'WORLD Astrology' by Bere Alston-based author Peter Marshall is a heavy book. Literally. Yet so it deserves to be, for this science, belief, study — call it what you will — has been around since our ancestors first looked skywards.
In his journey to unravel the mysteries of this ancient art, Peter left the peace of his Bere Peninsula home to travel world-wide, from China to India, Mesopotamia to Egypt. Years of research and interviews with experts led him to the conclusion that astrology, wherever it is practised, has common roots based in man's desire to learn why we are here and to make sense of where we are going.
Peter, a well-known and respected travel writer and philosopher, whose circumnavigation of Africa became a major TV series several years ago, said his latest book was a natural progression after a major study of alchemy.
He said: 'It was during the research for my last book, The Philosopher's Stone, that I realised that astrology has played a key part in history, religion and science and contains a lot of ancient wisdom.'
Peter said the importance and relevance of celestial movements has been recognised since the earliest times.
'You can't deny the moon and sun have a huge influence on us, so why not the planets further out? I think that's how people developed their beliefs.'
Peter said the basis of astrology worldwide is a belief in a correspondence between the heavens and the earth and that everything is inter-connected — so what goes on in the stars will affect what happens on the earth.
'It's about recognising that we are not just living on some sort of machine spinning in space, it's almost as if there is a sort of cosmic sympathy.'
Astrology is often scoffed at by the modern scientist — unwisely, according to Peter, who believes true scientists keep their minds open. But it still, after thousands of years, holds a fascination for many. Even if it's at the superficial level of a quick flick through the horoscope in the daily paper — everyone knows their star sign, said Peter.
'The Chinese follow astrology avidly, it's very much part of everyday life. It's hugely popular in India — most arranged marriages don't take place unless the charts are compatible. Indian astrology works on a similar zodiac, but because of their belief in reincarnation, it's much more spiritually orientated,' he said.
Peter said astrology only split from astronomy as a science about 300 years ago.
'All the great early astronomers were practising astrologers as well,' he said. Some of the most famous names and brains in history have studied astrology — Galileo, Newton, Jung — and who has not heard of the most famous astrologer of all, Nostradamus?
The Chinese art of Feng shui, now ultra-trendy, is actually an ancient craft, linked to astrology.
'Feng shui was originally about placing the tombs of the dead and buildings in the most favourable way in the landscape. It's common sense developed into a science or an art,' said Peter, who said the Chinese believed good Feng shui could help bad destiny. If you have a good destiny, it can make it even better.
In the advanced age we live in, the ancient skill of reading the stars is alive and thriving, as Peter found during his world travels.
He said: 'I think there is a growing interest in astrology. We live in a very mechanical and consumerist culture, where image is everything and astrology does show you a certain mystery and enchantment that's lacking in everyday life.
'There's that wonderful quote "All of us are in the gutter — but some are looking up at the stars" — that poetic side appeals.
'What I've been trying to do is draw out the value of this ancient wisdom. I think it's very relevant to our own day, in particular how we live and how we are part of the environment.'
World Astrology is a combination of anecdotes and meticulous historical research from around the world, which illustrates the complexity of this ancient and fascinating science.
Sceptical about astrology in his youth, Peter now believes it can be an invaluable aid in living to the full. To dismiss centuries of cumulative international wisdom as mumbo-jumbo would be to lose out on the full exploitation of life's opportunities, he says.
Peter said it made sense for anyone with more than a passing interest in astrology to have a proper astrological chart drawn up for them. But he said there is also a knack to interpreting horoscopes.
'They can be quite deterministic. Saying "It's all in the stars, I can't do anything about it" as if there is this planned destiny is wrong. Most astrologers say we shouldn't be slaves to the stars, but masters of them. They are just showing signs, they indicate a particular direction.
'Birth charts and horoscopes can give signs. They're like a seed packet, there are signs of potential, it's up to you where and how you plant them really.'
l World Astrology — the astrologer's quest to understand the human character by Peter Marshall is published by Pan Macmillan, priced £20. It is available at Bookstop in Tavistock and other outlets.