Astrology - why does my sign seem right?

[augustinegirl]

I am fully aware that astrology is not compatible with Catholicism. I don’t look at my horoscope or anything, but recently I took a silly quiz on if my astrological sign was accurate( I know, should be using my time more wisely!) and I got my own sign. I’ll read other signs descriptions and though some are similar, most wouldn’t describe me and for some reason my own sign is the most accurate. I know it’s of no consequence, but I also know that that occult stuff (that’s occult right?) is dangerous because there’s real power there, albeit the devil’s and not God’s. I don’t know, I find it unsettling that it’s accurate, I don’t know what I’m asking, except maybe…is it accurate? Even if you don’t look at your horoscope, iss it bad to acknowledge how similar you sound to your sign?

 

[ClearWater]

I used to be heavily into astrology, but now I avoid it completely. If someone brings it up, I tell them it’s superstition, and we’re not to be involved in it. So, I’d say not to say how right it seems to anyone, because it would only encourage them.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think if you feel “unsettled” by it, then that’s a good indication that maybe you should be avoiding it for the reasons the Church teaches.

I would further note that most newspaper horoscopes and magazine astro quizzes and the like are so general, that it is likely someone could see aspects of themselves in more than one of the descriptions.

 

[joeybaggz]

I am fully aware that astrology is not compatible with Catholicism. I don’t look at my horoscope or anything, but recently I took a silly quiz on if my astrological sign was accurate( I know, should be using my time more wisely!) and I got my own sign. I’ll read other signs descriptions and though some are similar, most wouldn’t describe me and for some reason my own sign is the most accurate. I know it’s of no consequence, but I also know that that occult stuff (that’s occult right?) is dangerous because there’s real power there, albeit the devil’s and not God’s. I don’t know, I find it unsettling that it’s accurate, I don’t know what I’m asking, except maybe…is it accurate? Even if you don’t look at your horoscope, iss it bad to acknowledge how similar you sound to your sign?

Actually, I find myself in the same boat. A long time ago when astrology was all the rage (60’s/70’s) I read up on my sign (Scorpio). I was somewhat amazed that my personality fits the description to a tee. Do I believe in it, no; haven’t looked at a horoscope in at least 20 years. I now find it an amusing curiosity, nothing more. I like the scriptural instruction in cases like this; “examine all things, keep that which is good.”
Believe in the words of Scripture and the teachings of the Church, and consider Astrology meaningless.
Here’s your choice; you are loved by a provident and caring God who created you in His image, or you are a irrelevant being whose fate is controlled by superstition and folly.
To me, the choice is easy.

Shalom

 

[DaveBj]

Astrology - why does my sign seem right?

Because even a blind squirrel can find an acorn every once in a while.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Because even a blind squirrel can find an acorn every once in a while.

True.

Also because those descriptions are so encompassing that virtually everybody can find something that applies to him or her, and once one has found something, it’s natural to look for more, and to kind of ‘stretch’. Plus those descriptions often add in things like, "certain X signs may have weak tendencies in these areas, due to their sun sign dominance, or where the moon was rising, etc’ and then if one doesn’t have a ‘major characteristic’ one can say, "oh well, it’s just ‘weak’ for me’.

Honestly, if any person were given any one of the twelve sign descriptions and TOLD that it represented ‘their sign’, that person would likely find that the sign ‘fitted them’ --even if it were not ‘their sign’ at all. All that’s needed is a little ‘praising’. Sure Scorpios can be ‘fiery’ but that just means they’re passionate and natural leaders, and who doesn’t want to be that? Sure Virgos are somewhat stuffy and standoffish, but hey, they’re usually brilliant thinkers and who doesn’t want to be that? Etc. etc.

 

[Crusaderbear]

you aren’t even ‘born’ under the sign you think you are! Due to the wobble of the earth’s axis, every 2000 years or so the ‘sign’ will change! And the 70’s broadway show ‘Hair’ got it wrong the other way, it’s not the age of Aquarius yet!

