Today astrology, if you believe in it at all, is usually considered a guiding force that can't be resisted.  It pushes us around like waves moving driftwood.
    The ancients had a different concept of astrology.  They would have an astrologer do a chart of an infant to discover his weaknesses so the could be taught to overcome them, not to give in to them.  
    For example, I'm a Cancer so my weaknesses include fantasizing.  Living in daydreams.  So the ancient astrologers would have recommended training to get me to apply my ideas to real world situations instead of just fantasizing about them.
    Scorpios tend to be stubborn, opinionated, and control freaks so they would be put in situations where they had to let others be in charge and they had to listen to the opinions of others.