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Updated: Jun 26, 2021 34 Comments · by

Do You Believe in Astrology?

Lifestyle |

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What are your thoughts on astrology, readers? 

My impression (mostly based on scrolling through Instagram, etc.) is that millennials seem to be really into astrology compared to other generations — and I did some quick Googling to see if that's the case. A search turned up a bunch of headlines along the same lines, like, “Why Are Millennials So Into Astrology” (The Atlantic), “Why Millennials Are Turning to Astrology (Guardian), and “How Astrology Took Over the Internet” (NYT). And here's the bigger picture: A recent Pew study found that 29% of U.S. adults believe in astrology. We thought this would be a fun discussion today — for readers of any generation. So, do tell: Do you believe in astrology, to any degree — or do you think it's bunk? How old are you, how strongly are your beliefs (one way or the other), and if you DO believe in astrology, what are your favorite resources?

To kick things off, here are some personal thoughts on astrology from four Corporette team members (with an age breakdown of three younger Gen Xers and one older millennial): 

Kate

I don't put much stock into astrology … but it would be hypocritical of me to say it's a silly interest/hobby, because my “thing” is that I’m pretty superstitious; I have to throw salt over my left shoulder when I spill some, and often say “knock on wood!” to avoid jinxing things. (I know, am I 80 years old?) As for astrology, I do know that I was born on the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp and that I'm a Horse (with a Snake husband and Tiger son — I'm a teeny bit more interested in the Chinese Zodiac than average because my husband is Chinese). But I am definitely not worried about bad things happening when Venus is in retrograde, and I don't read my horoscope (well, anymore), and I only thought to look up my son's star sign several years after he was born. OK, I do own a Sagittarius constellation necklace — a cheaper version of this one — and as a kid, I once racked up big charges on a 1-900 astrology number…

Kat 

I have always identified strongly with my sign, Aquarius — we're supposed to be creative, aloof, introverts, loyal. (When I was around my preteen years I was super into astrology and other occult type things, and my mom had my chart read — all I remember was that it was a huge printout. Oh, and a tarot card reader I visited on a lark kind of predicted me meeting my husband.) Back to astrology: Years ago when I was single, I found a magnet that had all these traits of an Aquarian that I agreed with — YES, I thought, this magnet GETS me! When I met my husband and we got serious, I bought a second magnet with his sign (Libra) and, funnily enough, that was the first time I noticed how NEGATIVE my magnet was, and how POSITIVE his magnet was. When I went back to the store I realized they had two magnets for every sign — negative ones and positive ones. DOH. We now have the magnets for every family member (see image above).

Rebecca 

As a tween, teen, and into my 20s, I recall I would frequently check my horoscope in magazines like Sassy, then later Bust, and Village Voice or other alt weeklies — places where they were meant to be fun or silly or entertaining. At some point a long time ago, I looked up my birthday, sun sign (Cancer), and even my sun sign/Chinese horoscope combo (Cancer/Goat). To remind myself of Cancer's supposed traits because it has been so long, I looked it up before writing this. I think I do line up with the best (and the worst?) traits of my sign: I like to be a homebody (but not always), I consider myself to be sensitive in an empathic way, and as recently as a few days ago, I was checking out some moon-shaped jewelry. It turns out the moon is Cancer's ruling “planet,” so that tracks. :) [Rebecca also shared a podcast recommendation: “Night Call, which talks about some occult-ish things — aliens, cults, Ouija, hauntings — but in a skeptical way, and they take listener calls and emails. Worth a listen!”] 

Elizabeth

Here's mine: I’m an elder millennial, but for the most part, astrology has never been particularly appealing to me. (Maybe because I’m an intense Scorpio who can’t be bothered with stuff that I don’t totally understand?) I did recently download the Co-Star app after reading about it somewhere. It gives you a detailed horoscope based on your birthdate and time, and for some reason, I’ve really been getting a kick out of them. This morning’s push notification was “Spend your money today.” Don't mind if I do, DvF dress!!

So, let's discuss: Do you believe in astrology? Do you read your horoscope regularly? Do you feel like your star sign fits your personality? 

About Kate Antoniades

Editor of Corporette since 2014, Kate Antoniades lives in her hometown of Rochester, NY. A cat person and Oxford comma loyalist, she loves thrift shopping and has too many craft supplies.

Comments

  1. ATL rette

    I also am an older millennial and downloaded Co-Star. I like the daily push notifications as just a little thought or intention or fun “mantra” for the day. Sometimes they’re relevant to my life, sometimes not, sometimes they make me go “oh yeah I should do that”.

    I don’t necessarily believe in astrology, but I don’t *not* believe. It’s entertaining, it’s not hurting anyone, so why not get a kick out of reading my horoscope?

  4. Lots to Learn

    This may sound harsh, but I don’t really care: I can’t believe that anyone with half a brain believes in Astrology. I have no problem with people referring to their sign and its traits in a joking kind of way or looking up their daily horoscope purely for entertainment purposes, but to actually believe it at any level? I find that horrifying. I’m 50.

    • anon

      That does sound harsh. I don’t think people who believe in astrology are any more “horrifying” than people who are religious.

      It’s not my jam, but I can see how astrology could potentially be a useful tool for introspection. I feel the same way about tarot cards. Do I believe they can they predict the future? No. But maybe your daily tarot card (or horoscope, or bible reading, or whatever) will make you reflect on your current emotions, anxieties, and fears – which can help you begin to address them, rather than trying to ignore them completely.

