by Juliet Chase

Created on: September 03, 2009   Last Updated: September 09, 2009

There are practical uses and scientific aspects to astrology whether you are a believer or not. The question is really one of perspective, not absolute truth. It's not that the advice listed in the paper or on the Internet should be taken verbatim or that there is science other than geometry behind calculating the placement of the planets. Rather than look at it as binary: true or not true, consider examining it from the aspect of what it says about you and how you feel about certain aspects of your life.

The applicable scientific area is really psychology, not astronomy. Why do horoscopes and psychics become more popular in an economic downturn? The reasons may seem obvious, but clearly as a species we repeat the pattern, not just one culture or ethnic group or even a generation. There is so much we don't know about how the human brain processes predictions. How do we internalize authoritative advice? Words of hope or gloom? This is the science behind astrology that needs more study.The more popular astrologers know how to tweak the common aspects such as the meaning of Mercury in retrograde to something compelling to the human spirit, expanding on possibilities and benefits or threats.Take some time to compare different astrologers on the same day for the same sign. You are likely to see certain similarities but vast differences in the end result, even if both are promising an upcoming romantic weekend.

Astrology can be a valuable tool in personal development as well. The practical use of astrology is to use it as a mirror to your subconscious and inner self, the one that sometimes thinks or feels things that the social you would rather it didn't. Those of us that read our horoscope regularly know that there are some that seem to apply to us personally more than others and among those, some that we remember longer than others. Possibly because that particular day's horoscope (or tarot reading or rune casting, etc.) triggered something important to us, consciously or not. For example, if your horoscope says you're going to do well in a job interview but you don't have an interview that day, you are likely to forget it immediately. On the other hand, if you have an interview but some part of you doesn't really want the job you might feel your stomach sink as you read - that's when it can become an important triggering mechanism if you are paying attention. What you do about it should be more internally than star driven!

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