Is your astrology “for entertainment only”?
May 23, 2008
Is the astrological work you do “for entertainment only”? New Consumer Protection Regulations go into effect in the United Kingdom on Monday which will require astrologers and others to put just such a disclaimer on their services.
According to BBC News and The Times Online, astrologers will now be forced to tell clients that their work is “for entertainment only” and not “experimentally proven.” Also included in the new laws: psychics, mediums, spiritualists, faith healers, and other practitioners of “paranormal activities.”
David Wighton, providing business commentary for Times Online, writes, “Some (astrologers) have argued that it is unfair to treat them differently from religions that offer promises of eternal life, although these promises are no more proven.”
My question to astrologers in the UK and elsewhere: how do you feel about the prospect of being forced to provide a disclaimer? To astrology clients: does this affect how you feel about approaching an astrologer for a reading?
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May 23, 2008 at 10:00 am
I think it’s stupid to make laws you can’t enforce. Get a task force of undercover agents who book appointments with astrologers to check compliance. ::rolls eyes:: Makes the establishment look ridiculous.
May 23, 2008 at 10:48 am
Good post Christine and thanks for the heads-up on this…
I’m in the UK and will be interested to see how this is enforced, because nobody has told me anything apart from you. Still, putting a few disclaimers around the place is probably not too much hassle, although I much prefer the angle of ‘for enlightenment purposes only’ myself. I think this simply puts the UK on a par with several states in the US, although I’m sure your North American readers will be better informed than me. A number of anomalies spring immediately to mind, for example will newspaper horoscopes have to say the same thing and what if I decide to move my website hosting overseas? All in all it won’t make any difference to what I do, because nobody believes the government in any case.
Looking forward to hearing whenever they are ready!
Paul x
May 23, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Hi Christine,
I wasn’t even aware of this until I read your post (Thanks Christine!).
Oh my god! How can astrologers be taken seriously with a ‘for entertainment only’ disclaimer on their website or business?
I think this new law is a disgrace for our profession…
May 23, 2008 at 1:22 pm
My astrology is certainly not “for entertainment purposes only.” I try to make it entertaining so readers will come back. I think astrology is a profound system for understanding both human behavior and the interconnectedness of all things. But apparently lawmakers have such narrow tunnel-vision that they can only see up their yin-yangs. This kind of stuff really ticks me off, especially because many other professional practices have not been “experimentally proven.” Psychoanalysis, for example. You don’t see Medical Doctors or PhDs carted off because they spend 3 hours a week with a patient talking about their patient’s desire to devour their mother.
May 23, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Hi Christine,
Ditto to Jeffrey’s statement.
I’m surprised this would occur in the UK–I always thought they were a hotbed of spiritual activity represented by long-standing organizations–but apparently not.
I wouldn’t take the label too seriously, though–we have plenty of entertainment that touches our hearts, makes us cry, teaches us something, or illuminates the human condition–I think we call that ‘Art,’ and in the strictest sense, that’s only for entertainment, too; so let’s call ourselves “Spiritual Artists” and get on with our work!
May 23, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Lame and a waste of effort. What experiments have even been done to prove astrology, aside from the usual amount of You Are Not Your Sun Sign?
May 24, 2008 at 4:25 am
I think this is well overdue. I hope that organised religions are also required to add the term “for entertainment only” in the coming years. Astrology is a total scam. “Spiritual Artists” I hear one contributor, more like con artists. You should be ashamed for misleading the ignorant and vulnerable and stealing their money. Although, not widely publicised, this new law is the beggining of the end for soothsayers and other phoneys. Next stop, Religion!!
May 27, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Thanks, folks. Comments are now closed.