Survey on Determinism

Determinism within the Practice of Astrology
Conducted by Bernadette Brady as part of doctoral studies at
Bath Spa University, UK

Online Survey

Your voice is need to contribute to the global survey of astrologers
with regard to their thinking on determinism - Fate.

Please read this:
A central tenet of astrology is that something is written at the moment of a birth or a moment in time and place and some component of this moment has a bearing on the future. In this survey, this component, which astrology explores via horoscopes, is labelled the “fate” of a person’s life or the “fate” contained in a moment in time.

It is often assumed by non-astrologers that astrologers believe that one’s entire life and life decisions are dictated by the “stars”, yet no one has actually asked astrologers about their ideas on fate, destiny and freewill. Thus your answers are important as they will go towards building a concept of fate (or determinism) as used in 21^st century western astrology.

Therefore I thank you in advance for your contribution to this project. Your answers will be stored in a database and analysed, along with the answers of astrologers from all over the world, to help create this overall picture. The results will then form a part of my doctoral thesis.

The survey should take you about 15 - 20 minutes to complete.

Section 1 - About You

Your email so I can email you a PDF of your survey results:

Q1.1	What year were you born?

Q1.2

Gender

Male

Female

Q1.3	In what country do you live?

Q1.4 How many years have you been studying astrology

Q1.5

As there are different types of astrology, could you please select the type/s that you now prefer to use.

Horary

Medical

Financial

Esoteric

Psychological

Humanistic

Medieval

Other

Q1.6	Who do you consider to be some of the major authors who have influenced your study of astrology?

Section 2 - Predictive Astrology

Q2.1

Please choose the statement/s that best fit your understanding of the nature of predictive astrology.
Predictive astrology is:

The application of particular mathematical techniques (like transits, progressions and returns) to a horoscope in an attempt to gain information concerning the future.

The use of a horoscope intuitively to divine the future.

The application of a set of rules to a horoscope for the moment of an event in order to foretell the likely outcome of that event - horary astrology.

Working with a person's natal horoscope to seek insights into their future behaviour by understanding their personality and/or psychological makeup - reading a natal chart.

Q2.2

Please choose one statement that best fits how you think predictive astrology helps you in your life:
You are only able to select one option.

I use it to understand why life can be so difficult at times.

It allows me to relax and let my chart inform me of the path to take in my life.

It gives me an understanding retrospectively of why things have happened in my life but I never use it to look at the future.

It explains the past and also tells me what will happen in my life, and when, so I am mentally prepared for the problems.

It allows me to know the time for doing spiritual practices to help me balance the planetary energies.

It gives me a framework for understanding, not only what has happened, but also how it make the most of the potential contained in future patterns.

Q2.3

Please choose one statement that best fits how you would use predictive astrology when something unpleasant happens in your life: You are only able to select one option. .

I look at my chart to simply see what it was astrologically.

I use it to find out why it happened and understand what the "planets" has in store for me.

I look at the astrology and worry about the next time the same astrological indicators will be present.

I look at the astrology to be prepared for a similar problem in the future.

I meditate on the planetary energies and seek to work with them more effectively in my life.

I look at the astrology and use this information to help shape my path of action in the future.

Q2.4

In the history of a person's life, every time they have had transiting Mars conjunct their ascendant they "accidentally" break a plate. Would you expect them to break another plate when Mars next conjuncts their ascendant?
You are only able to select one option.

No.

Maybe.

Depends on their level of awareness.

Probably.

Almost certainly.

Yes.

Q2.5

If a person does break another plate on their next Mars transit, in your opinion: You are only able to select one option.

It was only an accident and has nothing to do with their Mars transit.

They could not have avoided breaking a plate.

It was their fault as they should have been extra careful around plates on that day.

They were "waiting" to break a plate.

It was a good think as it was a simple way to use the Mars energy on that day.

They are "out of tune" with Mars and need to undertake some Mars meditation or ritual to help them work with it in the future.

They may want to find a more productive outlet for the expression of Mars.

Q2.6

Astrological predictions can contain both timing and event. For example, a Saturn transit will happen at a certain time and will have a particular quality of expression. For you does the length of time being examined (e.g. one year into the future or ten years into the future) have an influence on your capacity to predict the when (timing) and/or the what (the event)?You are only able to select one option.

No, I am able to predict both the timing of the event and the actual event regardless of how far it is in the future.

Yes, I have a reduced ability to define the event as the timing moves further into the future.

Yes, I have a reduced ability to define the timing as the expected event moves further into the future.

Yes, I have a reduced ability to define both the timing and the event as it moves deeper into the future.

Q2.7

In two years time your natal chart is going to have a series of "once in a life time" transits. Do you:
You are only able to select one option.

Be concerned about the events you know will happen in two years time but feel that there is nothing that you can do about it.

Start to take action now that will optimise a positive outcome, whatever the events are in two years time.

