Kipling is not popular. That is not to say that his literature, for children in particular, is no longer read; it is, but rather that people prefer that the man himself is given as little attention as possible. Accusation of racism and support for colonialism abound, although to what extent the relevant parts of his work are supportive of those matters and to what extent they are satirical (and thus critical of colonialism) is disputed.

I don’t propose to enter that debate. I am not an expert on all Kipling’s works; I am merely interested in those that clearly reference astrology.

When I wrote my analysis of Poussin’s The Acadian Shepherds, I noted that we, as a society, have discarded some of the more philosophical ideas of the past in favour of the reductionist ideals of the industrial revolution. Specifically I noted that the underpinnings of astrology may still have things to offer us today.

Kipling clearly shared this view.

In his speech “Healing by the Stars” at the Annual dinner of the Royal Society of Medicine at the Mayfair Hotel on 15 November 1928 he highlighted the work of Culpeper. And although he acknowledged that there were limitations and misdiagnosis within Culpeper’s work, he also pointed out the upsides of the more holistic and grounded approach of using both the time of the diagnosis and the nature of the patient, both informed by astrology.

Specifically he stated that

“we may still mistake secondary causes for primary ones, and attribute to instant and visible agents of disease unconditioned activities which, in truth, depend on some breath drawn from the motion of the universe—of the entire universe, revolving as one body (or dynamo if you choose) through infinite but occupied space? The idea is wildly absurd? Quite true. But what does that matter if any fraction of any idea helps towards mastering even one combination in the great time-locks of Life and Death? Suppose then, at some future time when the bacteriologist and the physicist are for the moment at a standstill, wouldn't it be interesting if they took their problem to the astronomer, and—in modern scientific language, of course—put to him Nicholas Culpeper's curious question: 'What was the aspect of the Heavens when such-and-such phenomena were observed?'?”

What Kipling was trying to say is medicine is good but incomplete; perhaps a wider perspective on the unity of the cosmos might help diagnosis. I have certainly had a doctor say to me “At the moment I don’t know of anything that may connect those two symptoms but come back in 50 years and the doctors then may be able to do so”. Culpeper would have had no trouble making a connection, so perhaps we really have lost something valuable along the way.

Although not really relevant to my argument, I have to mention here Kipling’s use of humour (in the modern rather than astro-medical sense) present in the speech.

He says “…[Culpeper] would take it for granted that, with the whole universe alight to signal some tremendous secret to mankind, men would naturally 'look as high as the stars.' And what answer would he get? When I asked a similar question of a man of science lately he said: 'You'd better see a doctor.' I told him that, with any luck, I expected to see ever so many of them before long. That expectation having been fulfilled to-night…..” I cannot fail to appreciate this level of wit.

But more entertaining was his reference to astrology in Rewards and Fairies. Once again he introduced Culpeper in a story about the plague: A Doctor of Medicine

Perhaps the most interesting part of this though is the dialogue before the story. Puck tries to con Culpeper about the moving light in the sky. Culpeper is not fooled. But only the astrologer will understand the humour in the lines.

Puck says “Nick. Ah! Let us keep touch with the stars!” …….There be the planets you conjure with! What does your wisdom make of that wandering and variable star behind those apple boughs?”

Where?” Mr. Culpeper leaned forward quickly. “That? Some countryman’s lantern.”

“Wrong, Nick” said Puck. “’Tis a singular bright star in Virgo, declining toward the house of Aquarius the water-carrier, who hath lately been afflicted by Gemini. Aren’t I right, Una?”

Mr. Culpeper snorted contemptuously.

“No. It’s the village nurse going down to the Mill about some fresh twins that came there last week. Nurse,” Una called, as the light stopped on the flat, “

 Puck, whilst appearing to mock astrology, is in fact extremely conversant with its language. Although they are not talking about the sky at all, he states that “it is a singular bright star in Virgo”. Una, not in on Puck’s knowledge corrects him “no it’s the village nurse”. But the sign of Virgo is associated with nurses so although they are not talking about real stars Puck has described the woman in perfect astrological terms.

Puck says “declining toward the house of Aquarius the water-carrier” Una, states that she is “going down to the Mill”. Of course the Mill is a house by the stream (water).

Finally Puck says “who hath lately been afflicted by Gemini”. On the one hand in astrological terms it is nonsense to say that Aquarius is afflicted by Gemini but Puck is not trying to interpret the stars, he is merely translating English into Astrology very literally. Una states that the nurse is visiting “some fresh twins that came there last week.” And, of course, even the least astrological aware knows that Gemini is the zodiacal sign of the twins.

The actual plague tale is self-explanatory, as Culpeper explains his astrological reasoning (sometimes accurate, sometimes a little flawed) but he notes that “there is a time, mark you, for all things under the Sun.”

We are reminded that we have recently experienced our own pandemic (fortunately not as virulent as the plague) triggered at a major planetary conjunction.

Kipling does not push the astrology at the reader, keeping Puck as a sceptical observer. But we astrologer’s already know that Puck is far better acquainted with it than he pretends. A neat trick by Kipling.

The tale is accompanied by a poem “An astrologer’s song”. As an analysis of parts of it requires some understanding of astrology and I could find none at all on the internet, I thought I would provide one here.

