Life Decisions You Should Never Make Based on Astrology (and What To Do Instead)

I’ve met some people who let astrology guide every decision they make. I’ve always advised against this, not that they always listened.

And there’s a good reason for this: even is astrology really does work, it’s still open to interpretation. Two astrologers can get very different answers from the very same chart. I’ve seen it happen many times.

The problem is that astrology doesn’t give you in-the-moment clear, concise answers. It just points to places to look for those answers. The rest is up to you. So let’s take a look at the problem, and some better approaches.

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1. Career Choices

One of the most common ways people try to use astrology is in making career decisions. They may look at their horoscope or ask an astrologer to try to determine what type of job or industry would be the best fit based on their zodiac sign.

Your career path should be based on your skills, interests, values and overall fit – not just your astrological profile. Astrology doesn’t account for all the complex factors that go into finding the right career for you.

In fairness, I haven’t been too impressed with career placement tests either, and they’re supposed to be scientific.

The bottom line is that choosing a career path should be based on what you want to do. If you don’t know, or you have a couple of options and can’t decide, then consulting astrology might give you ideas. Again, don’t try to imagine you’re getting a clear answer of this or that from it. It’s supposed to get you thinking outside the box.

Remember that it’s ridiculously hard to pick a career that’s going to serve you for 40-50 years. In the last few decades, jobs and entire fields have disappeared to automation and outsourcing. Now employers are laying off thousands of people because they (wrongly IMO) think AI can replace them.

What to Do Instead: When you’re looking at career options, expect astrology to give you new ideas. If you’re trying to decide between two options, astrology might show you a third or even fourth. But I don’t know of any astrologer who predicted Photoshop replacing 90% of graphics designers and leaving them job hunting back in the 90s.

Honestly assess your strengths, weaknesses and what kind of work makes you feel passionate. Research different career paths that could be a good match. Speak to people working in fields you’re interested in. These steps are much more likely to lead you to a career you’ll enjoy and excel at.

2. Relationships and Dating

I have seen people break up a relationship because of the partner’s sun sign. This also isn’t how it works.

First, as astrology chart is pretty complex. Your sun signs might clash, but do your moon signs? Rising? What about aspects between your charts?

And even if a full analysis of the charts seems to be telling you that you aren’t compatible, what if the friction of that relationship is something you need for personal growth? Or what if it says you’re compatible, but the person treats you badly?

What To Do Instead: It’s hard to say what makes a relationship work. Everyone has different theories. Things like shared values, ability to communicate and trust seem to be very important, and many people get more caught up in shallower aspects like beauty or what a person does for a living.

Focus on getting to know a potential partner as an individual. Pay attention to how they treat you and others, their goals and priorities and whether your personalities and lifestyles are compatible. Compatibility is about much more than just your zodiac signs.

3. Health and Medical Decisions

Health and medical decisions can be really tough. You know by now I’m going to say astrology just can’t give you the kind of granular answers you need, such as what’s wrong with you or what treatment option to choose.

And I think we all know even doctors don’t always get it right, even with all the tools at their disposal. This can lead people to think astrology is a better option.

What To Do Instead: I always recommend trusting medicine first. Go to doctors, get tests, find out what they can tell you. And sometimes you need a second opinion – not all doctors are equally knowledgeable, or equally willing to listen to you and believe you about symptoms.

I personally would only consult astrology if I had a hard medical decision to make about my treatment. And even then, I wouldn’t do whatever I perceive the chart is “telling” me to do. I would let it guide my thinking and give me ideas, but ultimately the responsibility is yours.

4. Financial Decisions

Some people also try to use astrology to guide their financial decisions, such as when to make investments or major purchases. This is another type of decision where even the pros often get it wrong, so it’s tempting to turn to an art that’s supposed to help you know the future.

Astrology really doesn’t work that way, though. The stock market, real estate and other financial ventures are complex, constantly-changing systems that are influenced by a huge number of factors. No one knows all the factors at any given time, which is why no one makes perfect decisions every time.

What To Do Instead: Focus on proven financial planning strategies. You may want to consult a qualified financial advisor who can help you make smart, data-driven decisions based on your specific goals and risk tolerance. And educate yourself about how to recognize a good investment, so you can evaluate whether your advisor really knows their stuff. The internet is overflowing with good resources for this.

What I’d consult astrology for in this instance is insight into myself. What personality traits do I have that might lead me to good or bad decisions? Am I too impulsive? Too risk-averse? Too trusting of random people who may be con artists, for all I know? These can be valuable insights that astrology can help you with.

5. Legal Matters

Astrology can supposedly help in legal matters, such as trying to time the filing of a lawsuit or determine the outcome of a court case. But I’ve seen it backfire too many times to believe this works.

In my limited experience of civil court, mostly from families feuding, everyone loses in court. I’m just putting that out there are a consideration. So even if a chart is telling you this is a good time to file a suit, that doesn’t mean you’re going to love the outcome.

What To Do Instead: Consult an attorney. If they tell you that you don’t have a good case, believe them. I’ve seen so many people go to lawyers with a moral wrong and expect a court case to fix it, and that always leads to disappointment because courts are only concerned with the law. A lawyer is the right person to guide you through what you can expect – and what not to expect – from court.