I think astrology is real

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the "gravitational" deal is a canard, the whole object of the zodiac is merely to serve as a "coming attractions" billboard in the sky for humans to use to 1]make sense out of their often mysteriously fickle affairs, and 2] time their affairs in rhythm with a heretofore unseen [and un-seeable] cosmic schedule so as to maximize harmony in life.

It is not in the same league granted, but it has the potential to be exploitative and a form of fraud.

Not every is using it as a curio they read in their weekly paper, they are taking more serious that that, and can hand over a fair bit of money.

Nature is not in harmony. The idea of harmonious nature is flawed. There are symbiotic relationships that exist for a period of time. There is some order in nature but this not permanent, and not part of an overall "self-righting" system.

People who are adaptable and resilient will cope better. However there is some anecdotal evidence that unhappy people may live as long if not longer.

I like both. Astronomy would be more interesting if it were easier to travel to distant planets though, and if these planets were places we could actually visit without dissolving, imploding or exploding.

Yes but you are learning the real reason behind the fragility of life, and the building blocks of life.

I like both. I am not incredibly serious about astrology but it's fun to tell people about it and hear them say, that sounds familiar.

Sometimes, a subject is enjoyable just because it's entertaining.

I actually took their money, under a legally-obtained business license, and "For Entertainment Purposes Only" (as the signs on the wall so stated). I would also preface each reading with the statement "I'm not really a psychic", and my horoscope castings with "I don't actually believe in this stuff". If anyone wanted to charge me with fraud, they would have had a tough time making it stick.

Here's the crux: These statement seemed to have the opposite effect -- the same people kept coming back, and some even brought friends with them. My clientele just kept growing, despite all of my disclaimers and self-deprecating statements! They paid for readings and horoscopes, and I gave them what they wanted - all fair and legal.

It just goes to show that even in the face of denial, people will still believe in their own fantasies.

I did actually go to a psychic once to have a reading done. There were cards and crystals etc. I didn't go because I believe in psychics or astrology. I went because I wanted a fresh perspective on some problems I was having without paying 300$/hr (although possibly covered by insurance) to a shrink. I just wanted a quickie perspective. Why a psychic? Because they don't read minds or the future but well established ones who see people in person (she'd been there for years) are good at reading body language and tone. I wanted 30$ worth of somebody figuring out why I was feeling down by reading my body language and tone and if she dressed it up in woo that was just part of the price.

Her method was throwing down cards and woo and looking at my palm while asking leading questions. I assume that she was actually reading my reaction to the questions and that was what I was actually intentionally paying for.

It's possible that some of them were possibly paying you for a similar service and putting up with woo as an agreed-upon game for what I hope was decent advice that you gave them.

Could be! The advice I gave was the same kind of advice any parent would give a child. Be careful around moving machinery ... Don't drink so much that you forget where you are ... Keep looking for work, since someone will eventually hire you ... Your temper may eventually get the best of you ... Forget about him/her, because he/she was playing you for a fool ... Pay in cash ... Always let someone know where you are and whom you are with ... Time will heal a broken heart ... Patience and perseverance in all things ... Et cetera.

Sometimes, I could tell where they worked in the tarot cards, what kind of occupation they had by what came up in the minor arcana and when that happened, they were very impressed with it. This is when I worked as a tarot card reader.

It might not be legally fraud. It is sort of exploitative.

I think as long as they leave knowing it is not real, that is ok.

It is not well established. The principles of cold reading work off suggestion, not body language.

Body language only gives pointers to emotions, they don't provide more details that that.

Is it? I see horoscopes in all the crummy newspapers and magazines, and there are commercials for psychic medium people on tv all the time. You can call them for "advice" about your future. These people aren't doing it all for free.
In my opinion people should be able to buy fake s**t like fortune tellings, "healing" crystals, scented aroma crap or pay a church to reduce their sin. It's all nonsense but people believe all kind of nonsense that makes them happy.