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5 comments
The things that astrology "accurately explains" are mostly due to vague writing and readers cherrypicking the parts that could apply to them (which could apply to anyone).
There is hardly any hard evidence against astrology because there is no evidence for it. It's hard to disprove something thats only proof is "that sounds like me". But, for example, this is the Aries (my sign) horoscope for Jan 24 2021:
"Today is all about the community you live and work in. Your place in the world could be something you're questioning today, and that is totally normal and wonderfully healthy. Do you take the same role in every situation? Are you always the leader, always the follower, or do you take turns? These are the questions you should address. You need to make sure you're being true to yourself and not compromising for the sake of popularity or politics."
Who couldn't find something that resonates in this? Who isn't, on some level, questioning their place in the world every day? Whether you're the "leader" or the "follower", which are polar opposites, you could find something for you.
Other tidbits that make the reliability of astrology unlikely include the fact that the Babylonians straight up left out a 13th constellation so that the zodiac signs would fit the 12 calendar months, and that daily horoscopes vary depending on what magazine/website you're reading.
https://www.astrology.com/horoscope/daily/aries.html
https://time.com/5867647/nasa-zodiac-star/
As with Tarot readings, Astrology can have a function or benefit despite its fake "accuracy".
To describe this, think about doing a coin toss when making a decision. They say the best way to do a coin toss is to toss the coin in the air, catch it, but don't immediately look at it. Instead, think about which result you were hoping to see while it was in the air. That's your answer.
The result of the toss doesn't matter. You learned which answer you really wanted just from the process itself.
With something like Tarot, the descriptions and readings are so broad they can apply to anyone. Sure that's nothing new. The interesting part here is in how you take these broad statements and apply them to yourself. You use it not for answers, but as a way to digest information about yourself.
Many "metaphysical" activities work this way. Some are plecebo, which is a real and measurable phenomenon. Others are simply meditation with quirks. Others yet are like the above: tools for digesting existing information.
It is, in essence, all "fake" in the general sense. But if you know how to work with them, you can use them as tools.
It has taken me a long time to pull away from the rationalist approach to everything - and you articulate very nicely an instance of why that's right!
Yeah, some stars in the sky that have already perished and we see their light glimpsing from billions of light years far from us, is playing a huge role. Astrology is one of the things that gave birth to religions which are also awful ideas written by lunatics.
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