What is complete BS in astrology?

[Arianna]

I’m no expert but I have been moderately into astrology for a while now. The only problem is whenever I try to learn more I’m repeatedly met with potential myths and rumors.

So? Cusps, ruling planets, eros placements, new dates, I could continue listing forever. How much of that is fact and how much is fiction? What else are some common misconceptions? I don’t know what’s reliable anymore. Thank you in advance <3

Discussion

[AlchemiA]

Astrology is a Mercurial Science/Art —

“The stars are like letters which inscribe themselves at every moment in the sky . . . . Everything in the world is full of signs. . . . All events are coordinated. . . . All things depend on each other; as has been said, ‘Everything breathes together.’” – Plotinus

As with all things Mercurial, we don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are.

[hunnibear_girl]

People’s beliefs about twin flames. Oh lord, you get some interesting stories when delving off into that mess. Don’t believe me? Check out r/twinflame

[Pingukiisu]

Obviously the overgeneralizing and the stupid memes with shit like “aug virgo vs sept virgo” holy shi I saw one today and got mad like im not a month im a person

[reihino08]

I think for me, it’s people overgeneralizing a specific sign. I can’t count how many times people started treating me poorly just because of my sun sign. It’s wild because I can completely lie about what I am and people won’t think twice about it but the minute i mention the specific sign everyone seems to hate and be annoyed with, their entire tune changes. I find it so pretentious because they found absolutely nothing wrong with me until that. Like seriously, who cares that you had one bad experience with someone in 6th grade who was a -insert whatever sign they personally hate- that it made you bash on them constantly.

[braids_and_pigtails]

Doomsday astrology is so stupid. Also, people generalizing based just on your sun sign.

[WinyanWaste]

I’d say most pop astrology is fiction- people basing everything off their sun sign, all the broad generalizations people make about certain signs. I’m still learning too so it is hard. I find listening to a few astrologers you trust vs listening to every internet astrologer you find is a good place to start.

[beeboop1270]

Astrology like any other belief has people within it who believe a whole big range of things, so I think it’s not so much “which of these things is BS” but “which of these do I personally believe.”

For example my parents are Christians but they don’t believe in hell and they’re not creationists (people that believe earth was made in 7 days by god/ that evolution is not true). I have friends who believe in astrology but not tarot cards, and also vis versa. So I think there are no hard and fast rules for what is and isn’t BS because you have to decide that for yourself, like with any other kind of belief.

[OutrageousPi]

twin and soul theories not really astrological mostly generic sprituality.

[Roda_Roda]

Let’s say, she has two planet in house 5 and the astrologer says, you will not get a third baby. So she took it seriously and got a third child.

The explanation or excuse was: H5 is in a sign with a double signature like Gemini, Cancer, Pisces.

I never dared to say such a thing.

[PsyleXxL]

This thread “five common astrology misconceptions” brings up some goods points.

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Advancedastrology/comments/mo96r1/five_common_astrology_mythsmisconceptions_debunked/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Advancedastrology/comments/mo96r1/five_common_astrology_mythsmisconceptions_debunked/)

Five common astrology myths/misconceptions debunked.
byu/unapologeticastro inAdvancedastrology

[AstrologyProf]

There are a lot of unproven theories and people pushing their personal beliefs on beginners as if they are widely accepted by the astrology community.

[_fatewind]

I have been where you are. I think one of the best things to do is to seek out the scholars within the field of astrology. Robert Hand and Chris Brennan are two excellent sources. Their work provides a historical context to astrology and will give you a sense for the tradition as a whole, which is essential in order to not get lost.

Some of these topics, such as cusps and ruling planets, may be debated for a long time. Feel free to choose a side, but both have garnered some evidence. One thing that is helpful to keep in mind is the idea of ‘degrees of evidence’ in the birthchart. (There is a technical term for this, I believe, but I can’t recall it.) If something is *certain* in the chart (e.g., a long period of extensive traveling), you will see at least three pieces of evidence in the chart pointing to that. If it’s *probably* going to occur, you’ll find two different indications in the chart for that signification. And if it’s only *possible* (but not necessarily likely), than you’ll only find one indicator. If it bothers you that certain things like ruling planets and cusps are not mutually agreed upon in the community, keeping these ideas in mind will help you to see that there are likely other indicators in the chart that you can point to for interpretation.

Sorry if this response doesn’t provide you with any more certainty. I think a degree of uncertainty is good to struggle with, even if it is unnerving at times. Sometimes it’s useful to consider belief as a tool, rather than an end.

[imnotsureiwantto]

It will really depends on *who* answers this. You’ll have people who say any house systems aside from whole signs are flawed (not true).
Those same people are also likely to bitch and moan about natural rulers or anything else in modern astrology (say the outer planets or interceptions for example). While it’s “bullshit” to some, it’s useful to the rest of us, so take those responses with a grain of salt.

Don’t let anyone shame you for the kind of astrology you practice. You’ll see a lot of people who call them selves Hellenistic astrologers (because of Chris Brennan) posting all over about how concepts and practices used in modern astrology are wrong. They’re not wrong. Modern astrology is different than Hellenistic astrology and there is not only *one* right way to practice astrology. Reddit astrology can be really toxic and off putting. People treat it like religion “you’re wrong I’m right, my way is the only right way. Your way is stupid and I don’t like it so it’s wrong and you’re not a real astrologer” (paraphrase of an actual comment I’ve seen on here).

I also take issue with people thinking something in the chart is bad or otherwise flawed. Your chart is perfect as it is. There are challenges reflected in the chart but how you handle them is up to you. I also don’t pay much mind to the words “malefic” or “benefic” when it comes to planets. It’s like looking at planetary energy in a one dimensional kind of way.

Another misconception: you chart happens to you. No, astrology doesn’t dictate your life. The stars and planets don’t *make* you any kind of way.

Beginner misconception: you don’t have to memorize placement meanings. Coming to understand the energy of each sign, planet, and house makes it much easier to be able to combine the layers of the chart and you leave behind the more rigid cookbook “definitions” of any given planet in any given sign.

[LaBrujitaNegra]

Another topic that’s completely BS is the subject of “good” and “bad” aspects. When you get deeper into astrology you’ll find that there are no good or bad aspects. Just aspects that are easier to deal with and some that are more challenging. A person can achieve amazing things with a serious square or opposition versus someone who’s living the easy boring life with all trines and sextiles. Take Elon Musk for instance. He has natal Sun square Uranus. That square literally pushed him to create innovative companies that are on the forefront of technology. It was the ever present “bad” aspect that lead him to his greatest achievements. Overall don’t believe the good/bad narrative.

[wildborbsunlimited]

People thinking they can take modern trends in society and try to attribute them to one aspect or placement. People don’t realize social trends die out over time and may not even be relevant in a few years.