Astrology

Virtually as long as astrology has been practiced, consulting the stars has also been mocked. William Shakespeare’s King Lear (1605–06) villain Edmund ridicules,

This is the excellent foppery [silliness] of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune, often the surfeit [excess] of our own behaviour, we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars; as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers [villains] by spherical pre-dominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforc’d obedience of planetary influence. [1]

In other words, Edmund is saying, if you have a problem in your life or you’d like to break social rules and laws, then you can just blame it on the stars rather than take responsibility for your own actions. And, yet, astrology has persisted in popularity for centuries, despite mockery.

History

Astrology dates to ancient civilizations, most predominantly Mesopotamia, where the earliest surviving astrological chart (410 bce) for an individual was found in Babylon. The Mesopotamian astrological system then spread to Egypt, India, and Greece with the Achaemenian Dynasty and was adapted by each ancient culture. Modern Western astrology most closely resembles the Hellenistic (ancient Greek) version of astrology. However, astrological systems also developed in early China and Mesoamerica, as evidenced by the surviving systems as well as pyramids, stone circles, and other structures that show the patterns of the cosmos. [2] [3] [4]

The science we now know as astronomy was actually developed in service of astrology (in turn, some mathematics were developed in service of astronomy). Renowned scientists Galileo (1564–1642) and Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) were expert astrologers, for example. Astrology and astronomy were virtually inseparable until the 17th century when Aristotelian philosophy (which promoted the idea of “as above, so below”—meaning, the celestial field above directly influenced the terrestrial world below—and, thus, favored astrology) fell out of favor and was replaced with modern philosophy. Similarly, Chinese astrology was inseparable from astronomy until the Qing dynasty (1644–1911/12) when German Jesuit missionary Adam Schall von Bell was appointed head of the Bureau of Astronomy in 1644 and imported Western astronomy. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Astronomy is now understood to be an observational (rather than experimental) “science that encompasses the study of all extraterrestrial objects and phenomena,” according to Encyclopædia Britannica. [9]

Astrology, however, is defined by mental health website BetterHelp as a

pseudoscientific belief that there is a correlation between celestial movements and events taking place on Earth. Astrologers believe that the positions and alignments of celestial bodies can provide insights into human behavior and the course of events. [10]

Western zodiac

Astrological readings rely upon the zodiac. The Western zodiac is “a belt of 12 constellations around the sky through which the Sun, the Moon, and the naked-eye planets move as seen from Earth,” according to Encyclopædia Britannica. The 12 constellations correspond to 12 zodiac signs that

are divided into four groups based on the traditional elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Within each group each sign falls under one of three modalities: cardinal, related to beginnings; fixed, related to sustaining; and mutable, related to changing. [11]

The first sign of the Western zodiac is Aries because the dates corresponding to the sign mark the spring equinox (the beginning of spring) in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the astrological new year. Each zodiac symbol has a “gloss” (a brief notation), such as scales for Libra and the virgin for Virgo. Seven of the zodiac signs have animals for glosses, which is why the ancient Greeks called the zodiac cycle the zōdiakos kyklos, “circle of animals,” or ta zōdia, “the little animals.” Each sign is also represented by a glyph (a symbolic character), including an arrow for Sagittarius and II for Gemini. [11] [12]

In 2025 news outlets reported that the traditional zodiac was two millennia out of date. The original zodiac was based on observations from Earth and the constellation behind the Sun was considered the ruling sign. For instance, in ancient Mesopotamia, Aries was more or less behind the Sun from March 21 through April 19. However, thanks to the Earth’s wobble (called precession of the equinoxes) Aries is now behind the Sun from April 19 through May 14, meaning just about everyone who is an Aries in traditional astrology would be a Pisces (new dates: March 13–April 18) if the current positioning of constellations is used. Additionally, the zodiac should contain 13 constellations, but for unknown reasons, Ophiuchus—which falls between November 30 and December 18 and comes after Scorpio and before Sagittarius—was left out of traditional astrology by Babylonians. The new dates and additional sign have not been widely adopted. [37]

Western horoscopes and birth charts

At its most basic, a horoscope is simply an astrological forecast for a defined time (day, week, month, or year usually). We see these types of horoscopes in apps, social media, newspapers, and other mediums on a daily basis. Generally, these horoscopes forecast for an entire astrological sign (Leo, for example). So you only need to know the date of your birth to find your horoscope. [19]

However, horoscopes come in many forms and use “a chart of the heavens, showing the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and the ascendant and midheaven signs of the zodiac at a specific moment in time,” according to Encyclopædia Britannica. An individual natal (birth) astrology horoscope

usually plots the moment of birth and is used by astrologers to analyze character, as well as…to predict the future. This is in accordance with the belief that each celestial body has its own mythological character, modified according to its geometric relationship with the other celestial bodies at a given moment. Everything in the universe being interrelated, these bodies exert an influence, particularly on the newborn. [20] [21]

A natal chart—for which you need a precise date, time, and location for your birth—is “a map of the universe at the exact time and place that you were born” that is, “technically speaking…pure astronomy: it describes the location of the planets at a specific moment in time,” according to Co–Star. Astrologers use the map to understand who you are. [22]

Astrologers use a natal chart to read the “secret codes to your unique blueprint and your path of personal growth,” according to Astrology Hub. Each chart generally contains,

• Zodiac sign: You are one of 12 sun signs based on your birth date. This sign represents “the energy that radiates from within the person.”
• Four elements: Your zodiac sign corresponds to one of four elements:

  • Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): creative, impulsive, energetic
  • Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): hard-working, practical, organized, grounded
  • Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): innovating, thoughtful, intellectual, connecting
  • Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): emotional, empathetic, reflective, psychic
• The planets: Each planet—which includes the luminaries (the Sun and the Moon), the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), and the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto)—govern a specific part of a person’s personality.
• Houses: The circle of the natal chart is divided into 12 houses (starting with the first house and so on) that loosely correlate to the zodiac signs. The houses are the setting where the action of a horoscope plays out.
• Configurations: The “aspects” of the planets—how they are positioned in relation to each other on the chart—gives an astrologer more information, as do groups of three planets (called “grand trines”) and other arrangements. [23]

Chinese zodiac

Though the Chinese zodiac similarly involves a cycle of 12 animals, the simplest form of the Chinese zodiac focuses on birth years, rather than birth dates. Encyclopædia Britannica explains that

each of the Chinese zodiac’s symbolic animals represents one year in a repeating cycle of 12 years, and the list and order of the animals is based on a foundational myth of a great race between all the animals rather than on the constellations. [11]

Each year in the Chinese zodiac also corresponds to one of the five traditional elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. While the animals cycle over 12 years, the elements change every two years in the order listed above. For example, 2025 was the year of the Wood Snake, and 2027 will be the year of the Fire Sheep (also sometimes called a goat or ram). A Chinese horoscope accounts for both the year of birth (a Rabbit for those born in 2011, for example) as well as the current year (2026 is the year of the Fire Horse). A new Chinese zodiac year begins with the lunar new year, which also marks the beginning of spring. [13]

Other astrology systems

While Western and Chinese astrology may be the most widely known, other astrology systems also exist. They include, but are not limited to:

• Hindu, or Vedic, astrology: According to astrologer Claudia Anfuso, “Vedic astrology is the tradition of astrology that emerges out of India and, in the east, it is known by the Sanskrit word Jyotiṣa. Jyoti means light, and Jyotiṣa is the sacred art and science of the lights in the sky, as well as the light of awareness within.” [14]
• Horary (“relating to an hour”) astrology: According to astrologer Lisa Stardust, “Horary astrology is an ancient form of astrology that is based on the current time at which the question is heard and understood. Instead of looking at a natal chart, the astrologer casts a chart based on the ‘burning question of the hour’ that the querent wants answered.” [15]
• Kabbalistic astrology: According to the Kabbalah Centre, “The purpose of kabbalistic astrology is to rise above the influences of the cosmos and take control over our own lives.” This system uses the Hebrew calendar. [16]
• Mesoamerican, or Maya, astrology: According to the Astrology News Service, “The core of this astrological tradition is a sequence of 20 day-signs that cycle within a 260-day astrological calendar.…sometimes called the sacred calendar or divinatory calendar, [it] was used by all the major cultures of ancient Mesoamerica right up to the Aztecs, and it is still being used by the Maya in the more remote sections of Mexico and Guatemala. The Maya call it the tzolkin, which means day, sun and time.” [17] [18]

Popularity of astrology

The global astrology market was valued at $12.8 billion in 2021, with a forecast growth to $22.8 billion by 2031. The online astrology industry alone was worth about $3 billion in 2025 and was expected to triple by 2030. Globally, the Asia-Pacific region held about 30 percent of the market. [24] [25]

A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 28 percent of American adults consulted the stars at least once a year: 16 percent of American adults consulted “astrology or a horoscope” once or twice a year, 7 percent did so once or twice a month, and 5 percent did so at least weekly. The vast majority of Americans (71 percent) said they never consulted astrology or a horoscope. [26]

Certain demographics are more likely to consult astrology or horoscopes at least once yearly:

• 63 percent of LGBT women
• 54 percent of LGBT Americans
• 39 percent of Hispanic Catholics
• 37 percent of women
• 37 percent of American adults ages 18–29
• 36 percent of politically liberal adults
• 36 percent of Black American adults
• 35 percent of religiously unaffiliated people who don’t identify as atheist or agnostic
• 35 percent of lower-income American adults. [26]

The same survey noted that 27 percent of American adults “believe in astrology (the position of the stars and planets can affect people’s lives),” which is statistically similar to Pew Research Center’s 2017 poll as well as Gallup polls from 1990 to 2005. [26]

Certain demographics are more likely to believe in astrology:

• 43 percent of women ages 18–49
• 37 percent of lower-income American adults
• 37 percent of Black American adults
• 36 percent of religiously unaffiliated people who don’t identify as atheist or agnostic
• 35 percent of Hispanic Catholics
• 34 percent of Black Protestants [26]

And, overall, only 1 percent of American adults said they used astrology (or other means of divination including tarot cards and fortune tellers) to make major decisions. [26]

Given the conflict between the relative popularity and the pseudoscientific status of the practice, is astrology useful? Explore the debate below.

Assessment quiz

After reading the above debate, take our assessment quiz to test your knowledge of this issue. Good luck!

Discussion questions

1. Do you consult astrology? Why or why not?
2. Do you believe astrology can be useful? How or how not?
3. Should anyone use astrology (or other forms of divination) to help make major decisions? Why or why not?
4. What questions do you have after reading the debate above? Where might you find answers?
5. What was the most interesting thing you learned from this debate?
6. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? How and why? If your thoughts have not changed, explain how and why you better understand the other side of the debate.
7. Push for the position and policies you support by writing local officials, U.S. senators and representatives, or other people in a position to make the change you champion.