Is Astrology Metaphysics or Science?

 On the internet, people often debate whether astrology, also known as zodiac studies, is credible, and whether it should be categorized as metaphysics or science. Those who believe in it are very certain, while those who don’t treat it as superstition.

I want to write a series of articles to systematically introduce the basics of astrology, from the first encounter with a natal chart to eventually being able to interpret one’s own chart in a structured way. All of this will be practical knowledge of astrology, and for me, it will also be a process of summarization and practice. I will not update every day continuously, but will intersperse regular horoscope analysis, and I will place them under one topic so that people who want to dive deeper can easily access them. Before starting, I’d like to talk about a broader question: is astrology metaphysics or science?

Science is about summarizing and explaining the laws of how the world works. It focuses more on logic and evidence and is built upon the existing system of human knowledge. It’s hard to determine exactly when science originated since there’s no clear boundary—our ancestors have been constantly summarizing and exploring since the very first day of human existence.

Using wood to make fire is science, inventing the bow and arrow is science, domesticating poultry and large-scale farming are also science. If you recognize Copernicus’s heliocentric theory, you cannot deny that Eudoxus’s geocentric theory was also science—it was all about summarizing rules, just a matter of right or wrong. Modern science, however, progresses at a speed visible to the naked eye.

From Newton’s three laws of motion to Einstein’s theory of relativity, and now to the very popular quantum mechanics, from Watt using steam to power machines to later oil, and now to electricity, wind, and nuclear energy, from ancient people relying on plants and animals as medicine to Fleming’s discovery of penicillin and today’s various chemical drugs and genetic biology studied worldwide—these all demonstrate the power of science.

The principle of science in summarizing world laws is that there must be evidence and it must be explainable within the existing system of human knowledge. This also aligns with how people understand the world: truth must be visible and logically sound. It’s like our attitude toward others—if someone claims to be rich, they need to show evidence, not just boast.

Science pursues objective materialism. By contrast, people generally regard metaphysics as complete idealism. For example, theories of past lives, karma, or the worship of gods in various religions—many people reject them because they cannot be seen or touched. Just like the debate around astrology: can you really know my personality just by looking at a chart? Can you predict my love life and marriage? This seems like fatalism, which directly contradicts the belief instilled in us from a young age—that humans can conquer nature and that we have free will. Ordinary people prefer to think that life is open to choices and self-determination.

The debate between science and metaphysics has existed for a long time. But what I want to say is that astrology does not entirely belong to metaphysics. It cannot explain why humanity exists, nor will it tell you which god to pray to in order to make your wishes come true. Astrology also cannot explain strange supernatural events you may encounter.

Like science, astrology also attempts to establish a complete system to explain the world and human patterns within it. Similar to Chinese Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny) or physiognomy, it is not pure imagination but the result of centuries of observation and summarization. It cannot be equated with religion or metaphysics. For example, in physiognomy, if someone has a prominent forehead, it is said to indicate strong ancestral roots. This conclusion comes from observing many people with such a feature. Later, this pattern was applied to others.

Astrology works the same way: people born in certain months do tend to share certain personality traits. Although individuals vary greatly, these commonalities are largely valid. Some people display them more clearly, others less so, and they may manifest in different contexts. When using a natal chart (a projection of the sky’s constellations along the zodiac at one’s time of birth), the analysis becomes even more detailed and concrete.

These theories have been summarized over thousands of years and then reapplied to others. Therefore, I classify astrology as part of statistics. Science is about investigating things and finding universally repeatable rules. Metaphysics is similar. The essence of science is the openness of questioning authority, while most metaphysics resembles the privatization of explanatory power.

However, they are not opposites. The valuable part of science is that it continues to explore and acknowledges that many unknown laws of the world still exist, while metaphysics often tries to use a single ultimate theory to explain everything. But whether the explanation works or not, we should not cling to a prejudice that science is the only correct way to understand the world.

If we think that way, it would go against the very spirit of science. From geocentrism to heliocentrism, from Newton’s classical mechanics to the uncertainty of quantum mechanics, from molecules as fixed entities to the diffraction of light, from a firm belief in a three-dimensional world to the exploration of parallel universes, science has always advanced rationally. And this progress is built upon acknowledging ignorance. Modern science and society have developed rapidly precisely because we admitted our own ignorance.

Astrology provides a system that offers a theoretical framework, whether for exploring ourselves or the larger world, giving us another kind of answer. Interpreting one’s natal chart is only one branch of astrology, not the entirety.

From the Sun in a person’s natal chart, one can see life’s ultimate destination; from Venus, one can see a person’s values; from the Moon, one can see inner emotions and deepest needs; even a minor planet like Chiron can reveal the deepest wounds.

Science and metaphysics are never opposites but coexist. The saying “the end of science is metaphysics” may not necessarily be true, but as long as we acknowledge our ignorance and keep an open mind, inheriting the wisdom of our predecessors, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.