You know your zodiac sign, but does that mean anything to you?
Photo from Remko van Dokkum’s flickr
My horoscope says, “you will receive money today”. Well, fantastic! Give it to me! Then I realize, there are a lot of cancers in the world. Either we’re all getting richer today or I have to be fast and get that money. The latter makes more sense since it says “you”, pertaining a person. Damn, it’s me against the rest of the canny crustaceans.
My friend’s horoscope reading is wackier. It says that it is a good day to buy a new sink. I don’t know where she read that and I don’t think the stars mean that. Whoever made the interpretation is potentially high.
A Haris Poll in 2009 tells us who the believers of horoscope are. Majority of them are women. A quarter of Americans are horoscope adherents. Another quarter of Catholics are also horoscope believers. 100% of students in England “know their star sign, 70% read their horoscopes regularly and 85% agree that the description of their birth sign describes their personality” (Currey, 2009). And according to USA Today, the fastest growing group of believers are executives and professionals.
In 2004, horoscope is the most searched term in AOL. It remains in the top generic searches in the internet since internet.
Astrology employs 6,000 to 8,000 professionals in America. To become one, you must be certified. The Kepler College of Astrological Arts and Sciences in Seattle is the first to offer BS and MA in Astrological studies.
It is amusing how the description of cancer somewhat fits my personality and it is entertaining to read wacky horoscope readings. But I stopped long ago from monitoring my horoscope because I see it as a guide for my future and I don’t want it.
Are you one of the horoscope believers?
Sources:
Twenty facts about astrology; The Telegraph
One quarter of Americans ‘believe’ in astrology; Astrology.co.uk
Most Popular Words, Terms and Phrases Searched for on Internet; Suite 101
‘Horoscopes’ is AOL’s most searched word; The Register
Moment Matters 
I don’t know if I believe the daily “you will find money” type of horoscopes but overall I do believe that when/how/where we’re born certainly is impacted by the cosmos. Why not? 🙂 Since I was little and my Mom used to do my “chart” I’ve held a fascination for the whole subject.
I don’t bother to worry about the generic horoscopes written in the papers, but a general description of how the planets affect my personality and who I have become is interesting to me and have enjoyed once years ago having my horoscope done by a professional. It was very enlightening.
I have done research into real astrology as opposed to the popular canned variety of entertainment to which you are referring. Real astrology is part science and part art-just like the practice of such areas as medicine. Real astrology is a complex science that.takes years to learn. Each of us not only has a sun sign, but we are affected by where every house is aligned. There are also houses, aspects and other variations that affect us. If you wonder about whether the planets can have an impact on us, ask anyone who works in law enforcement or an Emergency Room if a full moon makes a difference in their job. If our moon can move the oceans and we are mostly water, what impact would we expect. Entertainment astrology may be fun as a party game, but if you want to make an informed judgement about real astrology, you need to have a full birth chart done by a reputable asrologist. Forming an opinion about astrology based on your sun sign alone is like deciding all chickens are female because you visited a few egg farms and never saw a rooster.
My thoughts nicely summed up in one cartoon.
If one is interested in what makes up their personality? I would recommend trying the Myer-Briggs Personality Indicator. Known as MBPI, the test can be found on the internet and is usually free.
Astrology, in newspapers is very general. I understand it; astrology that is, but stopped using it long ago. Although I must say, I find Chinese astrology more accurate in it’s own use. Either way, I’m generally happier not knowing, but meeting life as it happens. Bit pompous maybe? But that’s my take. The IChing is far too enigmatic. As other divination systems, too enigmatic for me. But hey? Rock on!
Do i think the universe has a power on me, that fluctuates as it spins through space? Likely? Then again, I would be at risk of taking myself far too seriously?
Very interesting.
Like some of the others said, I believe in deeper astrology like full charts or seasonal horoscopes in new age magazines, not the ones in newspapers (although the fortune cookie horoscopes come so close sometimes it’s scary!) But I think astrology isn’t the only thing to take into consideration: also numerology, Chinese astrology, etc.
Have a friend that … are so into this .. and she makes horoscopes too – in a way I believe that the stars and the planets will have influence on us. I’m born Virgo and I’m all that a Virgo should be when it’s about character – a typical Virgo. Otherwise I don’t believe in it. Not one horoscope has been right so fare … *smile Neither rich or happily married.
I don’t believe in the daily horoscopes, but I do believe that there is something to the alignment of the stars and planets in determining our personalities. I know my sun sign, moon sign, and rising sign. I know what they mean about who I am, and I know they’re as correct about me as anything else I’ve ever heard. I think it’s all interesting. Would I swear to it? Probably not, but there does seem to be something there and it’s not any weirder than most world religions, so why not believe?
I know my sign (Libra), and I think it’s interesting how I have almost all of the character traits a “typical Libra” is supposed to have. I’ve never put much stock in the daily horoscopes one can find in the paper. I will, however, listen to the horoscope provided by car’s service system when I’m stuck in traffic. It’s an amusing way to spend the time, thinking about which one of us luck Libras is going to be blessed with meeting the “mysterious stranger of our dreams” today.
I regard reading horoscopes as a bit of fun, but hardly take them seriously. Although, I do believe in astrology and want to study it more. I don’t think my horoscope sign fits me though, I’m a Capricorn but feel more like Sagittarius. But I think astrology is more complicated than the usul personality traits listed on various websites under a star sign. I mean, they ever vary quite a lot.
Interesting post and funny too, made me smile!
Thanks for visiting my blog! 🙂
I used to read my horoscope daily until I realized it was all pretty generic. No, I never came into any money, met a man with money or got a job that paid a lot of money. So, I lost hope in horoscopes and have since been living my life day to day without the star’s guidance. Seems the same either way.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog though, I really appreciate it!
Nope, after years of being open minded to astrology, I give it a miss now. I’m just not that convinced.