Fate and Free Will in Astrology 

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Thank you for this beautiful conversation. I grew up in Vietnam, where fate is highly emphasized in Chinese astrology. People get readings during childhood and C-section is very common in order to choose the best birth chart possible for the baby. I have a lot of difficult aspects in my chart (Sun conjunct Mars and Mercury in Sagittarius, Moon in Capricorn conjunct Saturn in Aquarius, Venus in Scorpio very close to Pluto in Scorpio in the 12h house). A lot of family issue and anger outburst when I was younger. My Sun is square Jupiter in Virgo in the 10th house doesn't help, it feels like I had always had problems with authority in the past (abusive managers, controlling patterns at work, invasive bosses..). I got pregnant in 2015 and it was totally unexpected, at the same time I got a job offer, an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and some close friends even told me to get rid of '"it". I cried the whole morning in the bathroom the day I got my pregnancy test, and spent the whole weekend contemplating on my life and what I wanted to do for the next step. Then, during a meditation session, very strangely, I felt a connection with my baby, and just couldn't think about letting him go that way. My husband was very supportive, he respected my choice. So I decided to keep the baby, I wanted to bring him up in unconditional love and motherly protection, and help him grow into a mature responsible man (I don't know why but I felt this masculine energy and was persuaded that it would be a boy, it did turn out to be right). That also meant a lot of stuff to work through: I left my well-paid job, refused the job offer and moved to France, we decided to build our family in my husband's country. It was hard, very hard. I remember the countless times I felt so lonely and desperate, sometimes regretted the life I left behind. But seeing my boy growing up always gives me strength and the opportunity to grow my own ideal family that I've never had keeps me inspired. Pregnancy was a turning point for me, I think that was the moment, the fine line where fate and free will meets. I had my free will to keep the baby, and chose the "hard" way through life. My life is much better now. My childbirth was like an initiation for me. I had a C-section in emergency and almost died. And it was like coming back to like with whole new perspectives. Then my dad passed away and I missed the chance to see him in his deathbed. During 2 years I thought I was practicing escapism: spending time listening to astrologers on RU-vid (including you), spending money on books on spiritual studies and esoteric literature, reducing my social circle and spending a lot of quality time with myself. Then gradually my family and close friends began to tell me that I was like another person, in a positive way. I made it to change some very negative life patterns, still get a lot of work to do but my life is good now and I'm grateful for all. Thank you for reading this. Keep doing the great work, your contents are much appreciated and needed right now.

I think of fate as a box and freewill as existing within that box. Some boxes depending on spiritual agreements and/or Karma are smaller or bigger than others. There are absolutes of course. You cannot for example sprout wings and fly obviously.

Life is like a river. One not know what is around the next bend. I just get into the river and flow with it. In life I have chosen to stand on the shores, lay on the shore and many times paddle upstream. Now I just trust, even when the waters are rough. Many times it is very uncomfortable even painful other times wondrous. This is life and I have The free will to choose how I interpret my ride. Many blessings

This is one of my favorite topics ever. I am in a period of my life where I feel that I have no control. There are blocks and obstacles at every turn, no matter how hard I try or how many attempts I make to change my circumstances. How do I respond? Well, I cry a lot. I pray a lot, too.

Working with the planets (and other things) is a component of Magick. You learn Nateral Law, how the Universe flows, works, you work with it, not against it.

I come your channel to further my learning about ancient astrology, but I always leave with so much with so much more. Thank you for all that you do🙏 This was a great conversation. I believe in pre-birth soul contracts and that as astrologers, we're reading the pattern or energy signatures that ourselves or our clients set up with the Universe and other souls in their group before coming into the physical body. I guess I lean more toward stoicism with a dash of freewill thrown in for good measure.

To me it is not about trying to be in control, but learning how to sway within the weather of life and keep one's head above water, whatever is going on

This is exactly what has been on my mind, thanks about to watch now

THANK YOU. GREAT TOPIC THAT MOST ASTROLOGERS WILL NEVER SPEAK OF OR ABOUT. ALL THE BEST FOR THE REST OF 2020

I'm enjoying the new structure with Cat asking the questions. Nice!

