The Tragedy of Free Will
Astrology has been used for divination purposes since ancient times. Predictions based on the positions of stars and planets in the sky have been made about the future of kings and countries, plagues, illnesses, harvests, and more. In the 700s BC, personalized birth charts began to be interpreted, and a person’s fate was increasingly believed to be determined by the stars. Although astrology and the concept of the future have evolved side by side, they present a paradox for the modern human. This is where the words of a character from Shakespeare’s play come to mind: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”
The real question is this: Are we puppets living within the boundaries set by our birth charts, or can we inquire further? How much freedom do we really have according to astrology?
A significant philosopher who contributed to our understanding of this matter is Sartre. According to existentialist philosopher Sartre, humans have the freedom to do whatever they want whenever they want. However, freedom comes with such immense responsibility that individuals tend to shy away from it. This is where astrology intersects with the desire to make choices. By relinquishing the choice-making process to an astrologer, one avoids the burden of their freedom. If the future can be foretold through astrology, if events are predetermined, then there’s nothing to confront. We could absolve ourselves of personal responsibility by saying, “No matter what I do, the course of destiny won’t change.”
Sartre argues that humans don’t possess an inherent essence; they revolt against roles imposed by nature. However, astrology presents a different perspective. Through birth charts, astrology draws attention to this essence. Every individual or event begins at a specific time and place, forming a unique celestial configuration. We exist within the cultural conditions permitted by our chosen gender and nationality, and based on the potentials promised by our birth charts. An astrologer can interpret the chart like an artist and describe potentials. But this isn’t fate; individuals possess the freedom of choice. Here, the astrologer can’t predict how a person will react to their chart. For example, during challenging times, one person might choose to end their life by jumping off a balcony, succumbing to gravity, while another might fight to the end and turn their difficulties into positive transformations.
Humanistic astrologer Dane Rudhyar advocates for a human-centered astrology. According to him, events don’t happen to people; people happen to events. Rudhyar says, “Whatever happens to us is what should happen.” He believes that every crisis is a challenge and that every astrological transit offers an opportunity for transformation, purification, and expansion. Our charts are our nature, and astrology can help us explore our nature. Just as followers of the Stoic philosophy adopt a life in harmony with nature, living life becomes another boundary of this pursuit. Undoubtedly, our possibilities aren’t limitless; each of us is bounded by our charts, and our boundless desires and wishes collide against this boundary. This is precisely the tragedy of free will!
Gülden Bulut, 2023