Co-Star, a popular free daily horoscope app I recently downloaded, indicates that Libras are prone to fantasy and inept at making decisions. It comes at no surprise, then, that I subscribe to the idea that astronomical scenes can guide my life.
Horoscopes can be the cause for unnecessary panic, which I experienced when I looked ahead to Saturday and saw that my love life is fated to completely fall apart. They can also be downright nonsensical, like my Monday instructions to avoid schedules, whispers, and second guesses while making time for public parks, quilts, and culinary courses. Whether it be ominous daily horoscopes, or the character traits and compatibility reports that come attached to one’s star sign, astrology is a subjective art that should not be relied on too heavily to dictate a person’s relationships and actions. But, when consumed with a healthy dose of skepticism, horoscopes can be useful to make sense of confusing situations and provide direction for future choices.
Since coming back to university, I have been reevaluating my friendships. I have made an effort to lean into ones I find fulfilling, and step back from others that drain me. These shifts are almost certainly due to the general emotional growth and wisdom I have gained from turning another year older, but pinning my desire for greater harmony on the retrograde of Mercury and Venus is a neat way to package the confusing reality of outgrowing people and lifestyles. However, stepping away from friendships that no longer align with the truest version of myself has made me act erratically. It was never my intention to hurt people I used to love, and my horoscope reminded me — somewhat brutally — of that. On Thursday, I was told that I needed to “stop pretending to be made of stone,” because “the armour you wear costs more than it protects.” Maybe it was because the moon’s position that night facilitated thinking and responsibility, but I decided to issue an apology to someone I felt I had let down. I felt lighter and more aligned with myself afterwards, which prompted me to realise how astrology can call people out on their unhealthy habits and drive positive steps towards a more harmonious lifestyle.
This understanding became even clearer yesterday when I left an upsetting situation at a society social and chose to seek support instead of crying alone in the meadows. It was midnight, and stumbling into my flat to bother my flatmates with my dramatic sobbing sounded worse than braving the Nicholson Street Lidl at peak occupancy. Then I remembered that my daily horoscope had promised luck in my home and family life, and that if I “stopped pretending everything is fine” and turned to my loved ones for support, they would “get closer, not further away.” I decided to call my dad, and then my best friend, who validated my feelings and made me feel loved even from thousands of miles away. As an independent woman who sometimes feels embarrassed for feeling vulnerable, I might not have made this choice without my horoscope nudging me in the right direction. So, next time you feel lost and in need of guidance, consider downloading a horoscope app. It might help you act out the truths you already know, and ultimately manifest the life you want.
Illustration by Jianglin Jiang (@jlin.design) for The Student
