History Main / Astrologer

* "[[http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_astrologer.htm An Astrologer's Song]]" from ''Rewards and Fairies'' by Creator/RudyardKipling

The Astrologer is not to be confused with an Astro'''n'''omer, the latter studies the stars and the former attempts to use them to explain things on earth. He is also not to be confused with the '''psychic''' as no supernatural power or abilities are involved in an Astrological reading.

The Astrologer is not to be confused with an Astro'''n'''omer, the former studies the stars and the latter attempts to use them to explain things on earth. He is also not to be confused with the '''psychic''' as no supernatural power or abilities are involved in an Astrological reading.

* Centaurs in ''Literature/HarryPotter'' have fairly accurate predictions this way, Firenze in particular was skilled enough to teach a class in it, but even he admitted that it required a certain knack that was hard to grasp.

* Zirinka from the episode "Syzygy" of ''TheXFiles''. As she is also a {{DeadpanSnarker}}, her scenes are hilarious.

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* In the ''[[{{Belgariad}} Malloreon]]'', the Dal race studies many supernatural things, such as necromancy and alchemy, but the Seers are in charge of the civilisation. [[BlindSeer Blindfolded]] except when they look at "the Book of the Heavens", one of them takes the reigns of the conflict between the two opposing Prophecies.

The Astrologer is not to be confused with an Astro'''n'''omer, the former studies the stars and the latter attempts to use them to explain things on earth.

The Astrologer is not to be confused with an Astro'''n'''omer, while both study the stars the latter does so with science in mind.

* Mama Sutra in Shea and Wilson's ''Illuminatus!'', a seeress who can also tell the ''past'' - a lot more accurately than the historians can... she predicts Putney Drake's rise to the top in the criminal world, and she can also look back to a world in which the events of Tolkien's ''LordOfTheRings'' actually ''happened''....

Astrologers can be good guys, neutral, self interested, or evil. In fact, a story may have two Astrologers who engage in ScryVersusScry to see which can affect their vision of the future. Just like a Tarot based divinations is open to interpretation, the Astrologer may anger clients when they wrong interpret predictions or [[PortentOfDoom have unfavorable fortunes.]] This especially true when they serve a villain who may [[YouHaveFailedMe kill them for the failure]] or as [[KillTheMessenger bearer of bad news.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"The stars foretell... a change in wardrobe?" [[note]]''Habit d'Astrologue'' by Nicolas III de Larmessin.[[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:"The stars foretell... a change in wardrobe?" [[note]]''Habit d'Astrologue'' by Nicolas III de Larmessin.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[http://sol.oops.jp/art/larmessin.shtml http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/larmessin2_7732.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"The stars foretell... a change in wardrobe?"]]

* Gail Andrews in ''H2G2/MostlyHarmless'' is an astrologer who gave advice to President Hudson and is confronted by Tricia Macmillan on the existence of a tenth planet. Her explanation is that astrology has nothing to do with actual stars and planets; they're just the arbitary source of a system of rules that gives you insight into people.

This character is a pretty old staple in fiction. This characters claims to have the skill to predict past, present and future events based on the position of stars and planets, often using big heaps of {{Symbolism}} to link characters and events with astrological bodies and movements. They're a type of FortuneTeller that uses telescopes, star charts and zodiac's rather than a CrystalBall or [[TarotMotifs Tarot cards]]. Typically they're a PhonyPsychic in modern non-fantasy stories, the astrologer is usually a fake, whether they will admit it or not. If they can ''actually'' divine the future through some form of RitualMagic or PsychicPowers they're effectively a {{Seer}}, and they may {{Invoke|d Trope}} the PhonyPsychic trope as a cover for their real psychic powers.

* Hieronymous, the villain of the ''DoctorWho'' story "The Masque of Mandragora", is an astrologer, whose study of the stars brings him into contact with the Mandragora Helix.
* Martin Trueman, the villain of ''TheSarahJaneAdventures'' story "Secrets of the Stars" is an astrologer, whose study of the stars brings him into contact with the Ancient Lights.

The astronomer may use the WesternZodiac or the EasternZodiac, or instead substitute a wholecloth new astrological system of meaning. This last one is especially common in fully original fantasy settings. If they ''do'' use a zodiac of some sort, they may also happily engage [[TheMatchmaker in matchmaking,]] whether they're asked to or not.

The Astrologer is not to be confused with an Astro'''n'''omer, while both study the stars the latter does so with science in mind.

* In ''StrangerInAStrangeLand'', Becky Vesey is a prominent astrologer who both works for Senator Douglas' wife and is a friend of Jubal's. She ends up using her seeing ability to subtly direct people's actions in what she views as a beneficial way.

* The main character of Friedrich Schiller's play ''Wallenstein'' employs one. Based on RealLife - at this time, many famous persons had their horoscope made. And even famous astronomers of this time like Kepler side-worked as astrologers, if only [[MoneyDearBoy to pay the bills.]]

** Also from ''{{Discworld}}'' is Wilf, the mysterious figure who writes the astrology section of the ''Ankh-Morpork Almanack'', and may in fact be the God of Astrology.

* In the ''[[{{Belgariad}} Malloreon]]'', the Dal race studies many supernatural things, such as necromancy and alchemy, but the Seers are in charge of the civilisation. [[BlindfoldedSeer Blindfolded]] except when they look at "the Book of the Heavens", one of them takes the reigns of the conflict between the two opposing Prophecies.

This character is a pretty old staple in fiction. The nuts and bolts of their skill is to predict past, present and future events based on the position of stars and planets, often using big heaps of {{Symbolism}} to link characters and events with astrological bodies and movements. If they actually have powers or some form of RitualMagic that allows them to predict the future they're effectively also a {{Seer}}, otherwise they're a FortuneTeller that uses star charts rather than [[TarotMotifs Tarot cards]]. Much like a Tarot based divinations, as something open to interpretation the Astrologer may anger clients when they make wrong predictions or [[PortentOfDoom have unfavorable fortunes.]] This especially true when they serve a villain who may [[YouHaveFailedMe kill them for the failure]] or as [[KillTheMessenger bearer of bad news.]]

Astrologers can be good guys, neutral, self interested, or evil. In fact, a story may have two Astrologers who engage in ScryVersusScry to see which can affect their vision of the future. In modern non-fantasy stories, the astrologer is usually a fake, whether they will admit it or not.