The Stars Are Not Aligned: The Opinionated Astrology Controversy of Our Modern Age
“Astrology!” “Star signs!” “Horoscopes!” As soon as these words are uttered, visceral and intense reactions often appear from the people you would least expect. This topic has somehow become a trigger for people to share their passionate, sometimes fiery, opinions, both in favor of and against this form of divination.
But where does astrology originate? Well, to give a brief background, versions of it have been present in cultures throughout the world for millennia. The practice of astrology finds its origins in ancient Mesopotamia in the 2nd millennium B.C.E., though only certain priests were allowed to look to the stars for messages from the gods. The first time the 12 zodiac signs appeared in their form most similar to today was in ancient Greece, which was influenced by the previous Babylonian astrological signs. But this is just Western astrology. There are other cultural practices from both India and China that have influenced this vein of practice. So even though astrology might seem like a recent phenomenon or trend, it actually has a rich history worldwide, though many people still question its validity and accuracy.
Despite the fact that these practices have stood the test of time, people like Harper Gowen ’26 think that “the characteristics assigned to most star signs are extremely general, so people who do believe in star signs can really easily make a case for themselves, because they can apply to anyone.” Gowen, in particular, is on the side of astrology being “a pseudoscience,” though she acknowledges that she isn’t an expert in astrology and understands that it can inspire community. When questioned about how one person’s beliefs in star signs can negatively impact or hurt other people, she noted “there are a bunch of statistics about what star signs are good together and which aren’t. Perhaps it can be dangerous, because it can prevent you from making [certain] friends.”
Gowen also points out two different sides of astrology believers: people who do it on their own time and like to share with their friends and acquaintances, and those who “use it as a device to gain media popularity.” This can be in the form of selling merchandise, creating relatable content, or trying to make money off of people’s interests and passions in general.
Gowen’s perspective on astrology stands in contrast to that of Astrid Conder ’27 who has been surrounded by this practice for much of her life. She explains, “my mom and all her friends, I feel like we all kind of are pretty into it. I think that my mom kind of was influenced by others, and I think that that also influenced me.” And this seems to have stuck with her. “I do believe in them,” Conder stated about astrology. “I think that your star sign says a lot about you, and I think that a lot of your traits are close to your star sign.” Conder feels that “it’s just fun to think about.” And it doesn’t dictate her life either. “I don’t think it really influences too much other than maybe I’ll do something and my mom will be like, that’s such an Aquarius trait, because I’m an Aquarius.” Conder in particular actually really relates to her star sign’s traits, especially when it comes to organization and feeling like she knows what she wants.
She does feel the influence of sceptics, saying, “I feel like some think I’m crazy, and they’re like, no, it’s not real. But that’s also kind of what their star sign would say.” Conder has had friends that have come around, though. “At first maybe they were like, I don’t know. And then they looked it up, they’re like, this is literally, the definition of me.”
Craig Schuetze, Sequoyah high school’s resident fashion icon and Humanities teacher, on the other hand, did not always feel so connected to his star sign. He had little exposure to astrology growing up in the Midwest, but “there was a moment as a teenager, in like 10th grade, and I looked around and all my closest friends were Pisces, and I was like, oh, okay, this probably means something,” especially since he is Pisces himself. Also, at some point Schuetze noticed he had “never met a Pisces” he “wouldn’t [want to] be friends with.” His evolving beliefs that astrology does mean something and impacts a person’s life, directly or indirectly, were further confirmed through this realization.
Schuetze also sees the opposition to astrology in the world. He thinks this is partially because some people “think that it will literally tell your fate, or something like that, instead of explaining these various forces and how they relate to the way that the planets are shifting.” All in all, he sees it more as an explanation for your traits and life, not necessarily as something that has the power to change the outcome of your future.
Finally, astrology can be a lot more than just a pastime: it can be a real community, especially for marginalized people. Schuetze sees that “especially in LA, astrology culture and queer culture are inextricably tied. I think that there’s lots of reasons for why that is, but [definitely] being different has been historically revered in lots of societies.” He continued,“I wonder if some of the aversion to astrology that I’ve encountered in other places [of the country] is an aversion to queer culture or at least an aversion to things that are not Christian.”
Despite all of these differing viewpoints on the place that star signs should take in our daily lives, Conder boils it down to: “Astrology is fun. Believing in [my] star sign brings me joy, and for me, I think it’s really true.” Thoughts on astrology seem to just come down to personal opinions and experiences, but if this is an outlet and hobby for people, then it should not be discouraged if it is not used in an unhealthy way. “I like sharing my interests with other people, but I’m not going to persuade or encourage people to do it” if they don’t want to, said Conder. So, even if you don’t believe in astrology yourself, ask an enthusiastic proponent, like Schuetze, about the current state of the stars because, as he says, “I definitely notice when we’re in Mercury Retrograde.” You might just learn something new!