Before you make your decisions, educate yourself some on astrology. It is not like what people think. The read this sun sign garbage and dumb stuff and never realize there is a huge universe after universe out there. Most people have not read a real book on astrology. It is based on astronomical time. The planets in the milky way universe have effects on each other. Proof of that is the way the orbit. Now if you dd the effects the planets have on each other, they just might have effects on people. I have hundreds of books and could buy hundreds more. It is a complex science every bit as complex as the cosmos. I so dislike judgmental uniformed people. I have studies astrology about 45 years and could study it lifetimes and not know it all. It is one of the earliest belief systems studied and is mentioned a few times in the Bible. It you read my profile, you would realize, I have no little box with a label on it. So I am informing you, I am none of the labels listed. Don't get angry. I dislike being bullied, cussed, or made feel uncomfortable because someone else cannot discuss with class.

Felt the same. Recently met my mom's friends who believe in crystals, do taroh card readings, astrology...But were atheists way before, breaking from there Christian breathers in thought, visited the pyrimds before having kids, and know of horce and that the world's son is the sun.

'overwhelming personal discomfort' when someone pray's for you...please don't, call your congressmen who owns a gun and loves a naked jesus.

Here's James Randi "showing" how Astrology "works":

It's all part of our fear of the unknown, I think. We want to know what lies ahead, and not knowing is pretty scary. That's what makes mediums, tarot, and astrology so popular. It's our way of trying too look into the future and see what might be... to prepare for it, or to give us peace in the midst of situations that are causing us stress now.

It seems clear that your friends are not skeptics, but may we assume they are not atheists? Belief in unscientific claims and pseudo science, like astrology, palm reading, tarot cards, healing crystals and homeopathy, go hand in hand for people who are churched. But when you find people who question the existence of a deity, while at the same time accepting these charades, it can make your head spin!

I know someone who believes in that stuff. She's a sweet person so I don't say anything.

Healing crystals? You might as well believe in voodoo. Horoscopes? You mean to tell me that that general mumbo jumbo is accurate for the hundreds of millions of people with the same signs? If mine would have told me I was going to beak my ankle last April I would have built a shrine in my house to the all seeing Capricorn. Instead it says crap like, and this is for Taurus' today, "Trying to read could give rise to the illusion that you've learned something. Be on the safe side and put it off!". Really? Lol

My friend told me to research my karmic number or something like that so I can figure out what to do in life.

Atheist think they are rational, but honestly, I think everyone has some irrational beliefs in them. If you are introspective you can reduce your own bullshit. I think we should have sympathy for people that fall into these traps. We should be the friend that is the voice of reason. The best way to do that is to remember how you found yourself believing something irrational and how you found your way out.

Disgusting, isn’t it?

If it lets them focus and gain a mindful experience I have no problem with it. Does a crystal focus your thoughts? I don't know. Does it? If so, fine.
I find a gentle evening breeze helps settle me and calm me but I am not a worshiper of the breezes.

Don't pay it no nevermind, as they used to say in the Old West. Well, according to the movies, anyway. Personally, if people find that entertaining, I couldn't care less. Now, if they run their lives by it...somethin's gotta give. At that point, they'll probably come under "acquaintance", as opposed to "friend." I've never been in the business of running someone else's life, it's enough try to run my own.

You’ve summed up my thoughts as well. I attempt to put my atheism out there with new and potential friends. Often, a response will be, “Oh, I’m not religious either!” ...only to find ‘crystal power books’ & crystals (I’m a rock hound - and love quartz, but stop far short of worshiping it ), blessing or cleansing their home with ‘incense & salt,’ or hung up over ‘our signs’… Damn..

My feeling is, they, along with growing numbers of people turning from established religions, feel these quirky weird new-age fads are ‘not religious.’ It may be religion light, but the belief that any of that has any bearing on reality is the equivalent of claiming ‘holy water’s’ something to take seriously…

My conclusion after getting to know several women who dabbled in such stuff was that of ultimate incompatibility …. maybe a bit longer than an established religion, but eventually.. Double-damn

Depending on whether I consider the astrologer to be redeemable or not there are two options.

1. Walk away
2. Sarcasm. "Does my star sign tell you that I'm skeptical? That every moment you vomit this woo my regard for you deteriorates?"

The planets may ascend, descend or retrograde - and does that affect every human being (and other beings) on earth, depending on the time and place that person was born? Not in my book.

One of my pet peeves,
and those that stalk you to find your star sign, then insist on telling you all about it.

I have three kids, 5 siblings, and other close relatives. I don't know my middle daughter's sign, she was born on the Ides of March. I only know my youngest daughter's because hers is the same as mine, and my oldest daughter's because hers is the same as my sisters whom I am closest to. I have not idea what the signs are for the rest of the family. I never read horrorscopes (misspelled deliberately) I even scoff at the Chinese horrorscopes. It is so totally bogus. If anyone gets going on that stuff I just sigh and try to change the subject.

Never bothered me... I am just hard to bother. I was born under that sign.