Astrology: From pseudoscience to the mainstream

Astrology, which assumes that the position of celestial bodies affects the personality and fate of a person, has existed for thousands of years. With its help, people tried to explain the incomprehensible, predict the future and find answers to important life questions. However, in today's world, where scientific knowledge prevails, its status is a matter of controversy.

From the point of view of modern science, astrology cannot withstand criticism. Science requires evidence to support causation. In the case of astrology, the arrangement of stars and planets at the moment of birth does not have any physical effect on personality formation or events in life. For example, the gravitational influence of the planet Jupiter at the moment of birth is much less than the gravitational influence of a midwife who is giving birth. Scientific theories must be proven and predictable. Astrology, despite attempts, could not provide consistent and verified forecasts. Numerous scientific studies attempting to find a link between zodiac signs and character traits, career success, or relationship compatibility have found no correlations.

In 2017, 186 leading scientists and Nobel laureates signed a document in which they stated that there was no scientific evidence to support the truth of astrology. They characterized it as pseudoscience.

Since there is no scientific evidence, belief in astrology is a subjective choice. It is a psychological rather than a physical phenomenon. Its popularity is attributed to psychological effects such as the Barnum effect and the self-fulfilling prophecy effect. For many, astrology — is a way of self-knowledge, a tool for understanding oneself and others.

Here are some psychological effects that explain its popularity:

It is the tendency of people to perceive general and vague statements as an accurate description of their personality. Horoscopes and descriptions of zodiac signs often contain universal phrases that suit most people («You love being valued», «Sometimes you're indecisive»).

When a person believes in something (for example, that he is a «stubborn Taurus»), he subconsciously begins to behave according to this belief, which only strengthens his faith.

The human mind seeks order and explanation in chaos. Astrology provides a simple system for classifying people and events, reducing the sense of uncertainty.

Proponents believe that astrology helps them better understand themselves, find common ground with others, and navigate life. They can see in it the wisdom of ancestors and look for patterns in it that cannot be explained by logic.

Skeptics treat astrology as a pseudoscience, considering it dangerous if people make important decisions based on it. They emphasize that the — psychological, social and biological factors are much more important.

Many people treat astrology as entertainment. They may read horoscopes, but not take them seriously, seeing it as an easy and light way to spend time.

Historically, astrology and astronomy have been closely related. In ancient times, they were considered as one science of the movement of celestial bodies. Even prominent astronomers of the past, such as Johann Kepler, practiced astrology to fund their research. However, as the scientific method developed, these disciplines diverged. Astronomy focused on objective observations, mathematical calculations, and tested hypotheses, while astrology remained in the plane of symbolic interpretations without being subject to scientific verification.

In addition to the most famous zodiacal astrology in the Western world, there are many other traditions. For example, Chinese astrology is based on cycles of years, each associated with one of 12 animals. Depending on the year of birth, a person is attributed certain character traits and predictions. This system differs from the Western one in that it focuses not on the month, but on the year of birth. Another important tradition is Vedic astrology (Jyotish), which is of Indian origin. It uses a different system of calculations and the position of the stars, which leads to differences in the definition of zodiac signs. This diversity shows that the idea of cosmic influence is universal, but its interpretation depends on culture.

Despite the lack of scientific evidence, astrology is very popular today. Daily horoscopes, astrological memes, and natal chart supplements have become commonplace. Astrology has ceased to be only a tool for «serious predictions», it has turned into a form of social interaction. Now, discussing horoscopes, comparing the compatibility of zodiac signs, or joking about the features of certain signs has become part of our everyday communication.

Do you think anything that is not scientifically proven can still have a positive impact on a person's life?