Book: “Astrology for Christians” by Suzan Stephan

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“Astrology for Christians,” Suzan Stephan. Red Feather Mind, Body, Spirit: Atglen (PA). 2019.

 

It may seem odd to feature a book directed towards Christians on a Polytheist blog. However, I believe that it is helpful to read how Astrology (Note 1) became banned for Christians, and how it can be reclaimed. Also, since Christianity informs the modern world, it is also helpful to rebut the modern thinking that regards Astrology to be worthless.

 

The author, Suzan Stephan is both an Astrologer and a devout Christian. The first thing, she tackles is the idea that the stars determine fate, which goes against the Christian Doctrine of God giving people free will. Stephan adheres to Edgar Cayce’s (Note 2) direction on Astrology. “Astrology is fact, but there is no greater power over man than his own will.” According to Stephan, Astrology does not override God’s will but only indicates what it could be. Citing various verses from the Bible, she demonstrates that Astrology has always been a part of the Judeo-Christian faith.

 

Before delving in Christians’ problems with Astrology, Suzan Stephan defines what Astrology is. According to her, “Astrology is the study or wisdom of the stars as related to human events, and Astrology is NOT (emphasis hers) a religion.” She continues that “the great orderly creation of the heavens that is so aptly demonstrated by Astrology can lead to no other final conclusion but a strong belief in God.”

 

To further her stance, Stephan cites Psalm 19.

“1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.

4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Note 3)

 

Stephan details how the “prevailing political atmosphere and social influence of the Church” from the Fifth Century to the Eighteenth warred on Astrology. For example, the powerful Church Fathers of the Fifth Century consolidated their powers by banning Astrology. St. Augustine stressed that Astrology “introduced a dangerous and democratic element which had to be stamped out.” Stephen interprets this to mean that he regarded Astrology to be a potential threat to the authority of the Church. Standard explanations of Augustine’s disgust of Astrology is that it engaged demons. Stephen believes that his objections were based on politics and not theology.

 

Meanwhile, the modern worldview has separated the viewer from the object of viewing. This has formed a barrier between the person and the world, thereby turning nature into an exercise in mechanics. In contrast, Astrology sees the human and the rest of the world as part of the whole Cosmos. Moreover, according to Stephan, Astrology promotes a wholeness that modern people will find healthy.

 

Stephan stresses that a person should keep an open mind about why Astrology works. Steven Forrest, of Evolutionary Astrology (Note 4), refers to the modern rejection of Astrology as “astrophobia.” (Note 5) He defines it in “The Night Speaks,” as “the triggering stimulus is the suggestion …rational processes might – in any way – be influenced by irrational or ‘transrational’ processes.’” Stephen uses the star charts of King David and Jesus Christ to prove how Astrology illuminated their life paths.

 

In writing her book, Suzan Stephan believes that astrophobia (as defined by Forrest) holds Christians from embracing Astrology. She seeks to restore Astrology back to its rightful place in Christianity. As she states, “Always remember that astrology were identified as the wisemen of the Bible!” Stephan ends “Astrology for Christians” with “today, astrologers are known to view and study the universe with great reverence, wonder, and amazement.”

 

Notes:

Note 1. I capitalize Astrology since it is an Arcane Wisdom Tradition. In her book, Suzan Stephan does not.

Note 2. Edgar Cayce was a famous American mystic of the Twentieth Century, and a devout Christian.

Note 3. Bible: “New International Version”

Note 4. “Evolutionary Astrology,” according to Steven Forrest is a “form of psychological Astrology which is integrated with metaphysics…the Evolutionary Astrologer focuses on the childhood of the soul.”

Note 5. Not to be confused with astrophobia, the intense and irrational fear of stars, space, or the night sky. I have astrophobia, in the form of an intense fear of asteroids, as a result of the accident causing my brain injury.