Today's #WCW is seventeenth century astrologer Mary Holden. According to Sue Toohey's, "More Than Just A Footnote" on Skyscript, what information that can be gathered from Mary Holden's almanacs suggests she was a midwife and herbalist, but she considered herself a 'Student in Astrology'. Holden's almanacs were being released at a time when astrology's reputation was declining, but she pointed to astrology's usefulness as a legitimate technology that assists in better understanding the universe. Admirably, she made the effort to close a widening gap between the public and astrology by illuminating particular biblical quotes to demonstrate its antiquity and relationship to that which is Sacred: "For as much as some do think that astrology was invented by the Heathens, I shall endeavour to prove that it was from the beginning of the World, derived by the Sons of Seth, and for as much as they feared lest their art should perish before it came to the knowledge of men, for they had heard their Grandfather Adam say that all things should be destroyed by the universal flood, they made two Pillars, one of stone and the other of brick, to the intent that if the brick washed with water or stormes, yet the stones should preserve their letters whole and perfect, and in these Pillars they graved all that concerned astrology, or the observances of the stars, and therefore it is credible that the Egyptians and Chaldes learned astrology of the Hebrews and so consequently it spread abroad in other Nations. Therefore I would not have any to despise the art of astrology, the art and study is both laudable and excellent, and founded upon good principles of Scripture, as you may find from Genesis 1 to 14 and from 14 to 18, Judges 5 ver. 21, Psalms 3 ver. 6.19 Isaiah 40.22-26, Job 38.31,32. Look in the 7th chapter of the Wisdom of Solomon from the 17th verse to the 21st and I hope it will satisfy you." 📷: The Constellations of Eratosthenes, Research Gate #astrology #WCW #hypatia #constellations #maryholden #morethanjustafootnote #sacredfeminine
