The Dalai Lama’s visit to Seattle this week has me thinking about astrology’s bad public image and what, if anything, can be done about it.
As an astrologer, I tend to hang around other astrology sites, where we argue about things like the correct application of the lunar nodes and whether Pluto’s entry into Capricorn means another American Revolution. I get a stark dose of reality when I wander to other sites, where discussions of astrology are marred by flames essentially accusing anyone who believes in astrology of being a stupid idiot or worse.
The two groups that seem to have the worst view of astrology are Christian Conservatives and the liberal Left. The first is predictable. The second is more puzzling, especially when intellectual types are so quick to embrace Eastern philosophy. It’s acceptable, if not downright fashionable, to be a Buddhist and to revere the Dalai Lama. Tickets to his appearance are the hottest in town.
But heaven help you if you believe in astrology, a “superstitious pseudoscience.”
This unfortunate view may be largely due to a gross misunderstanding of what astrology is – and what it isn’t – which is perpetuated by the Sun sign horoscopes in newspapers and magazines. I never attempt to “convert” anyone, but I’ve won over a few people simply by explaining what astrology is and how it is best used.
Neith and I made a conscious decision that, no matter how much traffic our site would generate if we offered Sun sign horoscopes, we will not do it. Yes, we are commercial, but we also believe strongly that astrology is an important tool for self-discovery, which in turn leads to evolution of the human mind. Sun sign horoscopes are not consistent with our mission.
Sun sign horoscopes are a relatively new invention, having been created in the 1930s as a marketing tool to sell newspapers. As a result, millions of people now identify with their Sun signs, and most people don’t know what a Rising sign is or why it’s a better forecasting tool. We may offer Rising sign horoscopes in the future, so stay tuned…
Meanwhile, millions of people who ridicule astrology do so with foregone conclusions more appropriate for a Baptist revival than for a gathering of rational, intelligent beings. These are people who pride themselves on being “open-minded,” and yet on this topic, their minds are slammed shut with frightening finality. Although we don’t want to be so open-minded that our brains fall out, expanding the mind does require additional space.
If any of you have any thoughts about why this apparent paradox exists, we would love to hear from you. (For those of you who haven’t registered, it’s quick and easy!).
Love and blessings to all,
~Pat
RealAstrologers 
This is an excellent post, Pat, and states our philosophy very well.
Hey, run your mouse over the zodiac symbols . . . hee!
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I wish I had an answer for you! I run into the same problem among my friends as well (and God forbid I bring it up when dating!! although I suppose if I want to sort out the close-minded…). I’ve told some people it’s a symbolic language – like math, music, swahili – with which to interpret the world and express ideas. If you don’t understand the language, it sounds like gibberish. But you don’t say ‘those people are idiots speaking gibberish,’ you realize you don’t understand the symbolic system and if you did it’d be meaningful. It’s worked for some people!
Just a note: Can you add a tag on the bottom of your posts saying which of you is posting? Not sure how WordPress works, but I’ve seen these tags on other group sites. :-)
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God forbid I bring it up when dating!! although I suppose if I want to sort out the close-minded …
Boy, can I related to that, Leslee! And that’s a great strategy. I’ve used it, too.
Thanks for the suggestion about authorship. I couldn’t find a tag, but we’ll just have to remember to sign our names at the bottom. ;-)
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I’ve told some people it’s a symbolic language – like math, music, swahili – with which to interpret the world and express ideas. If you don’t understand the language, it sounds like gibberish. But you don’t say ‘those people are idiots speaking gibberish
ah gee . . . :-D I see astrology as a language too that allows us to discuss fairly sensitive issues without a lot of “finger pointing”.
If you haven’t noticed our Mercury Rx on the sidebar, check it out! We keep a close on eye on the little blighter!
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Congratulations on the new site!
I think the reason that the Left is anti-astrology is bc, let’s face it, our culture is extremely attached to logic and control (which is read as free will). Astrology has its technical aspects but it also deals with the intuitive part of our nature. I wish I were able to think more cogently right now and I would explain how our attachment to control enters into the equation but right now every word is a hardship, for whatever reason. Is Mercury RX just for me?
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What I find interesting about Christianity and astrology is how much the Bible refers to astronomical phenomenon.
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“I’ve told some people it’s a symbolic language – like math, music, swahili – with which to interpret the world and express ideas. If you don’t understand the language, it sounds like gibberish. But you don’t say ‘those people are idiots speaking gibberish.”