I have seen writers address the contents of the poem as a reference to Kipling’s support of religion and God. It is not difficult to see how this could be – reference to Heaven, Creation, Lord, Power, Mercy and Eternal is King, to a non-astrologer would clearly point to God. Indeed given the time period Kipling lived it is highly likely he would have been encouraged to believe in God, though his childhood in India would have exposed him to wider perspectives and multiple deities so he was more likely that average to question the status quo.

I don’t know whether he believed the universe was “run” by a single higher power that resembled the Christian God, but his poem clearly demonstrated that he believed the Universe was in itself a connected whole in time and space and everything was pre-ordained within that system. Not a lot of room for free-will, but plenty of room for having faith in the ultimate outcome.

To the Heavens above us

O look and behold

The Planets that love us

All harnessed in gold!

What chariots, what horses

Against us shall bide

While the Stars in their courses

Do fight on our side?

Pretty straightforward, here the heavens are just the skies. He’s basically saying that when the stars are in our favour we can be invincible.

All thought, all desires,

That are under the sun,

Are one with their fires,

As we also are one:

All matter, all spirit,

All fashion, all frame,

Receive and inherit

Their strength from the same.

The key verse, philosophically. Stating that everything is connected and that “as above, so below”, individually and collectively, we reflect the characteristics of the planets and stars.

Oh, man that deniest

All power save thine own,

Their power in the highest

Is mightily shown.

Not less in the lowest

That power is made clear.

(Oh, man, if thou knowest,

What treasure is here!)

Here he is saying that if you look at the evidence you will see how powerful is the knowledge from astrology and that the universe rewards the study.

Earth quakes in her throes

And we wonder for why!

But the blind planet knows

When her ruler is nigh;

And, attuned since Creation

To perfect accord,

She thrills in her station

And yearns to her Lord.

This verse is merely illustrating the point. Problems on earth are a reflection of the position of the planet(s) at the time, and have been set in motion since the beginning.

The reference to “her Lord” here is not to The Lord, (although the ambiguity appears deliberate) but to the association between a planet and the zodiacal sign which it rules. Technically the planet is the lord/ruler and the sign the thing it has lordship/rulership over but a little poetical license is at play here.

The waters have risen,

The springs are unbound--

The floods break their prison,

And ravin around.

No rampart withstands 'em,

Their fury will last,

Till the Sign that commands 'em

Sinks low or swings past.

More detail here. Basically we are stuck with what the world throws at us, if that is what the planets are saying will happen, for as long as they are in that specific position.

Through abysses unproven

O'er gulfs beyond thought,

Our portion is woven,

Our burden is brought.

Yet They that prepare it,

Whose Nature we share,

Make us who must bear it

Well able to bear.

One of the more theosophical verses. Referencing the enormity of the universe as well as our limited knowledge he also addresses the fates, and the words indicate how the planets in their journeys cause or mirror the unfolding of our destiny. But it also states that our birth-chart provides us with the strength to overcome what-ever our lives throw at us. We resonate to that chart and the lessons or experiences that flow from it as the planets move around their paths.

This is quite a modern concept for when Kipling was writing, but is no doubt a reflection that he was familiar with Eastern as well as Western thought.

Though terrors o'ertake us

We'll not be afraid.

No Power can unmake us

Save that which has made:

Nor yet beyond reason

Or hope shall we fall--

All things have their season,

And Mercy crowns all!

Once more we are admonished to not let our focus be on how bad day to day events are but appreciate the greater whole, that we are part of and to know that nothing is forever and everything shall pass when the Universe decrees it.

Interestingly this is the one place where perhaps a sliver of Christian religion comes in with “Mercy crowns all”. I am not sure that there is such a concept within the Universe; things just are, but Kipling clearly thought that despite everything there would be forgiveness and acceptance.

I suppose if “as above, so below” exists and we are advised to be accepting of our fates then by extension the Universe will accept us too. Perhaps.

Then, doubt not, ye fearful--

The Eternal is King--

Up, heart, and be cheerful,

And lustily sing:--

What chariots, what horses

Against us shall bide

While the Stars in their courses

Do fight on our side?

The last verse merely sums up by reminding us again that we should have faith in the universe and the refrain takes us back to the more positive side of planetary influence.

Although written as an accompaniment to a children’s tale, there is huge philosophical and metaphysical depth to this poem. And to think that the only one I learned at school was A Smuggler’s Song- brilliant though the latter is (especially when recited in a West Country accent).

Because this is a financial as well as an astrological site, I will also include one more reference to Kipling’s work: The Gods of the Copybook headings. In this case I won’t reproduce the whole poem just some pithy extracts:

They [the copybook headings- i.e common wisdom] denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;

They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;

So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things

….And that we would find Unicorns in the Brexit sunny uplands, of course….

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "If you don't work you die."

A hint of the pleasures that we could and do get from a debt based economy and the inflation that would result. It is interesting that although Kipling is particularly targeting socialism here, his words apply equally to the impact of bailouts and even quantitative easing or indeed any action which creates a significant debt burden
 
Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.

Which of course we have to look forward to, at some time in the not too distant future ......... when the planets so align

A love of astrology and a scepticism about The Markets. No wonder Kipling is unpopular!!!