Thai Astrology

Thai astrology (โหราศาสตร์ไทย, Horasat Thai) is a system shaped by several traditions:

Sources of synthesis.

• Indian Jyotish (#18) — brought to Southeast Asia along with Buddhism and Hinduism in the early centuries CE
• Chinese astrology
• Local animistic traditions

As a result, Thai astrology is an original synthesis adapted to the Buddhist worldview and Thai culture.

Layers of the System

A Lunar Zodiac — 12 Animal Patrons

Close to but not identical with the Chinese system. Determined by the year of birth.

7 Nawaloka Planets

Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn — govern days of the week and carry astrological qualities similar to the Indian tradition.

The Day of Birth as the Key

Day of week — especially significant. The day of birth determines the "patron" planet and the color associated with the person.

The color of the day. Hence the Thai tradition of wearing clothing of a particular color on one's day.

Calculations

Court astrologers. Calculations in the traditional system are performed by court astrologers (motu horasat) and include:

• Casting a birth horoscope
• Selecting auspicious dates (muhurta)
• Determining compatibility

Buddhist Ontology

Less deterministic. The Buddhist context makes Thai astrology less deterministic than some other systems: karma and personal effort are viewed as the capacity to change what is written in the stars.

Place in Errarium

A Southeast Asian synthesis. Within the Errarium atlas, Thai astrology represents a Southeast Asian synthesis of astrological traditions — a distinctive cluster that cannot be reduced to Jyotish (#18), Chinese systems (#10, #37), or Western astrology (#1).

Uniqueness.

• Buddhist ontology
• Central role of the day of the week
• Living integration with Thai animism (#36)