Conversing with the Planets

November 2, 1992
Aveni, a professor of astronomy and anthropology at Colgate University, seeks here to integrate--in his view, reintegrate--the rational universe with a more comforting model that takes into account ``the interrelationship between matter and spirit.'' Such ancient astronomically inclined peoples as the Babylonians and the Mayans, he argues, made direct connections between events in the night sky and those on earth, and hence between nature and culture. The Mayans, for example, used their observations of the path of Venus to create a culturally useful myth about planting. While attempting ``to dispel some of the misconceptions we have about our ancient predecessors,'' Aveni the anthropologist ( Empires of Time ) leads Aveni the astronomer ( The Sky in Mayan Literature ) into giving these ancient pre-scientists what seems like more credit than is their due. In the end, his thesis spins out of orbit into deep New Age space; for a more balanced work of comparative astronomy, see E. C. Krupp's Beyond the Blue Horizon .

November 1, 1992
Aveni, a specialist in the interconnection between anthropology and astronomy who teaches at Colgate University, devotes much of his attention in this book to ancient astrology, especially that of the Mayans and the peoples of the Middle East. He emphasizes that the way they viewed the sky was closely integrated with their religious beliefs and with the structure of their societies. He pleads for an understanding of their astrological systems that takes into account their context and that does not insist upon applying modern criteria for scientific work. Unfortunately, the last few pages of the book contain a superficial pastiche of current antiscientific fads, which does little to support the main thesis of the volume. Recommended with some reservations.-- Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor

Copyright 1992 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 1992
A pioneer in the field of astronomical anthropology, Aveni views planets from both a cultural and a hard science perspective. Emphasizing that ancient sky interpretations were calibrated to actual, observed data as well as human purposes, he analyzes how older societies perceived what they saw. The close links between astrology and astronomy in several civilizations, and also in calendar coding, are examined. Brief, concluding chapters suggest that Western science, in distancing itself from this view of the universe, may have lost something important. Gaia and similar interpretations that restore a human connection to nature may offer productive cultural input to planet watching in our time. While Aveni's enthusiasm and range of interest are apparent, erudite language and close detail weigh more heavily in print than they do in lectures, for which he is well known. His examination of the origins and mechanisms of astrology, however, will fascinate a variety of readers. ((Reviewed Sept. 15, 1992))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1992, American Library Association.)