Whether you’re new to Aliza Kelly’s Stars Like Us podcast, or you’re a secret Co-Star horoscope addict—here’s everything you need to know when seeking escapism on a cosmic scale.
Should Astrology Be Part of Your Wellness Survival Kit?
From love-life quandaries to investigating a new career path, many of us look to astrology for daily insight and clarity in times of personal uncertainty—but can your astrological birth chart (that’s your very own personal map of the stars at the time you were born) offer an added layer of emotional self-care right now?
First, let’s take a moment to remember that looking to the skies for guidance is nothing new. Humans have been practicing variations of astrology since the dawn of civilization. Our ancestors plotted maps of the stars to sync up with nature’s cycles; they planted, hunted and migrated based on the movements of the planets across the sky. Today, astrology is no longer a matter of survival, but centuries-old techniques have moved firmly into the popular mainstream thanks to new technologies and a wealth of high-profile fans.
Search #astrology on Instagram and you’ll pull up 7.5 million tagged posts, while phrases such as “Mercury is in retrograde” are probably appearing in more than a few of your friend’s IG stories. In the past decade, our relationship with astrology has undergone a dramatic shift, proving to be seriously bankable. In 2019, the U.S. psychic services industry was estimated to be worth a staggering $2.2 billion, according to IBISWorld. Then there are the legions of celebrity astrology superfans who make “reading your charts” part of an aesthetically aspirational lifestyle: Madonna playfully blaming her “sometimes out-of-control ego” on her Leo sun and Taylor Swift crediting her optimism to being a true Sagittarius.
The role of technology
Instagram, in particular, has shown astrology in a new light, something that Ross Clark, CEO of astrology app Sanctuary, regards as an important new mode of distribution. Along with other popular apps such as The Pattern and Co-Star, Sanctuary has become a gateway to investing in your soul’s journey. These platforms are geared to providing instant ways for people to connect and understand their own astrological makeup.
By entering the date, time and location you were born into Sanctuary, you get access to a free daily horoscope reading based on your birth chart. Enrolling in the advanced service (at a premium cost) means you can request 15-minute texting sessions with a professional astrologer who will use your birth chart to share guidance on a desired topic (for example, career or relationships) in real time.
This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Sophie Clarke
