Astrology and Spiritism: are they compatible?

Daniel Salomão Silva

Astrology, as a belief in the influence of the stars on human lives, is part of the imagination of most people, justifying characteristics, choices, and everyday events based on the exact moment of their birth. In other words, the arrangement of the stars in the sky at the time and date you were born would determine various factors in your life. In addition, the natural movement of these stars during your existence may or may not favor certain dispositions or even decisions.

On websites, even those of major newspapers, entire columns dedicated to horoscopes are very popular among those seeking daily guidance. Even among Spiritists, it is common to see references to their own signs and their reflections on their psychological characteristics in dialogues and publications. Without turning to theoretical texts on astrology, the purpose of this article is to point out correspondences and conflicts with Spiritist ideas, based on what we frequently find on the subject on websites and social networks. 

First of all, is there any scientific basis for these beliefs? As far as we have been able to research, the answer is no. Nowadays, conducting research with thousands of individuals on a wide variety of topics is increasingly feasible. However, curiously, we found few studies that affirm or deny that people of a particular sign tend to be more anxious or inattentive, loving or cold, for example. One that caught our attention, in fact, shows that the percentage of correct predictions made by 152 astrologers about the personalities and astrological charts of a group of people was practically the same as that of the 176 non-astrologers who also participated: very low.¹

As Kardec understands it, 

Spiritism, therefore, establishes as an absolute principle only that which is clearly demonstrated, or that which logically follows from observation. Understanding all branches of social economy, which it supports with its own discoveries, it will always assimilate all progressive doctrines, of whatever order, provided that they have assumed the status of practical truths and abandoned the realm of utopia, without which it would commit suicide.²

Due to the small number of studies and “negative” results such as those mentioned above, we understand that Astrology does not assume the status of “practical truth,” and therefore Spiritism cannot assimilate it.

Furthermore, the Codifier spoke directly about it on several occasions, pointing out that the constellations, over which the Sun temporarily projects itself during the Earth’s annual translation, and which influenced personalities, “are nothing more than apparent aggregates, caused by distance; their figures are nothing more than effects of perspective.” Therefore, “the meaning attributed to it by a superstitious popular belief is illusory and can only exist in the imagination.³” According to him, from the perspective of astronomy—which is indeed a science—due to the slow movement of the Earth’s axis of rotation, “it happens that the months no longer correspond to the same constellations. Someone born in July is no longer under the sign of Leo, but Cancer. Thus, the superstitious idea of the influence of the signs falls apart.“ In other words, the ”position” of the constellations in the sky changes over the years, which should change people’s signs themselves.

However, despite all this, there are other issues that oppose Spiritism to Astrology. In a quick search, we found some information on the internet about health and physical characteristics related to the signs⁴. For example, those of Capricorn would have “their greatest strength in their legs,” while those of Aquarius would have “the most beautiful and useful feet in their lives.” Those with Gemini ascendant “usually have cheerful faces and thin noses,” but those with Taurus ascendant have “rounded faces.” Although a simple observation already disproves this conclusion, according to the Spirits, it would be difficult to reconcile it with the understanding that there may be prior incarnation planning.

Before reincarnating, we can “choose the body, because the imperfections it presents will still be, for the Spirit, trials that will help its progress, if it overcomes the obstacles that oppose it.⁵”  Therefore, for there to be any compatibility with Astrology, there should also be a prior determination of the exact moment of birth. Only then could a certain characteristic or physical imperfection be present, which does not seem coherent to us. The complexity of the physical body and the importance of other factors, such as heredity, also pose barriers to this thinking. Spiritism, on the other hand, contemplates all these factors, not being rigid in its idea of prior planning, nor even admitting it as always present.⁶

 It should be noted that the Spirit Emmanuel is attributed with a peculiar position when he states that “the magnetic field and the conjunctions of the planets influence the cellular complex of the physical man, in his organic formation and in his birth on Earth,” even though we can fight against any disturbing element⁷.  Therefore, if the answer seems to confirm a certain astrological expectation, it never admits it in a deterministic way, nor does it refer to signs. Therefore, if the answer seems to confirm a certain astrological expectation, it never admits it in a deterministic way, nor does it refer to signs. However, although respectable, we have not found other communications that corroborate it.⁸ 

Another aspect often associated with horoscopes is an individual’s personality. For example, Pisces “have high emotional intelligence,” but the emotional nature of those with the Moon in Taurus “is usually deeply connected to material and emotional security.” This would even affect possible relationships, leading one to think, for example, that “Cancer and Scorpio are water signs that complement each other” or that Sagittarians “fall in love easily.” 

