The past few years, there’s been a huge increase in the practice of astrology by young people.
Casual astrologers may just check their horoscope on apps like Co-Star, Sanctuary or the Pattern, and intermediates might start learning the placements in their birth chart as a form of self-reflection.
There’s plenty I’ve become interested in, and a lot of my friends have as well.
Part of the reason why I think it’s become so popular is because young people are becoming less and less involved in the traditional organized religions that many of us were raised with.
For me, a big part of why I didn’t want a part in the religious beliefs I was raised with is that they never quite resonated with me. There was never a spark, an “a-ha!” moment, or that feeling that everyone else seemed to have when they’d go to church or pray.
I tried so hard as a kid and teenager to understand why I never felt that way, but the harder I searched for answers, the more questions I got, and the more alienated I felt from my community.
I also didn’t want to take part in a religion where I was treated as inferior for my gender, and where homophobia and transphobia were rampant.
The older I got, the more I realized how disappointingly common these attitudes were with people in the church my family went to.
I remember walking out on an incredibly hateful homily shortly after gay marriage was legalized in the U.S.
The things they were saying were horrible. When it ended, my mom, my brother and I all talked to the deacon who said that, and told him how cruel and inappropriate it was. He didn’t care.
He didn’t respect us because he saw women and a teenager speaking. There were so many other occasions where this same deacon would be incredibly misogynistic, as well.
Pretty much everyone I know who is into astrology is either a woman or a member of the LGBT+ community.
When we’ve been ostracized by the religious and spiritual communities we’ve been raised in, it’s nice to find a belief that doesn’t seek to hurt or oppress us. Often, less structured and “alternative” practices offer that.
Astrology isn’t a formal religion or community, but a spiritual practice. There are no rituals or meeting places that may not be accessible to someone, and there are no hierarchies.
Not being part of a rigid system is appealing for many who turn to less mainstream spiritual practices.
While it’s not a “science,” no one is pretending it is. It’s just something that’s fun and helpful for people to learn about and practice.
There’s not really any harm to come from astrology. The worst thing anyone might do because of it is blame their misfortune on “Mercury in retrograde.”
It’s so odd to me that everyone loves to poke fun as astrology when it’s not hurting anyone, and it can be really helpful for people who have been unwelcome in many religious settings. I think part of why people make fun of it so much is because we trivialize feminine interests.
For many people, their religion is a source of comfort. If someone is interested in “alternative” spiritual practices, why should we treat that as if it’s frivolous?
If it makes them happy or gives them comfort, who cares? As long as someone’s beliefs aren’t hurting anyone, we have no right to shame them.
- Astrology is just the way to go and can be better to believe in - 8 Nov 2020
- Cancel culture doesn’t fix anything - 18 Oct 2020
- The ‘not like other girls’ complex harms us all - 11 Oct 2020
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