ABSTRACT
Astrology is a remarkably resilient discipline. At the end of the last century, when the classic study of ancient astrology was written by Bouché-Leclercq, contemporary astrology looked as if it had permanently disappeared. He was apparently writing the history of a dead superstition.1 But since then astrology has enjoyed a renaissance. The vehicle for astrology’s phoenix-like resurrection has undoubtedly been the newspaper horoscope. The first publication of a newspaper horoscope in the world apparently appeared in the Sunday Express, for the birth of Princess Margaret in 1930.2 Since then it has not only embedded itself in British popular culture, but has spawned imitators all over the world. My horoscope for this week, interpreted by the doyen of newspaper astrologers, Patric Walker, says:
The sun in the highly sensitive and emotional sign of Cancer only urges you to take a closer look at relationships, conditions or situations that have deteriorated over the past six months, and then to discard ruthlessly anything you feel to be a hindrance or of no further value. There are bound to be days when the odds still seem to be stacked against you. However, with a little flair, confidence and the will to succeed, you can surmount any obstacles.3
