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Does Astrology
Teach That Our Fate
Is
�Written in the Stars�?
Kat Starwolf
Do you believe in
fate or destiny? Do you believe that some mysterious force governs your
life and directs you to do everything you do? Do you believe that
astrology teaches that we are fated or destined to experience specific
events in our lives?
Many believe this
to be true. Yet what exactly is fate?
According to
Princeton University�s Wordnet1,
fate is:
�
destiny: an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably
happen in the future
�
Destiny: the ultimate agency that predetermines the course
of events (often personified as a woman); "we are helpless in the face of
Destiny"
�
destined: decreed or designated beforehand; "She was
destined to become a great pianist"
[italics and
bolding mine]
For years
the scientific community � astronomers and psychologists in particular --
have written numerous pieces on such topics as the belief that astrology
teaches that our fate is our destiny and that there is no way to alter
what is destined.
Additionally,
laypersons (those who know virtually nothing about astrology) and neophyte
astrologers have not helped when they, themselves, continue to believe �
and teach � that astrology is a system of fated occurrences.
No wonder
scientists have retained this misguided belief of astrology and passed it
on to the lay-public!
Confusing, isn�t
it?
However, the fact
is, there are many astrologers who have a far more accurate view of what
astrology provides than that our fate is written in the stars. One such
astrologer is David Cochrane of Avalon College2 who had this to
say about astrology: ��an astrologer can usually detect what energies are
influencing a person and give suggestions on how to redirect the energies
in a more constructive and fulfilling manner. While a popular image of
astrology is that it is fortune‑telling, actually astrology is more
often useful as a tool to help us live more effective and satisfying lives
in the present rather than forecasting the future with absolute certainty.�
[italics and bolding mine]
Does this sound
like the definition of �fate�?
Based on my own studies as well as
those of other astrologers, I firmly believe that one of the reasons that
astrological predictions are so often fulfilled has nothing to do with
fate, but is �Because people rarely develop the consciousness necessary
to extricate themselves from the ever-repeating circle of inevitability.
To creatively respond to stressful aspects is a rare gift which requires
great conscious dynamism, and very few people have the ability to
objectively recognize themselves.� ~ Unknown Astrologer
Note, however,
that although this astrologer refers to the �circle of inevitability,� she
is actually referring to the fact that because we choose not to do
anything to change or alleviate our circumstances, we will, �inevitably,�
continue in the same old rut as before.
Astrology also
teaches that we should be proactive, take the bull by the
proverbial horns and not believe or expect that an event is �fated� or
directed by some outward source. In order to make anything happen,
even astrology teaches that we must put forth the effort necessary
to manifest our dreams. This is otherwise known as the theory of cause
and effect.
However, there
are no guarantees, no absolutes. As I tell my clients, make an effort to
first understand yourself and those characteristics and tendencies which
make up your nature. Keep in mind that the character traits for any given
sign are tendencies rather than absolutes. That is, there is a
very strong probability that you exhibit or will exhibit a
propensity for a specific trait, whether beneficial or not. Or, put
another way, you are just as capable of demonstrating the negative side of
a trait as the positive; it is up to you. Regardless, these
character traits are not written in stone and can always be improved upon.
Yet,
if astrology is not fate, what is it? Is it a science? An art? An aspect
of medicine, psychology? Is it real? Is it bogus? Many scientists believe
it to be a �pseudoscience� with no validity whatsoever3. Other
scientists, such as British astrophysicist and Principal Lecturer in
Astronomy, Percy Seymour4, author of Astrology, the Evidence
of Science, shows why he believes it to be a science. Additionally,
French psychologist, Michel Gauquelin5, and Swiss psychiatrist,
Carl Jung6 (coiner of the terms �synchronicity� and �collective
unconscious�) believe it to be a valid science. In fact, Jung actually
calculated horoscopes in order to augment the diagnoses of some of his
most difficult-to-diagnose patients, because he claimed that astrology
afforded him insights into his patients that he would not otherwise be
able to understand7. And then there are some astrologers who
believe it to be an art, rather than a science8.
Why
all the fuss over its exact classification? Well, that�s a topic for
another article, but obviously, we each have our own interpretation and
ideas about just what it is. One thing we do know for sure is that,
along with astronomy, astrology has been around longer than any of the
other sciences, and that whatever it is purported to be, it has been, at
times, extremely controversial.
But
what can it do for us? How can it help us? And what in the world
are those astrologers referring to when they claim that events are fated?
