Episode #476: More Than Magic: Astrology as the Oldest Data Science

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop sits down with astrologer and researcher C.T. Lucero for a wide-ranging conversation that weaves through ancient astrology, the evolution of calendars, the intersection of science and mysticism, and the influence of digital tools like AI on symbolic interpretation. They explore the historical lineage from Hellenistic Greece to the Persian golden age, discuss the implications of the 2020 Saturn-Jupiter conjunction, touch on astrocartography, and reflect on the information age's shifting paradigms. For more on the guest's work, check out ctlucero.com.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 Stewart Alsop introduces C.T. Lucero; they begin discussing time cycles and the metaphor of Monday as an unfolding future.
05:00 Astrology’s historical roots in Hellenistic Greece and Persian Baghdad; the transmission and recovery of ancient texts.
10:00 The role of astrology in medicine and timing; predictive precision and interpreting symbolic calendars.
15:00 Scientism vs. astrological knowledge; the objective reliability of planetary movement compared to shifting cultural narratives.
20:00 Use of AI and large language models in astrology; the limits and future potential of automation in interpretation.
25:00 Western vs. Vedic astrology; the sidereal vs. tropical zodiac debate and cultural preservation of techniques.
30:00 Christianity, astrology, and the problem of idolatry; Jesus' position in relation to celestial knowledge.
35:00 The Saturn-Jupiter conjunction of 2020; vaccine rollout and election disputes as symbolic markers.
40:00 The Mayan Venus calendar and its eight-year cycle; 2020 as the true “end of the world.”
45:00 Media manipulation, air-age metaphors, and digital vs. analog paradigms; the rise of new empires.
50:00 Astrocartography and relocation charts; using place to understand personal missions.

Key Insights

1. Astrology as a Temporal Framework: C.T. Lucero presents astrology not as mysticism but as a sophisticated calendar system rooted in observable planetary cycles. He compares astrological timekeeping to how we intuitively understand days of the week—Sunday indicating rest, Monday bringing activity—arguing that longer astrological cycles function similarly on broader scales.
2. Historical Continuity and Translation: The episode traces astrology’s lineage from Hellenistic Greece through Persian Baghdad and into modernity. Lucero highlights the massive translation efforts over the past 30 years, particularly by figures like Benjamin Dykes, which have recovered lost knowledge and corrected centuries of transcription errors, contributing to what he calls astrology’s third golden age.
3. Cultural and Linguistic Barriers to Knowledge: Lucero and Alsop discuss how language borders—historically with Latin and Greek, and now digitally with regional languages—have obscured access to valuable knowledge. This extends to old medical practices and astrology, which were often dismissed simply because their documentation wasn’t widely accessible.
4. Astrology vs. Scientism: Lucero critiques scientism for reducing prediction to material mechanisms while ignoring symbolic and cyclical insights that astrology offers. He stresses astrology’s predictive power lies in pattern recognition and contextual interpretation, not in deterministic forecasts.
5. Astrology and the Digital Age: AI and LLMs are starting to assist astrologers by generating interpretations and extracting planetary data, though Lucero points out that deep symbolic synthesis still exceeds AI's grasp. Specialized astrology AIs are emerging, built by domain experts for richer, more accurate analysis.
6. Reevaluating Vedic and Mayan Systems: Lucero asserts that Western and Vedic astrology share a common origin, and even the Mayan Venus calendar may reflect the same underlying system. While the Indian tradition preserved techniques lost in the West, both traditions illuminate astrology’s adaptive yet consistent core.
7. 2020 as a Historical Turning Point: According to Lucero, the Saturn-Jupiter conjunction of December 2020 marked the start of a 20-year societal cycle and the end of a Mayan Venus calendar “day.” He links this to transformative events like the vaccine rollout and U.S. election, framing them as catalysts for long-term shifts in trust, governance, and culture.