As if astrology itself weren't tough enough, scientists, religious fundamentalists, and other loved ones line up to take their shots.

This statement certainly jump-starts a conversation, whether or not that's what you had in mind.  Most people have a dim notion of what astrology is and what they think about it, and the only thing more disturbing than those who hate it, is those who unquestioningly embrace the icky, popularized brain drain they think is astrology.  In fact, my notion of hell is being a guest at an eternal cocktail party of southern Baptists, biochemists, and fans of Cosmopolitan's Bedside Astrologer.  Satan himself would no doubt greet me with a toothy leer and a cheeky, "So tell me, how does Capricorn get along with Libra?"  Just swell, Beelzebub.  Now pass me that champagne cocktail.

Recently I received an e-mail from a vivacious, intelligent, and well educated friend who has fallen in love with astrology and who, in her enthusiasm, naively shared her excitement about the subject with a couple of loved ones.  She was bewildered and amazed by their uncompromisingly venomous responses to just the word astrology.  As an 11 year veteran of the astrology wars, I wasn't surprised in the least.

She wondered how I, a notorious placater, coped with such unpleasant confrontations with astrology's detractors.  Here, with slight revisions, was my response to her:

"Astrology has a stupid, ditzy reputation and the fault for that lies squarely with astrologers.  Most people have been exposed only to lowest common denominator astrology, most of which is appalling, and therefore they can't be blamed for looking down their noses at it.  Then there are those who feel astrology is the devil's handiwork; this can be blamed on organized religion, who saw astrology as taking power away-- not from God (as many of them claim), but from them, and therefore banned it outright.

There is a basic misunderstanding about astrology: that it serves to predict the future.  I'm not saying nobody uses it that way; in fact, a great many do.  I'm just saying it's a limiting, impractical way to apply astrology to individuals, one that doesn't work reliably for one very good reason: human beings have free will.  We have brains that work and make decisions.  So instead of celebrating astrology's poetic and imaginative possibilities--its ability to introduce meaningful dialogue based on the "rough draft" of the birth chart--many insecure and well-meaning astrologers attempt to "prove" astrology's validity (to a scientific community which will never, ever acknowledge astrology's right to exist) by making specific forecasts which prove inaccurate about 50% of the time, thus making astrology look stupid all over again.

So people can't really be blamed for their mistrust and dislike of astrology, whatever their reasons.  But it is very frustrating for those of us who sense astrology's eloquence, to be thwarted in our attempts to discuss it with most everyone else.

As for confrontations...well, I used to fight that good fight on astrology's behalf.  Now, I am very careful about the answer I give when I'm asked, "And what do you do?"  I gauge my audience carefully.  I feel that if people have venomous feelings about astrology, I can serve astrology best by letting them get to know me without astro-prejudice, as a normal, sensible, down to earth kind of gal; then if it "leaks out" that I have an interest in astrology, they are more likely to give astrology a closer look. If I do it the other way around, they can dismiss both me and astrology out of hand. 

Steven Forrest has published a slim paperback called "The Night Speaks" which you might want to check out.  He addresses this very subject with characteristic élan in the forward, and the rest of the book serves as a kind of defense of astrology.  Good reading."

I'm sure morticians, dentists, massage therapists, and IRS agents would know exactly what I'm talking about.
 

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