How the Online Universe has Shaped the Way Astrology is Perceived
Astrology and the way humans can connect with the stars has always been a hot topic online, and during these days of quarantine, with people left to their devices to make connections with the world, astrology seems to be picking up traction. Most recently, I’ve seen its boost in the new TikTok trend “No-Nuance November”, a trend started this November in which users share their opinions on various topics, and offer no explanation. It’s essentially a trend created for people to get their opinions off their chest without feeling like they need to HAVE to clarify why they feel that way. The astrology side of TikTok has picked up on it too, sharing their opinions on different placements--for example, saying something like “Virgo risings do this, Scorpio suns do that” etc.-- I personally even joined in on this trend! Like many other things on TikTok, it’s a fun, light-hearted trend to participate in and the astrology community seemed to have a field day doing so. But, seeing all the comments, seeing people's responses to these kinds of videos got me thinking about the presence astrology has on the internet--not just on TikTok, but Instagram and even Snapchat too-- and how little some truly understand.
Astrology is one of the oldest and most sacred art forms, dating back to the Babylonians, over 2,000 years ago. Nowadays, people see some silly astrology memes online, download Co-star and think they’re experts. And to an extent, there’s nothing wrong with doing that. Everyone has to start somewhere, and if Instagram memes lead someone into further investigation, and to learning the importance of astrology, then so be it. But if someone doesn’t truly make an effort to learn about astrology, yet still holds themselves on a pedestal of being an expert, an issue arises. This is a common issue with virtually every topic in the world. Someone claiming to know more than they actually do can spread false narratives and even paint positive things in a negative light. This is how stereotypes like “all Gemini’s are two-faced”, “all Scorpios are brooding and mysterious” or “all Leo’s are full of themselves and egocentric'' spread. People who have taken the time to really learn about astrology can recognize that those statements are generalizations, and almost always false because they understand the significance of the rest of the chart. Of course, there are statements to be made about each sun sign, that is often true, but it’s important to keep in mind that even though someone might have a Leo sun, they could have every other planet placement in Aquarius for example, which would probably “cancel out” the stereotypical “self-centered” nature of a Leo sun or at least modify the way those traits manifest. The internet has shifted and changed the narrative of astrology, as it has shifted and changed the narrative of so many other topics and subjects. To discuss and unpack this concept more, I sat down and talked with Amy Nguyen, the owner of the account @RealAstrology on Instagram via Zoom.
Before we dove into the more complex aspects, I chatted with Amy for a bit about how long she had been studying astrology, how she got into it, and how she started her Instagram. “My interest [with astrology] started when I was like, 13, I was like in 8th grade, and now I’m 20 so it’s been 6 ½ years.” Astrology posts on Tumblr had peaked her interest, and as she read about her sun sign, (which is Scorpio by the way, just like me) she realized how accurate it was as a descriptor of who she is. She told me that as she started to get more into it she began sending stuff to her friends, and her interest grew and developed. “I started to study more in-depth when I was like 16 and in high school when I first started the [Instagram] page.” We talked a bit more about the origin of her account, and how she got started, etc., and then I asked her “When you tell people about it [the Instagram page] and they’re like oh I don't really believe in astrology, what's your reaction? How do you respond to comments like that?”, and her response was the same one I’d give: “I kind of just ask them how much they really know first.” In my experience, the people who tend to immediately call astrology fake, don’t know anything about it. She goes on to talk about how people can have pretty stubborn responses, but if they’re willing and open to learning more, she teaches them. As the conversation went on, I asked her the questions I had been leading up to, about the popularization of astrology in mainstream media. I asked if she thought that popularization has shifted the way people perceive astrology, “you know you see those like ‘bratz doll’ astrology memes-- do you think that's had a huge impact on how people see it [astrology]?”
Amy said she sees both a negative and positive side to things like those Bratz doll memes. She said that “people who get into astrology because of the Bratz memes, they’re getting into astrology the same way I did”, basically saying that those silly memes can be a gateway to a larger education in astrology. “In a way that’s positively affected it [the way people perceive astrology], but in another way it’s also negatively affected it because it’s so mainstream now people don’t take astrology seriously.” We talked about the layers in astrology and in birth charts, and how while those silly astrology memes are fun, they can oversimplify and strip astrology of it’s core complexities, thus leading people to believe it’s a joke when in reality there are so many intricacies to it. Lastly, I asked Amy: “Do you think the internet has sort of created a false or misinformed narrative of what astrology really is?” to which she responded: “Oh yeah. Like I said earlier, they [the internet] made astrology so mainstream, and in a way it's good, because astrology is a new way to get to know yourself… you start small with learning, and then dive into the interest [astrology] a little more and then you know more about it. On the other hand it can also be bad, because then we have all the skeptics… and they take it at a surface level, which is not good when astrology is deeper than that.”
In regards to learning and astrology apps, Co--star may just be one of the worst ones out there. Yes, it’s pretty, and has an aesthetically pleasing layout, but just because something is pretty that doesn’t mean it's correct. I’m not saying that the information Co--star puts out is all incorrect either, but it’s abundantly clear that they leave out huge chunks of birth charts to keep things nice looking. I think as a starter app, Co--star is great, I still have the app because it’s also nice to have quick access to my friends placements (yes, I’m that insane about it, I check my friends placements whenever I’m curious about one of their actions, etc.), but Co--star leaves out the fact that everyone has aspects in every house. They only give you the house placements that have planets in them. I do think that while the descriptions they give for each placement are sufficient, it’s not enough. If you’re interested in learning and reading more about astrology, Co--star is not the right place, but if you prefer just simple light reading on the meaning of your planet placements, it’s the perfect app! Even Snapchat has recently integrated birth charts into your Snapchat profile, and while I was actually impressed by the depth it gives you, it’s still too close to the surface level for my liking, but then again, really useful for quick simple explanations! Cafeastrology.com however, gives probably the best in depth chart readings I’ve been able to find, so if you want to really dive deep into your specific aspects and placements, that's the way to go.
All in all, Amy and I seemed to have a similar approach and perspective on all of this; the spread of astrology on the internet, like so many other things, has its positives and negatives. I think the most important takeaway is that doing your research is always crucial, and that of course goes beyond astrology. If you want to learn, really learn! Some books that have helped me to understand astrology and its layers are The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk. As far are materials online that have helped me, just google searching the various questions I have, watching YouTube, and even Instagram! Just make sure that the information you’re getting is credible. If an astrology Instagram page only posts about sun signs, it might be safe to say that it’s not the best hub for learning. Amy’s page, @RealAstrology, has honestly been one of the most educational when it comes to astrology. Yes, I do believe that the online universe is changing the way we approach astrology, but if you want to combat that, do your research. Know that sun sign stereotypes spread false portrayals, know that a birth chart is not a map of just your personality, but rather, a map of your life, and know that there is always more to learn -- I’m still learning myself.