Astrology More Beneficial Than Factual

Emily Engel, Staff Writer

It is widely believed that the concept of astrology has existed for several thousands of years, potentially dating back to 4,000 B.C. Though the forms we see and measure astrology in have changed over the years, astrology still remains popular in western culture. Only a small percentage of people honestly believe that the stars and planets impact them and their future, yet 23% of people say that they check their horoscope every day, and they may be on to something. Regardless of the accuracy of horoscopes, just the act of checking it daily can bring a sense of comfort, control and confidence to people.
For people going through hard times, horoscopes can comfort them by telling them that today will be a good day and alerting them to look out for positives throughout their day to day life, leading to a better outlook on life. According to author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition Stuart Vyse, “Horoscopes tend to have a bias towards positive things.” Positive horoscopes can help people learn to think positively on their own. Another benefit of horoscopes is that they often give good advice that can often be easily applied to a situation in anyone’s life, regardless of their sign. They often advise readers to work hard, put themselves first, and to pursue new opportunities. Sometimes an extra push from space is all people need to make a change for the better. For the same reason horoscopes can help people feel more in control of their lives. People want to feel in control of their circumstances so, when they are completely powerless they look for something that holds greater power, in this case, the stars. Seeing their situation resolved in front of them can show people what to expect in coming days and help people feel more in control. They also can help people gain control of their situations. Horoscopes can show people how to gain control of their situation. When people have no idea what they can do to help themselves, they can apply the vague advice given in horoscopes to their own situation and begin to solve their problems on their own.
All this being said, horoscope still should not be taken 100% literally. Horoscopes can be very beneficial in relieving excess anxieties and can help people develop a more optimistic outlook on life, but horoscopes become damaging when people base entire life decisions solely on them.