Hand, Robert – Astrology in the Corpus Hermeticum

The Corpus Hermeticum (or CH) was a body of philosophical, spiritual and metaphysical writings which were written down somewhere between the 1st and 4th centuries of the Common Era. These are the foundation of what is called Hermetic Philosophy. They are also full of passages relating to astrology which betray a variety of attitudes toward the subject ranging from regarding astrological powers as demonic up to recognizing their proper validity and role in the cosmic scheme. This philosophy was at the root of ancient, esoteric philosophy and, along with Neoplatonism which took up many of its principles, became the foundation of all forms of spiritual astrology to this day.