This book explores an area of contemporary religion, spirituality and popular culture which has not so far been investigated in depth, the phenomenon of astrology in the modern West. Locating modern astrology historically and sociologically in its religious, New Age and millenarian contexts, Nicholas Campion considers astrology's relation to modernity and draws on extensive fieldwork and interviews with leading modern astrologers to present an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the origins and nature of New Age ideology.

Nicholas Campion is Associate Professor in Cosmology and Culture and Principal Lecturer in Faculty of Humanities and the Performing Arts at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. He is programme director of the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology.

1 Introduction: a million-dollar business?

2 Cosmic liberation: the pursuit of the millennium

3 The shock of the new: the age of Aquarius

4 Celestial enlightenment: the new age

5 End times: the new age and the age of Aquarius

6 The writing of heaven: new age astrology

7 Oracles to the vulgar: sun-sign astrology

8 An evolutionary paradox: the survival of belief in astrology

9 Salvation and the stars: astrology, religion and belief

10 Superstitious times: the extent of belief in astrology

11 Belief in astrology: a public survey

12 In their own words: the astrologers' universe of discord

13 With their own voices: interviews with astrologers

14 Conclusion: modernity and normality