Personally, I see astrology as a way to flow with the energies of nature around me, which is why I studied it and became my own personal astrologer. Knowing the archetypes of the zodiac signs and planets and the movements of the stars is part of human culture. I think you're criticizing a tool, but a tool only depends on the people who use it. You've certainly encountered dishonest people along the way, and astrology is probably not the right tool for you. Since studying it, I've found more power within me, not less. As often happens, the virtue of temperance can be helpful. I've never done or not done something I wanted because of Mercury retrograde, but I've learned to feel the energies of the universe around me and within me. Knowing my birth chart clarified some things about myself and helped me recognize patterns that I kept repeating, considerations that have been useful to me in therapy. I agree with you that it is not useful to become dependent on an astrologer, but astrology contains knowledge that I find interesting, inspiring and even useful, but it always depends only on us how we use this knowledge.
I’m glad you found power in it Francesca 💙 I don’t criticize the system in itself or the tool. But the use of it.
My point throughout the piece is centered on the reflection that I realized for myself that my motivation to seek others guidance through these tools was a need of reassurance that reflected my lack of self-trust. Which I also found out to be true for other friends I discussed this topic with.
I live by the motto: if something works for you, please keep doing it :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I find valuable to have multiple perspectives. ☺️
I couldn’t have said it better Francesca. I studied Hellenistic astrology and it has only enriched my life and my relationship with myself. Understanding that everything moves in cycles has eased my anxieties around the passing of time and impermanence.
What you’re saying here is so true, and I think it’s a lesson that applies beyond astrology or tarot as well. It’s really easy to outsource our power to systems, tools, strategies, or other people instead of taking responsibility for our own choices. At the end of the day, we’re always the source. The tools are just mechanisms or mediums, not the authority. Where it gets sticky for me is that self-awareness and self-study are also somewhat limited by the fact that your understanding of yourself is always coming through your own perspective. There are parts of ourselves we just can’t see from the inside. That’s why outside reflection is important. Sometimes that comes through relationships that mirror things back to us, advice from people we trust, or even tools that help surface intuition that’s buried under a lot of conscious overthinking… like tarot cards.
Outsourcing your power to another person is obviously risky AF, because they’re filtering everything through their own lens too. But tools, when they’re used with discernment, can sometimes just help cut through the noise of the ego/conscious mind and let intuition come forward a little more clearly.
So I guess for me the distinction is agency vs tools. Agency is the choice, discernment, and responsibility. Everything else… self-reflection, advice, tarot cards, astrology, whatever… is just something in the toolbox.
I agree that outside reflection is very important, and I value that when it's personal and accurate, as you said through people who you trust and know you personally to mirror your patterns back to you. That's feedback, and we grow a lot from it. In my experience, what bothers me is that many of these systems are used as a way to reassure people about who they are, or have a somewhat determinist angle. Like "you're having trouble communicating with your partner because the planets are like this", instead of "you're having trouble communicating with your partner because you're too locked up in your perspective or because you haven't developed the skills for it". One thing helps you grow, the others just makes you say "oh yeh, alright".
I like your distinction of agency vs tools, it's a very good point. But unfortunately most people drawn to these kinds of systems don't feel very agentic.
I'm not a big fan of astrology but my sister introduced me to it but I was just surprised how it managed to indentify about 70% qualities of me , l don't usually trust external things but up to now lam still surprised how it managed to outline my qualities. I enjoyed your story by the way
I get that! I’m not invalidating astrology as a study. But I’m questioning “why do we need external sources to validate our own qualities?” It feels good to be seen, 100%. But why can’t we see ourselves?
I totally get what you expressed/experienced and feel the same. Also the amount of money I spent on intuitives and readings trying to understand or gain clarity makes me cringe. Especially when the fruits of any of the sessions or interactions are actually non existent. I found that many times the reader hyped my chart up like it was special, or since I am a “reflector” in Human Design and that’s “rare”, it’s always added to a false sense of confidence that would disappear when I needed it or when it mattered. Thank you for sharing. Glad we both woke up to not needing that external guidance from others. I’m not sure what you believe but from where I stand now that type of guidance about who I am should come from my creator. God.
you said in one sentence what I was trying to say in the whole article: "it’s always added to a false sense of confidence that would disappear when I needed it or when it mattered"- THAT'S IT.
