Life is like a Round of Golf: You Need a Map

By Pauline Edward

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An avid golfer once told me that the game of Golf was a metaphor for life. He never did give me his explanation, but no matter, I have since developed my own. I happened to be searching for a way of showing how astrology is used. People ask: Why consult the "stars"? I know where I'm going, what more will it give me? I don't believe in destiny, I'd rather determine my own future. I don't want anyone to influence my decisions. Legitimate questions and objections indeed. I needed a tangible analogy. It was a light bulb moment: the game of golf!

When giving talks to business groups, I often arrive with my 9-iron. I like the number 9. I'm a novice, make that a would-be novice! But, I do have friends who golf, and I'm not averse to asking questions, such as: What do you call those flags that are sticking out of the holes, or, Do golf courses have maps? Over the years, I've found that asking the right questions generally gets me the answers I need.

Golf, my research led me to soon discover, is a complex and fascinating sport. It has rules, dress codes, social protocol and business etiquette, environmental issues (to spray or not to spray), sex (balls and sweet spots), and Zen-like attributes. No wonder so many people get hooked!

So, as I swing my 9-iron, the breadth of my swing determined by the amount of space between the overhead projector and furniture in the room, I ask, How many golfers are in the room? Sometimes I'm lucky to get one, sometimes I get a roomful of golfers. But no matter the count, I follow through with my routine.

Most golf courses, I'm told, provide a card with a map, I point out. Why? I ask. So you can have an idea of where you are going, is the usual response. Golf courses also have pins, to mark the positions of the holes. So, while you keep your eye on the ball, you have a general idea of where you are going. Actually, the big picture kind of sits there, quietly in the back of your mind while you focus on making your best shot to the next hole.

Does the fact that you have consulted the map indicate how well or how poorly you will play? Because you have consulted the map and focused on the pins, has the outcome of your game been predetermined? Is your freedom to play your best game diminished? The answer to all these questions is a resounding "no". The fact of the matter is that consulting the map and keeping an eye on the pins helps you focus and direct your attention. Knowledge of the layout of the course enhances your game, and gives you confidence. Practice, skill, training and mindset are more likely to determine the outcome of our game than the map or the pins.

Would you play golf without a map or pins? You could, but it might take you several weeks to complete 9 holes if you had no idea of the layout of the course.

Now I ask, Why live your life without a map or pins? Astrology gives you the map and the pins of the course of your life! It provides you with information about the layout of your life, its timings, trends and tendencies. You remain free to play out your life any which way you choose, but you remain on the course of your life. Ultimately, your fate is in your hands; astrology helps you play your best game.