What is the future of online astrology?

    I have come to the end of my Fate and Destiny blog. So, what is the future of online astrology and horoscopes? Well, I believe that horoscopes will continue to be published on websites and blogs across the world. Even though I have suggested that astrology and horoscopes are not necessarily encouraged within Christianity and Islam; I believe that people are still interested in ways of predicting their future online. This is clear within the number of videos, articles, games and predictions online. I suggest that online astrology and horoscopes will continue to grow.

    Some people read their horoscopes for entertainment reasons. This is evident within online games or predict the future tests, which I discussed within my ‘Ways of Predicting the Future Online’ post. However, many people read horoscopes or take online tests because they believe they are accurate and reveal elements of their future, for example, astrologers claim to predict future careers, relationships and finances. I believe that as long as people do not take online horoscopes too seriously - so they begin to live their lives based on an online horoscope or astrology prediction - ways of predicting the future online can be beneficial. Horoscopes and astrology readings may encourage people to feel more positive and optimistic about the future. If online predictions encourage people to cope during difficult times in their life then what’s wrong with that?

Islam and Astrology

    Within this post I will discuss the reasons why astrology is largely rejected within Islam.

    Even though astrology was often practiced within early Islamic societies, according to David Cook, Muslim scholars began to doubt the religious acceptability of astrology during the tenth century (p. 76-77). Occasionally, astrologers made incorrect predictions, for example, the prediction of a deluge of fire and water which the Ghaznavid historian al-‘Utbi predicted on August 17, 1186. Cook suggests that this prediction was recorded all over the Muslim world, as well as in Europe, and when the prediction did not occur it caused a large number of treatises attacking astrology. Therefore, due to ridicule by religious leaders, astrology was largely rejected within Islam - other than within some Sufi groups, particularly those based on the thought of Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-‘Arabi.

    One of the reasons why horoscopes and astrology are largely unpopular within Islam is because within the Qur’an it suggests that predicting the future is forbidden: 

    ‘Prohibited to you... that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me.’ (Qur'an 5:3)

    It is important to note that according to divining arrows were kept at the Ka’bah to make supernatural inquiries about courses of action. Therefore, they were used to make predictions about future events. It can also be suggested that those who claim to ‘see into the future’ are claiming that they have knowledge of the unseen. The Qur’an teaches that ‘None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah…’ (Qur'an 27:65)  Abdurrahman suggests that ‘… anyone who believes that he possesses such knowledge is certainly claiming the acquisition of a Divine attribute that Allah (alone) possesses.’ Within Islam only Allah has knowledge of the unseen, consequently, astrology is largely rejected by Muslims today.

Part Two: Christianity and Predestination

     Within my last post I began to discuss Christian views regarding astrology, with reference to the Bible and my findings from Glendinning and Bruce. However, within this post I will discuss astrology and the Christian understanding of predestination

    John Dool suggests that many Christians are uncomfortable with the theory of predestination: ‘Ultimate destiny of the human person is foreordained… [therefore] it seems to call into question both human freedom and the justice of God.’ Christians may be uncomfortable with the notion of predestination because if our lives are predetermined why does God allow us to suffer? If astrology implies that our future is already determined then we have no freewill.

    In my opinion, this is one of the problems with astrology and horoscopes. If my 2012 astrological prediction said that I was destined to start a new and highly paid job, it would not matter how many qualifications I’d gained or how much experience I had had completed, because it is destined. I believe that horoscopes may give people false hope. There is also a danger when people start living their lives based on what they’ve read in a magazine or on an Internet site. Horoscopes may give people false hope that something may happen in their life when in fact, the horoscope is a general prediction which can apply to virtually anyone.

Part One: Christianity and Astrology

                                                                                      

    Many Christians reject astrology – which began as a form of fortune telling - because particular verses within the Bible suggest that it is from the occult. Within 2 Kings 21:6 for example, practices associated with divination are said to anger God: ‘He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.’ Also, within Isaiah 47:13 the predictions of astrologers are not to be believed. 

    Within their study (which I discussed in my last post) Glendinning and Bruce found that committed weekly Church-goers largely rejected alternative spirituality such as horoscopes, fortune telling, tarot cards and astrology. Participants who attended Church regularly were not likely to use divination by means of horoscopes or astrology or view them as important because these practices could be seen as irreligious or heretical. Therefore, those who have ‘increased sympathy’ for alternative spirituality are less likely to be regular Church-goers.

    It is also evident within Christian websites online what many Christians are against astrology and divination. Some interesting examples are christiananswers.net and catholic.com, which provide information on why Christians should not practice or use astrology. Similarly, there is a Facebook group entitled 'Christians Coming Against Astrology, Horoscopes, or any Spirit of Divination' where people can discuss the reasons why Christians should not practice astrology. There are also posts online from people who are concerned that astrology or other ways of predicting the future is against their religion, for example, 'Is reading horoscopes against the Catholic religion?' 

    It is clear that within Christianity the negativity towards astrology – and possibly horoscopes – has originated from the Biblical verses such as those above; but why is this? Why do many Christians today reject astrological/horoscope predictions?

Do people read horoscopes to find meaning within their lives?

    Within the article ‘New Ways of Believing or Belonging: Is Religion Giving Way to Spirituality’, Tony Glendinning and Steve Bruce conducted a study in which they explored the relationship between alternative spirituality and institutional religion in Britain.

