Hasn't anyone noticed how inconsistent the answers in here are? (what are the facts)?

i love astrology but surely i'm not the only one who's noticed how vastly the answers differentiate. most of them come off across as opinion and obviously opinions are going to differ from each other, but if i wanted to read opinions i would go on a blog site or something. i want knowledge on astrology.

this being said, what astrological facts do you have for me? (in your own words.) explain the logic behind a fact of yours.

(i'm not trying to come off as stand offish or negative in any way but i have a knack for doing so, so try not to answer defensively as opposed to informatively please)

2011-09-22T18:18:55Z

So esther, basically what you're getting at is that all of astrology is open to interpretation and is entirely dependent on how an astrologer interprets a birth chart and how the individual receives said interpretation. This explains why everything in this section is persistently inconsistent, but at the same time it supports the notion that astrology is bs. (I will say however that your desire to understand the basics is important; they are the fundamentals that astrology is built upon and unfortunately most people overlook them. I would love it if you shared what you have learned about the basics and explain why they are what they are. An answer such as such would be an answer that I was looking for when I asked for astrological facts, in other words, facts about astrology.)

Chainlightning: I want nothing other than the truth. Although sciences can reveal the tangible world to its very atomic composition (and then some), science has yet to reveal the realities (truths) of the min

2011-09-22T18:20:02Z

science has yet to reveal the realities (truths) of the mind.

Psychopath: I'm not looking for answers to enlighten me on how the complexities of astrology work. In fact, I'm asking just the opposite. All I want are the basic facts within astrology that everyone in the section can agree on, and obviously so far we haven't been doing so well. (Perhaps partially due to the fact no one has really answered my question yet.)

(btw i'm not the one td'ing, nor am i the one tu'ing)

2011-09-22T18:52:17Z

Everyone seems to be dwelling on the fact that the answers in here are indeed inconsistent, but that was not the main point of this question because that has already been clarified. What I'm asking for are facts about astrology that even the astrology novices ought to know and that professional astrologers could swear by. Just what are these facts that anyone studying astrology should know? And why are these facts held primarily? (In other words, what is the logic behind these facts?)

Antares & Intensified Moon: I definitely agree, and of course I would not expect any serious reliable information, especially on astrology, from the internet. Except what makes the horoscopes section different is that it should be based on science, and in that aspect it makes it more similar to the Psychology section than the Philosophy section. The Top Contributors in the math sections always have the same answers. I'm not saying that every answer can only be the same, but rather that the multitude

2011-09-22T18:53:20Z

the multitude of answers should be built off of certain premises that are always undoubtedly true in astrology. What are these premises that we can all agree on to be true (and why should we believe these as fundamental truths) is what I'm asking for.

2011-09-22T19:19:42Z

Psychopath: I'm going to have to be brief because of how annoyingly long my additional details already are. But everyone can agree that the day is bright and the night is dark. That is what I'm asking for, what are the basics in astrology that are always, without doubt, true in astrology? That is how everyone would be able to come to agree on something, through the simplicity. To say that astrology is an interpretive pseudoscience is to say that astrology is based on mere interpretation of planetary positions in the sky. (This would mean that astrology has no objective/substantial basis and is thus not scientific and nothing more than guesses, whether educated or not)

2011-09-23T10:45:39Z

Antares: I realize that the question in bold is what people answer, but that is not the only thing in bold. But in retrospect, asking "what are the facts?" is a little vague; I meant what are the facts in astrology that people can all agree on. I'll admit that I screwed that part up. But my point is that this was a two-part question. I'd already clarified that I'm surely not the only one who had noticed the inconsistency among answers, meaning that I already know that the regulars in here must have noticed it as well. I was expecting answers to merely agree with the fact that the answers are inconsistent, I never expected anyone to explain WHY they were inconsistent. I expected people to put their own input on the matter and then move on to my other question, what are the astrological facts. That is why I said I thought people were dwelling on the inconsistency.
Also, it was my understanding that astrology was actually a science (even if considered just a pseudoscience by many)

2011-09-23T10:46:16Z

and should thus be done scientifically. I'm not asking for evidence that proves astrology to be real, what I am asking for are the facts about astrology that generally everyone can agree on. At last there would be a consensus in here (other than the fact that astrology is open to personal interpretation apparently). I'm not asking for what Mars square Saturn in Libra in the 12th house means, I'm asking why would it mean what it means, assuming there's a difference between Planet X squaring Saturn or Mars squaring Planet Y. (And if not, I would want to know why not.)

