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Advanced knowledge about bad luck is leverage.

In other words, knowing the probability of an individual’s success or failure is priceless.

“Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory.”
Miguel de Cervantes

Knowing when you will endure personal adversity, and when you will be freed from it, can help protect your interests and limit your risk.

In my view, bad luck (or good luck) is merely personal fate in action.

Just as you probably didn’t learn about negotiating, self-awareness, stress management, and entrepreneurship in school, you didn’t learn that countless kings, queens, rulers, warlords, successful merchants, and others throughout history relied upon advisors who were astrologers. The custom went underground in the 1700s when those in power during the Age of Reason unjustly condemned the sciences of astrology and number mysticism.

I sympathize with skeptics of astrology and numerology. I don’t believe in the types of astrology and numerology you’ve been exposed to either. My debate with an astrology skeptic offers more information.

Whether or not a person will get what he wants out of life in any given period of time (e.g., one year, five years, ten years, or longer periods of time) is measurable, and I offer this type of insight through my profiles.

Getting what one wants from life directly relates to success in career, finances, or love life, for example. Though success or failure can relate to other areas of life too, such as vitality and physical health.

Knowledge is power. For example, if you know your potential hire is highly likely to get what she wants out of life with her career and money over the next several years, it’s that much more likely she’ll be a good hire.

If you know a rival hedge fund manager isn’t likely to get what he wants out of life over the next decade, contrasting greatly with successfully getting what he wanted over the past twenty years, you can confidently avoid mirroring his investments in the financial markets.

If you know a potential business partner is likely to get what he wants in his career in the foreseeable future, you gain peace of mind that partnering with him is a good idea.

The applications are endless. Knowing in advance when any given person will face fierce headwinds (or tail-winds) in any given area in his life gives you priceless leverage.

Gaining leverage is often necessary to limit your risk. Greatly decrease your vulnerability and increase the likelihood of success with my penetrating profiles.

Copyright © 2023 Scott Petullo

Inside information about personality characteristics is power.

In a perfect world you wouldn't have to worry about gaining leverage in your career or personal life. But the real world demands that you do so in order to protect your interests.

Success doesn't require you to be a genius, but exploiting an edge can make a huge difference and help you prepare for potential peril.

Everyone has their own unique strengths and weaknesses and nobody is perfect. Even the most trivial details about your adversary's personality can be used to gain an advantage in negotiations or other matters.

Traditional security investigations, personality self-tests, and psychologist interviews are some of the ways you can get to know someone. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend months with him and wait until he is under a lot of pressure.

“In tough times, that's when you see true colours and personality.”
Didier Deschamps

Unorthodox methods, including handwriting analysis and comprehensive astrology and numerology, are my preferred methods to really understand authentic personality. All you need to provide to me is a snapshot of their handwriting and their birth data.

Read more about handwriting analysis here. Read more about comprehensive astrology and numerology in my debate with an astrology skeptic blog post.

Below are select characteristics that I routinely determine through handwriting analysis and comprehensive astrology and numerology. The more excessive any given personality trait, the more easily it can be identified.

Thinkers vs. Feelers

An extremely analytical person without empathy can be cold as ice. But a predominantly feeling person without critical thinking skills can be easily manipulated.

Past oriented vs. Future oriented

A past oriented person is consumed with nostalgia and oftentimes regret. A future oriented person would rather focus on tomorrow.

Emotionally responsive vs. Self-absorbed

An emotionally responsive person would do anything for a loved one. A self-absorbed person wouldn’t.

Emotional security as primary motivation vs. Goal achievement vs. Material security oriented

There is nothing wrong with primarily being interested in emotional security (e.g., happy marriage), goal achievement, or financial security. The problem is being excessively motivated in one of these areas, to the detriment of the others.

Surface thinking vs. Deep thinking

Someone who is a surface thinker doesn’t care about why things happen. He will accept things at face value. The deep thinker wants to know why things happen and won’t automatically accept the consensus view.

In touch with feelings vs. Detached

Those strongly in touch with their feelings might be swayed through an emotional plea. Those who distance themselves from their feelings would be more objective.

Open-minded vs. Closed minded

Open-minded people are receptive to new ideas. Judgmental people, generally, aren’t.

Intellectually sharp vs. Slow, methodical thinker

Although the intellectual typically believes himself to be shrewd, all too often the unsophisticated person has more common sense. “Smart-stupid” people, particularly if they are biased, can be influenced just as easily as anyone else.

Detail-oriented vs. Big-picture

Excessively detail-oriented people tend to get lost in the trivialities. Big-picture people tend to see the overall idea, but might miss the finer points.

Greedy vs. Generous

Excessive desire for acquisition of money can be a vulnerability. But so can being too altruistic.

Vanity vs. Modesty

The narcissist can be manipulated through excessive praise. But those who are too modest might give too much away.

Savior complex vs. Egoist

Those with a savior complex would “do the right thing,” excessively, to her detriment. But self-seekers make it all about themselves.

Secretive vs. Forthcoming

A lack of transparency can cause big problems. But someone who is too candid might reveal information that is supposed to remain secret.

Lack of Integrity vs. Honorable

Knowing you’re dealing with someone who has great difficulty living by her asserted convictions can help you prepare for the worst. Though the righteous might be more easily controlled in negotiations.

Self-deception vs. Objectivity

Someone with excessive rationalization might fool himself into settling for something less than he would otherwise. Yet the world sometimes seems bleak to those who squarely face the cold, hard realities of life.

Defiance vs. Submission

Those who are defiant won’t give an inch. But those who are too submissive are doormats.

Excessive sensitivity to criticism vs. Not caring what others think

Those with excessive sensitivity to criticism might hold back, but those without any inhibitions could act inappropriately.

Problematic emotional balance vs. Stoic

While under pressure, those with problematic emotional balance lapse into a childish disposition. But those who are too stoic might be repressing their emotions, leading to an eventual blow up.

Gaining leverage is often necessary to limit your risk. Greatly decrease your vulnerability by knowing the other person, beyond the everyday persona, with my penetrating profiles.   

Copyright © 2023 Scott Petullo

Knowing how to identify and hire winners is vital to your business success.

There are many ways to identify and hire winners. I recommend you use multiple evaluation methods, including both conventional and unconventional means.

Below I list five crucial concerns that you must address to identify and hire winners.

These five principles also apply to those you partner with in business, and who you choose to partner with romantically.

Are his personality strengths and motivations a good fit for the demands of the job? One surefire way to identify real personality strengths and challenges is through handwriting analysis, which identifies subconscious character. Subconscious character is the real personality, beyond the persona that you see during the interview process.

Besides authentic strengths and challenges, actual motivations are critical to identify. For example, you want to hire someone who is motivated by money, not creative expression or leadership, if he is in a commission sales position.

Note: I understand if you’re skeptical of handwriting analysis. Rest assured, handwriting analysis is an authentic science. It’s one of the most objective and non-discriminatory forms of personality analysis. Handwriting analysis can’t be manipulated, unlike psychological multiple-choice tests and other self-executed character assessment methods.

Do any red flag personality issues make her a bad fit for the job? Everyone has his or her own unique personality challenges. But questionable personality traits that are at great odds with the potential success of the job result in trouble. For example, excessive secretiveness would lead to wasted time in having to pry information out of her, and excessive conflict avoidance yields a risk of subordinates or competitors manipulating her into a decision involving less discord. Remember, the real personality doesn't appear until he or she is under pressure.

Is his personal power waning? If you hire someone based on his past success it can sometimes work out. However, if his personal power is declining you'll be hiring someone who isn't likely to meet your expectations. Pattern recognition involving comprehensive astrology and numerology is one way to know the general inclination of a person's future life circumstances. In other words, it's possible to know if he is ascending within his career (or the opposite), making him a great hire. After all, if he's going to shine, so will your business.

Note: I sympathize with skeptics of astrology and numerology. I don’t believe in the types of astrology and numerology you’ve been exposed to either. My debate with an astrology skeptic offers more information. 

Is she heading toward trouble and a downward correction in life? Dramatically falling from grace is discernible in the comprehensive astrology and numerology patterns. The details of downward corrections vary, but typically involve loss of money and status. It’s better to know the probabilities in advance and pass her by so she doesn’t take you down with her.

Is the potential hire compatible with you and the success of your business? The better the compatibility, as measured by comprehensive astrology and numerology, and handwriting analysis, the more she will represent the success of your business.

Extremes are easy to measure: an individual with whom you have fantastic compatibility or one with whom you have horrible compatibility. With the former, everything seems to go right. With the latter, everything seems to go wrong. Find out ahead of time about your compatibility so you can stop wasting time with the wrong people.

Authentic compatibility isn’t a choice. The compatibility between every pair of individuals is as exclusive as your fingerprints, it’s unchangeable, and it’s measurable.

Whichever methods you use to identify and hire winners, make sure you're able to effectively scrutinize the five areas of interest above. You have the option to successfully identify and hire winners who will help take your business to the next level.

Copyright © 2023 Scott Petullo

How to find your calling should be a class in high school. Everyone has a calling, but not everyone has an easy time identifying it.

The first thing you need to do to find your calling is to realize that it may be something you’re already good at and that you like doing. If you’re resourceful enough, you can turn almost any hobby into a career.

In my view, everyone has a divine purpose, something you’ve agreed to do before you were born, and it may be more important than your career. For example, it may include one or more of the following: being a good friend, sibling, mother, or father; empowering others; standing up for human rights and freedom; speaking the truth; being who you are instead of being who someone else wants you to be; doing the work you do, no matter how inconsequential it seems.

Ask yourself these questions to help discover your calling:

1. In which classes or activities in school did you excel?
2. What did you want to do for a career before the age of 10?
3. What did you want to do for a career before the age of 18?
4. What have you always wanted to do but lacked the resources or courage?
5. What's the hardest challenge you've mastered in your life?
6. What do you really enjoy doing in life now (e.g., types of projects, pastimes, activities, social gatherings, etc.)?
7. What do you believe you are good at now? What do others consider you good at? Is there something you could teach if called on to do so?
8. What types of skills or talents have been most responsible for your successes?
9. Is there a particular skill you would like to have (e.g., artistic talent, analytical ability, writing ability, persuasive ability, etc.)?
10. Think of the last time you were so involved in what you were doing that you lost track of time and didn't even feel like you were working. What were you doing?
11. What makes you feel like you are in the right place at the right time, forgetting about life's problems? What gives you the most joy?
12. What do you want to be known for?
13. If you were paid enough, what would you do for a career, no matter how crazy it sounds (e.g., professional socialite, warrior, philosopher, etc.)?
14. If you could go back in time and be any sort of person you would like for a year, what would you be (e.g., explorer, knight, hunter, merchant, princess, king, nun, Geisha, temple priest, etc.)?
15. What charitable causes do you most strongly identify with (e.g., veterans, helping the elderly, needy children, cancer patients, the homeless, etc.)?
16. What matters to you most at this point in your life, what do you value most? Rank each of these on a scale of 1-10, 1 being lowest, 5 being neutral, 10 being highest: _____ Education _____ Family _____ Social life _____ Romantic relationships _____ Leisure (vacations, travel, etc.) _____ Money _____ Work that you feel inspired and fulfilled by _____ Recognition/fame
17. What do you really want in life? What will you be happy with?
18. What type of person do you respect the most? Rank each of these types on a scale of 1-10, 1 being lowest, 5 being neutral, 10 being highest: _____ Political leader (such as a senator or president of a country) _____ Small business owner _____ CEO of large corporation _____ Stay at home mother _____ Blue-collar worker _____ Famous writer _____ Starving artist _____ Professional athlete _____ Skilled tradesperson _____ Intellectually courageous metaphysician/psychic _____ Comedian _____ Lawyer _____ Business consultant _____ Astrologer _____ Behind the scenes partner in a business _____ Business to business salesperson _____ Accountant _____ Scientist _____ Actor _____ Volunteer worker _____ Billionaire philanthropist
19. Do any of these careers appeal to you? Rank each of these on a scale of 1-10, 1 being least appealing, 5 being neutral, 10 being most appealing to you: _____ MBA business management position _____ Police officer _____ Entertainer _____ Graphic designer _____ Social worker _____ Teacher _____ Engineer _____ Business consultant _____ Astrologer _____ Human resources management _____ Paralegal _____ Criminal investigator _____ Lawyer _____ Office worker _____ Military _____ Holistic health _____ Child care taker _____ Psychologist _____ Healer _____ Accountant _____ Therapist _____ Homemaker _____ Artist _____ Musician _____ Dancer _____ Scientist _____ Clergy _____ Politics _____ Government
20. Respond to this statement with the Very first response that comes to mind: “If I knew what I wanted to do and was doing it I’d be ______________________."

