Interesting topic for discussion.

Having read above postings, I have to admit I am quite curious to meet and learn from a bona fide (or as bona fide as possible) astrologer.  Absent that, perhaps the learned ones here, Rahulvai or Geology Tiger for instance, can explain to all of us skeptics here the following:

• How do the planets affect a person's characteristics or future?

• Why is the moment of birth so critical?  If a planet is exercising its power on the child being born, why does that power effective when the said child is born and not before?  You mean to tell me that a centimeter or two of flesh and skin can shield the baby from these all powerful planets until it exits the birth canal while floors of concrete and steel of the hospital amount to nothing?

• How is Suni different than Sukra, or for that matter Budha?  Are the "rays" from these planets different from each other?

• Besides the calculation of the location of heavenly bodies, what exactly is mathematical in astrology?

There are more questions, but let's start with these.  Can anybody address them?

Thanks.