Take the events into consideration but take no action as you are unsure of the timing.

Not think about it as it is too far away to reliably predict either events or timing.

Section 3 - Natal Charts

Q3.1

If your primary relationship was having difficulties and you found out that your partner's time of birth was not what you thought, and this introduced different aspects between you and your partner, would you: You are only able to select one option. .

Try to change the relationship to reflect the new astrological picture.

Break up the relationship, knowing now why it was having difficulties.

Not look at the chart combinations as you would rather deal with the issues without knowing the astrology.

Look carefully at your partner's new chart to see if the relationship is worth the emotional work of repairing it.

Meditate on the planetary combinations to try to adjust their expression in our lives.

Look at the new aspects and use them to help you and your partner work through any possible relationship issues.

Q3.2

You meet someone discover that their chart contains particular aspects, which you have in the past clashed with people who have such aspects. What do you do? You are only able to select one option.

Break away from the possible friendship, feeling that no matter how much you try it will only cause you emotional upset.

Worry, as there is reason to assume that there will be problems this time around.

Cannot say as you do not want to know about the charts of your friends.

Not end the new friendship but be ready to discontinue it if the suspected problems you see in their chart emerge.

Look at our own problems with the aspects and meditate on the planetary energies to help you deal with them in a new manner.

Learning from previous experience and take a different approach to the friendship in the hope that it will avoid the problems of the past.

Q3.3

Do you expect to find that members of your own family have similar astrological features or themes in their individual horoscopes, for example, a Sun-Saturn or Capricorn theme? You are only able to select one option.

You have not looked and do not intend to look.

You have looked but have not noticed any themes or patterns in your family’s horoscopes.

Yes, but you think of them as just a coincidence.

Yes, your family has one or more horoscopic themes, which you think has meaning for your family.

Yes, and you not only consider that they have meaning but you expect these themes to be reflected in some way in other generations of your family.

Q3.4.1

If you knew the birth data of a pet, would you do its chart?

Yes

Q3.4.2

If you know your pet’s chart do you expect to see similar astrological features in their chart as you would in one of your family members?

Yes

Q3.5

If you are trying to select the timing of a birth which is going to be a caesarean or inducted but unexpected events occur which alter this timing do you consider that the infant has chosen their own time of birth?

Yes

	No
	Never Considered it.

Section 4 - Your views on fate, destiny or necessity

There are different philosophical positions on the nature of determinism (fate), and also on why, if at all, it is present in our life. This section of the survey is asking your opinion on some of these positions.
With each statement you can select ONE option of the five choices offered.

Q 4.1 To what extent do you feel that the experience of fate in your life comes from:

Q4.1.1

the will of a single divine entity (God) in your life.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.1.2

a divine cosmos/nature (as gods, goddesses, spirits or energies) expressing itself in your life.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.1.3

your soul making a choice to enter a physical state at a particular time to enable it to evolve.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.1.4

your actions in a previous life.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.1.5

the combination of all that has happened in the past with the physical laws of nature which fixes a unique and possible future.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.1.6

previous events in your own personal history, and/or your family’s history and/or your culture’s history.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.1.7

your life being part of and contributing to the emerging patterns formed naturally by the web of life.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.1.8

the human desire for a pattern which strings together what is only a series of coincidences into something which appears to be meaningful.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Below are some statements on the purpose of astrology, for your clients as well as for yourself.

Q4.2 To what extent do you believe that the purpose of astrology is:

Q4.2.1

to be used like a news report about what has happened, what can happen and what cannot happen.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.2.2

to show the place from which the journey of spiritual evolution begins, with the expectation that the chart will eventually becoming obsolete.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.2.3

to be used as a guide to learn your unique pattern of life, mortal and spiritual, so that you can reach the potential as reflected in your natal chart.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.2.4

to be used to help you become aware of, and attuned to, the unfolding will of a divine entity in the cosmos.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q4.2.5

to be used to help you become attuned to and interact with the emerging patterns around you - the natural or secular world.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Section 5 - Your feelings about Astrology

Q5 How do you feel about the following statements?

Q5.1

The future is fully formed and astrology provides a tool to help read that future.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q5.2

Small events in your life can act as indicators of forthcoming, apparently non-related, larger events.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Q5.3

The practice of astrology requires a divine presence in the universe- God, gods or spirits.

strongly disagree

disagree

neither agree or disagree

agree

strongly agree

Thank you for your time and input, these last questions are only if you have the time and feel like writing a few lines.

	What do you like about astrology?

	What do you dislike, if anything, about astrology?

	Do you wish to add anything further:

Thank you for your time. Your answers are important as they help form a global picture of the nature of determinism in the practice of current western astrology.

Remember if you wish to receive some feedback on your survey then make sure you have included your
email address at the top of the survey BEFORE you click "submit"

Would you like a paper copy of this survey?