My long-term findings show me that the more you are in sync with your calling, the less inner conflict you will experience, the happier you are, and the more your life “flows.”

Regarding money, you might have heard something like this fanciful myth from a motivational speaker: “All you have to do is find your divine purpose and all the success and riches will be yours.” The truth is, when you find your best path, it may not include riches and widespread recognition, and that’s okay.

Follow these tips to find your calling:

1. Get centered. Detach from your inner fears, defenses, and daily mind dramas. Meditation, or getting away and spending time in nature helps a lot.
2. Learn about your subconscious mind. You can’t control it, but you can detach from it through meditation and other disciplines that put you in a zone, which helps you more easily focus on what’s really important to you.
3. Get rid of faulty beliefs, such as the New Age myth that you can avoid all personal adversity. My findings show that personal adversity serves a distinct purpose in life.
4. Understand that not everyone is supposed to discover their calling in life at a young age. It’s also common to have several callings over the course of your life, and you may not find the one you really enjoy until later in life.
5. Use the power of gratitude and faith. Be grateful for where you are now and have faith that you will be where you want to be.
6. If you need help identifying what really motivates you, consider the services of a well-trained handwriting analyst or other professional. Additionally, through my work I can tell you if you are best suited to work in an existing structure (e.g., corporate employee, licensee or franchisee, etc.), or if you are more suited for independent action. My systems of analysis based on comprehensive astrology and numerology won’t tell me the exact livelihood for which you are best suited, but I can certainly help you narrow it down.
7. Be receptive to unconventional callings. A traditional job may be right for some, and an unusual livelihood may be right for others.

Here’s a very good article to further help you find your calling in life.

Follow your interests, regardless of what others around you think. Doing what’s best for you is better than having regrets later in life.

No matter how insignificant your calling seems to be, it’s vital to your destiny, and probably a lot more important to the fate of others than you realize.

Copyright © 2022 Scott Petullo

The following beginner's guide to astrology can be used in conjunction with the information Scott offers in periodic blog posts, such as dates and times of astrological phenomena including, but not limited to, select transits, solar and lunar eclipses, retrogrades, New Moons, and Full Moons.

Would you like to see how astrology reflects your life’s circumstances and possibly even benefit from that wisdom?

By tracking some easy-to-follow, elementary, universal considerations in this beginner's guide to astrology, you can get some idea.

Watch how they relate to your basic natal chart, and you can get more of an idea.

Observe how they connect to your collective natal charts, and you can get an even better understanding and even avoid some of life’s hassles and capitalize on positive trends.

Sporadic vs. Everlasting Timing Indicators

Transits, conjunctions, retrogrades, eclipses, Moon Voids of Course, and other commonly known astrological occurrences are considered intermittent indicators because they are sometimes active and sometimes not.

For example, solar eclipses occur between two and five times every year, yet during the bulk of the time they are not a concern at all.

Another example is the supposed harsh transit of Saturn through your natal 7^th house, the house of love relationships and marriage (among other things). While it’s true it can represent relationship troubles and even collapse, depending on supporting or mitigating natal and timing indicators, this transit only happens for about 2.5 years every approximately 29.5 years.

The meager, temporary functioning symbolism of irregular cycles, which are heavily favored in modern astrology, is a problem in prediction. Modern astrology, unfortunately, rejects most of the more valuable predictive methods of ancient astrology and number mysticism, such as using natal patterns to forecast, making use of the cycles represented by uniquely potent natal heavenly bodies and other natal factors, and using uninterrupted cycles such as 3, 7, 12, 19, or 27-year cycles, which have proven to be of more value.

NOTE: The infrequent cosmic events outlined in this beginner's guide to astrology amount to less than 10% of a reasonably solid system of checks and balances. They are mostly modifying indicators and are best used to firm up an existing comprehensive analysis derived from perpetual cycles (astrological and numerological). However, the factors in this beginner's guide to astrology are easy to track. Doing so allows you to grasp the omnipresent, cyclical nature of reality. They can even help you plan your days and have more success reaching your goals. Comprehensive astrology and numerology, beyond the scope of the information presented in this beginner's guide to astrology, are the dialects of personal fate. They are as complex as any foreign languages and must be utilized correctly for respectable accuracy rates.

Today it’s common to hear of someone (even a professional) erroneously linking a single universal astrological or numerological consideration to a specific happening, such as, “Venus is in Libra so people are more pleasant.” There’s a reason the science of astrology isn’t in very good standing today; the immeasurable amount of misinformation on the topic in circulation on the Internet and in print makes a mockery of the ancient tradition. This beginner's guide to astrology offers important points to help you cut through the haze and gain more clarity about astrology.

Seven Crucial Truths Regarding Astrology and Numerology:

1. Any single universal indicator, even the most notorious, relates to any given person in a unique way, in various amounts of reward or challenge. The universal energy is important, but how it harmonizes with your natal charts prevails.
2. Even the worst of the universal indicators may not apply to you personally or symbolically make any impact whatsoever on your life.
3. Any one indicator’s energy (negative or positive, balanced, over-balanced, or under-balanced) alone may be corroborated or even completely mitigated by the energy of the rest of the indicators (500+) in the comprehensive charts. Therefore, focusing on only one or even a handful of indicators to delineate or predict is unwise.
4. Numerous universal afflictions are always transpiring at any given time. The more commonly known ones include retrogrades, eclipses, and Moon Voids of Course, for instance.
5. Nothing “affects” you in astrology or numerology; it symbolizes. Indicators don’t “make” something happen. Also, collections of indicators, not single ones, represent life circumstances. There is no “this means that” (a single factor relating to a specific life circumstance or personality trait) in astrology or numerology.
6. In order to predict something in someone’s life using astrology and numerology, you must first delineate it in the natal patterns. If the particular circumstance or event doesn’t show up in the natal patterns (i.e., very low probability or worse), it won’t show up in the subject’s life; at least it won’t show up in a favorable way and endure. This basic principle, along with unavoidable (and predictable) personal adversity that serves a spiritual purpose, is a cornerstone of the science, which peaked in the Middle Ages. Since the Age of Reason (1600s), astrology has been in a state of decline, with today's market forces making it mostly a form of entertainment promoted largely by creative types and those who lack critical thinking skills.
7. Astrology and numerology are complicated sciences of cross-referencing pattern recognition involving delineation and prediction. Individual indicators form patterns, which symbolize circumstances, events, personality, compatibility, and more. Astrology and numerology are languages as difficult to learn as any other. Though once you learn astrology and numerology, you can’t easily explain these sciences to someone who hasn’t studied them due to their complexity.

As mentioned above, tracking such minor factors serves as a valuable introduction to the ever-present cyclical nature of life.

Astrology Basics

It’s not easy relaying exactly how you should view each astrological dynamic in this beginner's guide to astrology without trivializing the science. But here are some very, very generalized meanings of the ten core heavenly bodies:

Sun = vitality, recognition, conscious identity, charisma
Moon = inner being, personality desires, moods, emotional self
Mercury = communication, messages, mind, changeability
Venus = pleasure, socially-oriented matters, romantic life
Mars = utilization of energy, action, aggression, strife, dissension
Jupiter = abundance, philosophy, opportunity, ease, expansion
Saturn = restraint, challenges, endurance, fear, anxiety, efficiency
Uranus = the unexpected, technology, unconventional, individuality
Neptune = dreams, fantasy, deception, illusion, idealism
Pluto = power, transformation, upheaval, destruction, renewal

Keep in mind that there is much more to each heavenly body than listed in the beginner's guide to astrology. For example, Saturn has a bad reputation for being all about hardship and restriction. But if you have a very potent, healthy, well-placed natal Saturn, for instance, it’s not symbolic of limitation but of opportunity, unique to its condition, sign, placement, and everything connected to it. A healthy, well-placed Saturn can symbolize wealth, as an example.

Another example could involve Jupiter, which is commonly known to be symbolic of rewards and the good things in life. However, if your natal Jupiter is in very bad shape, it’s possible that it could represent tragic excess and over-indulgence if supported by other indicators.

Signs

Basic sign particulars are as follows:
Aries = action-oriented, drive to be on top
Taurus = propensity toward material and sensual things in life
Gemini = clever, eclectic, mentally oriented
Cancer = oriented toward emotions and home
Leo = propensity to seek honor and the spotlight
Virgo = critical analysis, details, discernment, precision
Libra = evenhanded, socially inclined, diplomatic
Scorpio = mysterious, control-oriented, acute intensity
Sagittarius = independence, freedom, adventure, idealism
Capricorn = determined, calculating, pragmatic
Aquarius = humane, need for autonomy, originality, inventive
Pisces = sensitivity, feelings, compassion

To give you a very basic idea of planet and sign combinations, combine Mercury and Aquarius, for instance, and you could have original thinking, contingent on other factors. Or, blend Venus and Taurus, and it might equate to a strong interest in romance and, or sex, depending on other considerations.

Elements

The elements of the signs offer some additional basic awareness. Generally, fire and air are harmonious, and earth and water are harmonious. Also, each element commonly blends well with itself (fire and fire, etc.). But just keep in mind there’s a lot more to compatibility assessment than signs and elements.

Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Fire = dynamism, vigor
Earth = sensibleness, pragmatism, tactics
Air = active mind, communication
Water = compassion, empathy, feelings

Ptolemaic Aspects

Even though contemporary astrology, in my view, emphasizes Ptolemaic aspects too much, it’s good to have an understanding of them. They relate to the amount of ease or friction between two entities or points (such as between two planets or between an Arabic Part and the Ascendant, etc.).

The major Ptolemaic aspects consist of oppositions (180 degree angle), conjunctions (0 degree angle), squares (90 degree angle), trines (120 degree angle), and sextiles (60 degree angle).

The “hard” aspects include oppositions, conjunctions, and squares, and they typically symbolize life’s challenges, which many people consider to be opportunities in a spiritual sense.

Oppositions include the following:
Aries is opposed to Libra.
Taurus is opposed to Scorpio.
Gemini is opposed to Sagittarius.
Cancer is opposed to Capricorn.
Leo is opposed to Aquarius.
Virgo is opposed to Pisces.

Square aspects are combinations of signs that are of different elements (see above), like Scorpio with Aquarius, and suggest challenge and tension.

Conjunctions (same sign combinations) relate to an intensification of the sign’s energy and are sometimes positive and sometimes negative, depending on related factors.

Trine aspects are combinations of signs that are of the same element, such as Cancer with Pisces, and are largely harmonious, as are sextile aspects: combinations of signs that are of compatible but in different elements, such as Scorpio with Capricorn.

Moon opposing Sun, as what happens during a Full Moon, is an example of two heavenly bodies in aspect.

The Horoscope and Houses

Horoscopic astrology, which includes the basic astrology chart system with its Ascendant (the degree of the rising Eastern horizon at the chart's inception), or "rising sign," and house divisions, is believed to have originated in Hellenistic Egypt (approximately 330 BC – 30 BC).

It's inappropriate that much of today's Sun sign astrology (i.e., poetry and entertainment) is referred to as horoscopes, since it has nothing to do with the Ascendant.

Natal astrology involves establishing horoscopic charts (natal charts) at the precise time and location of a person's birth to determine personality traits and fated life circumstances and events.

Basic meanings of the 12 house divisions:
1^st house = self, physical body, talent, life force
2^nd house = money, possessions, personal resources, earning ability
3^rd house = siblings, communication, state of mind, neighbors, education
4^th house = home, father, family, real estate, end of life, endings, and new starts
5^th house = social life, love life, sex, pleasures, performing arts, speculation, children
6^th house = work, service to others, health—minor illnesses, work environment, skills
7^th house = partnerships, relationships, marriage, litigation, public relations
8^th house = matters relating to death, taxes, inheritance, other people’s money, sex, and the occult
9^th house = international interests, spirituality and religion, higher education, publishing
10^th house = career, status, public honor or scandal, your actions and fate
11^th house = friends, clubs, associations, wishes, rewards from others, goals
12^th house = health—major illnesses, limitation, secret enemies, self-undoing, confinement, large organizations, secret activity, inner world

Please keep in mind that the meanings listed above in this beginner's guide to astrology are only a preview.

A very simplified illustration of a heavenly body in a house includes Mars in the 7^th house, which could imply discord in partnerships. In order to authenticate such a life circumstance, it would have to be corroborated by the collective natal patterns, comprised of multiple indicators.