Predictions
are Not Fate
As
David Cochrane pointed out, astrology is a tool. And just like any tool,
it does not do the work; it merely facilitates us in its accomplishment.
The sculptor � not the chisel � determines the ultimate form of her
masterpiece; the same applies to astrology. You determine what you
will do with your life, how you will mold it; not astrology and certainly
not the astrologer.
Therefore, �predictions� in this sense are referring to probability,
not certainty. I, as an astrologer, can show you in your birth chart as
compared to a current transit, where some event has a greater probability
of occurring. If the event is a stressful one, however, you have the
option of taking measures to ensure � as much as it is possible to do so
-- that the event does not occur. If it is a positive event, then you
have the option of arranging your life so that the likelihood of that
event occurring is much greater.
Is
astrology magic? No, of course not. While some astrologers might prefer
that I not divulge this little tidbit of information, the fact is, there�s
nothing mystical about astrology or how it works. It is merely the
utilization of math, physics, psychology and intuition which require
calculations and interpretation of the data. What the astrologer does, by
way of astrology, is to take your birth information: your birth date,
birth time and birth location, and based on that data she or he calculates
the positions of the planets at the point in time at which you were born,
the planetary tables for which can be found in a book or a piece of
software called an ephemeris. From this information she or he
extrapolates interpretations based on the various longitudes and latitudes
on earth.
Now,
once this information is put together, whether manually or through
computer generated techniques, the information -- which consists of
zodiac signs, planets and �houses� in a pie-shaped wheel � can be handed
over to you with no further interpretation.
But
would you know how to read it? Probably not. And that�s where the
astrologer comes in. She�s studied and taken many courses in and may even
has a degree in astrology so that she can better understand the
significance of the astrological information. She looks at the data in
the wheel and interprets its meaning. Yet, what she tells you is not
meant to be �fated.� This information is merely a guideline for you to go
by, a blueprint. She may tell you that based on the information she sees,
you have the propensity to be a great athlete or musician. But she
certainly shouldn�t tell you that you�re fated to be such, because
you are the one who will ultimately determine whether that
possibility will come to pass.
Again, this information can only be interpreted by someone who has
studied astrology for a good length of time and can interpret the
interaction of aspects, signs, midpoints, houses, declinations, etc.
Events
in Your Life Are Not Inevitable; You Do Have Free Will
Let�s
return to the definition of the word �fate.� Some of the words which were
used to describe it are �inevitable,� �predetermine[d],� �designated,� and
�decree[d].� But are these definitions really accurate? Based on our
recently learned understanding of what astrology actually is and what it
does, we would have to say �no.�
If it
were true that our fate were written in the stars, it would not be
possible to improve ourselves in any way. But as we know, this is not the
case. If we�re ill, medicines help us get well. Psychology can help to
alleviate mental and/or psychological pain. Astrology can help us to see
our strengths and weaknesses, and in combination with a transit or
progressed reading an astrologer can help you to see what might possibly
lay ahead in love, money, education, spirituality or just about any other
area you choose and to improve characteristics of your personality.
The
bottom line is: we all have free will; the stars do not determine
your fate; YOU do.
�
2006 Kat Starwolf � All Rights Reserved
For one of
Kat�s in-depth Probability Forecasts (which is NOT based on fate), go to
www.starwolfastrology.com and click on the �Purchase Astrology
Reports� tab in the upper navigation bar.
Kat Starwolf
is a practicing astrologer, researcher, metaphysician and avid reader and
writer of poetry, short stories, and songs and is in the process of
completing various writing projects, including two novels. She is also
currently working on obtaining her degree in counseling psychology.
Presently she lives in Tallahassee, Florida, but will soon be relocating
to Seattle, Washington. She may be contacted at 400 Capital Circle SE,
Suite 18-255, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-3839; by phone at 850-980-0250
or at her website
www.starwolfastrology.com
References:
1wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
2http://www.avalonastrology.com/Staff.htm
3http://www.astrology-and-science.com/
4http://www.tmgnow.com/repository/solar/percyseymour1.html
5http://www.solsticepoint.com/astrologersmemorial/gauquelin.html
6http://www.mountainastrologer.com/scofield.html
7http://www.thezodiac.com/astrojung2.htm
http://www.psy.pdx.edu/PsiCafe/KeyTheorists/Jung.htm
8http://www.astrosoftware.com/class01.htm
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