What is astrology for? What can it do? Can it tell me what’s going to happen to me? These are common questions that even seasoned astrologers ask themselves from time to time.
One of the major criticisms of astrology is that it can’t make accurate predictions. I agree that it can’t, but rather than putting astrology on a back foot, I think this is one of its strengths and I’ll try and tell you why I think this.....
Take any birth chart and look at the aspects. Say the birth chart has a tight Venus-Saturn opposition aspect. What assumptions do we immediately make? Amongst other things, we might presume that the owner of this aspect has difficulties with relationships. In a lot of cases we would be correct in this assumption, but can we really say much more than this without some background information and some feedback from the person with the aspect? Not really. We need some context before we can unravel the mystery of what this aspect means.
Does the chart belong to a man or woman? How old are they? What kind of family do they come from? What is their socio/economic standing? What culture/religious background do they come from and how does that affect how relationships are conducted? All of these things and more will have an impact, as will the rest of the chart. However, it is only really when we meet and talk to the person and hear their story that we can truly see how that Venus-Saturn opposition has played out in their lives.
This is because everyone’s lives are determined by one thing that the birth chart can’t tell us. We always have the Free Will to make choices and to act upon them.
I am a big believer of free will. If some things seem ‘fated’ aren’t they usually just consequences of past actions? Didn’t the ‘fated’ event arise from our past actions in some way, however convoluted the path from cause to effect might be? If you take the modern spiritual perspective you may even believe that you choose to come in at a certain time and face certain issues in order for growth and development on a soul level.
Now, back my point, which is to tell you why I think astrology’s failure to accurately predict is actually its strength........... the answer is simple. If astrology can’t tell you exactly what is going to happen...... then ...... your Venus-Saturn opposition DOESN’T HAVE TO condemn you to a lifetime of relationship difficulties. Moon conjunct Pluto doesn’t mean that you can’t overcome ‘mothering’ issues. If you have Sun square Neptune it isn’t inevitable that you’ll face a life of confused goals and self destructive escapism. You can’t escape the aspect, its energies will always be with you, but YOU CAN CHOOSE what you do with it. The same principle also applies to transits excepting of course that transits are temporary.
Each and every ‘difficult’ aspect or transit holds within it the key to living it out creatively and constructively. Each one presents an opportunity for growth and healing. They all invite you to take the higher road. They do not promise that it will be quick or easy or that you will be 100% ‘cured’. In fact they do not make any promises at all. It is up to you to seek the true meaning of every aspect and transit AS IT RELATES TO YOU AND YOUR STORY. Then you have the choice of what you do with the information.
The astrologer can’t tell you what will happen, because she doesn’t have all the answers. All she can do is hear your story, discuss it with you in relation to your chart and perhaps give you a few pointers. She must respect that you have free will and not take that away from you by trying to make concrete predictions. If she has done her job well, she has opened you up to the positive potentials and made you aware of the possible pitfalls before she sends you on your way. A bit like a weather forecaster, she can tell you whether to pack your sun-block or your thermals (or both) as you head off on your journey. Where you go or what happens after that is up to you.
And that is the magic of self empowerment through astrology.
With love,
Mandi
"Character is fate" Heraclitus