Phases of the Moon

The Moon orbits the Earth through an approximate 29.53-day cycle. The phases of the Moon are as follows:

New Moon
Crescent Moon
First Quarter Moon
Waxing Gibbous Moon
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous Moon
Last Quarter Moon
Balsamic Moon

New Moon rises and sets with the Sun; it is conjunct (in the same sign) the Sun. Full Moon is opposed the Sun (in the opposite sign).

Generally, the period between the New Moon and Full Moon is viewed as favorable, and the period between the Full Moon and New Moon is unfavorable. But don’t be alarmed if you were born between a Full Moon and New Moon, as it’s only one consideration of hundreds in doing comprehensive analysis. By itself, this indication is not directly symbolic of a blessed or wretched life by any means.

Pay attention to which house in your basic natal chart the New and Full Moons occur. Full Moon in your 4^th house, for example, draws attention to life concerns connected to the 4^th house (home, domestic life, father, family, real estate, etc.).

Eclipses

Solar and lunar eclipses usually occur within the same 29.53-day cycle of the Moon (solar eclipse during New Moon, lunar eclipse during Full Moon) and take place between 2 and 5 times each year.

During a solar eclipse (which is always during a New Moon), the Moon moves between the Earth and Sun, masking part of the Sun, and the Moon’s shadow hits the Earth. Only during the New Moon periods, when the Moon’s shadow connects with the Earth, does the solar eclipse happen.

The Moon is eclipsed during a lunar eclipse (which is always during a Full Moon), which is to say the Moon travels through the Earth’s shadow during a Full Moon, but this doesn’t happen every Full Moon, just as a solar eclipse doesn’t happen every New Moon.

Astrologically, eclipses relate to, in part, symbolic death and rebirth or transformation. Generally, important beginnings can relate to solar eclipses, and key endings can be symbolic of lunar eclipses. Breakthroughs, in some way or another, tend to be themes.

For instance, if you have natal Moon and 10th house cusp (MC, or Midheaven, the peak or apex of the basic natal chart) close enough by degree in the same sign to a particular lunar eclipse, it’s one potential sign of many that you have some significant changes and completions going on at that time in relation to your 10th (career, status, actions, etc.) and Moon (emotions, habits, personality needs/the inner self, behavior patterns, etc.—the definitions I list here are only meant to offer only a preview).

New and Full Moons, which include eclipses, are periods of intensified energy and emotions (more so during a Full Moon/lunar eclipse), and unexpected occurrences are common. On average, the heightened sense of liveliness and even drama of each spans 10 days prior and 3 days after an eclipse, with the intensity peaking at the time of the eclipse.

Eclipses can be symbolic of weighty changes, and during eclipse energy it’s a good idea to be extra cautious about important purchases, signing legal documents or contracts, working out the details of vital arrangements in your business, career, or personal life, and any other higher-than-average risk-oriented areas of concern.

Be wary of inspired and, or unusual ideas that you develop near and during an eclipse if they involve financial or other risk of any kind because chances are higher than usual they won’t manifest as you expect due to your reasoning being somewhat distorted. Wait a few weeks to review new ideas before initiating.

As always with all universal indicators, take notice of where it occurs in your natal charts.

Moon Voids of Course

Moon Void of Course is, in my opinion, a critical affliction. Yet as I always say, I recommend you avoid relying on only one or a few astrological or numerological indicators since a comprehensive approach involving hundreds of indicators is necessary in order to achieve consistently high levels of accuracy in prediction and outlining personality.

By itself, a Moon Void of Course is minor, but combined with several other key afflictions, it becomes more important. You can benefit even if Moon VOC is the only phenomenon you follow, but please acknowledge that there exist hundreds of other considerations, which, collectively, can symbolically void any given Moon VOC.

The Moon is intimately connected to your instincts, subconscious, and intuition, so any affliction or fortunate indicator connected to it is good to track in relation to your decision-making and perception. An appropriate analogy of Moon VOC is like traveling through an underground tunnel where your phone signal is cut off. During a Moon VOC, especially a worse-than-average one (Moon VOC varies in intensity—some are more dreadful than others depending on other indicators), you’re in a temporary vacuum, and your discernment is distorted. Time seems to slow down, your focus isn’t as clear, and unfounded fears and unrealistic ideas are more common.

NOTE: As with any consideration, how it relates to your personal comprehensive charts rules. If your natal Moon, for example, is the most potent heavenly body in your charts, then Moon VOC is more important to you.

The Moon orbits the Earth just about every 29.53 days and spends an average of 2.5 days in each of the 12 astrological signs. The Moon is Void of Course if it fails to form a major Ptolemaic aspect with another planet before it leaves the sign it’s in. The duration of a Moon VOC can be as brief as 10 minutes or as long as about two days.

Also, it’s been said that an area of concern, such as the initiation of a new enterprise, under a Moon VOC will “come to nothing,” but I believe that’s only true if the other relative considerations support the notion en masse. Still, it’s a fascinating astrological indicator to track.

During a Moon Void of Course, do:
*Routine work.
*Creative hobbies.
*Routine cleaning.
*Exercise.
*Relax.

During a Moon Void of Course, don’t:
*Make important plans—they may not happen or will happen differently than expected.
*Brainstorm—new ideas never manifest or will backfire.
*Start anything new—things initiated are never finished or take much longer than expected to complete. If you meet someone during a VOC, the interaction will not be meaningless but probably different than you expected and may be short-lived.
*Buy anything of importance—purchases made will never be used, will break down, or will have to be returned for unforeseen reasons.
*Schedule important appointments: they may have to be changed or rescheduled.

If you would like to investigate this phenomenon, observe other people’s actions during Moon VOC. Without telling them about VOC, notice what plans they make, what they purchase, the people they meet, and the ideas they generate under the Moon VOC.

Your perception about a new acquaintance, for example, during a Moon VOC is much more likely to be inaccurate. Sudden apprehension often proves to be baseless: you wake up after a nightmare during a Moon VOC, and you’re concerned about the terrible vision of a friend in danger, yet it never manifests. However, overeating and drinking, and otherwise generating an ill-at-ease feeling through overconsumption is common, as are things like overlooking your time in the sun and inadvertently getting a bad sunburn.

Four classic examples of Moon VOC related occurrences:

1. You meet a new friend during a Moon VOC. Although you realize it’s a VOC, it seems to be a great connection, yet later you attempt to get together a few times, but your schedules never coincide. Then, a couple of months later, your new friend tells you she’s relocating to a different country.
2. During a VOC you’re suddenly concerned about a physical symptom you’ve just become aware of, and you’re panicked about your well-being. After consulting with your doctor, you realize that your fears were unfounded and it was only a reaction to something you ate.
3. You get dressed one morning during a Moon VOC and realize later that what seemed like a great fashion choice turned out to be a fashion crime.
4. Your Internet connection completely disappears during a long Moon VOC and you’re worried you may not be able to access the Internet for days. A couple hours later you regain your Internet access.

Additional information about Moon Voids of Course, along with a full Moon Void of Course calendar, can be found in the Direct Your Destiny e-package.

Transits

I view transits and other minor indicators mentioned in this beginner's guide to astrology as modifiers. For example, transiting (i.e., in motion) Moon in Taurus is an exalted Moon and lends a distinct flavor (the specific type depends on your natal indicators) to whichever house in your basic natal chart it’s moving through.

Saturn transits (and everything connected to them) are, in my view, some of the more important transits to watch.

At the time of writing this beginner's guide to astrology (January 2010), Saturn is at about 4 degrees Libra (each sign has 30 degrees). It takes roughly 2.5 years to move through each sign. About every 7 years it moves through an angular house (1st, 4th, 7th, or 10^th house) in your basic natal chart. Angular houses are more important; they represent the most potent positions (1^st and 10^th in particular) of the fundamental natal figure. If you have a Libra Ascendant, for example, Saturn is hitting your 1st house at this time.

This is to say it brings the energy of the universal transit to your 1^st house, along with the significance of your exclusive natal Saturn energy to your 1st house. The uniqueness would be different for each person, and you must factor in everything else that is connected to your natal Saturn (e.g., its ruler or rulers, Ptolemaic aspects, fixed stars, et al.) and first house.

If a heavenly body in a person’s comprehensive charts is the most potent heavenly body of their natal configurations, special emphasis is given to related universal considerations. For example, if Venus dominates a person’s natal charts, it’s a good idea to watch anything universal related to Venus more carefully.

Again, you must look at any universal indicator in relation to the person’s distinctive, comprehensive charts. First contemplate the planet or heavenly body. Then consider the sign. Then take into account its location, the specific natal house it is in. That is a good start.

Miscellaneous tips about transits:
*Pay attention to transits of Mars, Saturn, and any planet or heavenly body in your natal charts that dominates. Also watch when such transiting heavenly bodies enter your natal 1^st, 4^th, 7^th, or 10^th houses (the angular houses of your basic natal chart), as well as when universal indicators replicate your natal indicators, such as Universal Year of 2014/7 matching your year of birth of 1960/7, or when Sun squares Saturn, if your natal configurations include that. Also notice what transpires when they (Saturn and Mars) connect with your Sun, Moon, or Ascendant through hard aspect (conjunction, square, and opposition).
*Transits symbolically temper the collective energy of the other, more important indicators, such as constantly-in-effect cycles like 3, 7, 12, or 19-year cycles, cycles represented by natal patterns, and cyclical timing phases symbolized by outstandingly potent natal considerations, and other factors. By themselves, transits aren’t significant enough to reflect key life circumstances. They are useful to firm up an existing comprehensive analysis, and they can help to give you an idea of the cyclical nature of life and how it is reflected by astrology.
*Planetary returns are beneficial to take notice of. A return is when it moves all the way around the basic natal figure, back to where it was when you were born, such as a lunar return, which is when the Moon enters the same sign (and exact degree to narrow it down) as it was in when you were born (which happens every approximately 29.53 days).

Each heavenly body transits as follows:
Sun remains in each sign for about 30 days, on average
Moon remains in each sign for about 2.5 days, on average
Mercury remains in each sign for about 18 days, on average
Venus remains in each sign for about 18 days, on average
Mars remains in each sign for about 50 days, on average
Jupiter remains in each sign for about 1 year, on average
Saturn remains in each sign for about 2.5 years, on average
Uranus remains in each sign for about 7 years, on average
Neptune remains in each sign for about 12 years, on average
Pluto remains in each sign for about 20 years, on average

Retrogrades

Though retrogrades aren’t really about planets actually spinning around and reversing course, retrograde planets look like they reverse direction during retrograde. It only appears so because of our vantage point in viewing the retrograde planet’s orbit during Earth’s orbit. A post-retrograde planet (i.e., when it goes “direct”) appears to turn back around and move forward. It then continues to progress through the astrological signs.

Retrogrades are an affliction, but don’t get too concerned about it. It’s only one of many possible afflictions, and any one retrograde by itself won’t symbolically wreack havoc on your life, nor does a retrograde planet in your natal configurations symbolize misfortune by itself.

As with any universal event, watch where it occurs in your natal configurations.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all appear to go in retrograde motion every once in a while. At least one of these planets is retrograde at any point in time, and the further it is away from the Sun, the longer the duration of retrograde.

Every retrograde has three periods, including the first “station” when it turns retrograde, the second “station” when it stops going retrograde, and when it moves direct again, advancing through the signs.

Approximate Duration and Frequency of Retrogrades, on Average:
Mercury: 24 days, about every 4 months
Venus: 42 days, about every 18 months
Mars: 80 days, about every 2 years
Jupiter: 120 days, about once every year
Saturn: 140 days, about once every year
Uranus: 150 days, about once every year
Neptune: 160 days, about once every year
Pluto: 160 days, about once every year

Retrograde periods are reflective of reconsideration, reviewing the past (and potentially finding solutions to old problems), delays, holding back, internalizing, repressing, rear-view mirror perspective, reviewing existing ideas, et al. Combine these concepts with the planet’s energy (see below) to get a better idea.

Mercury = communication, messages, mind, changeability
Venus = pleasure, socially-oriented matters, romantic life
Mars = utilization of energy, action, aggression, strife, dissension
Jupiter = abundance, philosophy, opportunity, ease, expansion
Saturn = restraint, challenges, endurance, fear, anxiety, efficiency
Uranus = the unexpected, technology, unconventional, individuality
Neptune = dreams, fantasy, deception, illusion, idealism
Pluto = power, transformation, upheaval, destruction, renewal

Someone born under Mars retrograde is more likely to (depending on other factors), in part, naturally direct their energy inward vs. outward, resulting in repression, and a Mars retrograde is more important to that person. During Mars retrograde period, there is an increased focus on faulty execution of personal energy, for example, but again, the phenomenon is unique to each person—for some it’s a non-event, for others it represents key life circumstances, if supported by other indicators.

