Is Astrology Fatalistic?

The question of fate versus freewill has been explored by greater minds that mine. For eons it’s been food for philosophers along with questions like “who am I?” and “why am I here?”

Whatever answers have been offered, what is accepted as true depends on the point of view of the individual reading it. It is with respect for the decisions you’ve reached and appreciation for answers found as a result of your life experiences that I offer you my perspective.

This topic is particularly important to me because Astrology is often viewed as fatalistic. In this vein, Astrology, if it works or makes sense, is thought of as revealing how fate is working your life.

For those who feel a victim of fate, that may be okay. Going to an Astrologer helps confirm your dread or illumine your hopes. For those who today are increasingly self-aware and believe that they create their own reality, going to an Astrologer may feel like abdicating their responsibility for creating their reality in each moment.

Incidentally, all astrologers do not agree on this issue either. I for one do not believe we are “victims” of our fate, nor do I feel we are completely free to create our lives either.

For example, who by willing it can change the color of your eyes or the size of your shoes? There are clearly some things about us that were fated before we were born. On the other hand, the career path we chose, although influenced by others (parents or peers), was an act of freewill. The choice was clearly ours of what course of study to follow, what school to attend or what job offer to accept.

I make sense of the interface between fate and freewill by first recognizing there isn’t a black and white answer. At times our lives feel fated -- out of our own hands and perhaps guided by a greater force or wisdom -- and other times we create the circumstances of our lives through an act of freewill.

The balancing act of fate and freewill, in my view, is determined by our level of consciousness and self- awareness. For example, I believe I was fated to become an Astrologer, but the timing and circumstances that led to this were determined by my conscious choice to step into that role - a choice that took a long time coming (but that’s another story).

For many years, I worked a variety of different jobs in a corporate setting, while my fascination with astrology grew and grew until I finally began doing consultations as a part-time business. There were many times when I might have begun a full-time practice, but I was not consciously ready to step into the identity of being an “Astrologer.” Alas, the discomfort of not doing what my heart’s calling caused me to consider another decision. Result: I left the corporate world and launched my new identity as an Astrologer.

Was I fated to be an Astrologer? I think so. However, I know it was my choice, my freewill that moved me to step powerfully into a full-time practice. I followed what was in my heart all along. Can you think of a time when you resisted an opportunity for change, but later made a choice that had been there all along? I see this as the intersection of fate and freewill or where consciousness made the difference.

Do I consider Astrology is fatalistic? I believe every one of us have a purpose to fulfill. That purpose is a part of your very essence and may have many possible ways or scenarios for it to be expressed. Life offers many options to do this and our path of greatest joy comes from following the calling of our purpose.

Through Astrology, you can gain a clearer understanding of your purpose. Is your purpose fated? I think so. BUT, how you find your purpose, what you do with that awareness, and how you express your purpose are a result of the exercise of your freewill and the power of choice.

As an Astrologer, I can not only help illumine your purpose but assist with an understanding of right timing and offer options for the exercise of your freewill. You might say I can help reveal the purpose of your life (fate) while offering options and right timing for making choices (freewill). All the while, the aim is new consciousness so that you can live the most fulfilling and meaningful life possible.

As always, comments are welcome at SpiritinMatters@aol.com.