Determinism in Horoscopic Astrology?

命里有时终须有，命里无时莫强求

The song by Hong Kong singer Sam Hui? Yes and no. This is from 《增广贤文》, a collection of ancient Chinese proverbs compiled during the Ming Dynasty. When people read this saying, two camps of perspectives are easily formed. One camp, radiating successful vibes, will criticized the proverb as pessimistic, defeatist way of thinking， alluding to the other camp. The other camp though, facing these criticism, remains unperturbed, seemingly having an magnanimous, worldly and philosophical outlook on life. And they perhaps reciting a famous line from the Ming era poem 《桃花庵歌》 by Tang Yin (唐伯虎, Ming Dynasty). 别人笑我太疯癫，我笑他人看不穿. Yes, the classic line in the movie by Stephen Chow.  

In some ways, similar to the popular half cup full or half cup empty saying. Such proverbs easily attract viewpoints largely focusing on one's attitude, and often perceived as the grounds for success or failure. No matter which camp you are siding with, you are not wrong. Because they are subjective.

But as an astrologer on destiny, I don't see it as half full or half empty. It is simply a half cup of water. That is a concrete fact. That is objective. 命里有时终须有，命里无时莫强求. 有就是有。没有就是没有。Not about negativity or positivity. In your birth chart lies life events or situations that are concrete and objective, good or bad. Your areas of success or setbacks are shown in your birth chart. Regardless of your attitude or viewpoint, these concrete life events or situations won't change. Determinism? Largely, yes. But not only having different background and different culture leads to differences, we also do have a choice how we want to react. We can make a decision from these events or situations. Definitely, we encourage a positive mindset. After all, in the face of setbacks, we can find little joys.

So don't be discouraged when people say you are not as successful as others because they think you did not make enough effort compared to them. Don't be conceited when you are successful than others thinking it is because you make more effort than others. Well, as John Lennon says, 'after all it is written in the stars.'