From the syndicated column “Free Will Astrology” by Rob Brezsny:  A writer – and, I believe, generally all persons – must think what whatever happens to him or her is a resource,” said author Jorge Luis Gorges.  “All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.”  I agree that this advice isn’t just for writers, but for everyone.  And it so happens that you are now in a phase when adopting such an approach would bring you abundant wisdom and provide maximum healing.  So get started, Leo:  Wander through your memories, reinterpreting the difficult experiences as rich raw material that you can use to beautify your soul and intensity your lust for life.

The paragraph above appeared in the local alternative newspaper last week.  If I focus enough to query my thoughts on astrology and why weekly I read my ‘sign’ in the column, nothing definitive comes up. What I read under “Leo” is usually interesting to consider but rarely memorable.  My opinion about astrology is one of a ‘fence straddler’ who is almost completely across the fence on the side of astrology being only good entertainment.  But that little bit of straddled fence left to clear leaves a tiny amount of room just in case the rhythmic cycles of the universe might actually have a direct effect on my destiny.   The forecast above for my “sign” felt true.  Why?  Because I wanted it to.  What I read seemed to point to this blog and me writing openly about my life experience.  Coincidence? 

From the website, “The Straight Dope” Here’s a portion of what Cecil Adams had to say in response to the question “Is astrology for real?”   The usual objections to astrology boil down to: how the hell could it possibly work? After all, the stars are unthinkably distant, and the planets, an essential part of astrology, revolve around the sun, not the earth. Besides, what’s so magical about the time of your birth–wouldn’t it make more sense if your personality were determined by the time of your conception?

Studies have shown that (1) astrologers trying to deduce someone’s personality from his chart do no better than chance; (2) astrologers studying the same chart come to opposite conclusions as often as not; (3) the birth dates of people with occupations linked to certain signs (e.g., politicians, scientists, soldiers) are in fact randomly distributed throughout the zodiac; and (4) couples with “incompatible” signs get married and divorced at the same rate as compatible couples.

The fact is people who want to believe in astrology will convince themselves it works no matter what. In one study of 22 astrology buffs, half were presented with their real horoscopes and half were presented with fake charts saying the exact opposite. Both groups said their horoscopes were 96 to 97 percent accurate.

About six months ago on “viewshound.com” John Ostrowick wrote “I must conclude that astrology is nonsense. But why should I spoil people’s fun? For a number of reasons. Firstly, there’s the self-fulfilling prophecy problem. It is possible that people consulting an astrological reading might subconsciously act it out. Someone might read, for example, that they’re going to get very bad news that day, and go about the whole day unconsciously doing stupid things because they’re so stressed about what the ‘bad thing’ might turn out to be.  

So here I am, believing just a little in what Freewill Astrology this week said about Leos.  At the same time I am almost completely convinced astrology is no more predictive than the contents of a fortune cookie.  Even a little belief in astrology makes no rational sense.  Quite likely I perceive as I do simply because of wishing it were possible to see into destiny.  

I am grateful to have stumbled across the quote from Gorges near the start of today’s blog.  It is true regardless of the context in which I found it:  All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.”  My biggest art project is “my life”.  Everything that has ever happened and yet will happen is contained in one of the shapes or colors in my imperfect masterpiece.  I am thankful for the days of my life that have been and yet will be that make it so.  

There’s much to be said for challenging fate
instead of ducking behind it. 
Diana Trilling

Links to the articles referenced above:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/665/is-astrology-for-real
http://www.viewshound.com/astrology/2011/8/is-astrology-real-what-do-the-stars-hold-for-you