Or, someone born with Mercury Retrograde might have a higher tendency than average for subjective thought when an objective viewpoint is required.

Mercury retrograde is one of the most well-known astrological events, aside from the phases of the Moon. It occurs about every four months, lasting about 24 days as outlined above (excluding pre- and post-retrograde energy periods).

Mercury retrograde is notoriously known for such things as communication screw-ups and misunderstandings, computer and other technology glitches, travel delays, scheduling conflicts, machinery break-downs, setbacks, and complications with new project launches. But Mercury retrograde doesn’t make such things happen, just as any astrological or numerological consideration doesn’t affect your reality; it’s just symbolic of the circumstances. As above, so below.

Re-doing things, reconsidering matters, slowing down and exercising a bit more caution in relation to communication, and finishing up projects that are already in motion are appropriate for Mercury retrograde.

Note that if the planet Mercury isn’t a potent planet in your natal comprehensive charts, then Mercury retrograde won’t be as much of an issue for you. However, if you have Mercury retrograde in your natal configurations, any Mercury retrogrades will be more important to you, depending on other indicators.

Also pay attention to where a transiting retrograde planet falls in your natal charts: if it’s in an angular house (1^st, 4^th, 7^th, or 10^th), it’s more important to you than if it were in a cadent (weak) house, such as 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th, or 12^th.

Too much importance is given to Mercury retrograde, in my opinion—it’s too often the scapegoat for life’s challenges when it really isn’t the problem, while dozens of other indicators are collectively more symbolic of the particular events and circumstances.

One key point to keep in mind is that up to 17-28 days before Mercury goes retrograde (pre-retrograde period), Mercury retrograde related-circumstances can be worse than the actual retrograde period. Also, the second half of the approximate 24-day Mercury retrograde period usually, overall, goes more smoothly than the first half.

It’s recommended to be cautious of great new ideas involving any risk during Mercury retrograde periods because after Mercury retrograde it’s typical to see the idea from a different angle (i.e., more clearly), changing your view of its prospects.

By all means, go ahead with anything you have planned during retrogrades or other universal afflictions mentioned in this article, but just make sure to be a little more cautious in your dealings.

If you were born under the retrograde period of any of the following planets, listed are possible personality traits:
Mercury: subjectivity, over-analysis, possible trouble with written or spoken communication
Venus: later than usual marriage or meaningful love relationships, repression of love-related emotions and affection, relationship issues, social/sexual withdrawal
Mars: aggravation, drive, and personal energy are subdued, possible eventual sublimation of aggression into constructive initiative, impulsiveness, and timidity
Jupiter: rewards come later in life, comfortable with solitude, truth seeker, extravagance, recklessness, muted eagerness, and excitement
Saturn: anxiety, frustration, burdens, father absent or inactive, success is more difficult to come by, issues with authority (from either standpoint—as an authority as with misuse of power or with authority figures)
Uranus: eccentricity, inhibited sense of independence, possibly rebellious tendencies, unpredictable
Neptune: escapist tendencies, possible addiction problems, excessive imagination
Pluto: bottled-up personal power, secretive, possible control and power issues—either controlled by another person or possessing a controlling personality, possible past life pattern of being banished or sent into exile

Possible transiting retrograde circumstances of planets, Mercury through Pluto:
Mercury: past associations come back to you, communication and transportation problems
Venus: relationship concerns come up, past loves return, examination of relationships
Mars: enemies return, strife revisited, misdirected anger, anguish, destructive activity
Jupiter: assessment of life philosophies, questioning spiritual and religious beliefs
Saturn: decent time to restore, re-model, and reconstruct, goal reassessment, issues with authority, progress is sluggish
Uranus: unforeseen circumstances arise, technology problems, radicalism, restlessness
Neptune: illusion, dreams, and fantasies take over, possibly with detrimental effects, deception
Pluto: destruction and rebuilding, misplaced power, struggles, manipulation, secrets

Final Note

Retrogrades, eclipses, transits, progressions, Moon Voids of Course, solar returns, and other modifying agents are largely superficial compared to tried and true comprehensive charting methods and amount to less than 10% of all indicators and methods of a reliable comprehensive system. However, they do offer a decent introduction to the cyclical nature of life, as I say in this beginner's guide to astrology. Accuracy in prediction and delineation of character has everything to do with a solid system of checks and balances. It’s pattern recognition. If I find 88% of all possible natal indicators favoring recognition, for example, and that person is moving through favorable collective timing for recognition, they will be known.

Copyright © 2010 Scott Petullo

A Collection of My Blog Posts on Sex, Love Relationships, Compatibility, and More

The Truth About What is Fated in Life

Fate vs. Free Will: You Can’t Choose Your Tests in Life But You Can Prepare

Debate With an Astrology Skeptic

Astrology Accuracy: 5 Reasons Your Astrology Isn’t Accurate

Compatibility: It’s Either There or It’s Not, and It’s Measurable

The Ultimate Compatibility Test

Numerology and Astrology Q & A: Which Studies Prove Them Invalid?

The Cyclical Nature of Life Reflected by Various, Minor Astrology factors

Astrology, Numerology and Prediction: Timing of Predestined Events Q & A

The Truth About Your Real Astrological Sun Sign

Your Real Sign Hasn’t Changed and 11 Other Astrological Truths

Libra and Capricorn – Personality Similarities and Differences

Chinese Astrology Q&A: You Aren’t a Barnyard Animal

Fate vs. Free Will: Fate Always Prevails

More Information About Seeing the Same Numbers Over and Over

Addressing Handwriting Analysis Skepticism

5 Possible Ways to Understand and Outmaneuver Your Enemy

Handwriting analysis, or graphology, has long been celebrated as a window into actual character, revealing personality traits through the unique strokes of a pen. From ancient philosophers to modern psychologists, influential figures have lauded its ability to uncover the true essence of an individual.

The Historical Context of Graphology

Graphology, the study of handwriting to infer personality traits, has roots dating back to the 17th century, with significant developments in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, it gained traction in Europe, particularly in France and Germany, where intellectuals like Alfred Binet (who developed the first practical IQ test) explored its potential during a time when psychology was emerging as a discipline.

Much like astrology during the Middle Ages, as noted in this blog post, graphology was considered a serious field of study based on pattern recognition. Although modern science is commonly inclined to reject graphology, often due to a lack of peer-reviewed studies, there are many studies showing that peer review doesn’t enhance the accuracy of scientific work at all. The negative perception of graphology, similar to that of astrology, may arise from a lack of understanding of its historical context. Scroll to the end of this page for a list of scientific studies based on handwriting analysis.

In this blog post, I present a collection of quotes from graphology pioneers like Camillo Baldi and Jean-Hippolyte Michon, and literary giants like Shakespeare and Poe, all praising the power of handwriting analysis. These quotes showcase why graphology remains a fascinating tool for self-discovery and character assessment.

Quotes on Handwriting Analysis

“Handwriting is brainwriting; it is the mind’s direct imprint on the page.” William Peyer (1876–1945) – Child psychologist
Source: William Peyer, The Physiology of Writing (early 1900s). Note: Peyer’s work linked handwriting to neurological and psychological processes, supporting graphology’s scientific basis.

“Handwriting and character are inseparable; the pen reveals what the heart conceals.” Ludwig Klages (1872–1956) – German philosopher and graphologist
Source: Ludwig Klages, Handschrift und Charakter (1930). Note: Klages, a father of modern graphology, defined principles linking movement and personality, still influential today.

“Handwriting is a direct expression of the personality, as unique as a fingerprint.” Jules Crépieux-Jamin (1858–1940) – French physician and psychologist
Source: Jules Crépieux-Jamin, L’ABC de la Graphologie (1929). Note: Crépieux-Jamin, a student of Jean-Hippolyte Michon (see quote below), advanced graphology by advocating a holistic approach to handwriting analysis.

“Graphology is the science of the future.” Alfred Binet (1857–1911) – French Psychologist
Source: Alfred Binet, Les Signes Mentaux Inconscients, 1906. Note: Binet, renowned for developing the first practical IQ test, conducted research on graphology from 1893 to 1907.

“Writing is the mirror of the mind.” Charles Dickens (1812–1870) – English novelist
Source: Widely attributed to Dickens, but there’s no verified source. Note: Dickens’ interest in handwriting aligns with his era’s focus on character assessment, evident in his detailed literary characters.

“The handwriting of every person is as distinctive as their face.” Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) – American writer and poet
Source: Edgar Allan Poe, Autography (1926). Note: Poe’s “autography” work analyzed handwriting samples, reflecting his belief in their ability to reveal personality traits.

“The autographs of distinguished men have been, from time immemorial, objects of curiosity; but the science of autography, properly so called, is of recent origin.” Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) – American Author and Poet
Source: “A Chapter on Autography,” published in Graham’s Magazine, 1841.

“Graphology is the science of discovering character through handwriting.”
Jean-Hippolyte Michon (1806–1881) – French abbot, archaeologist, and founder of modern graphology
Source: Les Mystères de l’Écriture (1872). Note: Michon coined the term “graphology” and developed a systematic approach, making it a cornerstone of the field.

“Handwriting is the visible form of the invisible character.” Abbe Louis Flandrin (1808–1881) – French clergyman and graphology pioneer
Source: Attributed to Flandrin, though unverified in primary sources. Note: Flandrin, a mentor to Jean-Hippolyte Michon (see quote above), helped formalize graphology in France, emphasizing handwriting as an expression of inner traits.

“Every man’s signature is a key to his character.” Jules Michelet (1798–1874) – French historian
Source: Attributed to Michelet, cited in Graphology: A Historical Perspective by the International Graphology Association. Note: Michelet’s view reflects the 19th-century belief that handwriting reveals core personality traits.

“Give me the handwriting of a woman, and I will tell you her character.” William Shakespeare (1564–1616) – English playwright and poet
Source: Widely attributed to Shakespeare in graphology literature, though unverified in his works. Note: Shakespeare’s reputed endorsement reflects the Renaissance-era fascination with handwriting as a mirror of personality.

“From a letter one can recognize the nature and quality of the writer.” Camillo Baldi (1550–1637) – Italian physician, philosopher, and professor
Source: Camillo Baldi, How To Judge the Nature and the Character of a Person from His Letter (1622). Note: Baldi’s seminal work is considered the first published book on handwriting analysis, establishing graphology’s foundation by linking handwriting to character.

“The hand reveals the mind’s intent.” Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) – Italian polymath
Source: Adapted from A Treatise on Painting (c. 1490–1519, published 1651), Part I, Section 36, translated by John Francis Rigaud, 1802, p. 12. A Treatise on Painting is a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's writings on painting, originally entered in his notebooks under the general heading "On Painting." The manuscripts were compiled by his heir, Francesco Melzi, and were first published in an abridged version in France in 1651. The full treatise was published in its modern form in 1817 after Melzi's manuscript was rediscovered in the Vatican Library. Note: Leonardo’s original statement, discussing how artists’ hands express mental concepts in painting, reflects his belief in the connection between physical action and inner thought. While not specifically about handwriting analysis, it resonates with graphology’s view that handwriting mirrors the mind.

“Beware of a man whose writing sways like a reed in the wind.” Confucius (551–479 BC) – Chinese philosopher
Source: Attributed to Confucius, cited in modern graphology texts, including The History of Graphology by the British Institute of Graphologists.

The science of handwriting analysis continues to inspire, as seen in these quotes from historical giants like Confucius, Shakespeare, and Michon. Each quote underscores graphology’s power to reveal the details of personality through the simple act of writing.

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo

Blog Post At-A-Glance

Key Finding: 6 of the 12 (50%) deadliest earthquakes (1825–2025) occurred within 21 days of an eclipse, a rate higher than the expected 33%.

50-Year Snapshot: An estimated 105 of 250 (42%) fatal quakes (1975–2025) aligned with eclipses, a rate above chance.

Myanmar Case: The March 28, 2025, quake, killing up to 5,350, struck one day before a solar eclipse.

Astrological Lens: Eclipses may reflect, not cause, seismic events, per the Hermetic principle “That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below.”

Modern Science Says: Tectonic forces drive quakes; eclipse alignments are mere coincidence, despite intriguing patterns.