Intensified Moon: No, I never asked for astrology to be proven at all. That would be ridiculous of me. I'm asking for the fundamentals upon which astrology is built that generally everyone can agree on. Psychology is not a provable science but it still has facts upon which it is built. That is why I related astrology to Psychology more than I related it to Philosophy. What I was trying to get at is, what are these grounds

2011-09-23T10:47:43Z

that makes sense of astrology.

esther: thank you for your kindness and you seem to be understanding my question moreso than anyone else. i already have an idea about the 12 houses, signs and planets, aspects, etc. the purpose of this question was to interrogate everyone else on their ideas of what they were and see how consistent they were with each other. i asked you specifically to share what you had learned in an attempt to compare it to other answerers, i've already visited astro.com and am well aware of what they have to say. (not that it would have mattered anyways. but regardless, thanks for your answer, i would have picked you as best had Antares not edited their answer)

Antares2011-09-22T18:29:48Z

Favorite Answer

The answers are inconsistent because the level of skill and experience wanders all over the lot. Furthermore, astrology is not monolithic. There are more than a few areas of debate, which is true in all disciplines.It would not surprise me terribly to find out that the answers on other sections of YA are just as inconsistent. The idea that YA Horoscopes is some kind of Mecca for serious astrology is as laughable as Chain Lightning's objections.

Hey Chain here's a quote to ponder if you can understand it. It concerns religion and science but can be applied equally to astrology and science.

" ... [what] we called "enlightenment", referring to the move to an attitude based on strictly rationalistic conception of reality, has its own absolute value of rational ("scientific") knowledge. When Science becomes the dominant element in a view of the world (and this is just what we mean by "enlightenment" here), this absolute value becomes exclusive; it develops into the theory that scientific knowledge is the only valid knowledge and becomes a denial of the absolute value of religion, which is in itself on a different level of reality. ... It [science] moves within the limits of certain categories, within which it is strictly valid, but to maintain that it is only within these categories that man can know anything at all is an unfounded presupposition which in any case is shown by experience to be false. " -Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger aka Pope Benedict XVI.
********************
EDIT:"Everyone seems to be dwelling on the fact that the answers in here are indeed inconsistent, but that was not the main point of this question because that has already been clarified. "

That is the first thing you wrote and it is in big bold letters so that is what people are attracted to. Your question is becoming less clear the more you provide details. It seems that you have a particular idea about what you think astrology is and what it should be and seem to be assuming what is in your head is what should be in everyone else's. Then you dismiss the obvious response that there is a diversity of answers because of the diversity experience and expertise. Finally you compare it to the math section and look for the same kinds of cold hard facts found there. This isn't math. It isn't psychology either and you'll find a diversity of opinion among answers about that field similar to what you might find here.

"Except what makes the horoscopes section different is that it should be based on science"

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it, but astrology is not an applied science so why should everyone's answers be based on something that it isn't?

