A test of the hypothesis that the relationship between astrological birth sign and personality differences in extraversion and neuroticism (as reported by Mayo, White and Eysenck) can be explained in terms of self-attribution of personality descriptions is presented. Responses of n = 799 adult subjects to two questionnaires (German version of the Eysenck Personality Inventory: Belief in and Familiarity with Astrology) were analysed in several analyses of variance, with belief in astrology being one of the independent variables. An explanation of the Mayo-White-Eysenck results in terms of attribution theory was essentially verified.

The putative Sun sign effect of astrological theory is re-examined in the light of present day knowledge of biology. It is hypothesised that the innate-but-non inheritable personality traits associated with the 12 sun signs are nonheterozygotic polymorphisms produced by polygenic switch mechanisms and that the seasonal entrainment of those mechanisms is the means by which the phases are stablised at their optimum ratios. The chief advantage of nonherterozygotic polymorhpism (herein called ” autogenic polymorphism”) is considered to be its ability to generate phenotypic diversity of a kind that is not subject to two critical constraints of evolutionary genetics: (1) An autogenic trait that enhances the survival fitness of the species at the cost of diminishing the adaptability or the reproductive success of affected individuals can be stabilised even if it is not balanced by any concomitant advantageous traits. (2) A tautogenic trait that enhances the survival fitness of the species by enhancing the adaptability or the reproductive success of affected individuals is not subject to hypermorphosis, even if it is not balanced by any concomitant disadvantageous traits. A hypoperiodicity, involving a seasonally entrained alternant functioning of the left and right ovaries, which are known to exhibit elements of bilateral asymmetry. A major advantage of the ovarian-alternation hypothesis is that it explains the chronobiological significance of the sun sign, or solar month, as the fundamental unit of the astrological calendar. A chronobiological periodicity is also proposed for dominance-sub dominance in man, whereby the Fire and the Earth signs are associated with dominance and the Air and the Water signs are associated with sub dominance. A simple test is described for the extraversion-introversion and the dominance-sub dominance periodicities.

Multidimensional Scaling is a set of techniques for the description of multiple variables in terms of their relative proximity; these relations, in the form of a matrix, are treated according to Euclidian principles and the solution presented as a set of Cartesian values for each variable in N dimensions, capable of spatial representation. This paper introduces the technique and applies it to the birth data of a group of individuals.

The results of national opinion polls and Mayo/Eysenck replication suggest that roughly 1 person in 3 not only believes in astrology but believes in it sufficiently to measurably shift their self-image in the corresponding direction. Observations made during a repeat of the News of the World’s test of sun sign guessing showed that the subjects had an above-average knowledge of sun signs. The level of self-attribution (determined by interview under less than ideal conditions) successfully predicted the test’s outcome for 6 out of 8 hits and 3 out of 4 misses. Successful sun sign guessing can be explained by subject selection, self attribution and cold reading.

This study greatly extends that by Nias on the same topic (Correlation 1, 2. Pp 37-40) It examines Nelson’s claims that planetary positions correlate with short-wave radio quality and that they can be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts. Exhaustive computer analysis of 2006 1/2 day or 1/4 day quality forecasts (based on planetary positions) made by Nelson for RCA during 1964-5, and 4960 daily forecasts made for “73 Magazine” during 1966-82, failed to find support for his claims. There was no significant correlation between forecast and outcome (mean r = 0.01), and the outcome on days forecast as poor was not significantly different from that on days forecast as good. Nelson’s forecasts performed considerably worse than US Government forecasts and a control forecast based on the quality one solar rotation before. The accuracy of 105 forecasts of solar flares was not significantly better than chance. To increase the sensitivity of the analysis of a daily planetary index based on Nelson’s rules was compared with observed radio qualities and geomagnetic indices. No planetary effect was detectable, nor was the alleged effect of nodes and perihelia. In disagreement with Nelson’s claims, hard aspects and associated harmonic aspects were not consistently more numerous on the most disturbed 3% of days during 1969-80 than on the lest disturbed 3% of days. In particular, the 12 days with the most adverse planetary configurations during 25 years were not significantly different from those with the least adverse. Nelson’s claims are incompatible with the physical processes involved and are shown to rest upon three things, namely a statistical artefact that led to his original ideas, a calculation artefact that gives spuriously high accuracy, and selection of data to fit the case. The results do not deny that the planets could affect the Sun in other ways.

An experimental approach to the age-old belief that specific metals are linked to corresponding planets is described. The former was developed in the 1920s by Frau Kolisko, following suggestions from Dr. Rudolf Steiner that planetary forces ought to be detectable in metal salt solutions precipitated on filter paper. The main reaction investigated – the slow reaction of ferrous sulphate with silver mitratet solution, precipitating colloidal silver – is described. Kolisko’s method was modified by Fyfe, and several, including this author, have confirmed the effects observable over planetary conjunctions

This paper concerns astrology, research and philosophy of science. It argues that, in the final analysis, they are inseparable: astrology is in urgent need of good research, and that in turn requires some grounding in philosophy of science. Different variants of the latter are discussed, and one – the “methodology of scientific research programs” – is used to assess the current state of astrology. On the basis of this assessment, advice is offered concerning some present and future research.

Much astrological research can be faulted because of its neglect of proper methodological safeguards. This article illustrates a need to ascertain in a very precise manner the amount of knowledge of astrology possessed by subjects, as this may inadvertently influence their filling in of questionnaires, personality descriptions, etc. It is shown that apparently very successful studies can be reduced to non-significance by controlling of this variable.

This is a report on a study undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere which looked at personality in relation to date of birth in a predominantly female sample population. The findings are consistent with those of similar studies carried out in the Northern Hemisphere. The author states that prior knowledge of astrology could account for most but not all of the findings of these studies and suggests that media exposure to astrology could be a significant and as yet unexplored area of self-perception.

The need for change in the approach to astrological research is urged and the value of considering astrology as based on the harmonics of cosmic periods is suggested as the key to clearer scientific results. Michel Gauquelin’s much discussed study of Mars in the nativities of sports champions is used as an example. This study has now been successfully replicated at least twice, but the “content” of the results has never been fully explained. It is shown that the distribution of Mars in that study is determined by two distinct factors, each with its own meaning. These two factors are explained and their meanings illustrated via the “character trait” method. The same principles and the same methods of harmonic analysis have already been shown to produce good results in terms of ecliptic positions and aspects and, in the author’s view, they offer the best avenue of advance for astrological research.