The Art of Self-Deception

Astrological practice, particularly in its interpretive aspects, is inherently subjective and can be prone to self-deception or projection, due to:

1. Lack of Empirical Framework: Unlike sciences with proven, repeatable principles, astrology operates within a symbolic and interpretive framework. This means that interpretations are often influenced by the astrologer’s personal beliefs, experiences, and biases, making it easy to project their own mindset onto the chart.
2. Symbolic Ambiguity: Astrological symbols (e.g., planets, signs, houses) are rich with meaning and open to multiple interpretations. For example, Mars in a chart could signify assertiveness, anger, or passion, depending on the context. This ambiguity allows for a wide range of interpretations, which can unconsciously reflect the astrologer’s own worldview or emotional state.
3. Confirmation Bias: Astrologers, like anyone else, are susceptible to confirmation bias—the tendency to notice and emphasize information that supports their preexisting beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence. This can lead to interpretations that feel “true” but are actually shaped by the astrologer’s expectations.
4. Projection of Personal Archetypes: Astrological symbols often align with universal archetypes (e.g., Venus as love, Saturn as discipline). An astrologer might unconsciously project their personal relationship with these archetypes onto the chart, interpreting it through their own lens rather than the querent’s unique experience.
5. The Forer (or Barnum) Effect: This psychological phenomenon occurs when people find vague, general statements personally meaningful. Astrological interpretations can sometimes fall into this trap, where the astrologer or client sees themselves in the reading because the language is broad enough to apply to many situations.
6. Emotional Involvement: Especially in personal readings, astrologers may empathize deeply with the client or their own chart, which can cloud objectivity. This emotional involvement can lead to interpretations that are more reflective of the astrologer’s feelings than the chart itself.

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A Case Study: Sun in Libra and Ascendant in Leo

In classical astrology, a person’s tendencies, including susceptibility to conspiracy theories, are often interpreted through the interplay of planetary placements, signs, and aspects. If someone has strong Libra and Leo energies, these energies might contribute to such tendencies, thus:

1. Libra’s Desire for Balance and Justice: Libra, ruled by Venus, is deeply concerned with fairness, harmony, and justice. This sign often seeks to understand the “bigger picture” and may become suspicious of systems or structures that appear unjust or imbalanced. If Libra energy is prominent, the individual might be drawn to conspiracy theories as a way to explain perceived inequities or hidden agendas in the world.
2. Leo’s Need for Recognition and Drama: Leo, ruled by the Sun, thrives on self-expression, creativity, and being at the center of attention. This energy can make someone more inclined to embrace dramatic or sensational narratives, such as conspiracy theories, which often provide a sense of intrigue and importance. Leo’s natural charisma might also lead them to share or champion these ideas passionately.
3. Combination of Idealism and Ego: The blend of Libra’s idealism and Leo’s strong sense of self can create a personality that is both highly principled and confident in their beliefs. This combination might make them more likely to question mainstream narratives and seek alternative explanations that align with their personal values or worldview.
4. Social Dynamics and Validation: Libra’s social nature and Leo’s desire for admiration might make the individual more susceptible to groupthink or the allure of being part of a “special” group that has uncovered hidden truths. Conspiracy theories often provide a sense of belonging and intellectual superiority, which could appeal to these combined energies.
5. Shadow Traits: Every sign has its shadow side. For Libra, this could manifest as indecision or being overly influenced by others’ opinions, making them more likely to adopt conspiracy theories if they are presented persuasively. For Leo, the shadow side might include arrogance or a need to feel exceptional, which could lead to embracing ideas that set them apart from the “uninformed masses.”

In summary, a person with strong Libra and Leo energies might be drawn to conspiracy theories due to a mix of idealism, a desire for justice, a flair for drama, and a need for social validation or intellectual distinction. However, the extent of this tendency would depend on the overall chart, including planetary aspects and house placements.

