Gemini’s are so two-faced. Leo’s are the best sign! Oftentimes, people bring up Zodiac signs within normal daily conversations. For some, these signs can be a topic people love while others might find it more foolish. But in a time where disorder and the uncontrollable—a pandemic, political strife and world events—are commonplace that seem to be out of our hands, astrology can help people cope with the stress. Astrology is important in people’s lives, even if it’s not scientific.

According to the article, “The New Age of Astrology,” written by Julie Beck for The Atlantic, human beings have been looking to the stars for thousands of years to connect their lives with their expectation of the future. Astrology provides people with a clear framing for that explanation. In Time magazine’s “Where Do Zodiac Signs Come From? Here’s the True History Behind Your Horoscope,” written by Olivia B. Waxman, looking for answers, warnings or prophecies in Zodiac signs is not a science in and of itself. Even so, humans have long looked up to the stars to chart and navigate their lives.

Astrology is not a science and there’s no proof that one’s Zodiac sign has anything to do with their personality. There is a system that astrology follows with its own logic. From the positioning of the sun, moon and planets within 12 sectors of the sky, the Zodiac signs give meaning to astrology. The sun sign is the most well-known sign; it is determined by the position of the sun on one’s birthday. 

However, the position of the moon and each of the other planets at the time and place at one’s birth adds further layers to someone’s “birth chart.” Each of the planets in astrology represents a particular set of attributes and characteristics, and each rules over a different aspect of our lives, each with its own distinct vibes and directions. The 10 major planets in everyone’s astrological birth chart are the same, yet they manifest themselves in different ways depending on which Zodiac sign they’re in.

For some people, astrology aids in the formation and validation of their sense of self. There are many websites dedicated to this aim, with articles on personality traits associated with different sun signs. Astrology allows one to perceive oneself as part of the world.

Studies also show that people often turn to astrology in response to stress and anxiety. With the pandemic having a domino effect in almost every aspect of everyone’s lives, whether that be financially or academically, these past two years have been stressful. Now more than ever, people are turning towards the stars for some hope and optimism. This is why despite the lack of scientific evidence, astrology is a multibillion-dollar industry around the world. As Business Insider claims in their article, “Meet the astrology entrepreneurs who turned an awful 2020 into a boom for the $2.2 billion industry,” written by Juliana Kaplan and Mark Stenberg, in 2019 income from astrology apps increased by 64 percent to approximately 40 million dollars, making the industry worth 2.2 billion dollars across the board. 

Uncertainty about a negative outcome, according to a 2016 study, is actually more stressful than knowing it will happen. In certain ways, the human brain is hard-wired to seek certainty, which is why some people interpret and frame negative life occurrences. Having an explanation through astrology for negative life experiences can help people re-contextualize their lives. Re-framing their lives to look towards a positive future can bring optimism into people’s lives.

According to a 1998 study, while astrology does not provide definitive solutions, it can help people feel more in control of ambiguous or complex situations by providing meaningful interpretations. It can also give people hope for the future, offering them immense comfort and alleviating their distress as they can explain why things have happened and predict positivity in the future.

With the whole world going through a global pandemic, national and international political strife increasing as of late, many things seem to be out of control. It’s important to have something to believe in, and that’s what astrology does; it provides hope.