As an astrologer rooted in the Hermetic tradition and the work of astrologers and visionaries dating back over 2000 years ago, I see celestial events like eclipses as symbolic mirrors of earthly change and even upheaval, echoing Hermes Trismegistus’s wisdom: “That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below.” The Myanmar earthquake on March 28, 2025, striking just one day before a solar eclipse on March 29, 2025, sparked my curiosity again about whether eclipses might symbolize seismic shifts.

In astrology, eclipses often mark endings and new beginnings in an individual’s natal patterns, their symbolic impact shaped by their position and interplay with broader patterns.

While true astrological insight hinges on recognizing complex patterns beyond single indicators, exploring eclipse-quake alignments is a compelling starting point.

Below, I’m looking into the 12 deadliest earthquakes since 1825 to see if they align with eclipses within a 21-day window, then zooming in on fatal quakes—those with at least one death—from April 17, 1975, to April 17, 2025, with a special nod to Myanmar’s recent tremor.

I began with the 12 deadliest earthquakes since 1825, drawing from the USGS Earthquake Catalog and Wikipedia’s List of Earthquakes by Death Toll. I checked if a solar or lunar eclipse, tracked via NASA’s Eclipse Website and Time and Date website, occurred within 21 days before or after each quake—a 42-day window. Eclipses pop up about five times a year, so they’re not super rare, but if they’re hanging out near these catastrophic quakes, that’s worth a second glance.

The 2004 Indian Ocean quake, a tsunami-spawning monster that killed nearly 228,000 on December 26, had no eclipse nearby. The closest was a solar eclipse on October 14, 2004, 73 days earlier—way too far. The 1976 Tangshan quake in China, claiming around 242,000 lives on July 28, was also a miss, with a lunar eclipse on May 13, 1976, 76 days before.

But other quakes coincided with the eclipse window.

The 2010 Haiti quake, a tragedy on January 12 that took up to 316,000 lives, was practically framed by eclipses: a lunar one on December 31, 2009, 12 days before, and a solar eclipse on January 15, 2010, three days after.

The 2005 Kashmir quake in Pakistan, with about 87,351 deaths on October 8, was another cosmic hit, nestled between a solar eclipse on October 3, five days prior, and a lunar eclipse on October 17, nine days after. That’s two eclipses in the pocket.

The 1923 Kanto quake in Japan, which erased around 142,800 lives on September 1, had a lunar eclipse six days earlier on August 26.

The 1920 Haiyuan quake in China, with 234,000 deaths on December 16, was 19 days from a lunar eclipse on November 27.

The 1970 Ancash quake in Peru, with about 67,000 deaths on May 31, was 11 days after a solar eclipse on May 20.

The 1908 Messina quake in Italy, claiming around 80,000 on December 28, was bookended by a solar eclipse on December 23, five days before, and a lunar eclipse on January 3, 1909, six days after.

The rest fell short. The 1948 Ashgabat quake in Turkmenistan, with 110,000 deaths on October 6, was 26 days from a solar eclipse on November 1, 1948—just outside the window. The 2008 Sichuan quake in China, killing 87,587 on May 12, was 95 days from a solar eclipse on February 7, 2008. The 2023 Turkey–Syria quake, with up to 62,013 deaths on February 6, was 88 days from a lunar eclipse on May 5, 2023. The 1932 Gansu quake in China, with 70,000 deaths on December 25, was 194 days from a lunar eclipse on June 14, 1932.

So, the tally? Six of these 12 quakes—Haiti, Kashmir, Kanto, Haiyuan, Ancash, and Messina—landed within 21 days of an eclipse. That’s 50%, which appears to be a big deal when eclipses cover about a third of the year.

To dig deeper, I ran the numbers. Eclipses happen about five times a year, often in pairs two weeks apart, twice a year. Each pair spans about 56 days—21 days before the first, 14 between, and 21 after the second. Two pairs cover roughly 112 days, or about 31% of the year. I’ll nudge that to 33% to account for extra eclipses some years, meaning any random day has a 33% shot of being near an eclipse. For 12 quakes, you’d expect about 4 to hit by chance. We got 6, which is higher; there’s only a 26.8% chance of getting 6 or more.

Now, let’s zoom in on the last 50 years, from April 17, 1975, to April 17, 2025, and explore every fatal earthquake—any quake with at least one death. This gets us to the core of the matter, capturing not just blockbusters like Haiti but also smaller tragedies that hit hard. The USGS Earthquake Catalog and NOAA Significant Earthquake Database suggest about 5 to 10 fatal quakes per year, averaging around 5 after accounting for underreporting in earlier years. That gives us about 250 fatal quakes over 50 years, a refined estimate from cross-referencing Our World in Data. With 33% of the year near an eclipse, you’d expect about 250 times 0.33, or roughly 82 quakes, to fall in those windows by chance.

I checked a broad sample of 31 fatal quakes from this period, from giants to lesser-known events, to see how many hit the mark. Haiti in 2010 and Kashmir in 2005 were eclipse hits, as we saw above. The 2003 Algeria quake, with 2,266 deaths on May 21, was five days after a lunar eclipse on May 16 and 10 days before a solar one on May 31. The 2001 Gujarat quake in India, with 19,727 deaths on January 26, was 17 days from a lunar eclipse on January 9. The 1999 Izmit quake in Turkey, with 17,118 deaths on August 17, was six days after a solar eclipse on August 11. The 1989 Loma Prieta quake in California, with 63 deaths on October 17, was four days after a lunar eclipse on October 13. The 1995 Kobe quake in Japan, with 6,434 deaths on January 17, was one day after a solar eclipse on January 16. The 2015 Nepal quake, with 8,964 deaths on April 25, was 21 days from a lunar eclipse on April 4. The 2015 Illapel quake in Chile, with 15 deaths on September 16, was 12 days before a lunar eclipse on September 28. The 2007 Peru quake, with 514 deaths on August 15, was 13 days before a lunar eclipse on August 28. The 2006 Java quake in Indonesia, with 5,749 deaths on May 26, was 10 days after a lunar eclipse on May 16. The 2005 Nias quake in Indonesia, with 1,313 deaths on March 28, was 23 days before a solar eclipse on April 20.

A recent standout is the Myanmar earthquake on March 28, 2025, which killed up to 5,350 people near Mandalay, striking just one day before a solar eclipse on March 29, 2025. This tight alignment makes it a compelling case for those curious about cosmic connections.

But many quakes missed the eclipse window. The 2004 Indian Ocean quake, 1976 Tangshan, and 2023 Turkey–Syria quake were far off. The 2003 Bam quake in Iran, with 30,000 deaths on December 26, was 33 days from a solar eclipse on November 23. The 1993 Latur quake in India, with 9,748 deaths on September 30, was 46 days out. The 1990 Manjil–Rudbar quake in Iran, with 40,000 deaths on June 21, was 46 days from an eclipse. The 1988 Spitak quake in Armenia, with 25,000 deaths on December 7, was 87 days off. The 1983 Erzurum quake in Turkey, with 1,342 deaths on October 30, was 35 days out. The 1999 Chi-Chi quake in Taiwan, with 2,415 deaths on September 21, was 41 days off. The 2017 Iran–Iraq quake, with 630 deaths on November 12, was 83 days out. The 1976 Guatemala quake, with 23,000 deaths on February 4, was 78 days off. The 2003 San Simeon quake in California, with 2 deaths on December 22, was 29 days out. The 1999 Puebla quake in Mexico, with 20 deaths on June 15, was 57 days out. The 2011 Tohoku quake in Japan, with 18,453 deaths on March 11, was 80 days from an eclipse. The 2010 Maule quake in Chile, with 525 deaths on February 27, was 43 days out. The 2002 Afghanistan quake, with 1,000 deaths on March 25, was 37 days out. The 2001 Nisqually quake in the USA, with 1 death on February 28, was 50 days out.

Out of these 31 quakes, 13 were within 21 days of an eclipse, giving a 41.9% hit rate. This 41.9% rate is interesting, especially when you consider the Myanmar quake’s near-perfect timing.

Scaling this to 250 quakes, I estimate about 105 quakes, or 42%, landed in the eclipse window.

The math says there’s a 12% chance of getting 105 or more by chance, so this is above what you’d expect.

Six of the 12 deadliest earthquakes since 1825 (Haiti, Kashmir, Kanto, Haiyuan, Ancash, and Messina) aligned within 21 days of an eclipse, a 50% rate that catches the eye against the expected 33%. Over the last 50 years, about 105 of 250 fatal quakes, or 42%, fell in these eclipse windows. The Myanmar quake, hitting one day before the March 29, 2025, eclipse, stands out as a vivid symbol of upheaval and harbinger of change.

As an astrologer of the Hermetic tradition, I see these alignments not as causal but as symbolic, reflecting patterns that echo Hermes Trismegistus’s “That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below.” While science, backed by USGS and NASA, focuses exclusively on tectonic forces driving quakes, the 50% hit rate for the deadliest quakes and 42% for fatal ones invite wonder. True astrology demands deeper pattern recognition (beyond eclipses alone) to symbolize events like deadly quakes, but this exploration is a start.

Sources:

NASA Eclipse Website: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html

NOAA Significant Earthquake Database Global Records

USGS Earthquake Catalog: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/search/

Wikipedia: List of Earthquakes by Death Toll: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_earthquakes_by_death_toll

Time and Date Eclipse Calculator: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo

Astrology has captivated humanity for eons, offering insights into personality, compatibility, and fate.

In this collection of 77 extraordinary pro-astrology quotes, we celebrate the wisdom and wonder of this ancient practice that continues to inspire millions today.

While modern astrology often faces skepticism, much of the criticism stems from a misunderstanding of its roots.

As outlined in this article, “Debate With an Astrology Skeptic,” the negative perception of astrology is understandable—today’s interpretations often ignore the statistical principle that correlation does not always imply causation, and the correlation is sometimes purely by chance.

Yet, skeptics rarely dig deeper into astrology’s golden era during the Middle Ages, when it thrived as a true science grounded in meticulous pattern recognition.

Join me as we bridge the past and present with these powerful quotes, shedding light on astrology’s enduring allure and intellectual legacy.

"The positions of certain planets at the time of birth do show statistical correlations with human professions, such as Mars with athletes." Michel Gauquelin (1928–1991) - Psychologist and Statistician
Source: The Scientific Basis of Astrology (Stein and Day, 1969). Note: Gauquelin, a trained scientist, conducted statistical studies suggesting planetary symbolic impact. Gauquelin’s “Mars Effect” study analyzed birth data of over 2,000 prominent athletes, finding a statistically significant correlation between Mars’ position in certain sectors (e.g., near the ascendant or midheaven) and athletic success. His findings have been subject to extensive scrutiny and replication attempts. Some criticized his work, while others (e.g., German astrologer Peter Niehenke and psychologist Suitbert Ertel) defended his work. His research remains a rare modern scientific nod toward astrology. My view is that Gauquelin had the right idea; a potent and well-placed natal Mars can symbolize athletic prowess. However, Mars is only one indicator of patterns that symbolize famous champion athletes. The following must also be considered: the relative health of the natal Mars, what it’s connected to in the natal patterns, the subject’s collective timing, and much more.

"Millionaires don’t use astrology, billionaires do." J.P. Morgan (1837–1913) - Financier and First Billionaire
Source: Evangeline Adams, The Bowl of Heaven (1926). Note: Adams, an astrologer who advised J.P. Morgan, successfully defended astrology as a science in a New York court in 1914.

"Astrology is astronomy brought down to earth and applied toward the affairs of man." Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) - Poet and Essayist
Source: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays and Lectures (1836). Note: Emerson’s writings often bridged cosmic and human connections.

"Courteous Reader, Astrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, held in high esteem of old, by the Wise and the Great." Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) - Founding Father of The United States of America
Source: Poor Richard’s Almanack (published annually 1733–1758), edited by Franklin, and available in The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Yale University Press). Note: Franklin included astrological forecasts in his popular almanacs.

Until the 17th century, astrology and astronomy were scholarly twins—astronomy provided data, and astrology interpreted it.

From the time of the Age of Reason onward, support of astrology by the scientific community waned. The Scientific Revolution involved a gradual shift in how astronomy (intertwined with astrology) was practiced, often challenging Church-supported cosmological views, while astrology’s separation from astronomy seemed to evolve organically as new empirical methods took hold.

The start of the Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, began around the time of the publication of René Descartes' Discourse on the Method in 1637, which introduced his method of systematically disbelieving everything unless there was a well-founded reason for accepting it and featured his famous dictum, "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"). The Enlightenment continued through most of the 18^th century. Others cite the publication of Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica in 1687 as the culmination of the Scientific Revolution and the beginning of the Enlightenment.

