Philip Graves and Astrolearn: Preserving Astrological History for Future Generations

In a modest library in Newport, South Wales, something remarkable is happening. Philip M. Graves, a British astrological historian, has spent over two decades building what may be the world's most comprehensive multilingual astrology library, with over 11,000 volumes plus another 14,000 publications of astrological magazines, journals and almanacs.

This isn't your typical collection. Graves has assembled texts in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Danish, Norwegian, Hungarian, Russian, Serbian, Turkish, Japanese, Akkadian, Ancient Greek, Latin, Arabic, Hebrew and Armenian, with some antiquarian volumes from as early as the mid-16th century.

A Scholar's Journey

Philip's path to becoming Europe's leading astrological archivist began in 1995 when, as a 21-year-old, one of his father's friends gave him some books covering the basics of astrology. What started as casual interest quickly evolved into scholarly pursuit.

Born on 26th March 1974 in Oswestry, Shropshire, Graves is a B.A. (Hons.) graduate in French from the University of Hull (1997), who has also studied Swedish to an advanced level, and basic German, Spanish and Latin. He is a CELTA-qualified teacher of English as a Foreign Language to Adults (ITTC, Bournemouth, 2003).

His family connections run deep in literary circles. A great-nephew of the poet and author Robert Graves, and son of the biographer Richard Perceval Graves, Philip has always been greatly interested in literature, and has written stories, books and songs since an early age.

Building Something Extraordinary

The Astrolearn web site was launched in December 2014, a decade after its original outline conceptualisation. But the real work had begun years earlier as Graves methodically acquired rare texts, out-of-print journals, and contemporary publications.

"It was fascinating but it was clear it had been built on traditions dating back thousands of years," Graves explains about his early encounters with astrological literature. "I wanted to get hold of historical material and learn more."

The scale of his achievement becomes clear when you consider the numbers. The library currently features over 8,000 unique edition-volumes of books and 12,000 issues of magazines, journals, and almanacs. Each item has been carefully catalogued, with over 4,000 bibliographical footnotes annotating the holdings.

A Resource for Serious Research

What sets Graves apart from mere collectors is his scholarly approach. He has produced a substantial body of original essays on the history of modern astrology, appearing through Revelore Press in four volumes. His work focuses on documenting how astrological practices have evolved, particularly from the 17th century onwards.

Academic recognition has followed. Graves' work is entirely in line with the approaches developed in teaching the history of astrology in the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Scholars praise his methodology: he examines not just what astrologers claim to do, but what they actually do in practice.

Graves has assisted several prominent astrologers with their research during the past ten years, starting with his late friend Maurice McCann, and has been credited for his help in the acknowledgements of at least seven books.

His latest work, "Technical and Planetary Developments in Astrology," represents a significant contribution to astrological scholarship. In this first of four planned volumes, Graves dives into the twin topics of technical developments and planetary discovery and their effects on modern astrological practice. Part One reveals a thorough history of house meanings from Manilius to Kepler and provides a comprehensive exploration of aspects from Kepler's additions to minor aspects through the centuries to John Addey's developments in harmonics. Part Two shows how astrologers came to create "Sun-sign" astrology as we know it today and discusses a surprising new source for the first Sun-sign column, before taking readers to the outer solar system to explore how the meanings of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and even the three Liliths came to settle in the modern astrological canon.

International Collaboration

The library's reach extends far beyond Wales. The International Astrology Library, incorporating the Astrological Association Library and Archive with the Philip Graves Library, is located in Newport, South Wales, with easy access off the M4 motorway, and just 20 minutes' walk from Newport railway station.

Visits for research are free of charge to Astrological Association members. Non-members can also visit by prior appointment, at a cost of £10 per hour, or £40 for an entire day. Importantly, Philip is happy to help people living anywhere in the world with information and research support.

Digital Innovation Meets Ancient Wisdom

Recognising the digital age's demands, Graves has expanded beyond physical volumes. Astrolearn now offers a second-hand astrology bookshop stocked with over 1,000 physical volumes of mostly out-of-print, rare and collectible early editions, and a Vintage Astrology Book Downloads Store for PDF scans of out-of-copyright astrological texts.

The website receives thousands of visitors each month, testament to its value as a research resource. Users can access detailed bibliographies, historical articles, and purchase rare materials that would otherwise be impossible to find.

Sustainability Challenges

However, this remarkable resource faces ongoing challenges. The library is not in receipt of any external or institutional funding, and presently remains under Graves's private ownership. The operation is now supported to a limited extent by second-hand astrological book sales through the bookshop that was first launched in May 2024, as well as through the pre-existing downloads store, and by private astrological research and scanning commissions.

Graves has big aspirations for the future. It is hoped in the long run to bring it under the shelter of a stable academic institution or trust to protect it from long-term dissolution and to increase its accessibility to researchers, as well allowing for its ultimate relocation to more spacious facilities allowing for future growth in its holdings.

The Bigger Picture

What makes Graves' work particularly valuable is his balanced approach to a controversial subject. As a rationalist thinker, he respects informed sceptical perspectives on astrology alongside supporting serious research. His collection even includes a special collection of books and journals donated by Dr. Geoffrey Dean, a prominent sceptical writer on astrology.

This intellectual honesty extends to his teaching. Philip, who has lectured on the philosophy of astrology at international conferences, emphasises that astrology is not about dividing the population into 12 and making forecasts for each group in terms so general that they could be read as applying to anyone.

For organisations like Wilfred Hazelwood, which values thorough research and evidence-based approaches, Graves' methodology offers a template for how to approach complex, multifaceted subjects with scholarly rigour whilst maintaining practical relevance.

The story of Philip Graves and Astrolearn demonstrates what's possible when passion meets persistence. In an age where digital resources often feel ephemeral, his commitment to preserving physical texts ensures that future researchers will have access to the full historical record. Quite simply brilliant.

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