You know, I really agree with your personal definition of astrology. It's funny, when I was first introduced to astrology that's always how I thought of it, too - a form of psychology. Honestly at first, when I was a lot younger, I didn't even have any idea it was associated with spirituality and considered "occult." And I was confused at first when I realized it had a reputation for that, and that a lot of astrologers are also very spiritual.
And of course there's nothing wrong with that! I think it's great to integrate the two, astrology and spirituality. However, what annoys me is when astrology-haters bag on it and say it's some kind of sorcery. Like really? We really can't win; athiests hate astrology, Christians hate astrology... that also used to baffle me. It honestly still kind of does. Because you know what? I think astrology is for everyone. I don't see how believing in a Christian God prevents you from believing in astrology. I think the argument is that "God created everyone differently and uniquely" - well, if God created the universe, then isn't it conceivable that God created astrology? And that God created you through astrology? And do people not understand that natal charts aren't duplicated for literally hundreds of years? That there's no-one on the planet with the exact same chart as you? And I don't see how
not believing in God prevents you from believing in astrology. I understand that a lot of athiests, at least on the Internet (because I know that technically athiesm just means not believing in God, and could indicate other spiritual beliefs), are self-identified "skeptics" and are militantly opposed to anything that isn't tried and true science.
But... what's funny is how they
don't consider astrology science! And it really is tried and true; it's
the oldest form of science! I feel like skepticism isn't just saying "that can't be possible" to anything that seems remotely lacking in evidence. Actually
research it first and find out if there even
is evidence, because there's a hell of a lot. I just shake my head at people who say there's no evidence to support astrology. Of course there is. And you would know that if you actually bothered learning about it and observing people. My favorite thing is when people write articles bashing astrology and half their argument has to do with how "the signs all changed like three years ago!!!!!" even though they
didn't in tropical, which is what most Western astrologers use. And they just rant about how "I'm a Capricorn and I'm NOTHING like other Capricorns!!!!!" and fail to say anything about the rest of the natal chart. Then there's their other argument - "How could something happening in space affect us on Earth?
?" Gee, I don't know, it's not like the moon affects the tides or anything...
I was reading some of your articles on the subject earlier, Calli, and I
love the metaphor you made about meteorologists. I'm pretty sure that will be my primary argument from now on, LOL. Because it's so true. Of course astrology isn't accurate 100% of the time. And astrologers don't
claim it is. They use it as a helpful tool in predicting how people
might act.
Just like meteorologists use meteorology to be prepared for what the weather might be. And you can't say "meteorology is crap!!!!" because everyone knows it isn't, even though it doesn't get it right all the time. It isn't like everything I read in my natal chart is spot-on. But a
majority of the placements not only fit me, but are
scarily accurate. And I'd really like astrology-haters to read an article like one of Cherry's and tell me how they think any of that is generalizing. Because it's not. It's extremely specific, and it's extremely fitting.
Astrology to me is a way of understanding myself and other people. It's also like... another language. I've seen this quote somewhere saying it's important to learn other (literal) languages, because it offers you a worldview you never could've had if you only knew just your native language. Well, I agree with that, and I think it applies to astrology. Astrology gives you a radically different way to describe people than you're used to. It opens up a whole
world of possibilities. I'm so glad I got into it because it's made my thoughts so much clearer. Before I discovered astrology, I struggled to discern differences between people
in words. I always had people grouped in my head, but a lacking in language to describe exactly
how. Having an astrological vocabulary makes things so much easier, and it really provides a real, concrete platform to express the fine differences that are so hard to find the words for in English.