The work of Tycho Brahe (1546–1601), Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), and Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), all of whom were practicing astrologers, indirectly supported the scientific shift away from astrology by prioritizing data. Their work prioritized predictive accuracy (e.g., planetary positions) over astrology’s qualitative forecasts.

By the late 17^th century, as Newtonian physics emerged, most scientists had abandoned astrology. The redefinition of science prevailed through the pretense of “logic,” and astrology (and numerology, known then as mysticism involving numbers) was sent to the sidelines.

Brahe’s precise observations of planetary positions (pre-telescope) provided data for Kepler’s laws. He practiced astrology extensively, blending it with astronomy.

Galileo’s telescopic observations (e.g., Jupiter’s moons, Venus’s phases) in Sidereus Nuncius(1610) supported Copernicanism, directly challenging the Church’s geocentric doctrine. Galileo’s 17th-century work epitomized the Scientific Revolution’s empirical turn. His focus on observation and mathematics helped shift astronomy away from astrological forecasting. Ironically, he was a talented astrologer who advised nobles, including the Medici family (see Galileo’s quote below).

While teaching at the University of Padua, Galileo practiced astrology to earn extra income, as documented in his account books. Additionally, Galileo was investigated by the Venetian Inquisition in 1604 for practicing a deterministic form of astrology, though the charges were dropped. The Church opposed "fatalistic" interpretations of astrological predictions. The Venetian Inquisition was a tribunal established jointly by the Venetian government and the Catholic Church to repress heresy throughout the Republic of Venice. It also intervened in cases of prohibited books, superstition, and witchcraft. Interestingly, Pope Sylvester II (946–1003) introduced Arabic astrology, a very deterministic form of astrology, to Europe in the Middle Ages (see Pope Sylvester II’s quote below). It seems there have always been different factions within religious authority structures, with conflicting viewpoints.

Kepler’s laws of planetary motion (first published in Astronomia Nova [1609]) refined Copernicanism with elliptical orbits, grounding astronomy in precise mathematics and observation, further distancing astronomy from astrology’s predictive methods.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines science as “knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method.” Also, it defines the scientific method as “principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.” The forms of astrology I work with (complex protocols involving pattern recognition) are empirically based: “…objective collection of data through observation and experiment and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.” Thus, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the astrology I utilize (the same type that Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and many others utilized) in my systems of analysis is a science. However, it’s understandable why conventional science rejects today’s astrology; I, too, dismiss superficial forms (Sun sign astrology, horoscopes, etc.) of astrology.

“The reason they don’t pay attention to it (astrology) is that it would embarrass them in front of their colleagues. There’s no proven body of facts…that says human behavior does not contain elements that are related to planetary patterns at the time of birth. Instead, there’s a broad and arrogant understanding among social science professionals that folklore, like astrology, is for simpletons. Without doing any simple experiments to test some of the tenets of astrology, it has been completely ignored by psychologists in the last two centuries…Most of them are under the false impression that it is non-scientific and not a fit subject for their serious study. They are dead wrong. Whether or not the present-day practitioners of astrology are using scientific methods has no direct bearing on whether the body of knowledge they employ is true and valid.” Dr. Kary Banks Mullis (1944–2019) - Biochemist and Nobel Laureate
Source: Dancing Naked in the Mind Field by Kary Mullis (Pantheon Books, 1998), Chapter 10, where he discusses his views on astrology and critiques the scientific community’s dismissal of it.

“Science is as corruptible a human activity as any other. Its practitioners aren’t saints, they’re human beings, and they do what human beings do—lie, cheat, steal…sue, hide data, fake data, overstate their own importance, and denigrate opposing views unfairly. That’s human nature. It isn’t going to change.” Michael Crichton (1942–2008) - Author and Physician
Source: Michael Crichton, Next (HarperCollins, 2006). Note: This quote reflects Crichton’s recurring critique of scientific integrity, a theme also explored in his other works like State of Fear.

"I have studied the matter. You, sir, have not." (Said in defense of astrology to skeptic Edmund Halley) Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727) - Physicist
Source: Reported in historical anecdotes and referenced in biographies like Isaac Newton by James Gleick (Vintage, 2004). Note: Newton’s interest in astrology is documented in his personal papers. He also translated Hermes Trismegistus' (see quotes below) The Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina),(1680).

“The stars are the lanterns of God’s providence, illuminating the paths of men; their study is a sacred art bestowed by the ancients.” Henry Coley (1633–1704) - English Astrologer and Mathematician
Source: Clavis Astrologiae Elimata (London, 1676). Note: Coley, a student of William Lilly (see quotes below) and thus part of Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) extended lineage, emphasized astrology’s mathematical and spiritual dimensions.

“The stars are the alphabet of God’s law, and their study reveals the order of creation to those who seek wisdom.” John Gadbury (1627–1704) - English Astrologer
Source: Nauticum Astrologicum (London, 1674). Note: Gadbury, a contemporary of Nicholas Culpeper (see quote below) and influenced by the astrological tradition stemming from Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) work, used astrology for navigation and prediction.

“The planets rule the tides of life, yet the soul, illumined by grace, may ride their waves to the shores of eternity.” Elias Ashmole (1617–1692) - Antiquarian and Astrologer
Source: Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum, edited by Ashmole (London, 1652). Note: Ashmole, a collector of astrological manuscripts and student of William Lilly (see quotes below), saw astrology as part of a broader esoteric tradition, reflecting Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) views.

“The heavens declare the will of the Creator, and the astrologer, as interpreter, reveals the threads of destiny woven by the stars.” Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654) - Herbalist and Astrologer
Source: Culpeper’s Astrological Judgement of Diseases (London, 1651). Note: Culpeper, a popular English astrologer, integrated Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) medical astrology (from De vita) into his practice, emphasizing astrology’s role in health and fate.

"The stars rule men, but the wise man rules the stars through knowledge of their motions." William Lilly (1602–1681) - Astrologer and Scientist
Source: William Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Book I. Note: Lilly, though primarily an astrologer, applied systematic observation akin to early scientific methods, bridging the disciplines. A famous English astrologer, Lilly defended astrology as a rigorous discipline in his influential works.

“Astrology is a science noble and ancient, grounded in the observation of the stars and their effects upon mankind.” William Lilly (1602–1681) - Astrologer and Scientist
Source: William Lilly, Christian Astrology (1647), Book I (modern reprint by Astrology Classics, 2004).

“The planets are the voices of the divine choir, and their aspects teach us the art of living in accord with the universal soul.” William Lilly (1602–1681) - Astrologer and Scientist
Source: Christian Astrology, Book I (London, 1647). Note: Lilly, a prominent English practitioner, was indirectly influenced by Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) legacy, viewing it as a practical and spiritual discipline rooted in ancient theology.

"The soul of the newly born baby is marked for life by the pattern of the stars at the moment it comes into the world, unconsciously remembers it, and remains sensitive to the return of configurations of a similar kind." Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) - Astronomer
Source: Johannes Kepler, Harmonies of the World (1619), Book IV. Note: Kepler practiced astrology alongside his astronomical work.

"I have cast horoscopes for many a nobleman and have found the stars to reveal truths that earthly observations alone cannot." Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) – Astronomer, Physicist, Engineer, and Astrologer
Source: Attributed in astrological histories and tied to Galileo’s documented practice of astrology for patrons like the Medici family. Note: No direct primary text survives with this exact wording, but Galileo’s horoscopes are preserved in archives (e.g., University of Florence). Galileo made significant contributions to the sciences of motion, astronomy, and to the development of the scientific method. He is often referred to as the father of observational astronomy, modern-era classical physics, the scientific method, and modern science.

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." William Shakespeare (1564–1616) - Playwright
Source: Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene II (1599). Note: While not an outright endorsement of astrology, this reflects the Elizabethan era’s acceptance of astrology’s role in human affairs.

“Astrology, if it were rightly understood and reformed, might be a tolerable science.” Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626) - English Philosopher
Source: Sir Francis Bacon, De Augmentis Scientiarum (1623). Note: Sir Francis Bacon is often considered one of the founders of modern scientific research and the scientific method.

“The celestial bodies pour forth their virtues upon the earth, and the astrologer, as priest of nature, interprets their sacred dance.” Christopher Heydon (1561–1623) - English Astrologer
Source: A Defence of Judiciall Astrologie (Cambridge, 1603). Note: Heydon, influenced by the Renaissance astrological texts Marsilio Ficino (see quotes below) helped revive, defended astrology against skepticism, aligning it with divine will.

“The stars are the eyes of the divine, watching over the world; their aspects guide the physician to heal and the sage to prophesy.” Richard Napier (1559–1634) - Clergyman and Astrologer
Source: Casebooks, as documented in The Casebooks of Richard Napier, edited by Michael MacDonald (Oxford, 1981). Note: Napier, a student of Simon Forman (see quote below) and thus indirectly tied to Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) tradition via English astrology, used astrology extensively in his medical and spiritual practice.

“The heavens are a living scripture, and the astrologer, versed in their language, discerns the divine purpose in every motion.” Simon Forman (1552–1611) - English Astrologer and Physician
Source: The Autobiography and Personal Diary of Dr. Simon Forman, edited by James Orchard Halliwell (London, 1849). Note: Forman, influenced by the Renaissance revival of astrology inspired by Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) translations, applied astrological principles to medicine and divination.

“The universe is a living image of God, and the stars, as its vital spirits, move all things below; through their contemplation, we ascend to the infinite intellect.” Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) - Philosopher, Cosmologist, and Astrologer
Source: De l’infinito, universo e mondi (On the Infinite, Universe, and Worlds), translated by Dorothea Waley Singer (London, 1950). Note: Bruno was inspired by Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) translations of Plato and the Corpus Hermeticum. His view of astrology aligns with Ficino’s.

"The stars incline us, they do not bind us; yet their inclinations are mighty and worthy of heed." Tycho Brahe (1546–1601) - Astronomer
Source: Tycho Brahe: A Picture of Scientific Life and Work in the Sixteenth Century by J.L.E. Dreyer (1890). Note: Brahe’s astrological predictions for European royalty are well-recorded.

"The motions of the stars do govern much of what transpires here below, and by them we may know God’s will." John Dee (1527–1608) - Mathematician and Astrologer
Source: The Queen’s Conjurer: The Science and Magic of Dr. John Dee by Benjamin Woolley (2001). Note: Dee’s work for Queen Elizabeth I included astrological consultations.

“The celestial spheres sing the glory of God, and their motions, rightly understood, unveil the hidden causes of all earthly events.” John Dee (1527–1608) - Mathematician and Astrologer
Source: Propaedeumata Aphoristica, translated by Wayne Shumaker in John Dee on Astronomy (University of California Press, 1978). Note: Dee, influenced by Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) translations and the Hermetic tradition, used astrology in his work for Queen Elizabeth I, viewing astrology as a bridge between divine and earthly realms.

"The stars foretell tomorrow’s fate, and by their motion we may know the hidden things." Nostradamus (1503–1566) - Physician and Seer
Source: Nostradamus, Les Prophéties (1555). Note: Nostradamus’ work blended astrology with prophecy, widely influential in his time.

"The stars are the physicians of the heavens, and their influence heals or harms the body below." Paracelsus (1493–1541) - Physician and Alchemist
Source: Paracelsus, Astronomia Magna (1537–1538). Note: Paracelsus integrated astrology into his medical theories, emphasizing celestial effects on health. Instead of astrology affecting people or circumstances, Paracelsus viewed the human being as a microcosm mirroring the macrocosm, with an “inner heaven” of stars and spiritual forces corresponding to the external celestial realm. The inner heaven governs the individual’s vitality, soul, and destiny, reflecting the divine structure of the universe. In other words, Paracelsus believed astrology symbolizes instead of making things happen. Clearly, Paracelsus embraced the Hermetic tradition and drew upon his Hermetic roots (see quote by Hermes Trismegistus below).

“The celestial bodies are the instruments of the divine mind, and by their virtues, the magician may draw down their powers to perfect the soul and heal the body.” Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486–1535) - Occultist and Astrologer
Source: De occulta philosophia libri tres (Three Books of Occult Philosophy), Book I, translated by James Freake (London, 1651). Note: Agrippa, influenced by Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) De vita libri tres and the Hermetic tradition, saw astrology as part of a broader magical practice. His emphasis on harnessing planetary virtues mirrors Ficino’s practical astrology, rooted in Ficino’s theology.

