Why you need an Astrologer
With the advancement of technology and the onset of AI, many are asking why bother consulting a professional when there is a world of information available.
As I move into creating an Astrology business this is a question I have been asking myself.
With apps that can generate a beautiful star chart in seconds and AI programs that can offer interpretations, is there still a place for the human astrologer?
After a lot of contemplation and attempted use of AI to look at my own chart; what I have come to discover is, YES!
While I believe technology can be an incredible tool for learning and exploration, it lacks the very things that make an astrological consultation truly transformative: nuanced synthesis, lived experience, and human perspective. An important piece when we are considering decisions that require more than just logic. Or dealing with a situation that needs compassion and more thoughtful consideration.
We simply cannot assume that information provided to us is accurate and correct. Astrology is a symbolic system that demands viewing the chart as a unified whole. Understanding how one placement may be impacted by another. One thing I've noticed when experimenting with AI is its ability to sound right even when it is wrong.
I’ve asked for AI-powered tools for interpretation and have often received information that is surprisingly false. Interestingly it will provide a description that sounds plausible but just doesn’t speak to the authentic meaning of the placement it’s being asked to interpret.
The real danger here is that someone can't know about this inaccuracy if they don't know enough about the topic in general. So, while AI can be very useful for looking up a quick definition, it’s vital that we have a basic understanding of a topic before we just blindly accept what we are being told.
This isn’t to say that everything AI produces is inaccurate.
There is a lot of useful information out there, and its ability to sift through data and share it with a quick turnaround is amazing. But we must be careful not to assume it is an unbiased system. We must remember that AI is developed by humans, and these humans have their own biases. As AI learns from the vast and varied information on the internet, it can build its own biases based on what it is being fed and how it is being programmed.
We've seen real-life examples of this playing out, where AI has developed prejudices by mirroring the flawed data it was trained on.
Beyond these foundational issues, the most significant benefit of using a real-life astrologer is the human ability to synthesize information. You can ask AI questions, and it will give you information about that specific placement. An example would be what does the Sun in Aries indicate. But is it considering the degree the sun is at, the house it is in and the other placements that it is interacting with.
You may be asking yourself, what if I just plug in my entire chart? I found this to be exceptionally inaccurate when I tried it. Interpreting placements that did not exist in the chart. Yes, it gave an accurate description of what having a moon in Scorpio means but the moon was not in Scorpio in the chart.
A birth chart is not a collection of separate parts; it's holistic and interconnected, a map of our soul, our lives. The true art of astrology is in being able to weave those individual parts together.
A human astrologer doesn’t just see a list of placements; they are looking at a story.
Weighing the different energies, noticing themes, and understanding how the planets are in conversation with one another. They can see that your sensitive Cancer Moon might be the driving emotional force behind your desire for public recognition from your Venus in the 10th house. They can understand that the tension of your Mars-Saturn square isn’t just a "difficult aspect" but the very source of the disciplined drive you need to achieve your goals.
Let’s take Jupiter as an example. AI can understand that Jupiter is a "benefic" planet and that it expands whatever it touches. It can give a very in-depth, accurate depiction of what this planet represents in isolation. However, it doesn’t necessarily understand the nuance that while Jupiter is considered a benefic or beneficial planet, its expansive quality can sometimes create significant difficulty. Jupiter in the 6th house of health can, in some cases, point to issues related to growth or excess. Jupiter expanding a challenging planetary configuration can amplify a problem rather than solve it.
An experienced astrologer understands this paradox. That no planet is simply "good" or "bad"; they are complex archetypes whose expression depends entirely on the context of the whole chart.
This is not to say that an Astrologer is 100% accurate in their interpretation of the chart. We are of course human. The information provided may accurately represent the meanings of the placements, but you may find that what you are experiencing is different. If this is the case, speak up! This will help them to shift the information to something that resonates more with you and your experiences
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a human astrologer brings their own life to the reading. Our lives are nuanced. The ability to understand this, to have compassion, and to hold space for emotional complexity is crucial when interpreting an astrological chart
AI can’t understand what it feels like to go through heart break or loss. To feel alone or that you are at a crossroads.
The astrologer understands these lived experiences and can look at the chart, helping you to see how and why you are being impacted. Why is this time hitting differently. The heartbreak of a Pluto transit or the chaos of a Uranus transit.
An astrologer is not just a technician; they too are living life and experiencing ups and downs. They have taken the time not only to study and learn about the astrological placements but navigated their own life experiences. This allows them to provide a more profound understanding of the astrology and how it can best be utilized.
While technology will continue to evolve, I believe it will always serve best as a tool, not a replacement.
When you consult a professional astrologer, you’re not just paying for information that you could find online; you’re investing in insight, synthesis, and the experience of being truly seen.
