hyxiation, etc.). However, the difference between men and women in terms of their selection of suicide methods may be decreasing since research indicates that, in the last 20 years, women have increasingly been choosing more violent methods of suicide (see: Berman & Jobes, 1991).
The foregoing studies clearly support gender as an indicator of propensity to attempt and/or successfully commit suicide, as well as of method of suicide. A number of other factors (e.g., age, income, occupational career) have been researched as indicators of suicide (Sue, Sue & Sue, 1994). However, one cluster of indicators that has not been well-researched are astrological indicators. Is it possible that descriptions of the placement and movement of planets in relation to one's time of birth can be used to predict suicide and suicide-related phenomena?
It has long been held by astrologers that certain planetary aspects predict an increased likelihood of suicide. For example, Pryor (1997) discussed how progressed planetary aspects can be used to predict pressure to suicide in a given year or month of a person's life. Supporting the claim that astrological aspects can successfully predict suicide are findings of a study conducted by Timins (1996) who observed that suicidal indicators occurred more frequently in the natal charts of people who successfully suicide than in the natal charts of non-suicidal deaths.
In her discussion of these findings, Timins (1996) noted that additional support for planetary influence in suicide might be forthcoming if future researchers examined whether astrological indicators were correlated with known facts about suicide. In this regard, Timins recommended that future researchers investigate whether a comparison of the suicide-related astrological indicators in the natal charts of males and females reflected the gender differences observed in psychobehavioral research. The purpose of this study was to expand T...