Michel de Nostredame, better known to us as Nostradamus, remains a figure shrouded in as much mystery as the cryptic prophecies he penned in the 16th century. For centuries, scholars and enthusiasts alike have pored over his “Les Propheties,” attempting to decipher warnings and predictions of future events. But amidst the layers of allegorical language and historical allusions, a persistent question arises: did Nostradamus, the seer of Salon, actually use the stars – the prevailing astrological knowledge of his day – to chart the course of the future? The answer, while not entirely straightforward, leans heavily towards a resounding yes.
The Astrological Air He Breathed
To understand Nostradamus’s potential reliance on astrology, we must first immerse ourselves in the intellectual climate of Renaissance Europe. Far from being a fringe practice, astrology in the 16th century was a respected, if sometimes contentious, field of study. It was considered a sister science to astronomy, and its principles were interwoven with medicine, agriculture, and even political decision-making. Physicians, including Nostradamus himself who was a trained apothecary and physician, would often consult astrological charts for diagnosis and prognosis. Kings and popes employed court astrologers to guide state affairs. It was a world where the macrocosm of the heavens was believed to directly influence the microcosm of human life and earthly events.
For someone like Nostradamus, educated and intellectually curious, to ignore astrology would have been akin to a modern scientist ignoring data analysis. It was simply part of the toolkit for understanding the world. He lived and worked in an era where the movements of planets and stars were not just celestial mechanics but were seen as divine messages, a language through which one could, with proper knowledge, interpret God’s plan or at least the general currents of future possibilities.
Written in the Stars – And in His Prefaces
We don’t have to rely solely on the context of his time; Nostradamus himself provides clues. In the preface to his son Cesar, a key introductory text to his “Centuries,” he explicitly mentions his methodology. He speaks of “long calculations” and making his prophecies through “astronomical doctrine.” He claims his visions are supplemented by “astronomical calculations” and that his nightly studies involved determining “the aspects of the planets.”
He writes, “emptying my soul, mind and heart of all care, solicitude and vexation, by tranquility and quietness of mind… I have predicted, by means of the brass tripod.” While the “brass tripod” hints at other divinatory methods, possibly scrying or inspired trance, he consistently pairs these with a framework that sounds distinctly astrological. He mentions calculating “the celestial figures” and understanding the “mutations to come” based on the “eternal chain of causes.” This suggests a blend of mystical insight and structured astrological work.
Celestial Fingerprints in the Quatrains
The quatrains themselves are peppered with astrological terminology. We find references to planets – Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury – and the Sun and Moon, often described in specific zodiacal signs or in aspect to one another (conjunction, opposition, square). For instance, a quatrain might mention “Saturn in Aquarius, Mars in Sagittarius” or a “great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.” These aren’t casual name-drops; they suggest specific astrological configurations that he deemed significant for future events.
Some scholars have attempted to date certain quatrains by retro-calculating these astronomical alignments, though this is fraught with difficulty due to the vague nature of the events described. Nevertheless, the persistent use of such language is strong evidence that astrological charts and ephemerides (tables of planetary positions) were among his working tools. He wasn’t just gazing at the night sky in a general sense; he was likely engaging with the complex mathematical and interpretative systems of judicial astrology.
It is crucial to remember that reconstructing Nostradamus’s exact astrological methods remains a highly speculative endeavor. While evidence points to his use of astrology, the precise techniques and the extent to which they were blended with other divinatory practices are not definitively known. His deliberate obscurity further complicates any attempt at a complete understanding. The layers of symbolism and ambiguous language make definitive pronouncements about his sources very challenging.
What Kind of Astrology Might He Have Used?
If Nostradamus did use astrology, what specific branches might he have employed? Given the nature of his prophecies, which often deal with large-scale events, wars, famines, and the fates of nations, mundane astrology seems a likely candidate. Mundane astrology is the branch concerned with predicting world events and the fortunes of countries and collective groups, often based on ingresses (planets entering signs), great conjunctions (especially of Jupiter and Saturn), and eclipses.
He might also have used horary astrology, which involves casting a chart for the moment a specific question is asked, to seek answers about particular future occurrences that came to his mind or were posed to him. While his “Propheties” are not framed as answers to specific queries, the mindset of seeking specific celestial indicators for specific outcomes aligns with horary principles.
It’s less likely that his published prophecies were based primarily on natal astrology (interpreting individual birth charts), as they deal with broader strokes of history. However, his training would certainly have included natal astrology, and he did produce almanacs which often contained generalized predictions for the year, a common astrological practice of the time that drew on similar principles.
The Mists of Interpretation and Intentional Obscurity
One of the greatest challenges in confirming the precise role of astrology in Nostradamus’s work is the legendary obscurity of his quatrains. Written in a mix of French, Latin, Greek, and Provencal, filled with anagrams, allegories, and vague references, they defy easy interpretation. Was this intentional? Very likely. In an era where prophecies could attract the unwelcome attention of the Inquisition, ambiguity was a form of protection. Accusations of witchcraft or heresy were serious threats.
This deliberate obfuscation makes it difficult to isolate purely astrological predictions from those potentially derived from other sources or insights. Did he see a specific planetary alignment and then clothe its meaning in layers of metaphor, or did an image or idea come to him through other means, which he then sought to legitimize or frame with astrological concordances? It was probably a complex interplay.
Moreover, Nostradamus was a man of considerable learning beyond astrology. His knowledge of classical history, biblical texts, and contemporary events would have provided a rich tapestry of material to weave into his predictions. It’s plausible that he observed historical patterns and projected them forward, using astrology as a timing mechanism or a symbolic language to express these projections.
The Challenge of “Retrofitting” Prophecy
Many attempts to link specific Nostradamus quatrains to historical events involve working backward. An event occurs, and then researchers scour the “Centuries” for a quatrain that seems to fit, often highlighting any astrological markers within it as “proof” of his method. While this can be a fascinating exercise, it doesn’t definitively prove his original methodology for that specific prediction. The human tendency for pattern recognition is strong, especially when dealing with such evocative and flexible verses.
A Seer’s Synthesis: Stars, Scholarship, and Spirit
In conclusion, the evidence strongly suggests that Nostradamus was not just vaguely inspired by the heavens but actively employed the astrological knowledge and techniques of his era. His own writings point to it, the language of his quatrains echoes it, and the intellectual environment of the 16th century almost demanded it of a man in his position making such claims. He was likely a skilled practitioner of judicial and mundane astrology, using planetary positions, aspects, and cycles to inform his outlook on the future.
However, to say he only used astrology would be an oversimplification. Nostradamus appears to have been a synthesizer, blending his astrological calculations with his profound knowledge of history, classical texts, and perhaps, as he claimed, moments of divinatory inspiration or “divine afflatus.” The stars were undoubtedly a critical component of his prophetic toolkit, providing a framework, a timing mechanism, and a symbolic language. But the full tapestry of his work was likely woven from many threads, some of which remain, much like his prophecies themselves, tantalizingly beyond our complete grasp. The celestial clockwork was a guide, but the seer’s unique interpretation and vision shaped the final, enigmatic message.