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Fact-Checking a Conspiracy-Prone Astrologer

• waste and corruption in USAID, social security: NOT TRUE
• the scamdemic, which conveniently changed course in Feb. 2022 – when it looked like the vast web of lies were unravelling: NOT TRUE
• Covid vaccines could now be suspended for all age groups in America – under radical new plans. RFK Jr. and Stanford professor – Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, will shortly bring home the bacon on that issue: NOT TRUE
• an entire party of Republicans (aided by a few true Democrats who changed sides RFK Jr. and Gabbard) – voted-in by over half the US population: NOT TRUE
  Source: esotericastrologer.org

The United States sent $50 million in condoms to Hamas. Diversity programs caused a plane crash. China controls the Panama Canal. Ukraine started the war with Russia.

None of that is true!

Not that it stops President Trump. In the first month since he returned to power, he has demonstrated once again a brazen willingness to advance distortions, conspiracy theories and outright lies to justify major policy decisions.

• Most significantly, Mr. Trump has waged a four-year campaign to persuade Americans that he did not lose the 2020 election when in fact he did, making one false assertion of widespread fraud after another that would all be debunked yet still leave most Republicans convinced it was stolen, according to polls.
• At the same time, he has recast the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by supporters trying to stop the transfer of power from a “heinous attack,” as he originally termed it, to a “day of love,” as he now calls it. This revised interpretation helped him rationalize pardoning nearly 1,600 people who were charged, including many who had beaten police officers.
• The exaggerations and falsehoods serve a strategic purpose. While Mr. Trump won a clean victory in November, including in the popular vote, which he lost in 2016, he did not win a majority and his 1.5-percentage-point margin was one of the lowest since the 19th century. But he regularly says that he won a “landslide victory,” which serves not just to stroke his ego but to assert an expansive popular mandate for his agenda.
• After reporters determined that the $50 million for condoms story was untrue, Mr. Trump not only repeated it, he increased the supposed total to $100 million. Nor did he back down after falsely claiming that U.S.A.I.D. had provided grants to media organizations as “a ‘payoff’ for creating good stories about the Democrats,” even after learning the money was simply for subscriptions.
• Likewise, Mr. Trump made his claim about diversity programs and air safety the day after the midair collision of a passenger jet and Army helicopter in Washington without an ounce of proof, nor did he ever follow up with any.
• And while a Hong Kong company operates two of five ports adjacent to the Panama Canal, he continues to say the passage is controlled by China when in fact Panama operates it.
• And to support his effort to rescind the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, Mr. Trump keeps saying that the United States is “the only country in the world that does this,” even though it has been repeatedly reported that in fact more than 30 countries do.
• Mr. Trump’s blame-the-victim revisionism over Ukraine in recent days has been among the most striking efforts to translate his alternative reality into policy. Over the course of several recent days, he said that Ukraine “started” the war with Russia in 2022 and called the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a “dictator without elections,” while absolving President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, an actual dictator who had invaded his neighbor. He went even further on Friday, saying, “It’s not Russia’s fault.”

“Trump is a highly skilled narrator and propagandist,” said Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” and a historian at New York University who specializes in fascism and authoritarianism. “Actually he is one of the most skilled propagandists in history.”

-Source: Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The Times

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How to Mitigate Self-Deception in Astrology

• Self-Awareness: Astrologers can strive to recognize their own biases and emotional states before interpreting a chart. If they have been proven wrong calling 9/11 an inside job, they should acknowledge their bias with humility and intellectual honesty.
• Collaborative Approach: Engaging the others in the interpretive process can help ground the reading in their lived experience rather than the astrologer’s assumptions.
• Critical Thinking: Striking a balance between intuition and critical analysis allows astrologers to avoid overdependence on subjective impressions and prevents them from unwittingly echoing authoritarian propaganda.
• Study and Practice: Deepening knowledge of astrological principles and practicing with diverse charts can reduce the tendency to project personal patterns onto interpretations.

Ultimately, astrology is as much an art as it is a practice, and its interpretive nature makes it both rich and prone to subjectivity. Acknowledging this limitation is a sign of thoughtful and responsible astrological practice.

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