author
William Lilly
1602–1681
A vivid voice from 17th-century England, this astrologer became famous for almanacs and predictions that were read far beyond occult circles. His life moved through civil war, public controversy, and a lasting influence on the history of astrology.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Diseworth, Leicestershire, in 1602, William Lilly rose from modest beginnings to become one of the best-known astrologers in England. After moving to London as a young man, he educated himself in astrology and built a reputation through private practice, published almanacs, and advice sought during a deeply unsettled political era.
Lilly is especially remembered for his work in horary astrology, which interprets charts cast for the moment a question is asked. His most influential book, Christian Astrology (1647), helped shape later English-language astrology and is still known today by readers interested in the subject.
He lived through the English Civil War and the years that followed, when prophecy and political suspicion often overlapped. That mix of fame, argument, and public curiosity made him a striking figure in his own time, and it has kept his name alive long after his death in 1681.