One of my more frequent observations these days is people's lack of tolerance and how readily we denounce anyone's opinion that doesn't match our own. Astrology is not exempt: traditional astrologers condemn modern astrology; Vedic is nonsense; medieval should remain where it was… and so on.

A devout Christian knows his religion to be the only correct one; a Jew feels his is the chosen race al though some of us wish G-d would give someone else a chance! (joke ); Muslims believe theirs is the only way. I believe that provided it isn't harmful to others, if a religion works for the individual, it must be right. Similarly, we should respect the right of a man to pray to many gods – or not to acknowledge any at all.

When my mom died in England , my sisters and I were in a “toestant” about her funeral. Jews are not supposed to be cremated, but this had been my mother's wish. My stepfather had been cremated 17 days earlier and it had been difficult for us. My British sister was happy to “design” her cremation, my Australian sister was overwhelmed by her friends' and rabbi's opinion that a cremation would prevent our mother from rising to wherever the dead rise. I preferred a burial if only to have a place to visit, my attitude being that our decision should be based on our wishes, not on what was religiously correct as no one really knows the answer.

We buried Mom's ashes in her garden and planted a tree which my London sister photographs for us from time to time, so my mother has her permanent place after all.

Over the months, email discussions ensued on the where Mom “was now”.  My opinion was that no one really knows what, if anything happens to the soul after death. There are so many viewpoints and they can't all be right, irrespective of how much proof one has. Ultimately, no matter what our religion, my feeling is that we all go the same route. Who knows, like the Muslims, we may even find the virgins there!

So with astrology, I believe that while each of us has an opinion and trusts specific paths of astrology, we should tolerate and respect that others have theirs.

I'd love to share yours.

By Karen Elaine - view bio.

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