THE ASTROLOGERS AND THEIR CREED

Subtitled An Historical Outline, this is precisely that, scholarly and objective as it traces the development of astrology from the chart of the Babylonians and its repercussions thereafter--in Israel, Greece, Rome, to the Mayans and Aztecs of the early centuries and the Orient and India which now sponsors the most precise training anywhere, even using its astrologers in police work. This also runs through the many phases of disrepute and revival and its influence on leaders and visionaries from Popes to Gurdjieff. There are interesting sidelights; Louis XIV instructed his court astrologer to hide in the nuptial chamber during the consummation of his marrage to Anne of Austria so that the horoscope of the future dauphin could be projected from the hopeful start. There is little about the nuances of astrology itself--you won't be able to cast your horoscope . . . you'll just know why you have one.