Astrology of the Soul - History and Sources
How Aristotle and Plato influenced development of the astrological soul
Published April 25, 2012; updated March 24, 2025. Long read: 2-3 hours.
This extensive working paper surveys historical and philosophical models for identifying the soul within the natal horoscope, focusing on the traditions of Hellenistic, Medieval Arabic, and Neoplatonic astrology. The paper distinguishes between several overlapping terms—epikratētōr, oikodespotēs, kurios, psuché, and mubtazz—and explores how each was understood in its historical context. Drawing from a wide range of sources, the author highlights two dominant astrological approaches: (1) Porphyry’s kurios model, which aligns with Plato’s view of the soul as a preexistent, immortal force with a guiding daimon, and (2) Ptolemy’s more psychological model using the Moon, Mercury, and their rulers to describe moral and rational character.
The paper connects astrological techniques to philosophical frameworks. Plato’s Myth of Er provides the metaphysical foundation for the soul’s pre-incarnational choice of life purpose, which Porphyry echoes through the kurios—interpreted by some astrologers as the planet associated with the soul's calling. Aristotle’s alternative tripartite model of the soul (nutritive, sensitive, rational) also finds astrological parallels, especially in Ptolemy’s assignments of soul qualities to the Moon and Mercury. The paper stresses that while direct historical influence is often difficult to prove, strong conceptual parallels justify the continued exploration of astrology’s spiritual dimensions.
A notable contribution of this paper is its rigorous treatment of the kurios model as a tool for identifying the planet most reflective of an individual’s life direction or calling—an idea rooted in Porphyry’s adaptation of Platonic thought. The author favors the kurios over the more commonly used oikodespotēs, arguing that it offers a more accurate representation of the soul’s chosen intent, particularly when essential and accidental dignities are carefully weighed.
Finally, the study includes a philosophical appendix reprinting Plato’s Myth of Er, alongside commentary on how later thinkers like Iamblichus and contemporary psychologists (e.g., James Hillman, Patrick Harpur) have reframed the daimon as a vital force behind life purpose and creative expression. The result is a compelling synthesis of classical astrology, philosophical inquiry, and spiritual psychology, aimed at restoring the “astrology of the soul” to a central place in astrological practice.