I came to the same conclusion and can relate to your experiences. Information can be helpful, but we need to learn to trust ourselves first. I felt sad it took me so long to understand it. And it is also important to beware of those who exploit our lack of self-trust, or may be just being in a formative stage, still learning yourself and the world, be it a fortune teller or a doctor
This has landed at such perfect timing for me after what I think may be my “straw that broke the camels back” experience with a psychic. I left feeling deflated, asking myself similar questions you’ve posed in this piece. Thank you so much for sharing the words I needed to read 🤍
Personally, I see astrology as a way to flow with the energies of nature around me, which is why I studied it and became my own personal astrologer. Knowing the archetypes of the zodiac signs and planets and the movements of the stars is part of human culture. I think you're criticizing a tool, but a tool only depends on the people who use it. You've certainly encountered dishonest people along the way, and astrology is probably not the right tool for you. Since studying it, I've found more power within me, not less. As often happens, the virtue of temperance can be helpful. I've never done or not done something I wanted because of Mercury retrograde, but I've learned to feel the energies of the universe around me and within me. Knowing my birth chart clarified some things about myself and helped me recognize patterns that I kept repeating, considerations that have been useful to me in therapy. I agree with you that it is not useful to become dependent on an astrologer, but astrology contains knowledge that I find interesting, inspiring and even useful, but it always depends only on us how we use this knowledge.
I’m glad you found power in it Francesca 💙 I don’t criticize the system in itself or the tool. But the use of it.
My point throughout the piece is centered on the reflection that I realized for myself that my motivation to seek others guidance through these tools was a need of reassurance that reflected my lack of self-trust. Which I also found out to be true for other friends I discussed this topic with.
I live by the motto: if something works for you, please keep doing it :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I find valuable to have multiple perspectives. ☺️
I couldn’t have said it better Francesca. I studied Hellenistic astrology and it has only enriched my life and my relationship with myself. Understanding that everything moves in cycles has eased my anxieties around the passing of time and impermanence.
What you’re saying here is so true, and I think it’s a lesson that applies beyond astrology or tarot as well. It’s really easy to outsource our power to systems, tools, strategies, or other people instead of taking responsibility for our own choices. At the end of the day, we’re always the source. The tools are just mechanisms or mediums, not the authority. Where it gets sticky for me is that self-awareness and self-study are also somewhat limited by the fact that your understanding of yourself is always coming through your own perspective. There are parts of ourselves we just can’t see from the inside. That’s why outside reflection is important. Sometimes that comes through relationships that mirror things back to us, advice from people we trust, or even tools that help surface intuition that’s buried under a lot of conscious overthinking… like tarot cards.
Outsourcing your power to another person is obviously risky AF, because they’re filtering everything through their own lens too. But tools, when they’re used with discernment, can sometimes just help cut through the noise of the ego/conscious mind and let intuition come forward a little more clearly.
So I guess for me the distinction is agency vs tools. Agency is the choice, discernment, and responsibility. Everything else… self-reflection, advice, tarot cards, astrology, whatever… is just something in the toolbox.
I agree that outside reflection is very important, and I value that when it's personal and accurate, as you said through people who you trust and know you personally to mirror your patterns back to you. That's feedback, and we grow a lot from it. In my experience, what bothers me is that many of these systems are used as a way to reassure people about who they are, or have a somewhat determinist angle. Like "you're having trouble communicating with your partner because the planets are like this", instead of "you're having trouble communicating with your partner because you're too locked up in your perspective or because you haven't developed the skills for it". One thing helps you grow, the others just makes you say "oh yeh, alright".
I like your distinction of agency vs tools, it's a very good point. But unfortunately most people drawn to these kinds of systems don't feel very agentic.
I'm not a big fan of astrology but my sister introduced me to it but I was just surprised how it managed to indentify about 70% qualities of me , l don't usually trust external things but up to now lam still surprised how it managed to outline my qualities. I enjoyed your story by the way
I get that! I’m not invalidating astrology as a study. But I’m questioning “why do we need external sources to validate our own qualities?” It feels good to be seen, 100%. But why can’t we see ourselves?
Alright I understand your point and I think it's because maybe we just sometimes luck self confidence and http://belief.so
I totally get what you expressed/experienced and feel the same. Also the amount of money I spent on intuitives and readings trying to understand or gain clarity makes me cringe. Especially when the fruits of any of the sessions or interactions are actually non existent. I found that many times the reader hyped my chart up like it was special, or since I am a “reflector” in Human Design and that’s “rare”, it’s always added to a false sense of confidence that would disappear when I needed it or when it mattered. Thank you for sharing. Glad we both woke up to not needing that external guidance from others. I’m not sure what you believe but from where I stand now that type of guidance about who I am should come from my creator. God.
you said in one sentence what I was trying to say in the whole article: "it’s always added to a false sense of confidence that would disappear when I needed it or when it mattered"- THAT'S IT.
I came to the same conclusion and can relate to your experiences. Information can be helpful, but we need to learn to trust ourselves first. I felt sad it took me so long to understand it. And it is also important to beware of those who exploit our lack of self-trust, or may be just being in a formative stage, still learning yourself and the world, be it a fortune teller or a doctor
Another way to look at it is: isn't wonderful that you finally understand it? Most people never do.
This has landed at such perfect timing for me after what I think may be my “straw that broke the camels back” experience with a psychic. I left feeling deflated, asking myself similar questions you’ve posed in this piece. Thank you so much for sharing the words I needed to read 🤍
I’m glad it found you when you needed Emma ❤️