"The stars have their own language, and their positions at birth may signify much about a man’s life." Copernicus (1473–1543) - Astronomer
Source: Linked to his student Rheticus’ astrological interests in Copernicus: A Biography by A. Armitage (1952). Note: Copernicus focused on heliocentrism, but his era (and those before him) and circle (e.g., Rheticus) blended astrology with astronomy.

“The heavens are a book written by the finger of God, and the planets, as divine letters, reveal to the learned the secrets of creation and the governance of human affairs.” Johannes Trithemius (1462–1516) - Abbot, Occultist, and Astrologer
Source: Steganographia, Book I, translated by Adam McLean (Edinburgh, 1982). Note: Trithemius, though not directly trained by Marsilio Ficino (see quotes below), was deeply influenced by the Hermetic tradition Ficino championed. His work reflects the same reverence for astrology as a divine language and a means to discern divine order.

“The planets are the seals of God’s will, and their configurations at birth reveal the destiny entrusted to each soul.” Domenico Maria Novara (1454–1504) - Astronomer and Astrologer
Source: Attributed through Copernicus’ notes, as cited by Edward Rosen in Copernicus and His Successors (1995). Note: Novara, a teacher of Copernicus (see quote above) and influenced by Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) work, practiced judicial astrology, viewing planetary positions as divine indicators.

“The celestial influences shape the body and its fortunes, yet the wise man, taught by the ancients, may master them through virtue and understanding.” Lodovico Lazzarelli (1447–1500) - Poet and Astrologer
Source: Crater Hermetis, translated by Claudio Moreschini in From Hermes to Ficino (2003). Note: Lazzarelli, a student of Marsilio Ficino’s (see quotes below) Hermetic teachings, blended astrology with poetry and mysticism.

“The stars are the instruments of divine harmony, and through their contemplation, we may draw the soul closer to the eternal beauty of God.” Cristoforo Landino (1424–1498) - Scholar and Astrologer
Source: Disputationes Camaldulenses, translated by Thomas H. Stahel in Cristoforo Landino: His Works and Thought (1972). Note: Landino, a close associate of Marsilio Ficino (see quotes below) in the Florentine Platonic Academy, integrated astrology into his humanistic studies, echoing Ficino’s view of the cosmos as a reflection of divine order. The Florentine Platonic Academy, also known as the Platonic Academy of Florence, was an informal discussion group that formed around Marsilio Ficino, funded by Cosimo de' Medici around 1462.

“This century, like a golden age, has restored to light the liberal arts, which were almost extinct: grammar, poetry, rhetoric, painting, sculpture, architecture, music … this century appears to have perfected astrology.” Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499) - Philosopher, Priest, and Astrologer
Source: Letter to Paul of Middelburg, in The Letters of Marsilio Ficino, Vol. 1, translated by the Language Department of the School of Economic Science (Shepheard-Walwyn, 1975). Note: Written in 1492, this reflects Ficino’s belief that the end of the Middle Ages marked astrology’s culmination, alongside other disciplines, elevating it to a refined art and science.

“The heavens in their entirety are within us, in whom the light of life and the origin of heaven dwell.” Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499) - Philosopher, Priest, and Astrologer
Source: Three Books on Life (De Vita Libri Tres), Book III: De Vita Coelitus Comparanda, translated by Carol V. Kaske and John R. Clark (Renaissance Society of America, 1989). Note: Ficino argues here for a profound interconnection between the human soul and the cosmos, a central concept of his astrological practice, suggesting that celestial influences are not external but resonate within us. See related quote by Hermes Trismegistus, below (“That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below…”).

“Among philosophers he first turned from physical and mathematical topics to contemplation of things divine, and he was the first to discuss with great wisdom the majesty of God, the order of demons, and the transformations of souls. Thus, he (Hermes Trismegistus) was called the first author of theology, and Orpheus followed him, taking second place in the ancient theology. After Aglaophemus, Pythagoras came next in theological succession, having been initiated into the rites of Orpheus, and he was followed by Philolaus, teacher of our divine Plato. In this way, from a wondrous line of six theologians emerged a single system of ancient theology, harmonious in every part.” Marsilio Ficino (1433–1499) - Philosopher, Priest, and Astrologer
Source: Theologia Platonica (Platonic Theology), Book XVII, translated by Michael J. B. Allen and John Warden (Harvard University Press, 2006). Note: In this passage, Ficino traces a lineage of ancient theology from Hermes Trismegistus to Plato, emphasizing a unified philosophical and spiritual tradition that influenced his own synthesis of Neoplatonism, astrology, and Christian thought. He was the first to translate Plato’s works into Latin. This quote reflects Ficino’s reverence for a prisca theologia (ancient theology), a concept central to his intellectual project; his broader work integrates astrology as a tool for understanding divine order. The term "Neoplatonism" is a modern term; Ficino and others simply embraced Plato’s (see quotes below) doctrines.

"For whiche the white Lion is figured, that is the Sonne, whiche is in the height of the firmament." Geoffrey Chaucer (1343–1400) - Poet
Source: Geoffrey Chaucer, A Treatise on the Astrolabe (1391. Note: Chaucer’s technical guide demonstrates astrology’s practical use in medieval life, linking celestial bodies to earthly meaning. His work shaped 16th-century thought; Chaucer wrote this for his son, showing astrology’s practical use.

"The heavens call to you, and wheel about you, displaying to you their eternal splendors." Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) - Poet
Source: Alighieri Dante, The Divine Comedy: Purgatorio (1310), Canto I. Note: Dante’s work reflects astrology’s role in medieval cosmology, portraying celestial influence on human destiny.

"The science of the stars is the most noble and useful of all sciences, for by it we may know the will of God and the course of human affairs, which are ruled by the celestial bodies." Guido Bonatti (1210–1296) - Italian Astrologer and Advisor to Rulers
Source: Guido Bonatti Liber Astronomiae (Book of Astronomy) (1277). Note: Bonatti’s comprehensive text was a cornerstone of medieval astrology, influencing scholars like Dante.

"The motions of the heavens govern the generation and corruption of things below, and astrology reveals this truth." Roger Bacon (1214–1292) - Philosopher and Scientist
Source: Roger Bacon, Opus Majus (1267), Part IV. Note: Bacon advocated for astrology as a legitimate science within medieval scholarship. He faced opposition from within the Franciscan order and the broader intellectual community of his time; he defended judicial astrology against charges of astrological determinism. Bishop Étienne Tempier issued a condemnation against astrological determinism, which created a climate of suspicion against Bacon's work. Bacon contended that seemingly magical effects could be explained through natural processes instead of demonic assistance, thereby naturalizing them and defending their usefulness. Bacon's advocacy for a more empirical approach to science often put him at odds with the established academic and religious authorities of his time.

"The celestial bodies are the cause of all that takes place in the sublunar world." Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) - Theologian and Philosopher
Source: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1265–1274), Part I, Question 115, Article 3. Note: Aquinas endorsed astrology’s influence on physical events, though he distinguished it from free will in spiritual matters.

"The stars incline the events of the world, and he who understands them gains wisdom over nature." Albertus Magnus (c. 1200–1280) - Scholar and Theologian
Source: The Speculum Astronomiae and Its Enigma (P. Zambelli, 1992). Note: Albertus defended astrology as a natural science, influencing medieval thought.

"The stars and their configurations affect the body and the temperament, as the sages have long known." Maimonides (1138–1204) - Philosopher and Physician
Source: The Guide for the Perplexed (M. Friedländer, 1904).

"The stars are not silent; they speak to the soul of man and guide his path through the cosmos." Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) - Mystic and Polymath
Source: Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias (1151). Note: Scivias is an illustrated work by Hildegard von Bingen describing 26 religious visions she experienced. Hildegard saw celestial influences as part of divine creation, blending astrology with mysticism.

"The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God, and the knowledge of the stars and their judgments is a great gift bestowed upon us to understand His creation." Abraham ibn Ezra (1089–1161) - Jewish Polymath and Astrologer
Source: Reshit Ḥokhmah (The Beginning of Wisdom), a key astrological treatise translated and edited by Shlomo Sela (2017). Note: Ibn Ezra’s work integrated Arabic astrology into Jewish scholarship, emphasizing its divine purpose.

"The stars are the instruments of God’s will, and their study perfects our understanding of His creation." Gerbert of Aurillac (Pope Sylvester II) (946–1003) - Scholar and Pope
Source: The Abacus and the Cross: The Story of the Pope Who Brought the Light of Science to the Dark Ages by N. Brown (2010). Note: Gerbert studied Arabic astronomy and astrology, introducing it to medieval Europe.

"The planets exert their powers upon the earth, and the wise man learns from their configurations." Thabit ibn Qurra (836–901) - Mathematician and Astronomer
Source: Thabit ibn Qurra: Science and Philosophy in Ninth-Century Baghdad (R. Rashed, 2009).

"The stars govern the times and seasons, and their study reveals truths hidden from the unlearned." Hermann of Reichenau (1013–1054) - Scholar and Monk
Source: Hermann of Reichenau: The Life and Works (M. McCarthy, 2008).

"The stars are signs of divine reason, guiding the course of human life through their patterns." John Scotus Eriugena (815–877) - Irish Philosopher
Source: John Scotus Eriugena: Periphyseon (I.P. Sheldon-Williams, 1987). Note: Eriugena’s Neoplatonic view tied astrology to divine order.

"The celestial bodies influence the terrestrial, and astrology is the science that interprets these effects." Al-Kindi (801–873) - Arab Philosopher
Source: Al-Kindi: The Philosophical Works (P. Adamson, 2011). Note: Al-Kindi viewed astrology as a rational study of cosmic causation.

"The movements of the stars are the causes of what happens in this world, and through them we foresee the future." Albumasar (Abu Ma’shar) (787–886) - Persian Astrologer
Source: Albumasar (Abu Ma’shar), The Great Introduction to Astrology (850). Note: Albumasar’s work bridged classical and Islamic astrology, influencing medieval Europe.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and their motions instruct us in the affairs of earth." Alcuin of York (735–804) - Scholar and Advisor to Charlemagne.
Source: Alcuin of York: His Life and Letters (S. Allott, 1974). Note: Alcuin supported astrology as part of the Carolingian Renaissance’s revival of learning.

"The courses of the stars affect the seasons and the lives of men, as God has ordained in His creation." Bede (673–735) - Monk and Historian
Source: Bede: The Reckoning of Time (F. Wallis, 1999).

"The stars signify the events of the world, and their study is a noble pursuit for understanding nature." Isidore of Seville (560–636) - Scholar and Bishop
Source: The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (S. Barney et al., 2006). Note: Isidore compiled classical knowledge, including astrology, as part of natural science.

"The stars above guide the fates below, and their order reveals the divine plan to those who study them." Boethius (477–524) - Roman Philosopher
Source: Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy (V.E. Watts, 1969). Note: Boethius linked celestial harmony to human destiny, influencing medieval thought.

"The stars are like letters in a celestial script, signifying events to those who can interpret them." Plotinus (204–270 AD) - Neoplatonic Philosopher
Source: Plotinus: The Enneads (S. MacKenna, 1969).

"The positions of the stars at the moment of birth affect the body’s humors and its fate." Galen (129–216 AD) - Greek Physician
Source: Galen: Selected Works (P.N. Singer, 1997). Note: Galen integrated astrology into medical diagnosis and treatment.

“The configurations of the stars at the time of birth determine the temperament and constitution of the body.” Galen (129–216 AD) - Greek Physician
Source: On the Natural Faculties, translated by A.J. Brock (1916), though exact phrasing appears in medieval commentaries like those of Hunayn ibn Ishaq.

"The stars incline the soul at birth, and their patterns reveal the course of life to those who read them." Vettius Valens (120–175 AD) - Greek Astrologer
Source: Vettius Valens, Anthologies (150–175 AD), Book I. Note: Valens’ practical horoscopes advanced astrology’s technical application.

"The fates rule the world, and the stars are their decree; by them we live and learn our destiny." Manilius (1st century AD) - Roman Poet
Source: Manilius: Astronomica (G.P. Goold, 1977). Note: Manilius’ epic poem celebrated astrology as a divine science.

"The ambient influences all things, and the wise man may use the stars to foresee and prepare." Ptolemy (100–170 AD) - Greek-Roman Astronomer and Astrologer
Source: Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos. Note: Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos systematized astrology, making it a cornerstone of Western tradition. Within Ptolemy’s Almagest, his scholarly text on astronomy, Ptolemy explains that he had access to eclipse records kept for over 800 years since the beginning of the reign of Babylonian king Nabonassar, which began noon on February 26, 747 BC, in the Julian calendar. Nabonassar's reign is significant as it marks the reform of the Babylonian calendar and the introduction of regular calculated months, harmonized with the solar year. In chapter 9 of the Tetrabiblos Ptolemy shows knowledge of the Babylonian lore that accompanied these records in detailing the omens based on visual phenomena.

