Astrology, Fortune Telling, Psychic Readings - Trouble Predicted

Maybe it is a sign of the times we are living in.  I have noticed in my town, right on the corner of my block actually, a psychic reader has hung up her shingle (actually a neon sign) offering psychic readings to all who want them. I know it is a sign of my age that I remember a Dragnet episode where they bust a fortune teller who schemes to steal her customer's money by telling her that it is cursed and must be burned.  The victim seemingly goes to the bank and pulls out all her money. She brings a wad of cash back to the fortune teller. The so-called fortune teller puts it in a bag and after having the lady herself sealing it, she promises that all of the victim's troubles would soon over as the flames burned the curse trapped in the tainted money.  Well, the bag burns and once it is all ashes the victim stands up and says that she feels better. Into the parlor steps, our hero's and they greet the policewoman whose money had been burned.  They find the bag with the real money hidden on the fortune teller and they cart her off to jail for theft by deception.  

That is what is wrong with the world of psychic readings, fortune tellers, and astrology.  It is all a scheme to separate you from your money,  The whole kit and kaboodle are built on a platform of straw that even a teaspoon full of logic show how weak the whole structure is. But if it was just money that was involved I would be tempted to say that those that want to give their money away should be allowed to give it to charlatans if that is what makes them happy.  But much more is involved than money.  What is involved here is your immortal soul. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone" (CCC 2116)

The practices of these dark arts are deeply sinful as they are a violation of the first commandment where we are to worship God alone. All occult practices are tools of the devil and should be avoided at all costs. 

Let's take a look at just one practice that is considered to be harmless fun by many people.  This is the practice of Astrology.  In the ancient world, the pagans believed that the stars were gods. The gods were in control of life through Fate. They believed that their Fate could be discerned by reading the stars.  It is from these pagan pioneers that came our (false) belief in astrology. Logic destroys the power of astrology. First, the stars are so far away that there is no way their "power" could reach us.  Second, even though the astrological chart divides the sky into twelve lovely, equal slices, the fact is that some of the constellations take up more room in the sky and there is no way you can have twelve equal slices.  This throws off the calculations that the fortune tellers make.  Secondly, the stars of the zodiac are visible in the northern hemisphere only.  Even if the stars could influence our world, there is a whole other half of the earth that are outside of their boundaries.  The whole system is a bunch of dingo's kidneys.

Okay, since astrology is bogus, has no real effect on life, what is the harm in reading my daily horoscope?  Let me ask you a question.  Would you pet a cobra? Would you put your head in a crocodile's mouth? Would you cut yourself and pour pure mercury into the wound?  Of course, you would not do any of these things.  When you read your horoscope or have your fortune told, or get a physic reading, or attempt to talk to the dead through a medium, you are doing all of these things at the peril of your soul.  The devil is real and the devil looks for ways to get inside the armor we have built through our spiritual life. He cannot get in unless you open the door for him and engaging in occult practices, even innocent sounding ones such as reading your daily horoscope can open the door to the devil. (Cobra petting anyone?)

The other forms of the occult are no less dangerous and belief in astrology can lead a person deeper into practices best left alone.  Our desire to be in control was born in the Garden of Eden and the rise of the occult and New Age practices is directly connected to our parent's actions on that day.  We have a loving Father in God. He is the creator and the One who set all things in motion.  The actions of the stars as they seemingly move in the universe are regulated by Him.  Put your faith in Him and avoid opening the door of your soul to the evil one. Astrology and all types of divination, talking to the dead, fortune telling are all human inventions,  Trust in God and He will never disappoint you.