2 days ago I did something I'd never have guessed I'd do: I met with a Vedic Astrologer and had my chart read. This experience revealed a lot to me -- and not just regarding my chart. It ultimately forced me to stop and ask myself, "Do I believe in fate or free will? And how does that belief affect my decisions?"
It is Written..
To believe in fate is to believe that everything is already determined; destined; "meant to be". It is already written (and might as well be in stone). In a way this offers great comfort. It means that everything already has its place and that there are certain things we can trust deeply in; if your chart says you will be prosperous, you will; if your chart says you will get ill, you will. This knowing brings with it a sense of peace. What will happen, will. And that is all.
The Butterfly Effect...
On the other hand sits free will -- the idea that each and ever moment contains within it an infinite number of decisions that could be made that would ripple through a person's life resulting in a different outcome. This thought process brings with it agency; we can make anything happen. But it also brings uncertainty and potential worry -- if we can walk any path in the world, how do we choose which one to follow??
Decision Making
Ultimately it probably doesn't matter. Whether ruled by fate or free will, if we cannot know, then we can only act according to our what works best for us. After my reading I was filled with a sense of excitement and confidence; I felt oddly validated and reassured in the path I was following and the feelings I was experiencing because some random guy across the planet read my chart and said things that fell in line with my own experiences and observations. 2 days later, I'd convinced myself that he'd probably scoured my Instagram and website and came up with things that I'd want to hear based on that.
While a certain level of skepticism is healthy, there is no reason for me to believe my doubts more than the astrologer. I felt good and confident and capable believing him but felt disappointed and doubtful of myself believing my Instagram theory. In a way, it doesn't matter if he is credible or not; whatever I choose to believe is what I choose to act on is what gets perpetuated into my life experience.
What I'm getting at here is that we determine our experience of reality. Whatever we believe in and act upon becomes our reality. We are, in that way, in charge. So call it fate or call it free will, but whatever you do: call the shots in the way that positions you to be the person you dream to be. Maybe that person is who you're destined to be. Or maybe it is who you choose to become. So long as you take action to be that person, does it really matter?
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