[HPforGrownups] Astronomy or Astrology?

[Margaret Dean]

No: HPFGUIDX 32938

Ronald Rae Yu wrote:
> 
> Is their Astronomy subject with Sinistra really
> Astronomy? They would be having a non-magical course
> then (interesting for me). If it IS really AstroLOGY,
> then why do they take it up in Divination? Perhaps
> Astronomy is really AstroNOMY then, and is a
> preparation or sort of a (what-do-you-call-it?)
> 'helping' course for Divination. Why is then
> Divination optional? What do wizards have in use for
> real Astronomy, then? Maybe Astronomy is Astrology,
> and they give emphasis on it because it is not an
> imprecise branch of magic or divination for that
> matter.

My guess is that Astronomy is one of those basic disciplines
that's useful for a wide range of magical applications.  For
instance, magical herbs may have their greatest potency (or may
=only= be potent) when gathered at a certain phase of the moon,
or when the Sun is in Aries, or the like.  A potion may need to
have certain ingredients added on a similar basis.  A particular
magical creature may do certain things according to what position
the stars are in.  Not to mention its use in Divination.


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>