I understand astrology to an interpretation based on the knowledge acquired by the astrologer. It is one thing to record the birth chart blueprint and another to express what the planetary positions mean in the houses. This is most evident by the numerous approaches to reading an individuals chart. After a professional reading the individual still needs to adapt and consider how this information has shown up to understand the bigger picture or how these influences have played or are playing out.

Super great conversation. Really smart questions followed by fabulous answers. Both people have gifts for astrology and philosophy. Bravo ! Namaste.

Loved the unpacking of planetary / ritual magic and astrology. Made sense!

Great information. It is good to be reminded of this every so often.

I love your content..very informative. I was binge watching you videos yesterday... very addictive. Unfortunately at this time I cant sign up for your classes. I hope in the future I may be able to do so. Thank you for everything thing you do!!! Blessings & good health to your family. 💖

Wonderful conversation. Really helped me clarify some thoughts on this topic. Thank you so much!

I am on the Buddhist path and took a path to have a spiritual practice, following an ayahuasca experience. I am growing in my understanding of dependent arising and just last night thought... I am in a matrix, at which point I felt rebellious and trapped. I will have to work through this. My question is that earth is having a hard time meeting the wants of humans. For most of the world, just existing takes all their effort... this doesn’t seem conducive to spiritual practice: Have most humans built up such karma that the world looks as dire as it does today?

Cat has the same accent as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Lovely to listen to

Great talk!

This is such a quality video, thank you!!!

EXCELLENT discussion.

Great video. Just what I needed to hear. Thanks!

One of my favourite topic. Wonderful insights. Many thanks 😊🙏🏻

So wise! One of the best commentaries on astrology I've heard! Love listening.

I prefer to speak of "soul contract" rather than "fate." If there's something you can't change or opt out of, you contracted for that; you're not the victim of the vagrant whim of some capricious deity. There is a purpose to the inevitable, and it's your purpose. THAT'S what you surrender to when you surrender to the inevitable.

I always felt something pushing me pulling me shoving me..never felt as if i had any free will. As if a child running after God to catch up.. as he walks.🍯🍯🍯🍯

I met someone when Venus was conjunct my vertex. It feels pretty profound looking back at it.

Wowbrilliantthankyou

Its all one massive matrix. Even neo stayed in the matrix yet another program. I wish I could see this whole system rewritten made better with love and peace. So done with the Chaos stuck in astrology/the script

Although I am steeped in astrological books, ideas, learnings and practices like you, I have never heard of white magic, ritual magic, or Venus spells. How does one learn to do magic? Become one with Spirit? Still working on that through prayer, affirmations and meditation, but only for about 18 months now. Am I being impatient? Mangalam Bhagavan Vishnu

So, what you are saying is... Astrology is also a kind of magic. Therefore, are you using it as a tool to achieve purity?

Where can I read more about this?

There is not much free will for people with Saturn as ascendent ruler 😔

And where does intuition come from?

Dear Acyuta, I don't mean offense, but I do not find your explanation of fate vs free will satisfactory. And this question I feel is essential to astrology. I agree that the contradiction free will/destiny is merely conceptual, but I do not agree with your alternative. I believe the only free will is that of nature, or the 'supreme controller' if you will. Apart from that I do not see any free will anywhere in this universe, and if there is no free will, it means that astrology has to be used in a different manner than how many astrologers use it. If there is no free will, and the events which a chart lays bare can not be avoided, then what use does a chart have, except promoting insight in processes? I would like to go deeper into this with you, as I am a student in Hellenist astrology, and this aspect is my major hurdle concerning the material. Up till now I have not seen or read any astrologer who gave me a satisfactory answer to this. For sure any guru also who says there is something like free will which can alter karma, falls down flat as a charlatan, because none of them explain what their free will would be. In one sentence they say that the doer is God and in the other that we have free will and next they don't explain how these relate. Of course we have a feeling of free will, but it isn't truly free by any definition. Freedom would entail that there is an I, and as practitioners of meditation will confirm, there really is no substantial I to be found, outside of the idea 'I'. If there is no I, then how can there be free will? Who is choosing? I think the only right answer can be: 'God'. Then how to see astrology?

I'm curious, how would an accurate future prediction, for example from a seer, be explained if we have fate & free will?

🧞‍♀️

There is no “you”