By JOSIE CLARKE and WARREN GAMBLE
Tricky business, predicting the future. Or is it?
Replying to an advertisement in the Herald for "fresh, lively" horoscope writers unearthed a surprisingly down-to-earth response: experience is preferred but not essential.
Publisher Denis McDonald, advertising for people to pen horoscopes for his 0900 lines, told one inquirer
that "an in-depth knowledge of astrology is not a full requirement."
He added later: "We would probably prefer someone with horoscope experience but there's lots of books."
Mr McDonald's prescription was for upbeat, life-affirming horoscopes covering money and love, including the "racier end of romance."
Heavens! You could see the possibilities: Leo - A tall, dark stranger will make you purr. Or, Gemini - You will fall in love with twins.
When the Herald rang him back to ask him to elaborate, Mr McDonald said he was looking for someone to write in an appropriate style and interpret the stars without going into detail.
Asked if his horoscopes were accurate astrology, he said: "Are all the Herald's horoscopes accurate astrology?
"What we've asked for is someone to write a horoscope in a certain style and part of that is ... the effects; interpretations rather than specifically about what star is doing what.
"I'm not an astrologer. I'm in media and we publish things. We employ people to write things, just like your organisation does."
The Herald's horoscope writer, English-based Nicholas Campion, said the complex rules of astrological interpretation became second nature to astrologers.
They looked at the disposition of the planets for the day, their zodiac positions and the distances between them as measured from Earth. The moon was the most important factor.
Mr Campion said space and style constraints of the publication shaped the predictions.
"The astrologer might write a forecast for the general nature of the day as applied to the typical person born during the relevant month, or might take the forecast as read and offer advice instead ..."
Either way, a horoscope was not expected to apply to all members of one sign, "particularly as astrology assumes we are all unique."
Instead, Mr Campion said brief horoscopes should be seen as a thought for the day that could encourage the reader to reflect on his or her own situation.
Astrology House partner Angela Thomas said horoscope scams, especially those that cost people money, blemished the profession.
"Some people will do whatever it takes to make a quick buck."
