The history of Kepler College
Interpreting cosmological events and how they relate to human endeavors has a long and storied history that weaves throughout Western and Eastern cultures, continuing to evolve and have relevance today.
In 1991, a group of Seattle-based astrologers and academics came together to create a program to analyze astrology for historical, philosophical, and cultural significance. The founders were passionate about using astrology in everyday life. Kepler College was born.
Officially founded in 1992, Kepler College received its 501(c)(3) status in 1993 and opened its doors to academic students of astrology from 2000-2012. Online courses were made available in 2009. In 2010, Kepler began the transformation into a diploma and certificate-based program.
Throughout its history, the curriculum at Kepler College has included examination and analysis critical to understanding the history, development, and cultural interpretations of 3,000 years of cosmology in Western and Eastern cultures. Studies at Kepler have probed cosmological viewpoints influenced by the cultures where they developed.
One of the earliest and most respected schools of its kind in the United States, Kepler College offers highly-rated astrological online programs with an unwavering commitment to quality. We’ll continue to evolve and expand as we provide students from diverse backgrounds with the best in astrological education.
Our namesake, Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler was a German Astronomer, Astrologer, Mathematician, Natural Philosopher, and writer of music. Kepler was born at 2:30 PM on December 27, 1571, in Weil der Stadt, Württemburg, Germany, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. He died on November 15, 1630.
We credit many firsts to Kepler; he was the first to explain planetary motion correctly, and he is considered the founder of celestial mechanics, the first “natural laws” in the modern sense being universal, verifiable, and precise. Kepler is also considered the first to use stellar parallax, caused by Earth’s orbit, to measure the distance to the stars, what we know today as “depth perception,” and earning Kepler the often-used title “father of modern astronomy.”
Kepler’s life can only be described as extraordinary, with many other firsts included in his achievements:
- Theorizing the Sun’s rotation around its axis
- Demonstrating the working principles of the telescope
- Explaining that the Moon creates tides—and Galileo derided Kepler for this!
Visit the Kepler Museum online to learn more about Kepler College’s namesake, a fascinating contributor to modern astrology or in person, located at Keplergasse 2, 71263 Weil der Stadt, Germany.
Our founding force, Maggie Nalbandian
Maggie Nalbandian organized the founding of Kepler College and is considered the guiding force behind the formation of our school.
Born at 3:00 PM on April 5, 1937, Maggie was known throughout the Seattle area for her popular astrology bookstore, Astrology et al. She organized the Northwest Astrological Conference in the 1980s. While many in the astrology community believed that an astrological curriculum could simply be added to an existing institution, Maggie argued that the study deserved to have its own school. Maggie also thought all forms of astrology should be available so students could make their own choices. Loved and remembered for her warmth, openness, and inclusiveness towards her fellow astrologers, Maggie Nalbandian passed away on June 29, 2015.
