Astrology has long been the eye-roll emoji of the scientific world—a punchline in the realm of logic and lab coats. “Where’s the evidence?” skeptics ask. And to be fair, they’re not wrong to question it. As a predictive science? The accuracy is, well, spotty. But that’s not quite the point.
For many people, astrology isn’t about prediction. It’s about perspective. It’s a symbolic language—part poetry, part mirror—and it offers something far more flexible than certainty: meaning.
A Cosmic Mirror, Not a Crystal Ball
At its core, astrology isn’t really trying to tell you when you’ll land a promotion or meet your soulmate. It’s not about predicting the future with some magical precision. Instead, it works more like a story or myth—it reflects recurring themes and archetypes that show up across time.
Think of it this way: if your birth chart—the snapshot of the sky the moment you were born—is a map, it’s not one that leads to buried treasure. It’s more like a painting, open to interpretation. The signs, the planets, the houses—they don’t dictate who you are. They offer clues, metaphors, symbols. You don’t read a chart the way you read an instruction manual. It’s more like reading a poem—you bring yourself to it.
And just like a poem that means something new each time you come back to it, a birth chart evolves with you. What resonates at 20 may land differently at 40. That’s part of the magic.
So… Why Do People Keep Asking About Mercury Retrograde?
Because astrology, for many, taps into something deeper than data. Planetary transits—like the infamous Mercury retrograde—aren’t strict predictions. They’re timestamps on certain emotional or energetic climates. The point isn’t “Aha! That’s why my phone broke!” It’s more like asking, “What pattern am I noticing? What do I need to pay attention to?”
A Saturn return, for example (which happens roughly every 29 years), doesn’t mean doom—it represents a natural period of transition, often associated with growing up, taking responsibility, or letting go of outdated parts of yourself. Sure, it’s symbolic. But so is turning 30, and we don’t dismiss that as nonsense.
What Makes Astrology Work—for Some
Here’s the thing: astrology isn’t foolproof. It’s not meant to be. You can’t measure its success in lab results or control groups. And if you try, you’ll likely be disappointed. Astrology doesn’t deal in guarantees.
What it does rely on is interpretation. Intention. Context. That’s why critics who try to test it like a math formula often miss the mark. It’s not a science trying to pass as one—it’s a language, maybe even a form of art. Or therapy, depending on how you use it.
Imagine sitting with an astrologer who knows nothing about you, just your chart. You tell them what’s going on, and then you explore that through planetary symbolism. The benefit doesn’t lie in proving the stars “caused” your breakup or career burnout. It lies in the process—how reflecting on celestial metaphors helps you tell your story differently, maybe more compassionately.
Not Science. Still Useful.
Of course, astrology doesn’t have the empirical backing science demands. That’s no secret. But not everything needs to be proven in a peer-reviewed journal to carry emotional weight. We read fiction that makes us cry. We believe in love, grit, forgiveness—all unmeasurable forces that shape our lives.
Astrology, in that way, operates in a similar space. It’s about finding patterns in the chaos. Giving symbolic structure to what might otherwise feel like random suffering or inexplicable joy.
For some, that’s enough.
In the End, It’s About Meaning—Not Fact
So yes—if you’re looking for hard science, astrology won’t hand it to you. But if you’re someone who’s ever stared up at the night sky, feeling something shift inside, even if you can’t explain why—astrology might just speak your language.
Because in a world that often feels scattered and unpredictable, astrology offers a quiet whisper: maybe you’re not lost. Maybe you’re just in a particular chapter. And maybe, if nothing else, that’s a comforting way to read the sky.
Takeaway: Astrology may never win over the scientific community, but for those seeking self-reflection, symbolism, and a bit of poetic meaning, it still shines brightly. Not as a compass, perhaps, but as a lantern—illuminating, not directing, the path ahead.
