Beware of the dark power of horoscopes!

It was a long time ago that Saint Augustine gave the up to date most convincing philosophical argument against believing in horoscopes (City of God, Book V, Chapters I-VII). Ever since, not only devout Catholics considered an abhorrent example of infidelity to the triune God to turn to idolatrous games of this kind for advice, but also most serious thinkers rejected the idea of our fate being written in the stars.

There seems to be a slight contradiction here, at least when we consider those Catholics, who -following St. Augustine's great example- try to be serious philosophers as well. How could an innocent act of stupidity be a sin? Or, if consulting horoscopes is flirting with evil, does this imply that there is something to it, at the end of all?

It was only through a seemingly insignificant accident that I realized: horoscopes may be tools of Satan, even without having any relevant connection to future that has to come. Sometimes it is sufficient that their readers act under the assumption of their truthfulness, and the prophecies help themselves to become reality with a scary twist.

The following are excerpts from the horoscope for October 20, 1998 published in the University Daily Kansan:

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Today is a 5.

You have been working to solidify a partnership agreement. During the next couple of days, you will learn amazing new things about each other, and what you can produce together. There are definitely areas where you do not agree, and many of those will come up today. See them not as barriers but as stimuli for learning.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Today is a 5.

You are coming into your own, but tie up loose ends first. Some of these might have to do with communication. Someone in your life is laboring under a misconception. You need to clear things up. This will not get easier, and you do not need it dragging you down. You need to get on to other things.

May I humbly ask, what would happen if -after having read his daily encouragement- a male Taurus had asked out a Scorpio girl for a date, and she reacted under the influence of her set of predictions?

As a devout Catholic, an aspiring serious thinker, and a full-blooded Taurus, I can only respond: Apage satanas!