How accurate is a horoscope from the weekend paper?!

How accurate is a horoscope from the weekend paper?

I've noticed that with these short horoscope reading, they are written very generally so almost anyone could relate to what is being said.
Are they purely for entertainment, or can some fact be drawn from them?

Hi Emily,

You are right. Those weekly/monthly horoscopes are written very generally. Some are written by professional astrologers. However, they are only based on Sun signs and so they are not very accurate at all. If I was being generous, I would say that the best ones written by professional astrologers are no more than 10% accurate.

As you probably know, the birth chart of an individual is highly complex and unique. You not only have a Sun sign, but a Moon sign, a Mercury sign, a Venus sign etc all the way down to Pluto. You also have a Rising sign or Ascendant and much more besides.

In order for a prediction to be accurate for you, it must be based on your chart alone and be done by a person who is familiar with the various methods of astrological prediction. One of the most common of these methods, and one which I use for predictive work, is transits. An astrologer will look at how the planets currently moving through the sky are impacting on your natal Sun, Moon, planets, Ascendant etc and suggest possible influences.

When used properly, astrology can be a wonderful tool to help someone understand their strengths and weaknesses. It can also be a great help when a person is going through tough times, since it helps them to know when the difficult times will be over.

I've been studying and practicing astrology for over 20 years now (as a passionate interest, I don't get paid). I've done many, many charts and done a great deal of predictive work for friends, family and, more recently, for people here, and if it didn't work, I would have given it up a long, long time ago.

But as for weekly horoscopes, I wouldn't put too much faith in them. Here's a tip, though. If you read the prediction for your Rising sign as well as your Sun sign, it increases the accuracy slightly.

Also, you need to be aware that some horoscopes are not even written by professional astrologers. In Australia, some of the more respectable professional astrologers are Karen Mooregold, Milton Black and Jessica Adams. If the horoscope is written by one of them, then at least you know that they are knowledgeable professionals, and that they are trying to make their predictions as accurate as possible.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes :)