Having read humanists, atheists and common & garden skeptics banging on about rationalism and astrology (see Sunday's post) I dug around in my archive files for this, from July 2007, on a similar topic.
Do rationality and astrology mix? I say they can, given the right approach and a mind open enough to see serious failings in both camps, but failings which completely negate neither one.
Words of wisdom from Mahatma Gandhi:
"To paraphrase an old Buck Owens song "All we have to do is act rationally". I try to - most of the time, but when reading other blogs, particularly on new age subjects, and even sometimes on astrology, I feel that what I call my rationality somehow gets in the way. Even so, I can't change my mental wiring - nor can any of us.
One of my favourite astrologers of the past, C.E.O. Carter, has this to say about rationalism in his Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology"Rationalism is usually the result of a prominent and strong Saturnian influence and of the earthy element, which both tend of make the native fully alive to the logic of facts and the actualities of existence. From a more mental standpoint the same is true of Mercury and his signs. In the horoscopes of rationalists it is probable that the watery signs will rarely be to the fore, although Scorpio sometimes inclines to materialism.If the influences are for the most part good, we may look for open-mindedness; if they are adverse, and especially if the fixed signs are involved, we may look for bigotry."In my own chart Mercury in Capricorn, with Saturn in Aries semi-sextile Uranus in Taurus probably describes my awkward rationality. My mind wishes to be logical, especially with Sun in Aquarius. Aquarius's modern ruler, Uranus is in earthy Taurus semi-sextile Aquarius's traditional ruler Saturn, in Aries. In addition My Aquarian Sun is semi-sextile Jupiter in imaginative Pisces, not known for its logic.
The semi-sextile is a peculiar aspect to get to grips with. It occurs when planets lie at the same (or closely similar) degrees of signs nextdoor to each other. Two quite dissimilar signs and elements with a close chart connection, producing something in one's life which is always a kind of anomaly. That's how I see it anyway.In my own case the anomaly is my unshaken belief that there's "something going on" in astrology, yet some scepticism remains, driven by rationality. I find it difficult, nay impossible, to accept certain parts of astrological doctrine. Watery elements in my chart - Jupiter in Pisces (at midheaven natally), Mars in Scorpio, and Cancer ascendant probably serve to widen and aggravate the split in my approach to these matters.
Acceptance is the answer. What we can't change, we live with and hopefully enjoy, whilst trying to accept gracefully that others are doing the same."
Do rationality and astrology mix? I say they can, given the right approach and a mind open enough to see serious failings in both camps, but failings which completely negate neither one.
Words of wisdom from Mahatma Gandhi:
“Rationalists are admirable beings, rationalism is a hideous monster when it claims for itself omnipotence. Attribution of omnipotence to reason is as bad a piece of idolatry as is worship of stock and stone believing it to be God. I plead not for the suppression of reason, but for a due recognition of that in us which sanctifies reason.”
8 comments:
Hi Twilight !
This is something I ask myself before letting it be truth to my principles when following a logical mind. Astrology is not precise and proof is a long hall of facts, feelings, intuition and observation, , then logic conflicts when you don’t have matters at hand when you want a more reasonable explanation, I mean, you could fell a square in the heavens in that particular day, or observe people around you are getting rough and persistent when there is a sun-mars conjunction in the sky, but these are energies, energies are complex in the personalities as we know, ‘cause they are mixed, they are sublime in some way, but could be read in a rational way, when facts are shown and attitudes are the flow of the sky that gives you the hint of why’s you need to know.
I have loads of water, but earthy and airy elements are almost equal in my chart as well. You can always react logically better when you don’t have hard feelings getting your head down, although a good dose of Capricorns can put you in control of it. But what the mind does not tell you, the heart can, a moon’s specialty.
I've never yet come across a branch of rationalism that hasn't got an agenda behind it. Hence, the rational thing would be to accept rationalism as part of the search for knowledge, and not its entirety.
RafaelVR ~~~ Hello again!
Yes, it's so necessary to keep in mind that astrology is NOT precise, and that a person is subject to so many other influences. This is something researchers and skeptics don't keep in mind always when they ask questions of their test subjects.
It's such a very very complex situation, and it's not too surprising that astrological test results have fallen short of what those of us who know a little about astrology would expect.
If testers would be more rational and less skeptical we might get somewhere!
AN ~~~ I guess that's right - always the agenda. I get so tired of hearing that word. Can't anybody do anything for its own sake any more? :-(
strong saturn points toward the "father complex" while challenges to the moon may indicate "mother complex" in my case, i have both so i guess that indicates neurosis! thanks, Twilight
You're welcome Shawn. Always glad to oblige with a custom-made neurosis. ;-)
I tried to change my mental wiring and all my hair fell out.
Anyjazz ~ You've answered my most perplexing question! ;-)
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