Skeptics love to come out to play on any astrology-related forum or website - it happens on a daily basis at Quora in the astrology section!
I do try to understand, but disagree with some arguments proposing, for instance, that what astrologers (and tarot readers) deal with: positions of Sun, Moon and planets in the sky; and in the case of tarot, illustrations on a deck of special cards, can be interpreted in so many different ways, therefore interpretations must be suspect. There is some latitude, for sure in both cases, but it's not that wide a latitude. In astrology, Neptune for instance, does not indicate anything connected to violence. Mars doesn't connect to the arts. Mercury isn't an indicator of physical energy, etc. The zodiac signs do have a variety of keywords, but they are all of related "flavour".
I used to dabble a bit in tarot, learned the basics, but decided to concentrate on astrology. I know enough to say, though, that each tarot card has a fairly narrow scope of interpretation, as has each planet and zodiac sign in astrology. In tarot the reader is strictly bound by the cards drawn, and for my taste, the fewer cards the better - it cuts out any accusation of too many potential interpretations possible from a larger spread. Three cards offer pretty strict boundaries, context has to depend on the question posed.
The full astrological natal chart has many possibilities of combinations and, yes, interpretation can get a little confusing. However, each individual part of the chart has very limited interpretation. If interpretation is restricted to absolute astrological basics, it is easier to see astrology working, without peripheral stuff to interfere, and play into skeptics' arguments.
Always, always, astrology depends strictly on the movement and cycles of the planets, with data from an ephemeris - which is not arbitrary or interchangeable with anything, it's a rock solid basis, a kind of timetable of movement of the Sun, Moon and planets, day by day, year by year. Interpretations simply cannot be made up to suit the occasion.
Of course, it's up to each individual, and their experience with astrology and tarot, to choose whether to use, trust, or discard either or both of these ancient arts. There really is no need to loudly decry them as "pseudo-science". If you don't like 'em simply ignore 'em. Easy peasy! Skeptics have no access to secret information that such arts as astrology and tarot are "garbage" - one of their favourite words.
I do try to understand, but disagree with some arguments proposing, for instance, that what astrologers (and tarot readers) deal with: positions of Sun, Moon and planets in the sky; and in the case of tarot, illustrations on a deck of special cards, can be interpreted in so many different ways, therefore interpretations must be suspect. There is some latitude, for sure in both cases, but it's not that wide a latitude. In astrology, Neptune for instance, does not indicate anything connected to violence. Mars doesn't connect to the arts. Mercury isn't an indicator of physical energy, etc. The zodiac signs do have a variety of keywords, but they are all of related "flavour".
I used to dabble a bit in tarot, learned the basics, but decided to concentrate on astrology. I know enough to say, though, that each tarot card has a fairly narrow scope of interpretation, as has each planet and zodiac sign in astrology. In tarot the reader is strictly bound by the cards drawn, and for my taste, the fewer cards the better - it cuts out any accusation of too many potential interpretations possible from a larger spread. Three cards offer pretty strict boundaries, context has to depend on the question posed.
The full astrological natal chart has many possibilities of combinations and, yes, interpretation can get a little confusing. However, each individual part of the chart has very limited interpretation. If interpretation is restricted to absolute astrological basics, it is easier to see astrology working, without peripheral stuff to interfere, and play into skeptics' arguments.
Always, always, astrology depends strictly on the movement and cycles of the planets, with data from an ephemeris - which is not arbitrary or interchangeable with anything, it's a rock solid basis, a kind of timetable of movement of the Sun, Moon and planets, day by day, year by year. Interpretations simply cannot be made up to suit the occasion.
Of course, it's up to each individual, and their experience with astrology and tarot, to choose whether to use, trust, or discard either or both of these ancient arts. There really is no need to loudly decry them as "pseudo-science". If you don't like 'em simply ignore 'em. Easy peasy! Skeptics have no access to secret information that such arts as astrology and tarot are "garbage" - one of their favourite words.