Read this for the astronomy behind the astrology:

ast.cam.ac.uk/~frosales/html/zodiac/

 

[pianistclare]

A former pastor told me this story from his days in seminary:

The prof had them sit at their regular desks, and he told them he had gotten a person to do their “charts” based on their birthdays.

He asked how many felt it was accurate, 95% of them enthusiastically said YES!

At that point, the prof told them to pass the paper to the person directly behind them.
For it was THAT other person’s horoscope profile.

Point made.
People are gullible, and those things have that “blind squirrel” mystique about them.


Occasionally interesting, but not to be pursued or believed.

 

[Potter]

In The Enemies of Reason, Richard Dawkins performed a public experiment in which he took the horoscope for a given sign, removed the label for the sign, and then asked people on the street what their sign was. He then read the horoscope as if it was theirs, and most people were pleased and startled by how ‘accurate’ it was. Horoscopes are a trick of psychology…we simply lock in to the parts that seem applicable to our own lives.

 

[trek17]

Why should astrology be incompatible and “dangerous”?

Might it not be possible–and make sense–that our birthdate and the alignment of the planets are intertwined and have an effect on who we are?
*Especially *if God is in charge of our birth, the existence and alignment of the planets, and everything else unseen, swirling about the universe that encompasses both?

Most people look at horoscopes for entertainment purposes, not to take or give “power”.

Because

2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I also used to be into astrology. I had my chart done a few times. One person who did my chart was the husband of a rabbi at a synagogue I was studying at at the time. He was paid by many wealthy people around the country to do their astrological charts (many were celebrities and famous people). Judaism has no
problem with astrology. Did the astrology chart readings change my life in anyway? No. I was born on the cusp of Aquarius/Pisces. It is all so much more than your sun sign.

I later became Catholic and don’t pay attention to astrology anymore. I think I used astrology more of a way to learn about myself than fortune telling.

I thought it was fascinating though to see where all the planets were at the time of my birth. So the astronomy part fascinated me.

 

[trek17]

So…first it is saying the information given is untrue.
Second, that partaking is a desire for power.

But whoever wrote this is not explaining why they think this is so.

Why do they?

.

Quoted directly from the CCC.

 

[thephilosopher6]

I am fully aware that astrology is not compatible with Catholicism. I don’t look at my horoscope or anything, but recently I took a silly quiz on if my astrological sign was accurate( I know, should be using my time more wisely!) and I got my own sign. I’ll read other signs descriptions and though some are similar, most wouldn’t describe me and for some reason my own sign is the most accurate. I know it’s of no consequence, but I also know that that occult stuff (that’s occult right?) is dangerous because there’s real power there, albeit the devil’s and not God’s. I don’t know, I find it unsettling that it’s accurate, I don’t know what I’m asking, except maybe…is it accurate? Even if you don’t look at your horoscope, iss it bad to acknowledge how similar you sound to your sign?

It’s nothing more than confirmation bias.

 

[Kaliaa]

You need to read the whole thing, I guess. The last sentence tells you why.

They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

From CCC 2116

Whether a “chart” is costly or free is completely irrelevant since it’s trickery. The people doing charts may not be liars… but they have been sucked into it before they were ever “professionals” and therefore believe it themselves. Run away… straight into the arms of God.

 

[Bonnie]

A former pastor told me this story from his days in seminary:

The prof had them sit at their regular desks, and he told them he had gotten a person to do their “charts” based on their birthdays.

He asked how many felt it was accurate, 95% of them enthusiastically said YES!

At that point, the prof told them to pass the paper to the person directly behind them.
For it was THAT other person’s horoscope profile.

Point made.
People are gullible, and those things have that “blind squirrel” mystique about them.


Occasionally interesting, but not to be pursued or believed.

That was what I was going to say, but your story is much more interesting.

 

[edwest2]

It’s definitely something to be concerned about. I was shown an astrology book by a coworker years ago and it went far beyond any I had seen. He studied it like a textbook but it is a form of divination. The stars, planets and alignments have no effect on us but astrology sets itself up as a belief system.

