“Ah, she looks like snow –
I want to put her in a broadway show–
Ah she’ll dance and dine–
Like a lucifer she’ll always shine… I feel like letting go….” —Letting Go, Venus and Mars album. Paul McCartney

SH: Were some of The individual Beatles into astrology? If so, which ones and why?

Tin Man Grok A.I. replies:

Yes, some members of The Beatles showed interest in astrology, most notably George Harrison.

George Harrison

George Harrison was the most deeply engaged with astrology among the four. His fascination stemmed from his broader exploration of Eastern mysticism, spirituality, and Indian philosophy in the mid-1960s, influenced by his introduction to Indian culture through figures like Ravi Shankar and the band’s experiences with meditation. He actively consulted an astrologer to rectify his birth time (adjusting it from February 25, 1943, around midnight, to February 24, 1943, at approximately 11:35–11:52 PM) because he believed it better aligned with his life experiences and astrological profile. This personal involvement highlights his genuine belief in astrology as part of his spiritual journey.

He even referenced his Pisces sun sign in his solo song “Pisces Fish” (from the 2002 album Brainwashed), singing lines like “I’m a Pisces fish and the river runs through my soul.”

The Band as a Whole

The Beatles collectively flirted with astrology during their psychedelic and business phases. In 1967–1968, when launching the Apple Boutique (their short-lived retail venture), they hired an in-house astrologer, Caleb Ashburton-Dunning, to advise on personal matters and business timing decisions, reflecting a group interest in astrological symbolism and guidance during that era.

Other Members

The other members—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr—do not have documented personal interests in astrology comparable to George’s. While the band’s cultural impact and the 1960s counterculture often intersected with astrological themes (e.g., the “Aquarian Age” vibe in some analyses of their music and era), there’s no evidence John, Paul, or Ringo pursued it individually or consulted astrologers for personal reasons.

In summary, George’s spiritual quest made him the primary Beatle “into” astrology, with the group’s brief business use showing a passing collective curiosity.

John Lennon

SH: But didn’t John Lennon ask Yoko Ono to consult astrologers when making business decisions?

Yes, there are accounts indicating that John Lennon and Yoko Ono both engaged with astrologers and other occult advisors during their relationship, including for business decisions, but the dynamic was more nuanced than John specifically asking Yoko to consult them.
Yoko Ono was deeply involved in astrology, numerology, tarot, and related practices, which she used extensively for guiding business and personal choices.f27148 She viewed these as tools to gain fresh perspectives and an edge in negotiations, often shuffling tarot cards during meetings or adjusting schedules based on astrological factors like avoiding a “void moon.”f12f66 This stemmed from her family background and cultural influences, and her reliance intensified after John’s death in 1980 as a way to cope with trauma.52957b

John Lennon shared in these interests to some extent. For instance, they employed a full-time tarot card reader (John Green, aka “Charlie Swan”) whom Yoko consulted daily and John several times a week.b4733e John specifically had this advisor provide daily readings on gold futures investments, showing his use of occult guidance for business matters.56b800 Yoko introduced John to numerology, giving him a key book on the subject, and he became fascinated with it (particularly the number 9).303e3c John also clipped and tracked monthly horoscopes for both himself and Yoko.b3f06a

Earlier, during The Beatles’ era, John embraced astrology enough to fire their in-house astrologer (Caleb Ashburton-Dunning, hired for Apple Boutique decisions) when he predicted John’s relationship with Yoko wouldn’t last.aed3c7

Additionally, John and Yoko together visited astrologers and palm readers on at least one occasion, such as during a trip to Greece where they received a grim prediction about John’s death.8b2957

However, sources consistently portray Yoko as the primary proponent and more frequent user of these practices, rather than John directing or asking her to consult them.418daf261626 It appears to have been a collaborative aspect of their relationship, with Yoko often leading the way.

SH: Lennon in an interview I heard said Yoko wouldn’t even purchase cows for him or make other business decisions for John without consulting astrologers.