However, even if we were to admit a physical influence of the stars, as mentioned above, according to Spiritism, “the Spirit always has its own faculties. Now, it is not the organs that give the faculties, but rather these faculties that drive the development of the organs.⁹“ In the same vein, the diversity of aptitudes among men derives from the ”qualities of the Spirit, which may be more or less advanced.¹⁰”  Therefore, ways of thinking, feeling, and expressing oneself, even though it is undeniable that matter influences us¹¹, are intrinsic to the immortal Spirit, derived from its millennial baggage, associated with the education received in the current incarnation, the environment in which it develops, among other factors, but not the date of its birth or the position of the stars.

Finally, another point deserves attention: the possible influence of the stars on our decisions and our destiny. For some, for example, on a certain day, “Aquarians will have to take a step back and avoid rushing into decisions,” but Virgos “may have difficulty dealing with very authoritarian or controlling superiors.” Others will “find their great love” in the following month. This type of thinking seems dangerous to us, as decisions made based on astrology can exempt individuals from their responsibilities by attributing them to a definition of the stars or the universe. On the contrary, as the Spirits affirm, “there is never fatality in the acts of moral life.” ¹²

For them, in addition to the possible planning of the most important events in our incarnation, everyday episodes are “consequences of your own actions,” and regardless of any influences, “result from the exercise of your will, or your free will.¹³”  They also suggest that we should not believe “that everything that happens is written, as they say,¹⁴” or that certain people have a good destiny because they were born “under a lucky star,¹⁵” in direct reference to the influence of the constellations.

For Astrology, however, these factors are determined or at least influenced by the position of the stars, which has no scientific or philosophical basis, nor agreement among the Spirits. Therefore, from a Spiritist point of view, we already have enough to reject it.

However, allowing for one concession, the correspondence between Spiritism and astrology could only occur if the exact moment of each individual’s birth were calculated in accordance with their incarnation plan. For example, if I intend to face certain health issues or develop my patience in a particular life, I must choose exactly the day of fertilization, the length of gestation, and even the exact time of birth, bearing in mind that each of these decisions involves several people. Given the amount of detail in our psychology and physical constitution, the expectations of astrology do not seem consistent to us.

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1. CLEARERTHINKING.ORG. Clearer Thinking’s Study: Can astrologers truly gain insights about people from entire astrological charts? Available at <clearerthinking.org/post/can-astrologers-use-astrological-charts-to-understand-people-s-character-and-lives-our-new-study-pu>. Accessed on April 27, 2025.
2. KARDEC, Allan. Genesis. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2009, ch. 1, p. 55.
3. Ibid., ch. 5, p. 12.
4. Ibid., ch. 9, p. 7, footnote.
5. KARDEC, Allan. The Spirits’ Book. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2010, q. 335.
6. Idem, q. 259.
7. XAVIER, Francisco C. The Consoler. By the Spirit Emmanuel. 26th ed., Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2006, q. 140.
8. KARDEC, Allan. The Gospel According to Spiritism. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2010, introduction, II.
9. KARDEC, Allan. The Spirits’ Book. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2010, q. 370.
10. Idem, q. 370a.
11. Idem, q. 846; KARDEC, Allan. Revista Espírita: journal of psychological studies, year XII, 1869 (March). Catanduva, SP: Edicel, 2016.
12. KARDEC, Allan. The Spirits’ Book. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2010, q. 872.
13. Ibid., q. 259.
14. Ibid., q. 859a.
15. Ibid., q. 867.