What Is Astrology and How Does Astrology Work?

Indurate Scientists argue that astrology does not work in any way. On the other hand, some believers believe it works. So, should you go by the scientists or believer’s word? Well, I can say it is a confusing matter, but it all comes down to your opinion of the keyword ‘work.’ In this article, I want to shed some light on this subject. Let’s start by understanding the meaning of astrology.

Astrology is the study on how objects in outer space (planets and stars) affect human lives. Some people believe that the alignment of the planets, sun, moon, and other stars during someone’s birth has some influence on personality, moods, temperament, predict fortunes, among other future outcomes.

However, there is no standard theory on the practice of astrology. Ancient cultures practiced different forms of astrology. Some of their practices were integrated and evolved to become the current western astrology. Nevertheless, Eastern cultures still practice different Astrology forms. Some common ones include Chinese, Tibetan, and Vedic Astrology.

Also, Western Astrology comes in variable philosophies and methods. Some astrologers divide these practices according to the intended result. These include:

Interrogatory Astrology- Focused on making precise analysis or predictions about an individual’s future objectives or expected events.

Mundane Astrology- Focused on examining world events and projects about economies, wars, and affairs.

Natal Astrology- This is the most commonly referred to form of Astrology. It refers to making analyses and predictions based on an individual’s birth date. Natal Astrology emphasizes the idea that the start of something likely highlights future expectations on that thing. It is also referred to as the ‘Law of Beginnings.’

How Astrology Works Can Be Divided Into Two Sections:

Understanding Astronomy and doing the relevant astronomical map calculations. To your relief, there are multiple apps, computer programs, and online websites that will do these mathematical calculations.

After studying the scientific part, the Horoscope starts. The Horoscope is penned in Zodiacal hieroglyphics, and to understand it, you must learn astrology’s written language.

Understanding the Horoscope

If you ask someone what they know about Astrology, they will probably talk about the ‘sign’- it is part of Zodiac’s 12 constellations. Typical horoscope newspapers structure their astrology on this sun-sign astrology. However, this is the simplest astrology form since all required to generate the sun-sign Horoscope is the date of birth. Most astrologers claim this information is to shallow and will likely produce limited results.

To generate more precise readings, astrologers check out individual planet signs combining them with additional elements, i.e., angles and houses, to project more accurate profiles on an individual’s life, personality, and prospects.

Astrology and Practical Life Situations

According to a National Science Foundation Survey, around 41% of respondents believe that it is scientific, either wholly or partly. To understand this better, let us divide the initial question ‘How Astrology Works’ into two more precise questions: I) how do the Alignment of Celestial Bodies Affect Someone’s Life? II) Do Horoscopes Any Positive Effect on a Person?

Despite these questions being very distinct, we can distinguish them scientifically to help us understand Astrology better. Read on to learn more.

How Does the Alignment of Celestial Bodies Affect Someone’s Life?

In some way, it does. The sun’s position and orientation relative to the earth causes changes in season across different parts of the world. Anyone who could have been at the beach in January will tell you how unappreciated winter is not to him/her. Also, the solar flares result in electromagnetic disturbances on earth, which can cause blackouts or disruption of satellites.

The moon’s position results in ocean tides and can affect a fisher’s livelihood. Solar winds cause attractive aurora, and the sunlight is our planet’s main energy source. All in all, all these effects are weather/climatic changes- this is not Astrology.

Astrology emphasizes that, aside from changing weather patterns, celestial bodies influence an individual’s life according to their birth date. However, many scientific studies have shown this ‘theory’ to be false. One famous study by Peter Hartmann, together with other collaborators, studied more than 4,000 individuals. No correlation was found between a person’s date of birth and intelligence or personality.

Typically, scientists go by the four forces of nature: electromagnetism, gravity, and weak and strong nuclear force. Scientists claim that it must first interact with either of these forces for something to affect an individual. For instance, gravity can make a rock roll down and hit you. Also, strong acids can burn your skin due to the pulling of the acid’s electromagnetic fields.

However, these forces wear off with distance- explains why the star’s gravity effect cannot directly affect the universe. Let’s even assume that the planet’s gravity was strong enough to cause any effect on you, the alignment of celestial bodies have to substantial reason to cause you luck or something.

Do Horoscopes Have Any Positive Effect on a Person?

The Horoscopes have a positive effect on an individual’s life, but to set the record straight, it does not prove that Horoscopes are correct. The positive effect horoscopes have on people results from the psychological ‘placebo’ effect. The Placebo effect is better explained as the belief in a particular thing that brings about the positives. The ‘belief’ by itself causes improvement and not the means used.

Mind you, this placebo effect is proven scientifically and practically used in medical experiments. This Placebo effect is astrology’s powering mechanism. Due to people’s belief in astrology, by reading their horoscopes and following its advice, individuals tend to experience a positive effect. But in the real sense, the ‘belief’ brings them a positive effect and not Astrology. There are multiple pseudo-scientific medications, such as homeopathy and crystal healing, which help patients through the placebo effect.

To sum up, that is all there is to know about how astrology works. There are contrasting opinions from scientists and astrologers on whether Astrology works or not. According to us, Astrology works and, at the same time, does not- it all depends on you as an individual.