Leonardo and astrology: between symbolism and esotericism

July 17, 2026

Leonardo and astrology: celestial symbols and esoteric influences hidden in his notebooks, works and scientific studies.

Leonardo da Vinci was not only a painter and inventor. His notebooks also contain astronomical observations, cosmic symbols and reflections on the order of the universe that have led many to describe him as an “esoteric Leonardo”. But how interested was he really in astrology? And where is the line between historical evidence and modern interpretation?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What was Leonardo’s zodiac sign?
• What did Leonardo think about astrology?
• What astrological clues can be found in Leonardo’s works?
• Did astrology influence Leonardo?
• Did Leonardo believe in astrology?
• Was Leonardo really “esoteric”, or is it just a myth?

What was Leonardo’s zodiac sign?

Leonardo was born on 15 April 1452, making him an Aries. Aries is traditionally associated with energy, courage and initiative, qualities that can certainly be recognised in Leonardo’s character, always eager to experiment and open new paths in human knowledge.

Leonardo’s creativity and curiosity led him to pursue many different ideas, subjects and projects. This behaviour has prompted some scholars to suggest that he may have had ADHD, but, like many people born under the sign of Aries, it is also possible that Leonardo was driven by enthusiasm for new ideas, inspiration and impulsiveness, leading him to begin many undertakings, some of which remained unfinished.

Aries is a fire sign ruled by Mars and is traditionally associated with action, boldness and independence. These characteristics are reflected in Leonardo’s uncompromising approach to life and in his determination to challenge the conventions of his time.

What did Leonardo think about astrology?

During the Renaissance, astrology and astronomy were not completely separate disciplines. The study of the heavens served both to calculate eclipses and planetary positions and to cast horoscopes.

Leonardo owned books such as the Sphaera mundi, showing that he was familiar with Ptolemaic cosmology. In his notebooks, he recorded observations of the Moon’s motion, sunspots, the glow of earthshine and even proposed that the Moon reflects the light of the Sun—an insight that was remarkably modern for its time.

Leonardo did not simply observe these phenomena. He compared existing theories and tested them through experimentation, bringing his work much closer to experimental astronomy than to astrological prediction.

However, because he lived in an age when astrology influenced medicine, politics and religion, he was familiar with its principles and occasionally referred to them as part of the accepted body of knowledge of his time.

What astrological clues can be found in Leonardo’s works?

Some scholars have searched for astrological references in Leonardo’s works. One theory suggests that The Last Supper represents a kind of “human zodiac”, with the apostles arranged like the twelve constellations of the zodiac. Others believe that the arrangement of the figures and their raised hands allude to constellations and planetary movements. These interpretations, however, are fascinating but remain unconfirmed.

More tangible evidence can be found in the astronomical diagrams that appear throughout Leonardo’s notebooks, where he depicted orbits, eclipses and celestial movements. His notes also occasionally include planetary symbols and zodiac signs, showing that he was familiar with their meaning and symbolism.

These elements, however, seem to have been tools for study rather than evidence of esoteric practices. They appear to be working notes used to record observations rather than attempts to predict the future.

Did astrology influence Leonardo?

During the fifteenth century, astrology was regarded as a respected discipline, taught at universities and consulted before making important decisions. Rulers often sought the advice of astrologers before signing treaties or going into battle, while physicians relied on the phases of the Moon when performing bloodletting and prescribing treatments.

Leonardo grew up within this cultural context and absorbed its knowledge, although there is no evidence that he ever practised as an astrologer. Instead, his inquisitive mind combined astrological learning with empirical observation, moving beyond magical thinking towards a more scientific approach.

In this sense, Leonardo represents the transition between the Middle Ages and the modern world. He was familiar with the esoteric traditions of his time, but he used them as a starting point for investigating nature through observation and experimentation.

Did Leonardo believe in astrology?

Leonardo was fascinated by symbols and by the correspondences between the macrocosm and the microcosm, and his famous Vitruvian Man is a powerful expression of this worldview. The use of numerical proportions and sacred geometry in his works reflects a symbolic language shared by many Renaissance artists, intended to express harmony and perfection.

Even in his religious paintings, Leonardo included cosmic landscapes and natural details that evoke the interconnectedness of humanity, nature and the heavens. Some scholars have identified Neoplatonic and alchemical influences in his thought, although these are generally understood as aspects of his philosophy of nature rather than evidence of magical practice.

Leonardo’s notes do not suggest that he believed in astrology. He does mention “celestial influences” and “heavenly bodies” in relation to natural cycles, such as the growth of plants and the ebb and flow of the tides. At the same time, however, he criticised those who relied blindly on the authority of written texts without testing their claims through experience. His notebooks also contain passages in which he dismisses astrological predictions as superstition, arguing that nature should be understood through direct observation.

Leonardo was certainly fascinated by the order of the cosmos, but he sought to explain it through mathematics and experience rather than through divination.

Was Leonardo really “esoteric”, or is it just a myth?

Many of the esoteric interpretations of Leonardo originated in recent times, fuelled by the fascination surrounding the image of the “mysterious genius” and by novels such as The Da Vinci Code. Historical documents, however, portray him as a rational, curious and experimental thinker, far closer to science than to astrology or magic.

It therefore makes sense to describe Leonardo as “esoteric” only if the term is understood to mean a seeker of the secrets of nature, rather than a practitioner of occult traditions.

His approach was always based on observing, drawing and verifying. Even when he used astrological symbols or referred to celestial influences, he did so to explain real natural phenomena, not to predict human destiny.

This article was originally published in Italian on 7 July 2025

You can read the Italian version of this article here >