Why I question astrology
By Auden Koetters, Copy Editor
For unknown reasons, the hippies are back. However, these are not the empowering individuals who rejected traditional American mainstream life, but instead stone carrying, moon following, star sign obsessed teenagers who seek to blame anything and everything but themselves for their shortcomings in life. On various accounts, I have heard these characters excuse impolite and obscene behavior on behalf of their zodiac sign, claiming they cannot help but act as such an insolent creature because of the month in which they were born. Any logic-oriented individual can see the ridiculousness behind such assertions, yet this crazed movement seems to somehow run rampant through the population. This is not, however, to say cultures who incorporate such beliefs into their religions and societies are wrong and misguided, for they are not. It is instead the perversion of such cultures which has been popularised that has gone too far. Individuals use their astrological signs as a sort of identification and important feature of their personality.
Astrology is a pseudoscience, meaning a collection of beliefs or practices which are mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method; a hoax. This fictitious ideology claims the positions and movements of celestial bodies influence human behavior and events in the natural world. At first, such a statement does not seem to be an inherent falsification. For instance, we allow the Sun to dictate our days and the Moon our nights. But, this popular modern form of astrology goes beyond such basic science. It uses these heavenly bodies to generate expectations for future events, someone's personality or even two peoples’ compatibility. I, myself, have friends who cry because their crush’s star sign is not compatible with theirs. To them, this means despite any correspondence which might occur between the two, there is no feasible way for them to ever have any sort of relationship (maybe I shouldn’t expose my friends in a newspaper publication but as a Gemini, I cannot help my talkative nature).
Reading or hearing about these things we laugh at the utter foolishness of such actions, thinking who could be stupid enough to belive in such a blantant ruse? Apparently, a lot of people. Just within a two block stretch on Main Street in Santa Monica, there are four separate stores selling astrology related paraphernalia including candles, crystals, incense, essential oils, “star charts'', tarot cards and charms. Everything you need to work as a fortune teller at a traveling carnival, but at least the fortune teller knows it’s a lie.
What are these items hiding under the guise of astrology? Most people know what they are, but what do they do? Candles, incense and essential oils release scents meant to influence people near them. Specific aromas supposedly correspond to certain astrological signs; like clove and Aries. They can have a variety of effects, like energizing or calming those who smell them. When described, they sound similar to things like redbull or weed. Which sign do they correspond to?
Crystals are also sold by astrology stores. These crystals are meant to bring their owners “special powers”. Crystals like Howlite deepen sleep and Citrine promotes mental health. Believers collect these stones in order to live more harmonious and tranquil lives. Many of my friends have desks lined wall to wall with such crystals, claiming they keep them balanced and stable. So, tell me then, why do these same friends sit in their rooms having a mental breakdown over the “B” they received on a test? Where was their Citrine then? Samo student and Sagittarius Bella Boucher (’22) reflects on crystals.
“I think that some people read too much into it and let it dictate their lives,” Boucher said.
In Sagittarius fashion, Boucher nails astrology right on the head. Astrology is not something which we are inherently influenced by. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It is not before but after learning of one's astrological virtues that their actions begin to reflect that of their celestial alignments. In reading about their star sign or moon, they subconsciously (or maybe even consciously) begin conforming to “cosmic natures”. In the end, astrology is nothing more than a falsity its followers are either hoodwinked into believing or use as an excuse to hide behind.