Pioneering Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology

By Alice Ekrek

The Sophia Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology has been established at Bath Spa University College. The Centre currently offers an MA programme in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, and it is hoped to launch modules with BA programmes in the College.

The College is located in the glorious, magical countryside on the outskirts of Bath, and the grounds provide an extraordinarily beautiful and peaceful location for this centre of academic study.

There are currently 12 students enrolled on the MA, mainly comprising of members of the astrological community. Classes began on Monday 7th October 2002.

The Director of the Centre is Dr Michael York. Dr York is knowledgeable on astrological matters, and his particular research interests are in the fields of the Sociology of New Religious Movements, Paganism, New Age, Cultural Astronomy, Postmodernism, and Indo-European Studies. Further information about him can be found on the college website at the following link read about Michael York here.

The course tutors are Dr Michael York, Nicholas Campion MA and Dr Patrick Curry. Modules will be offered on such subjects as the History of Astrology, Astro-Methodology, Science and Scepticism, Stellar Religion and Psychological and Psychoanalytic Perspectives. Students can also take one of the following modules from the Study of Religions Researching Contemporary Religions, New Age and Sacred Geography. Visiting lecturers will also be invited to talk on their particular areas of expertise.

The college has expressed surprise at the high number of students who have enrolled, considering the course was only established over the summer of 2002, and that is has not been nationally advertised due to the limited amount of time available before classes were due to begin. Information about the course has mainly circulated by word of mouth, and a lot of interest has been generated from prospective students as well as academics and other schools of astrology.

The official launch celebration for the Centre took place on Tuesday 15 October, 2002, between 6-9pm at the Sophia Centre. Around 70 students, astrologers, members of the wider academic community and Bath Spa University College officials and employees attended the party. The party was an enormous success, and generated a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm. A toast to the centre was announced at 6:51pm. The chart for 6 pm is shown here.

Such excitement and enthusiasm for the Centre and the courses being offered has been consistently expressed by the students and tutors of the Sophia Centre and all involved there. There is a feeling of enormous achievement and a sense of determination to make the most of this wonderfully historic opportunity.

The following press release has been supplied by the academic office at Bath Spa University College, and represents the College's public stance on the Centre's establishment.

'A new national centre for the study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology has been set up at Bath Spa University College.

The Centre will study the effects of astrological and astronomical beliefs on cultures, religions, politics and the arts. Beliefs about the influence of the stars upon human affairs have affected the political, cultural and religious development of different societies, from ancient Egyptian times (when builders of the Pyramids aligned them to the northern pole star) to the present day. Whilst the scientific study of astronomy is well established in universities, the academic study of astronomy and astrology from a cultural perspective is relatively rare and is a new and exciting advance for the University College.

The new Centre is part of the University College's School of Historical and Cultural Studies, within the Study of Religions Department which has a particularly strong tradition of innovative undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research (including aspects such as New Age religions and contemporary paganism).

The Centre has been set up with financial support from the Sophia Trust, a charity established for "the advancement of education by teaching of the relationship between knowledge and beliefs about the heavens and every aspect of art, science and philosophy". The Head of the Centre is Dr Michael York and a Masters' degree programme started in October 2002.

Assistant Director of Bath Spa University College, Dr David Timms, commented: "This new Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology is a great opportunity to expand our well established teaching and research in the study of religions, cultural studies and historical studies. I am confident that Bath Spa University College will gain a national and international reputation as a centre of expertise in this field". '

Further information about the MA, module handbooks and application forms can be obtained from:

Alice Ekrek, Administrator, The Sophia Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, Bath Spa University College, Newton Park, Newton Sreet, Loe Bath BA2 9BN United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1225 876147 Fax: +44 (0)1225 875444 email Alice here

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