African Astrology: Ancient Wisdom from the Motherland
Explore the rich astrological traditions of Africa, from Egyptian star lore to West African geomancy and the cosmological wisdom of the Dogon people.
African astrology encompasses a diverse tapestry of celestial traditions that predate many Western systems. From the sophisticated star observations of ancient Egypt to the geomantic practices of West Africa, the continent offers profound insights into humanity's relationship with the cosmos.
The ancient Egyptians developed one of the earliest systematic approaches to astrology, connecting the rising of Sirius (Sopdet) with the annual flooding of the Nile. Their decanic system divided the sky into 36 sections, each ruled by a deity, and influenced the development of Western astrology.
In West Africa, the Yoruba people developed Ifa—a sophisticated divination system that, while not strictly astrology, shares many parallels in its systematic approach to understanding cosmic patterns and their influence on human affairs. The 256 Odu of Ifa represent a comprehensive cosmological framework.
The Dogon people of Mali possess astronomical knowledge that continues to astound researchers. Their understanding of the Sirius star system, including knowledge of Sirius B (a white dwarf invisible to the naked eye), suggests sophisticated observational traditions passed down through generations.
These traditions remind us that astrology is not monolithic but a global human endeavor to find meaning in the patterns of the cosmos.