I used to read the occasional newspaper astrology prediction, then I began reading the others. Everybody was going to get something or “watch out,” something bad is going to happen on these dates or “soon.” Superstition. To be avoided.

Ed

 

[Nelka]

If someone is in league with the devil they will get something very accurate otherwise it is just guess work. Maybe they had a survey and used data from it to get an idea but it’s nonsense.

 

[jcrichton]

I am fully aware that astrology is not compatible with Catholicism. I don’t look at my horoscope or anything, but recently I took a silly quiz on if my astrological sign was accurate( I know, should be using my time more wisely!) and I got my own sign. I’ll read other signs descriptions and though some are similar, most wouldn’t describe me and for some reason my own sign is the most accurate. I know it’s of no consequence, but I also know that that occult stuff (that’s occult right?) is dangerous because there’s real power there, albeit the devil’s and not God’s. I don’t know, I find it unsettling that it’s accurate, I don’t know what I’m asking, except maybe…is it accurate? Even if you don’t look at your horoscope, iss it bad to acknowledge how similar you sound to your sign?

Hi!

…ever heard of the expression: “subjective?”

…there are things in life that are fully mysterious…

…science and the snake charmers have strained to define and even use some of it… telekinesis, “magic,” mind-reading, time travel…

…there are truths to all these things… have you ever noticed how you could zero in on a person who have been staring at you, even in a crowded place?.. we are able to pick up on that… then there are the dreams which have basically materialized within hours or days of having them–even retaining some of the elements or at least the gist of them… then the near-death “visions” with all sorts of details that science cannot explain away… then there are the fortune tellers…

The human experience is quite similar for all throughout the world… people have experienced that ringing in the air which no one else picks up… that bending down to pick up an item that eludes us for several times… the time travel (at least in the mind) that a certain aroma, sound, or climate experience causes us to have as we are transported into a moment in time in our past…

…so it is not surprising for clairvoyants to throw together a number of subjections about a person born under “x” sign and hit a nerve or two… ever noticed how most readings are positive and how even the not so positive are simply about not wearing a color or not using a number or not having an activity on such day or time?

Consider the movie/s, “Final Destination,” does “death” follow us around with a vengeance if we “elude” it?

…there are people who actually believe that the movie is based on real events… that death actually seeks those who evade it… yes, there are marvels and mysteries that involve everyday life… but no, clairvoyants can only see into one of two futures at a time: their empty bank accounts and the source of their next meal!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

True.

Also because those descriptions are so encompassing that virtually everybody can find something that applies to him or her, and once one has found something, it’s natural to look for more, and to kind of ‘stretch’. Plus those descriptions often add in things like, "certain X signs may have weak tendencies in these areas, due to their sun sign dominance, or where the moon was rising, etc’ and then if one doesn’t have a ‘major characteristic’ one can say, "oh well, it’s just ‘weak’ for me’.

Honestly, if any person were given any one of the twelve sign descriptions and TOLD that it represented ‘their sign’, that person would likely find that the sign ‘fitted them’ --even if it were not ‘their sign’ at all. All that’s needed is a little ‘praising’. Sure Scorpios can be ‘fiery’ but that just means they’re passionate and natural leaders, and who doesn’t want to be that? Sure Virgos are somewhat stuffy and standoffish, but hey, they’re usually brilliant thinkers and who doesn’t want to be that? Etc. etc.

Hi!

…or that ole ego bolstering… two girls/guys vying for your affections… or "they’re jealous of you or your “xyz.”

‘…reeeeealy?, …how much for the reading and the “candles” and the…?’ :blushing::blushing::blushing:

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

you aren’t even ‘born’ under the sign you think you are! Due to the wobble of the earth’s axis, every 2000 years or so the ‘sign’ will change! And the 70’s broadway show ‘Hair’ got it wrong the other way, it’s not the age of Aquarius yet!

Read this for the astronomy behind the astrology:

ast.cam.ac.uk/~frosales/html/zodiac/

Hi!

…wait… what?.. I had it from a good source that we in in the “eye of the tiger” thing… what gives?

Maran atha!

Angel