilities that life can offer to us.

Let’s look at some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays and see how he so cleverly uses Astrology to help the characters be explained.

All’s Well That Ends Well.

Look at the following passage from the first scene of the play:

HELENA. Monsieur Parolles, you were born under a charitable star.
PAROLLES. Under Mars, I.
HELENA. I especially think, under Mars.
PAROLLES. Why under Mars?
HELENA. The wars hath so kept you under that you must needs be born under Mars.
PAROLLES. When he was predominant.
HELENA. When he was retrograde, I think, rather.
PAROLLES. Why think you so?
HELENA. You go so much backward when you fight.
PAROLLES. That's for advantage.
HELENA. So is running away, when fear proposes the safety: but the composition that your valour and fear makes in you is a virtue of a good wing, and I like the wear well. (I.i)

Helena is obviously well studied in the art of astrology and knows how to use it well. She has also shown how she has used astrology to take control of her own life rather than allowing events to control her.

I love the way that Parolles announces that he was born when Mars was predominant and she replies ‘when he was retrograde, I think, rather.’ This is to say that Mars being retrograde instead of in forward motion makes the man a fool and a liar. A fact which is also noted in these works is that physicians at this time were automatically schooled in astrology for diagnosing, cures and council. For Shakespeare to give his heroine astrological knowledge meant that she would also have been skilled in medicine. She went on in the story to use her skill to cure the king and make safe her future.

In King Lear we again see evidence that astrology guides our lives and how eclipses can bring important messages…

GLOUCESTER: These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us. Though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourg'd by the sequent effects. Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide. In cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond crack'd 'twixt son and father. This villain of mine comes under the prediction; there's son against father: the King falls from bias of nature; there's father against child. We have seen the best of our time. Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves. Find out this villain, Edmund; it shall lose thee nothing; do it carefully. And the noble and true-hearted Kent banish'd! his offence, honesty! 'Tis strange. (I.i)

It is easy to see that Gloucester puts the worries of the land down to the eclipses. Even in every day astrology columns, eclipses are noted to bring powerful events and great changes. Eclipses can even bring on war and dramatic world changes, a fact which Gloucester obviously acknowledges and eventually experiences. The character Shakespeare has created is a man who realises the value and effectiveness of astrology and uses it to make his own life plan.

Even just dipping our toes into the waters of Shakespeare teaches us that he was well versed in astrology and believed and acknowledged it as a tool to teach us valuable life lessons. There are many astrological references, the events throughout the tales mirror astrology and for a very good and valuable reason!

If you look throughout history then you will see that astrology is a constant which has been used by scholars to both find their way and to help others find theirs.

You can read part 3 of this article here or read part 1 here .

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