Astrology and astrologers have a reputation for making predictions. And perhaps more than most fields of study, astrology has a fairly clear and detailed basis of empirical data upon which to base those predictions. We can trace the astrological cycles back hundreds and thousands of years, and we can correlate them with actual events on Earth. And we can then use those correlations as the basis for future predictions. What could be easier?
Unfortunately, using astrology to make concrete predictions of events is not nearly that straightforward. Many astrologers will remind you that people have free will, which makes predicting their behavior in a fatalistic manner unreliable.This is indeed true to some extent, but it begs the question: Can astrology predict, or can't it?
Some astrological traditions, such as Jyotish, focus strongly on making concrete predictions of events. Others, such as modern humanistic astrology, shy away from outright prediction and instead use astrology as a symbolic language which imbues events with meaning, but "predicts" only in the most general of terms. Still other practices, such as horary and electional astrology, make a type of concrete prediction, but limit that prediction to a very focused question or activity. Mundane astrology and financial astrology often make specific predictions, but these predictions apply to large groups of people rather than to individuals.
Using astrology to make specific predictions can be a rather slippery slope. It is far too easy for an astrologer to look at a chart and jump to a conclusion on the basis of opinion rather than fact, or without any basis whatsoever. Whether you are predicting something in the stock market, on the world stage, or in the personal life of an individual client, any prediction an astrologer makes should have some sort of concrete evidence or data behind it -- evidence from past cycles of the same type, based on events which happened at those times. This approach at least prevents speculation, wishful thinking, and the projection of the astrologer's own ideas and biases onto the interpretation. It helps keep the astrology fact-based, and thus more likely to be correct.
I think we also need to remember that predictions may not always be appropriate. For certain clients in certain situations, a prediction from an astrologer could easily become a fait accompli. When a client is in a very vulnerable or suggestible state, it may not be wise to point them in a specific direction, especially if they need to make an important decision on their own. In these cases, the astrologer can outline the various possibilities that might come to pass without specifically "predicting" any of them, and can describe the client's options according to the energies involved. In this way, the client can be forewarned of what is likely to happen under various scenarios, but is still empowered to ultimately make his or her own choices.
|