Ron's Jealousy and Astrology

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 21300

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., celeste_827 at y... wrote:
> If I remember correctly, it was in GoF that Ron and Harry were 
making 
> up the false predictions for Divination, correct? Some people think 
> that JKR doesn't have a high opinion of astrology, but she may have 
> some experience in it.
> 
> She mentions that Ron suggest that Harry write, "Why don't you get 
> stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend?" She then 
> proceeds to make Harry say, "Yeah, good idea... because... Venus is 
in 
> the twelfth house." Or something to that effect.
> 
> I noticed that the twelfth house on an astrological chart is 
Pisces, 
> which is Ron's astrological sign. Venus is an astrological symbol 
that 
> represents jealousy and envy. Getting stabbed in the back by a 
friend 
> because Venus(jealousy) is in the twelfth house(Pisces, Ron's sign)
> 
> The twelfth house also deals with the unconscious- dreams, hidden 
> problems, and secret enemies. Color that with Venus's jealousy and 
you 
> get the hidden problem of Ron's jealousy against Harry, which could 
> lead to a betrayal, a "stabbing in the back".
> 
> Is JKR trying to say something? I'm no expert in the field of 
> astrology, this is based off what I can understand of this 
astrology 
> book, but it looks suspicious nonetheless. Anybody have any opinion?

I can't confirm nor answer any of the astrology facts you brought up, 
but I think the devaluation of divination in the books is a "red 
herring".

In PS/SS, the "divination is a faulty system" is set up. Harry tells 
Hermione of the Centaur's prophecies. She replies that Professor 
McGonagall says divination is inaccurate and Harry shouldn't take it 
seriously. However, the Centaur's aren't completely wrong are they? 
Jump tp PoA, and we're introduced to Trelawney and more "divination 
is a faulty system". But Trelawney was correct about Voldemort 
rising, she's half-right about Parvati's "beware of a red-haired man" 
and (imo) she was right about Hermione leaving the class. 

I have a feeling that the divination thing is a cautionary tale about 
making hasty decisions without examining it objectively.

Milz