Avalon Astrology Research Center

AARC MISSION STATEMENT: Determining Whether Astrology Has Objective Validity!

AARC has one clear and simple mission: to determine whether astrology has objective validity. By "objective validity" is meant the ability of astrology to make a statement about reality in a manner that meets the fundamental requirements of scientific inquiry, such as that the replicable results are free of various kinds of biases, confounding variables, etc. that could account for the results of the study.

AARC MISSION: The question of whether astrology has objective validity, despite the claims of some skeptics and believers in astrology, has not yet been determined.

There are impressive and interesting research studies. The most commonly cited one being the statistical studies of Michel and Francoise Gauquelin. None of these studies completely and unambiguously support astrology as having objective validity.

A key ingredient of science is replicability of a finding. The data used in the Gauquelin studies is difficult to obtain, and required many years of painstaking effort by the Gauquelins. Consequently, replicability of the Gauquelin studies is not easily done.

For various reasons all research studies in astrology to date have not been completely conclusive. There are, however, very scholarly and impressive works being produced by both astrologers and skeptics of astrology on the relationship of astrology to science and progress is being made. AARC provides a forum for anyone interested in whether astrology has objective validity to learn, share, and contribute to discovering what objective validity, if any, astrology has.

AARC is sympathetic to the goal of discovering objective validity in astrology. Discoveries in science are rarely made by scientists who are skeptical and pessimistic about achieving positive results. Imagine researchers seeking a cure for cancer going to the lab and thinking to themselves that this is a useless exercise and that they really just hope they can prove that a cure is impossible. Such an attitude does not provide a good foundation for discovering the breakthrough necessary. On the other hand, we need the insights and ideas of those who are skeptical of success because this skepticism can help us avoid pitfalls and blind alleys in our search for validity in astrology.

AARC is especially dedicated to research projects that show promise of establishing the objective validity of astrology. Any positive or promising research studies (studies which show results that confirm the hypothesis, and show promise of being replicable studies) are of especially strong interest. Information on possible biases or other problems in the research studies, and attempts to build upon these studies to make progress in establishing more precise and more verifiable research results, fulfill the mission of AARC. If research indicates that astrology lacks objective validity, then this also fulfills the mission of AARC by establishing with greater clarity than was previously known the extent of the objective validity astrology.

To discover whether astrology has objective validity is one of the great journeys available to us in modern times. Like early explorers who sailed the seas we are on uncharted territory seeking answers to a hotly contested and debated question: Does astrology have objective validity? The answer to this question is not neatly divided into two camps of astrologers versus skeptics. Many astrologers doubt that astrology has objective validity and many astrologers see the question as tangential to the fundamental purposes of astrology. There are gray areas between the extremes of viewing astrology has either a science in the making or as superstition. A discipline can have importance and relevance without being either superstition or science. The mission of AARC is, however, to determine if astrology does have objective validity.

AARC'S COMMITMENT: With a summary and links of relevant research and articles and experts in various areas of astrological research participating, and plans to host symposia, developments in software tools to elevate the sophistication of research studies, and interest in working cooperatively with other major astrological research centers, AARC provides a hub of activity for those who want to honestly and sincerely discover whether astrology has objective validity.