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| Astrological Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Astrological Association |
| Formation | 1958 |
| Type | Learned society |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Region served | International |
| Leader title | Chair |
Astrological Association is a United Kingdom–based learned society dedicated to the study and practice of astrology. It functions as a hub connecting practitioners, historians, and researchers across the United Kingdom, the United States, India, and other countries, fostering links with institutions and individuals in related fields. The Association organizes conferences, publishes journals, and maintains archives aimed at preserving historical materials associated with astrological traditions linked to notable figures and movements.
The Association was formed in 1958 during a period of renewed public interest that also saw activities by groups such as the Theosophical Society, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and networks connected to figures like Dane Rudhyar and Alan Leo. Early membership included correspondents with collectors associated with the British Museum and scholars who interacted with archives comparable to those at the Wellcome Library and the Bodleian Library. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the Association staged meetings in venues used by organizations like the Royal Society and collaborated with local branches of the Sociological Association and the Folklore Society. Influences from practitioners linked to schools associated with Carl Jung and researchers inspired by the work of Franz Brentano and historians tracing connections to the Renaissance and the Enlightenment informed its archival priorities. The Association’s timeline intersects with broader cultural phenomena exemplified by events such as the Summer of Love and publications by authors like Liz Greene and Jeffrey Adler.
The Association is governed by a committee model similar to bodies found in organizations such as the Royal Astronomical Society and the Meteorological Society, and it maintains membership tiers that mirror structures used by the Institute of Historical Research and the Royal Society of Arts. Leadership roles have included chairs, secretaries, and treasurers drawn from professionals who also engaged with institutions like the Open University, the University of London, and independent presses such as Shaftesbury Publications. International liaisons have connected the Association with groups in India, United States, Australia, and Germany, and collaborative ties have been cultivated with societies akin to the Society for Psychical Research and the International Society for the History of Medicine. Members have ranged from amateur enthusiasts to academics associated with departments at universities such as University of Cambridge, University College London, and University of Oxford.
The Association organizes annual conferences, seminars, and workshops at venues that have hosted events for bodies like the British Library, the Royal Institution, and university campuses used by the School of Oriental and African Studies. It offers educational courses comparable to continuing education programs at the Courtauld Institute and arranges public lectures in formats employed by the Tate Modern and the Barbican Centre. The Association curates archival collections and provides advisory services similar to those offered by the National Archives and the Victoria and Albert Museum, while maintaining partnerships with publishers and periodical distributors that serve niche academic and practitioner audiences, akin to collaborations seen between the Modern Language Association and small presses.
The Association publishes a regular journal and monographs; its publication program is analogous to those of the Royal Asiatic Society and the Economic History Review in scope for a specialist society. Its journal has featured contributions from scholars and practitioners who have engaged with topics addressed by authors like Bernadette Brady, Nick Campion, and Julia Parker, and who draw on source materials comparable to holdings in the John Rylands Library and the National Library of Scotland. Research initiatives have examined historical manuscripts, biographical studies of figures linked to the Astrology of the Renaissance, and comparative analyses of techniques intersecting with work by specialists in History of Science and Cultural Studies. The Association’s editorial standards reflect practices used by peer-reviewed outlets such as the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute and the Historical Journal.
The Association has faced criticism from skeptics associated with organizations like Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and commentators influenced by figures such as James Randi and Carl Sagan. Debates have centered on epistemological clashes similar to disputes between advocates and critics encountered in exchanges involving the British Medical Journal and public controversies seen with the BBC coverage of paranormal claims. Criticism has also arisen over historical interpretations that some scholars compared with disputes in the History of Science Society and methodological disagreements reflecting tensions parallel to criticisms leveled at popularizers in outlets like The Guardian and The Times.
Notable individuals associated with the Association have included practitioners, historians, and authors comparable in prominence to Dane Rudhyar, Liz Greene, Bernadette Brady, Nick Campion, Alan Leo, Patricia Walsh, Geoffrey Dean, Geoffrey Cornelius, John Addey, Vivian Robson, E. W. Bullinger, Sepharial, Dion Fortune, Aleister Crowley, William Lilly, Evans-Wentz, Ivor C. Evans, Glynis McCants, Grant Lewi, Jessica Adams, Olga Tokarczuk, Carl Jung, Marie Stopes, and Charles Carter. Affiliations have extended to researchers and institutions such as the School of Economic Science, the Institute of Education, and independent research centers that host symposia for specialists, mirroring collaborations seen in alliances between the Royal Geographical Society and academic networks.