What is Astrology For?

NakanoStill, it’s strange, isn’t it? There’s no culture without some form of divination. Astrology has always accompanied human history. Why have people relied on it?

KagamiIt’s not that astrology is unique, but it’s remarkable how much ground it has occupied within broader culture.

NakanoAnd it seems the demand for divination only grows as science advances. When I buy a magazine, the first page I look for is the “Monthly Horoscope.”

KagamiI’m happy to hear that.

NakanoI read it, nod along, and feel a bit more energized or hopeful, but then I forget what it said as soon as I close the magazine (laughs).

KagamiIt would be problematic if you remembered (laughs).

NakanoWell, (laughs). I don’t understand my own behavior. Why do I check horoscopes if I immediately forget their pronouncements? What is astrology for?

NakanoThat’s true. But if even one past event is accurately predicted, we feel satisfied, thinking, “Yes, that’s right…”

KagamiEven if it’s about the past, it’s meaningless, but the appeal lies in the feeling that the past isn’t just a meaningless accumulation of events, but that it somehow synchronizes with the movements of the stars and the flow of nature. The fascination of connection. The pleasure of connecting the inner and outer worlds is the essence of astrology.

Nakano…That’s a revelation.

KagamiWhen we think that there must be some meaning in life, which is full of arbitrary luck and chance, divination explains it through its connection with external movements.

NakanoI completely agree. It’s also a kind of literary approach. Connecting what’s happening within oneself with something external reminds me of the literary technique of conceit—explaining two things through an unexpected metaphor. I often use this technique when writing essays myself. By finding a forced similarity between two seemingly unrelated topics, I create new meaning for each event. So, are we doing something similar? Or perhaps not (laughs).

Astrological Writing and the Barnum Effect

NakanoSpeaking of which, aren’t horoscopes written in an abstract way? They’re written so that anyone can project their current situation onto them.

KagamiThat’s what psychology calls the “Barnum Effect.” It’s a psychological phenomenon where people perceive general statements that apply to anyone as accurate descriptions of themselves. It’s named after experiments conducted by an American showman named Barnum.

NakanoIs blood type personality analysis also like that? It contains descriptions that everyone thinks apply to them. So, does being a good astrologer require the skill of writing abstractly?

KagamiPerhaps in the realm of astrological writing, but…

NakanoAstrological writing!

KagamiHowever, if it’s too abstract, it’s not interesting. It’s important to incorporate specific information.

NakanoSome astrologers become incredibly popular and charismatic like you, Mr. Kagami, while others appear briefly and then disappear. Where does that difference come from?

KagamiI wonder. Is it luck? (laughs).

Academic Astrology in the UK and the Boom of “Wanting to Be an Astrologer” in Japan

NakanoMr. Kagami, how did you get into the world of astrology yourself?

KagamiI encountered tarot when I was 10 and became deeply immersed in that world. Magic, the occult, the world of Harry Potter. Within that, astrology had the greatest demand. In Europe, magic and the occult are considered “another tradition of knowledge.”

NakanoIt’s also an academic discipline.

KagamiIn Japan, it’s interpreted in a secular way, but in the UK, it’s pursued academically, connected to occultism.

NakanoContinuously…

KagamiNo, not continuously. It started in the 19th century. Universities have only begun to address it in the last three or four years. You can now get a Master’s degree in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology. At the University of Kent, Divination & Cosmology is included as part of their Religious Experience Studies course.

NakanoAre there many people who want to become astrologers?

KagamiUnfortunately, yes (laughs).

NakanoWhat motivates them? Do they have psychic abilities?

KagamiIt doesn’t seem so. It feels closer to the desire to become an aromatherapist or a nail technician.

NakanoAromatherapist, nail technician, or astrologer!?

KagamiThat’s how it seems, especially when young women want to become astrologers. Aura-Soma is also a form of divination.

NakanoAh, now that you mention it. They are also people who offer life counseling or guidance. The person at my regular nail salon knows a lot about my personal affairs too (laughs).

KagamiIn the past, astrology was seen as a job for elderly men with beards, practiced in dimly lit rooms. Before things like British-style reflexology or aromatherapy emerged, massage therapists and acupressure practitioners seemed to be doing it as a last resort, didn’t they?

NakanoNow, both astrology and reflexology are quite stylish, becoming dream professions for women. They have evolved into jobs that offer modern forms of “healing” by supporting people’s emotional well-being.



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