Astrology: Actuality or Apocryphal?

For many years everyday people have looked up to the night sky: studying it, looking for
constellations, or just enjoying its beauty. Astrologists look up to the night sky to find their various
predictions on life. Numberless years ago, Native Americans looked up to the night sky to figure out
when to hunt and fish. Today, people open up their newspaper to read their daily horoscope. The
conclusions made in astrology are based on the movements of the planets and stars in the
sky. Astrology can predict the future and explain the personality traits of a person based on when they
were born. The results made about astrology are accurate and astrologists work hard to figure out these
predictions.
I find astrology very interesting and think the predictions made are true. For one, my zodiac sign is the
air element, Libra, balanced and creative, while my best friend is a Gemini, which is also an air
element. The Libra sign and Gemini sign are known to get along very well. I am also supposed to get
along with the Aquarius sign, and I do have a few good friends who are an Aquarius. Some of the traits
of a Libra are extroverted, analytical, unbiased, secretive, and will collapse in the face of conflict. I think
most of those traits describe me well.
The Aztec, Mayan, and Incan cultures first discovered astrology. But the Babylonians developed
western astrology, the astrology based on when an individual was born (Grabianowski 7). Years ago,
Native Americans used astrology to figure out the weather, when to plant and harvest crops, when to
hunt, fish, make war, make peace, and make love. Astrology was also used to tell when to travel by sea,
and used to tell myth and legend stories (Grabianowski 7). Many years later people still used astrology to
figure out how to find food and survive, but “in Roman times practicing astrology was punishable by
death” (“Astrology” 1).
Ultimately, Astrology is based on the movements of planets, stars, sun, moon, etc. in the sky. “The
position of the sun, stars, moon, and planets at the time of one’s birth is said to shape their personality,
affect romantic relationships, and predict economic fortunes, among other divinations.” (Grabianowski
2). The locations of the planets can change the way people with certain zodiac signs act, which is how
astrologists predict horoscopes (Grabianowski 2). Astrology is said to predict or explain the changing of
seasons, wars, economic hardship.
There are twelve zodiac signs. Each sign has a constellation in the night sky. The zodiac
constellations that are visible in the night sky change throughout the four seasons (Gurshtein 1). One’s
sign is determined by which constellation the sun was in when they were born. The twelve zodiac signs
are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and
Pisces. Each zodiac sign has different personality traits, a planet, and a symbol. Some of the traits of the
planets come from the Greek Gods (Bakich 1). The zodiac can also be called the “circle of animals”
because most of the zodiac symbols are animals.
Astrology can be used to predict the future of an individual and the compatibility between two
people. The zodiac signs’ compatibility is based on what their element is. The four elements are fire,
earth, air, and water. Signs of the same element are known to get along.The fire elements are Aries, Leo,
and Sagittarius. The earth elements are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. The air elements are Gemini,
Libra, and Aquarius. The water elements are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Fire and air elements are
known to not get along, while earth and water elements are known to not get along (Grabianowski 4). I
do have friends who are Aries, who I do get along with very well. But, I’m not as close to them as I am
with my Gemini friends, which proves the compatibility of astrology.
Each zodiac sign acquires different personality traits. Some signs are known to be more loyal in
relationships than others. Libra, Capricorn, and Gemini are the most loyal. Aquarius and Pisces are least
loyal. Some signs possess more traits that would lead to marriage than others. Cancer, Libra, and
Taurus possess more traits that would lead to a happy marriage. Gemini and Sagittarius possess more
traits that would lead to a divorce or avoiding marriage (Reichardt 1). In a survey I conducted, 68% of the
people said the personality traits for their sign did or somewhat did describe them (James 1). Certain
signs are more likely to develop a disease or illness. Aquarius and Pisces are most likely to develop
schizophrenia. Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are known to have the worst bipolar disorder. Virgo is
likely to not develop schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo are likely to have
dyslexia (Hayden 1).
 Consequently, some people think astrology is a science, others think it is a religion, and some think it is
all made up. Astrology can also be thought of a superstition or even magic. In a survey I conducted,
73% of the people thought astrology was a superstition (James 1). Astrology has faced loads of criticism
over the years. A lot of the criticism comes from churches and the “scientific community” (“Astrology”
1). “The Bible specifically warns against astrology” (Astrology 1), so many religious people do not believe
in it. Some scientists think “ the idea that planetary bodies billions of miles away can somehow affect
human behavior is absurd” (“Astrology” 1). Even though all the criticism encountering, Astrology is still
very popular today. “Never have the principles of science and rational thinking been more clearly
understood than today, and yet 84 million Americans believe in astrology” (Bakich 1). Many people still
read their daily horoscopes in the newspaper and astrology “helps in-force the idea that our lives are not
random, but meaningful and purposeful” (“Astrology” 1).
Astrologists use the planets and stars in the sky to predict the future and make assumptions. Astrology
has been used for countless years and still remains to be widely used today. There is a reason that
astrology has not died out over the years, and that is because it actually works: the predictions,
personality traits, and compatibility. Even astrologists still don’t understand exactly how astrology works -
- but that it definitely does.

Works Cited

"Astrology." Fact Monster. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster. 09 Mar. 2012.

Baker, F, Rosalie.. "A Circle of Animals!" Calliope. 01 Nov. 2010: 7. eLibrary. Web. 09 Mar. 2012.

Bakich, E, Michael.. "Astrology: Fact or Fiction?" Astronomy. 01 Dec. 2004: 50. eLibrary. Web. 09 Mar.
2012.

Grabianowski, Ed. "How Horoscopes Work." 29 January 2005. HowStuffWorks.com. 09 March 2012.

Gurshtein, A, Alexander. "The Origins of the Constellations." American Scientist 85. 3 (1997): 264.
eLibrary. Web. 09 Mar. 2012.

Hayden, Ben Y. "Science Confirms Astrology!" Psychology Today. N.p., 20 July 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

James, Riley. Survey of St. Joseph High School Students. 12 Mar. 2012.

"The Zodiac." Fact Monster. © 2000–2007. Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster. 09 Mar.
2012

Reichardt, S, Charles. "Testing Astrological Predictions about Sex, Marriage, and Selfishness." Skeptic
4(2010):40. eLibrary. Web. 09 Mar. 2012.