Venus and Mars

SH: in Paul McCartney’s album Venus and Mars doesn’t he make explicit reference to stars guiding, indicating when a concert would go well? And the song Spirits of Ancient Egypt (Denny Laine & McCartney, Wings) suggests something occult, no?

Yes, the opening track of Wings’ 1975 album Venus and Mars (which segues directly into “Rock Show”) does include an explicit astrological reference tied to the atmosphere of anticipation before a concert.

The key lyrics are:

“Sitting in the stand of the sports arena
Waiting for the show to begin
Red lights, green lights, strawberry wine

“A good friend of mine follows the stars Venus and Mars are alright tonight”

The line “Venus and Mars are alright tonight” is widely interpreted as an astrological nod, implying that the planetary alignment (or horoscope) is favorable—essentially suggesting the stars indicate that the evening (and by extension, the concert) will go well. This sets a relaxed, positive mood for the rock show about to unfold.

Paul McCartney himself explained the reference in interviews (e.g., from 1975 onward):

He described the song as being about “an imaginary friend who’s got a girlfriend who’s into astrology—the kind of person who asks you what your sign is before they say hello.”

The phrase “a good friend of mine follows/studies the stars” is deliberately ambiguous (could mean a groupie following rock stars or someone into astrology), but he confirmed the astrological intent behind “Venus and Mars are alright tonight,” noting it evokes a sense of cosmic approval or good vibes for the night.

This isn’t evidence of Paul personally consulting astrologers (he has consistently described himself as pragmatic and not drawn to mysticism like George Harrison was), but rather a playful incorporation of 1970s counterculture tropes—astrology was trendy at the time—into a song celebrating the excitement of live rock concerts.

The reference fits the album’s spacey, planetary theme (influenced partly by sci-fi reading like Isaac Asimov), and it serves as an inviting opener for both the record and Wings’ subsequent tours.

Grok replies:

SH: But the very title of the album, Venus and Mars, together with the aforementioned quote about the stars aligning favorably for his concert is suggestive, no? And this was quite a while away from the 60s New Age counter-culture interests, no?

Grok replies:

Yes, the title Venus and Mars combined with the line “Venus and Mars are alright tonight” is indeed suggestive of astrology, and it’s reasonable to read it as a playful nod to the idea that the planets (and by extension, the stars) are aligned favorably for the show. In 1975 pop-culture context, invoking Venus and Mars that way would immediately evoke astrological connotations for most listeners—Venus ruling love and harmony, Mars ruling energy and action, and their “alignment” signaling good vibes.

That said, the reference appears to be artistic and observational rather than autobiographical. Paul has repeatedly framed it as portraying a character or scene:

He’s described the song as being about someone waiting in an arena who has “a good friend of mine [who] follows the stars”—implying a third-party astrology enthusiast (perhaps a stereotypical groupie or fan of the era), not himself.

In interviews (e.g., 1975 Rolling Stone and later reflections), he presented the line as capturing the mood of anticipation before a rock concert, borrowing trendy astrological language to say “everything feels right tonight.”
So while it’s suggestive and deliberately uses astrological imagery, it doesn’t indicate personal belief or consultation on Paul’s part.

You’re also correct about the timing: 1975 is well removed from the peak 1960s counter-culture/New Age wave. By the mid-70s, the intense mystical experimentation of the late 60s (Transcendental Meditation, psychedelics, Eastern spirituality) had largely receded. George Harrison remained deeply spiritual, but Paul had moved into a more grounded, family-oriented, and professionally focused phase with Wings. Astrology still lingered in popular culture (horoscope columns were ubiquitous in newspapers and magazines), but it was more mainstream kitsch than serious spiritual practice.

In short:

The title and lyric are a clever, atmospheric use of astrological symbolism to evoke excitement and cosmic good fortune for a rock show—very much in keeping with 1970s rock’s lingering spacey/planetary aesthetic (think also of Elton John, David Bowie’s Ziggy era, etc.).

But there’s still no evidence it reflects Paul’s personal interest in or consultation with astrology, unlike George’s genuine engagement or John & Yoko’s regular use of occult advisors. It reads more as witty lyrical craftsmanship than confession of belief.

McCartney: Substituting the Cosmos for God