Silly astrologers (was Re: [HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Winter Solstsice)

[Lee Kaiwen]

Carol blessed us with this gem On 26/02/2008 11:13:

> Because the theory that seasons BEGIN on the Solstice or Equinox is
> a big modern hoax. If the season is defined by length of day,

[Sorry, the ">"s were a bit scrambled so I'm not sure who the above 
quote belongs to.]

I think we're simply talking about different definitions, here. Of 
course, any amateur astronomer can tell you about solstices, equinoxes, 
polar tilts, and so forth -- and the astronomer that was linked to is 
certainly correct, astronomically speaking -- but all that just brushes 
right over the heads of your average layman, for whom it's all 
pragmatically useless. How many of us notice, in a way that impacts our 
lives, that December 15 had less daylight than December 1? Now, how many 
of us noticed that December 15 was colder?

"Don't forget to take an extra jacket, dear. There's 11 and a half fewer 
minutes of daylight now."

Now, I *am* an amateur astronomer, and this kind of thing fascinates me; 
I've read entire books on the subject. But even at that, I have to admit 
it has little practical value. I plan my wardrobe, after all, with a 
thermometer, not a stopwatch. And most days I have no idea what time the 
sun rises. Who cares? I'm still sleeping.

And the fact is, where I grew up, wintered started in early November, 
and stretched straight on through mid-April. Now I live in a subtropical 
clime, where spring is beginning right about the time my hometown is 
nestled under a deep blanket of snow and some of the coldest 
temperatures of the year.

Now if you're simply arguing for symmetry, as that astronomer was, there 
is certainly merit to the argument. There's just very little *value* in it.

To drag this subject back to its roots, of greater interest to the 
amateur astronomer in me is how astrologers could get such astronomical 
basics as the position of the sun so grossly wrong. If I wanted to read 
my astrological forecast (which I don't, silly thing that it is) I have 
to look under Sagittarius. Yet, on the day I was born (Dec. 2nd), I 
looked up at the sky and saw the sun firmly ensconced in Ophiucus -- one 
full constellation to the right -- where it was to remain for another 
two and a half weeks before finally entering Sagittarius just two days 
before astrologers claim it was scheduled to leave.

Now, if astrologers believe the positions of the stars control our 
destinies, don't you think it'd behoove them to, like, you know, walk 
outside and *look* at them?

Things that make you go hmmm....

CJ, Ophiucan and proud of it.