"The stars govern the seasons and the fates, and their study is a noble pursuit for the wise." Cicero (106–43 BC) - Roman Orator
Source: Cicero: On Divination (W.A. Falconer, 1923).

"The heavenly bodies are causes of what happens here below, influencing the elements and living things." Aristotle (384–322 BC) - Greek Philosopher
Source: The Complete Works of Aristotle (J. Barnes, 1984). Note: Aristotle’s theory of celestial influence underpinned later astrological thought.

"Perhaps there is a pattern set up in the heavens for one who desires to see it, and having seen it, to find one in himself." Plato (428–348 BC) - Greek Philosopher
Source: Plato: Timaeus and Critias (D. Lee, 1977). Note: Plato’s cosmology suggested a connection between astrological patterns and the soul.

“The stars in the heavens are divine and eternal, and their motions govern the affairs of men below.” Plato (428–348 BC) - Greek Philosopher
Source: Timaeus, translated by Benjamin Jowett (1871).

"The celestial fire at the center moves the stars, and their order dictates the measure of nature and the fates of the world below." Philolaus (c. 470–385 BC) - Pythagorean Philosopher
Source: Based on fragments preserved in Johannes Stobaeus’ Eclogues, translated by Thomas Taylor in The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus (1824). Note: Philolaus’ theory of a central fire and orbiting bodies reflects a cosmological view that influenced astrological interpretations.

"The eternal essence of number governs the stars, and through their cycles, the divine providence shapes the lives of all beings." Pythagoras (570–495 BC) - Philosopher and Mathematician
Source: Derived from The Sacred Discourse, as referenced by Iamblichus in Life of Pythagoras, translated by Thomas Taylor (1818). Note: Pythagoras’ cosmology tied numbers to celestial harmony, laying a foundation for astrology’s mathematical basis.

"The heavens reveal the mysteries of the gods, and by their motions, the initiated may discern the paths of destiny." Aglaophemus (Pre-6th Century BC) - Orphic Initiator and Mystic
Source: Inferred from Iamblichus’ Life of Pythagoras, translated by Thomas Taylor (1818), where Aglaophemus is noted as Pythagoras’ teacher in celestial mysteries. Note: Aglaophemus, though obscure, is traditionally linked to Orphic rites and the transmission of astrological wisdom to Pythagoras.

"The stars sing the will of the divine, and through their harmony, the fates of men are woven into the eternal tapestry of the cosmos." Orpheus (Mythical Poet and Prophet) - Legendary Founder of Orphism
Source: Attributed through the Orphic Hymns, translated by Thomas Taylor in The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus (1824). Note: Orpheus, a figure of Greek mythology, is credited with poetry and hymns that link celestial movements to divine order, influencing later astrological thought through Orphism.

“That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of one thing.” Hermes Trismegistus (Legendary Hellenistic Figure) - Attributed Author of the Hermetica Corpus, a series of texts that form the foundation of Hermeticism.
Source: The Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina), translated by Isaac Newton (1680), as preserved in The Hermetica: The Lost Wisdom of the Pharaohs by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy (1999). Note: This foundational Hermetic principle, often linked to astrology, underscores the correspondence between celestial and earthly realms. It blends Egyptian and Greek wisdom, influencing Western esoteric traditions. The Emerald Tablet became a cornerstone of alchemy and astrology in medieval Europe. The principle supports astrology by suggesting that the astrological patterns (above) mirror human affairs (below).

"The Sun and Moon, next unto God, are the life of all things living; yet many nativities have no hyleg, yet because the Sun and Moon friendly behold their ascendant, or be therein free from affliction, their lives shall be the longer continued." Hermes Trismegistus (Legendary Hellenistic Figure) - Attributed Author of the Hermetica Corpus
Source: The Centiloquium of Hermes Trismegistus, translated and preserved in medieval astrological traditions. Note: The Hermetic texts, particularly those concerned with astrology, have played a crucial role in the development of Western esoteric traditions. Hermes Trismegistus is a legendary figure who is believed to have lived before the Hellenistic period and Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (305 BC). However, the exact dates of his life are uncertain, and he is often considered a union of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth.

"A physician without the knowledge of astrology has no right to call himself a physician." Hippocrates (460–370 BC) - Greek Physician
Source: Hippocratic Writings (G.E.R. Lloyd, 1983). Note: Hippocrates linked celestial symbolism to health, foundational to Greco-Roman medicine.

"The sun is new each day, and its path through the stars shapes the fates of men." Heraclitus (535–475 BC) - Greek Philosopher
Source: The Presocratic Philosophers (G.S. Kirk, 1983). Note: Heraclitus’ cosmic focus implied a link between celestial cycles and human life.

"The stars are the eyes of Ahura Mazda, watching and guiding the righteous path of the world." Zoroaster (1200–1000 BC) - Persian Prophet
Source: The Hymns of Zarathustra (J. Duchesne-Guillemin, 1952).

"The stars are God’s signs in the firmament, set to mark the times and seasons of His people." Moses (1400–1200 BC, traditional) - Hebrew Prophet
Source: Genesis 1:14 (attributed to Moses’ authorship), cited in The Torah (Jewish Publication Society, 1962).

"The stars of Ra shine upon my reign, their paths decree victory and eternal life." Thutmose III (1479–1425 BC) - Egyptian Pharaoh
Source: Inscriptions at Karnak Temple, cited in The Monuments of Egypt and Nubia (J. Baines, 2000). Note: Egyptian rulers linked their fates to celestial events, as seen in star clocks and temple alignments.

"The nakshatras [lunar mansions] guide the soul, their light reveals the karma of all beings." Agastya (1500 BC) - Vedic Sage
Source: Vedic hymns in Rigveda (1500 BC), attributed to Agastya, cited in The Rig Veda (R.T.H. Griffith, 1896). Note: Vedic astrology (Jyotisha) emerged from stellar observations in this period.

"The tablets of the sky decree the fates, and the stars are written for kings and men." Anu (1500 BC, mythological attribution) - Mesopotamian Sky God (via priests).
Source: Enuma Anu Enlil (1500 BC), a Babylonian omen series, cited in Mesopotamian Astrology(Koch-Westenholz, 1995).

"The gods have set the stars in the sky to mark the fates of men, and their signs are just." Hammurabi (1810–1750 BC) - Babylonian King
Source: The Code of Hammurabi prologue (1750 BC), which invokes celestial deities like Shamash, cited in The Code of Hammurabi (L.W. King, 1910).

"The stars align the waters and the earth; their harmony brings prosperity to the land." Yu the Great (2200–2100 BC) - Chinese Ruler
Source: Shujing (Book of Documents), attributed to Confucius, but it is more likely to be a composite work compiled over time. Cited in The Shoo King (J. Legge, 1865). Note: Early Chinese astronomy, linked to Yu’s flood control, influenced later astrology.

"The stars of heaven are my guides, and through them, Inanna reveals her will."Enheduanna (2285–2250 BC) - Sumerian High Priestess and Poet
Source: Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess Enheduanna (B. Meador, 2000). Note: Enheduanna, the earliest named author in history, linked celestial bodies (e.g., Venus/Inanna) to divine influence, an astrological concept.

"The heavens speak through their lights, and the wise heed their signs for healing and order." Imhotep (2650–2600 BC) - Egyptian Polymath
Source: Attributed in later Egyptian tradition, cited in Imhotep: The Egyptian God of Medicine (J. Hurry, 1926). Note: Imhotep was venerated in this period; his legacy tied astronomy to medicine.

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo

A lunar eclipse occurs on March 14, 2025. It’s exact by degree at 2:54 a.m. EDT, 23 degrees 56 minutes Virgo.

Two weeks later, a solar eclipse occurs on March 29, 2025. It’s exact by degree at 6:57 a.m. EDT, 09 degrees 00 minutes Aries.

Your discernment and understanding of circumstances in your life are likely to be at least somewhat flawed during eclipse periods, so be very careful with important decisions. Avoid hazardous situations such as a spontaneous decision to try skydiving, rushing to hire new employees, impulsive financial speculation, or other risky practices.

Three to four weeks before an eclipse and a few days after is roughly the window of time that eclipse-related issues manifest. Thus, avoid excessive risk during this period.

See this blog post for more information about limiting your overall risk during an eclipse.

 See this article for information about using eclipses as predictive indicators. 

This blog post includes the above-mentioned eclipse, along with other basic astrological events. 

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo

Mercury retrograde occurs from March 15 to April 7, 2025.

As mentioned in the linked information below, the approximate three-week period leading up to Mercury retrograde usually involves more challenges than the actual retrograde period. That three-week period starts approximately February 22, 2025.

Additionally, Mars is retrograde from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025, in Cancer, which symbolizes a very debilitated Mars.

Considering this, there’s a higher likelihood of disruption in the area of life symbolized by transiting Mars in your natal horoscope.

As always, transits, retrogrades, and other surface indicators are best used to firm up an already comprehensive analysis, but it’s always interesting to observe such celestial phenomena, particularly in conjunction with corroborating natal and timing patterns.

Some of the common problems the Mercury retrograde period is more likely to include are delays and setbacks involving travel and communication, faulty discernment, increased indecision, and trouble with new endeavors. Charging ahead without careful consideration is more likely to yield disaster during these types of periods.

However, the Mercury retrograde period frequently offers, for example, an opportunity to find solutions to existing problems, complete ongoing projects, and connect with old friends. It’s a time to redo, rethink, reconnect, and reassess.

Be extra careful with important decisions involving investments, large purchases, and legal matters, including contracts. New concepts and ideas originating during Mercury retrograde (particularly during the first half of it and the three weeks before Mercury goes retrograde) are often amended later.

See this page for a thorough list of Mercury retrograde themes and a general timeline.

Mercury retrograde March/April 2025 details:

1. Mercury goes retrograde on 3-15-2025 at 1:46 a.m. EST, 09 degrees 35 minutes Aries
2. Mercury goes direct on 4-7-2025 at 6:07 a.m. EST, 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces.

This post includes the March/April 2025 Mercury retrograde period, along with other basic astrological events.

Following Mercury retrograde and other basic astrological cycles allows you to witness the cyclical nature of life and reduce your overall risk.

Learn more about the planet Mercury here.

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo

To most people, what predicts successful relationships is a mystery.

To me, and others who do the type of work I do, it isn’t really a mystery. In order to solve certain problems, you must think outside the box.

According to this article, extensive studies show, “…the demographics, preferences, and values of two people had surprisingly little power in predicting whether those two people were happy in a romantic relationship,” and, “a person who is happy outside their relationship is far more likely to be happy inside their relationship as well.” The author goes on to say, “Good romantic partners are difficult to predict with data. Desired romantic partners are easy to predict with data. And that suggests that many of us are dating all wrong.”

The data in the studies involved the following: “…demographics (e.g., age, education, income, and race); physical appearance (e.g., How attractive did other people rate each partner?); sexual tastes (e.g., How frequently did each partner want sex? How freaky did they want that sex to be?); interests and hobbies; mental and physical health; values (e.g., their views on politics, relationships, and child-rearing)…”

It turns out that similar age, income, education, race, physical attractiveness, sexual tastes, hobbies, mental and physical health, and values are a mere starting point only as it relates to compatibility.

The following additional considerations, discerned through handwriting analysis, are often cited for the level of harmony between two people.

1. Problematic subconscious fears and defenses, including personality red flags such as stubbornness, excessive bias, dishonesty, vanity, jealousy, irrationality, and resentment will make a connection between you and another person worse.
2. Tact, modesty, sincerity, objectivity, dependability, emotional maturity, discretion, and other admirable qualities serve to enhance partnerships.

But that’s still only part of the puzzle. Both people having positive qualities in excess and lacking red flag personality traits won’t override a horrendous, inherent bond, the innate level of compatibility, measured by comprehensive astrology and numerology.

Sometimes it’s obvious to you in the beginning of the relationship if the inborn level of compatibility (as measured by comprehensive astrology and numerology) is rewarding or challenging. Basically, the harder you must work at a relationship (personal or business), the worse the natural connection between you and the other person. Read about six more relationship compatibility secrets here.

Whether you’re “willing to work at it” or not is important too, as is being more selfless and striving toward the goals of the relationship.

Ultimately, authentic compatibility is not a choice; it’s unvarying and endures forever, and each two-person connection is different.

“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.”
Nikola Tesla

Copyright © 2025 Scott Petullo