At least with astrology there are actual physical things that exist, planets and constellations. So, I would say it's got one mark in the pro column. But that doesn't mean the Oracle aspects are any more or less accurate than any other type of Oracle.

The "forecastes" are vague enough that it can fit almost anyone.

You'll never see a horoscope that's as specific as "at 4:14 today the IRT will jump the track and come looking for you, flattening you into puddle of grease."

First, I think it is B.S., but there is one thing I like about it.

When a female is into astrology, she will ask you your sign early on.

Her question is a convenient audible warning. It translates to, "Keep away, I am batshit crazy."

Keep your eye on the exit door at all times and don't plan on knowing her for more than a week or two if you come across an astrologer.

Now if she is a Mormon, who is into astrology, be especially careful. Hit it, quit it and run. If she is still around and you have known her more than 72 hours, consider yourself in an emergency situation.

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend about this yesterday.

We both agree that astrology, as currently practiced is superstitious claptrap.

However, he has been doing some research, and this is where it gets interesting.

He has not finished the research to the point that he is ready to publish it, but I do have his permission to share the general outline.

Basically he is working on the hypothesis that astrology, as originally practiced, was used more for predicting variations in climate. These would be caused by things such as solar flares. Those, in turn, would be caused by what would be analogous to tidal forces within the sun. the forces would be caused by the gravitational pull of the planets in much the same way that the moon exerts gravitational pull responsible for tides on earth.

Studying the relative positions of the planets over time could possibly reveal the pattern in weather caused the sun's cycles driven by the gravitational forces of the planets, and allow for reasonably accurate prediction of climatic conditions.

I find it an interesting hypothesis.

Even though I do not believe in God, there are many unexplainable things. So if she believes in it, that's ok. You can believe in whatever you want. I bet you that a lot of the so called Christians secretly would love to get your mother to do them a chart.

It's too bad that you can't have those discussions with sister or your mother because "it's not real." If your chart describes you well it's because you are reading what you want to see. planets and heavenly bodies have nothing to do with you, what you are, or what you are going to become. It's sheer bunk!

It is kind of like basing your next important decision on whether the pig turns left for the mud puddle or right for the pig troth.

I have cast astrology charts in my time, still interpret from an online chart maker from time to time (it saves messing around with ephemerides!)

Certainly something going on. No idea how it works, but then I’m not too interested in the how, like a TV. Don’t know how it works, don’t care how it works, it’s beyond the capacity of this tiny brain. All I know is I push a button and the TV comes on.

The Christian brigade forget that the Magi in the Matthew nativity tale were Babylonian scholars who used some form of planetary lore to get to where they were going. They either cast a chart or looked up in the sky and said in Babylonian, “oh let’s wander round in circles following that, then during the daytime, or when it’s cloudy, we can go to sleep”. Not very scholarly to my mind so I suspect they drew up a chart.

The point is that the gospel of Matthew refers to some form of star lore so Mr and Mrs Christian can’t really disparage astrology!

It is a fun thing to behold!

It helps so many to validate their existence like religion!

Astrology yields no more reliable results then psychic readings. I'm not sure what scientific sources your reading that say the opposite, but I'd like to take a look at it if you have that.

People tend to like to hear stuff about themselves. We remeber the hits and forget the misses. And the statements given in these astrological readings are so vague that anyone could see themselves in them. We fill in the blanks that these sort of things leave open. That may explain your connection with your reading.

Then there's also the fact that you have no connection with the constellations associated with your birth month. The earth has moved since the 1000 years since horoscopes have been a thing. So not only are you not the astrological sign you think you are, but you may be a sign that doesn't exist in astrology.

Definately remain skeptical. It doesn't appear to be either accurate or reliable.

I have done astrology, tarot too, back in the 70's....was told by many I "had a gift", was offered money. But I noticed it did not matter What you said to people, they "believed" what I said....I do think I helped some, because I always kept everything as positive as possible, but it really is like the daily horoscopes in the newspapers, one size fits all IF that is what they want to hear.

I think it is utter nonsense.

"the fault is not in our stars but in ourselves"

Honestly, it's woo. Actually, WOO.

I take a hard pass on astrology.
For me, it's no different than religion.

I have an aunt, whom I absolutely adore. She is catholic and believes all that
bullshit.
She really believes in heaven, and believes her parents, my grandparents,
her husband, and my mother, are all there.
She goes to the cemetery regularly, and talks to them sometimes. Sometimes,
she just makes sure their headstones are cleared, and she sits in her lawn chair,
and reads the newspaper.
She knows I'm an atheist. We love each other dearly, and we respect each other enough not to question or challenge each other over her belief and my lack of it.
When you really love someone, sometimes that's all you can do.

Everyone else? Well, that's everyone else. They get what they set themselves
up for.

Astrology is nonsense, "Hogwash," my grandfather would have called it. In its generalizations many people can find what they would like to find, as in reading tea leaves, I suppose. I would guess that those who believe in it, like the religious, want to believe that the universe is logical, that it has a meaning that can be understood in detail and has a special place in its "heart" for us.

For me there's no inbetween as far as this subject is concerned.

I ignore newspaper, etc, astrology. I don’t ignore a police chief.
A few decades ago when I lived in Florida, the chief of police in Miami said a lot of people get weird when the moon is full.

You summed it up perfectly in the last sentence. Or as my eccentric Mom would say, “Whatever blows your skirt up, sweetie”

No offense, but I honestly don't understand how this is a question, it has just as much validity as flat earth.

There's a lil bit of truth in most fiction. I don't believe in things like the stars and planets having an effect on your daily life.. but, there are some seasonal things that can have an effect on you. Such as if your mother was pregnant with you during the winter, you're more prone to being born with a vitamin D deficiency. In the long run, that could have a direct impact on your personality. There is also a seasonal diet in many cultures. Not as prevalent today, but your diet affects your body which in turn affects your brain which in turn affects your emotions and personality.

So to sum it up, the idea that the alignment of the stars and planets is pretty much bullshit.. but the idea that seasonal changes (which coincidentally can be marked by stars) can have an effect on you isn't.

Perhaps it would have more validity if universities adopted departments of astrology. Maybe they could share a campus building with the departments of numerology and alchemy.

it's a load of hooey

Just a little clip from Neil DeGrasse Tyson on this.
(sorry about the audio). There are scads of other reasons why astrology is bunk, But I thing he nails a couple on this one.

And one I can add from my own experience.
A frind of mine was born in Chicago on November 17th 1964. I was born in Chicago November 17th 1964. Our personalities are so vastly different. One would never argue that we are the same "sign".
That's just a small one, nut it happens to be true.