I agree;You could also say that Astrology, like mathematics and geometry, is a built-in characteristic of the cosmos as we know it. Dane Rhudyard has defined it as “an algebra of life”.
I always tell people that ridicule it,that famous quote attributed to Newton defending religion: ” ‘I have studied these things–you have not’.”
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Exactly, Nathan, it’s all based on the movements of the Sun. Recently I drove past a church sign that unintentionally captured this with the following announcement:
Sun. Worship
10AM
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Sun worship- you crack me up Joe!
Nice to see new folk among the regulars.
!
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Sun sign horoscopes are a relatively new invention, having been created in the 1930s as a marketing tool to sell newspapers.
Clever, and also very much they way of the times (1930s) which as an era is coming full circle.
Was thinking about this as i was working today Pat. I went to see what the outer planets were up to in 1930. Saturn was in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries and Pluto was in Cancer while Neptune was in Virgo. There are some interesting echoes to our times by those placements…
The 1930s saw a great change in American thinking and lifestyle overall. I was struck by the Neptune in Virgo ] Pluto in Cancer transits. Transformation in the homeland. Regulation became paramount to recover from the depression. Simplifying, our vision by way of science was an outgrowth. The focus was finding the ONE answer.
Consider medicine, before the advent of penicillin in the 40s there was very little pharmacology in allopathic medicine, Sulfa was about it. Homeopathy reined. Similar to Astrology understanding a complete picture unique to an individual was required to be effective. Homeopathy was dumped for the one size fits all new science/drug. Any disease, any person was treated with penicillin.
Here we are today with the planets in opposing signs (neptune will be into Pisces before we know it) and we are seeing a return to those alt sciences or “arts” that describe the totality by interconnections.
Maybe the revolution of Pluto in Capricorn will be finding resolution with the influences from Pluto in Cancer years which have been so defining for the US. Instead of qualifying and quantifying and regulating as a Neptune in Virgo might, we may see transformation with an assist from Neptune in Pisces. Imagine money as utility instead of power, astrology as a healing art etc.
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Interesting post, Pat!
I must say that I’ve struggled with this thing with astrology throughout the last thirty years or so. I would regard myself as a dabbler (despite calculating my chart as a youngster – from a book I still have on my bookshelf somewhere). I’ve gone through all the pop books ( astrology for the year, Linda Goodman etc etc.) Its only over the last few years when I’ve been reading at a deeper level about astrology that I’m gaining an insight into how powerful a tool it is … For many years I dismissed astrology (while still retaining an interest) because I felt I never fitted in with the broad brush, ‘cook book’, descriptions of the pop books. And it is all so much more complicated than that…
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Mandy! Glad to see you here.
Your comment makes it clear just how deeply Sun sign astrology is ingrained in people’s minds. As you know, I’ve written a lot on The Pisces Chronicles about how hard it is to change one’s beliefs. This is yet another example.
(I’ved included one of those articles in my “Parlor” library. You can find it here.)
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It’s acceptable, if not downright fashionable, to be a Buddhist and to revere the Dalai Lama. Tickets to his appearance are the hottest in town.
But heaven help you if you believe in astrology, a “superstitious pseudoscience.”
Actually, I ran into the opposite recently, and it stunned me, being totally unexpected. What this New Age person, a Reiki master (and Buddhist, etc.), told me was that she found astrology ~too~ scientific. She thought it suited me and my scientific mind (her perception, not mine!) well, but the ~science~ of it didn’t work for her.
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Jane, that is so ironic! Kind of “damned if we do, damned if don’t.”
Watch out world, when Tseka gets an idea in her head and then meditates on it while painting, baking bread, or digging up leaky plumbing! Thanks for sharing those valuable observations. Now I’ve got something to mediate on during my four-hour commutes into the city. :-)
Nathifah, I’ve seen that Newton quote. No one is sure whether he really said it (or that he said it about astrology), but it sure makes a good story, and it’s applicable here. I don’t know anyone who has studied real astrology and not come away convinced that there is at least some validity to it. Only those who refuse to investigate maintain their hardline opposition.
Emekah, the brain fog you’re describing sounds more like a Neptune transit. You probably have something going on there…
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I saw that, Pat!! LOL!!!
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It’s been there for two days. :-D
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