Translations of Kepler’s Astrological Writings Part I, Section 1.2. David Fabricius and Kepler on Kepler’s Personal Astrology, 1602

Abstract

Kepler had a large and varied correspondence. Among his astrological correspondents was David Fabricius (9 March 1564 – 7 May 1617), a Lutheran pastor in northwest Germany who was an accomplished astrologer and astronomer (known for discovering the first variable star, and a treatise written, with his son, on sunspots). Kepler’s correspondence on astrology with Fabricius is interesting for a number of reasons. First, he discusses the both the philosophical and the physical components of astrology. Fabricius is clearly more wedded to a traditional astrology, one which Kepler is seeking to modify. Thus he acts as a foil for Kepler. Secondly, Fabricius and Kepler discuss personal horoscopy, in which Fabricius interprets Kepler’s chart and Kepler, in turn, gives Fabricius astrological advice. So we see both theory and practice in this correspondence. As an added bonus, Kepler’s list of his achievements (which he sent to Fabricius as part of the chart interpretation) allow us to date precisely certain events in Kepler’s life, such as his meeting with Tycho Brahe, his promotions and how he was affected by the counter-reformation (e.g., when all Protestants were expelled from Graz, Kepler among them). It may be partially because of the expulsion that Kepler developed his friendship with Tycho, which had momentous implications for the development of astronomy. In this volume, the correspondence with Fabricius is divided into three sections: one dealing with Kepler’s personal horoscopy (I.1.2), one with Fabricius’s personal horoscopy (III.3) and one with astrological theory (III.2). What follows here is Fabricius’ and Kepler’s discussion of Kepler’s life events as reflected in his birthchart.