Something I've always known about astrology...

[Archae]

Besides it being pure bullshit.

'Pseudo-science' and 'self-centered worldview': Researchers find link between astrology and 'narcissism'

Astrology has enjoyed something of a revival in recent years. A Pew Research poll released in 2018 found that 29% of American adults — roughly one in four — believed in astrology. And a new study conducted by researchers at Lund University in Sweden offered some reasons for that revival, ranging from "narcissism" to "stress."

In an article published by Psych News Daily on November 20, writer Douglas Heingartner notes, "Scientists do not know why astrology is undergoing what these researchers call a 'revival,' but they do point out that past research has found people are more likely to embrace astrology and other scientifically questionable beliefs when they are under stress. Prior studies, for example, have found a link between personal turmoil and a belief in astrology."

https://www.rawstory.com/astrology-chart/

[marble falls]

1. Waiting for LG to come and set you straight ...

[RussellCattle]

3. Don't know who LG is but I always enjoy some craziness here on the DU. The characterization....

....of astrology as "bullshit" may be the truest thing you'll read here today. I say this will even more conviction that the folks who proclaimed (rightly) that canned cranberry sauce was the only true cranberry sauce.

[marble falls]

4. If it happens, it will be short but entertaining.

[Ocelot II]

2. I think it's human nature to want simple explanations for pretty much everything.

Since despite all its apparently complicated mumbo-jumbo numerology or whatever the charts are made of, astrology offers an explanation, bogus though it is, for why certain people are the way they are, and why certain things are happening or will happen. So if a person was born under a certain sign it supposedly explains their personality and behavior, although of course it doesn't. Here's what one astrologer had to say about TFG:

With Leo as a dominant sign, you naturally shine brightly. Your dignity, your sense of honour, and your generosity can almost turn you into a solar mythological hero, a knight or a lord from the ancient times. People may blame you for your selfishness, your pride or your somewhat loud authority, but if you are self-confident, kind-hearted and strong-willed, it surely makes up for your little flaws, as long as they remain moderate...

Much more here: https://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/Donald_Trump

QED: Astrology is bullshit.

[fierywoman]

7. From the same report (which goes on for pages and pages and pages...)

"The three most important planets in your chart are Mars, the Sun and Venus.

Mars is one of your dominant planets and provides you with its efficient energy and enthusiasm: with a powerful Mars in your chart, action - but also will and ability to undertake - is not an empty word for you. You are active, dynamic, willing to fight, courageous, and you are never afraid to move mountains, even though risks are part of the adventures that you start with determination.

****However, your patience is not always up to your boldness and a kind of feverishness, or even anger, can tarnish the quality of your achievements. *****That would be a pity since the Marsian is a champion in matters of efficiency! Mars symbolizes display of action, conquering spirit that favours discipline and order - beware of not being fussy - and lies at the frontier between action and brutality, between conquest and potential aggressiveness.

One of the dominant planets in your natal chart is the Sun. He symbolizes will, magnetism, sense of honour and dignity. You are a Solar being, and you often display charismatic and leadership qualities. Your warmth and your persuasive power lead you far away from pettiness. You enjoy thinking big and, consequently, you move forward according to what you decide.

****Your Solarian weakness may be related to the sin of pride or to excessive authority. The frontier between pride and vanity is tenuous: be careful not to overstep it and to keep the nobleness of heart that is part of your charm.*****"

Same report: "You can also be domineering, conceited, touchy, authoritarian, stubborn, intolerant, self-centered, irascible, violent, and nonchalant."

(FWIW, Personally I find this website's writing to be rather simplistic.)

Further down: "You can also be domineering, conceited, touchy, authoritarian, stubborn, intolerant, self-centered, irascible, violent, and nonchalant."

[Croney]

5. One thing I know is that it's not astronomy.

Dr. Margaret Geller once told me that someone at a party asked her profession and when she said cosmologist, the person asked her about make-up.

Considering that people like George Takei, Luther Vandross, George Clooney, and of course many thousands of lesser known people share a birthday with Hitler, it should be obvious that astrology is at best a silly parlor game.

But I will read my fortune cookie with glee!

[fierywoman]

8. They may share a birthDAY with Hitler but not the same birth YEAR; therefore: not the same chart.

[Croney]

9. On April 20, 1889, there were thousands of births around the world.

Luckily, they were not all monsters.

[fierywoman]

10. Astrology considers the idea that all human beings are unique, they have individual souls, and

they are raised differently, among many other things. It is not a "push button number 1 and x comes out" type of situation.

[fierywoman]

11. A decent astrologer looking at a certain part of Hitler's (and then Trump's) chart

[Wicked Blue]

6. People turn to things like astrology when they are desperate for hope

They're looking for some kind of signs that life makes sense, that there are reasons for events, that things might get better at some point in the future.

I'm skeptical about astrology, but during the past 4 years of hell, I turned to it myself in search of hope.

[endinequalitynow]

12. Astrology relies on false assumptions.

Astrology relies on false assumptions being real. An incidental coincidence gets passed off as an accurate prediction about the future.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. A decade or so back I attended

an astronomy camp at the University of Arizona. It was amazing. Someone I told about it misheard me and thought I'd gone to astrology camp. Now, I'm sure an astrology camp would be quite interesting, but it's not what I went to.