Astrology: quantum (and other) woo

[Mojo]

Metro, a free newspaper given away on public transport in London and elsewhere, has a new astrologer, Wendy Bristow. They’ve published an interview with her in today's paper, and guess what:

There’s a cutting edge movement in astrology now that looks at quantum physics. It seems to fit better with astrology than anything else we’ve seen in science so far.

Q. In what way?

Quantum physics is all about things making patterns – fractals that you can draw. You can see the same patterns in a snail’s shell as you see in the stars in the universe. It’s as if they’re the same. Astrology is about patterns in time.

Would any physicists like to comment, once they’ve cleaned the tea or coffee off their screen and keyboard?

I’ve written to them pointing out that QM deals with very small things, and planets and stars only look small because they are far away (Father Dougal McGuire also had trouble with this concept so I suppose she’s in good, or at least appropriate, company), but I doubt they’ll print it.

She uses the “if the moon can influence the tides then, seeing as we’re 70% water, maybe it can affect us too” line as well, so I guess she also doesn’t realise that gravity affects substances other than water.

Oh, and the killer:

…when I get it wrong, and this is true of every astrologer, it’s often down to people’s interpretation.

So it’s your fault she got it wrong! When she said you’d meet a tall dark stranger, you should have interpreted it as meaning that you’d spend the whole day in bed with flu!

 

[l0rca]

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49872

:-/

 

[sat556]

I heard an interview with some psychic the other day. When asked about the way this works, she mentioned quantum and said something like 'I can get into that if you wish'. Damn I wish the interviewer has wished.

 

[Mojo]

http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49872

:-/

Ah yes, that's the one.

 

[SpaceFluffer]

Would any physicists like to comment, once they’ve cleaned the tea or coffee off their screen and keyboard?

My keyboard is covered in tears and vomit, thank you very much. I don't think I need add anything, other than it's refreshing to hear someone get QM so completely wrong that she's talking about a different subject, instead of merely misusing it. Honestly - what the heck do fractals and patterns have to do with QM?!?

I can only assume that this paper is worth what you paid for it.

 

[kmortis]

This is why I only get my horoscopes from respected astrologers.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

You will soon be unwillingly forced into a flurry of activity when you are chosen to host the 2014 Winter Olympiad.

 

[VoloVersio]

This is why I only get my horoscopes from respected astrologers.

Wow. Can I have your autograph for the future?