You Don't Really Believe in Astrology, Do You?

It's a question I've been asked from time to time over the years, especially by so-called "rational" people who, of course, know of astrology only through newspaper horoscopes. Here's the forecast for Aries today. If that's what you know of astrology, no wonder you don't think highly of it.

They'll say to me something like, "You seem like a rational, down-to earth kind of guy. I wouldn't peg you for one who believes in astrology." The implication is that you can't be rational and down-to-earth and still "believe" in astrology.

Astrology may not technically be a science, but it is a discipline. People have studied and used it for thousands of years. There is a great deal of knowledge in this vast field. Just as with other disciplines, people argue about, attend astrology conferences (where the arguing continues), buy astrology books and periodicals, and nowadays, produce or watch videos about astrology on YouTube or TikTok.

It's irrational. Illogical. Silly. Magical thinking. Woo-woo. But think about this: there are an estimated 4,000-10,000 distinct religions in the world. Each one of those rest on the faith of the believer. They are believed. The word "faith" means "belief in the unseen." Many of those same people are the ones who criticize astrology for not being based on facts.

Now, I'm not trying to knock religion here. I don't begrudge anyone for sincerely held beliefs and I don't look at you as silly and irrational for having a faith.* But if those beliefs are okay, then why is astrology not?

When I answer that question, I tell people that I don't "believe" in astrology. Not in the sense of believing in a religion. I have studied astrology. I have used it. And I find that it works. Shouldn't that be the test of whether something is worthwhile? If it works? If I found that it didn't work then I wouldn't bother with it. But it has shown its value again and again to me over the last 30+ years of my studying and using astrology.

If you don't believe in it, that's okay. I'm not offended. And honestly, you can go your whole life without astrology and be perfectly fine. I mean, most people do.

But I'm not most people. I have found astrology to be so useful and valuable in my life that I have stuck with it for over 30 years. I find that it gives me an edge most others don't have because it allows me to anticipate and prepare for what's coming. Now that doesn't mean that I never lose. But it does mean I can see challenging times ahead.

More than that even, astrology has taught me many lessons. For one, it has taught me that everything is temporary. Everything. The good. The bad. And everything in between. "This, too, shall pass." Yes, indeed, it will. It can't not. Because the universe is always in motion. Life is always in motion. Nothing stands still and change is the only constant in life. Learn that and you'll be a happier person. I promise.

Finally, the other thing astrology allows me is the ability to make meaning out of my life. Sometimes things feel very random. Unfair. Even pointless. You lose a job. Lose a relationship. Lose money. Lose a loved one. We're always counting our losses instead of our blessings. What does it all mean anyway?

Astrology can help with that. Not that it whispers the secrets of the meaning of life in your ear, but it does help you make meaning of yours. For example, suppose I see a challenging Saturn transit coming up. I could dread it. I could sink into despair and say fml. Or I could try to understand what Saturn is telling me.

I know that Saturn transits, or at least the hard aspects, are all about needing to lose something. Saturn is practical and efficient. He's asking, "What dead weight do you need to cut loose before you can move onto the next level in life?" Another way to put it is: what's holding you back? What do you have in your life that no longer serves you? Find it and get rid of it. It can't come with you to the next level.

So you see, these times aren't to make you miserable. It's not that God doesn't like you or that you must have done something bad in a past life. It's to help you. We humans are very good at holding onto things we don't need anymore. We hate change. But change must happen.

Saturn transits try to prepare you for this. And because we are human and we're stubborn, sometimes the only way to get our attention is to pull the proverbial rug out from under us. That's why difficult times usually hurt. It's not that they're inherently bad or unlucky. It's that we're resisting letting go of what must be let go of.

This, I think, is astrology's greatest strength. It teaches us that nothing that happens to us is objectively bad, or even objectively good. It's how we interpret what happens to us that makes it good or bad. It's how we make meaning out of our struggles that leads us to breaking old patterns or staying in them.

The late psychiatrist Victor Frankl, a prisoner at a Nazi work camp, said, "Anyone who has a why to live can bear with almost any how." Do you have a "why" to live? To help you with all the times you said "how"?

While certainly not the only option (faith can help too), astrology can help you make sense of the world and sense of your life. It's not needed. But, in my opinion, it sure is nice to have.

Shea

*It is my belief that all the world's religions say essentially the same thing, but argue over the details. It all starts with someone having a spiritual experience and trying to describe it to others. It's that misunderstanding that turns faith into religion. That's my take anyway.