I think what you're looking for is a consensus that does not exist because of the nature of the subject, e.g. Saturn square Mars means this and therefore everyone who asks a question about Saturn square Mars should get pretty much the same answers. This isn't true for a variety of reasons. Saturn can square Mars from one of 12 signs and one of 12 houses. That introduces a variable that throws any "science" out the window. Saturn in the first square in Libra square Mars in the 4th in Capricorn is very different that it would be if Mars squared Saturn from the 10th in Cancer. Or Saturn in Cancer in the second is different than Mars in the 5th in Libra not to mention what happens if we reverse the signs of Saturn and Mars, and of course none of this takes into consideration the native's temperament (which should be worked out first). A choleric will react to those aspects differently than a phlegmatic would. And we haven't mentioned the orbs involved and other aspects to Saturn and Mars that may be in the chart. With all these variables I think it is impossible to specifically answer the question: what does Saturn Square Mars mean, much less have everyone be on the same page. And I haven't touched on the traditional understanding vs modern understanding.

This is why I never answer those questions. Those that do are giving what we call "cookbook" answers and while they are a step up from Sun sign astrology, they are a long way from the real deal. Astrology is not a science; there is no reason to believe it has to be a science (read the Pope Benedict quote) or behave like one. Science is science. It is not the final arbiter of all truth. If this isn't what you're looking for, I'd re-write the question emphasizing what you want in the beginning not in the middle.

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esther2011-09-22T17:57:47Z

For me, astrology is part-science and part-intuitive art. The twelve signs, their related houses, and their ruling planets are twelve archetypes, and the combinations between them are sort of up for grabs for each astrologer to interpret. For example, an astrologer might have to explain what it means when Mars--fiery, ego drive--is in the 10th house, the place of career. The way this is expressed to you will vary depending on the intuition of the astrologer, and the way you understand it will be interpreted through your life experience. Some astrologers speak to me, some don't. Personally, I like to learn the basics associated with each planet and house so I can derive my own conclusions.

In response to your reply: "basically what you're getting at is that all of astrology is open to interpretation and is entirely dependent on how an astrologer interprets a birth chart and how the individual receives said interpretation."
No, that's not what I said. I am saying that there are fixed qualities of each planet, house and sign, and in my personal view, the way the astrologer puts these together requires a high degree of intuition.

"I would love it if you shared what you have learned about the basics and explain why they are what they are."
Start out by reading up online on the qualities of the 12 signs, 12 houses and planets, and then pull up a chart of your own on astro.com and see what speaks to you! Good luck on your journey!

31

Anonymous2011-09-22T18:40:08Z

You are not going to get the same information from many sources.
Partly because there are different knowledge levels here.
Partly because everyone understands astrology through the filter of their own perceptions.
And partly because, when it comes to human nature, nothing is cut and dried.

Ask me one simple question about one planet in one sign: one need, expressed in a particular style. And I could talk for a long time about all the possible variations of how that need could be expressed in a style.
this is why no serious astrologer tries to give a reading through a written format .. you need to talk with the client, enough to weed out all the variations that don't apply, so you can get to the heart of the matter.

31

Intensified Moon2011-09-22T18:33:36Z

* I think you are getting differing answers with differing levels of accuracy because there are no requirements here as to one's qualifications or ability. Someone with reading the web as experience and someone with 30 years of experience reading charts are published equally. There are basic meanings to each planet, house, aspect, but if the reader has not read the literature then they will not necessarily come up with the same interpretation. No one on Yahoo asks for qualifications or background so the questioner must be the one to decide who to listen to. Unfortunately, I have seen certain answers chosen as best when they have no relationship to the correct one. ***EDIT*** So you want astrology to be provable by the scientific method? In that case it needs to be classified with Psychology and Psychiatry as not provable because of the variability of human nature. Astrology deals with the human psyche in all of its variety. The same aspect can mean different things to different people depending on their level of experience and their level of soul evolution. This has to be judged and taken into consideration. So astrology is not calculus and if that is your question, the answer is not found in this section.

20

Anonymous2011-09-22T20:07:29Z

Answers can differ depending on the person asking the question and their age. It may be inconsistent depending on who is doing the reading. You can't promise a raise or a promotion / job advancement to a 7 year old. Nor can you promise a house purchase to a homeless. An answer can vary but not if you take into account the facts before doing a reading. Its like promising a dying person that he or she will run a marathon or win at the olympics.

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