Astrofacts. Page

  Sun Signs.

The earliest reference I can find to Sun Sign astrology is the book From Pioneer to Poet by Isabelle M. Pagan published way back in 1911. It is, however, not easy to pinpoint when Sun Sign astrology came into its own and began the rapid expansion to what is now a multi-million pound industry. I doubt if this was the intention of the writer, being primarily a scholarly work for dedicated astrologers - more likely she would be horrified at what is prevalent today. 

In all probability it all began quite innocently and seemed like a good idea at the time yet, like the computer program designed to come up with 'interpretations', it has got out of control allowing anyone with scant knowledge and a vivid imagination to write whatever they like and remain unchallenged. The Sun Sign cowboys can make huge amounts of money and assume celebrity status yet succeed only in mongrelising the subject, lowering the standards, and deceiving millions of people. When challenged, they run for cover or make excuses. 

Scientists - not known for their ability to be open-minded or discerning - have latched on to the ramblings of the Sun Sign cowboys taking this as the real face of astrology and, using a variety of 'tests', have succeeded in proving that astrology is utter rubbish. Now why doesn't that surprise me? It's a classic case of the 'blind leading the blind'. 

We speak of Sun Signs as if they were entities in their own right - Gemini's do this, Capricorns do that, etc. failing to realise that we are dealing with the function of a planet in a Sign rather than a living person. For example: You can say that the Sun in Cancer will equate to certain characteristics, such as being highly emotional, imaginative, and domesticated. What you can't say is that a Cancer person does these things. There is no such thing as a Cancer person - or indeed any other Sun Sign person. But, hallowed by time, the misconception persists and has now become part of the Sun-Sign cowboys jargon. 

Now while it is true that the Sun in a particular Sign will give positive indications as to the Solar character traits of a person, it does not show how someone will manage their finances, run their home, or relate closely to others. These are just the fantasies of the Sun Sign cowboys. The only way you can know these things is to have a skilled astrologer examine your own chart. 

The horoscopes, in particular the daily horoscopes given in magazines and newspapers, are also largely nonsense. They depend on using the transits of the quicker moving planets, such as the Moon, Mercury, or Venus, whose effects are so slight as to be almost imperceptible, yet day after day they are churned out for consumption by the gullible. Some are so vague they could apply to anyone on any day you care to choose. 

I am not saying that Sun Sign astrology should be ignored, only that things need to be kept in perspective and preferably out of the hands of the Sun Sign Cowboys. By keeping the interpretations with bounds and using special techniques for future trends they can be of use in a general sense and be useful in stimulating people's interest. As things stand at the moment, the whole thing is now bordering on the farcical, and as long as the public is prepared to believe whatever goes into print the situation is unlikely to improve. 

Copyright ©  2003 First Stop Astrology.com. All rights reserved.