Learn About the History of Astrology Thursday With Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts

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Astrologist Maureen Richmond

Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts will continue its Arkansas Folklife Web Series with astrologer Maureen Richmond of Little Rock from 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18. This series is free and open to the public, and registration is required. 

Richmond's presentation will first offer a view of the historical origins of astrological practice, tracing the body of astrological knowledge used by today's Western astrologers from its roots in prehistory to its application to everyday affairs, medicine and politics in medieval Europe. 

"Of particular note will be examples of overtly astrological themes in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, demonstrating specific knowledge of the astrological doctrine of correspondences common in Elizabethan England," Richmond said. She further added that what inspires her about astrology is "the fact that a key to the unfoldment of time exists. With knowledge of astrology, it's possible to see the correlations between activation of celestial archetypes and earthly affairs, including the course of our daily lives." 

Richmond is an Arkansas native who for more than four decades has studied, taught and counseled through astrology — a folk practice with roots in the religion of classical Greece, the symbolic philosophies of late Mediterranean antiquity and the doctrines of natural correspondence common in medieval Europe. She began teaching and advising through the system of astrology in the early 1980s. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and professional writing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a Master of Arts in English and creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University and a Master of Arts in heritage studies from Arkansas State University. 

Astrology as a folk art and practice has been with humanity in one form or another since the dawn of recorded history. Up until the 1700s, it was considered not only a proper topic of study but a necessary component of wisdom for the competent scholar. The common folk have kept it alive since that time. Today, it is a type of intangible heritage, or folklore. 

Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts is excited to host a series of web presentations and lectures focusing on folk art, traditions and folklife of Arkansas. The series began in April and continues through October, with events occurring from 3-4:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Upcoming sessions focus on beekeeping and holiday food traditions and feature information from and about Arkansas folk artists, tradition-bearers, folklorists and authors. To learn more about the series, check out the University of Arkansas Libraries blog. 

• Sept. 15: Beekeeper Justin Lowe will present on the basics of beekeeping and his work at Rural Route Farms. 
• Oct. 20: Folklorist Rachel Reynolds will discuss holiday food traditions in the Ozarks and offer tips for preparing a regional holiday dish. 

Questions about the 2022 Arkansas Folklife Web Series may be directed to Willette at willette@uark.edu. Arkansas Folk and Traditional Arts is a statewide program of the University of Arkansas Libraries dedicated to building cross-cultural understanding by documenting, presenting and sustaining Arkansas' living traditional arts and cultural heritage.