Birth-Times: A Scientific Investigation of the Secrets of Astrology

Michel Gauquelin was a statistician and psychologist, and with this background he developed an early interest in investigating whether it might be possible to find a statistical basis for astrology. He understood astrology well enough to know that taking Sun signs alone was not sufficient to make a serious investigation of the subject. The Gauquelins therefore collected the data of thousands of people who had been particularly successful in their chosen profession such as sportsmen, scientists and writers, and they came up with some significant results.

Especially their "Mars-effect" showed highly significant statistical correlations between planetary positions and the birth times of eminently successful sportsmen. Yet, Gauquelin's claim concerned not only Mars but five planets, correlated with eminence in fields broadly compatible with the traditional "planetary rulerships" of astrology.

Gauquelin's calculations finally led him to reject most of the conventions of natal astrology as it is practised in the modern west; in his last years he therefore propagated a type of "neo-astrology".

Gauquelin's aim was to be taken seriously by science. He enjoyed being admired and the centre of attention, but he failed to gain the recognition he so desired and instead ended up being ridiculed for his work. This criticism deeply hurt his self-esteem and he finally took his own life.