For all of existence, humans have looked up at the stars and wondered – wondered why? Why are we here? What are we made for? And why do I hate that one guy? Well, it seems we have found the answer…Astrology!
What is astrology? According to Britannica astrology is “divination that consists of interpreting the influence of stars and planets on earthly affairs and human destinies.”
In ancient times astrology was inseparable from astronomy (the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe). Astrology originated in Mesopotamia (c. 3rd millennium BC), then spread to India, Islamic tradition, and ancient China. In the Western tradition, astrology developed in the Hellenistic Period from Greek civilization. According to the Greeks, the heavens were divided according to the 12 zodiac constellations. The brightest stars that rose at different periods throughout the year cast a spiritual influence over human lives and events.
In our modern age however, zodiacs have lost their respectability and supreme power in exchange for a few Buzzfeed quizzes. They just make this overgeneralized caste for people to understand themselves! After researching the origins of the zodiac signs, the art of astrology, and interviewing several of our teachers here at Oakland Tech, I have come to the conclusion that what was once the noble science of reading the stars for knowledge and wisdom has transformed into a circus of general personality traits.
I interviewed Ms. Vaughn, Ms. Haugen, and Mr. Livnat on their zodiac signs and their opinions on the reliability of modern astrology. Here are their responses.
Ms. Vaughn (Dec. 11, Sagittarius): She does not follow astrology very closely, but she agrees a little. When asked if zodiacs are real, she responded, “It’s fun to think they are – it makes you think about your life.” In other words, she uses it as a chance to reflect and have some silly fun.
Ms. Haugen (July 21, Cancer – same as Mr. Price!): “Are zodiacs real?” I asked. No…she doesn’t believe they are. She still reads about them, though. When asked if her zodiac is accurate, she laughed and said, “A lot of it…yeah.”
Mr. Livnat (Oct 15, Libra, then Scorpio): He was once considered in the category of Libra, but because the date for the cutoff changed (according to zodiac law or whatever decides this), his birthday changed to be in the Scorpio category. So, does he believe zodiacs are real? He thinks they are probably not real, but that does not mean they are useless as a social convention. When asked if his Zodiac is accurate, he responded, “[It] mostly was accurate. In the newspaper it’s off. But if [an astrologer] comes to tell me it’s very accurate…and personal. The intuition and social convention aspect is how it’s real.”
According to a PBS News article, the percentage of American adults who believe in astrological signs is 34%. In comparison, 42% of adults believe that physical things can have spiritual energies, such as plants, rivers or crystals.
While I may have pronounced modern day astrology a hoax, I still believe there can be some truth found in it. There is no evil in trying to understand yourself through your given archetype, and honestly, it is fun. I think for anyone looking to better understand the ways the world works and the mysteries and magic that we cannot yet comprehend, astrology is an option. It is the most fun way I know to answer the unanswered questions that plague humanity: Why are we here? Who are we? Why are there stars? And who should you date?