    
    For part of their research they asked participants whether they consulted horoscopes, and if so how often; they also asked whether they had tried fortune telling, tarot or astrology; and complementary or alternative medicine, herbal remedies, homeopathy or aromatherapy and practices such as yoga or meditation. Participants were then asked whether they found these things very important, quite important, not very important, or not at all important. 

   
    They found that 64% of participants had consulted horoscopes in newspapers or magazines and 5% of these had found horoscopes in the media very important in their lives. In addition, 30% said they had tried fortune telling, tarot or astrology and 6% per cent of these had found them very important. Also, 44% said they had taken part in alternative/complementary medicine, herbal remedies, homeopathy, aromatherapy and 20% found them important.

    The findings demonstrate that a large number of participants read horoscopes and have tried other ways of predicting the future such as astrology or tarot reading. Even though only a small amount of these participants found them very important within their lives, the findings do demonstrate that not everyone reads horoscopes purely for entertainment. The findings also found that women were more likely to read horoscopes than men and that younger and less educated women are more likely to find horoscopes, astrology, fortune-telling and tarot more important in their lives, than better educated women who are more likely to take part in holistic practices.

    I am unsure why more educated women take part in holistic practices compared to less educated women. Maybe better educated women have more of an opportunity to take part and learn more about holistic practices such as yoga or aromatherapy? However, I suggest that young women may be more interested in horoscopes compared to older women because young women are more uncertain about different areas of their lives, which many older women have already gone through. 

    I agree with Glendinning and Bruce that the findings also reinforce the difference between alternative practices such as yoga, meditation and aromatherapy compared to horoscopes. It is clear that alternative practices are concerned with personal well-being, healing and working on ‘improving’ the self; whereas horoscopes and astrology are more about divination and the desire to know about and reveal the future. Consequently, ways of predicting the future allow people to find meaning within their lives because it gives them the opportunity to understand more about their future, unlike alternative practices such as yoga or meditation. However, I also agree with Gilbert that some horoscopes also offer advice on how we can become happier or how our life can be improved. As Gilbert says: ‘The horoscope interpreted by a skilled astrologer not only provides a synthetic picture of the person’s hereditary inclinations, but points to latent potentials, and suggests directions of needed growth. It gives a symbolic map of the process of self-realisation.’ However, if people read horoscopes to find meaning within their lives what are they lacking? Also, what does this say about their views regarding the future?

Do people really take horoscopes seriously?

   I decided to search for horoscope predictions on YouTube the other day to explore how popular horoscopes were online. I came across hundreds of videos by the UK astrologer Diana Garland whose videos have been viewed by 1,175,783 people in total. My 2011 horoscope prediction alone had 10,620 views and her 2012 predictions have already been viewed by thousands of people. 

    Although many people watch horoscope videos purely for entertainment, as I began to watch more of them I realised that a large number of people take them seriously. By looking at some of the comments on certain videos it is clear that online horoscopes have become a way of life for many people. On the Taurus 2011 horoscope for example, the following comments demonstrate how serious some people take their horoscope predictions:

‘Dear Diana, I can’t thank you enough, I had kind of shaky feeling all over my body when I listened your Taurus horoscope 2011. Maybe because at least 90% what you said I could apply to my next year plans. I feel reenergised and wish you all the best.’

‘Diana, as usual you are spot on. I have heard the same reading from others. I have much to look forward to spiritually and physically, and yes, I have begun a learning curve that I expect to be very rewarding.’

    It is clear from the video comments above that horoscope predictions can make people feel more positive about their future, particularly those people who are going through a difficult time. Horoscopes may encourage people to feel more positive and optimistic about the future and what’s wrong with that?

‘What kind of female are you?’

 'Are you intimidating?' 'Are you destined to succeed?' These are just some online tests I discovered in Cosmopolitan magazine online. I established in my last post that there are many ‘predict the future’ quizzes and games which are largely aimed at children. However, I also discovered that within popular women’s magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Elle and OK there are many horoscopes and tests which claim to help women understand their fate and destiny. I have found that these online magazines provide daily horoscopes, celebrity astrology, information on star signs and tests which claim to help women discover their future.

    Due to the number of magazines which provide this information and advice online, it is clear that women are genuinely interested in the topic of fate and destiny – but why is this? I mentioned in my previous post that ‘predict the future’ tests may reassure children that their future goals and ambitions can become a reality. Is this the same for adults?

    Within Cosmopolitan magazine, there are many online tests which aim to help women find out more about themselves and their future. Even though these tests are created to entertain readers, they also provide detailed information and advice from life coaches and career experts. This suggests that the tests are to be taken seriously and their aim is to give women advice in different areas of their lives.

    These tests may influence women’s decisions and inspire them to achieve certain goals. They may give women the confidence to make changes in their lives. Therefore, online tests and horoscopes, may also reassure adults that their long term goals and aspirations can become a reality. Cosmopolitan online also advertises other websites such as Nirvana Light which provides psychic readings that can apparently guide us in all areas of life. This demonstrates how online magazines encourage women to explore these issues on other fate and destiny websites.  

    There are also specific magazines – which are also available online – such Take a Break’s Fate and Fortune and Spirit and Destiny magazine which  focus entirely on the topic of fate and destiny. The internet is an easy and accessible way for women to read their horoscopes and gain specific information about their future from astrologers and experts. Women are clearly interested in astrology, horoscopes and ways of understanding our fate and destiny, but what does this say about religion in Britain today? Do people believe our lives are already planned out? Do people read horoscopes to find meaning within their lives?