The desire for greater understanding and awareness of how
human beings fit into the scheme of things within our star (Solar)
system ensures Astrology’s survival in the world. Because change
and upheaval continue to disrupt our culture due to natural disasters,
wars, social/political revolution, mental and physical illness, nervous
disorders and accidents. Astrology is able to provide us with a
strong base of pattern, rhythm and order that is noticeably missing
these days. One reason behind the existence of this strong base
involves the essentially constant variety of human nature throughout
written history. Probably, in no previous age, has such a strong base
been more important and so badly needed.
Contrary to public perception modern astrologers are wary of
predicting events. They believe that Astrology’s greatest practical
value lies in the diagnosis of a person’s character coupled with the
assessment of his/her potential. Having assembled a person’s
characteristics we can pick out his/her strengths and weaknesses and
so try to decide what suits him/her best. Armed with the unbiased
insight into his/her qualities of disposition and temperament that
they find themselves endowed with, the belief is that they can then
lead better, happier, more fulfilled and purposeful lives through this
enhanced understanding of themselves.
One great difficulty for Astrology is specifying interpretations
accurately especially when compared with that of specifying the
contents of natal charts. The accuracy of character interpretations,
being abstract, is much broader but could become improved with
more experience of working with combined natal charts coupled with
greater confidence in their correctness. Hone and Mayo
recommended the use of keywords that tended to introduce an
astrologer’s subjectivity at an early stage and placed significant
emphasis on preparation for interpretation. All this involved
considerable time and effort, producing a stilted character assessment
that then required converting into acceptable English.
A possible alternative method uses interpretations of indicators
published by eminent astrologers based on their long, hard work,
built-up experience and special aptitude, together with logical
deduction and good practice. Blending these interpretations into an
acceptable result also takes time and effort and produces a somewhat
stilted result but it has the virtues of being more objective and more
impartial. On balance, we shall use this method.