Astrology

Parvati: "Professor Trelawney did astrology with us! Mars causes accidents and burns and things like that, and when it makes an angle to Saturn, like now, that means people need to be extra careful when handling hot things –"

Firenze: "That is human nonsense. Trivial hurts, tiny human accidents. These are of no more significance than the scurryings of ants to the wide universe, and are unaffected by planetary movements."

— Parvati Patil and Firenze illustrate the differences in human and centaur conceptions of astrology

Astrology is the system of using the relative positions of celestial bodies (including the sun, moon, and planets) to try to predict future events or gain insight into personality, relationships, and health.

Traditions and practices

Humans

Horoscope section in a 1995 issue of the Daily Prophet.

One human astrological practice was to draw a circular chart, called a personal chart, showing the position of the planets at the time of a person's birth. Creating one was an intensive process, requiring the consultation of timetables, as well as the calculation of angles. Once completed, this chart could be used in combination with data on upcoming planetary movements to work out a personal forecast, called a horoscope.

Astrology was taught in fourth year Divination at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Alchemists, because of the lack of common words for chemical processes as well as the need for secrecy, borrowed terms from astrology and other mystic and esoteric fields.

Horoscope section in a 1997 issue of the Prophet.

The Daily Prophet listed current zodiac aspects on its front page starting in 1994. By 1995, it ran horoscopes on the back page, as well as a feature on page six called Astro News, which was presumably dedicated to astrology. The horoscope column was moved to an interior page by 1997, and by that time was being written by Limunus.

The identity cards of Ministry of Magic employees listed their sun and moon signs rather than their dates of birth.

Centaurs

Like humans, centaurs practised astrology, but their approach to it was different. While centaurs used astrology only to foresee major, world-changing events, humans also utilised it to predict mundane, day-to-day occurrences and better understand themselves. Centaurs viewed these things as being far too trivial to be affected by the movement of the planets.

According to Firenze, his species spent hundreds of years observing celestial movements, unlocking their secrets and thereby learning to see signs of "great tides of evil or change" to come written in the sky. It could take up to a decade of watching for centaur astrologers to be confidant they knew what they were seeing. Even then, Firenze stressed that one should never place too much trust in such things, as it was possible to misinterpret signs.

Planetary influences

• Mars — This planet caused burns, accidents, and things of a similar nature according to Parvati Patil. In addition, Parvati claimed that when Mars and Saturn formed a right-angle, it indicated people needed to exercise extra caution when handling hot things. Firenze stated that centaurs interpret Mars shining brightly in the sky as a harbinger of war.
• Saturn — This planet being in a prominent position at the time of a person's birth was said by Sybill Trelawney to have a "baleful influence," causing dark hair, short height, and tragic losses early in life.
• Pluto — This planet could disturb day-to-day life in a number of ways according to Trelawney.

Individuals by sign

Star signs

Aries 27 March — James Potter 1 April — Fred and George Weasley Taurus 28 April — Horace Slughorn 2 May — Victoire Weasley 15 May — Pomona Sprout 20 May — Jack and Tom Monk Gemini 5 June — Draco Malfoy Cancer 23 June — Dudley Dursley 28 June — Dobby Leo 30 July — Neville Longbottom 31 July — Harry Potter 11 August — Ginny Weasley 14 August — Barry Wee Willie Winkle 18 August — Celestina Warbeck 22 August — Percy Weasley Virgo 26 August — Dolores Umbridge 7 September — Mrs. Chang 19 September — Hermione Granger Libra 25 September — Garrick Ollivander 26 September — Quirinus Quirrell 4 October — Minerva McGonagall 17 October — Filius Flitwick unknown date — Reg Cattermole

Scorpio 30 October — Molly Weasley 3 November — Sirius Black Sagittarius 22 November — Silvanus Kettleburn 29 November — Bill Weasley 30 November — Egmont Hobday 6 December — Rubeus Hagrid 6 December — Griselda Jorkins 12 December — Charlie Weasley Capricorn 31 December — Tom Riddle 9 January — Severus Snape Aquarius 26 January — Gilderoy Lockhart 31 January — Lily Evans 6 February — Arthur Weasley 13 February — Luna Lovegood unknown date — Miraphora Mina Pisces 1 March — Ron Weasley 9 March — Sybill Trelawney 10 March — Remus Lupin unknown date — Mafalda Hopkirk unknown date — Eduardo Lima Filho

Other planets

• Moon
  • Reg Cattermole — Virgo
  • Mafalda Hopkirk — Leo
  • Eduardo Lima Filho — Pisces

• Uranus
  • Lavender Brown — unknown sign, but unaspected

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (mentioned only)