“Astrology isn’t accurate. There’s no real evidence,” Richard Montgomery High School sophomore and Virgo Duncan McKirgan said — and he’s not alone in this belief. The majority of the public thinks of astrology in the same realm as phony fortune tellers and scams. Astrology may be a fun pastime, but nearly no one believes in its accuracy.
The world now is oriented in technology and science; both communities reject astrology as an explanation for anything in the universe. Astrology’s predictions have often failed. However, many people have learned more about themselves from astrology and in that aspect, it is both legitimate and valuable.
Most people don’t know any astrology beyond the name of their zodiac or sun sign so it’s understandable why no one believes in it. Astrology is a system made of planets, houses, elements, signs, and degrees. In Western astrology there are 12 houses and the planets of our solar system (along with the Sun) are placed in them according to a person’s birth date, time and place.
Each house is related to an aspect of life. Houses can have many planets inside them or be completely empty. Every planet is in a specific zodiac sign and the 12 zodiac signs can be sorted into elements. For example, Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces are the water signs. The signs are also split into 30 degrees, each with a specific meaning. All of this makes up a person’s birth chart.
Astrology has never been scientifically proven and is recognized as a pseudoscience, but it has been around for 2,400 years. According to Live Science, the Babylonians had developed their own horoscopes by then. However, the types of astrology used in the past are different from what is seen today. In the U.S., people usually think of Western astrology, but many cultures have their own forms. For example, Chinese zodiacs are based on your birth year. They also have elements, but there are five: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
In the past, some people looked to gods when faced with crisis and others looked to the stars. Why should astrology be seen as less respectable than religion? Richard Montgomery sophomore and Aries Amy Ye said, “I always see people making fun of those who believe in astrology.” Neither religion or astrology have solid evidence and yet people regard them as completely different. In truth, they are quite similar; they’re just ways humans understand the world around them. Whether people believe in an all-powerful creator or just the stars and universe, they should be able to express their personal truths freely.
Most people interested in astrology don’t take it quite so seriously. Richard Montgomery junior and Libra Lila Halper said, “I think it’s cool because it gives you a different perspective on life and outer space.” Ye said, “People often ask about your zodiac as a fun fact.” Astrology is just a fun way to understand yourself and the universe, but social media has completely changed public perception of it.
Nearly everyone who knows about astrology has learned about it from the media. McKirgan said, “I see astrology a lot on social media like TikTok and Instagram.” The problem with social media’s portrayal of astrology is that it’s very stereotypical, which is why people consider it nonsense. Each astrological placement is specific, but usually social media only mentions sun signs.
The posts relating to astrology will put signs in categories according to their basic characteristics, but no one bothers to dig deeper. However, people who go further often find they relate to their placements. Halper researched astrology and said, “I’d say astrology is very accurate. I use an app, CoStar, and I’ve found that I relate to many of my zodiac’s traits.” Richard Montgomery freshman Josie Ngyuen said, “I didn’t believe in astrology at first, but my birth chart fit me so perfectly. I was surprised.”
Written by Madeline Springer of Richard Montgomery High School
Graphic courtesy of Tia Daher of Seneca Valley High School