Mars is in retrograde - leading some of my more new age friends to make claims that the path of the red planet may wreak a bit of havoc in our lives over thte next few weeks. Even some of my LDS friends have been speculating on the consequence of this pattern in the night sky. Heavenly Father created the universe - all the planets and stars, along with everything else. So is it really that far fetched to believe that the position of celestial bodies might bear some influence on our lives?
Many believe the moon has an impact on way more than tides. From women's menstrual cycles to exacerbating symptoms of psychosis (why do you think it was once called "lunacy"?) it appears that the waxing and waning of the phases of the moon do indeed dust us with influence.
So what about the planets? Does Mars being in retrograde create some bumps in our personal lives?
A more important question, perhaps is this: can someone who really understands the gospel also believe in astrology and horoscopes?
I love ASTRONOMY - observing and learning about stars and planets. But ASTROLOGY - "the study of the positions of the Moon, Sun, and other planets in the belief that their motions affect human beings" (encarta) has always seemed rather far fetched to me. I do not read my horoscope nor put much stock in it. When I read the traits that are supposedly associated with my sun sign (Libra) I must admit more fit than don't.
Traits of a Libra:
- Desires popularity
- Loves art
- Neat
- Dresses up for the occasion
- Slight perfectionist
- Narcissistic
- Charitable
- Bossy at times
- Plans ahead
- Attention to detail
- Loves public service
Still - there has been plenty of writing that shows that astrology is NOT compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Back in 1972 there was an article in The New Era by Bjarne Christensen titled "The Precarious Age of Aquarius" that cautioned young people about the fallacy of looking to star influence for answers.
For another take on the topic, there is the piece James Talmage wrote entitled, “My Study of Astrology,” which appeared in The Contributor in 1893 and was later quoted from in a 1979 New Era.
As it says in a 1972 Q & A piece, also appearing in The New Era: "Our reason tells us that God, who recognized the free will of man as basic to his nature and gave him freedom of agency to manifest it, would not have left man’s destiny bound up and governed by the relationships and movements of astronomical bodies. There is no reasonable way of establishing any direct cause and effect relationship between the character and personality of human beings and astronomical phenomena except as we may react to climate or our physical environment in general." So in answer to what we should think about astrology: "Basically our attitude should be the same as it is about fortune-telling, reading tea leaves, crystal ball gazing, or palm reading. To put it bluntly, any trust in such things is sheer superstition."
So I'll still lay out on a blanket on summer nights to watch meteor showers. I will remain fascinated by the rings of Saturn and feel gypped that Pluto got robbed of planet status.
But when it comes to trying to decipher my own nature or decide if this is a good time for a new undertaking, while I WILL look Heavenward - my gaze is aimed far beyond the stars.