When discussing pop culture astrology, there are two categories most people fit into: full subscribers and eye-rollers (with a bonus crew of “my birthday is in February, so I think I’m an aquamarine?”). I would have to place myself in the full-subscriber category due to the memes I send and receive; my knowledge of the moon phase at any point in time; and the fact that my mom, sister and best friends are the ones who enlighten me to the moon phase at any point in time.
When an eye-roller discovers which category I fall into, I don’t hop on the defensive. Instead, I hit them with my classic comeback: “If the moon controls the tides, who knows what the planets could affect?” In reality, I feel the same way about astrology as I do about religion. I’d be stupid to be positive that it’s real and I’d be stupid to be positive that it isn’t.
I am a fully subscribing astrological agnostic. (And a double Taurus).
However, I do discuss astrology regularly with my friends and family and have no plans to stop, no matter how dramatic of an eye roll I receive. Not only is discussing astrology fun, but it brings to light the unnecessary judgements we pass on people every day. While my mouth is gossiping about the signs, I am internalizing something completely different:
“Oh, she cries a lot because she’s a Pisces.”
Initial judgement: She is way too sensitive. Astrological takeaway: Some people cry a lot and that might just be how they are.
“I never get his jokes because he’s a full-on Capricorn.”
Initial judgement: He’s weird and doesn’t fit in with this crowd. Astrological takeaway: Sense of humor is subjective and as long as it’s not offensive, it’s welcome here.
“As an Aries, he always has angry outbursts, then acts like they didn’t happen.”
Initial judgement: He doesn’t care how his actions affect others. Astrological takeaway: People express emotions in different ways. Maybe what looks like anger to me is actually passion or excitement.
Astrological analysis, even in its most basic form, reminds us that although we have social and cultural norms, we must always respect the infinite variability that is human personality and tendencies.
Astrology also helps us with an important activity that is often forgotten about in the rush to be productive above all else: self-analysis. Whether you read your horoscope and think it’s complete and utter nonsense or feel like whoever wrote it knows you better than you know yourself, you are reflecting. Choosing to agree or disagree with what you read about your sign involves considering a judgement and deciding if that judgement is or is not who you want to be, or who you are. Self-reflection is absolutely necessary for personal growth.
Regardless of what your sign says about you, and whether or not you agree, astrology allows us to pause, look inward and examine our traits, tendencies and how we are perceived by ourselves and others. There is a lack of inner reflection in today’s society. If astrology can help us all do that, does it really matter if it’s “real?”
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