Many people write off astrology from the first time they hear about it, saying that there is no science to back up the claims made by the belief. People label astrology as pseudoscience; how could the day you were born to determine who you are and what your personality is? Despite these claims seeming harsh, they’re actually right. There are no hard facts behind astrology. However, the ‘industry’ of astrology still makes millions each year, whether it be through merchandise like shirts or through calendars that tell you what your horoscope is. If there is no way to know that astrology is real, then why is it such a popular topic?

A Bit of Background

In order to understand why so many people believe in astrology, it is important to understand where the belief originated. Astrology originated almost three centuries before the common era, starting in Mesopotamia before spreading quickly to India. During the Hellenistic period, astrology went west into Greece and spread throughout Eurasia when it became a part of Arab teachings during the Middle Ages. Now, it is a worldwide phenomenon that a majority of the population has heard of. 

There are twelve zodiac signs that someone can fall under. Your sign is determined by your day of birth, with your birth year having little significance unless you dive way deeper into the topic. These signs came from constellations that appear in the sky during specific times of the year.

There are many levels to astrology, including what sign you appear to be when people first meet you, what sign corresponds to your inner beliefs, etc. For the sake of brevity, we will just stick to your sun sign, which is the overarching sign that most people are familiar with. 

More aspects to be familiar with are daily and monthly horoscopes, which tell a person what the day or month will hold for them based on their zodiac sign. Also associated with signs are character traits and physical traits; the latter tends to make people suspicious, but it is strongly believed by some that you can tell someone’s sign by looking at them. 

A Way to Relate

It is no secret that astrology makes for a great conversation starter. Many times, the first thing someone asks another person is about their zodiac sign. It can be fun to guess and laugh about how wrong or right you are. However, there may be a deeper reason for people wanting to relate to the signs ‘assigned’ traits. 

Many dispute claims of pseudoscience by saying that any religion has the same amount of fact behind it as astrology does. While this may or may not be true, there could be a connection between astrology and religious beliefs. As with any religion, people want to have something firm to believe in and put their faith in. The true thing humans seek is stability and peace of mind. Having something that explains who or how you are can be comforting and can help keep people from being too overwhelmed by all of the unknown in the world. 

Astrology can be thought of as a way to validate who you are and who you want to be. Looking at the traits online can persuade you that you fall under those traits, even though it is totally okay to be different than a prediction. Humans want to understand themselves and be able to explain who they are to others. Having a sign or a category to say to others helps immensely, and this could be a huge reason why people believe in horoscopes so strongly. 

Unconscious Coping Device

Another reason why many people believe in astrology could be because astrology is potentially a coping mechanism. The unknown in life can put people under multitudes of pressure, and astrology is a way to escape to a place where reality is set and everything makes sense. No one is randomly acting out because everyone can fall under one category and you can relate to people of the same sign as you. Zodiac signs provide this allusion that everyone has a place to fit in the world and everyone can be separated based on their birthdate. 

Astrology helps people feel in control of their character, and control is something craved by many. Perhaps this is why younger people are more likely to believe in this idea. A poll by Insider found that people ages 18-29 believe in astrology more than any other age group. Young people are likely to feel they can’t control their surroundings and they may feel lost with what to do in life. Having this escape can be life-changing and incredibly helpful to a generation really needing it.

Not Always Positive

In the United States, astrology is typically used as either a way to make money for companies or a way to stay hopeful as an individual. The former could be seen as a problem; companies preying on young people just looking for something to believe in. However, some countries have taken this idea and negatively integrated it into life much more potently. In India, for example, astrology can determine whether or not a pair can get married. If their signs are not ‘compatible’, the marriage can be overturned before it even happens. As with anything, astrology is harmless until it goes too far. 

No one should shame others for believing or not believing in what they do, and astrology isn’t an exception. As long as something isn’t harming others, people should be able to believe what brings them happiness and internal peace. It is human nature to seek comfort, and if astrology brings that feeling, it should be celebrated.