Compass

The origins of astrology lie in calendars. Following the reasons people began to read the sky reveals a quieter story than prophecy.

We think of time as a straight line. The Maya calendars drew circles. A calendar embodies a civilization's view of the world.

Seven is special; four is avoided. Giving numbers meaning belongs as much to humanity's cultural history as to fortune-telling.

Astrology is often dismissed as superstition. Its history nevertheless reveals a long tradition of people looking upward and asking who they are.