Astrology

Definition

Astrology is one of the main subjects of esoteric thought. The New Age Movement has undertaken a continuation and dissemination of esoteric thought. Thus, it enabled the emergence of classical astrology to a wider audience. Astrology allows the accomplishment of one of the major goals of the New Age Movement in the sense that it combines spirituality and rationality to form a new science. Psychological astrology is used as an instrument of self-knowledge and improvement of the self.

Introduction

Astrology has a central place in New Age’s beliefs and practice system. The very origin of the term New Age can be understood as a variation of the term “Age of Aquarius,” mainly used in the 1960s and 1970s. Hanegraaff (2005) defines this period as that of a “New Age Movement in a strict sense.” Many of the features present at that time resembled cult movements and had as one of their central beliefs the idea that our planet would be entering a new astrological age, the Age of...