      FWIW I’m 28 (and I personally would like to believe I have more than “half a brain”…)

    • Ellen

      I do believe in it, even if it does not always work. I had a 30 minute consultation with a woman astrologist on Canal Street who, for $75, read my sign and told me all kinds of stuff about me, my family, my freinds and men who might be compatible with me. About 90% of it was true, 5% could be true (in the future), and 5% was not true. She got specific, also, telling me my dad’s name and his milatary and educational history (she did not get MIT, but did get Stamford right), and his current situeation (retired). I do not think any schmoe off the street could do that! She also said I would have babies and get married and live in the suburb’s, but she could not pinpoint where. So there is alot to be said for it after all! YAY!

  5. Emily

    Look, if all of my fixed sign placements give me a way to understand my stubbornness, my Capricorn Venus and general lack of water signs explain why I’m not that into feelings, and my Taurus moons balances my Aquarius Sun in ways that are interesting to think about, I’m all for it. (and yes, Millennial here)

    In seriousness, it’s less that I “believe” in astrology as that it’s fun to think about and an avenue for reflection. It’s never influenced a major decision, for example.

    Also Chani Nicholas is great.

    • Anonnn

      I agree. I ignore astrology, but I think of it as falling into the same broad category as Tarot cards, guided meditation, the Hogwarts sorting hat, Myers-Briggs, patron saints, “horse person vs. cat person vs. dog person,” the nefarious effects of being named “Tristram,” and many other traditions that involve pattern recognition, reflection, and cultivated affinities. I think the signs in particular convey a healthy reminder that people are different and we should cut one another some slack.

      If there’s anything to it at all, it probably has something to do with people who are born at one time of year sharing certain traits/predispositions that are different from people who were born at another time of year, depending on hemisphere and climate (I think this is true for certain health outcomes, for example). But that’s not at all the premise of astrology.

  6. I do

    I strongly believe in Vedic astrology (from India). It is practiced and respected as a science. A well regarded Vedic astrologer was able to pin point with precision the year I would get married, how many kids I would have, and even the fact that I would lose a child (which I did). I met him when I was 16, and everything he has predicted so far has come true. He also does not accept any payment — many of them believe it is a gift from G-d and refuse to take money.

    Now the daily horoscopes you read in the paper — I think that is more for fun and not to be taken seriously.

  7. LaurenB

    I do “lightly” identify with my sign because I do fit the general description of my sign (Capricorn), but I also know that it’s complete nonsense and nothing more than harmless entertainment. To believe it in seriously? That falls along the same lines as believing that the earth is flat and vaccines are dangerous and climate change isn’t real, and I would be horrified to find that Corporette readers, who are well-educated professionals, would really believe in it.

  9. Cat

    while I suspect everyone in my 30-something circle knows their sign, the only time we “talk” about it is teasing someone if they’re being super-representative of a famous sign characteristic, like a Virgo friend being super picky about something, or a Leo having a diva moment. So, occasional entertainment value, but actually “believing” in it, no.

  10. Belle Boyd

    While I totally fit the classic Libra description, I only read my horoscope for sh!ts and giggles. I can tell you, though, that if I read my horoscope and it tells me to buy a lottery ticket — I am legit headed to the little convenience store down the street and plunking down a buck or two on the Powerball or Megamillions. Yeah, I think it’s a load of hooey, but who I am I to mess with the stars if they have it in mind to make me a millionaire? :)

    • Anonymous

      same! I also totally buy a lotto ticket if I think I am entitled to good luck or feeling lucky that day.

    • Chris

      Agree and I am a Libra too. Baby Boomer age group. I hate that name for us, BTW. Like Cat, friends and I sometimes tease each other when we are demonstrating a stereotypical behavior of our sign. For example, a good friend, another Libra, go out for a meal. It takes 30 minutes or more to order because we both have to weigh and discuss the pros and cons of every menu selection that appeals to us!

      But believe in astrology, no. I am very skeptical. My skepticism increased even more because of my science major in college. I want to see lots of data to support your claim and the math used in your conclusions had better be good math. Too many people, yes, even careful scientists. do not always use appropriate statistical tests in their experiments.

  11. Anemone

    Please watch the Orville episode “All the World is Birthday Cake” for my thoughts on astrology.

    • Anonymous

      But the fortune only comes true if you eat the whole cookie before you read the fortune.

  13. TX-IHC

    100% yes. I think the description of myself is fairly accurate and when I look at who my friends are and what signs they happen to be, they tend to fall into a few of the same signs or type of sign (air, fire, etc.) that I get along with. I seriously worry that I will have kids in a sign that will be very contentious!
    I’m a 30-yr-old millennial and have enjoyed horoscopes since I was a kid. My mom was probably the one who got me into it.

    • LaurenB

      Fascinating how my twins are obviously the same sign (Leo) and yet wildly different personalities. Fascinating how a few minutes would cause that … lol.

    • Anon

      Daily horoscopes, no. Broad effects of planetary positions/cycles, moreso. If the moon can move the ocean, it’s not that much of a logical leap for me to believe there could also be an effect on squishy human brains.

  15. Jamicano

    We need to first develop more fluid categories of belief and disbelief. We cannot simply say that followers of astrology wholly believe in it, or that others completely disbelieve. It is a complex question

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