Astrology isn’t for everyone and it sure as h*** wasn’t for this professor. He’s an older gentleman, I’d describe him as the closest thing to a mad scientist I’ve known, but he’d probably introduce himself as a simple skeptic. He paced back and forth across the lecture hall, making grand hand gestures to us as he told us the story of his visit with the fortune teller. He entered a dimly lit room with velvet curtains that surrounded one round circle where a woman was sitting and lighting a couple of candles.
He’s mentioned to us before how fortune tellers will use astrology to get information out of you to subtly go off of, so he was prepared to not give a single bit of useful information in order to prove her a hoax. Unfortunately for him, he had also brought his wife who was not in on his secret plan and was a completely open book for the fortune teller.
I think they represent the spectrum of people who entertain the concepts of zodiac signs: those who completely reject it and those who have fun with it.
If you get past all the ridiculous and obvious hate that astrology receives, you probably get that astrology is intellectually really thought-provoking. It has a rich history that intersects with a lot of cultural studies, and the rejection of if it is actually rooted in the colonialist rejection of any belief outside of Christianity.
I am not advocating for the blind and wholehearted belief in zodiac signs, but I do think more people should forget their inexplicable hate for it. Zodiac signs entertain the concept that celestial bodies and their general relativity can tell us something about who we are and the world around us. It’s more of a romantic concept if anything (romance in its root definition “romanz”, meaning storytelling rather than love). It’s just a fun way to interpret and create stories about the world around you.
Recently I learned about modalities which are a subgroup that every zodiac falls under: Cardinal, fixed, and mutable signs. Which do you fall under?
- Cardinal: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. These are the leaders of the group. Not to say they’re strictly the enforcers, but they’re the idea people. Usually creative and don’t hold onto the past; they’re ready for anything new. This falls in line with the way cardinal signs start off every season (ex. Cancer kick starts the Summer).
- Mutable: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. They come off as indecisive but in actuality are carefully weighing their options. Mutable signs close the seasons so they’re typically more understanding since they know change is constant. The name itself is even paralleled to mutation and change.
- Fixed: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius. They’re the type of people who don’t like change. They are perfectly happy with the comfort of the things they know. “Why fix what isn’t broken” type beat. It’s cool because you won’t give up on your dreams, but it kinda sucks because you might give people one too many chances out of comfort and loyalty.
Whether you are crazy against it like my mad scientist professor or are willing to indulge in a far-fetched idea for the fun of it, I hope you at least indulge in the fantastical elements of zodiac signs and learn a little more about the theory that won’t stop growing.