The astrological community is mourning the loss of Geoffrey Cornelius, who passed in August 2024. He was an astrological consultant and teacher, and a lifelong student of various forms of divination. A former President of the Astrological Lodge of London, in 1983 he co-founded the Company of Astrologers with Maggie Hyde and other leading UK practitioners, and was a tutor on the COA’s Katarche programme in Horary Astrology.
Geoffrey had a Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies, specialising in divination. He worked for many years to bring astrology into adult education and the universities, and was a founding member of the Sophia Project.
Geoffrey's writings in astrology include The Moment of Astrology – Origins in Divination (1994) Harmondsworth, Penguin/Arkana – revised edition (2003) Bournemouth, Wessex Astrologer; and the cartoon book Astrology for Beginners (1995) Icon (co-author with Maggie Hyde & Chris Webster). Academic studies include ‘Chicane – Divination and Double-Thinking among the Witch-doctors’ in Divination – Perspectives for a New Millennium ed. Patrick Curry (2010) Farnham: Ashgate, and ‘Interpreting Interpretations: the Aphorism in the practice of the Renaissance astrologers’ in ed. Charles Burnett and Dorian Greenbaum From Masha’allah to Kepler: The Theory and Practice of Astrology in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance’ (2015) Sophia Centre Press.
Interviews
Victor Olliver and Sue Brayne - Astrology, magic, divination, and omens: exploring the work of Geoffrey Cornelius
